New insights on commemoration of the dead through mortuary and architectural use of pigments at Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Turkey.

The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the creation of social memory. Neolithic Çatalhöyük (Turkey, 7100-5950 cal BC) provides a unique case study for the exploration of links between pigments in burials, demographic data and colourants in contemporary architectural contexts. This study presents the first combined analysis of funerary and architectural evidence of pigment use in Neolithic Anatolia and discusses the possible social processes underlying the observed statistical patterns. Results reveal that pigments were either applied directly to the deceased or included in the grave as a burial association. The most commonly used pigment was red ochre. Cinnabar was mainly applied to males and blue/green pigment was associated with females. A correlation was found between the number of buried individuals and the number of painted layers in the buildings. Mortuary practices seem to have followed specific selection processes independent of sex and age-at-death of the deceased. This study offers new insights about the social factors involved in pigment use in this community, and contributes to the interpretation of funerary practices in Neolithic Anatolia. Specifically, it suggests that visual expression, ritual performance and symbolic associations were elements of shared long-term socio-cultural practices.

[Adenomas of the nipple]. / L'adenoma del capezzolo.

A case of adenoma of the nipple is reported. Although this is a comparatively rare condition, knowledge of it is extremely important because clinically it simulates Paget's disease. A failure to recognise the pathology could therefore lead to mistaken diagnosis and consequent surgery which would create serious damage to the patient. According to almost all authors, it is a benign pathology and can therefore be treated with an intervention limited to removing the complete tumour. This for two reasons: the first is that if the tumour grows it can become painful, create a sense of tension and bleed in the erosive phase; the second, more important, is that malignant degeneration has been hypothesised. For these reasons it is essential to examine the other breast immediately and follow the patient over time to prevent unpleasant surprises.

[Fine needle cytology ultrasound guide in breast disease. Personal experience]. / Esame citologico con ago ultrafine ecoguidato nelle lesioni mammarie. Nostra esperienza.

BACKGROUND: The authors present their experience of diagnostic technique performed with an ultrafine needle. This technique utilizes simple and economical instrumentation. The objectives of the present work are to: improve patient comfort and compliance; reduce the number of inadequate cells; demonstrate the validity of the diagnostic method used. METHODS: In our research, 137 cases of both benign and malignant disease were analyzed between January 1998 and April 2000. A further 118 cases, derived from our previous clinical trials, were added to these results. To achieve these objectives, the classic technique was modified using ultra-fine needles. In the present work, the results of the second trial are reported (January 1998 to April 2000) together with those from the first (January-December 1997). RESULTS: We have demonstrated that the technique with the ultra-fine needle is comparable to methods described in the world literature, and that the final results are equal to those of the major researchers. CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of this method is to be found in the small number of inadequate cells produced, due to the simplicity of the execution and the instruments, to acceptability of the examination to the patients, and to the overall results, which are comparable to those of major researchers. The main disadvantage relates to the characteristics of the needle, which is fine and short, and therefore unsuitable for use with deeply-placed tumors.

A large spontaneous splenorenal shunt in a patient with liver cirrhosis and uncomplicated portal hypertension.

The aim of this paper is to describe and discuss, on the basis of a thorough review of the literature, the case of a 70-year-old woman with probable cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis B and C, uncomplicated portal hypertension (without ascites, encephalopathy or bleeding varices), splenomegaly and hypersplenism, and an unusual, spontaneous, large splenorenal shunt and recanalization of the umbilical vein. The tortuous and varicose splenorenal shunt was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound and CT investigations. A duplex Doppler ultrasonography evaluation was performed to study shunt flow direction and velocity. No gastroesophageal varices were identified on endoscopic examination. The clinical relevance of spontaneous splenorenal shunt, often associated with fundic gastric varices, is discussed.

[Cardiac echinococcosis. Report of a case]. / Echinococcosi cardiaca. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

Cardiac hydatid disease represents 0.02-2% of the possible locations of the parasite. The case of an asymptomatic 60-year-old male patient, hospitalised for mnesic and cognitive disease, and with history of hepatic and pulmonary echinococcosis is reported. The patient showed a cardiac cyst localised in the mediobasal portion of the ventricular septum, with partial obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract and with alteration of the left ventricular compliance. This case is of particular interest either for the rarity of cardiac localization or disagreement between the severity of anatomic involvement and absence of correlated symptoms. Therefore all patients affected by hydatid disease could be routinely investigated by 2D echo because this imaging technique is non invasive, feasible and has a high sensitivity for detecting intracardiac echinococcal cysts.

[Diagnosis of nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a patient with Down's syndrome]. / Rilievo di cardiomiopatia ipertrofica non ostruttiva in un paziente con sindrome di Down.

This report describes the case of a patient with nonobstructed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Down's syndrome (47,XY, +21) in a 31 year old patient. Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was made subsequently to ECG and two dimensional echocardiography findings. Personal and familial anamnesis and physical examination were negative. Standard ECG revealed signs of left ventricular enlargement and secondary alterations of repolarization (negative and giant T waves in DI-DII-V3-V4-V5-V6). Two dimensional and Doppler echocardiography disclosed left ventricular walls hypertrophy, particularly of the ventricular septum, of apex, lateral and inferior walls with normal systolic and diastolic function's index. Any intracavitary gradients were sound and Holter ECG monitoring repeated three times, revealed normal cardiac findings. In the literature this association was never described. We can't claim familial genesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy because parents and brothers didn't present any cardiopathy. It's important to mark that anatomic alterations functional features didn't correspond in our case, as demonstrated by clinical and echo-Doppler findings.