Sensorineural hearing loss in very low birth weight infants with histological chorioamnionitis

Objective: Histological chorioamnionitis (HCAM) has been associated with inflammatory diseases of preterm infants. Recently we have observed that it increased the risk of speech delay and hearing loss. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) of VLBW infants and HCAM.

Methods: We performed an observational study on VLBW infants admitted to the NICU of Padua. Each patient with HCAM was matched with one control without HCAM. All infants underwent hearing screening before discharge by means of automated transient–evoked otoacustic emissions and automated auditory brainstem responses, which were repeated at 3 and 6 months of age with tympanometry measurement. Incidence of SNHL at 6 months of age was compared in the 2 groups and risk factors for hearing loss were studied.

Results: Two of 77 (2.6%) newborns with HCAM e 6/73 (8.2%) without it presented SNHL at 6 months of corrected age (p?=?0.16). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) as independent predictors of SNHL (OR: 5.75, 95% CI 1.34–24.84, p?=?0.02), whereas the effect of HCAM on SNHL was only near to statistical significance level.

Conclusions: Surgical ligation of PDA is associated with an increased risk of SNHL in VLBW infants, regardless of HCAM.     

Left ventricular performance and autonomic dysfunction in patients with long-term insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a very frequent complication of insulin-dependent mellitus type 1, affecting the sympathetic or parasympathetic sections or both. The different impairment in the two sections might modify left ventricular function early. To evaluate this relationship, we studied 61 patients (mean age 39.6±7 years) with type 1 diabetes for more than 10 years, without coronary artery disease (CAD; negative ergometric stress test) and without other pathologies that could interfere with ventricular function. All patients underwent MONO-, 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examination and radionuclide angiography with⁹⁹Tc (RNA). According to the outcome of the Ewing tests, patients were divided into two groups: group A with two or more tests altered (26 patients with CAN) and group B with one or no tests altered (35 patients without CAN). No significant differences between the two groups were found in the systolic function parameters with either technique. In contrast, a pattern of abnormal relaxation was found for the diastolic function parameters: in group A a decrease in E-wave velocity and its time-velocity integral and an increase in A-wave and its time-velocity integral were detected with echocardiography. Moreover, RNA showed a reduced peak filling rate and an increased isovolumic relaxation time. When compared with normal values, an abnormal diastolic filling, defined as two independent echocardiography plus one RNA variable impairment, was found in 15 patients (57.6%) in group A and in only 4 patients (11.4%) in group B (P<0.001). Our findings suggest an early involvement of diastolic function in patients with CAN.     

Role of pancreatic impairment in growth recovery during gluten-free diet in childhood celiac disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Clinical significance and duration of insufficient release of pancreatic enzymes in childhood celiac disease have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role that pancreatic impairment plays in growth recovery and the duration of this impairment. METHODS: Forty-six patients with celiac disease who had a median age of 2.5 years were enrolled. Fecal chymotrypsin level was determined at diagnosis and then every 15 days after the beginning of a gluten-free diet in all patients. RESULTS: At diagnosis, 17 of 46 patients with celiac disease had subnormal fecal chymotrypsin values. During the gluten-free diet, a progressive reduction in the percentage of patients with subnormal fecal chymotrypsin values was observed: 12 of 46 patients after 30 days and 2 of 46 patients after 60 days. Weight increase after 2 months of gluten-free diet was significantly greater in patients with normal fecal chymotrypsin values at diagnosis than in patients with subnormal values, and a positive correlation was found between fecal chymotrypsin at diagnosis and weight increase (r = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: A small percentage of patients with celiac disease still had subnormal chymotrypsin concentrations after 60 days of gluten-free diet. Fecal chymotrypsin is a predictive index of weight recovery in the first months after diagnosis of celiac disease; it could be used to select patients for enzyme supplementation therapy. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jun;112(6):1839-44)     

Central pancreatectomy: The Dagradi Serio Iacono operation. Evolution of a surgical technique from the pioneers to the robotic approach

Central pancreatectomy (CP) is a parenchyma-sparing surgical procedure. The aims are to clarify the history and the development of CP and to give credits to those from whom it came. Ehrhardt, in 1908, described segmental neck resection (SNR) followed, in 1910, by Finney without reconstructive part. In 1950 Honjyo described two cases of SNR combined with gastrectomy for gastric cancer infiltrating the neck of the pancreas. Guillemin and Bessot (1957) and Letton and Wilson (1959) dealt only with the reconstructive aspect of CP. Dagradi and Serio, in 1982, performed the first CP including the resective and reconstructive aspects. Subsequently Iacono has validated it with functional endocrine and exocrine tests and popularized it worldwide. In 2003, Baca and Bokan performed laparoscopic CP and, In 2004, Giulianotti et al performed a robotic assisted CP. CP is performed worldwide either by open surgery or by using minimally-invasive or robotic approaches. This confirms that the operation does not belong to whom introduced it but to everyone who carries out it; however credit must be given to those from whom it came.     

