Chemical curing in alkyd paints: an evaluation via FT-IR and NMR spectroscopies.

A study aimed at determining the time necessary for an alkyd paint to attain chemical curing is presented. In particular, the object of our investigation was an oil paint made by Winsor & Newton, namely French ultramarine (PB29) in the Griffin Alkyd "fast drying oil colour" series. Using this paint, we prepared several mock-ups on glass. These were left in the laboratory at room temperature in a piece of furniture with glass doors for a total of 70 days. Samples were taken at different times, and the changes in their composition were monitored by means of FT-IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopic analyses. Since the cross-linking reactions involved in the formation of the pictorial film mainly affect the amount of carbon-carbon double bonds, we monitored the decrease in allyl, diallyl and vinyl protons and carbons. The data obtained from the use of both techniques led us to conclude that, in our particular experimental conditions, the chemical curing of the paint layer is reached within the first 70 days, thus establishing the beginning of the ageing phenomena.

[Human papillomavirus vaccination. Consensus Conference in pediatric age]. / La vaccinazione verso il papillomavirus umano. Consensus Conference dell'area pediatrica.

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Spontaneous clearance of HPV infection occurs in most cases, but chronic infection with high risk genotypes is associated with the development of cervical cancer. In particular, HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for 70% of cancers of the cervix and, in variable proportions, for cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis and oropharinx. Low risk HPV genotypes, such as HPV 6 and 11, cause genital warts. Two prophylactic vaccines using virus like particles (VLPs) of L1 capside protein of HPV 16 and 18 have been developed. Of these, one also containing VLPs of HPV 6 and 11, has been approved by FDA, EMEA and AIFA for use in 9-26 year-old females. Large scale studies have shown that these vaccines are safe, well tolerated, elicits high levels of neutralizing antibodies, prevent chronic HPV infections due to genotypes present in the vaccine, and associated cervical lesions (and genital wars for the quadrivalent vaccine). To be effective the vaccines should be given prior to sexual debut. In Italy, the vaccination will be offered to 12 year-old girls. This article is the result of a targeted Consensus Conference by a panel of experts, which reviews the cornerstones of HPV infection, its association with cervical cancer, the advances in prophylactic vaccines, and the primary role of the paediatrician for the optimal adoption of this new preventive strategy.

The primary role of steroids on the osteoporosis in juvenile rheumatoid patients evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Osteoporosis, a common clinical feature in children affected with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA), is generally divided into two forms, a localized juxta-articular osteoporosis of the single joints and a generalized reduction of bone mass due to the disease itself, joint involvement and steroid treatment. Recently Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) has been suggested for Bone Mineral Density (BMD) measurement. In the present study DEXA has been used to investigate the lumbar spine BMD in JRA patients as compared to healthy children. Our results showed that BMD is reduced in JRA patients (BMD 0.685 g/cm2) when compared to healthy children (BMD 0.722 g/cm2), and it is significantly lower in the group of patients treated with steroids (BMD 0.623 g/cm2) when compared to those treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (BMD 0.710 g/cm2). The analysis of all risk factors of bone loss indicated that steroids represent the only parameter of significant negative correlation with BMD.

Changes in blood pressure reactivity and 24-hour blood pressure profile occurring at puberty.

To evaluate blood pressure reactivity in children and its changes in adolescents, the acute pressor response to a video-game stress test and the noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were evaluated in 62 healthy children divided into three age groups. Basal blood pressure values were measured according to the NIH Task Force. With baseline measures and body mass index controlled for, analysis of covariance showed that the video game provoked significant and incremental cardiovascular reactivity across the games in adolescents when compared with the two other groups of children. The same group of children showed also a significantly higher systolic ambulatory pressure during the daytime, whereas no significant difference was observed by basal BP measurement. In conclusion an increased reactivity to external stimuli was observed in adolescents, and this pattern was strictly associated with a higher daily blood pressure.

[An open non-comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of sultamicillin in the therapy of respiratory infections in childhood]. / Studio aperto non comparativo dell'efficacia e tollerabilità della sultamicillina nella terapia delle infezioni respiratorie in età pediatrica.

Forty-eight children (25 males + 23 females), mean age 3.5 years +/- 2.6 (range 1-11), were treated for the following respiratory infections: pharyngotonsillitis (9), bronchitis (18), bronchopneumonia (14), asthmatic bronchitis (4) and pneumonia (3). The average duration of treatment was 5.3 +/- 2.0 days (range 3-13). Sultamicillin was administered at the dose of 50 mg/kg/day. Patients with fever experienced a defervescence on the second day of therapy. Forty-six children (96%) showed a good clinical response. The tolerability of the drug was excellent or good in 93.8% of the cases.

[The Fanconi-Bickel syndrome: one more case]. / Sindrome di Fanconi-Bickel: ancora un caso.

