Stabilized-solubilized ferric pyrophosphate as a new iron source for food fortification. Bioavailability studies by means of the prophylactic-preventive method in rats.

The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the iron bioavailability of a new ferric pyrophosphate salt stabilized and solubilized with glycine. The prophylactic-preventive test in rats, using ferrous sulfate as the reference standard, was applied as the evaluating methodology both using water and yogurt as vehicles. Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats weaned were randomized into five different groups (group 1: FeSO(4); group 2: pyr; group 3: FeSO(4) + yogurt; group 4: pyr + yogurt and group 5: control). The iron bioavailability (BioFe) of each compound was calculated using the formula proposed by Dutra-de-Oliveira et al. where BioFe % = (HbFef - HbFei) x 100/ToFeIn. Finally, the iron bioavailability results of each iron source were also given as relative biological value (RBV) using ferrous sulfate as the reference standard. The results showed that both BioFe % and RBV % of the new iron source tested is similar to that of the reference standard independently of the vehicle employed for the fortification procedure (FeSO(4) 49.46 +/- 12.0% and 100%; Pyr 52.66 +/- 15.02% and 106%; FeSO(4) + yogurth 54.39 +/- 13.92% and 110%; Pyr + yogurt 61.97 +/- 13.54% and 125%; Control 25.30 +/- 6.60, p < 0.05). Therefore, the stabilized and soluble ferric pyrophosphate may be considered as an optimal iron source for food fortification.

[Superselective spinal anesthesia for saphenectomy intervention. Comparison of 2 concentrations of hyperbaric bupivacaine]. / Anestesia spinale superselettiva per l'intervento di safenectomia. Confronto fra due concentrazioni di bupivacaina iperbarica.

BACKGROUND: High concentrations of intrathecal local anaesthetics may be neurotoxic. The purpose of this study was to compare the features of superselective spinal anaesthesia (ASS) obtained with an equivalent dose (5 mg) of 0.5% (available now also in Italy) and 1% hyperbaric bupivacaine. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on 100 patients undergoing saphenectomy, who were randomized into two groups to receive either 0.5% bupivacaine 1 ml (group A) or 1% bupivacaine 0.5 ml (group B). The anaesthetic solution was injected 1 ml/min at L2-L3 with an atraumatic needle. During dural puncture and following 20 minutes patients were held with the operative side down. In every patient were recorded: quality and level of analgesia on dependent (operative) and non dependent sides; motor-block at the 20th minute and 2nd, 3rd and 4th hours on both sides; reduction per cent of systolic artery pressure (SAP) and heart rate (HR), incidence of hypotension (SAP < 90 mmHg) and bradycardia (HR < 50 bts/min); recovery of deambulation and micturition and side effects. RESULTS: Significant differences between the two groups have been found in: 1) number of thoracic segments blocked (3.22 vs 2.02); 2) motor block at the 2nd hour; 3) number of patients able to walk (19 vs 3) and to micturate (11 vs 3) at the 2nd hour. CONCLUSIONS: 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine can be successfully use in ASS; early regression of motor block is especially suitable for the requirements of day surgery.

[Peridural anesthesia with 0.5% bupivacaine-fentanyl. Evaluation of the pre-heating effect]. / Anestesia peridurale con bupivacaina 0.5%-fentanil. Valutazione dell'effetto del preriscaldamento.

The effect of preheated (37 degrees C) mixture of 0.5% bupivacaine and fentanyl on peridural anaesthesia have been studied in a double blind randomized clinical trial. Fifty patients of both sexes, ASA I-II, undergoing elective surgery for inguinal hernia repair or radical saphenectomy have been randomly assigned either to the control group (n = 25) receiving 0.5% bupivacaine-fentanyl at room temperature (20 degrees C), or to the group receiving the same anaesthetic mixture preheated for 12 hours up to 37 degrees C (n = 25). The latency period, extension, duration and quality of anaesthetic block were evaluated. A significative difference in the extension of anaesthetic block was detected at 6' (p less than 0.05 for extension up to T10 and T11, p less than 0.025 up to T12), and at 8' (less than 0.05 for extension up to T10). However no difference was observed between the two groups at 10' and later. The use of 0.5% bupivacaine-fentanyl mixture resulted in a short latency period, as previously observed, and its preheating does not seem to affect substantially the parameters evaluated in this study.

[Loco-regional analgesia with continuous peridural technique in labor. Evaluation of 4 years of experience]. / Analgesia loco-regionale con tecnica peridurale continua nel travaglio di parto. Valutazione di 4 anni di attività.

The Authors report on the results of their experience using local-regional analgesia performed with the continuous peridural technique over four years of activity with 503 pregnant women. Protocols used over the years called for morphine-fentanyl association, but bupivacaine 0.25% plus fentanyl and bupivacaine 0.125% plus fentanyl mixtures were then employed. In order to evaluate the efficiency of this procedure, the following data were recorded for each patient undergoing the analgesia: duration of labor prior to the effect of the analgesia; time to reach complete dilatation from a 3 cm dilatation; the length of time of the expulsive phase; manifestation of side effects and complications; vacuum utilization. Furthermore, Apgar scores were taken for all newborn babies at 1st and 5th minutes. The data were then compared with those recorded for a group of women with the same obstetrical characteristics who were not treated with analgesia. The comparison showed that the length of time of the dilatation phase (from 3 to 10 cms) was significantly less in the group of treated patients, while the expulsive phase was basically similar in both groups, thus showing that labor mean time had significantly decreased in the group of patients treated with analgesia. The number of vacuum births was basically the same in both groups and comparable to the data available in the literature. These were practically no side effects or complications. In conclusion, our experience confirms the fact that this method is the most reliable in terms of safety, effectiveness and acceptability on the part of women compared to any other analgesic treatment employed during labor.

[Serum and skin surface lipids relation in the hepatic subjects (author's transl)]. / Comportamento dei lipidi sierici e della superficie cutanea in epatopatici.

The Authors studied a relation interlinking the abnormal groups of the serum lipids on the skin surface. They concluded that in liver disease there are two distinct classes of lipids and they are totally independent each other.

[The importance of man, mouse and rat skin surface lipid fractions on the "in vitro" penetration of "Schistosoma mansoni" cercariae (author's transl)]. / L'importanza delle frazioni lipidiche cutanee di uomo, di topo e di ratto nella penetrazione "in vitro" delle cercarie di "Schistosoma mansoni".

The AA. have studied in this research, the rôle explicated in vitro from the lipids contained in a man's skin, in a rat of the Wistar experimental group and in a mouse of the Swiss one. They have seen that some lipids fractions, as triglycerides, waxes and squalenes explicate an action that favours the penetration of the cercariae in vitro on a plate of agar and that such an action is due to the unsaturation in the above said fractions of sebaceous origin. On the contrary the lipids of skin origin as sterols and their esters inhibit the penetration.

[A study on the behaviour of 7 serological parameters in many subjects affected by acute viral hepatitis (author's transl)]. / Studio sull'andamento di 7 parametri sierologici in soggetti affetti da epatite virale acuta.

The AA. have studied the behaviour of 7 serological parameters in 32 subjects affected by acute viral hapatitis, by means of 4 samples of blood performes at the distance of 12 days for the first and of 15 days for the others. The results are alike to these formerly knows, exception made for alkaline phosphatase, gamma Gt and immunoglobulines G and M.

[Determination of the cercarial lipids and relations with superficial human cutaneous lipids (author's transl)]. / Determinazione dei lipidi cercariali e rapporti con i lipidi superficiali cutanei dell'uomo.

The lipid class composition of cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni and skin surface has been examined by thin lager chromatography. Free sterols, sterol esters, triglycerides, phospholipids were major components of cercarial lipids, triglycerides, wax esters, free fatty acids, squalen were major components of skin surface lipids. An examination of fatty acids of total cercarial and skin surface lipids revealed that C16, C18, C18=, C16=, C18= were major components.

[Lipids in Taenia saginata]. / I lipidi della Taenia saginata

Lipids of Taenia saginata were analyzed by means of thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography. Total lipids comprised about 3.3% of the fresh weight and consisted mainly of triglycerides (65.62%), sterols (19.58%), phospholipids (10.16%). The fatty acids of the triglycerides were mainly unsaturated and differed from those of phospholipids. The parasite has practically no "de novo" fatty acid biosynthesis, although this cestode did synthetize complex lipids from single lipids provided by the diet.