Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at the workplace: considerations about a survey carried out in a pharmaceutical industry

A survey was carried out in a pharmaceutical industry, in order to know the exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the workplace, and attitudes of workers toward workplace smoking restrictions and bans. In the three plants of the industry (Bergamo, Milan, Reggello-Florence) workers were exposed to ETS in every workplace areas, except for the production area, even if there were no-smoking warning notices in the plants. Non-smokers were more favorable than smokers about the introduction of workplace restrictions on smoking. In order to decrease exposure to ETS, it would be desirable to develop workplace smoking restrictions or bans, effective and low-cost interventions.     

Morphometric analysis of the transverse dentoskeletal features of class II malocclusion in the mixed dentition

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dentoskeletal features of Class II malocclusion in the transverse plane by means of a morphometric analysis (thin-plate spline analysis [TPS]) applied to posteroanterior cephalograms. A sample of 49 subjects (24 males, 25 females; mean age 7 years, 9 +/- 5 months) with Class II Division 1 malocclusion was compared with a control group of 50 subjects (17 males, 33 females; mean age 8 years, 4 +/- 3 months) with Class I occlusion. Subjects of both groups were in the mixed dentition and had no history of orthodontic treatment. Average craniofacial configurations were subjected to TPS analysis to compare the differences in shape between the two groups. The results of the present study showed that subjects with Class II malocclusion exhibited significant shape differences in craniofacial configuration in the frontal plane when compared with subjects with normal occlusion; these differences mainly consisted of a contraction of the maxilla at both the skeletal and the dentoalveolar levels and a narrowing of the base of the nose. The reduction in maxillary dentoskeletal width was associated with an increase in the vertical height of the maxilla.     

Exercise renal scintigraphy shows renal ischemia in a transplanted kidney

Exercise renography is essentially a research method to investigate hypertension and has very limited clinical application. Captopril renography has long been used to study renal artery stenosis causing hypertension with good results. The authors describe a patient with a transplanted kidney supplied by reversal of flow via the external iliac artery. A "steal phenomenon" of the kidney related to ambulation was considered likely. Ischemia of the transplanted kidney was revealed by exercise renography, which showed parenchymal trapping of radiotracer as a result of exercise.     

Octreotide in the Management of Bowel Obstruction in Terminal Ovarian Cancer

Intestinal obstruction is a common and distressing clinical complication in ovarian cancer. The aim of our study was to assess vomit control in terminal ovarian cancer patients with inoperable gastrointestinal obstruction, using a symptomatic pharmacological treatment with octreotide which obviates the need for nasogastric tube placement. We studied 13 patients, all of whom had advanced ovarian cancer FIGO stage IIIc. Seven patients were treated in the Gynecology Department of S. Raffaele Hospital, at the University of Milan, and 6 were managed in the University of Varese Hospital. Octreotide was administered at doses starting with 0.3 up to 0.6 mg (mean 0.44 mg) a day by subcutaneous bolus or continuous infusion. Octreotide controlled vomiting in all cases to grade 0 on the WHO emesis scale. Complete relief of symptoms was achieved within 3.07 days (range 1–6 days). Vomiting stopped within 2–3 days of starting treatment in most patients. In 8 patients with a nasogastric tube, drainage decreased from 2000 to under 100 ml/day after the start of octreotide treatment. No side effects were reported. All patients died with minimal distress or pain.     

Serum group I pepsinogens level in cystic fibrosis

Fasting serum pepsinogen 1 level was determined by radioimmunoassay in 30 patients with cystic fibrosis and in on equal number of age-matched healthy children. Serum pepsinogen 1 basal levels were significantly higher (49 +/- 18 ng/ml; p less than 0.01) in cystic fibrosis patients than in controls (38 +/- 12 ng/ml). The increased pepsinogen 1 level did not correlate with the levels of Po2 and Pco2 tensions, fat balance or basal and maximum acid outputs. It is concluded that the mechanisms which lead to a rise of serum pepsinogen 1 in cystic fibrosis are unknown. However these findings could provide useful information with regard to the biology of a disease whose physiopathology is still unknown.     

Substances with antiviral activity. XIII. Synthesis and in vitro activity of thiosemicarbazones of 1-benzoyl- and 1-benzyl-2-chloro-3-formylindoles

A series of 1-benzoyl- and 1-benzyl-2-chloro-3-formylindole thiosemicarbazones was synthesized and investigated for antiviral activity against vaccinia virus IHD strain and parainfluenza virus type 3, HA-I/CR-8 strain. The results confirmed the previously observed high activity against vaccinia virus of m-substituted benzoyl derivatives. On the contrary, the analogous benzyl derivatives showed marginal activity; the compound (V c), however, was the most active against the parainfluenza virus.