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Background FIBRONET was an observational, multicentre, prospective cohort study investigating the baseline characteristics, clinical course of disease and use of antifibrotic treatment in Italian patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods Patients aged ≥ 40 years diagnosed with IPF within the previous 3 months at 20 Italian centres were consecutively enrolled and followed up for 12 months, with evaluations at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The primary objective was to describe the clinical course of IPF over 12 months of follow-up, including changes in lung function measured by % predicted forced vital capacity (FVC% predicted). Results 209 patients (82.3% male, mean age 69.54 ± 7.43 years) were enrolled. Mean FVC% predicted was relatively preserved at baseline (80.01%). The mean time between IPF diagnosis and initiation of antifibrotic therapy was 6.38 weeks; 72.3% of patients received antifibrotic therapy within the first 3 months of follow-up, and 83.9% within 12 months of follow-up. Mean FVC% predicted was 80.0% at baseline and 82.2% at 12 months, and 47.4% of patients remained stable (i.e. had no disease progression) in terms of FVC% predicted during the study. Conclusions FIBRONET is the first prospective, real-life, observational study of patients with IPF in Italy. The short time between diagnosis and initiation of antifibrotic therapy, and the stable lung function between baseline and 12 months, suggest that early diagnosis and prompt initiation of antifibrotic therapy may preserve lung function in patients with IPF. Trial registration: NCT02803580

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if the presence of granulation tissue in asymptomatic apical periodontitis compromised immediate implant placement. METHODS: Patients requiring extraction of one tooth (maxillary and mandibular incisive, canine or premolar) with asymptomatic apical periodontitis, were recruited for this prospective study. They were randomly scheduled into two groups: in first group (A) including 30 teeth, reactive soft tissue was debrided before implant placement, and in second group (B) including 30 teeth, reactive soft tissue was left in the apical lesion. Implants were positioned immediately after tooth extraction, and were loaded after 3 months in both groups. Cone beam computed tomography was performed before tooth extraction and at 1-year follow-up to evaluate the radiolucency around the root apex and the implant, bucco-lingual bone levels were also checked. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included in this study. Sixty implants were placed immediately after tooth extraction and, at 1-year follow-up, a survival rate of 100% was reported. After one year both groups showed absence of radiolucent zone at the apical region of implants. All fresh sockets presented a buccal-palatal bone reduction in both groups after one year, even if not statistically significant differences were found between baseline bone levels and within groups. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the present study, the immediate placement of implants into the extraction sockets with asymptomatic apical periodontitis, in presence of primary stability, did not lead to an increased rate of complications and rendered an equally favorable type of tissue integration.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate fresh socket implant outcome leaving granulomatous tissue into the bone defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects requiring tooth extractions in periodontal infected sites were selected for this prospective study. Only patients with 4-wall defects and asymptomatic ones were included. The fresh sockets were randomly scheduled into two groups: In one group (Removal Group, RG) granulomatous tissue was removed and, in the other group (Left Group, LG) granulomatous tissue was left. Implants were positioned immediately after tooth extraction, and were loaded after 3 months in both groups. Intraoral digital radiographs were performed at temporary prosthesis placement; at 12, 24 and 36 months to evaluate marginal bone levels changes. Moreover, clinical parameters were acquired at the same time points. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included in this study. Three-hundred seventy-two implants were placed immediately after tooth extraction and, at 3-year follow-up, a survival rate of 98.66% was reported, 2 implants were lost in RG and 3 implants in LG. At 36-month follow-up, not statistically significant differences were found between RG and LG in marginal bone level changes and clinical parameters (p > 005). Moreover, not statistically significant differences were found in intragroup comparisons over time (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the limits of this study it was concluded that granulomatous tissue left in infected fresh sockets doesn't injury dental implant outcome.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess bone volume changes in maxillary molar regions after delayed implants placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients presented large bone defects after tooth extractions. Reactive soft tissue was left into the defects. No grafts were used. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were performed before tooth extractions, at implant placement (at 3 months from extraction) and 3 years after implant placement, bone volume measurements were assessed. RESULTS: Bucco-lingual width showed a statistically significant decrease (p = .013) at implant placement, 3 months after extraction. Moreover, a statistically significant increase (p .05) were found between baseline values (before extraction) and at 3 years from implant placement. Vertical dimension showed no statistically significant differences (p > .05) at implant placement, 3 months after extraction. Statistically significant differences (p

