Acute chest syndrome in children with sickle cell disease: Data from a national AIEOP cohort identify priority areas of intervention in a hub-and-spoke system

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a frequent cause of hospitalization in sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite advances in acute care, many settings still lack knowledge about ACS best practices. After the AIEOP Guidelines were published in 2012, suggesting standardized management in Italy, a retrospective study was performed to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways of ACS in children. From 2013 to 2018, 208 ACS episodes were presented by 122/583 kids in 11 centres. 73 were male, mean age 10.9 years, 85% African, 92% HbSS or Sβ°. In our hub-and-spoke system, a good adherence to Guidelines was documented, but discrepancies between reference centres and general hospitals were noted. Improvement is needed for timely transfer to reference centres, use of incentive spirometry, oxygen therapy and pain management.

Absence of blood donors' anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pre-storage leukoreduced red blood cell units indicates no role of passive immunity for blood recipients

Transfer of vaccine antibodies (Ab) from donors to recipients after transfusion of packed red blood cells (RBC) is supposed, thus affecting the recipients' response to vaccinations. In this prospective study, SARS-CoV-2 IgG level in donors' serum and RBC supernatant samples was assessed. Among 346 subjects, 280 were referred for hyperimmune plasma donation and 30 for whole blood donations. All units underwent pre-storage filtration, and residual plasma volume was 18±18 mL. The mean total IgG and IgM levels were 171.43 ± 48.79 and 11.43 ± 10.69 mg/dL respectively, with significant reduction after plasma depletion and filtration (IgG 5.86 ± 5.2 and IgM 1.43 ± 3.78, p < 0.05). Anti-COVID-19 Ab were identified in serum of 28/30 (93.5%) blood donors but were absent in all blood units. The mean value of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG level in donors' serum samples and in RBC units was 8.80 S/C (range 0.01-23.4) and 0.11 (range 0.01-0.37) S/C, respectively (p<0.05). This study shows deplasmation and leukodepletion of RBC units ensured removal of IgG content and no red blood cell unit was reactive for anti-COVID-19 antibodies even from donors with high serum titre. These findings demonstrate that deplasmated and leukodepleted RBCs are not to be considered blood products containing substantial amounts of immune globulin, and differently from other blood derived-products containing Ab, transfusions with deplasmated and leukodepleted RBCs do not require delayed vaccinations and a revision of current recommendations is requested.

Early splenectomy in sickle cell disease: another piece of the puzzle

Not available.

Recommendations for the management of acute immune thrombocytopenia in children. A Consensus Conference from the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

BACKGROUND

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired immune-mediated bleeding disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia. Its estimated yearly incidence in the pediatric population is 1.9-6.4/100,000. ITP in children is usually a self-limiting and benign disorder. The clinical management of children with ITP often remains controversial, as robust randomized trials on the management of this disorder are lacking. Treatments vary widely in clinical practice and existing guidelines from hematology societies on clinical management offer indications based largely on expert opinion rather than strong evidence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Coagulative Disorder Working Group of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) developed this document to collect shared expert opinions on the management of newly diagnosed ITP, updating previous guidelines and providing recommendations to pediatricians. Each statement has been given a score expressing the strength of evidence, appropriateness and agreement among participants.

RESULTS

Clear-cut definitions of the clinical phases of the disease and clinical response are stated. Recommendations are given regarding the classification of bleeding symptoms, evaluation of bleeding risk, diagnosis, and prognostic factors. Specific recommendations for treatment include indications for first-line (intravenous immunoglobulins, steroids) and second-line (combined therapy, thrombopoietin receptor agonists, immunosuppressive drugs, rituximab) therapeutic agents, as well as hemorrhagic emergency and supportive treatment, including emergency splenectomy. The optimal follow-up schedule, the relation between ITP and vaccines and health-related quality-of-life issues are also discussed.

DISCUSSION

The panel achieved broad consensus on issues related to how to treat children with newly diagnosed ITP, providing a comprehensive review of all relevant clinical aspects.

Incidence of cancer and related deaths in hemoglobinopathies: A follow-up of 4631 patients between 1970 and 2021

BACKGROUND

The correlation between thalassemia and malignancies other than hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the possible relationship between other hemoglobinopathies and tumor risk have been poorly evaluated.

METHODS

Eight Italian specialized centers evaluated the incidence of malignant neoplasms in hemoglobinopathies as well as their sites and features. The study cohort included 4631 patients followed between 1970 and 2021 (transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, 55.6%; non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia, 17.7%; sickle cell disease, 17.6%; hemoglobin H disease, 8.3%).

