Italian Journal of Intellective Impairment 5 (1): 79-82 (1992 May)

First experience in the use of gestural language in a child with Down's syndrome

Prati, Carmen
Unita Sanitaria Locale 40, Servizio Materno-Infantile, Rimini, Italy

Presents the case history of a 21-mo-old infant with Down's syndrome who was trained to communicate with gestures, using the Italian Gesture System, a vocabulary of gestural signs. The child was able to learn 24 signs. As the ability to communicate orally improved, the use of the gestural signs decreased.
Italian Journal of Intellective Impairment 5 (1): 107-112 (1992 May)

Some epidemiological data on a consecutive series of 490 subjects with Down's syndrome

Cocchi, Renato
Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio Scientifico e Terapia dell'Insufficienza Mentale, Mongolismo e Autismo Infantili, Italy

Studied epidemiological factors associated with Down's syndrome. Human subjects: 289 male Italian infants, preschool children, schoolage children, and adolescents (aged less than 7-180 mo) (Down's syndrome). 201 female Italian infants, preschool children, schoolage children, and adolescents (aged less than 7-280 mo) (Down's syndrome). Information on sex, age at 1st consultation, Ss' mothers' ages at birth, chromosomal diagnoses, risk factors (prematurity, postmaturity, and low birthweight), heart malformations, and other malformations was determined during clinical consultation. Statistical tests were used.
Italian Journal of Intellective Impairment 5 (1): 113-117 (1992 May)

Hypotonia in children with Down's syndrome: An epidemiological study

Favuto, Marco; Cocchi, Renato
U degli Studi di Torino, Italy

Studied the incidence of hypotonia in children with Down's syndrome. Human subjects: 153 male Italian infants, preschool children, and schoolage children (aged 1-6 yrs) (Down's syndrome). 116 female Italian infants, preschool children, and schoolage children (aged 1-6 yrs) (Down's syndrome). Ss were evaluated at initial consultation. Incidence of hypotonia, pure Trisomy 21, mosaicism, translocations, and clinical diagnosis was determined. The results were evaluated according to each S's sex and chromosomal abnormalities. Statistical tests were used.
Italian Journal of Intellective Impairment 5 (2): 143-148 (1992 Nov)

School learning in 8 year old Down children treated or not with drugs

Cocchi, Renato
Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio Scientifico e Terapia dell'Insufficienza Mentale, Mongolismo e Autismo Infantili, Italy

School learning in 8 years old children of two group (Experimental Group: 40 Ss, 23 F and 17 M; 36 pure trisomy 21, 3 translocations and 1 mosaicism; at least 5 years of individualised drug therapy. Control Group: 24 Ss, 13 F and 11 M; 21 pure trisomy 21, 2 translocations and 1 mosaicism; no drug treatment) was compared. Classroom behaviour, reading (syllables, plain words, sentences), writing (copy, dictation, invention from a visual model, free invention) and arithmetic (digit sequence, addiction and subtraction up to 20 were evaluated according to a 5 point scale.
Drug treated Ss presented significant improvements in all the investigated fields but classroom behaviour showed only a very strong trend (.053) towards amelioration. Since both groups differ from the general population as for gender and chromosomal anomalies distribution, the generalisation of these very promising results warrants some caution.
Italian Journal of Intellective Impairment 5 (2): 239-244 (1992 Nov)

Atlanto-Axial Instability in Down Persons. Neurologic Risks in the Sport Practice, Mainly in Judo

Tassani, Giuseppe, Cocchi, Renato, Pagani, Paolo Alberto
Sport Medicine Unit of the USL 3-Pesaro

About 20% Down children are carriers of atlanto-axial instability, a risky condition for physical activities or sports such as gymnastics, diving and Judo. This malformation is inversely age related and is prevailing among male children. Although it could be intuitively linked to laxity, no more than 10% of lax Down children are also affected by atlanto-axial instability. This instability can be detected by screening X-ray examination of the lateral cervical spine both in neutral position and in flexing.
Over four mm forwarding dislocation of the odontoidal tip lead to suspicion, but over 5 mm is overtly assumed as pathological. Symptoms of medullary compression can be detected after neurological examination and confirmed by ACT of the atlanto-axial region. The screening of atlanto-axial instability in Down children should be included in preliminary routine tests before medical certification of fitness for school gymnastics and sports.