Similarity, analogy, compatibility, identification: personal identification in forensic practice.

Background: Personal identification is a forensic procedure of recognizing a subject, whether corpse or living, based on a set of parameters and evidence. Spreading of video surveillance cameras has changed forensic application in identification. Indeed, there has been a shift from the evaluation of universally recognized anthropometric parameters to the spasmodic search for individual traits and/or characteristics that could be safely attributed to a single subject.

"When something goes wrong".

Background: Aspiration of food or liquids can result in suffocation, evolving in coughing, difficulty breathing and forced exhalation. Asphyxia occurs when the aspirated material occludes the upper airways, either in the proximal or distal tract, resulting in the inability to breathe. The risk of asphyxiation death, is increased if a person makes sudden movements while eating, walks or runs while eating, or even becomes distracted or frightened.

'Compressed Baby Head': A New 'Abusive Head Trauma' Entity?

Background: represents an important issue in the medico-legal and social context. In the last few decades, various aspects and mechanisms have been identified in case studies; however, constant research is needed in the field. With this paper, the authors will present a case of a new entity of that has come to the attention of medico-legal experts.

Avian influenza epidemiology in semi-intensive free ranging duck flocks of the Moyingyi Wetland in Bago East District, Myanmar.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 first entered Myanmar in 2006 in the Mandalay District. Several H5N1 outbreaks followed and the one of Bago East District (2007) required post outbreak surveillance in the at-risk domestic duck population of the Moyingyi Wetland. A field epidemiological study based on a randomised prospective stratified study with five surveys provided the serological evidence that the avian influenza H5 subtype circulates in the domestic duck population and spreads to almost all the newly housed (and negative) flocks in the time span of a seasonal production cycle.

Grip force monitoring on the hand: Manugraphy system versus Jamar dynamometer.

Introduction: For clinical grip force assessment, the Jamar dynamometer is a wide accepted tool. Users have to be aware that this method does not represent all grip efforts applied. The Manugraphy system is a tool that measure total grip force as well as identify load distribution patterns of the hand while gripping cylinders wrapped with calibrated capacitive matrix sensor mats.

Regional anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy: a comparison between ropivacaine and levobupivacaine.

Background: This study compares ropivacaine and levobupivacaine when administered for cervical plexus block. The authors therefore compared the arterial pressure profile and the incidence of hypotension between drugs.

Methods: Forty-eight patients scheduled for carotid artery surgery (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] 2-3) were randomly assigned to receive levobupivacaine or ropivacaine (24 patients each).

Planning and executing a vaccination campaign against avian influenza.

Vaccination against avian influenza infection caused by H5 or H7 virus subtypes has been used on several occasions in recent years to control and in some cases eradicate the disease. In order to contain avian influenza infection effectively, immunization should be combined with a coordinated set of control and monitoring measures. The outcome of an immunization campaign depends on the territorial strategy; whereas the capacity of the veterinary services in developed countries permits enforcement of strategies aimed at eradicating avian influenza, many countries currently affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses have a limited veterinary infrastructure and a limited capacity to respond to such epidemics.

Application of pressure mapping techniques to measure push and gripping forces with precision.

Gripping and push forces, also named coupling forces, have induced effects on the transmission of the vibration in the upper limb. The assessment of the vibration exposure with powered tools thus requires that these man/machine coupling parameters are controlled and monitored. To date, no reliable metrological systems enable their precise measurements.

Practical problems in controlling H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza at village level in Vietnam and introduction of biosecurity measures.

After a consultancy mission funded by a nongovernmental organization (NGO), information was collected on the dynamics of avian influenza (AI) infection at the rural level in a Vietnamese province with several ongoing outbreaks. AI outbreaks are frequent at village level due to environmental, ecological, agroecological, physical, social, and cultural factors, the underlying factor being poor hygienic conditions. Viral circulation is facilitated by the interactions of the integrated aquaculture, animal raising, horticulture agroecosystem, which relies in the peculiar integration of aquaculture (ponding), animal activities, and horticulture and by the connections with the live-bird market system.

A conventional, inactivated oil emulsion vaccine suppresses shedding and prevents viral meat colonisation in commercial (Pekin) ducks challenged with HPAI H5N1.

The ongoing H5N1 epidemic is currently affecting a number of avian species, including waterfowl. These birds appear to have an important role as reservoirs of infection and comprehensive data on the efficacy of vaccination is currently lacking. The present paper reports the effect of a two dose vaccination programme with a conventional inactivated product on infection, lateral spread, shedding and presence of virus in commodities such as meat and viscera of Pekin ducks.

Intra-articular pressure measurement in the radioulnocarpal joint using a novel sensor: in vitro and in vivo results.

Purpose: To determine the amount and distribution of forces transmitted across the human radioulnocarpal joint under physiologic conditions in vivo. We performed an in vitro validation of a specifically developed capacitive pressure-sensor device and an in vivo measurement of force transmission and pressure distribution at the radioulnocarpal joint in a healthy volunteer.

