High prevalence of isolated pericardial effusion in Down syndrome.
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
R Lia
Publications and source records attributed to R Lia.
The epidemiology of canine and feline dermatophytoses in southern Italy.
A total of 424 animals (268 dogs and 156 cats) with skin lesions (alopecia and peripheral scaling) were examined from January 1999 to December 2002. Of the 424 samples examined, 99 (23.3%) yielded a positive culture and, in particular, 20.5% of the dog samples and 28.2% of the cat samples. Microsporum canis was the most common dermatophyte isolated from dogs and cats (77.7%), followed by geophilic dermatophyte species (M. gypseum, Trichophyton terrestre). Young dogs and cats, especially those younger than 1 year, showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of M. canis infection than older animals. No statistically significant association was found between infection and sex in cats, while male dogs were more affected by dermatophytes. Among breeds, Yorkshire terriers showed the highest positivity (50%) caused mainly by M. canis (46.6%), while no differences were noticed for cats. A significantly higher prevalence of positive samples was registered in summer and in autumn for cats. The presence of dermatophytes was not associated with itching. The diagnostic value of Wood's lamp fluorescence and microscopic examination proved to be scarce compared with fungal cultures as only 45.5% of the 77 samples that tested positive for M. canis at the cultural examination was positive under Wood's lamp florescence and 53.2% at microscopic examination.
Age Factors↗
Goat warble fly infestation by Przhevalskiana silenus (Diptera: Oestridae): immunoepidemiologic survey in the Basilicata region (southern Italy).
The demonstration of serological cross-reactivity between the Hypoderma lineatum antigen and anti-Przhevalskiana silenus antibodies led us to prepare an immunological test (ELISA) for an early diagnosis of goat warble fly infestation. Using the Hypodermosis ELISA-Kit (Vétoquinol Diagnostic, France) produced for the immunodiagnosis of bovine hypodermosis, an epidemiological assay was carried out in Basilicata region where goat breeding is very common and no data are reported with regards to the distribution of goat warble fly infestation. Out of a total of 1,100 flocks and 41,200 goats, 105 randomly extracted flocks proved to be infected and 262 sera out of 1,316 were positive; goat warble fly infestation proved to be present in Basilicata with values similar to those recorded in the surrounding regions (Apulia and Calabria). Statistical evaluation showed highly significant differences between the number of infected flocks in the mountainous areas and hills and those of the mountainous areas and the plain, but no differences between hills and plains. The higher number of positive sera and antibody titres in November-December confirmed that these months are the optimal period for sampling sera in order to perform an early diagnosis. The ELISA test was confirmed to be an easy and economic tool especially when sera sampled within a brucellosis eradication program are used.
Animals↗
Occurrence of Thelazia lacrymalis (Nematoda, Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in native horses in Italy.
A survey on the prevalence of Thelazia spp. in the province of Bari (Apulia region, Italy) in slaughtered native horses was conducted from June 20, 1995 to April 3, 1996. Both eyes from 409 ten-month- to 4-year-old native animals were examined. Sixty horses (14.7%) were found parasitized by Thelazia lacrymalis. Three hundred-sixty one parasite specimens (220 females, 99 males and 42 larvae) were collected with a mean count burden of 6.0-5.1 (range 1 to 20) per head. T. lacrymalis specimens were found free in the conjunctiva and behind the nictitancte, in the excretory ducts of the Harderian gland and in the ducts of the lacrimal glands. Thelazia specimens were significantly more common in horses of 3-4 years. Gross examination of all infected animals showed a follicular conjunctivitis. This is the first report of T. lacrymalis horse infection in Italy.
Abattoirs↗
The psychosocial program for childhood leukemia in Monza, Italy.
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Child↗
Mapping goat warble fly distribution and related problems.
This paper analyzes the state of knowledge of the goat warble fly infestation mainly relating to its distribution and the problems that arise in mapping this infestation, namely, the long controversy on the taxonomy, the number of existing species and hosts, the scanty knowledge of some of the morphological features of various species, the presence of the different species in the same host and the same species in different hosts, the presence of the parasites in diverse geographical and zoological settings, as well as from probable misidentifications still present according even to the most recent literature. Finally, the need for a new approach to the study of the mapping that overcome the morphological analysis and the resort to more modern tests applied are advised.
