Anal manometry improves the outcome of surgery for fistula-in-ano.

The aim of this prospective study is to investigate whether anal manometry is useful in orienting the surgical policy and improving the clinical and functional results following surgery for fistula-in-ano. Anal manometry was performed preoperatively and postoperatively in 96 patients. The results of surgery, in terms of both fecal soiling and recurrence rate, were analyzed and compared with those of another group of 36 subjects.

The site of airway responses to methacholine or antigen inhalation challenge.

We evaluated changes in upper airway and lower pulmonary resistance after methacholine or ovalbumin challenge in inbred rats. Methacholine or antigen were inhaled through the intact upper airway and through a tracheostomy, in two groups of normal sensitized animals. Methacholine challenge resulted in both upper airway and lower pulmonary resistance increase regardless of the inhalation route.

Rubber band ligation of hemorrhoids and rectal mucosal prolapse in constipated patients.

Rubber band ligation was used in 160 patients with internal hemorrhoids; 43 of them also had rectal anterior mucosal prolapse; 13 had prolapse alone. Two thirds of the patients underwent a single rubber band ligation and one third a double rubber band ligation in one session without anesthesia. Ninety-four required repeated ligations.

Influence of contralateral carotid artery on neurologic outcome after carotid endarterectomy.

The discrepancy in the literature about the immediate results after carotid endarterectomy in the presence of occluded or seriously stenotic contralateral carotid artery, has encouraged a retrospective study on 230 patients subjected to 255 carotid endarterectomies. 63 operations (group 1) were carried out in the presence of occluded contralateral carotid artery (40 operations) or of seriously stenotic contralateral carotid artery (23 operations). In the remaining 192 operations (group 2) the contralateral carotid artery was normal or not significantly stenotic (less than 60% of diameter reduction).

Relationship between in vivo airway reactivity and in vitro responsiveness of tracheal smooth muscle in inbred rats.

We evaluated the in vivo and in vitro airway responses to cholinergic stimulation in two highly inbred strains of rats. Five Fisher and six Lewis rats inhaled aerosols of doubling concentrations of methacholine (MCh). Pulmonary resistance (RL) was measured before and after each MCh inhalation.

Changes in upper and lower airway resistance after inhalation of antigen in sensitized rats.

To assess the contribution of upper and lower airways to the changes in pulmonary resistance after inhalation of antigen by sensitized rats, we measured changes in upper airway resistance (Ru) and lower pulmonary resistance (Rlo) after inhalation of ovalbumin (OA) in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing, sensitized BN rats. Aerosols of antigen were inhaled through the nose and through a tracheostomy in random order; there was a 1-h recovery interval between challenges. After inhalation of OA through the nose, Ru increased from 0.

Outcome of colorectal cancer.

The outcome of 454 patients who presented with colorectal carcinoma during a 16 year period is reviewed: 54 per cent were males, 58 per cent were aged more than 60 and 10 per cent had an emergency admission, 42 per cent of tumours occurred in the rectum. A curative resection was possible in 68 per cent. Postoperative mortality was 7 per cent.

Naloxone and propranolol inhibit the disruption of the hippocampal theta waves induced by D-lysergic acid diethylamide in the rabbit.

In the rabbit, naloxone and propranolol antagonize the disruption of the hippocampal theta waves induced by LSD. These results are discussed in view of the reported effects of these drugs in curing hallucinatory symptoms in mentally disturbed patients.

Clinical picture and pelvic floor physiology in the solitary rectal ulcer syndrome.

Clinical examination, proctosigmoidoscopy, rectal biopsies, barium enema and pelvic floor physiology studies were performed in four patients with solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. All patients had chronic constipation and rectal bleeding. Resting tone and voluntary contraction were found to be decreased at anal manometry in two patients (maximal squeeze pressures were ten and 35 mm Hg, respectively).

[Neuropsychological syndrome of hemorrhage into the right caudate nucleus].

The authors describe the symptomatology following the haemorrhage of the caudate nucleus. They think the right caudate nucleus have a part in the regulation of the memory, the attention and the emotion.

Management of the perineal wound after rectal excision for carcinoma.

Two methods of treating the perineal wound after proctectomy are compared. One hundred and eleven patients had a Miles operation for rectal cancer: in 81 the perineal wound was left open, in 30, primary suture and suction were performed. A significant (p less than 0.

[A case of neuromyotonia. Considerations on etiopathogenesis].

The Authors care about the Isaacs disease; they describe a clinical case and report the result trough carbamazepine and diphenylhydantoin. They think that the hypothesis of nerve suffering, of motor plate suffering does not explain the clinical syndrome. The Authors hypothesize a functional change in the trophic proteins and in the balance excitation-inhibition and neuromodulation.

[Significance of the palmo-mental reflex (pmr) in neuropathology].

The Authors were interested in the palmo-mental reflex, pointing out the frequency of it in patients with neurological diseases and not, and suggested a hypothesis on the neurophysiological mechanism to the basis of its clinical manifestation.

Site, emergency, and duration of symptoms in the prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Four prognostic factors, i.e., site of the tumors, mode of presentation, duration of symptoms, and pathologic staging, were correlated to the results of surgical treatment, i.

[Controlled clinical study of the treatment of chronic bronchitis with guacetisal].

Controlled clinical research has been carried out on the activity and tolerance of a new active principle, guacetisal (Broncaspin) obtained from the esterification of acetylsalicylic acid with guaiacol, in the treatment of chronic bronchitis. The drug's therapeutic response was evaluated with respect to that of bromexine. Guacetisal was generally well tolerated.

[Is triacetyl oleandomycin-ergotamine tartrate combination dangerous?].

The authors report a case of ischaemia of all four limbs in an adolescent following the simultaneous ingestion of triacetyl oleandomycin and ergotamine tartrate in low dosage. Two cases involving this same association of medications have appeared in the literature and attention is therefore drawn to the possible danger of use of these two drugs together.