Prevalence of oral disease and treatment types proposed to children affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Pediatric Dentistry: a Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in children with ASD, and to analyse the necessity of treatment and the prevalence of using general anaesthesia in order to perform it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search was performed covering the last 10 years utilising the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Medline, BASE, Science Citation Index, Science Direct, Web of Science. Four reviewers evaluated each study. Review findings were summarised using the PRISMA Statement for reporting. Thirteen articles were included in this systematic review. RESULTS: When analysing the articles selected, the evidence turned out did not show a common DFMT and dmft for the groups of children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder considered. When compared to group of unaffected children, groups of ASD children not always showed a higher prevalence of caries but always higher Periodontal Indexes (PI and GI), resulting in higher prevalence of periodontal disease. Where the treatment was performed and taken into consideration, there was a high incidence of necessity of General Anaesthesia due to the lack of collaboration of the children. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of treatment under general anaesthesia and the often-reported negative behaviour evidence how there is a lack of protocols specifically designed for these patients, in order to better improve their collaboration and subsequently their oral health and so additional strategies for a preventive care should be applied for these patients.

Blood born viral infections, sexually transmitted diseases and latent tuberculosis in italian prisons: a preliminary report of a large multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Recent screenings of inmates for Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Syphilis and Latent Tuberculosis (LTB) did not provide sufficient information to improve healthcare strategies. AIM: To obtain valuable information on the endemicity of the above mentioned Infections in prisons of Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A screening based on a peer-to-peer communication, followed by a month of blood sampling on a voluntary basis was performed to detect antibody to 4 of the 5 above mentioned infections and detect LTB by PPD (purified protein derivative) Skin Test. The present analysis regards data obtained in 9 of the 20 prisons. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who accepted the screening varied between jails (37.3-95.2%, median 62.2), but it was higher than 10.0-20.5% obtained in the same 9 prisons using traditional methods before our intervention. The participation to the screening reached 65.3% for HBV, 64.6% for HCV, 67.4%for HIV, 55.7% for TPHA (Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination Assay) and 42.8% for LTB. HBsAg was detected in 4.4% of 2265 subjects, anti-HCV in 22.8% of 2241, anti-HIV in 3.8% of 2339 and TPHA in 2.1% of 1932; PPD Skin Test was positive in 17.2% of 1486 subjects. The screening identified 183 subjects with an unknown infection, 56 italian and 127 foreigners to be evaluated for clinical decisions: 35 with HBV chronic infection, 34 with HCV chronic infection, 3 anti-HIV positive, 14 with syphilis and 97 with LTB. CONCLUSIONS: The new approach to the screening, based on a peer-to-peer communication followed by blood sampling on a voluntary basis provided valuable information to improve the healthcare system in each single prison.

Endoprosthesis implantation in the treatment of recurrent urethral stricture: a multicenter study. Sicilian-Calabrian Urology Society.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted by nine urology departments in southern Italy to assess the efficacy of and tolerance to treatment of recurrent urethral stricture using a permanent prosthesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 1992, 99 prostheses have been implanted to treat inflammatory and iatrogenic (seven departments) or all types (two departments) of urethral strictures. The Urolume Wallstent was used in 94 cases. Three centers implanted more than one prosthesis when this was indicated. Local anesthesia was used by six centers, spinal anesthesia by two, and local or general by one. At three centers, urethrotomy was performed immediately prior to implantation; two centers used dilation to 30F, and two centers performed urethrotomy 24 or 36 hours before implantation. The median follow-up is 29.1 months (range 3-53 months). RESULTS: The results were good in 52%, fair in 34%, and poor in 14% of patients. The maximum flow rate increased >75% in 82% of patients. All departments reported complete reepithelialization of the urethra by 6 months. The short-term complications (7-28 days) were perineal discomfort (86%) and dribbling (14%). The long-term complications were painful erection (44%), mucous hyperplasia (44%), recurring stricture (29%), and incontinence (14%). All departments performed resection for hyperplasia in many cases. CONCLUSION: Permanent urethral endoprostheses can produce excellent results in patients with recurrent urethral strictures.

Intrastromal photorefractive keratectomy for myopia by Nd:YLF picosecond laser.

BACKGROUND: An intrastromal photorefractive keratectomy (ISPRK) by Nd:YLF Picoseconds Laser has been performed on 17 eyes with corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse. The purpose of this study was to study the safety and effectiveness of ISPRK using different laser parameters. METHODS: The Neodymiun Yttrium Lithium Fluoride laser system (Nd:YLF) was used to perform the myopic treatment. We studied the effect of pattern depth, the numbers of patterns, the thickness of a single spiral pattern, the distance between two patterns along Z axis, the pattern curvature perpendicular to the Z axis, the energy, the spatial density, and the repetition frequency of the laser pulse. RESULTS: The laser treatment was completed in 12 patients. In the first group at 180 days postoperatively we did not find corneal opacities, anterior chamber or lens opacities. Pupil diameter and reactivity, endothelial cell density, and IOP were normal. Pachymetry showed an average reduction of the central corneal thickness of 99 microns (+/- 14.7 SD). Topography showed an average reduction of the corneal dioptric power of 2 D (+/- 0.4 SD). In the second group at 120 days postoperatively findings were similar. Pachymetry showed an average reduction of the central corneal thickness of 118.5 mu (+/- 12.5 SD). Topography showed an average reduction of the corneal dioptric power of 2.4D (+/- 0.9 SD). CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to change the corneal power by reducing the corneal thickness with the Nd:YLF laser but the predictability of the result is unknown. Because Bowman's layer is intact, there is no scarring or haze.