RESULTS

A total of 197 diagnoses of cancer were reported (incidence rate, 442 cases per 100,000 person-years). The liver was the most frequent site of tumors in both sexes, with a higher incidence (190 cases per 100,000 person-years) in comparison with the general population found in all types of hemoglobinopathies (except hemoglobin H disease). In recent years, tumors have become the second cause of death in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia. A lower risk of breast and prostate cancer was observed in the whole group of patients with hemoglobinopathies. The first cancer diagnoses dated back to the 1980s, and the incidence rate sharply increased after the 2000s. However, although the incidence rate of cancers of all sites but the liver continued to show an increasing trend, the incidence of HCC showed stability.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide novel insights into the relationship between cancer and hemoglobinopathies and suggest that the overall risk is not increased in these patients. HCC has been confirmed as the most frequent tumor, but advances in chelation and the drugs that have led to the eradication of hepatitis C may explain the recent steadiness in the number of diagnoses that is reported here.

[The Management of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Haemoglobinopathies: Good Clinical Practice of the Italian Society of Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies (SITE).]

BACKGROUND

The treatment of endocrinopathies in haemoglobinopathies is a continually expanding research area; therefore, recommendations supporting the appropriateness of treatments are a pressing need for the medical community.

METHODS

The Management Committee of SITE selected and gathered a multidisciplinary and multiprofessional team including experts in haemoglobinopathies and experts in endocrinopathies, who have been flanked by experts with methodological and organizational expertise, in order to formulate recommendations based on the available scientific evidence integrated by clinical experience. The project followed the systematic approach for the production of clinical practice guidelines according to the methodology suggested by the National Center for Clinical Excellence, Quality and Safety of Care (CNEC).

RESULTS

Out of 14 topics 100 clinical questions were addressed and 206 recommendations were elaborated. Strength of recommendations, panel agreement, general description of the topic, and interpretation of evidence were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Good Practice Recommendations are the final outcome of translational research and allow to transfer the latest research knowledge to the daily clinical practice of endocrine complications in haemoglobinopathies.

Thalassaemia is paradoxically associated with a reduced risk of in-hospital complications and mortality in COVID-19: Data from an international registry

Although numerous patient-specific co-factors have been shown to be associated with worse outcomes in COVID-19, the prognostic value of thalassaemic syndromes in COVID-19 patients remains poorly understood. We studied the outcomes of 137 COVID-19 patients with a history of transfusion-dependent thalassaemia (TDT) and transfusion independent thalassaemia (TIT) extracted from a large international cohort and compared them with the outcomes from a matched cohort of COVID-19 patients with no history of thalassaemia. The mean age of thalassaemia patients included in our study was 41 ± 16 years (48.9% male). Almost 81% of these patients suffered from TDT requiring blood transfusions on a regular basis. 38.7% of patients were blood group O. Cardiac iron overload was documented in 6.8% of study patients, whereas liver iron overload was documented in 35% of study patients. 40% of thalassaemia patients had a history of splenectomy. 27.7% of study patients required hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. Amongst the hospitalized patients, one patient died (0.7%) and one patient required intubation. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was required in almost 5% of study patients. After adjustment for age-, sex- and other known risk factors (cardiac disease, kidney disease and pulmonary disease), the rate of in-hospital complications (supplemental oxygen use, admission to an intensive care unit for CPAP therapy or intubation) and all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the thalassaemia group compared to the matched cohort with no history of thalassaemia. Amongst thalassaemia patients in general, the TIT group exhibited a higher rate of hospitalization compared to the TDT group (p = 0.001). In addition, the rate of complications such as acute kidney injury and need for supplemental oxygen was significantly higher in the TIT group compared to the TDT group. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age and history of heart or kidney disease were all found to be independent risk factors for increased in-hospital, all-cause mortality, whereas the presence of thalassaemia (either TDT or TIT) was found to be independently associated with reduced all-cause mortality. The presence of thalassaemia in COVID-19 patients was independently associated with lower in-hospital, all-cause mortality and few in-hospital complications in our study. The pathophysiology of this is unclear and needs to be studied in vitro and in animal models.

Good Clinical Practice of the Italian Society of Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies (SITE) for the Management of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Haemoglobinopathies

Background: The treatment of endocrinopathies in haemoglobinopathies is a continually expanding research area; therefore, recommendations supporting the appropriateness of treatments are a pressing need for the medical community. Methods: The Management Committee of SITE selected and gathered a multidisciplinary and multi-professional team, including experts in haemoglobinopathies and experts in endocrinopathies, who have been flanked by experts with methodological and organizational expertise, in order to formulate recommendations based on the available scientific evidence integrated by personal clinical experience. The project followed the systematic approach for the production of clinical practice guidelines according to the methodology suggested by the National Center for Clinical Excellence, Quality and Safety of Care (CNEC). Results: Out of 14 topics, 100 clinical questions were addressed, and 206 recommendations were elaborated on. The strength of recommendations, panel agreement, a short general description of the topic, and the interpretation of evidence were reported. Conclusions: Good Practice Recommendations are the final outcome of translational research and allow one to transfer to the daily clinical practice of endocrine complications in haemoglobinopathies.

