[Characteristics of the articulation heads in the elbow joint in relation to flexor-extension movements]. / Caratteristiche dei capi articolari del gomito in relazione al movimento di flesso-estensione.

The angles involved in the physiological movements of the humero-ulnar joint have been studied by a semiautomatic image analyzer on 50 dried humeri and 50 dried ulnae and on 50 radiographs of normal elbow joints (22 male and 28 female). The angle (A) formed by the diaphyseal axis and the lower humeral epiphysis equals 34 degrees +/- 3.97 (media + s.d.) in dried bones; 35 degrees +/- 6.05 (male) and 35.5 degrees +/- 4.7 (female) in the radiographic images. The angle (B) formed by the trochlear notch axis and the horizontal plane equals 22.5 degrees +/- 5.31 in the dried bones; 28 degrees +/- 5.57 (male) and 25.5 degrees +/- 6.98 (female) in the radiographic images. According to these data the flexor-extension movement of the elbow joint is possible when the humeral angle (A) is less than 45 degrees even if this angle (A) is required to be more than the ulnar one (B).

[Transversal fracture of the patella: experimental evaluation of the Lotke and Ecker method of internal fixation]. / Fratture trasversali di rotula: valutazione sperimentale del metodo di fissazione interna di lotke e ecker.

Four different methods of internal fixation of transverse fractures of the patella were experimentally evaluated in eight cadaver knees: circumferential wiring, tension band cerclage, cerclage over Kirschner wires and the Lotke's method. Linear and angular displacements were accurately measured by means of a micrometer while actively extending the knee from 90 degrees of flexion to full extension. Circumferential wiring gave the highest displacements, up to 25 mm at 30 degrees of flexion on average. Tension band cerclage showed much better results but the greatest stability was obtained with the cerclage over Kirschner wires and with the Lotke's technique which yielded displacements of less than 1 mm. These last two methods combine the tension band principle and transosseous fixation, which are both essential to obtain a stable fixation.

[Determination of bone density of the macerated human radius. Comparison of diverse densitometry methods: computerized axial tomography and single photon ray densitometry]. / Determinazione della densità ossea del radio umano macerato. Confronto fra metodiche densitometriche diverse: tomografia assiale computerizzata e densitometria a singolo raggio fotonico.

Bone mineral content (BMC) assays are widely used in clinical practice. The most common techniques in vivo are computed axial tomography (CT) and single photon ray densitometry (SPA). The two techniques were compared in studies of macerated bone (16 macerated radii of both sexes). The BMC was measured first by SPA that provides information on both the trabecular and the cortical bone tissue. CT densitometry was then performed on the cortical bone in the same sites at the SPA. Bone sections were then taken and the area of the depth of the cortical bone calculated on their radiographic images using a semiautomatic image analyser. The results show that data obtained by SPA correlate better with the CT data (r1 = 0.861) than with the figures for the area of the thickness of the cortical bone (r2 = 0.786). This suggests that the BMC of the radius as measured by SPA may depend more on the density than the thickness of the cortical bone.

[Characteristics of articular caps of the elbow in relation to flex-extension movement]. / Caratteristiche dei capi articolari del gomito in relazione al movimento di flesso-estensione.

Considering the factors limiting flexo-extension movements of the elbow, particular importance has been given to the possible existing contact between its articular ends in the final stage of the movement. However, this factor has different importance according to the angle formed by the ulnar and humeral diaphysis with their respective epiphysis. Some authors assert that humeral and ulnar articular ends do not come into any contact during the first stage of the sigmoid cavity movement on the trochlea, according to their opinion, in fact, an angle of 45 degrees should exist between the prolongation of the humeral diaphysis axis and the lower epiphysis and the great ulnar sigmoid cavity should be oriented forward and high forming an axis that is inclined of 45 degrees the horizontal plane. In order to verify this affirmation, we have measured the width of these angles in 50 soaked humeri and 50 ulnas. The same angle has been measured in 50 radiograms of partially flexed laterally projected elbows. The mean observed values have been of about 34 degrees for the distal epiphysis-diaphysis angle in humeri and of about 25 degrees for the inclination angle of the orientation axis of the great ulnar sigmoid cavity. The results show that - when humeral epiphysis-diaphysis angle is larger or eventually equal to the ulnar one - it is sufficient that the considered angles are less than 45 degrees to get a correct and complete flexo-extension movement.

[Initial observations on the secretion of stains by the rabbit gastric mucosa under experimental conditions. (Technical note)]. / Prime osservazioni sulla escrezione di sostanze coloranti da parte della mucosa gastrica di coniglio in condizioni sperimentali. (Nota tecnica).

It has been demonstrated that an intravenous injection of Toluidine Blue after insulin stimulation is followed in rabbit by a gastric secretion stained pale blue. Through vagotomy experiments it has been seen that gastric secretion is probably depending on vaginerves activity.

[Function of the gastro-epiploic nerve in the rabbit]. / Sulla funzione del nervo gastroepiploico destro nel coniglio.

Four rabbits have been given 0,2 U/Kg insulin intravenous injection, thus inducing a vagal stimulation. Having been sponged a Congo Red solution onto the mucosa, via a gastrotomy incision, we could see an acid secretion by the colour change when the right gastroepiploic vessels were cut together with the nerves along side them, the colour change appeared in a large area of gastric fundus and corpus, but not in a small area near the greater curvature. These experiments let us consider the nervous filaments along side the right gastroepiploic vessels in the rabbit as secretory fibers of probable vagal nature.