A new method to assess foveal morphology with optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To measure foveal morphology using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Three examiners classified normal subjects and patients with macular edema and epiretinal membranes from a normative database (299 OCT scans) and a study sample (80 OCT scans) on the basis of the foveal depression appearance (reference classification). The following parameters were measured for each OCT scan: Central Foveal Thickness (CFT), Central Subfield Thickness (CST), Central Subfield Volume (CSV), Centrofoveal Index (CI), Parafoveal Index (PI), and Foveal Indices (FI1, FI2, FI3). Foveal depression of OCT scans in the study sample were classified based on the values of OCT parameters using Bayesian statistics (test classifications). RESULTS: Agreement between reference and test classifications was of 70% for CFT, 58.7% for CST, 60% for CSV, 80% for CI, 72.5% for PI, 88.7% for FI1, 96.2% for FI2 and 97.5% for FI3. CONCLUSIONS: IF3 seems to provide a reliable measure of the foveal morphology.

[Smoking habit among workers in Campania region]. / L'abitudine al fumo nei lavoratori Campani.

Smoking is still now the main avoidable cause of disease, disability and mortality in industrialized countries. This habit is still very common in workplaces, where anti-smoke efforts seem to be less incisive than among general populations. The study analyzed the diffusion of smoke habit in 8111 male workers in Campania region, employed in different work activities (white collars, blue collars, drivers, cleaning civil servants, porters), so as to evaluate work related features, affecting its assumption and maintenance. Among all workers, smokers prevalence (42.7%) was higher than national male population. Percentages of smokers were highest among drivers (60.7%) and civil servants (52.5%), slightly lower among industry workers (47.3%) and lower among white collars (36.4%). The highest prevalence were found in 41-50 years age group (46.8%), but only among white collars aging was associated with higher smokers prevalence. Lower education degrees and two working variables, shifts and handwork, have been related with significantly smoking habit assumption. Results emphasized that health promotional programs are necessary to reduce smoke habit among workers, particularly among professionally and culturally unqualified subgroups.

[Not allergic dermatitis as occupational diseases: a suggestion for an evaluation method]. / La definizione della professionalità delle dermatiti non allergiche: proposta di un metodo di valutazione.

Aim of the study was to propose a method to define the relationship of not allergic contact dermatitis with chemical risk factors in workplace. This method evaluates the skin response to simultaneous chemical and mechanical stimulation, made with a soft bristle brush. The method has been used on 9 cases of not allergic skin diseases, observed from 2000 to 2006 in Occupational Medicine Division of "Federico II" University of Naples. The greatest part of pathologies had the polymorphous pattern of skin inflammation, characterized by subintrant erythema, suspected of occupational origin. In 6 cases a stronger reaction to both chemical and mechanical stimulation was highlighted, confirming a possible occupational etiology. In 1 case the occupational origin was excluded, while in 2 cases the skin response was uncertain. The method does not define all cases of occupational skin pathologies, but it seems to be very useful to diagnostic and insurance needs.