[Acute respiratory syndromes caused by viruses in a pediatric department. Clinical and epidemiological studies of a series of cases admitted in the period from February to May, 1979]. / Le sindromi respiratorie acute da virus in un reparto pediatrico. Studi clinico-epidemiologici su una casistica raccolta nel periodo febbraio-maggio 1979.

In the period between February and May 1979, in concomitance with a sharp increase in admittance to the pediatric Division of the Parma General Hospital for acute respiratory infections, we carried out a virologic and serologic investigation on hospitalized children aged 21 days-12 years. The investigation was carried out on 137 patients with respiratory diseases: 33 with bronchiolitis, which occurred mainly (32/33) between February and March in children that were prevalently (30/33) in the first year of life; 27 with upper respiratory tract infections; 54 with mid respiratory tract infections; 23 with pneumonia. Forty-eight controls (without respiratory infections) were also investigated. In the months of February and March there was a high circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): throughout the entire period there was a lower incidence of Adenovirus infections and more uniformly distributed.

Recognition memory alterations after severe head injury. Preliminary results in a series of 50 patients.

The Authors report a study on recognition memory in a series of 50 severe head injuries. The effect of cerebral trauma is expressed by reduction in recognition memory and in learning. A significant difference is found between frontal lesions and temporal lesions. Left temporal lobe damage causes a more severe deficit than right temporal lobe damage. Extradural and subdural haematomas cause no such severe deficit. Neurological syndrome of level of lesion significantly correlates with the performance. PTA duration shows no relation.

Partial trisomy 16q resulting from maternal translocation.

A 3 1/2-year-old male with partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 16 resulting from a maternal balanced translocation is described. Karyotype: 46,XY,--22,der(22),t(16;22)(q21;p12)mat.

[Sleep cycles of hydrocephalic infants (author's transl)]. / Les cycles du sommeil dans l'hydrocéphalie du nourrisson.

The authors have studied the sleep of 6 hydrocephalic infants. In 4 cases disturbed sleep was noticed, characterized by insomnia in 2 cases, and frequent interruptions of sleep in the other 2 cases. In the last cases no other particular alterations were observed. The research was continued in 2 cases, operated on with the Pudenz Valve. In one of which the valve functioned well, sleep was restructured. In the second case the valve did not function well and sleep was not restructured. This suggests the hypothesis that the endocranial hypertension may alter the sleep cycles.

A case of persistent hypoglossal artery.

A personal case of persistent hypoglossal artery is presented and the literature on the subject from 1967 to the present reviewed. The 16 cases collected, following on the 26 already reported in the well-known monograph of T.A. Lie on congenital anomalies of the carotid arteries, complete the statistical picture of this malformation. After discussing the embryonic origin and describing the radiological anatomy of the anomaly, the authors briefly present their case and discuss, in the light of the cases collected, the possible role of persistent hypoglossal artery in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases of the head.

Considerations on the results of surgical treatment of cerebral abscesses.

The results of surgery in 96 patients affected with cerebral abscess are reported. The lesion was completely removed in 65 patients, 33 underwent drainage (in many cases by Adso-Craig's technique) and only in one case was a combined operation performed. Overall mortality was 15.1%. More or less serious neurological and/or psychic deficits were present in 40% of patients, whereas epilepsy occurred in 26.6%. Furthermore, it was noted that excision of the abscess originates fewer epileptic complications type (20.9%) than drainage of the abscess cavity (37.5%). As regards the type of operation, the Authors suggest complete excision of the abscess as more advisable limiting drainage to cases of localization in "noble" areas or when complete removal can jeopardize patients in very serious conditions.

On the radical treatment of a large carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm: case report.

General remarks on carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms are followed by the description of a personal case in which direct closure of an "inoperable" aneurysm was successful. The surgical treatment of these malformations is discussed.