[Nasal patency patterns observed during working hours in a group of technicians habitually exposed to formaldehyde]. / Comportamento della pervietà nasale nell'arco di un turno lavorativo in un gruppo di soggetti professionalmente esposti a formaldeide.

Formaldehyde is a substance which is widely used in several work fields, including many medical and biological sectors. It appears that formaldehyde exposure may cause bronchial asthma. Little information is available, however, with regard to upper aereal tracts. The nose is a target organ of major importance for a large range of professional and extra-professional environmental pollutants. In particular, cases of professional rhinitis brought about by exposure to disinfectants have been reported in Literature. In the light of general knowledge related to the close correlation between upper and lower airways, and to the lack of information concerning the effects of short-term formaldehyde exposure on the upper aereal tract, the Authors decided that investigation of such exposure might prove interesting as well as worthwhile. A group of fifteen technicians who work in three different pathology departments and who had been exposed to formaldehyde for at least one year were studied. The purpose of the study was to assess possible alteration in nasal resistances at the end of a normal work shift. The subjects under study were observed according to a procedure which included several clinical, allergological, serological and functional evaluations carried out on specific days of the week. A control group, consisting of eight asymptomatic, non-atopic subjects who had never been exposed to inhalation of irritants was also monitored in the same way. Conclusions were drawn after considering some important variables such as exposure time, possible anatomical alterations of the nose, the presence of respiratory allergies and smoking habits. It was apparent that professional formaldehyde exposure typical of that experienced by technicians working in pathology departments induced a short-term irritant effect on the upper aereal tract, which, even though subclinical, is revealed by a statistically significant increase in nasal resistance. This effect seems to be favoured (at statistically not significant levels) by atopy, cigarette smoking and anatomical alterations of the nose. Our data seem to exclude a chronic cumulative effect of formaldehyde exposure.

[A case-control study of multiple occupational risk factors in relation to laryngeal cancer]. / Studio caso-controllo sui rischi multipli lavorativi in rapporto al cancro laringeo.

In this work the A.A. present the results of a case-control study on 2,997 subjects carried out to evaluate the role of professional factors in the development of laryngeal cancer. Our analysis included only cases of laryngeal neoplasia at first diagnosis in 1990. From a statistical point of view we calculated the Odds Ratio (OR) and confidence limits at 95% following Miettinen. The analysis was made on 113 cases and 754 controls, all males smokers or ex-smokers, aged between 35-80 years. The results show a statistically significant correlation between laryngeal cancer and jobs in agriculture (OR = 3.77), in iron-steel industries (OR = 3.25), in metal-mechanic industries (OR = 1.72). Precise knowledge of such data could be very useful in promoting primary and secondary prevention campaigns in the above-mentioned work places. The A.A. stress the need to make experimental cancerogenesis studies to evaluate the effects of the association of occupational risk factors, tobacco smoke and alcohol consumption on the natural history of laryngeal cancer.

[Industrial accidents and hotel- and home-related pathology]. / Infortunistica e patologia alberghiera e domestica.

The authors examine the various problems regarding work-related accidents and professional illnesses in the domestic-hotel field. Faced with an ever-rising frequency in various nations, in Italy information concerning the causative agents, the modality and the severity of these problems and the preventive measures adopted, appears usually inadequate.

[The osteocondensing variety of multiple myeloma. Review of the literature and description of a case]. / La varietà osteocondensante del mieloma multiplo. Rassegna della letteratura e descrizione di un caso.

A case of IgG myeloma with eburnation of the femoral and ileoischiopubic bones is described. A review of the literature confirmed the rarity of osteosclerotic myeloma, especially if other possible causes of bone eburnation or the typical contemporary existence of osteolysis are excluded. The hypothesis that osteosclerotic myeloma may constitute an autonomous form of the disease, probably related to the type and/or extent of the proliferating bone is discussed.

[Risk in welding operations. Etiopathogenetic, preventive and legislative considerations]. / Rischi nelle operazioni di saldatura. Considerazioni eziopatogenetiche, prevenzionali e legislative.

This work classifies different types of welding procedure, occasional and specific contaminating elements, both of the welding material, and of other possible substances (particularly plastic materials) used in the pre-treating phase. The authors show the risk evaluation factors of the welding operations and, moreover, suggest a diagnostic and prevention program on the exposed subjects. Finally they include a table of references on italian law concerning the contaminating substances produced by welding processes.

Multiple myeloma associated with Kaposi sarcoma: a case report.

An Italian woman affected by multiple myeloma (MM) associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has been studied. MM appeared to be at stage II, A, according to Durie & Salmon (3) (quantitative staging); KS spread out two and a half years after MM had been diagnosed, and showed only a pharyngeal involvement. The patient was still alive two and a half years after KS had been discovered, showing a benign clinical course, though several infectious complications had occurred. The observed patient is compared with the other ten cases reported in the world literature. The long lasting observed survival is thought to be related to the low MCM and the length of successful therapy.

Cement, asbestos, and cement-asbestos pneumoconioses.

The incidence and characteristics of cement-asbestos pneumoconiosis were compared with those of asbestosis and cement pneumoconiosis in three homogeneous samples of cases. The clinical, functional, and radiological features of cement-asbestos pneumoconiosis are similar to those of classical asbestosis, but the observed changes are less common and occur after a longer exposure.