Transfusional Approach in Multi-Ethnic Sickle Cell Patients: Real-World Practice Data From a Multicenter Survey in Italy

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a worldwide distributed hereditary red cell disorder characterized by recurrent acute vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs and anemia). Gold standard treatments are hydroxycarbamide (HC) and/or different red blood cell (RBC) transfusion regimens to limit disease progression. Here, we report a retrospective study on 1,579 SCD patients (median age 23 years; 802 males/777 females), referring to 34 comprehensive Italian centers for hemoglobinopathies. Although we observed a similar proportion of Caucasian (47.9%) and African (48.7%) patients, Italian SCD patients clustered into two distinct overall groups: children of African descent and adults of Caucasian descent. We found a subset of SCD patients requiring more intensive therapy with a combination of HC plus chronic transfusion regimen, due to partial failure of HC treatment alone in preventing or reducing sickle cell-related acute manifestations. Notably, we observed a higher use of acute transfusion approaches for SCD patients of African descent when compared to Caucasian subjects. This might be related to (i) age of starting HC treatment; (ii) patients' low social status; (iii) patients' limited access to family practitioners; or (iv) discrimination. In our cohort, alloimmunization was documented in 135 patients (8.5%) and was more common in Caucasians (10.3%) than in Africans (6.6%). Alloimmunization was similar in male and female and more frequent in adults than in children. Our study reinforces the importance of donor-recipient exact matching for ABO, Rhesus, and Kell antigen systems for RBC compatibility as a winning strategy to avoid or limit alloimmunization events that negatively impact the clinical management of SCD-related severe complications.

Comparison of two home-based polysomnography tools for OSAS diagnosis: a cost-minimization analysis

 

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is an underdiagnosed chronic disease with a high prevalence in adults. It is becoming an important social problem since it is associated with a significant adverse impact on quality of life and life expectancy. Overnight polysomnography, performed in a sleep laboratory (LabPSG), is considered the diagnostic standard. Home complete PSG (HoPSG) could represent an alternative to LabPSG for patients who want to avoid the overnight stay at a sleep center. The aim of this study was to assess the economic impact of two alternative HoPSG diagnostic techniques in the diagnosis of OSAS: the standard one versus the telemonitoring approach. The observational study was designed as a cost-minimization analysis adopting a healthcare perspective. The time horizon was 6 months (January 2021 - June 2021), thus no discounting was necessary. Direct medical costs, expressed in 2021 euros, were estimated through a micro-costing method while indirect costs were quantified adopting the Human Capital Approach. To explore the uncertainty of critical parameters, a one-way sensitivity analysis was run. Considering the direct costs, the telemonitoring HoPSG was estimated to cost around €55 less than the standard approach. The cost savings sharply increases taking into account the indirect costs that amounted to €90 million and €365 million for the telemonitoring and the standard approach, respectively. Sensitivity analyses results did not significantly differ from the base-case scenario. The diagnosis of OSAS is presently time-consuming, labor-intensive and costly. The adoption of digital health solutions as telemedicine has the potentiality to ease the diagnosis, to improve the access to health services, to reduce both direct and indirect costs, and to enhance the efficiency of healthcare facilities becoming a crucial tool in addressing the actual public health challenges.

Key messages

The telemonitoring Home complete polysomnography is cost-saving compared with the standard approach. Telemedicine has the huge potential to overcome public health challenges as increases in chronic disease in an ageing society and the associated burden in healthcare costs.

Association of Immune Thrombocytopenia and Celiac Disease in Children: A Retrospective Case Control Study

Objective:

The association between celiac disease (CD) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to characterize the coexistence of these two diseases in Italian children.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective multicenter study investigating the occurrence of CD in 28 children with ITP diagnosed from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2019.

Results:

The first diagnosis was ITP in 57.1% and CD in 32.1% of patients. In 3 patients (10.7%), the two diagnoses were simultaneous. All the potential and silent cases of CD in our cohort were diagnosed in the groups of “ITP first” and “simultaneous diagnosis”. In all children ITP was mild, and in 2 out of 8 not recovered from ITP at the time of CD diagnosis a normalization of platelet counts (>100,000/μL) occurred 3 and 5 months after starting a gluten-free diet, respectively.

Conclusion:

We think that screening for CD should be considered in children with ITP regardless of the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Furthermore, some patients may recover from ITP after starting a gluten-free diet.

Disease burden and quality of life of in children with sickle cell disease in Italy: time to be considered a priority

The objective of the present article is to highlight the need for attention to Quality of Life of patients with Sickle Cell Disease living in Italy. The transformation of sickle cell disease from a severe life-threatening disease of childhood into a chronic, lifelong condition due to the significant improvements in care and treatment options, imposes increasing new challenges to health care providers and patients. Patients now face physical, psychosocial and emotional challenges throughout their lives. They generally have to receive chronic treatments and regular multidisciplinary monitoring which increase social and emotional burden rendering adherence to treatment sometimes complicated. A chronic disease impacts all aspects of patients’ lives, not only the physical one, but also the social and emotional aspects as well as the educational and working life. The entire “Quality of Life” is affected and recent evidence demonstrates the importance quality of life has for patients with chronic illness. The results of this review focus on emerging data regarding quality of life across the lifespan of patients with Sickle Cell Disease, and highlight the need for more action in this field in Italy, where recent immigration and improved care determine an increasing population of children with sickle cell disease being taken into long term care.

