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Purpose: To analyse the drug use pattern in women with psoriasis before, during and after pregnancy., Methods: All children born (2009-2016) in a central Italian region (Lazio) to mothers with a diagnosis of psoriasis were identified. Drug use patterns (biologicals, systemic, and topical), and discontinuation and switching of drug therapies before, during, and after pregnancy were studied. Findings were compared with data from a population exposed to similar drug therapies (eg, antirheumatic drugs)., Results: Among 3499 deliveries by women affected by psoriasis, 1876 (53.6%) were diagnosed with this condition before the Last Menstrual Period (LMP). Of these, 525 (27.9%) had at least one drug prescription for psoriasis therapy during 6 months before LMP. For each class of drugs considered, there was a general decrease in its use during pregnancy. Considering the two trimesters preceding LMP and the three trimesters of pregnancy, the following percentages of prescriptions were observed: from 10.5% to 0% for biologicals, 7.2% to 2.5% for the conventional systemic drugs, and 51.1% to 9.4% for the topical treatments. After delivery, previous treatments were resumed. Similar results were observed for rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic condition., Conclusions: Majority of drugs come with warnings regarding potential embryo-fetotoxicity, which might play a role in the decision to continue treatments during pregnancy. According to our study pregnancy appears to have a significant influence on drug prescriptions of different pharmacological treatments for psoriasis., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Few case reports and clinical series exist on pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 who delivered., Objective: To review the available information on mode of delivery, vertical/peripartum transmission, and neonatal outcome in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2., Search Strategy: Combination of the following key words: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and pregnancy in Embase and PubMed databases., Selection Criteria: Papers reporting cases of women infected with SARS-CoV-2 who delivered., Data Collection and Analysis: The following was extracted: author; country; number of women; study design; gestational age at delivery; selected clinical maternal data; mode of delivery; selected neonatal outcomes., Main Results: In the 13 studies included, vaginal delivery was reported in 6 cases (9.4%; 95% CI, 3.5-19.3). Indication for cesarean delivery was worsening of maternal conditions in 31 cases (48.4%; 95% CI, 35.8-61.3). Two newborns testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time RT-PCR assay were reported. In three neonates, SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM levels were elevated but the RT-PCR test was negative., Conclusions: The rate of vertical or peripartum transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is low, if any, for cesarean delivery; no data are available for vaginal delivery. Low frequency of spontaneous preterm birth and general favorable immediate neonatal outcome are reassuring., (© 2020 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

The Aims of Our Study Were: (1) to evaluate the information needs of Italian elderly cancer patients (age > or =65 years), (2) to compare them with those of young patients (age 18-40 years). Between June 2004 and February 2005 we asked 122 elderly (mean age 72 years) and 52 young (mean age 33 years) cancer patients naïve for treatment to fill in two self-administered questionnaires exploring their needs for information and their psychological distress. The needs for information of elderly patients differed significantly from those of the young patients (p<0.0001); on contrast, both groups showed a similar psychological distress and the same reasons for seeking further information. Our results demonstrate that, more frequently than expected, Italian elderly cancer patients do not want complete information on their disease. Assessing to what extent elderly patients require information is essential for giving them tailored information., (Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objective: To analyze the trends in vaginal operative deliveries in Italy., Design: Analysis of information on all deliveries after the 28th week of gestation, routinely collected by the Italian Central Institute of Statistics using a standard form., Setting: National data on all Italian deliveries in the period 1981-85., Subjects: All deliveries occurred in Italy in the period., Results: Forceps and vacuum delivery were reported in 1981 respectively in 0.9 and 2.1/100 deliveries. Similar percentages were observed during the whole considered quinquennium for vacuum extraction, but the forceps delivery rate decreased to 0.6/100 in 1985. Nulliparous women more frequently had an operative vaginal delivery: the rates of forceps and vacuum deliveries were respectively 1.1 and 3.7/100 in nulliparae and 0.3 and 1.0 in women reporting one or more previous births. There was a direct relationship between vacuum delivery rate and birth weight: vacuum deliveries were reported for respectively 0.9 and 2.3/100 infants weighing less than 2500 g and > or = 2500 g. Likewise, vaginal operative deliveries were more frequent in term or post-term births, and vacuum deliveries among singleton births than multiple ones (2.3 vs 1.7/100 deliveries)., Conclusions: Operative vaginal delivery rates in Italy in the mid 1980's were lower than in most developed countries. The reasons for forceps and vacuum extraction were similar to other developed countries with regard to obstetric determinants, but some differences emerged for socio-demographic factors.

Background: The efficacy and toxicity of total body irradiation (TBI) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) were evaluated., Methods: Between January 1984 and September 1992, 81 consecutive patients, 40 affected with CLL and 41 with low grade NHL, with symptomatic Stage III and IV disease, were treated with TBI followed by prednimustine. TBI was given with a 6 MV linear accelerator, applying two opposite alternating fields, including total body, with two fractions of 15 cGy given per week (3-day interval). A total dose of 150 cGy was given over 5 weeks. Six to nine courses of prednimustine (100 mg/m2 orally for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks) was administered 2 months after TBI treatment as consolidation therapy., Results: Of 40 patients with CLL, 18 (Group I; median age 58.5 years) were younger than 65 years and 22 (Group II; median age 73 years) were older. The overall response rates were 78% in Group I and 91% in Group II, with a median response time of 16.5 and 16 months, respectively. Hematologic toxicity was 72% in Group I and 73% in Group II. It was reversible in all but one heavily pretreated patient who died of progressive anemia and thrombocytopenia after TBI alone. In the 40 patients with CLL, the response rate was 85%; there were 5 complete responses (CRs) (12.5%) and 29 partial responses (PRs) (72.5%). Of the 41 patients with NHL, 29 (Group I; median age 55 years) were younger than 65 years and 12 (Group II; median age 71.5) were older. The overall response rate in both groups was 83%, with median response times of 18.5+ and 14.5+ months for Groups I and II, respectively. Hematologic toxicity was 59% in Group I, whereas it was 50% in Group II. It was reversible in all patients. Overall, in the 41 patients with symptomatic Stage III and IV low grade NHL, the response rate was 82.8%; there were 10 CRs (24.3%) and 24 PRs (58.5%). The prednimustine regimen was generally well tolerated., Conclusions: In our experience, TBI given in a dose of 150 cGy in 10 fractions twice a week, followed by prednimustine, is an effective treatment for patients with CLL and patients with low grade NHL. This treatment also is effective in patients older than 65 years. The toxicity is acceptable, particularly when TBI and prednimustine are given as initial treatment. Pretreated patients should be monitored strictly.