[Blood levels of cortisol and prolactin. Are they indices of the degree of protection against surgical stress?]. / Livelli ematici di cortisolo e prolattina. Indici del grado di protezione dallo stress chirurgico?

The paper evaluates the level of analgesic protection by assaying cortisol and prolactin levels in two groups of 20 patients each undergoing general anesthesia using two different techniques: TIVA with propofol and fentanyl, and BPN-nitrous oxide. The results showed that TIVA caused a very slight increase in residue cortisol which was, however, within normal limits. With BPN-nitrous oxide anesthesia there was a greater increase in cortisol, reaching a statistically significant level in blood collected one hour after the end of surgery. With regard to prolactin, there was a marked increase in this hormone using both techniques although in percentage terms this increase was lower in TIVA. These results show that plasma prolactin is a more sensitive test than cortisol assay in evaluating antalgic protection and that, of the two anesthetic techniques used, the most protective appears to be TIVA with propofol and fentanyl.

[Results of a mass screening for early diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in a small town (Airole) of the province of Imperia]. / Risultati di un'indagine di massa per la diagnosi precoce del diabete mellito in un piccolo centro urbano della Provincia di Imperia (Airole).

A brief review of the methods currently employed in epidemiological investigations for the early diagnosis of diabetes is followed by a description of the inland Liguria town, Airole. 228 of the 504 inhabitants came for the examination (45.2%). Known diabetics constituted 5.7% of the population examined, and diabetic-type curves were observed in 7.45% of persons negative for the presence of diabetes. Borderline curves were seen in 9.2%. A comparison is made with other epidemiological investigations of the same kind carried out in Italy, and stress is laid on their medical and social importance.