Response to Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine in Transfusion-Dependent Patients

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) still determine significant morbidity and mortality, although a highly effective vaccine is available. Postponing the MMR vaccination until 6 months after the last red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is recommended, but this delay is incompatible with chronic transfusions. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of blood transfusions on the immunogenicity of the MMR vaccine. In this observational study, a group of 45 transfusion- dependent (TD) patients was compared to 24 non-transfusion-dependent (NTD) patients. Immunity to measles was achieved in 35 (78%) TD and 21 (88%) NTD subjects (p = 0.7), to mumps in 36 (80%) TD and 21 (88%) NTD subjects (p = 0.99), and to rubella in 40 (89%) TD and 23 (96%) NTD subjects (p = 0.99). No significant difference was observed in the number of non-immune individuals or those with doubtful protection between the two groups (p > 0.05). The mean IgG value, assayed in 50 pre-storage leukoreduced RBC units, was 0.075 ± 0.064 mg/mL, ten times lower than the level assumed in blood units and considered detrimental to the immune response in TD patients. This work shows a favorable response to MMR vaccination in TD and NTDT patients and paves the way for further larger studies assessing the impact of chronic transfusions on vaccine response.

Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) and normalized difference image (NDI) data processing: An advanced method to map collagen in archaeological bones

In the present study, an innovative and highly efficient near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) method is proposed to provide spectral maps able to reveal collagen distribution in large-size bones, also offering semi-quantitative estimations. A recently introduced method for the construction of chemical maps, based on Normalized Difference Images (NDI), is declined in an innovative approach, through the exploitation of the NDI values computed for each pixel of the hyperspectral image to localize collagen and to extract information on its content by a direct comparison with known reference samples. The developed approach addresses an urgent issue of the analytical chemistry applied to bioarcheology researches, which rely on well-preserved collagen in bones to obtain key information on chronology, paleoecology and taxonomy. Indeed, the high demand for large-sample datasets and the consequent application of a wide variety of destructive analytical methods led to the considerable destruction of precious bone samples. NIR-HSI pre-screening allows researchers to properly select the sampling points for subsequent specific analyses, to minimize costs and time and to preserve integrity of archaeological bones (which are available in a very limited amount), providing further opportunities to understand our past.

Risk factors for endocrine complications in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients on chelation therapy with deferasirox: a risk assessment study from a multicentre nation-wide cohort

Transfusion-dependent patients typically develop iron-induced cardiomyopathy, liver disease, and endocrine complications. We aimed to estimate the incidence of endocrine disorders in transfusiondependent thalassemia (TDT) patients during long-term iron-chelation therapy with deferasirox (DFX). We developed a multi-center follow-up study of 426 TDT patients treated with once-daily DFX for a median duration of 8 years, up to 18.5 years. At baseline, 118, 121, and 187 patients had 0, 1, or ≥2 endocrine diseases respectively. 104 additional endocrine diseases were developed during the follow-up. The overall risk of developing a new endocrine complication within 5 years was 9.7% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 6.3–13.1). Multiple Cox regression analysis identified three key predictors: age showed a positive log-linear effect (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for 50% increase 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1–1.3, P=0.005), the serum concentration of thyrotropin showed a positive linear effect (adjusted HR for 1 mIU/L increase 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.4, P<0.001) regardless the kind of disease incident, while the number of previous endocrine diseases showed a negative linear effect: the higher the number of diseases at baseline the lower the chance of developing further diseasess (adjusted HR for unit increase 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4–0.7, P<0.001). Age and thyrotropin had similar effect sizes across the categories of baseline diseases. The administration of levothyroxine as a covariate did not change the estimates. Although in DFX-treated TDT patients the risk of developing an endocrine complication is generally lower than the previously reported risk, there is considerable risk variation and the burden of these complications remains high. We developed a simple risk score chart enabling clinicians to estimate their patients’ risk. Future research will look at increasing the amount of variation explained from our model and testing further clinical and laboratory predictors, including the assessment of direct endocrine magnetic resonance imaging.

