[Optokinetic nystagmus and visual-vestibular interaction in subjects with "whiplash injuries"]. / Il nistagmo otticocinetico e d'interazione ottico vestibolare in soggetti con "colpo di frusta cervicale".

We studied the behaviour of Vestibular Nystagmus (VOR), of Optokinetic Nystagmus (OKN) and of Visuo-Vestibular-Ocular-Reflex (VVOR) in seven normal subjects and in thirty-two patients who had undergone cervical trauma in an automobile accident with the so called "whiplash mechanism". Thirteen subjects underwent examination within the first three months after the accident (first group), six subjects between the third and the sixth months (third group). Ocular movements was recorded according to the usual method by means of a Tonnies electronystagmograph with eight channels. The subjects, head blocked, sat on a Tonnies rotatory chair Pro model which was placed in the middle of a rotatory cylindrical chamber 2 metres in diameter and 1.9 metres in height. The width internal area was covered with thirty-two black vertical contrast. The rotatory cylinder was lighted from above by a 100 W bulb and was driven by a direct current engine which turned it clockwise and counterclockwise up to 200 degrees/sec., maximum speed, with preset acceleration ranging from 1 degree to 2 degrees/sec. All the subjects underwent to Rotatory Vestibular Stimulation by Stop test from a constant angular velocity of 90 degrees/sec. with clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, "stare type" Optokinetic stimulation with a cylinder rotation velocity of 30 degrees/sec. for 60 seconds and to contemporary Rotatory Vestibular and Optokinetic Stimulation (VVOR) so that OKN was VOR counterdirectional. The results of our experience show a statistically significative mean gain decrease of VOR and VVOR nystagmus (beating OKN direction) calculated on the first three beats in the patients of the first group and a significative increase of OKN mean gain in all the patients of the three groups. Furthermore, in sixteen out of thirty-two patients (seven in the first group, two in the second and seven in the third) we observed (during VVOR examination, immediately after stop) a nystagmus beating VOR direction lasting from 3 to 15 seconds.

[Echography in laryngeal tumors]. / L'ecografia nei tumori laringei.

During sonographic (US) studies of the neck for the nodal staging of patients with laryngeal neoplasms, the authors observed that, especially in advanced cases, also the primary lesion could be imaged with this method. Therefore, US capabilities were investigated in assessing the local stage of laryngeal neoplasms; the results were compared with clinical and surgical findings. Fifty normal subjects of various ages were previously examined to assess the normal US anatomy of laryngeal structures. The presence of calcifications within the thyroid cartilage is the major obstacle to US imaging of the larynx and is directly related to age; indeed, only 40% of subjects can be examined at the age of 70. Seventeen patients with advanced laryngeal tumors were examined by US. Laryngeal imaging was possible, either in part or completely, in 16 of 17 cases. The results were in agreement with clinical staging in 14 cases; in 2 cases US proved clinical understaging by detecting lesion spread to anterolateral perilaryngeal structures. To conclude, US is not suggested as the method of choice in patients with laryngeal neoplasms. However, in subjects with advanced tumors, also US can image the lesion directly, and even detect tumor spread to surrounding tissues, especially in the anterior and lateral directions. In a few cases, this can contribute to preoperative staging and to select the correct therapeutic approach.

[Dynamic posturography in normal subjects]. / La posturographie dynamique dans les sujets normaux.

The relative lack of data on the dynamic posturography led us to start a study in order to give our contributions to the standardization of M1, M2, M3, response parameters in normal subjects. Our research was carried out on 35 normal subjects aged 21 to 50. All of them were standing in Romberg's position on a Tönnies model board in a normally lit and ventilated room. We performed two tests: the first one open-eyed staring at no point, the second, 5 minutes later, closed-eyed. The EMG signals were obtained by surface electrodes on triceps sural and front tibial muscles. The EMG recording was determined by a "tilt" movement of the board at a steady speed of 50 per sec. and 4 wide. We use a XT 286 IBM computer with "T POST" software for checking and testing the data. Our results showed a significant variation in the value of the duration parameter in open-eyed and closed-eyed tests. Latency and area values were inferior to those obtained by other authors, except for Diener and Dichgans (3) whose results differ in latency value only.

Study of female sex pheromone of leopard moth,Zeuzera pyrina L. Isolation and identification of three components.

Three compounds have been identified in the abdominal tip extracts from the female leopard moth,Zeuzera pyrina L. Gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy data showed that (E, Z)-2, 13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate was the main component and that (Z)-13-octadecen-1-ol acetate and octadecan-1-ol acetate were secondary components. The electroanten-nographic responses of maleZ. pyrina to nanogram amounts of all four 2, 13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate isomers indicated that theE, Z isomer had the maximum activity. A strong EAG response was also recorded for (Z)-7-do-decen-1-ol acetate, which was not detected in the female extracts.

Sex pheromone components of the European goat moth,Cossus cossus.

Female tip washings of the European goat moth,Cossus cossus L., were found to contain the following compounds that are structurally similar to known pheromone components of Lepidoptera (%): decyl acetate (1.5), (Z)-5-dodecenol (1), (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate (66), dodecyl acetate (12), (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate (14), tetradecyl acetate (4), and hexadecyl acetate (1.5). The washes contained an average of 125 ng of (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate per female equivalent. EAG responses to nanogram amounts of the identified products indicated that (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate was the most potent olfactory stimulant followed by (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-5-dodecenol, whereas the saturated acetates caused only weak depolarization. A strong EAG response was also recorded for (Z)-3-decenyl acetate, which was not detected in the female tip washings. Field results showed that (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate was essential for the attraction of the males and that (Z)-3-decenyl acetate improved the attractiveness of (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate alone or in combination with (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate.