From 20 to 27 January 2013 the group of students and professors of our University led by the head of the Department of Propaedeutic Pediatrics, Professor Tatyana Vladimirovna Kobets, took part in the international seminar “Development Perspectives of Modern Medicine” in Florence, Italy. This is the 4th time already that Tatyana Vladimirovna leads the given project conducted in cooperation with the international foundation Romualdo Del Bianco (president Paolo Del Bianco), Italy. As always, the program was informative and interesting. We had a chance to communicate with Italian scientists and doctors.
First we visited Stella Maris Foundation in Calambrone: a leading institute for research in Child Neurology and Psychiatry (associated with the University of Pisa and the National Health Service) and the largest hospital for Child Neurology and Psychiatry in Italy where they study and treat neurological and psychic diseases in children and teenagers. Professor Giovanni Cioni delivered a very interesting lecture on new diagnostic methods for the neurological disorders in children. The Institute has the research laboratories of Neurogenetics, Neurochemistry, Clinical Neuropsychology, MRI, the laboratory for the analysis of movements and visual reaction. In particular, one of the most potent MRI machine with strength of 1,7 T (as a comparison, average MRI scanner operates at 1,5 T) allows doctors to receive the images of brain and vessels visualizing very fine detail and depicting the changes of brain activity during performance of different tasks. It gives opportunity to localize pathological process precisely. Special attention is paid to the diagnostics and treatment of autism. One could determine the connection between this pathology and thickened cortex in the left upper frontal convolution, temporoparietal junction. It means that mankind is about to find out etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of this mysterious disease. The laboratory for the analysis of movements helps to create 3D reconstruction of all human movements due to the transducers fixed on the body of test person and analyze them. This way it is possible to detect neuromuscular disorders and determine their severity. It helps to choose optimal management and follow up its efficiency. It should be stressed that the hospital of Stella Maris Foundation provides diagnostics and treatment for more than 2000 children a year from the whole Italy absolutely free of charge.
The Meyer Children Hospital is the largest in Italy. It strikes with the quality of medical care it provides. On the territory of this hospital there is medical genetic laboratory where the specimens from patients are studied very carefully under microscope, and then they undergo genetic analysis to reveal possible mutations. For this purpose the most up-to-date genome sequencing machines are used. They can analyze up to 138,000 of genotypes a day. Then fibroblasts grow out of received specimens. Using them it is possible to isolate the mutant genes, substitute them with the other ones and test new therapeutic methods. In the intensive care unit for premature infants there are special infant incubators, which are mini-stations creating the necessary microclimate and measuring vital signs of children.
Seminar organized by Professor Giometti in “Comprehensive Cancer Center” in Florence was very interesting. Doctor Andrea Gavazzi delivered a lecture on robotic-assisted urological surgery. At present, the use of robots is the gold standard in surgery. Careful investigation precedes an operation. Modern CT and MRI scanners allow us to obtain 3D projection imaging, reveal characteristics of blood supply and innervations. Then the received parameters of patient are employed by computer simulator. Surgeon uses console and performs all the manipulations on virtual patient that is exact copy of a real one. Such “repetition” allows surgeon to develop tactics of surgical treatment in advance. Telemedicine is widely applied in surgery. If some emergency occurs during operation, surgeon can consult his teacher, professor from London on-line. Moreover, professor can continue operation himself. It was striking for us that 35-year-old surgeon performs operations on robots, and in America second year students learn how to insert sutures on robots.
Doctor Liliana Mereu made a report on minimally invasive surgery in Gynecology. Nowadays, “belly-button surgery”, i.e. through the navel, is the least invasive surgical treatment. In its case the recovery time is shorter (on average patient is discharged next day after operation) and there are no stitches.
The day we made our reports was a special one. We worried very much about our participation in an event of such high level where there were true professionals. Professors and students made very interesting reports that were greatly appreciated by the Italian colleagues. The most actual issues of these days were discussed: family planning, new diagnostic methods, prevention and treatment of breast cancer, heart and skin diseases, bronchial asthma, food allergy. For us seminar was also great language practice – all communication with colleagues, making reports was in English.
So seminar was priceless experience for every participant. Such trips are very developmental. It was fantastically to see personally the latest medical innovations, how fast medical science advances, how strong mankind is in the battle against diseases, what a tremendous way has been done already, and how many secrets are still here in a planet called Human Being.
Zakharova Maria, third year student
