An immunohistochemical study of normal and neoplastic canine sertoli cells.

Immunohistochemical studies of human fetal Sertoli cells (SCs) have shown transient expression of cytokeratin (CK) and desmin (DES) that is replaced after birth by expression of vimentin (VIM) and inhibin-α (INH-α). Human Sertoli cell tumours (SCTs) are characterized by re-expression of CK and DES. The aim of the present study was to evaluate immunohistochemically the expression of VIM, INH-α, CK and DES in normal and neoplastic canine SCs.

The prevalence of dementia and cognitive deficit in a rural population of 2442 residents in northern Italy. A door-to-door survey.

A population study to estimate the prevalence of dementia was carried out amongst the residents of four rural towns near Pavia in northern Italy. The population included a 40% sample of the residents between 65 and 69 years old and all residents of 70 years old or older. A door-to-door neuropsychological screening was followed by neurological examination on individuals scoring low at the screening.

An Italian-Australian comparison of quality of life among people with intellectual disability living in the community.

This paper reports the measurement of both objective and subjective quality of life in samples of people either with intellectual disability or from the general adult population, drawn from Australia and Italy. Measures were made using the Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale. Generally, it was found that the scores for all groups were comparable.

Neurological symptoms of the sick building syndrome: analysis of a questionnaire.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is an excess of work-related irritations of the skin and mucous membranes and of symptoms such as headache and fatigue in those working in modern air-conditioned buildings. We aimed to analyse the neurological symptoms, especially headache, in workers with potential SBS. The most frequent symptoms were headache and dry eyes.

A community-based outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium associated with salami consumption in Northern Italy.

An outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium belonging to phage type (PT) 193 occurred in autumn 1995 and involved 83 individuals in a large area of Northern Italy (Lombardy Region). Epidemiological and microbiological investigations of strains isolated from clinical and food specimens revealed that the vehicle was a batch of salami, produced on 4 September 1995 by a local firm. The outbreak was contained when the batch was withdrawn from sale.

[Multiple primary malignant neoplasms].

Multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMN) are tumors that arise independently in the same organ or tissues and different organs; they may present simultaneously (synchronous) or at least 6 months later (metachronous). The authors report the case observed: 20 multiple neoplasms in 5 years (5.8% of the tumors).

[Efferent loop obstruction by a phytobezoar after gastrectomy].

The authors present one case of intestinal obstruction due to phytobezoar of the efferent loop, in a previously undergone gastric surgery patient. They report, in the light of bezoar's peculiar location, that is usually it found in the stomach or small bowel.

Neuropathies associated with monoclonal gammapathies.

There is increasing evidence that monoclonal proteins are implicated in the development of peripheral neuropathy. Approximately ten percent of patients with peripheral neuropathy of unknown cause have a monoclonal protein and this rate is significantly higher than prevalence rates of monoclonal protein in comparable segments of the general population. Extensive clinical, electrophysiological and immunopathological evidences indicate that peripheral neuropathy associated with monoclonal protein are heterogeneous, including: 1.

[Contusion of the liver. Importance of associated lesions in polytraumatized patients].

Between January 1984 and June 1993, we treated 120 contusions of the liver in a situation of polytrauma. There were 24 patients in Stage I, 47 in Stage II, 22 in Stage III, 13 in Stage IV and 14 in Stage V according to the Organ Injury Scaling Committee of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. A total of 107 patients were operated.

Myoclonus epilepsy and ragged-red fibers: blood mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy in affected and asymptomatic members of a family.

By a rapid PCR-based method to assess the 8344 mtDNA mutation associated with MERRF disease, we have studied DNA from blood samples of 10 individuals belonging to a family spanning four generations in which one patient showed the complete MERRF phenotype, three other members were less severely affected, while the remaining were unaffected. The percentage of mutant mtDNA was quantified by laser-densitometric scanning of the negative photographic sheets of the agarose gels. The results showed that the MERRF patient had 53% of mutated mtDNA while the two less affected patients had 62% and 14% of mutated mtDNA, respectively.

[Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery. Results of a 4-year personal case series].

A prospective study of surgical infections in our Department of Surgery in the years 1986-1989 is reported. 2719 patients entered the study: they represent the total number of patients operated in the above said period (628 urgent and 2091 elective operations). As suggested in 1964 by Altmeier, surgical procedures were classified in four groups according to the potential risk of intraoperative contamination.

Middle latency auditory evoked potentials improve the detection of abnormalities along auditory pathways in multiple sclerosis patients.

Brain-stem and middle latency auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs and MLAEPs) have been studied in 34 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We were able to detect a central nervous system auditory pathway involvement in 17 (50%) of the patients: 38% by BAEPs alone (I-V inter-peak latency) and 47% by MLAEPs alone (Na and Pa peak latency). Five patients had abnormal MLAEPs with normal BAEPs whereas the opposite was detectable in only 1 patient.

[Primary lymphoma of the spermatic cord].

A case of primary malignant lymphoma of the spermatic cord in an eighty-nine-year old man is described. The mass simulated a groin hernia and was misdiagnosed elsewhere. The biopsy stated the presence of high malignant centroblastic lymphoma of the spermatic cord.

[A case of recurrent, metastatic Merkel's tumor localized in the gluteal region].

A case of recurrent metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma of the buttock is described and after a short review of the literature some clinical and therapeutic features of this rare tumor are given.

[Primary melanoma of the esophagus].

A case of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is described. Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is rare, reaching only 0.1% of all esophageal tumors.

[Cancer of the male breast with atypical ductal hyperplasia and contralateral gynecomastia].

A case of right mammary invasive ductal carcinoma in young man with atypical ductal hyperplasia and gynecomastia of the second breast is described. The review of the existing literature stress the rarity of this observation. Nevertheless, in all cases of male mammary carcinoma the accurate examination must always include the contralateral breast to search the possible precancerous lesions or etiologic factors.

Somatosensory evoked potentials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

SEPs by median nerve stimulation have been performed in 18 adult patients (12 males and 6 females) affected by CMTD (type I, 13 patients; type II, 5 patients). All patients underwent MCV studies (median, ulnar, peroneal nerve), SCV studies (median and sural nerve), VEP, BAEP. N9 and N13 peaks were not detectable in 7/13 and 5/13 cases (HMSN type I) while cortical N19 were always recorded.

[Infantile seborrheic dermatitis and related syndromes. Diagnostic and pathogenetic problems].

Infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis is a dermatosis affecting infants characterized by little or no itching and by completely typical skin symptoms, distribution and evolution. Infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis should therefore be differentiated from atopic dermatitis and from diaper-rash although interferences be possible. In fact the high frequency of the atopic dermatitis and of diaper rash may cause these two manifestations to sometimes superimpose on infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis.