Effects of industrial and urban pollution on the benthic macrofauna in the Bay of Muggia (industrial port of Trieste, Italy).

The benthic macrofauna of the Bay of Muggia and its evolution in time was analysed in order to assess the impact of man-made pollution in this port area. The north and NE zones are totally industrialised while the southern zone is mainly used for tourism and aquaculture. The most important anthropic impacts were stagnation and direct urban and industrial discharges, which operated until the beginning of the 1990s. Forty-four stations were sampled in 1981, 12 of which were monitored over time (1975, 1981 and 1994). From 172 taxa 11783 organisms were identified. Polychaetes were the richest group, followed by molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms. The dominant species was Corbula gibba (39.5%) followed by Pectinaria koreni (9%). Uni- and multivariate analyses showed a declining pattern for the fauna along a gradient of environmental stress. The very high concentrations of heavy metals in the Bay's sediments, especially Pb, contrasted with the diversity and biological index values found, indicating that many species could survive these conditions. The enforcement of the Italian ecological laws regarding water pollution control benefited the local macrofauna and evidenced the resilience of the system. C. gibba constituted a good biological indicator of zones of high instability (especially sedimentary) and of intermediate levels of pollution.

[Surgical treatment of gallstone ileus. Our experience]. / Il trattamento chirurgico dell'ileo biliare. Nostra esperienza.

The authors relate seven cases of gallstones-ileus observed in a period of 20 years in the surgical division of Fabriano Hospital. The incidence of disease in connection with cholelithiasis and intestinal mechanic occlusion is pointed out. The diagnostic methodologies used don't anticipate radiographic contrast tests and they only consist in a direct abdominal radiological examination and in a hepatobiliary echography. The surgical treatment always consists in a enterolithotomy associated with an efficacious treatment of the hydro-electrolytic lack of balance. The resolution of the intestinal occlusion was performed in 71% of cases.

[Carnitine in postoperative parenteral treatment]. / La carnitina nel trattamento parenterale postoperatorio.

The Authors study the effect of intravenous L-Carnithine on the free plasma amino acid pattern in the post-operative course of a group of 25 selected patients who underwent toracic and abdominal elective surgical procedures. They compared the results with the data from another group of patients, in conditions similar to the former, but who did not receive Carnithine. The results show that Carnithine is able to reduce gluconeogenesis and proteolysis, probably by an improvement of lipolysis; so the Authors believe that Carnithine carries a useful contribution in the post-operative care of the surgical patient.

Intravenous feeding in hepatectomized patients.

Ten patients, undergone major hepatic resections, treated with parenteral hyperalimentation in the postoperative period, were studied. Considered parameters were: free plasma amino acid levels and daily nitrogen balance. By comparing the trends of parameters under study with a group of patients, also hepatectomized but not treated with T.P.N., the importance of a high energetic and plastic post-operative intake is outlined. T.P.N. following major hepatic surgery appears particularly useful when the quality of the exogenous Nitrogen intake is carefully selected.