[Quantification of motor activity in biomedicine]. / Quantificazione di attività motoria in biomedicina.

A computer-assisted analysis of motor activity was carried out using ultrasound waves, that are not invasive and free from any kind of interference, because of their specific characteristics. We worked out the Doppler's effect which determines a frequency variation on the reflected wave from any body in motion. That variation is linked to the velocity of the moving body and the superimposition of the emitted wave with those reflected, results in beats, which have a frequency proportional to the motor activity velocity. Our research group planned and carried out an electronic quantification apparatus that can be interfaced with a personal computer system by means of an Analog to Digital acquisition card. The performed test on the apparatus confirmed that the theory that the number of antinodes detected was proportional to the space covered by the moving body. The equipment was also tested on several types of animals.

[Computerized parametrization in orthognathodontics]. / Parametrizzazione computerizzata in ortognatodonzia.

The relationship between unilateral posterior cross-bite and area and volumetric proportions of the palatal vault observed in the frontal plane were studied in 6 cross-bite cases before and after the correction of the malocclusion by removable appliances. Comparison of area and volume were carried out between the hemipalatal vault with the teeth in cross-bite and the hemipalatal vault with the teeth in good occlusion. The results demonstrated discrepancies of measurements between the two hemipalatal vaults before treatment. After the correction of cross-bite few or no asymmetries were recorded.

Computerized topographical analysis of functionally homogeneous neuronal sets.

A computer-assisted analysis of the spatial distribution of neurons having homogeneous characteristics is described in this paper. The camera lucida drawings of sections of a brain nucleus and the points representing the neurons labeled on the basis of a specific behavior of discharge rates were digitized on a personal computer Amiga 2000 or IBM compatible. Our software provided: a) the computerized, stereotaxically oriented reconstruction of the stored sections and of the plotted neurons; b) the identification within each section of the mass center (MC) of the units sharing a given behavior and of the area where the density of such neurons was maximal (MDA). The routine was tested on the spatial distribution of neuronal responses to serotonin in the lateral vestibular nucleus.

[Simultaneous registration of rheographic and manometric parameters of the inferior esophageal sphincter in the cat]. / Registrazione simultanea di parametri reografici e manometrici dallo sfintere esofageo inferiore del gatto.

The aim of the present study was to detect simultaneously hemodynamic parietal events and intraluminal pressure of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), with particular regards to cyclic changes due to systo-diastolic cardiac activity. A probe for combined Intraluminal Manometric Plethysmography (IMP) and Intraluminal Impedence Plethysmography (IIP) was used. It was a Swan Ganz bipolar pacing catheter, modified by removing the latex balloon from the tip. The exposed side-hole (diameter smaller than 0.5 mm) was utilized as a terminal orifice for an infused manometry system. It was preliminarly essayed in bench tests. A perfusion rate of 1.75 ml/min was chosen as it did not induce significant elevations of the pressure base-line and allowed detection of pressure rise rates up to 300 mm Hg/s. The two metallic rings, originally designed for intracardiac stimulation, were used as low resistance electrodes to record impedence variations. Since very small shifts of recording electrodes induce important artifacts, the present experiments were carried out on curarized cats. In these conditions, artificial ventilation could be temporarily stopped to avoid any artifact due to respiration mechanics. The proposed method seems to be satisfactory enough for simultaneous acquisition of IIP and IMP data at LES level. Recordings of IIP allow to reveal changes in parietal blood content which could chiefly be referred to lamina propria and submucosa districts. On the other hand, IMP cyclic fluctuations would signal variations of total sphincteric tension, likely depending on hemodynamic events in all vascular beds of the wall. In our opinion, a more extensive analysis of IMP and IIP waves, as well as of reciprocal relationships between rheografic and manometric parameters, may provide very useful knowledges on sphincteric physiology.

[Use of the personal computer for the study of biological images]. / Impiego del personal computer per lo studio di immagini biologiche.

In order to study anatomical structures, a computerized system was developed to build planar and tree-dimensional models. The hardware utilizes an external synchronizing telecamera to magnify the image on a personal computer monitor screen, which is utilized as a cartesian plain, to extract the x-y co-ordinates of some reference points from the image. The computer stores and utilizes them to evaluate geometrical parameters (area and volume) and to build planar or tree-dimensional models.

[Three-dimensional reconstruction on the personal computer of lesions of the central nervous system]. / Ricostruzione tridimensionale al personal computer di lesioni a carico del sistema nervoso centrale.

This study presents results obtained using section counting system to examine intact as well as lesioned structures in the rat S.N.C. This new approach consists in the utilization of a television camera projecting magnified brain sections directly on the computer monitor screen. Tridimensional reconstructions and rapid evaluations of volume, area and other parameters are then available by means of this system.

[Conditioning system for training cats to execute a typical prehension movement]. / Sistema per il condizionamento del gatto alla esecuzione di un tipico movimento di prensione.

This report describes a conditioning system for training cats to carry-out typical prehension's movements which exhibit the highest degree of reproducibility. It is composed of the following: a) a cage which is furnished with a particular foot-board to check the starting position of the front legs; b) an electropneumatic machine for transporting a bit of food; c) an electronic device for controlling and randomizing the time of nourishment.

[Electronic circuit for the control of current intensity of stimulating impulses at high isolation]. / Circuito elettronico per il controllo della intensita' di corrente di impulsi stimolanti ad elevato isolamento.

A small electronic apparatus is described, in which the pulses of current can be regulated from 0 at 10 mA. This apparatus permits the utilization of conventional tension stimulators.

[Semiautomatic regulator for the preparation of microelectrodes for electrophysiology]. / Dispositivo semiautomatico per la preparazione di microelettrodi per elettrofisiologia.

This paper describes an electronic device for making metallic microelectrodes to be used for electrophysiological experiments. These microelectrodes are endowed with a small tissue-electrode capacity and a high mechanical strength. The same microelectrodes are applicable for derivation of spikes as in the case of microstimulation of nervous structures during repeated penetrations.