The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of clozapine with that of chlorpromazine in an open label manner (both given in association with lithium salts) in the treatment of acute mania. Thirty hospitalized manic patients were entered into the study. All patients met DSM-IV criteria for bipolar disorder, Manic Episode; 27 patients completed the study and three patients dropped for noncompliance. The duration of the study was 3 weeks. Patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups; group 1 (n = 15) was treated with clozapine at a mean dose of 166 mg/day and group 2 (n = 12) was treated with chlorpromazine at a mean dose of 310 mg/day. Manic symptomatology was rated on Young Rating Scale for Mania (YRSM) each week; side effects were recorded on dosage records and treatment emergent symptoms; extrapyramidal acute side effects were rated on the Simpson-Angus Rating Scale performed at the beginning of the study and after 3 weeks of treatment. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance on YRMS scores showed a significant time effect (p < 0.0001) and a significant time-group interaction (p < 0.0001). Post-hoc comparison between the two groups showed a significant difference after 2 weeks of treatment (p = 0.0001), with clozapine treated patients showing lower YRSM scores than chlorpromazine treated patients. YRSM scores at the end of the study n;ere not significantly different. Patients treated with clozapine showed a more rapid trend toward amelioration. No clinically relevant side effect was observed during the study.

It is not known whether frontal cerebral rhythms of the two hemispheres are implicated in fine motor control and balance. To address this issue, electroencephalographic (EEG) and stabilometric recordings were simultaneously performed in 12 right-handed expert golfers. The subjects were asked to stand upright on a stabilometric force platform placed at a golf green simulator while playing about 100 golf putts. Balance during the putts was indexed by body sway area. Cortical activity was indexed by the power reduction in spatially enhanced alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) rhythms during movement, referred to as the pre-movement period. It was found that the body sway area displayed similar values in the successful and unsuccessful putts. In contrast, the high-frequency alpha power (about 10-12 Hz) was smaller in amplitude in the successful than in the unsuccessful putts over the frontal midline and the arm and hand region of the right primary sensorimotor area; the stronger the reduction of the alpha power, the smaller the error of the unsuccessful putts (i.e. distance from the hole). These results indicate that high-frequency alpha rhythms over associative, premotor and non-dominant primary sensorimotor areas subserve motor control and are predictive of the golfer's performance.

We analyze productivity growth in Chilean manufacturing 1979-2000 using the newly available panel of establishments drawn from the Census of Manufacturing. We examine the contribution to productivity growth of ?internal? restructuring (such as new technology and organizational change among survivors) and ?external? restructuring (exit, entry and market share change). We find that (a) ?external restructuring? accounts for 52% of industry labour productivity growth and 57% of industry TFP growth; (b) much of the external restructuring effect comes from the closing down of poorly-performing plants due to import penetration, and (c) import penetration is also an important determinant of internal restructuring in the long term.

To assess the efficacy of a new US contrast agent [SH U 508 A (Levovist), Schering] in evaluating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vascularization, 38 patients with 43 lesions were submitted to color Doppler US before and after i.v. contrast medium administration. Four patients were studied after arterial chemoembolization. The patients had been selected on the basis of suboptimal color Doppler signals on baseline images. Each patient received two to four injections of Levovist in standard doses. Tumor vascularization was qualitatively graded on a 0-3 scale. Twelve tumors (27.9%) appeared avascular at baseline examinations, while 31 (72.1%) exhibited low to moderate flow signals. After contrast agent administration, color Doppler signals were markedly enhanced in 35/43 lesions (81.4%), lasting 40 to 240 seconds. The lack of enhancement was related to tumor hypovascularity (necrosis at CT), portal vein thrombosis, deep location and successful chemoembolization. The detection of flow signals in chemoembolized tumors was explained by the persistence of viable tumor tissue. After Levovist administration, flow signals were detectable in 97.6% of the HCCs. Therefore, Levovist proved to be an effective tool for color Doppler evaluation of HCC vascularization.