Relationships between otolith size and fish length in some mesopelagic teleosts (Myctophidae, Paralepididae, Phosichthyidae and Stomiidae).

Length-mass relationships and linear regressions are given for otolith size (length and height) and standard length (LS ) of certain mesopelagic fishes (Myctophidae, Paralepididae, Phosichthyidae and Stomiidae) living in the central Mediterranean Sea. The length-mass relationship showed isometric growth in six species, whereas linear regressions of LS and otolith size fit the data well for all species. These equations represent a useful tool for dietary studies on Mediterranean marine predators.

Citizen science through a recreational underwater diving project supports the collection of large-scale marine litter data: The Oceania case study.

In recent years, a growing body of literature on seafloor macro-litter has been produced worldwide. However, the spatial coverage of these studies is still limited and highly unbalanced, resulting in considerable knowledge gaps in some regions. To address this lack of information in Oceania, we extracted data from the Citizen Science project Dive Against Debris® to characterize marine debris collected by volunteer scuba divers on the coastal seafloor. Overall, the average litter density was 58.22 items/100m2, with plastics accounting for approximately 50 % of the total abundance and Single Use Plastics accounting for nearly 17 %. Notably, 36 % of the total litter abundance consisted of lost Fishing Gear including fishing lines, sinkers, baits and hooks as the most abundant debris items. To reduce lost fishing gear, clean-up initiatives by divers along with management actions such as education programs for fishermen, gear restrictions and the identification of designated fishing sites are recommended.

Pet cats as carriers of Arcobacter spp. in Southern Italy.

AIMS: To evaluate the presence of Arcobacter spp. in different biological samples from domestic cats in Southern Italy by using a species-specific PCR assay and thus to elucidate their potential significance as sources of human infection. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated the prevalence of Arcobacter DNA in oral swabs, in peripheral blood samples and fine needle lymph node aspirate specimens from 85 cats of which 17 were clinically healthy and 68 had clinical signs of oral disease or lymphadenomegaly. Overall, molecular analysis has shown that Arcobacter-specific DNA was found in 78.8% (67 of 85) of all the cats. In the 67 Arcobacter-positive cats, 66 (77.6%) and 29 (34.1%) were found positive for Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus, respectively. None of the examined samples gave a PCR product for Arcobacter skirrowii. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that pet cats commonly carry Arcobacter in the oral cavity. According to the clinical data, the Arcobacter detection results showed no significant difference between cats with oral pathology and those suffering from other different pathologies. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Pet cats harbour Arcobacter spp. and may play a role in their dissemination in the domestic habitat. The high prevalence in a limited number of cat samples in this study may be of significance.

Effect of pleurotomy on pulmonary function after coronary artery bypass grafting with internal mammary artery.

Coronary artery by-pass grafting with internal mammary artery (IMA) has become the graft conduit of choice, due to improved survival and its long term patency rate. However, some studies have shown that, in comparison with saphenous vein grafts, after IMA grafting, there is increased postoperative impairment of pulmonary function, possibly due to the frequent performance of pleurotomy. In 57 consecutive patients, admitted for elective CABG with IMA, we prospectively evaluated the early (2nd and 6th day) postoperative chest X-ray complications and the late (2 months) respiratory function tests changes. Thirty-two patients had been subjected to pleurotomy (group 1) and 25 not (group 2). The incidence of pulmonary atelectasis and pleural effusion in 2nd and in 6th postoperative days was not different in the two groups: 22 vs. 19%, 74 vs. 52% in 2nd, and 29 vs. 19%, 48 vs. 38% in 6th postoperative day respectively. The incidence of elevated hemidiaphragm in 6th postoperative day was not different in the two groups (18.5 vs. 14%). Two months after surgery the mean values of spirometric tests were significantly lower than the preoperative values: VC from 88.5 +/- 1.26 to 80 +/- 1.65% of predicted, P < 0.001, FEV1 from 96.1 +/- 1.27 to 84.7 +/- 1.73% of predicted, P < 0.001, MEF50 from 84.9 +/- 3.14 to 69.2 +/- 3.18% of predicted, P < 0.001. No significant changes were detected in RV and in AaPO2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome with associated anomalies of the pulmonary blood supply.

We report four cases of so-called absent pulmonary valve syndrome associated with absence or anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery. The fate of the patients with this condition appears to be affected mainly by the occurrence of pulmonary complications (three of our patients died of pulmonary causes, two of them after surgery). The proper timing of corrective surgery is still uncertain. Preoperative investigations should strive to obtain a clear-cut identification of the pulmonary arteries, particularly the left one or, in its absence, of the anomalous vascular supply to the lung. Right ventriculography, as employed by us, is insufficient. Pulmonary angiography, aortography and pulmonary vein "wedge" angiography may be needed.

