[Variations in interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 due to surgical trauma in cancer patients]. / Variazioni di interleuchina-2 e interleuchina-6 da trauma chirurgico in pazienti oncologici.

Inflammatory response after surgical trauma, which is necessary for infection control and tissue repairing, can actually produce some cytokines suppressive of the antitumoral immunity response. In this study the authors evaluate pre- and post-operative IL-2 (antitumor response activator) and IL-6 (lymphocytic response inhibitor and tumor growth factor) levels in 26 cancer patients undergoing resective surgery. Analysis of the results showed a significative IL-6 increase and a tendency to IL-2 decrease in the post-operative period. It is thus confirmed, even on the basis of the cytokines, the meaningful immunosuppressive effect of the surgical trauma on neoplastic growth control.

MAIA project: software for the management of toxicodependence treatment process.

This chapter reviews the importance of information management in a therapeutic community, how to select the data collected by the interview and features of the software and its fitting in an operative context. New sections are projected to help staff who diagnose treatment candidates and treat patients. Use of statistical analysis as an instrument for management of therapeutic communities is based on the experience of "Centro Solidarietà di Modena". Some examples are included on the population of "Centro Solidarietà di Modena". Artificial neural networks have a viable role for treatment (primary, secondary and tertiary).

[Right and left ventricular function and incidence of major complications in acute inferior myocardial infarct. Study by equilibrium-gated radioisotope angiography]. / Funzionalità ventricolare destra e sinistra ed incidenza di complicanze principali nell'infarto miocardico inferiore acuto. Studio mediante angiocardiografia radioisotopica ad equilibrio.

By means of equilibrium gated radionuclide angiography (EGRA) 67 patients were studied with first inferior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within 4 days of the onset of symptoms and 12 normal volunteers. Ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) was computed. The regional wall motion (RWM) was evaluated by parametric images of amplitude and phase (Fourier analysis). The following major in-hospital complications were diagnosed in 41 patients (61%): postinfarction angina, congestive heart failure (CHF), high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, shock, extension of infarction, pericarditis, pulmonary embolism and acute pulmonary edema. A significant correlation between RVEF and the extent of RVRWM abnormalities and the incidence of major complications was found. In particular, the incidence of shock and CHF was significantly correlated with that of the RV disfunction, while the LVEF was generally in the normal range despite a high incidence of LVRWM abnormalities. In the patients developing high-degree AV block this correlation did not reach statistical significance; in this group, 10 of 12 patients developed other major complications. Also in 10 of 13 cases with CHF, other complications arose during the period of hospitalization. In conclusion the disfunction of the RV can identify the subgroup of patients with inferior AMI who are at high risk for developing major complications, especially shock and CHF. AV block and CHF have a severe prognostic meaning, because they occur usually in association with other major complications.

[Use of the computer in total parenteral nutrition. Our experience]. / Utilizzo del computer nella N.P.T. Nostra esperienza.

The Authors show their method to set up and to plan a T.P.N. for surgical patients. They emphasize how the introduction of the computer in the intensive therapy practice, not only helps the work of the medical corps and the hospital attendants, but it marks and plans again every day the components' dosages on the blood-metabolical alterations, daily checked on the patients. They are here showing their experiences since 1977, appraising in a critical way the directions and the results.