A Decrease in Sex Ratio at Birth Nine Months after the Earthquake in L'Aquila

Introduction. Multiple factors influence the secondary sex ratio (SSR) including stress, which appears to affect mainly the males born. Objective. We evaluate the effects of the earthquake in L'Aquila on the SSR. Materials and Methods. The SSR for the first six months of 2010 was compared to that of the same period of 2008. The chi-square test and Fisher's test were used for the statistical analysis. Results. Nine months after the earthquake, an important reduction in the SSR was recorded: January 2010 versus January 2008 =0.62 versus 0.96. An overall fall in the SSR was also recorded when the first 3 months of 2010 were compared to the first three months of 2008: 0,82 versus 1,11. When the first three months of 2010 were compared with the second three months of 2010, a statistically significant increase of the sex ratio at birth was noted (0,82 versus 1,27)

[Colpo-cyto-histological correlations in intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix].

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical efficiency of colposcopic findings as diagnostic tests for intraepithelial lesion using the analysis of colpo-cyto-histological correlations. The results of 3340 colposcopic tests performed in the Colposcopy Unit of the Second Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology between March 1990 and May 1991 were analysed, taking into account 326 (9.7%) cases of Abnormal Transformation Zone (ANTZ). The colpo-histological correlation in ANTZ 1 cases (52 cases of white epithelium, 92 standard mosaic, 42 standard dotted and 61 mixed cases) was 65.2% (52.3%) for HPV; 12.9% for CIN). The colpo-histological correlation in ANTZ 2 cases (30 cases of thickened white epithelium, 5 irregular mosaic, 4 irregular dotted, 2 atypical vessels, 4 thickened gland outlets and 6 mixed cases) was 70.5% (43.3% for HPV; 27.2% for CIN an and Ca). In this retrospective study colposcopy showed a diagnostic accuracy of 64.6% in the cases examined and played a decisive role in the diagnosis of intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix

Contact dermatoses in metal workers

We studied 150 metal workers occupationally exposed to metals and metalworking fluids (MWFs) to determine the prevalence and nature of contact dermatitis. 150 office workers were used as non-exposed control group, Questionnaires were administered to evaluate occupational and non-occupational exposure, All subjects underwent a dermatological examination and patch-testing with standard allergen series and MWFs used in the plant. Twenty-eight metal workers (18.6%) presented minor skin disorders involving the hands (vs, only 2% of the controls), ten (6.6%) had major disorders (similar to the figure for the control group - 5.4%), and 112 (74.8%) had no lesions, as opposed to 92.6% of the control group, Positive patch tests were found in ten metal workers: eight had major skin disorders (six to nickel, cobalt and chromium, one to nickel and cobalt, one to nickel) and the remaining two were asymptomatic tone positive for nickel and chromium, one for nickel), Among the controls there were three cases of positivity, all among asymptomatic subjects. Patch tests with MWFs were negative. The prevalence of dermatoses among the metal workers was significantly higher than that of controls (p < 0.01), and all cases of allergy in this group were provoked by metals themselves

Bisphosphonates and oral cavity avascular bone necrosis: A review of twelve cases

Background: Intravenous bisphosphonates are the current standard of care for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy and for the prevention of skeletal complications associated with bone metastases. Recently, retrospective case studies have reported an association between long-term bisphosphonate therapy and osteonecrosis of the jaws. Patients and Methods: The data for twelve patients, referred to either an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or to an oral medicine specialist for the management of clinically apparent chronic oral osteonecrosis of unknown etiology. were reviewed. All had received cancer-related therapy simultaneously with bisphosphonate management. Results: The typical presenting symptoms were pain and exposed bone at the site of a previous tooth extraction. In most patients, the lesions initially occurred after dental extraction or other odonto-stomatological procedures, while five had a spontaneous event. Biopsy of the involved area showed the presence of necrotic lacunae, with infiltration of lymphocytes and histiocytes. In nine cases, there was histological or cytological diagnosis of suspicious osteomyelitis. No correlation was observed between the intraoral lesions and myelosuppression secondary to antineoplastic therapy. Conclusion: Based on the patients' respective histories, clinical presentations and responses to surgical and antibiotic treatments, it appears that the pathogenesis of this osteonecrotic process is most consistent with localized vascular insufficiency. In our opinion, the mechanism by which bisphosphonates compromise bone vascularity may be related to their effect on the osteoclasts. The potent bisphosphonate-mediated inhibition of osteoclast function serves to decrease bone resorption and inhibit normal bone turnover remodeling, resulting in microdamage accumulation and a reduction in some mechanical Properties of the bone

Allele-Specific Silencing of Mutant mRNA Rescues Ultrastructural and Arrhythmic Phenotype in Mice Carriers of the R4496C Mutation in the Ryanodine Receptor Gene (RYR2)

Mutations in the cardiac Ryanodine Receptor gene (RYR2) cause dominant catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), a leading cause of sudden death in apparently healthy individuals exposed to emotions or physical exercise

Italian Study on Depressive Disorders (STudio Italiano MAlattia Depressiva, or STIMA-D): a nationwide snapshot of the status of treatment for major depression.

Major depression is a worldwide problem and often remains undetected and untreated. Given the low rates of detection plus the need to intervene in a short time, it is important to identify factors which are likely to improve treatment outcomes.STIMA-D was designed to provide the profile of patients with major depression in Italy (focusing on pathway to care, patient characteristics, drug therapy and treatment outcomes). The patients enrolled (M/F, aged between 18 and 65) experienced single/multiple episodes of major depression (DSM-IV-TR). Patients with lifetime or current bipolar syndrome or other mental disorders were excluded.44 of the 50 invited centers sent data concerning 1???140 patients. The majority of patients were women. Among working individuals, 52.5\% of them were absent from work due to depression in the previous 6 months. Recurrent episodes of major depression were very common and were associated with persistence of residual post-episodic symptoms, a family history of mood disorders and presence of anxiety. 59.6\% of the patients were treated with monotherapy (SSRI or SNRI), while 19.2\% of them were treated with SSRI plus SNRI. Only the 25.5\% on monotherapy had a complete response compared to 12.4\% of patients on dual therapy.Poor outcomes in major depression have profound implications on patients' quality of life and cost burden. New pharmacological approaches with novel modes of action are therefore urgently needed