Ascending aortic aneurysms: composite conduit replacement.

From July 1980 to February 1984, 26 patients underwent composite replacement of ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic valve with coronary reimplantation. This group included 14 patients with dissecting aneurysm (ten and four respectively, belonging to Types I and II), and 12 patients with chronic aneurysm (six atherosclerotic aneurysms, two Marfan's syndrome and four annuloaortic ectasia cases). Hospital mortality was 35.7% (5/14) in the dissection subgroups and 16.6% (2/12) in the chronic aneurysm subgroup (difference NS). No operative risk factor was recognized. The 19 survivors have been followed up for a total of 393 patient-months (range 5 to 49 months). Controls included echocardiography and computed tomography scanning. Two patients died because of rupture of a persistently dissected aorta; another patient died of an unknown cause. Total actuarial survival rate at 4 years was 58.3 +/- 10.4% (83.3 +/- 10.7% for chronic aneurysms and 42.3 +/- 13.4% for dissecting aneurysms). Among late survivors, there were no paravalvular leaks, new dissections, or thromboembolisms, although two perigraft hematomas and a persistent dissection were later disclosed. When appropriate, composite conduit replacement of the ascending aorta can increase the survival rate, and can also be useful in high-risk patients.

[Familial aortic supravalvular stenoses; radiographic and contrast study aspects]. / Le stenosi sopravalvolari aortiche familiari; aspetti radiografici e contrastografici.

The radiographic and contrastographic aspects of four cases of familial aortic supravalvular stenosis, with or without other vascular lesions, are described. Agreement is expressed with the view put forward in the literature to the effect that this form is no different to that which presents with no familial trait, in the light its of morphological features and the type of arterial malformations associated with it.

[Abnormal uterine bleeding during climacteric. Correlation between transvaginal ultrasonography, hysteroscopy and histology]. / Sanguinamenti uterini anomali in climaterio. Correlazioni fra ecografia transvaginale, isteroscopia e istologia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The authors evaluated the accuracy of ultrasonographic findings compared to hysteroscopic and histological results in the diagnosis of anomalous uterine bleeding in menopause. METHODS: Forty-eight women suffering from the above pathology and attending the Preventive Gynecology outpatient clinic of Department C of the Gynecology and Obstetrics faculty at Turin University during the period between September 1996 and July 1997, underwent first ultasonography using a transvaginal probe and then outpatient hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy. RESULTS: A total overlap between the ultrasonographic image, hysteroscopic results and histological diagnosis was only obtained in the group of menopausal patients. CONCLUSIONS: In line with the data reported in the literature, the authors imposed a cut-off endometrial thickness of 4 mm above which further diagnostic tests were performed using hysteroscopy with targeted biopsy.

[Cysts of the choroid plexus: personal experience]. / Cisti dei plessi corioidei. Nostra esperienza.

Twenty-six cases of fetal choroid plexus cysts were diagnosed using ultrasonography at the Ultrasound Out-patients clinic of the University of Turin during the period 1989-1991. In 21 of these cases fetal karyotype was ascertained since, as has been reported in the literature, cysts of the choroid plexus may be associated with an anomalous karyotype (trisome 18 or 21). One of the 21 cases had an altered karyotype (trisome 21) (4.2%). The Authors stress the importance of a detailed ultrasound study of fetal morphology since, in the presence of structural anomalies, the incidence of trisome 18 is much higher. On the basis of these data, prenatal diagnosis in the event of the echographic presence of choroid plexus cysts appears to be valid since the risk of chromosome anomalies is much higher than in 35-year-old women.

[Abnormal uterine hemorrhage in the climacteric. Diagnostic approach]. / Sanguinamenti uterini anomali in climaterio. Approccio diagnostico.

Having made a detailed list of the invasive and non-invasive diagnostic techniques used to evaluate anomalous uterine bleeding in menopause, the authors conclude by affirming that hysteroscopy undoubtedly represents the most reliable diagnostic technique and that echography should be the preferred first diagnostic step since it allows the adnexa to be examined and is less invasive and cheaper.

[Anomalous uterine hemorrhages in the climacteric. Their etiopathogenesis]. / Sanguinamenti uterini anomali in climaterio. Eziopatogenesi.

Anomalous uterine bleeding accounts for approximately two-thirds of the causes of outpatient gynecological check-ups for women in menopause. The high incidence of this pathology raises considerable problems from a clinical and social point of view. In this paper the authors outline the main causes of both organic and functional bleeding.

[Abnormal uterine hemorrhage in climacteric. Medical management]. / Sanguinamenti uterini anomali in climaterio. Terapia medica.

