The lack of therapies for moderate COVID-19 syndrome prompted us to use a standardized polyphenolic green tea extract rich in catechins during the lockdown due to the pandemic in Italy (Autumn 2020). Catechins are powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral agents that are safe for human use. While awaiting hospitalization, 10 swab-positive patients, symptomatic for SARS-COV-2, were treated for 15 days at home with two sessions of inhalation plus three capsules per day (total catechins: 840 mg; total EGCG: 595 mg). All patients recovered fully and had no symptoms at a median of 9 days, with a range of 7–15 days. Seven switched to a negative SARS-COV-2 nasopharyngeal swab test at a median of 9 days, with a range of 6–13 days. Among the 3 patients still swab-positive, one had a strong decrease of infection down to a “very low” SARS-COV-2 nucleic acid load at 5 days. All patients exited quarantine at the end of therapy because they were free of symptoms. Inflammation markers α-1 anti-trypsin, C-reactive protein and eosinophils had significantly decreased. The IL-6 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate decreased in 7 out of 10 patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the efficacy of green tea catechin against COVID-19 syndrome. These results may open new perspectives in the fight against the disease.

Background: MIVAT (minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy) is a recent technique that requires a learning curve. Materials and Methods: From July 2005 to December 2006, we treated 100 from a total of 467 thyroidectomy patients with MIVAT. We divided the patients into 3 groups. The first 2 groups consisted of 25 patients each: group A (cases 1–25) and group B (26–50). We also divided patients into 2 groups based on our surgical experience: group A + B (cases 1–50) and group C (cases 51–100). Results: The operative times for groups A and B were 101.7 and 84.6 min, respectively (p < 0.03); those for groups A + B and C were 91.07 and 63.06 min, respectively (p < 0.004). Complications of hypocalcemia were observed in 6 cases (4 in the first 50 cases and 2 in the second 50), and complications of nerve palsy were observed in 2 cases from group A. Conclusions: After 25 cases, we observed that the MIVAT procedure allows for a lower mean operative time and a reduction of complications.

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Both methods are safe, but mini-invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy gives not only a better cosmetic result but a reduction of postoperative pain especially at 24 h.

The sensitivity of the TSH secretory system to glucocorticoid inhibitory action is preserved in obese subjects with abnormally elevated TSH response to TRH, but not in subclinically hypothyroid obese patients. The TRH plus dex test might be useful in future studies to understand the mechanisms underlying alterations in TSH secretion in obesity.

The effect of an i. v. infusion of somatostatin (SRIH) 4.1 μg/min×90 min on the basal secretion of NPY and on the NPY response to physical exercise was studied in normal men. Basal NPY secretion was not modified by SRIH infusion, whereas the NPY response to physical exercise was significantly lower in the presence of SRIH. These data suggest the involvement of a somatostatinergic mechanism in the regulation of NPY response to physical exercise.