Auto- and homoplastic grafts in the treatment of osteolytic lesions

Based on 32 cases of neoplastic and degenerative lesions, the indications and limits of auto- and alloplastic grafts are discussed. Grafting was successful in all of the cases, obtaining excellent clinical and radiographic results. An auto graft may be used to more rapidly fill cavities which remain after curettage has been performed, but the limited availability of grafts, the need for a second operation, and the weakening of the donor site encourage us to develop more practical methods of removal and preservation of the allograft.     

Multivariate analysis in the pharmacological evaluation of a saluretic compound.

The pharmacological evaluation of the diuretic activity of a compound -- performed measuring the urinary volume and determining its electrolyte content -- may be usefully integrated by a multivariate analysis, in order to: express a general evaluation for each animal in terms of positive or negative response; evaluate the false positive responses of the control group animals and the negative responses in the treated animals on the basis of the general response. An example of application relating to a well-known saluretic, 4-chloro-N-(2-furfuryl)-5-sulfamoyl-anthranilic acid (furosemide), is reported.     

Retrospective survey on epidemiologic monitoring of accidents due to professional exposure to biological agents in A.O.U. "G. Martino" of Messina, Italy)

The management of healthcare professionals exposed to biological material which may potentially be contaminated with HIV HBVand HCV viruses, is of vital importance in acquiring precise epidemiological data regarding the type and means of exposure, and the efficacy or failure to apply recommended preventive measures. This will make it possible to assess over time which measures need to be implemented or improved. For these reasons we decided to analyze cases of occupational exposure to biological risk occurring in the University Hospital in Messina between 1998 and 2002. Our study highlighted in particular that the most frequently affected category was that of professional nurses (46.74%) and that only 31.72% of the healthcare workers who tested negative for HBsAb were administered vaccine prophylaxis also after the accident. Moreover, it emerged that there is the need to increase the amount and quality of information made available, by changing report forms, with the aim of identifying problems and risky behavior and procedures, and thus make ways to ensure the continued improvement of the accident prevention and management programmes. In fact, in the accident reporting procedure used, it was not possible to specify the precise way in which the accidents happened.     

Laryngeal paraganglioma: an endoscopic diode-laser-assisted surgical approach: a case report

Laryngeal paraganglioma is a rare vascular neuroendocrine benign tumour. Surgery is the standard treatment. The pre-operative gold standard is Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Gadolinum contrast. Computed tomography scans and angiography are also useful in making the diagnosis of paraganglioma before surgical intervention. A case of a large supraglottic paraganglioma is described. Complete excision of the tumour was achieved using microlaryngoscopical-laser surgical resection. No severe complications were observed. The patient was discharged from hospital without any complaints on the fourth post-operative day and she was disease-free 36 months after surgery. The effectiveness of this conservative endoscopic surgical procedure compared to the external approaches is discussed and it can be concluded that the endoscopic diode-laser resection of even extended laryngeal paraganglioma provides a good operative field and is a safe and effective technique.