[Neonatal group B Streptococcus infection: an integrated approach (of clinical pathologists, gynecologists, midwives, pediatricians-neonatologists) of the functional area of Cuneo (Italy)]. / Infezione neonatale da Streptococco B: un approccio multidisciplinare integrato (di laboratoristi, ginecologi, ostetriche e pediatri-neonatologi) del Quadrante di Cuneo.

The frequency of early-onset neonatal sepsis without prophylaxis is 1-5/1.000 live births. Since year '70 the most frequent causative microorganism is the group B Streptococcus (S. agalactiae, GBS), followed by Escherichia coli. The mortality rate is now reduced to 4% due to the improvement of neonatal intensive care. In the USA, the incidence of GBS early-onset neonatal sepsis has been markedly reduced by the application of the guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This strategy, however, is not effective on occurrence of late-onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease. In Italy, the application of CDC guidelines is not customary, and different, often complex, protocols of obstetrical-neonatological integrated approach are applied. The frequency of infectious risk has made the GBS a paramount problem for the neonatologist, even for the legal responsibility issues resulting from the multiplicity of possible options. To reach the best level of protection of the newborn against early-onset GBS infection, the working group of providers of prenatal, obstetric, and neonatal care of the functional area of Cuneo issued an integrated protocol, in order to perform the GBS screening with the optimal culture method suggested by CDC guidelines in the highest possible number of pregnant women, and to standardize the obstetrical and neonatal management.

[Pseudomyxoma of the peritoneum caused by rupture of a mucinous cystoma of the ovary. Description of a case]. / Pseudomixoma del peritoneo da rottura di cistoma mucinoso dell'ovaio. Descrizione di un caso.

A case of pseudomyxoma peritonei originating from spontaneous rupture of an ovaric mucinous cystoma is described: in this pathology we observe the spreading throughout the peritoneal cavity of free or encapsulated gelatinous masses arising from primitive lesion. The examined case presented a spreading of mucinous masses on contralateral ovary and omentum and a total laparo-hysterectomy, bilateral annessiectomy and omentectomy has been carried out. A year after surgery, on the base of a three months follow-up, no clinical or ultrasonic signs of local recurrence has been noticed. The pathogenesis of this pathology is discussed: the flogistic hypothesis considering such a spreading as a "foreign body" peritonitis and the neoplastic one, pointing out a metastatic process of mucus-secretive epithelia implantation as the etiopathogenetic moment of the injury, are actually the most accredited hypothesis by literature.

[Echographic examinations in 246 cases of voluntary interruption of pregnancy]. / Indagine ecografica in 246 casi di I.V.G.

PIP: 246 women underwent legal induced abortion between June 1978 and December 1979 at the Hospital "SS. Annunziata" in Savigliano, Italy. Echography was used prior to the operation to determine exactly the duration of pregnancy and to gather indications on the intervention and on its possible difficulties. 4% of patients were 18 years of age, and 14% were 24 years of age. 67% came from other provinces, 53% were housewives, 77% were married, and 41% had elementary school education. Only 15.8% had been referred by private physicians. Reasons for requesting abortion were family reasons (56.5%), social reasons (16.6%) and economic reasons (11.3%); only 1.2% of requests were for fear of fetal malformations. 25.8% of abortions were done at the 10th week of gestation; 24.8% of women were nulliparous and, of these, 11.4% had had a previous abortion; 57.7% were multiparous, and, of these, 28.8% had had a previous abortion. 91% of operations were done through vacuum aspiration and 7.5% by aspiration and curettage. Echographic exploration prior to the operation revealed 2 phases of rapid growth of the fetus, up to the 8th week and from the 10th to the 13th week.^ieng