Real time RT-PCR analysis of inflammatory mediator expression in recurrent airway obstruction-affected horses.

The goal of the present study was to investigate mRNA expression levels of several cytokines and inflammatory mediators in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and respiratory epithelium in recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)-affected horses. RAO, also called heaves, is a common, performance-limiting, equine respiratory disease with clinical signs and pathophysiological similarities to human asthma, and characterized by bronchospasm, neutrophilic infiltration and increased mucus in the airways. Six RAO-affected horses were examined twice within 15 days and seven clinically healthy horses were examined for comparison. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR was used to assess mRNA expression of the inflammatory mediators IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17, TNFα, INFγ, TGFß1, NFκ-ß and TRL4 in bronchial biopsies and in BAL fluid. Gene expression levels were then compared with clinical signs, endoscopic examination, complete blood cell count, cytology of BAL fluid, histological examination of bronchial tissue and bacteriological and mycological examinations. Expression of IL1ß, IL8, TLR4, TNFα, TGFß1 and NFkß transcripts was significantly up-regulated in RAO-affected compared to healthy horses. A similar trend, albeit not significant, was showed for IL17 and INFγ. A highly significant correlation was observed among IL-1ß, IL8, TGFß1, NFkß, TRL4, and INFγ expression patterns as well as between expression levels of these genes and clinical parameters. In the present study, the comparison between clinically healthy and RAO-affected horses gave new insights on the cytokine expression in equine health and disease status. The identification of cytokines implicated in the pathogenesis of RAO may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

[Considerations on collateral treatments used with hyperbaric oxygenation in the therapy of gas gangrene]. / Considerazioni su alcuni trattamenti collaterali all'OTI nella terapia della gangrena gassosa.

The devastating nature of gas gangrene has in the past necessitated radical surgery to prevent the destructive spread of the disease. The advent of antibiotics only partly reduced the need for radical amputations and distressing multilations. Immediate, extensive surgery has now been reduced to a minimum thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen which rapidly dominates the toxicity of Clostridium. Experience shows that it is still, unfortunately, necessary to emphasize the futility of certain ill-timed and often exaggeratedly multilating surgical approaches, which have at times utterly nullified the clearly positive results obtained by HOT in three cases of post-traumatic gas gangrene.

[Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of various orthopedic disorders]. / L'ossigenoterapia iperbarica nel trattamento di alcune patologie ortopediche.

A Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT) unit was set up some months ago in the Anaesthesia Service of the Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute in Milan. HOT can be used in a number cases which are not relevant to the present report. In the field of Orthopaedics and Traumatology HOT in isolation or in association has proved useful in the following field: acute and chronic osteomyelitis; infected and non-infected pseudoarthroses; slow bone-knitting following limb lengthening or high risk fractures; local oedemas and disturbed scarring. Cases of patients sent to hospitals and Centres specialising in the treatment of all the above pathologies are presented. The results are highly encouraging given the high percentage of cures and the rapidity with which they were obtained. HOT has the added advantage of not requiring long-term hospitalization, since patients can be treated in outpatient departments.

[Stages of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy in the healing process of lesions of superficial tissues]. / Momenti di intervento dell'OTI nel processo di guarigione delle lesioni dei tessuti di rivestimento.

The histopathological background to the healing process in lesions of the superficial tissues is described briefly and the effect of oxygen at various stages in this process is examined. The propriety of using hyperbaric oxygen therapy in certain types of lesion is discussed and the most effective therapeutic approaches are suggested.

[Comparative analysis of radiographic data of "structural changes" in the bones of divers and non-divers]. / Analisi comparativa di reperti radiografici di "alterazioni strutturali" ossee in sommozzatori e non sommozzatori.

The Authors examine one thousand lone bone X-rays of professional divers and non-diving controls. The goal is to look for a correlation between hyperbaric exposure and bone alteration images type "dense bony islet" and "translucent cystic area" according to McCallum, Walder and Davidson. The results show a statistically non significant difference between divers and controls: Hip: Divers 31%, Controls 30%; Knee: Divers 17%, Controls 23%; Shoulder: Divers 22%, Controls 22.5%. The types of bone structural alterations studied never seemed to originate forms of aseptic bone necrosis but had a tendency to evolve favourably and independently from diving activity. These structural alterations are therefore deemed as non significant with regard to the bone risk of professional diving. The Authors suggest that until the real significance of these bone X-ray images is cleared by further research only the bone structural alteration which are within one centimeter from the articular surface should be considered for possible negative evolution.

[Some aspects of otovestibular function in hyperbaric saturation]. / Alcuni aspetti della funzionalità otovestibolare nella saturazione iperbarica

Otovestibular performance was investigated in divers undergoing air and helium-oxygen hyperbaric saturation cycles. The subjects were all very experienced deep-sea divers. Before cycles, they presented various signs of altered otovestibular performance. These were not altered when controlled subsequently. No conclusions can be drawn from this small series, though its heterogeneity lends some significance to the results and it has been presented on account of the lack of other studies of this question.