Teaching parotid surgery to ENT residents in the era of new technologies: an ex-vivo ovine model

Surgical training has recently assumed a central role in the otolaryngology field, and the necessity to train residents and fellows' skills in a progressive manner has led to an incredible widespread of ex-vivo animal models for several surgical procedures. To report our experience with an ex-vivo ovine model for parotid gland dissection in a training context. A junior resident (PGY-1) and a post-graduate student with no experience in parotid surgery were guided by a skilled surgeon in the parotid gland dissection for each step of the procedure. Three different adult lamb heads were used for this feasibility study. A specific preparation of the model was performed before the training session. Similarity between the ovine model and the human were recorded. The resident and the post-graduate student were able to carry out a complete parotid gland dissection under supervision. The correct identification of surgical landmarks has led to a proper surgical simulation. The facial nerve dissection was adequately performed, and all branches were isolated. Parotid surgery training on an ex-vivo ovine model is useful, easy repeatable, and low cost. The ovine model presented in this study has similarities in size, structure, and tissue consistence to the human parotid, making it an ideal model for residents to simulate parotid surgery.

Epidemiology of odontogenic sinusitis: an old, underestimated disease, even today. A narrative literature review

Odontogenic sinusitis is an inflammatory condition of the paranasal sinuses resulting from dental pathology. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the current literature on the dimensions of the phenomenon, quality of life, economic considerations, and approaches to odontogenic sinusitis. A narrative review was conducted following the methodology proposed by Green et al. (2006). There appears to have been an increase in the incidence over the last decade. Nowadays, evidence in the literature reports that 10-12% up to 40% of all sinusitis cases are associated with odontogenic infections. The iatrogenia was by far the leading cause of odontogenic sinusitis (55.97%) while the first and second molars were the most affected teeth with an incidence of 35.6% and 22%. If not properly diagnosed and treated, these infections may lead to a rapid spread, giving rise to potentially life-threatening complications with a significant general health-related Quality of Life detriment. The proper management of patients in a pre-implant logical setting leads to substantial savings, ranging from €38 million to €152 million, for the Italian National Health Service. Odontogenic sinusitis management should involve shared decisionmaking between the otolaryngologist, dental provider, and patient, where the benefits and risks of dental treatment and endoscopic sinus surgery are discussed.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in non-surgical treatment of periodontitis

Periodontitis represents a major problem for patients, since it is not possible to eliminate the bacteria that are responsible for this pathology with a pharmacological treatment. The present study included forty-four patients with periodontitis, who had undergone disinfection via photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a laser source having a 635 nm wavelength associated with a photoactivable substance (methylene blue). Clinical assessment of plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), calculus index (CI), gingival recession (REC) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at base line, 1 month (4 weeks) after treatment and again 3 months (12 weeks) after treatment, while site radiography (RX) and microbiological test (MT) were recorded at base line and 3 months (12 weeks) after treatment. The outcomes show a good efficacy of the PDT in the elimination of the periodontal pathogenic microflora and in the improvement of the clinical parameters considered: from the base line to the final check after 12 weeks it has been observed a reduction in REC of about 16.9%, a reduction of CAL of about 17.85%, a reduction of the BoP of about 93.3%, a reduction of the PD of about 17%, a reduction of the CI of about 66.3%, a reduction of PI of about 44%, and microbiologically a reduction of the total amount of bacteria with proven parodontopathic properties (red complex bacteria) of about 58.74%. Within the limits of the present study, PDT can be reasonably considered as a good carrier that leads to significant improvements in the parameters (clinical and microbiological) considered.

Evaluation of the periodontal healing of the second mandibular molar distal site following insertion of PRF in the third molar post extraction alveolus

The aim of this study was to evaluate the periodontal healing of the distal sites of the mandibular second molars, comparing the extraction therapy of the third molar with and without PRF adjunct into the postextraction alveolus. The study sample was composed by 40 consecutive patients who underwent extraction of mandibular third molars. Patients were divided in two groups: the last 20 participants who have only been subjected to extraction (spontaneous healing group, SHG) and the first 20 patients who had PRF adjunct (PRF group, PG). Healing was evaluated by analyzing the variations in terms of PPD (Probing Pocket Depth), REC (Recession), CAL (Level of Clinical Attachment), BoP (Bleeding on Probing) and GI (Gingival Index) from Baseline to further follow-ups at 1 month and 3 months. The disto-vestibular (DV) and disto-lingual (DL) PPD values of the second mandibular molar were measured at Baseline and after three months in the two groups. Patients of the PG group showed lower PPD values at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively: DV: 3.6±1.09 - DL: 3.5±1.15 and DV: 2.5±0.83 - DL: 2.6±1.09, respectively. Patients belonging to the SHG also showed lower PPD values, reporting respectively the following DV values after 3 months: 2.7±0.86 - DL: 2.75±0. 85. However, there was no statistically significant difference comparing the results obtained in PG and SHG groups at 1 and 3 months (p>0.05). The insertion of PRF inside the post-extraction alveolus of the mandibular third molar leads to limited improvement in terms of periodontal healing, compared to extraction therapy only.

