[Unilateral edema of the breast secondary to congestive heart failure. Report of 2 cases]. / Edema monolaterale della mammella secondario ad insufficienza cardiaca congestizia. Osservazione di due casi.

This report describes two cases of diffuse unilateral edema and skin thickening of the breast, that mimics an inflammatory carcinoma, caused by congestive heart failure. The clue to the correct diagnosis of congestive enlargement of the breast is the presence of 'pitting' edema, which is not found in malignant breast edema. Resolution of the breast enlargement usually occurs when the heart failure is properly treated.

[Study of diet-induced thermogenesis using telethermography in normal and obese subjects]. / Studio della termogenesi indotta dalla dieta mediante teletermografia nel soggetto normale e nell'obeso.

It is well established that food ingestion induces increased thermogenesis, but the site in man of this increased heat production is still not known. Recent data suggest that brown adipose tissue or the liver may have an important role in this phenomenon. Since recent research provides some evidence to suggest that activation of thermogenesis in a specific organ or tissue may determine increased skin temperature in the surrounding region, we have studied skin temperature in the dorsal interscapular and in the liver regions using infra-red thermography in groups of normal and obese subjects before and after administration of oral glucose. In a separate group of normal subjects we studied oxygen consumption before and after glucose administration. While oral glucose produced a clear increase in thermogenesis, no ascertainable variation was observed in body temperature and, therefore, of heat dispersion in any of the regions studied in either normal or obese subjects.

[Aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head in cancer patients with neuropathies caused by vincristine and vinblastine]. / Osteonecrosi asettica della testa femorale in pazienti neoplastici con neuropatia da vincristina e vinblastina.

Aseptic osteonecrosis has been described in many and dissimilar pathologic conditions--most frequently as the aftermath of fractures or dislocations; in falciform anemia, obesity, alcoholism; in diseases requiring constant and heavy corticosteroid therapy, and also following renal transplantation. Many of these pathologies, especially alcoholism, diabetes, uremia, and collagen vascular diseases, have a common denominator: peripheral neuropathy, which is believed to be a pathogenetic factor supporting osteonecrosis. The authors analyze 3 cases of aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head in cancer patients treated with vincristine and/or vinblastine. Since in these subjects severe and persistent neuropathy preceded the onset of osteonecrosis, a possible relationship is postulated between the vincristine/vinblastine treatment and the onset of femoral head osteonecrosis, through the pathogenetic mechanism of peripheral neuropathy.

[Radiological lesions of the hands in rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factors and antinuclear antibodies]. / Lésions radiologiques des mains dans la polyarthrite rhumatoïde avec facteurs rhumatoïdes et anticorps antinucléaires.

Hand radiograms of 119 consecutive patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined. The patients were distributed in different groups: 46 with (RF+) and 73 without (RF-) rheumatoid factor; 23 with (ANA+) and 96 without (ANA-) antinuclear antibodies. We found that RF+ group significantly differs from the RF- in order to the presence of symmetrical erosions of proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP) and the presence of monolateral erosions of metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP), particularly of the 2nd. We also observed that the frequency of MCP erosions, particularly of the 2nd was higher in ANA+ than in ANA-, and that monolateral PIP erosions were higher in ANA- than in ANA+ group. Moreover, the patients having both RF and ANA more frequently show erosions of symmetrical PIP and monolateral MCP as well as monolateral of the carp. It is therefore suggested that in RA patients having RF or ANA the articular lesions of the hand are different from those of the patients who don't show such serological markers.

[Direct radiographic magnification of the hands. A critical analysis]. / L'ingrandimento radiologico diretto delle mani. Analisi critica.

The value of direct magnification radiography of the hand and the wrist has been studied in 128 patients affected by rheumatic diseases. Only in a small group (3.17%) magnification determined a higher percentage of correct diagnosis; in the 17.06% of cases direct magnification radiography provided useful increase in information but did not change the diagnosis correctly reached by conventional techniques. In most cases (79.76%) magnification provided only a better image quality but no more information helpful for the diagnosis, because of the high level achieved by conventional techniques. Therefore direct magnification radiography must be used only in selected cases and not as routine radiographic technique.