[Functional respiratory and blood gas analytical studies of the effects of fenspiride, in oral and intramuscular administration, in chronic bronchopneumopathic subjects]. / Rilievi funzionali respiratori ed emogasanalitici sugli effetti della fenspiride per via orale ed intramuscolare in soggetti broncopneumopatici cronici.

A group of 20 chronic bronchopneumopathics was treated for 15 days with fenspiride orally and i.m. The behaviour of a set of functional respiratory and haemogasanalytic parameters was monitored at various times (basic, 5th, 10th and 15th days). Progressive, significant improvements in VC, FEV1, RV and in related parameters were observed. These were attributed to the drug's anti-inflammatory effect in the respiratory ways as well as to its direct antibronchospastic action. Stress is laid on the excellent clinical tolerance of fenspiride following its oral and i.m. administration.

An innovative methodology for the automated morphometric and quantitative estimation of liver steatosis.

The management of liver steatosis, due to its potential evolution towards severe diseases, requires accurate diagnosis. Fatty infiltration in liver diseases is commonly assessed histologically by semi-quantitative methods, which can be subjective. Automated computerized procedures using commercial software for image analysis have also been recently employed. The aim of the study was to develop an innovative automated computerized procedure to accurately evaluate both the morphometry and degree of lipid accumulation in liver. Fatty infiltration was assessed in paraffin- and resin-embedded samples of steatotic livers from rats undergoing 0, 3, 7, 14, and 30-day choline-deficient diet, and from liver biopsy of a morbidly obese patient undergoing bariatric surgery. Specific software was developed, which works with a morphological operator, in addition to a chromatic one to select lipid droplets. The choline-deficient diet induced steatosis with a gradual shift from micro- to macro-vesicular. In paraffin sections, the macrovesicles-to-microvesicles ratio and the degree of steatosis, when using only the chromatic operator, produced overestimates. Results were consistent in both rat and human samples. An improvement of topographic, morphometric and quantitative estimation of fatty liver infiltration is obtained with our software, working with a morphological operator and using semi-thin sections from resin-embedded samples. This innovative procedure may be applied to human liver samples, offering promising diagnostic and prognostic perspectives.

[Evaluation of working conditions at the work place with video terminals: a survey conducted in 6 business offices]. / Valutazione ergonomica del posto di lavoro al videoterminale: indagine condotta in sei aziende del terziario.

The Authors have taken under study 6 office buildings and a total of 165 work stations with VDTs. Lighting conditions, postures, indoor climate and air-quality have been evaluated, besides worker's subjective approach sounded by individual questionnaire. Concerning visual comfort, it has been noticed that the most simple and well-known rules are often disregarded, such as avoiding to place a screen in front of a light source because of its glare. Also, operators postures are often incorrect, making problems related to their own fixity worse. Air conditioning systems assure almost excellent conditions for thermal comfort, but air changes are often poor and microbiologic quality suffers from plant's inadequate servicing. Finally, the survey of questionnaires shows a complaint percentage which only partly corresponds with the objective data collected, reflecting instead an uneasiness to the kind of work and its organisation.

Indoor climate and air quality in new offices: effects of a reduced air-exchange rate.

In response to a request from the personnel of a credit bank that had been moved into a new building, an evaluation was made of employee health complaints. The prevalence of symptoms was determined using a self-administered questionnaire. Ventilation effectiveness, contaminant concentrations (which included chemicals and bioaerosols) and microclimate were studied to establish their relationship to environmental discomfort and to the health problems mentioned by the employees. Indoor air quality--which was assessed in different seasons--revealed relatively high levels of carbon dioxide and bioaerosols in areas occupied by employees as compared with other places. Temperature and humidity were considered to be satisfactory. Although a causative agent was not isolated, the authors conclude that an ineffective rate of room air exchange, possibly in interaction with chemical contaminants, may be responsible for the discomfort and, perhaps, for the health symptoms experienced by workers in fully enclosed rooms.

[Respiratory disease in foundry workers. An epidemiologic survey in three foundries (author's transl)]. / Patologia respiratoria dei fonditori. Indagine epidemiologica in tre fonderie

The authors report the results of a survey performed in three cast iron foundries, with particular emphasis on the impairment of respiratory system in the involved workers. The results obtained showed a high prevalence of pneumoconiosis, which, as for roentgenologic and clinical features, appears to be different from usual silicotic pneumoconiosis. The highest prevalence of chronic bronchitis -- either associated or not with pneumoconiosis -- in the foundry workers examined is stressed, as well as the prevalence of squamous metaplasia of the bronchial epithelium. An important role in this aspect is supposed to be played not only by dusts, but even by tobacco smoke in favouring the onset of the above mentioned alterations is also confirmed.