[The screening of thyroid tumefactions by real-time echography. Preliminary data]. / Screening delle tumefazioni tiroidee mediante ecografia in tempo reale. Dati preliminari.

Recent experience in the ultrasound study of thyroid swellings is reported. The results are discussed and it is pointed out that for accurate differential diagnosis of the thyroid pathology examined ultrasound data must be backed up by scintigraphic studies of the gland and if necessary by needle biopsy.

[Primary myxedema in an adult. Notes on a case]. / Mixedema primitivo dell'adulto. Osservazioni su un caso.

In the case of adult primary myxedema reported the diagnostic suspicion aroused by objective examination was confirmed by assaying the hypophysial-thyroid hormones (blood T4 and T3 below normal levels) and by the behaviour of certain muscle enzymes (CPK, LDH, GOT) that bore witness to diffuse muscle and bone damage (hypothyroid "myopathy"). The presence of antithyroid antibodies, though in small amounts suggested earlier and unnoticed thyroiditis as a possible aetiopathogenic explanation. The clinical and metabolic picture undoubtedly benefited from treatment with L-Thyroxine.

[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of the retroperitoneal space. A case history series and some selected clinical cases]. / Diagnostica ultrasonografica dello spazio retroperitoneale. Una casistica ed alcuni casi clinici selezionati.

A personal series and some clinical cases of pathology of the retroperitoneal space observed by ultrasonography during routine and emergency investigations are reported. Although the limitations of this diagnosis compared to the more recent image techniques (CT and NMR) are recognised, it is still considered an indispensable first level diagnosis in this extensive pathology (in terms of site, type and extent) of retroperitoneally located organs, tissues and systems.

[Echotomography in abdominal emergencies. Apropos of 16 controlled clinical cases. (A description of some of them)]. / Urgenze addominali all'ecotomografia. A proposito di sedici casi clinici controllati. (Descrizione di alcuni).

A personal series of abdominal emergencies subjected to ultrasound studies is reported. The results of these studies were identical to the surgical and histological findings. It is therefore concluded that even in the absence of other diagnostic techniques (scintiscans, angiographic, CAT scans, etc.) ultrasound imaging can make a major contribution to the diagnosis of intra and extraperitoneal abdominal emergencies especially in district hospitals.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis of 22 gastric tumors]. / Diagnostica sonografica di ventidue tumori gastrici.

A report is presented on 22 patients with advanced stomach cancer in whom echography revealed the characteristic signs ("pseudokidney", "cockade", "target", "doughnut", etc.). Though not considered wholly specific indicators of gastric neoplasm (they may be artefacts or errors of interpretation) they are helpful in the diagnosis of the stomach. Ultrasound has made it possible to identify the site (antrum and body) and spread of the cancer both locally and at a distance and only a few forms (not encountered in the present series) have presented characteristic images. Endoscopic ultrasonography and the high resolution intraoperative type offer the chance for significant progress in this diagnostic field.

[Ultrasonics of the liver (and bile ducts). The most significant experiences collected at a district hospital (clinical cases)]. / Ecotomografia del fegato (e delle vie biliari). Le esperienze più significative raccolte in un ospedale zonale (casi clinici).

The undoubted advantages deriving from the use of abdominal ultrasonography both in diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment are reported. In particular ultrasonography has proved very helpful in the study of pathologies of the liver and biliary tract, especially in a Rural Hospital, where it is not possible to have recourse to more refined diagnostic techniques.

[In vitro chemo-antibiotic sensitivity of gram-negative bacteria from various biological materials. Comparison between aztreonam and other agents]. / Chemioantibiotico sensibilità "in vitro" di batteri gram-negativi provenienti da diverso materiale biologico. Confronto tra aztreonam ed altri agenti.

527 Gram negative bacterial strains isolated from different biological substances were studied by chemo-antibiotic sensitivity. The examination was carried out by the agar diffusion test (Kirby-Bauer). A very good sensitivity to aztreonam (E. coli, Serratia spp., Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp.), to amikacin (Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp.) and to norfloxacin (Citrobacter spp.) was found. Even when it was not the best, aztreonam was the second (Citrobacter spp.) or the third choice (Pseudomonas spp.), always near to the drug of first choice.

[Risk factors and acute cerebral infarct in patients selected on the basis of blood sugar levels]. / Fattori di rischio ed infarto cerebrale acuto in pazienti selezionati in base al solo status glicemico.

Clinical and laboratory abnormalities were examined in relation to diabetes mellitus in a retrospective study of the 120 patients with acute stroke admitted to our medical unit between January 1, 1981 and March 31, 1984, inclusive. Paretic stroke was defined without clinical evidence of alternative diagnosis. We have examined: age, serum levels of glucose, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, globulins, ratio albumin/globulins and also a white and red blood-cells count, haemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and blood pressure. The routine electrocardiogram (ECG) obtained on admission was examined for atrial fibrillation. The high prevalence of risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus in stroke patients indicate the need for further studies of stroke prevention and treatment particularly in this disease.

[Association between ABO blood groups and gallbladder calculi: a dissenting opinion]. / Associazione gruppi sanguigni ABO e calcolosi della colecisti: un'opinione contraria.

A group of 174 hospital patients was studied to discover the incidence of ABO blood groups in comparison, with a similar analysis of a representative sample (1872 people) of the Amiata Community as a whole. Though this type of sampling is open to criticism, it is still felt that there is no statistical proof that one or more of these blood groups is more prone to gall stones, at least in Amiata.

[Hematological profile of the healthy elderly in the Amiata Grossetana region]. / Il profilo ematologico dell'anziano sano sull'Amiata Grossetana.

The haemochromocytometric reports and the main erythrocyte indices (VCM, HbCM , CHbCM ), as well as haematocrit and bilirubinemia levels were studied in 367 apparently healthy people over sixty, of whom a small group showed lower than normal results for their age and sex.

[Antibiograms performed on Gram-negative bacteria isolated from urine cultures. Results and considerations]. / Antibiogrammi eseguiti su batteri Gram-negativi isolati da urinocolture. Risultati e considerazioni.

The authors have isolated 938 Gram-negative germs from 3141 urinocultures. In the work is reported the percentage of sensitivity of the single tested antibiotics and it is recommended an exact therapy, if we won't have clamorous failures.