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Biomedical subjects

E Medda

Publications and source records attributed to E Medda.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Risk factors for the co-occurrence of partial epilepsy, cerebral palsy and mental retardation.

A case-control study (64 cases and 209 controls) was carried out to identify risk factors for the co-occurrence of early-onset partial epilepsy, cerebral palsy and mental retardation in children with and without cerebral malformations. History of epilepsy in first-degree relatives, maternal diseases in the two years before pregnancy, placental pathologies, low gestational age, being small for dates, neonatal convulsions and the need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation were associated with partial epilepsy, cerebral palsy and mental retardation. A family history of epilepsy in first-degree relatives was surprisingly frequent in both groups, suggesting that genetic factors play an important role for children with and without cerebral malformations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Neonatal screening in congenital hypothyroidism in Italy. The National Registry].

Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) began in Italy in 1977 and then progressively developed covering 97% of live births in 1992. The National Register of infants with congenital hypothyroidism was established in 1987 as a project of the Health Ministry and is coordinated by the Italian Institute of Health. The aim of the Register is to provide disease surveillance, to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of neonatal screening and to allow the identification of possible etiological risk factors in congenital hypothyroidism. The results of the Register provided valuable epidemiological informations about congenital hypothyroidism in Italy and evidenced several areas in whom an increased incidence probably caused by iodine deficiency was observed. Discussion of Register data during annual national meetings has allowed an improvement of the screening program with particular regard to the beginning of therapy with L-thyroxine and its dose. Because of the wide spectrum of collected information, the National Register represents a useful tool for developing of collaborative studies concerning some aspects of CH not yet completely elucidated.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1994

[The evaluation of the risk factors for congenital hypothyroidism: the outlook of a case-control study].

The availability of a National Register of congenital hypothyroid infants allowed to perform descriptive studies on characteristics of the cases and the efficiency of the neonatal screening. Continuous and exhaustive recording of data concerning congenital hypothyroidism cases provided valuable epidemiological informations about congenital hypothyroidism in Italy. Moreover, the National Register allowed to develop a network of collaboration which can promote a population based case-control study. As the etiopathogenesis of congenital hypothyroidism has not been completely elucidated, performing of a case-control study can contribute to evidence the most important risk factors of congenital hypothyroidism and to improve the prevention also by prenatal diagnosis of this disease. Screening centers will be involved in the study and questionnaires of the National Register for congenital hypothyroidism will be used to record case and control informations. A biological bank concerning cases, controls and their parents, will be organized.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1993

Family planning in Italy.

In the past 5 years, four knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) surveys on family planning have been organized by the Unit of Population Survey Methodology of the Istituto Superiore di Sanita' (National Institute of Health). These surveys show that during the past 20 years, use of reliable contraceptives in Italy has increased, particularly in the North, encouraged by the more open attitude toward sexual behavior, following legalization of the provision of information on contraception and abortion upon request, and other social and cultural changes. In 1989 and 1991, 25% of women in Central and Southern Italy were using the pill or an IUD. However, the percentage of women not using contraceptives was still high (26% in 1989, and 19% in 1991) and withdrawal was the most widely used method (31% and 33%). The data show large regional differences. The main reasons for not using contraception, in the 1989 study, were fear of side-effects and ignorance, especially in the youngest and oldest women. Those least likely to use modern contraception were the young, the ill-educated and the nulliparous women. Lack of information seems to be the main problem in Italy. In fact, the 5044 women interviewed showed a medium level of knowledge of contraception, with only 63% who could identify correctly the fecund period in the menstrual cycle. However, their attitude toward the use of modern contraception was positive; 65% of the women interviewed said they would recommend the Pill or an IUD to a friend, and 10% of them would recommend condoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1993

Thyroid hypofunction related with the progression of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Thyroid function was evaluated in 119 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients at different stages of infection, compared with euthyroid normal subjects and hepatitis C virus infected blood donors as control groups. The low T3 state, well documented in severe nonthyroidal illnesses, was not found in these HIV infected patients. They showed lower FT4 levels and higher TSH and TBG values than euthyroid normal controls. These findings suggested a thyroid hypofunction becoming more evident with the progression of the infection as also supported by the presence of antithyroid autoantibodies mainly found in the symptomatic stages of the infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Endocrine response to HIV infection. Involvement of thyroid gland.

Endocrine dysfunctions were associated at different stages of infection, including those early in the course of HIV infection. In fact adrenal insufficiency, hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism, hyponatremia, reduced gonadotropins levels, gonadal abnormalities and changes in hormone-binding proteins were reported in HIV infection. Also a thyroid involvement with autoimmune phenomena was observed in HIV infection by several studies giving different explanations of altered thyroid conditions. These findings suggest an effect of HIV on endocrine system. Recognition of endocrine manifestations in these patients may contribute to better characterize different stages of the infection and improve the management of HIV patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

[National Register of congenital hypothyroidism].

The results of five years activity of the National Register of children with Congenital Hypothyroidism (NRCH) have been evaluated. NRCH was established in Italy in 1987, as a pilot project of Health Ministry. All Italian Centers in charge of the screening, treatment and follow-up of CH are involved in the program. The results have provided further epidemiological informations about CH in Italy and have evidenced some aspects in the screening organization which had to be improved. Discussion of Register data in annual meetings has recently allowed to obtain an improvement especially for the beginning of treatment and the used dose of therapy.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Occurrence of anti-thyroid autoantibodies in children vertically infected with HIV-1.

Autoimmune phenomena, especially occurrence of non organ-specific autoantibodies, are common in congenitally acquired HIV infection, mostly in the symptomatic stages of the disease. Anti-thyroid autoantibodies detected in adult patients represent the only type of organ-specific autoantibodies reported in HIV infection. As far as we know, occurrence of these autoantibodies has not been observed in HIV infected children. In this study thyroid biochemical pattern and possible occurrence of anti-thyroid autoantibodies were investigated in 40 vertically HIV infected, 18 seroreverted and 22 healthy children. 34% of HIV infected symptomatic children showed anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Asymptomatic patients, seroreverted and healthy controls did not show any anti-thyroid antibodies at the time of the study. High Tg levels were observed in 38% of the 40 HIV infected patients and high TSH concentrations were found in 27.5% of the HIV children. High TSH values were more frequently observed in the infected children with moderate or severe immunocompromised status. Thyroxine binding globulin levels were high in 68% of the HIV children and in 22% of the seroreverted. The finding of anti-thyroid autoantibodies in congenital HIV infected children confirms the thyroid's involvement in HIV infection and provides more information about the wide spectrum of autoimmune phenomena observed in the infection.

Autoantibodies↗