Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Lago.
Since 1986 we have studied the occurrence of various congenital heart diseases in our neonatal population. 43 (9.7%) newborn infants were admitted in our Pediatric Department by cardiovascular involvement. We have also used echocardiography as diagnostic tool to reach clinical information.
After reviewing the causes of virilization in the newborn and grown female child, the Authors describe a case of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (S.A.G.C.) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in a newborn and a case of virilizing adrenal tumor in a four and half years old female child. The diagnostic and therapeutical approach of these unhealthy forms is argued and, on the ground of the personal observation and literature data, the frequent incidence of virilizing adrenocortical tumors within the same family is remarked and underlined.
From January 1980 till June 1987, 62 children with important respiratory problems were hospitalized in the neonatal pathology department. They were the 4.6% of the patients. Subjects suffering from heart-disease were no taken into consideration because they were transferred to a third level centre. The newborn infants who showed a respiratory distress cleared up with the only oxygen therapy were not studied. 39 newborn infants were treated with C.P.A.P., 12 of these ere cured with mechanical ventilation. 23 new-born infants immediately needed the use of the mechanical ventilation. The pathologies which caused the respiratory distress were in frequency order: hyaline membrane disease (41), pulmonary hypoatelectasis (16), serious dismaturity (2), connatal bronchopneumonia (1), post-asphyxial syndrome (1), endocranial haemorrhage (1). The global mortality was of the 32.2%. The mortality among the new-born infants who had been subjected to mechanical ventilation was of the 51.4%. The new-born infants who have suffered sequela that cause disability were 4: bronchopulmonary dysplasia (2), retrolental fibroplasia (1), spastic tetraparesis (1).
The authors describe five clinical cases concerning meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type b recorded in our hospital from June 1991 to April 1993. We studied the therapeutical association between ceftriaxone and dexamethasone, and we analysed, according to the newest data in the literature, its physiopathological and clinical assumptions which would advice its usual use against the meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b.
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: The authors report the results of an epidemiological study on breastfeeding from 1978 to 1993, followed by the same operators using the same method in the same territory, a semi-rural area of the province of Padua. In particular, they report the results for 1993 and compare them with those of earlier years and with those in Selvazzano, a town lying on the outskirts of the city of Padua. METHODS: A total of 963 of the 1115 women who had given birth during the study period were interviewed (85.6%). RESULTS: The frequency of breastfeeding rose from 61% in 1978 to 81% in 1993 and its mean duration from 4 to 6.3 months. The frequency of breastfeeding in Selvazzano was slightly lower (72%) as was the mean duration (5.8 months). The factor which most strongly influenced breastfeeding was the mother's work: its frequency was 66.1% for factory workers, 89.9% for housewives, 79.2% for office workers and teachers, 85.7% for shopkeepers-craftworkers and 75% for managerial staff. From the overall data it was observed that the frequency of breastfeeding increased in parallel to the length of time off work after birth: it rose from 69% among working women taking 3 months off work to 86% in housewives and those taking > or = 13 months off work. The level of education had less of an effect on the decision to breastfeed: the frequency of breastfeeding in mothers with high-school diplomas or university degrees was 85% compared to 79% in those with a lower level of education. According to this study the age of the mother did not influence the frequency of breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: The authors emphasise the need to carry out concrete new initiatives in favour of working mothers.