[Risk of infection in a hospital environment]. / Il rischio infettivologico in ambiente ospedaliero.

The infectivologic risk in hospital environment. After a brief introduction on the historical development of the question of infectivologic risk in health services in general, and, in particular, in hospitals, the principal epidemiologic characteristics of viral hepatitis B and C, of HIV/AIDS and of TBC are examined as well as the potential cancerogenic role of the viral hepatitis. Guide-lines on staff health observation are also presented along with work-fitness criteria.

Tentative reference values for gold, silver and platinum: literature data analysis.

Data available on biologic fluid content of therapeutic metals are uneven for silver, gold and platinum respectively. Tentative reference values may be proposed on the basis of the most representative studies for silver and gold. For silver it is suggested that the variability in normal subjects could range up to 10 micrograms/l in whole blood and up to 1 microgram/l in urine. For gold 0.5 microgram/l can be considered the upper limit for both whole blood and urine. For platinum there is no indication that concentration in either blood or urine could reach detectable amounts in normal subjects.

[Use of somatosensory evoked potentials in the exposure of the hand-arm system to localized vibrations]. / Utilizzo dei potenziali evocati somatosensoriali (SEP) nell'esposizione a vibrazioni localizzate al sistema mano-braccio.

SEPs obtained by stimulation of the median nerve of the wrist were recorded in a group of 33 subjects working with vibrating instruments in 82% of whom the case history was positive for Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP). Electrophysiological investigation revealed a decrease in peripheral nerve conduction speed, which was related to the duration of exposure to risk and the presence of RP. No diseases of the central nervous system were found. The results are discussed on the basis of the data in the literature.

Further cases of lead poisoning from wine.

Lead intoxication has been reported to occur as a consequence of nonoccupational exposure, the source being mostly the leaching of lead from fluid containers in domestic use. Three such cases are described, for which the cause has been identified to be in the lining of the vat used to contain home-made wine. All cases are members of the same family.

[Use of the glycosylated hemoglobin test in outpatient practice]. / Utilità del test dell'emoglobina glicosilata nella pratica ambulatoriale.

Haemoglobin glycosilate was evaluated using the bio-rad method in 129 diabetics during their periodic visits to outpatient departments. A significant correlation between this test and metabolic compensation was revealed in confirmation of results reported in most research so far carried out. The advantages of using this test in outpatients departments is also emphasised.

[The risk of oligomers in the textile industry]. / Il rischio da oligomeri nell'industria tessile.

An experimental research was carried out at the Institute of Occupational Health of Turin University on the risks following exposure to oligomers with particular reference to the textile industry. A group of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were injected endotracheally with a suspension of dust collected from various sections of twisting and spinning departments while 6 rats used a referent groups, were treated with normal solution in the way. Five rats had pneumonia and 1 rat showed the presence of aspecific granuloma whereas the histological patterns for the other rats were found to be similar to those of the control group. In the Authors' opinion it is impossible at the moment, to give a definite conclusion as to the role of oligomers in lung damage.

[Toxicological risks from industrial pesticides. Preliminary results of a study]. / Rischio tossicologico di pesticidi industriali. Risultati preliminari di un'indagine.

An examination of various commercially available pesticides was made in an evaluation of the potential risks presented by phytopharmaceuticals. It was found that insecticides anticryptogamic products, and weed-killers are most commonly used. Insecticides mainly contain organophosphoric compounds, followed by organochlorates, carbamates, and organic sulphur compounds. Anticryptogamic products are primarily composed of dithiocarbamates, followed by inorganic copper and sulphur compounds. Herbicides are mostly represented by the triazines, followed by phenoxycarboxylic acid derivatives, carbamates, and urea derivatives. Lastly, most pesticides fall into the IIIrd and IVth toxicological classes.

[Current aspects of occupational toxic hemopathies]. / Attuali aspetti in tema di emopatie tossiche professionali.

Recent advances in the field of occupational toxic haemopathies are described. The nosographical classification of these forms is explained, and an account is given of the main organic and inorganic industrial substances responsible for haematological damage, the sources of risk, the known pathogenetic mechanisms, and the main clinical and morphological aspects of the subject. This question is of a certain current interest, not only from the speculative standpoint, but also with regard to the interesting diagnostic and preventive aspects that are and can be derived from such recent advances.

[Pesticides in rural pathology]. / I pesticidi in patologia rurale.

Reference is made to the extensive use of pesticides in agriculture and the fact that many are highly toxic. The lack of information and legislative provisions makes agricultural workers particularly vulnerable to the several categories of poisons contained under the description "pesticides". The chlorinated and phosphoric organic compounds are of especial interest. The former include the derivatives of the phenoxycarboxylic acids, which can give rise to a product (tetrachlorobenzodioxine, or dioxine) that was responsible for the pollution at Seveso. The latter group contains the very commonly employed alkylthiophosphates (malathion, parathion, etc.). These are well-known inhibitors of acetylcholine esterase and thus responsible for harm to the nervous system. A comparable, but less intense effect on this esterase is possessed by the carbamates, which are increasingly being used in agriculture. It is hoped that, as in the past, suitable, oriented epidemiological surveys will be carried out in industry, designed to focus attention on the probable, but not yet documented chronic damage that many of these products cause to the human body.

[Occupational toxic hepatopathies. Current etiopathogenetic and diagnostic trends]. / Epatopatie tossiche professionali. Orientamenti eziopatogenetici e dignostici attuali.

The large number of xenobiotic agents, associated with work or otherwise, that can attack the body, and the fundamental part played by the liver in the control of metabolic homeostasis offered the occasion for an examination of the present position with regard to the aetiopathogenesis and diagnosis of occupational toxic diseases of the liver. Attention is particularly directed to recent biochemical knowledge (molecular and cellular), to the main aetiopathogenetic features, and to the most modern criteria for the evaluation of liver damage, especially that of a chronic kind.

[Epidemiological study of diabetes in the occupational environment]. / Contributo allo studio epidemiologico del diabete in ambiente lavorativo.

Fasting blood sugar was determined in 277 subjects with early forms of silicosis during statutory outpatient examinations. Values were related to the clinical and occupational history and objective and blood chemistry parameters. The results showed that epidemiological examination is useful in the prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes in occupational environments.