Methods: A new capacitive pressure-sensor device was adapted for intra-articular pressure measurement in the human radioulnocarpal joint.

Transurethral resection versus minimally invasive treatments of benign prostatic hyperplasia: results of treatments. Our experience.

Objective: In this non-randomized prospective study the results of standard TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) versus other minimally invasive treatments were compared.

Materials And Methods: Among all the patients treated at our Institution for bladder outlet obstruction due to BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) from January 1995 to June 1998, 212 patients have been evaluated; 90 patients underwent to TURP, 13 patients to TVP (Transurethral ElectroVaporization), 24 patients to TUNA (TransUrethral Needle Ablation), 71 patients to ILC (Interstitial Laser Coagulation), and 13 patients to WIT (Water-Induced Thermotherapy).

Results: TURP achieves the highest decrease of prostate volume (48.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm resection following cholecystectomy and heart transplantation. Case report.

The case of a patient who underwent heart transplantation and cholecystectomy in 1993 and admitted for resection of abdominal aortic aneurysm in May 1997, is reported. About 25 minutes after unclamping the abdominal aorta the patient s blood pressure fell suddenly to 70/40 mmHg. In spite of vigorous fluid administration and infusion of Dopamine and Adrenaline the hemodynamic pattern returned to normal only 15 minutes later.

Analytical performance characteristics of thin and thick film amperometric microcells.

The analytical performance of amperometric microcells with different electrode geometries is compared for enzyme activity measurements. The microcells were fabricated with thin film photolithography or thick film screen-printing in four different designs. The cells made with the thin film process used flexible substrate with microelectrode array or a circular, disk-shaped working electrode.

Pressure-flow studies in men with benign prostatic hypertrophy before and after treatment with transurethral needle ablation.

Background/aims: In this study we wanted to examine the effects that transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) might have on the urodynamic characteristics of bladder outlet obstruction and to evaluate the clinical changes and the safety profile in patients undergoing the TUNA procedure, including the effects on erectile and ejaculatory function.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 24 patients, aged between 66 and 81 (mean 73.4) years with a mean prostatic volume of 57 +/- 15 ml.

[Interstitial laser coagulation of the prostate in patients with prostatic hypertrophy: preliminary results with medium-term follow-up].

Although transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard for treatment of BPH, a new, minimally invasive technique, called Interstitial Laser Coagulation (ILC), introduced by Muschter and Hofstetter, has been developed to treat BPH. ILC is base on the coagulation of prostatic tissue by means of diffused laser light using a diode laser system with a temperature feed-back (Indigo Medical 830e TM). We report our results in treating 20 patients with BPH and Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO), after a mean follow-up of 7 months.

Change in major amputation rate in a center dedicated to diabetic foot care during the 1980s: prognostic determinants for major amputation.

From 1990 to 1993, 115 diabetic patients were consecutively hospitalized in our diabetologic unit for foot ulcer and 27 (23.5%) major amputations were carried out. The major amputation rate of this series of cases was compared with that occurring in diabetic subjects taken into our hospital for foot ulcer in two previous periods: 1979-1981 (17 major amputations in 42 inpatients or 40.

[Evaluation of renal function during orthotopic liver transplantation].

Background: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLI) is a recognised means of therapy for endstage liver failure (ESLF). Both the preoperative alterations of renal function, closely correlated with the ESLF, and the frequent and abrupt changes of circulating blood volumes occurring during the various phases of OLT are able to significantly alter renal function during the perioperative period.

Methods: In order to define the specific changes of renal function during the various phases of OLT, six postnecrotic cirrhotic patients undergoing their first OLT entered a prospective study protocol.

[Gene p53 mutation and prognosis in bladder tumors].

The choice of treatment for bladder tumors is based on pathological criteria, i.e. staging and grading mainly.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients previously treated with heart transplantation. A clinical case].

A 46-years old patient who had already undergone cardiac transplantation was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy following a diagnosis of cholelithiasis. In this particular case we were not faced with any problems even in presence of a denervated heart. Since the patient was immnosuppressed, we had to look for the best compromise between the need of monitoring closely the most important vital parameters and contemporarily reducing invasivity as much as possible.

Pharmacokinetic profile of the induction dose of propofol in chronic renal failure patients undergoing renal transplantation.

Study Objective: To define the pharmacokinetic profile of the induction dose of propofol in chronic renal failure patients.

Design And Setting: Determination of propofol blood concentrations after the bolus dose of 2 mg.kg-1 bw injected in 30 seconds in a peripheral vein in a group of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients and in a group of normal patients (controls).

[Effectiveness and modality of continuous infusion administration of atracurium dibesylate].

One-hundred and five patients with ASA I-II were scheduled for general surgery. Atracurium was the muscle-relaxant of choice. A bolus dose of atracurium (0.