The association of de Toni-Debré-Fanconi syndrome with alteration of galactose metabolism and glycogen hepatic storage, before further clarification, is defined as Fanconi-Bickel syndrome. The Authors present a case in which the alterations in galactose metabolism typically do not affect the enzymes responsible for galactosemia. In such patients a recognised enzymatic defect glycogenosis is not involved and glycogen storage in the liver can be a secondary phenomenon, which can increase, differing according to each subject. Liver biopsy to detect storage can be avoided when all the other diagnostic criteria are observed.

Clinical utility of non invasive methods in the evaluation of scleroderma lung in pediatric age.

Lung involvement in children affected with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) has been studied. We used ventilation and perfusion scans and compared the results to those obtained with traditional pulmonary function tests. The vascular pulmonary area was examined with a gama-camera after infusion of 99mTc microspheres, while the alveolo-capillary membrane and the airways were investigated after administration of a radioaerosol, (99mTc DTPA). Pulmonary function tests revealed either alteration of the airways or a considerable involvement of the alveolo-capillary membrane in two patients. On the other hand ventilation scan showed airways alterations and a severe decrease of the alveolocapillary permeability in all patients. Our study indicates that ventilation scans may be useful in the diagnosis of early modifications of the lung function also in paediatric age and may complement the data obtained from traditional function tests.

[Anti-gliadin antibodies in the diagnosis and follow-up of celiac disease]. / Gli anticorpi anti-gliadina nella diagnosi e nel follow-up della malattia celiaca.

The study assessed the value of anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) as a diagnostic test for celiac disease (CD) by examining 219 children: 57 were affected by malabsorption syndrome and underwent the first duodenojejunal biopsy; 83 underwent a secondary diagnostic phase for CD; 44 underwent a challenge test; 35 controls. Duodenojejunal biopsy was performed in all subjects in the three stages of diagnosis for CD. By comparing AGA levels and on the basis of histological tests of duodenojejunal mucosa it is possible to confirm the reliability of the method as a screening test for use in subjects whose clinical symptoms suggest CD. AGA are however less reliable in the second and third stages, that is to say in the follow-up of CD, since they do not always reflect the conditions of intestinal mucosa.

[A multicenter study of child poisonings. Preliminary epidemiological results]. / Studio multicentrico degli avvelenamenti nel bambino (S.M.A.B.). Risultati epidemiologici preliminari.

The project of a multicentre study of poisoning in children planned by 4 Italian pediatric departments to get epidemiologic and clinic information is presented. The study is carried out retrospectively on admissions during 1975-90 and prospectively during 1991-92. Poisonings are classified as not-confirmed, asymptomatic because of early treatment or symptomatic. In the latter group three degrees of severity are assessed. Diagnostic-therapeutic protocols will be elaborated and quality of the hospital care evaluated according to peer review methodology. Preliminary data on changing pattern of poisoning over the time and on main toxic agents involved in younger children are also reported. The first topic has been studied taking into account 1831 patients aged 0-13 years, admitted during 1977-79 and 1987-89. A decrease of exposures to drugs and an increase of poisonings under the age of 3 years have been observed in more recent period. On the other hand household products resulted to be the main poisoning agents in 1044 children under the age of 5 years during 1984-86. Lack of infant supervision by parents and possible influence of compulsory child resistant containers only for drugs are stressed. The findings suggest the need of health education campaigns in general population as well of safety devices for some domestic harmful products.

[Influence of iron metabolism on the efficacy of r-HuEPO (recombinant human erythropoietin) treatment of anemia in children on hemodialysis]. / Influenza del metabolismo del ferro sull'efficacia del trattamento dell'anemia con r-HuEPO (recombined human erythropoietin) in pazienti embodializzati in età pediatrica.

Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) is efficient in the treatment of anaemia in terminal renal failure under dialysis. Five pediatric patients, who were under periodic hemodialysis, were treated and the interaction between the metabolism of iron and the response to r-HuEPO was studied in particular. In two patients it was noticed that a significant reduction of hematic ferritin levels occurred, while an efficient erythropoietic activity was maintained. On the contrary, three patients showed iron deficiency characterized by a reduced percentage of total transferrin saturation in the plasma, in the presence of high levels of ferritin in the blood. Also discovered was a missing increase or even a fall of the hemoglobin values that were obtained till now. In these cases, the increase of the hormone dose didn't lead to an improvement, that could only be obtained by the oral or parenteral administration of iron. The Authors in conclusion affirm that iron deficiency is the first cause to be searched for and to be corrected in the presence of missing hemoglobin increase even with adequate doses of r-HuEPO.

[Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with pauciarticular onset and HLA-A, B, DR in Italian children]. / Artrite reumatoide giovanile ad esordio pauciarticolare e HLA-A, B, DR in bambini italiani.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is a heterogeneous disease currently divided into different subtypes based on clinical characteristics. Significant alterations in frequencies of HLA-A, B and DR antigens have been described previously in children with pauciarticular onset Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. We report the results of a study on 42 italian children with pauciarticular onset Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis that partially confirm the literature data.