Following a review of the literature, the authors examine the drugs which are currently used to treat anomalous uterine bleeding during menopause, illustrating their aims and justifying the rationale underlying their use. They conclude by stating that a satisfactory treatment often does not exist, but it is the task of the specialist to gauge the level and sequence of treatments in order to achieve the hoped-for result.

[Preliminary study of the use of s. adenosyl methionine in the management of male sterility]. / Studio preliminare sull'impiego della s. adenosil metionina nella sterilità maschile.

In a preliminary study 10 cases of male sterility were treated with 800 mg/day per os of Samyr-Bioresearch over three months. Increased basal motiligy of spermatozoa was observed in 6 out of 10 cases. The results of the study confirm the value and efficacy of SAM in the treatment of male sterility.

[Use of orgotein in the treatment of reactive damage to the use of high-energy radiation]. / Utilizzazione dell'orgoteina per la cura dei danni reattivi all'impiego di radiazioni ad alta energia.

A study has been carried out on 62 patients submitted to pre- and postoperative X-ray treatment, evaluating tolerance and effectiveness of orgotein administered i.m. The therapeutic results obtained may be considered very satisfactory.

[Role of viral infections in the genesis of dysplasias of the uterine cervix]. / Ruolo delle infezioni virali nella genesi delle displasie della cervice uterina.

A study of 80 cases of dysplasia of the uterine cervix showed the coexistence of HPV infections in 52 cases. This association (65%) shows the important role played by the human papilloma virus in the genesis of cancer of the cervix.

[Perinatal mortality in placental insufficiency]. / La mortalità perinatale nella insufficienza placentare.

The review of 55 cases of placental failure and the results obtained reveal a 54% mortality rate.

PIP: 55 pregnant women admitted to the Gynecological Institute of the University of Torino were studied. The age range was 19 to 42 years with a median of 29.3 there were 25 nulliparae, 16 primiparae, and 14 pluriparae. The diagnosis of placental insufficiency was based on clinical and laboratory data consisting of accurate anamnesis, measurement of the height of the base of the uterus, ultrasonographic biometric measurements, and plasma serum human placental lactogen (HPL), and estriol (E3) values. A cardiotocographic check determined the fetal condition. The intrauterine mortality rate of the fetus was 3.5% (2 cases), and in 1 case the death of the newborn was verified 48 hours after birth. there were 34 (61.9%) spontaneous births and 21 (38.1%) with cesarean section. Pregnancy lasted 34 weeks in 23 cases and in the remaining instances it was 39-40 weeks. The weight of the newborn was less than the 10 percentile of the classic Lubchenko curve in 26 cases, while in 28 cases it ranged from 10 to 90 percentile. Recent indicated that the average weight of the newborn was 2246 gm with a standard deviation of 425 gm. An apparent correlation could be established between the weight of the placenta and that of the newborn as well as the high incidence of cesarean sections (38.1%) and perinatal mortality (54%).

[Effectiveness of povidone-iodine in the treatment of non-specific vaginitis]. / Efficacia del povidone-iodio nel trattamento delle vaginiti aspecifiche.

Thirty-two cases of aspecific vaginitis treated with a ready-to-use providone-iodine solution are reported. Results were highly positive with regard to the efficacy and safety of the treatment.

[Inflammation of the uterine corpus: endometritis]. / Le flogosi del corpo dell'utero: endometriti.

In industrialised countries endometritis is a problem which represents an increasing risk to personal health and to society. In almost all cases the inflammatory process which affects the uterine mucosa forms part of a more generalised infection which involves the entire internal genital system (PID). The most important problem associated with pelvic phlogosis is increased sterility, a greater number of ectopic pregnancies and chronic pelvic pain. In order to treat the symptoms of genito-pelvic infection, an early diagnosis and adequate medical therapy are indispensable. In this event it may be possible to prevent invalidating effects on fertility and chronic pelvic pain.

[Thromboembolic disease in obstetrics. Current concepts]. / Malattia tromboembolica in ostetricia. Concezioni attuali.

Thromboembolic disease during pregnancy and confinement is an important cause of mortality and obstetric morbidity. The onset of thromboembolic disease is caused by vascular damage, stasis and hypercoagulability, factors which are all present during gestation. All A. agree that it is of fundamental importance to intervene immediately in cases of active thromboembolic disease, but also to take suitable prophylactic measures to prevent the onset of disease.

[Uterine fibromyoma in pregnancy]. / Fibromiomi uterini in gravidanza.

Data are reported relating to the study of 100 pregnant women, aged between 30 and 49 years old, effected by one or more fibroma nodules on the body of the womb. From an analysis of results, it appears that appropriate obstetric care can significantly reduce the risk of both maternal and fetal complications.