Non-implantable bone conduction device for hearing loss: a systematic review

There are different treatment options that employ a bone conduction transmission of the sound, for different types of hearing loss, as well as hearing aids, medical intervention via prostheses and surgically implanted medical devices. A middle ear disease causes a decline in the conductive mechanism of hearing. The current possibilities of compensating Conductive Hearing Loss (CHL) solutions include both surgical and no surgical Bone Conduction Devices (BCDs). Due to the invasiveness of the implantable devices and their specific requirements in terms of the temporal bone anatomy, non-implantable BCDs are in some cases preferred in the clinical routine. The goal of this review is to investigate the beneficial effects and safety of non-implantable BC devices, analysing the different type of solutions found so far. A systematic review was performed to identify all the clinical studies evaluating the use of non-invasive BCDs. A qualitative analysis based on data extracted was conducted. From 37 articles, 11 prospective studies and 1 retrospective study were selected for a full analysis, for a total of 173 patients from 4- to 77-years-old. Eight of these studies included adult patients, while the other four are paediatric studies. All the studies analyse non-implantable BCDs commonly used in case of CHL, sensorineural HL and single side deafness. Three of them analyse an adhesive device, six compare the adhesive device with a sound processor mounted on a support fitted on the head, one compare it also with an implant, one analyse the sound processor mounted on different type of support, and one compare different type of sound processor. All the studies showed advantages from the use of non-invasive BCDs, both on adults and children. The non-invasive BCDs analysed in this review show good results both from the audiological and subjective point of view and could be considered a safe and effective solution for patients suffering from conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss or single-side deafness. More studies are required to confirm these promising results.

Antimicrobial efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in periodontitis and peri-implantitis: A systematic review

To systematically review the literature regarding the antimicrobial effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on multi-bacterial species in periodontitis and peri-implantitis disease. The addressed focused question was: "Does PDT show antimicrobial efficacy against multi-bacterial species colonization in periodontal pockets and on the surface of dental implants?" Electronic databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE up to and including December 2018 were searched. Of the ninety studied analyzed, seven were included, four for the study of PDT in peri-implantitis disease and three for periodontal disease. All studies reported the multibacterial species outcomes after the application of antimicrobial PDT. All studies showed a significant reduction in the bacterial load, both in studies based on periodontal and peri-implantary disease, with an average reduction of the total amount of bacterial load of 99.3%. Moreover, the change in clinical parameters is equally important, with an average reduction of PPD of 1.01 mm (from 4.92 to 3.49 ± SD with a percentage reduction of 29%); of BoP of 50%; of RCAL of 1.19 mm (from 9.93 to 8.74, with an average percentage reduction of 12%); of PI of 0.3 (from 1 to 0.7 with a percentage reduction of 30%) and of GI of 1.2 (from 1.8 to 0.6 with a percentage reduction of 66.6%). This review demonstrated significant reduction in the bacterial load in periodontal pocket and dental implant surface with the use of PDT. The results of this review should be considered preliminary and further studies with standardized laser parameters are needed to obtain strong conclusions.

The efficacy of Barbed Sutures for Anterior Pharyngoplasty: technical aspects and preliminary results

After the first experiences with the Barbed Sutures (BS) in sleep surgery, we present the Modular Barbed Anterior Pharyngoplasty (M.B.A.Ph.), a functional tenso-structural reconstruction of the soft palate, as a surgical solution for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to antero-posterior collapse at the drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) for snoring and mild-moderate OSA. The action of the BS is sustained over time by means of solid and stable tissue scarring. M.B.A.Ph. avoids palatal fibromuscular resection and minimize iatrogenic bleeding (bloodless surgery). The technique is described in detail and some preliminary results are presented.

Manual erythroexchange in sickle cell disease: multicenter validation of a protocol predictive of volume to exchange and hemoglobin values

Manual erythroexchange (MEEX) was proven to be effective and safe in the management of sickle cell disease (SCD). The goal is to quickly reduce the percentage of hemoglobin S (HbS%). A national survey of the Italian Society for Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies (SITE) observed a great variability among MEEX protocols none of which were found to be predictive of the values of HbS% and hemoglobin (Hb) after the exchange. Two equations to estimate the HbS% and Hb values to be obtained after MEEX were developed based on the results of the MEEX procedures in place in the centers participating in the present study. A standard protocol was subsequently defined to evaluate the volumes to exchange to obtain the target values of HbS% and Hb. The protocol was tested in 261 MEEX performed in SCD patients followed in the 5 participating centers that belong to the Italian Hemoglobinopathy Comprehensive Care Network, with the support of the SITE. The results showed a correlation between the estimated and measured values of HbS% and Hb (R_p 0.95 and 0.65 respectively, p < 0.001). A negligible bias was found for the prediction of HbS% and a bias of 1 g/dl for Hb. From consecutive MEEX, a rate of increase of HbS% between two exchanges of around 0.4% per day (p < 0.001) was measured. This protocol was shown to be effective and safe, as all patients reached the target value of HbS%. All the MEEX procedures were carried out with single venous access. No adverse events or reactions such as hypotension or electrolyte imbalance were reported nor were any complaints concerning the procedures received from patients.

