86,643 research outputs found
Prevalence and clinical picture of celiac disease in Turner syndrome
No full textPrevalence and clinical picture of celiac disease in Turner syndrome.
Bonamico M1, Pasquino AM, Mariani P, Danesi HM, Culasso F, Mazzanti L, Petri A, Bona G; Italian Society Of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology (SIGEP); Italian Study Group for Turner Syndrom (ISGTS).
Author information 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00161 Roma, Italy.
Abstract
A multicenter study of Turner syndrome (TS) patients was carried out to estimate the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) and to detect clinical characteristics and laboratory data of affected patients. Three hundred eighty-nine girls with TS were screened by IgA antigliadin antibodies and/or antiendomysial antibodies. Intestinal biopsy was offered to positive cases. CD was diagnosed in 25 patients. In celiac subjects, anemia, anorexia, and delayed growth (with respect to Italian TS curves) were frequently present; whereas distended abdomen, chronic diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting occurred more rarely. In addition, low serum iron levels, hemoglobinemia, and high values of aminotransferases were observed. Ten patients showed classic CD, 8 showed atypical symptoms, and 7 showed a silent CD. In 11 symptomatic patients, the diagnosis of CD was made at the onset of symptoms, whereas 7 of them showed a median delay of 79 months in diagnosis. Other autoimmune disorders were observed in 40% of the patients. Our study confirms the high prevalence (6.4%) of CD in a large series of TS patients. Moreover, the subclinical picture in 60% of the cases, the diagnostic delay, and the incidence of other autoimmune disorders suggest that routine screening of CD in TS is indicated
Placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial of glutathione therapy in male infertility.
No full textGlutathione therapy was used for 2 months in a placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over trial of 20 infertile patients with dyspermia associated with unilateral varicocele (VAR) or germ-free genital tract inflammation (INF). The patients received either glutathione (group 1) or placebo (group 2) for 2 months, then they crossed over to the alternative treatment for a further 2 months. The patients were randomly and blindly assigned to treatment (one i.m. injection every other day of either 600 mg glutathione or an equal volume of a placebo preparation). The standard semen analysis and the computer-assisted sperm motility analyses were carried out before treatment and during the trial. Statistical cross-over analysis, case-control study and treatment efficacy test were carried out on groups 1 and 2 and differences in the effects of therapy between VAR and INF patients with varicocele or inflammation were tested. Glutathione therapy demonstrated a statistically significant positive effect on sperm motility, in particular on the percentage of forward motility, the kinetic parameters of the computerized analysis and on sperm morphology. The findings of this study indicate that glutathione therapy could represent a possible therapeutical tool for both of the selected andrological pathologies
The potential benefits of an ecomuseum for cycle tourism: Social, economic and environmental effects
No full textCycle tourism is a sustainable type of tourism from a social, economic and environmental point of view. The ecomuseum is an ‘instrument’ to share interests and to protect the cultural, historical and natural heritage of a region. The purpose of this research is to determine how an ecomuseum can improve the potential of cycle tourism as a type of tourism that maintains conservation of natural areas and common property. First, we review the literature with regard to cycle tourism and the ecomuseum phenomenon and then pay specific attention to the literature focusing on the social, economic and environmental effects. Considering that the research topic has been under-investigated until now, we selected a case-study approach. The selected case study includes all the study aspects: protection of the common property and natural areas; development of sustainable tourism; and organisation of a complex management system. It will be shown that an ecomuseum can be beneficial by attracting more cycle tourists and by having significant and favourable effects on sustainability. The research describes how many and what businesses can be developed thanks to an ecomuseum that combines the provision of cycle tourism in a natural setting with protection of the cultural heritage of a region. In addition, this research identifies the other stakeholders that may be connected with the project and may affect the environment and society, particularly the citizens. Finally, the results may be used in strategic planning by the involved municipalities
Smart city governance: exploring the institutional work of multiple actors towards collaboration
No full textPurpose: To address the growing pressure to foster effectiveness, sustainability and quality of life, local governments have focused on developing policies and initiatives designed to make their cities smarter. Despite the growing attention paid to this issue, an important but under-investigated issue is represented by the smart city governance. In this regard, in light of the claimed need for collaboration, the purpose of this paper is to investigate why and how different institutional works carried out by multiple actors may explain the way in which collaborative governance can be constructed in the context of a smart city. Design/methodology/approach: A rich in-depth case study has been carried out exploring the experience of a smart city in the north of Italy. The study explores the institutional works done by multiple actors (Lawrence et al., 2013) and their influence on the governance of the smart city. Findings: Collaboration is perceived to be instrumental in making a city smart, during the design and implementation phase, while generating new challenges that must be overcome by an integration of the political, technical and, especially, cultural work of the collective actors involved. Originality/value: Despite governance is recognized as a crucial factor for realizing a smartness-orientation, it is scarcely investigated. The main value of the current research is thus its contribution to overcome this gap providing new empirical evidence on the role of multiple actors in the smart city context
Nationwide incidence of endophthalmitis among the general population and the subjects at risk of endophthalmitis in Italy
No full textTo investigate the incidence of endophthalmitis in Italy
Statistical analysis in andrology
No full textThe authors began a statistical study on a file group of 9384 records of semen analyses and anamnestic data (P-1). From this file, they selected a group of 5191 patients having undergone analysis at least one time (P-2) and a file of 850 patients having undergone analysis at least three times (P-3). Finally a new group, derived from P-3, of 203 patients followed by their medical team was created (P-4). Two control groups-composed of 20 sperm-bank donors (DON) and 740 prevasectomy subjects (VAS)-were also created. Frequency distributions and cluster analyses were carried out. The multivariate statistical analysis allows a distinction to be made between fertile and infertile subjects regarding a patient's clinical condition. The most discriminating parameters appear to be sperm concentration and, above all, forward motility and sperm morphology
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