Development of an effective communication strategy for the prevention of burns in children: the PRIUS project.

This study has developed a learning kit for the prevention of domestic burns in childhood. The main objective was to trial an educational package for children (nursery and primary classes), for the prevention of burns, to be implemented through education in schools. The educational kit comprises posters, information leaflets, comic books, and pre and post education evaluation materials for school children, parents and teachers. Recipients of the preliminary study were the students of nine schools in the eight Italian cities where Burn Centers are located. In order to reach the target groups of children, it was necessary to identify the most effective communication strategy to convey the burn prevention message. For nursery school children, it was not possible to use tools with written texts alone, as they were not yet literate. Moreover, even for older children, it was necessary to find an attractive tool to catch their attention and interest, promoting the understanding and memorization of lessons learned. The most suitable means was found to be comic strips, allowing the messages to be conveyed through images as well as words. A total of 370 children (195 from nurseries and 175 from primary schools) participated in the trial of the educational kit. Overall, for every environment represented in the evaluation table, the ability to recognize the dangers among both the pre-school and primary school children increased significantly after the training activity. In conclusion, the educational kit has been positively assessed.

Cette étude a permis de mettre au point un kit d'apprentissage pour la prévention des brûlures domestiques chez les enfants. L'objectif principal était d'expérimenter un ensemble éducatif pour enfants (crèches et écoles primaires), pour la prévention des brûlures, à mettre en oeuvre à travers des actions d'éducation dans les écoles. Le kit éducatif est composé de posters, de brochures d'information, de bandes dessinées, et d'un matériel d'évaluation pré et post enseignements, pour enfants, parents et enseignants. Cette'étude préliminaire a rassemblé les élèves de 9 écoles, appartenant aux 8 villes des Centres de grands brûles en Italie. Concernant l'éducation des enfants, il était nécessaire d'identifier la stratégie de communication la plus efficace pour leur transmettre les messages de prévention. Pour les élèves de maternelle, il n'a pas été possible d'utiliser des outils avec textes, puisqu'ils n'étaient pas encore capables de lire et écrire; en outre, même pour les enfants plus âgés, il était nécessaire de trouver un outil attrayant pour attirer leur attention et susciter leur intérêt, promouvoir la compréhension et la mémorisation des leçons apprises. La bande dessinée a été jugée l'outil le plus approprié (langage complexe qui utilise l'outil verbal et les codes iconiques).Au total, 195 enfants de maternelle et 175 d'écoles primaires ont participé à l'évaluation du kit pédagogique. Nos résultats démontrent que, pour chaque environnement représenté dans le tableau d'évaluation, la capacité à reconnaître les dangers a augmenté d'une manière significative après la formation aussi bien dans le groupe des élèves de maternelle que dans celui des élèves d'écoles primaires. En conclusion, le kit pédagogique a été évalué positivement.

[Description of two cases of retrobrachiocephalic thymus gland]. / Descrizioni di due casi di timo retrobrachiocefalico.

We report two rare cases of thymus gland found behind the left brachiocephalic vein, in young women undergoing thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Our observations are included among the thymic anatomical variants. After a review of the literature on the subject, we discuss both the diagnostic role of new radiological techniques (CT, NRM) and the choice of surgical approach to these variants.

[Lateral access in thyroidectomy. Technique and indications]. / Accesso laterale in chirurgia tiroidea. Tecnica e indicazioni.

The technique of thyroidectomy, systematically carried out, by the authors, with a lateral approach since 1987 in thyroid reoperations for benign and malignant relapses and sometimes even in primary operations, is presented. The authors point out that lateral way is both technically advantageous in reoperations and moreover oncologically in prethyroid muscles's malignant involvement, but it does not represent an alternative to median access that, in the first instance, is the elective one. Because of the lateral vascular ligatures, in order to preserve the recurrent nerve, its location is mandatory.

[Buflomedil and the speed of glycolysis. Note I]. / Buflomedil e velocità di glicolisi. Nota I.

An in vitro study was conducted into the speed of glycolysis is human erythrocytes. Incubation with Buflomedil does not change the speed of glycolysis.

[Changes in erythrocyte ATP after the oral administration of buflomedil hydrochloride]. / Modificazioni dell'ATP eritrocitario dopo somministrazione orale di buflomedil cloridrato.

Variations in erythrocyte ATP content were studied after the oral administration of 600 mg Buflomedil a day for seven days in ten vasculopathy patients. In all patients the drug increased erythrocyte ATP.

[Protective effect of buflomedil hydrochloride on erythrocyte sickling. In vitro study]. / Effetto "protettivo" del buflomedil cloridrato sulla falcizzazione delle emazie. Studio in vitro.

Previous workers found that Buflomedil Hydrochloride increases erythrocyte potential energy and consequently improves membrane plasticity. It was therefore decided to check whether the same molecule was capable of exerting an effect in certain congenital or acquired disease conditions affecting the red cell when increased fragility and early haemolysis are certainly in part by changes in the membrane skeleton and thus to reduced deformability. Sickle cell anaemia is one of these diseases. The surprising, lasting and almost total "protective" action of buflomedil hydrochloride observed in the sickling test is reported. Some explanations are suggested for this effect.

Effects of buflomedil hydrochloride in occlusive arterial disease of the lower limbs stage IV.

Ten patients affected by occlusive arterial disease and presenting with skin lesions of the limbs were treated with buflomedil first i.v. and then orally, at a dosage of 600 mg/day. After a treatment period of 30 to 60 days, eight patients showed lesion regression with complete recovery; the remaining two patients dropped out of the study. The mechanism of action of buflomedil in healing skin lesions is also discussed.