Quality of Life of Patients with Mandibular Third Molars and Mild Pericoronitis. A Comparison between Two Different Treatments: Extraction or Periodontal Approach

Background: The extraction of the mandibular third molar is one of the most frequent intervention in oral surgery. A common indication for wisdom tooth extraction is represented by pericoronitis, which can determine discomfort and pain in patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of patients’ quality of life by comparing a surgical approach with a periodontal approach. Methods: We evaluated 82 patients diagnosed with pericoronitis that occurred at the third molar site. In total, 41 of them received a periodontal treatment and 41 were treated by extraction. The quality of life (QoL) of the patients was assessed by using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) index. Results: A total of 82 patients were included in the study and were followed up for 6 months. Of the patients, 41 received a periodontal treatment and 41 underwent surgical extraction. At the baseline, the OHIP-14 scores of the surgical group were higher (19.71, SD 9.90) than the periodontal group (14.41, SD 8.71). At 1 week, there was a reduction in terms of OHIP-14 in both groups, but the periodontal group showed lower values (12.3, SD 8.11). Long-term follow-up showed a reduction of the OHIP-14 values, with a difference in favor of the surgical group (0.10, SD 0.45). However, there was a reduction in OHIP-14 scores in both groups. Conclusion: Although the periodontal treatment offered a rapid improvement in terms of quality of life during the first week after the treatment, after 1 month and 6 months, the extraction of the mandibular third molar extraction remained the best treatment, removing the occurrence of re-inflammation of the site.

Effects of Germline VHL Deficiency on Growth, Metabolism, and Mitochondria

Mutations in VHL, which encodes von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL), are associated with divergent diseases. We describe a patient with marked erythrocytosis and prominent mitochondrial alterations associated with a severe germline VHL deficiency due to homozygosity for a novel synonymous mutation (c.222C→A, p.V74V). The condition is characterized by early systemic onset and differs from Chuvash polycythemia (c.598C→T) in that it is associated with a strongly reduced growth rate, persistent hypoglycemia, and limited exercise capacity. We report changes in gene expression that reprogram carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, impair muscle mitochondrial respiratory function, and uncouple oxygen consumption from ATP production. Moreover, we identified unusual intermitochondrial connecting ducts. Our findings add unexpected information on the importance of the VHL-hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) axis to human phenotypes. (Funded by Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro and others.).

Minimally invasive surgery under local anaesthesia for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: our experience in older adults

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to report our experience with a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, performed in a day-surgery setting under local anaesthesia.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 30 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps was conducted. Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 and modified Lund-Kennedy scores were collected. Intra- and post-operative pain was evaluated using a 10-point visual analogue scale.

RESULTS

The mean Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 score decreased from 41.8 ± 15.8 pre-operatively to 13.3 ± 9.5 post-operatively (p < 0.001). Accordingly, the mean endoscopic score decreased from 6.8 ± 1.8 to 0.2 ± 0.7 (p < 0.001). The mean intra-operative pain score was 2.9 ± 3.2, and 29 patients (96.7 per cent) reported no pain in the post-operative period (visual analogue scale score = 0).

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms that minimally invasive surgery represents a safe, repeatable procedure that results in remarkable subjective and objective improvement, without intra- and post-operative pain or discomfort.

Asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms in beta-thalassemia: a three-year follow-up report

Background

No information is currently available regarding the natural history of asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms in beta-thalassemia, raising several concerns about their proper management.

Methods

We performed a prospective longitudinal three-year-long MR-angiography study on nine beta-thalassemia patients (mean-age 40.3 ± 7.5, six females, 8 transfusion dependent) harboring ten asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms. In addition, we analyzed the clinical files of all adult beta-thalassemia patients (160 patients including those followed with MR-angiography, 121 transfusion dependent) referring to our Centers between 2014 and 2019 searching for history of subarachnoid hemorrhage or history of symptomatic intracranial aneurysms.

Results

At the end of the three-year-long follow-up, no patient showed any change in the size and shape of the aneurysms, none presented new intracranial aneurysms or artery stenoses, none showed new brain vascular-like parenchymal lesions or enlargement of the preexisting ones. Besides, in our database of all adult beta-thalassemia patients, no one had history of subarachnoid hemorrhage or history of symptomatic intracranial aneurysms.

Conclusions

Incidental asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms do not seem to be associated, in beta-thalassemia, with an increased risk of complications (enlargement or rupture) at least in the short term period, helping to optimize human and economic resources and patient compliance during their complex long-lasting management.

Headache in beta-thalassemia: An Italian multicenter clinical, conventional MRI and MR-angiography case-control study

OBJECTIVES

A strikingly increased headache prevalence was recently noted in Sri Lankan beta-thalassemia patients, raising several concerns regarding long-term neurological involvement in this condition.

