[Decreto Legislativo 81/08 and occupational health: regulations for use and constructive criticism]. / Decreto Legislativo 81/08 e medico competente: la norma e la critica costruttiva.

The D.Lgs 81/08, born in a particular social period, is often unclear and incongruent, with consequently difficulties for the Occupational Health Physician. Considering the important role of the Occupational Health Physician in prevention (workers' health and safety) and health promotion in the workplace, the aim of this paper is to report and discuss critically his daily practice (risk assessment, health surveillance, health promotion...) and the tools given by the Law. The Authors believe an improving prevention in the workplace is possible if strictly linked to a simpler and cleaner Law.

Ultrasonographic monitoring of the fetal growth of common seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina).

Three captive female common seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) were monitored ultrasonographically during five pregnancies. Pregnancy was diagnosed in the third month and fetal monitoring was continued until parturition. The ultrasound measurements were made with the active collaboration of the animals by training them to cooperate with the procedure.

Estrous cycle characterisation and artificial insemination using frozen-thawed spermatozoa in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

The reproductive endocrinology of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, was characterized to facilitate the development of artificial insemination using cryopreserved spermatozoa. Specific objectives were: (i) to determine the excretory dynamics of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) and ovarian steroid metabolites during the estrous cycle; (ii) to evaluate the effect of an exogenously administered synthetic progesterone analog (altrenogest) on reproductive hormone excretion; (iii) to correlate follicular growth and ovulation (as determined by transabdominal ultrasound) to urinary LH and ovarian steroid metabolites; (iv) examine the in vivo fertilisation capacity of cryopreserved semen, and (v) to develop an intrauterine insemination technique. Based on urinary endocrine monitoring of natural estrous cycles (2 consecutive cycles) and nine post altrenogest cycles in ten females, estrous cycles were found to be 36 days long and comprised of an 8 day and 19 day follicular and luteal phase, respectively. Peak estrogen conjugates (EC; 5.4+/-3.8 ng/mg creatinine (Cr)) occurred 8 h prior to the LH surge (70.9+/-115.7 ng/mg Cr). The time of ovulation, as determined by ultrasonography, occurred 32.1+/-8.9 h and 24.3+/-7.0 h after the onset of the LH surge and LH peak, respectively. Mean preovulatory follicular diameter and circumference were 2.1+/-0.5 cm and 6.5+/-1.5 cm, respectively. Of the 27 estrous synchronisation attempts, 13 resulted in an ovulatory cycle, with ovulation occurring 21 days post-altrenogest treatment. Intrauterine (4 of 5) and intracornual (1 of 3) inseminations conducted across eight estrous cycles resulted in five pregnancies (63%), one pregnancy resulted from the use of liquid stored semen, whereas four were achieved using cryopreserved semen. These data provide new information on female bottlenose dolphin reproductive physiology, and demonstrate that the combination of endocrine monitoring and serial ultrasonography contributed to successful AI using liquid-stored and cryopreserved semen.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies on cetaceans found stranded on the coast of Italy between 1990 and 1997.

Detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical studies were carried out on 24 cetaceans, 17 of which were striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), four bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and three Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), all found stranded on the Italian coast between 1990 and 1997. The most frequently detected lesions were chronic pneumonia (73.7% of the examined lungs), focal chronic pancreatitis (71.4%), non-purulent encephalitis (50%), chronic hepatitis (42.1%), and chronic focal interstitial nephritis (31.2%). The skin and the subcutaneous panniculus were often (33.3%) affected by parasitic diseases (Phyllobothrium delphini and Pennella sp.). An appreciable percentage of animals showed lymphoid depletion in their lymphatic organs (47.2%), as well as a high rate of parasitic infestations in their alimentary tracts (25%).

Food consumption in relation to bodyweight in captive snakes.

The weekly food consumption of 25 captive snakes of nine species fed on freshly killed laboratory mice was measured for periods of three to eight weeks. Their ad libitum intake was found to vary in proportion to their initial body weight (w) raised to an exponent close to and not significantly different from 0.75 (mean [SE] 0.79 [0.064]. However, the food consumption in relation to w varied between animals, and the rates of change in bodyweight relative to w0.75 during the measurement period were highly correlated with food consumption (r = 0.801, P < 0.001). From the regression describing the relationship between these variables, the mean food requirement for maintenance was estimated at 4.2 g day-1 kg-0.75 and the mean rate of weight loss when fasting was estimated at 2.0 g day-1 kg-0.75. The mean weight gain for each gram of food eaten above maintenance level was estimated to be 0.46 g. The limits, in relation to w, within which the ad libitum food consumption of snakes can be predicted from these results with 95 per cent probability are estimated.

[Therapeutic indications in herpes zoster]. / Indicazioni terapeutiche nell'herpes zoster.

Fifty-two patients with acute Herpes Zoster were divided into two groups and treated respectively as follows: 25 received i.v. acyclovir and 27 received s.c. thymopentin, an immunomodulating drug. Both drugs proved effective in promoting the recovery from herpetic lesions and in relieving the painful symptomatology within approximately the same period of time. Thymopentin apparently has an antiphlogistic effect and is believed to prevent post-herpetic neuropathy through its immunomodulating activity. Further studies based on a larger number of patients would be necessary to confirm the results achieved and for statistical evaluation.

[Recent clinical findings in leptospirosis]. / Ulteriori acquisizioni cliniche sulla leptospirosi.

Forty-four patients admitted 1978-1986 were examined which suffered from leptospirosis. The authors bring a new contribution on the clinic of leptospirosis. They confirm that leptospirosis often assumes a polymorphic clinical degree. They stress the importance of an early diagnosis.