[Long-term local tolerability to intranasally administered salmon calcitonin in post-menopausal osteoporosis]. / Tollerabilità locale cronica della Calcitonina di salmone somministrata per via endonasale nell'osteoporosi postmenopausale.

The aim of this study was to acquire further knowledge relative to the local tolerability of synthetic salmon Calcitonin, administered by the intranasal route. The Authors have evaluated several olfactometry parameters in a group of patients treated for twelve months with the drug. The Wright matrix test and the olfacto-respiratory reflex test were performed. An evaluation regarding mucociliary transport time was additionally effected. No interference on the part of the drug was reported regarding the functional parameters of the nasal mucosa. The excellent local tolerability of intranasal salmon Calcitonin, as already indicated by other Authors, was confirmed, even in terms of specific parameters relative to the olfactory functions.

[Nose disease caused by occupational exposure to chromium in the electroplating industry: cytomorphological aspects]. / Rinopatia da esoposizione professionale a cromo nell'industria galvanica: aspetti citomorfologici.

Twenty-six workers were studied (9 chrome-platers exposed to chromium dioxide and 17 workers exposed to metallic chromium dust) in order to investigate the macroscopic and cytological changes of the nasal mucosa due to exposure to water-soluble hexavalent chromium or to metallic chromium dust in the electroplating industry and the role of different valencies in the onset of nasal disease. Experimental and epidemiological data have shown that hexavalent chromium, which has strong oxidative power, induces more noticeable toxic effects on tissues and mucous membranes than other compounds. The correlation between the degree of local toxic effects and the chemical state of chromium was demonstrated in both the macro- and the microscopic investigations and in particular in the cytological examinations: cases of atypia were found only in workers exposed to hexavalent chromium. Evidence of atypia raises the question of whether hexavalent chromium may act as a carcinogenic agent on the rhinosinusal mucosa. For this reason, the introduction of cytological nasal examination in health surveillance programmes for this category of workers acquires considerable importance. Sample collection from the nasal mucosa by brushing is the method of choice since it is simple, non-invasive and gives good diagnostic results.

[Our experience in esthetic and functional surgery of the nose]. / Nostre esperienze in chirurgia estetica e funzionale del naso.

The authors report their experiences on functional and aesthetic nose surgery. The patients selection, the pre-operating test are based both on the rhinologic functionality and the photografic studies. Operative techniques are described together with pictures of most important stages. Results are shown with patients pictures before and after intervention.

[A case of lipoma in a pharyngeal site]. / Su un caso di lipoma a sede farinqea.

The Authors describe a clinical case of lipoma examined by them in a retropharyngeal site. Reports published in literature show the extreme rarity of a pharyngeal localization of lipomas. The symptomatology and numerous differential diagnoses are examined. Of the instrumental diagnostic examinations, the stratigraphy of the pharynx and CAT were decisive in identifying the benign nature of the neoformation. In the clinical case described, needle biopsy did not produce any decisive diagnostic elements. In agreement with other Authors, the therapy of choice to be followed is a surgical procedure.

[Laryngocele. Possibilities and limitations of surgical treatment under direct microlaryngoscopy]. / Laringocele. Possibilità e limiti del trattamento chirurgico in microlaringoscopia diretta.

Three cases of laryngocele are reported, which were managed by surgery under direct microlaryngoscopy with excellent clinical and functional results, both at short and long term. According to the classification of Y. Lacomme, two patients had an internal or vestibular laryngocele, which was of the low type in one of them and of the middle type in the other. In the first case the pouch and the false vocal fold lying over it were completely removed under direct microlaryngoscopy. In the second case the laringeal cavity was marsupialized after extensive resection of the false fold and part of the lateral wall of the vestibule. Over a short period of time both patients were symptom-free and eventually recovered completely. In the third case tha laryngocele was of a classic mixed type. The patient, who risked suffocation, was elderly (77 years of age) and extremely debilitated. A few days earlier he had had an emergency tracheotomy for severe respiratory failure. Surgery under direct microlaryngoscopy consisted in removing the false fold and the internal laryngocele. About one and ahalf months later, the tracheostomy opening had closed and the latero-cervical pouch had been gradually reduced. The latter was drained abundantly into the laryngeal lumen and remained as an external laryngocele. When the patient is in good enough condition, the laryngocele will be completely removed by means of the most suitable among the common external-approach surgical techniques.

[Békésy audiometry at suprathreshold level in sensorineural bearing losses (author's transl)]. / Audiometria automatica sopraliminare nelle ipoacusie neurosensorali.

In order to study the suprathreshold hearing phenomena for a differential diagnosis of sensorineural hearing losses Békésy Audiometry has been used at two different levels: a) Békésy threshold level; b) Békésy comfortable level. Are considered: the tracing's amplitude; the continuous decay; the gap between the two different threshold levels. Results has demonstrated that Békésy comfortable level give substantial contribution as decay test and as indirect recruitment test.

[Forward and backward Békésy audiometry in neurosensorial hearing loss (author's transl)]. / Rilievi sui tracciati anterogradi e retrogradi in autiometria automatica in pazienti affetti da ipoacusia di tipo neurosensoriale.

Békésy audiometry was utilized to show that an abnormal separation of forward and reverse frequency tracing is to be referred to an abnormal fatigability in neurosensorial hearing loss (presbycusis and noise-induced hearing loss). The ascending and descending threshold with continuous tone was compared to fixed frequency per-stimulatory threshold that has been determinated using interrupted and continuous tone. During the study has been evaluated the gap between the continuous and interrupted tone and the excursion amplitude in interrupted and continuous tone. The results are than an abnormal separation between forward and reverse frequency tracings is connected to an abnormal fatigability. Thus, according to other authors, forward-backward Békésy audiometry can be used to show a retrocochlear pathology in the considered hearing loss.