The features of Tenon's capsule at the limbus.

Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is a multifactorial disease, whose most important risk is high intraocular pressure. Filtering surgery, i.e. trabeculectomy, is the operation of choice to lower pressure, allowing the aqueous to outflow from the anterior chamber under the conjuctiva and Tenon's capsule. Failure to establish a filtration bleb is due in most cases to subconjunctival fibrosis, leading to bleb encapsulation (Tenon's cyst). Our study aimed to locate the best cleavage plane for aqueous drainage. Based on histological data, the subtenonian space appears to satisfy this requirement, due to low scarring aptitude and low resistance.

The relationship between parotid and superficial fasciae.

The paper reports a study conducted on serial sections of subcutaneous neck and facial tissues taken from ten human fetuses with a craniocaudal distance of between 7 and 30 cms for the purpose of establishing the age at which various anatomical structures develop and interact. In particular, the study was aimed at investigating the relationship between the parotid and superficial fasciae. Findings, supported also by direct observations on humans, demonstrated that a parotid fascia proper does not exist. The study was also aimed at confirming or invalidating the contrasting opinions reported in recent literature. On the basis of our observations on the parotid gland, no parotid fascia as such seems to be present, but rather a superficial thickening of the connective tissue with muscle fibres which can be identified with the superficial fascia of the region and as a continuation of the platysma m., and with the septa subdividing the gland. Moreover, only a thin connective layer was detected in the deep surface of the fascia. These findings are in line with those reported by Jost who, like ourselves, conducted his research on both primates and humans. The anatomical and surgical implications of these findings are considerable as they entail a redefinition of the existence of a parotid fascia. In particular, this implies abandoning the expression introduced by Mitz who defines this structure as representing a "superficial muscular and aponeurotic system (SMAS)" which in fact can be considered to correspond to the superficial fascia as correctly described by Sterzi and subsequently confirmed by Bertelli.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Surgical principles in the correction of loop ears]. / Principi chirurgici nella correzione delle orecchie ad ansa.

After listing the deformities which may be found in loop ears, a surgical technique for the correction of such deformities is presented. This technique is based on elements taken from several forms of surgery which, together with a small personal contribution, make it possible to totally correct such deformities, achieving excellent esthetic results. To reconstruct the anthelix an anterior surgical incision is made below the helix. The cartilage between the helix and the scafa is likewise interrupted thus preventing the helix from also bending along with the anthelix. When necessary the cartilage is resected in order to modify the diameter of the auricle. Exposing the anthelix cartilage makes it possible to optimize reconstruction of the anthelix body and crus. After only a few weeks the scar on the anterior helix sulcus proves unnoticeable. The one objection which may be made in this regard is that there is a scar in the anterior sulcus of the helix which, using another means of approach, may be avoided (especially in surgery were esthetic results must be optimal). The authors feel that the results obtained with this method are superior to those achieved with other methods (as they themselves had used in the past) and that the scar proves well hidden in the helix sulcus. In order to correct dislocation and hypertrophy of the conch, if present, a posterior retroauricular approach is employed. The conch is reduced as much as necessary, the ear brought closer to the mastoid and held in place with sutures knotted on oiled gauze inside the conch.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The book of questions: remarks on a cultural itinerary]. / Due cinquecentine del Libro del Perche: annotazioni su un itinerario culturale.

The Book of Questions derives from the Problemata, a treatise wrongly included in the Corpus Aristotelicum and ended in the V-VI century A.C.; the authors examine two version (XVI century) of the Book, entitled Liber de Homine and printed under the auspices of Gerolamo Manfredi, physician of the University of Bononia. The two versions have been found in the Town Library of Ancona: one was printed in Ancona (1512) and the other in Venice (1588). The first book consists of 326 questions about foods, beverages, sleep and waking, physical exercise, environment and soul impulses and 242 questions about anatomy and physiology: the aim is divulgative and not scientific. The book printed in Venice suffered the expulsion of 110 questions, so to reduce the size of the manual (which now is a pocket book); of these questions 18 concerned sexual arguments, 82 concerned astrology and 10 minor arguments. Between the two editions there was the Council of Trento and the difference between the two Books may be due to the different aim (general divulgative book and pocket book, respectivelly) and to the influence of role of the two cities and of the political time. Ancona was a small town without restrictions of freedom of thought, Venice was an important center, more controlled for the possible influence outside and related at that time to the Christianity policy.

[Cleft palate surgery from its beginnings until today]. / La chirurgia della palatoschisi dalle origini ai giorni nostri.

The Authors have studied the evolution of the cleft palate's surgery, illness known from ancient times, but without any therapeutic solution for a long time. After the discovery of America, with the presence of a new syphilitic infection, cleft palate was generally considered as a consequence of syphilis, and undoubtedly this took away much interest in resolving any surgical problem. Only in 1766 Le Monnier did an operation of staphylorrhaphy. In the first half of 19th century many different surgeons, of different nations, presented many technics for the plasty of the cleft palate. But, as a result of the operation, there were new problems concerning the speech. Schönborn, just to improve the speech, did a palatopharyngoplasty in 1875, operation that was accepted only by Rosenthal, in 1924. After having been considered the technical skills for this surgery, there are presents the nowaday views for the correction of cleft palate.