Polymeric surfactants based on inulin, a polysaccharide extracted from chicory. 1. Synthesis and interfacial properties.

Inulin, the polydisperse reserve polysaccharide from chicory, has been modified by carbamoylation in organic solvents. The reaction of inulin with a range of alkyl isocyanates resulted, after crystalization, in a variety of carbamoylated inulins from which the interfacial properties were determined. The medium and long chain carbamoylated inulins showed a good to very good reduction of the interfacial tension which makes these biopolymers interesting in the field of biodegradable surface active agents.

An epidemiological survey on the allergological importance of some emerging pollens in Italy.

Epidemiological studies on the pollens responsible for allergic diseases throughout Italy are lacking. Routine diagnostic panels consist prevalently of grass, Parietaria, weeds, birch, olive and mugwort. Considering the great variety of Italian geographical areas and the observation of the growing allergological importance of new botanical species (e.g., ambrosia), a survey on pollen species considered "minor" was necessary. A panel of "emerging" pollens (birch, hazelnut, alder, hornbeam, cypress, ragweed) and a routine panel were used to skin prick test 2,934 consecutive outpatients with respiratory pathology of suspected allergic origin, in 21 centers across Italy. A specific questionnaire was compiled. It was found that 20.1% of patients did not react to allergens tested, 28.2% were positive for at least one emerging pollen and 51.7% did not react to emerging pollens but tested positive for at least one allergen from the routine panel. The prevalence of single pollen species was related to geographical areas. Ragweed pollen was shown to provoke asthma much more frequently than other pollens. Hitherto scarcely considered pollens play a considerable role in causing allergic diseases in Italy. In the great majority of patients, positivity for these pollens was associated with positivity to the better recognized group of pollen allergens, although in some cases they were the primary pathogenic agent. We suggest that these more recently considered allergens be included in routine diagnostic panels.

[Functional recovery in pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Il recupero funzionale nella tubercolosi polmonare.

At first Authors explain the stages of tubercular disease in which a programme of functional respiratory rehabilitation can be advised. Then they deal with the main aspects of rehabilitating treatment in some tubercular manifestations, as sero-fibrinous pleural effusion, tubercular empyema, parenchymal fibrosis and surgical reliquates. With regard to surgical reliquates, we mostly consider pulmonary resections and pleural skinning. At last Authors recall the indications to physical exercise training, that are constituted by some reliquates of tubercular pathology, and they resume the accomplishment modalities of such a programme in order to allow every patient wide possibilities of social reintroduction.