METHODS

We interviewed on headache occurrence and characteristics 102 Italian beta-thalassemia patients and 129 healthy controls. 3T-MRI, MR-angiography, MR-venography, cognitive and psychiatric findings were considered.

RESULTS

Headache was diagnosed in 39/102 (38.2%) beta-thalassemia patients without significant phenotype-related differences and in 51/129 (39.5%) controls. Patients and controls did not differ significantly regarding episode number (5.9 ± 6.2 vs 5.4 ± 4.4 days/month), subjective severity-score (6.8 ± 1.4 vs 7.1 ± 1.3), age-at-onset (24.3 ± 13.0 vs 19.5 ± 9.6 years) and headache-subtype rate. No main demographic, clinical or laboratory data was associated with headache but female gender. Headache was not associated with white matter lesions (number or maximal diameter), intracranial aneurysms, intracranial artery stenoses or venous sinus thrombosis. Cognitive and psychiatric evaluations were worse in beta-thalassemia, however, headache did not correlate with full-scale Intelligence Quotient (75.4 ± 18.0 vs 76.7 ± 15.3, with and without headache, respectively) or Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores (29.1 ± 2.7 vs 28.5 ± 3.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Among Italian beta-thalassemia patients, headache does not seem to be more common or severe than in the general population. In addition, patients with headache do not seem to present increased conventional MRI, MR-angiography and cognitive/psychiatric changes.

An Educational Study Promoting the Delivery of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Screening in Paediatric Sickle Cell Disease: A European Multi-Centre Perspective

Background: Effective stroke prevention in sickle cell disease (SCD) is recommended for children with sickle cell anaemia. Effective implementation relies on the correct stratification of stroke risk using Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (TCD), prior to committing children to long-term treatment with transfusion. Nevertheless, less than 50% of children with SCD in Europe receive annual TCD—one of the reasons being a lack of trained personnel. The present European multi-centre study was designed to promote the standardisation and delivery of effective screening. Methods: Fifty-five practitioners from differing professional backgrounds were recruited to the TCD training program. The impact of the training programme was evaluated in three European haematology clinics by comparing stroke risk classification and middle cerebral artery time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMMV) obtained from a cohort of 555 patients, before and after training. Results: 42% (23/55) of trainees successfully completed the program. The TAMMV, used to predict stroke risk at each Centre, demonstrated the highest values in Centre 3 (p < 0.0001) before training. The imaging-TCD TAMMV was also higher in Centre 3 (p < 0.001). Following training, the TAMMV showed closer agreement between centres for both imaging-TCD and non-imaging TCD. The stroke risk distribution of children at each centre varied significantly before training (p < 0.001), but improved after training (Fisher’s Exact: no treatment = 5.6, p = 0.41, treatment = 13.8, p < 0.01). The same consistency in stroke risk distribution following training was demonstrated with both non-imaging and imaging-TCD data. Conclusion: The attainment of competency in stroke screening using transcranial Doppler scanning (TCD) in sickle cell disease is more feasible for professionals with an ultrasound imaging background. A quality assurance (QA) system is required to ensure that standards are maintained. Further work is in progress to develop an achievable and reproducible QA program.

HbS/β+ thalassemia: Really a mild disease? A National survey from the AIEOP Sickle Cell Disease Study Group with genotype-phenotype correlation

OBJECTIVES

HbS/β+ patients' presence in Italy increased due to immigration; these patients are clinically heterogeneous, and specific guidelines are lacking. Our aim is to describe a cohort of HbS/β+ patients, with genotype-phenotype correlation, in order to offer guidance for clinical management of such patients.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of HbS/β+ patients among 15 AIEOP Centres.

RESULTS

A total of 41 molecularly confirmed S/β+ patients were enrolled (1-55 years, median 10.9) and classified on β+ mutation: IVS-I-110, IVS-I-6, promoter, and "others." Prediagnostic events included VOC 16/41 (39%), ACS 6/41 (14.6%), sepsis 3/41 (3.7%), and avascular necrosis 3/41 (7,3%). Postdiagnostic events were VOC 22/41 (53.6% %), sepsis 4/41 (9.7%), ACS 4/41 (9.7%), avascular necrosis 3/41 (7.3%), aplastic crisis 2/41 (4.8%), stroke 1/41 (2.4%), ACS 1/41 (2.4%), and skin ulcerations 1/41 (2.4%). The IVS-I-110 group presented the lowest median age at first SCD-related event (P = .02 vs promoter group) and the higher median number of severe events/year (0.26 events/patient/year) (P = .01 vs IVS-I-6 and promoter groups). Promoter group presented a specific skeletal phenotype. Treatment regimen applied was variable among the centers.

CONCLUSIONS

HbS/β+ is not always a mild disease. Patients with IVS-I-110 mutation could benefit from a standard of care like SS and S/β° patients. Standardization of treatment is needed.