Enhancing Guided Tissue Regeneration of Periodontal Defects by Using a Novel Perforated Barrier Membrane

Background: The present study was designed to determine whether exclusion of the gingival connective tissue (CT) and periosteum with contained stem cells has a positive or negative effect on periodontal regeneration by comparing the use of a novel modified perforated collagen membrane with a traditional cell occlusive barrier membrane. Methods: Twenty non‐smoking patients with severe chronic periodontitis were included in the study. Single deep intrabony defects from each of the patients were randomly divided into two groups, as follows: occlusive bovine collagen membranes (OM control group, 10 sites) and modified perforated bovine collagen membranes (MPM test group, 10 sites). Plaque index, gingival index, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), defect base level (DBL), and crestal bone level (CBL) were measured at baseline and were reassessed at 6 and 9 months after therapy to evaluate the quantitative changes in the defect. Results: At 6‐ and 9‐month observation periods, the MPM‐treated sites showed a statistically significant improvement in PD reduction and CAL gain compared with the OM control group. DBL was significantly reduced with no significant difference between the two groups at 6‐ and 9‐month observation periods. CBL was significantly higher in the MPM group when compared with that of the OM group at both observation periods. The postoperative differences between the two groups were 2 and 1.7 mm at 6 and 9 months, respectively, in favor of the MPM‐treated sites. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated enhanced clinical outcomes when using novel MPMs compared to OMs in guided tissue regeneration procedures. These results may be affected by the penetration of gingival CT contained stem cells and periosteal cells and their differentiation into components of the attachment apparatus.     

Relationship between personality change and the onset and course of alcohol dependence in young adulthood

Aims To examine the reciprocal effects between the onset and course of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and normative changes in personality traits of behavioral disinhibition and negative emotionality during the transition between adolescence and young adulthood. Design Longitudinal–epidemiological study assessing AUD and personality at ages 17 and 24 years. Setting Participants were recruited from the community and took part in a day‐long, in‐person assessment. Participants Male (n = 1161) and female (n = 1022) twins participating in the Minnesota Twin Family Study. Measurements The effects of onset (adolescent versus young adult) and course (persistent versus desistent) of AUD on change in personality traits of behavioral disinhibition and negative emotionality from ages 17 to 24 years. Findings Onset and course of AUD moderated personality change from ages 17 to 24 years. Adolescent onset AUD was associated with greater decreases in behavioral disinhibition. Those with an adolescent onset and persistent course failed to exhibit normative declines in negative emotionality. Desistence was associated with a ‘recovery’ towards psychological maturity in young adulthood, while persistence was associated with continued personality dysfunction. Personality traits at age 11 predicted onset and course of AUD, indicating personality differences were not due to active substance abuse. Conclusions Personality differences present prior to initiation of alcohol use increase risk for alcohol use disorder, but the course of alcohol use disorder affects the rate of personality change during emerging adulthood. Examining the reciprocal effects of personality and alcohol use disorder within a developmental context is necessary to improve understanding for theory and intervention.     

Arthrodesis After Infected Revision TKA: Retrospective Comparison of Intramedullary Nailing and External Fixation

Background

Infection after revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for previous septic TKA can be a challenging problem to treat due to loss of bone stock and soft tissue integrity. In these cases, arthrodesis is a well-recognized salvage procedure.

Questions/Purposes

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the results as described by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Lequesne Algofunctional Score (LAS) of knee arthrodeses performed by using either an external fixator (EF) or an intramedullary nail (IM).

Methods

The study included 34 knee arthrodesis divided in two groups: first group included 12 patients treated with EF and the second group of 22 patients dealt with IM nail. Clinical and functional evaluation was performed using the VAS and the LAS. Full-length radiographs were used to verify limb length discrepancy.

Results

VAS and LAS results showed a substantial improvement relative to preoperative condition in both groups. However, the LAS was significantly better in the IM nail group. The mean leg length discrepancy was significantly greater (4.5 cm) in the first group than in the second one (0.8 cm). No recurrence of infection was observed in the EF group while there were three recurrent infections in the IM nail group.

Conclusion

Our study supported the existing literature and found that reinfection after revision TKA can be effectively treated with arthrodesis. In presence of massive bone loss, we recommend arthrodesis with IM nail used as an endoprosthesis, without bone-on-bone fusion, to produce a stable and painless knee, while preserving the limb length. Use of an IM nail allowed us to get a better functional result than EF.     

The use of calcium-silicate cements to reduce dentine permeability

ObjectiveTo evaluate in vitro the effectiveness of different calcium-silicate (CS) cements specifically designed for dentine permeability reduction.DesignFifty dentine discs were prepared from caries free human molars extracted for surgical reasons. The treatment consisted in applying two different experimental CS cements on dentine surface. Dentine discs treated only with EDTA served as negative control group. Treatment with D-Sense Crystal and Clearfil S³-Bond served as positive control groups. After treatment samples were immersed in artificial saliva. The quantitative changes in the hydraulic conductance (i.e. permeability) through dentinal tubules were quantified using a hydrostatic device working at 6.9 kPa. Dentine permeability was measured immediately after EDTA treatment, 10 min and 1 week after treatment application and immersion of dentine samples in artificial saliva. SEM/EDX analyses were performed to obtain qualitative information on dentine morphology and surface deposits.ResultsThe experimental CS cements reduced dentine permeability immediately after application and also 10 min and 1 week after the immersion of the specimens in artificial saliva. D-Sense Crystal and Clearfil S³-Bond showed higher levels of dentine permeability after 1 week of immersion in artificial saliva.ConclusionsCS cements reduced dentine permeability in vitro even after immersion in artificial saliva, which makes them new valuable candidates for treatment of dentine hypersensitivity in vivo.