[Evaluation of dairy production in the alpine regions of Valcamonica and Sondrio, and the adherence to hygienic practice guidelines]. / Valutazione igienico-sanitaria degli alpeggi della Valcamonica e della provincia di Sondrio. Applicabilità di un sistema di autocontrollo.

The Regional Veterinary Service of Lombardy (northern Italian region) developed guideline on good hygienic practices to improve the safety of milk production and transformation in the mountain pastures and to grant the European acknowledgment (EU seal). Therefore we carried out 26 inspections in Valcamonica (Province of Brescia) and 30 in the Sondrio's province (26% and 16% respectively) in mountain pastures that had required the acknowledgment. The data analysis has shown that in Valcamonica 26.9% of the mountains pastures was conform to the regulations, in Sondrio's province instead 6.6% was conform; the frequency of acceptable conformity level increases respectively to 46% and to 33%, if we also consider the mountains pastures in restructuring phase and with very low level of non conformity. Our study emphasizes the need of structural adjustments of these traditional setting and of education of workers in order to improve the food safety and operator's life quality, and also to promote the maintenance of mountain pastures in the Alpine region.

A community-based outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium associated with salami consumption in Northern Italy.

An outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium belonging to phage type (PT) 193 occurred in autumn 1995 and involved 83 individuals in a large area of Northern Italy (Lombardy Region). Epidemiological and microbiological investigations of strains isolated from clinical and food specimens revealed that the vehicle was a batch of salami, produced on 4 September 1995 by a local firm. The outbreak was contained when the batch was withdrawn from sale. Insufficient ripening of the salami had allowed the salmonella to survive, emphasizing the need to define criteria for the ripening process of foods such as salami.

[SCS (spinal cord stimulation) in severe ischemia of the legs]. / SCS (spinal cord stimulation) nelle gravi ischemie degli arti inferiori.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) of the low thoracic spinal epidural space was carried out in 11 patients with pain from peripheral arterial disease of the lower limbs. Conservative treatment or vasoactive drugs also failed. Results are reported relating to pain, exercise endurance on the bicycle ergometer, trophic lesion changes and TCpO2. After a mean postimulation follow-up period of 15 months, substantial pain relief was preoperative non healing skin ulcerations, but gangrenous conditions were not benefited. Exercise tolerance as measured on a bicycle ergometer increased by 40%. It is concluded that SCS is vary promising in severe limb ischemia where reconstruction surgery is not possible or has been unsuccessful.

[A case report of Cushing's syndrome due to an adrenal carcinoma]. / Descrizione di un caso di sindrome di Cushing da carcinoma surrenalico.

A rare case of ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome due to carcinoma is described. A thirty-year-old woman presented with systolic-diastolic hypertension, unsuccessfully treated for several months with ACE and beta-blockers. During this period physical changes such as centripetal obesity, rubeosis, and hair loss were observed. Elevated urinary and plasmatic cortisol levels were essential for the diagnosis. Alterations of the circadian rhythm with higher levels in the evening compared to the morning were registered. ACTH was found to be suppressed in several tests. Ultrasound and abdominal CT scan showed a mass involving the left adrenal gland. While waiting for surgery, the patient underwent ketoconazole therapy. The operation was carried out by bilateral chest laparotomy and consisted in a left adrenalectomy with regional lymphadenectomy. At 18 months from the operation the patient is in excellent health, the classic signs of Cushing's syndrome have disappeared and laboratory tests are normal.

[Spinal anesthesia in the surgery of inguinocrural hernias]. / L'anestesia spinale nella chirurgia delle ernie inguino-crurali.

The experience in the surgical treatment of inguinal and crural hernias with epidural and subarachnoidal anaesthesia over a period of fifteen years (1976-1989) is reported. Results obtained in 1,283 cases confirm the validity of the technique and the clinical course suggests that it could well be applied to cardiopathic, hypertensive, obese, bronchopneumopathic patients as well as to dysmetabolic diseases. Furthermore, advantages of spinal anaesthesia compared to general and local anaesthesia are emphasized. The use of ultrathin needles (24 gauge) in performing subarachnoidal anaesthesia is recommended to prevent headache.