Animals↗
Some morphological aspects of the mouthparts of Italian blood-sucking muscids (Diptera, Stomoxyinae).
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations on the mouthparts of four species of blood-sucking muscid symbovine flies (Stomoxys calcitrans Linnaeus, Haematobia irritans Linnaeus, H. titillans Bezzi, and Haematobosca stimulans Meigen) are described. The morphology of some structures (haustellum, prestomal teeth and petiolate blades) is compared in order to draw attention to those features involved in the feeding process on the hosts.
Animals↗
Self-image of adolescent survivors of long-term childhood leukemia.
The purpose of our research was to evaluate the attitude to face the life cycle and the impact that the experience of childhood leukemia may have had in a group of adolescents who had the disease cured. A questionnaire was administered at the Pediatric Hematology Center, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy, to all former patients age 12 to 20 years and off therapy from leukemia for at least 2 years (total of 116 adolescents) during 1997; 70 patients responded to the mailing and a comparison group of 70 secondary-school students was investigated. The two groups were matched as closely as possible on key characteristics (age, gender, socio-economic level of families, education and occupation of the parents, and geographic area of residence). The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire was the instrument used in this study. Overall, the teenagers in whom leukemia was cured showed a more positive and mature self-image (psychologic, social, attitude toward family, and coping) compared with the student group (statistical evidence, P < 0.05). An effective psychosocial support for patients and their families during their treatment, in addition to medical therapy, is strongly recommended. The majority of survivors of childhood cancer grow successfully without serious psychologic sequelae.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
School functioning for the child with leukemia in continuous first remission: screening high-risk children.
It is well known in the literature that cancer creates educationally related barriers for all children, which may or may not contribute to clinically relevant school problems. The goal of this study was to obtain a base rate for the characteristic pattern of school functioning for children with leukemia, so that the children with the most serious difficulties might be discovered and given the different and flexible help needed. From 1988 through 1994, a questionnaire was administered annually to teachers of all leukemic children in our center. The 291 questionnaire were used to compare the school functioning of children with leukemia with that of matched controls chosen by each teacher as representative of the class as a whole, excluding special education and developmentally disabled students. This approach to matching was chosen as a control for socioeconomic factors as well. The study was conducted with all patients with leukemia entering the center residing in the region of Lombardy, attending school, and either in therapy or out of therapy. After initial treatment, the children with leukemia in our center as a group attended school regularly and willingly. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were conducted on the total scores and on scores for each of the subareas of learning, socialization, and emotionality. T-tests, were given to contrast individual item scores of patients with those of their matched controls. On most individual items, children with leukemia did not differ from their classmates. However, significant discrepancies between children with leukemia and their classmates appeared consistently year after year on overall total scores and on each of the three major subcomponents of the test (learning, socialization, and emotionality). The groups most affected were children who were cranially irradiated and children who were under 6 years of age at diagnosis. Children who have been irradiated and children diagnosed under 6 years of age have the greatest risk for difficulties in school functioning and are candidates for greater attention and preventive efforts.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
[Evaluation of family satisfaction in pediatric oncology].
The satisfaction for the care receveid following the diagnosis of acute linfoblastic leukemia in the Pediatric Division of the San Gerardo Hospital of Monza was explored with a questionnaire to the families of patients diagnosed from January 1984. 217 questionnaires were returned (59.2%); 67% were completed by both parents. Parents expressed overall a very high satisfaction for several areas of care: 93.8% for the information about diagnosis; 83% approved the use of the word "leukemia". Judgements on technical competence and communication skills of the health care professionals were analyzed separately for hospitalized and day-hospital patients, and for survivors and dead: results were highly positive for both groups. The expected higher of missing data for the questions related to satisfaction for communication on relapses, highlights the difficulty and the emotional load of the question. Data were discussed by the health care team as well as parents in order to obtain a feedback and practical suggestions for further improvement of care.
Child↗