Quality control of 2721 cornea transplantations of issued by Center of Corneal Analysis and conservation by the Bank of Tissue and Cells of Tuscany.

Knowledge of the clinical evolution of corneal transplantation is fundamental to its improvement by upgrading the modalities and conservation methods in eye banking. The purpose of this retrospective study was to review of the results obtained with corneal transplantation performed at 50 Italian hospitals supplied by our center. From July 1997 through December 2002, 2721 corneas were used for transplantation.

The diagnostic cytology of nonspecific vaginitis.

Diagnostic cytology has not kept pace with the general growing interest in nonspecific vaginitis (NSV). This study on 114 patients compares Papanicolaou vaginal smears with bacteriologic cultures, whiff test, gram-stained vaginal smears, and vaginal pH in the evaluation of nonspecific vaginitis. Cytology is a valid practical test for diagnosis for nonspecific vaginitis; however, it must be emphasized that the coccoid morphotype is the same as the Gardnerella morphotype.

The identification of Gardnerella vaginalis.

In an attempt to develop a rapid identification system for Gardnerella vaginalis that could be used in a clinical microbiologic laboratory, we examined 102 samples of vaginal discharge from women with symptoms of vaginitis. Gardnerella vaginalis was obtained from 77 of 102 cases. We found a combination of six tests of particular value for distinguishing G.