Emission probabilities of gamma-rays from 238Np and their use for determination of the thermal neutron capture cross section of 237Np.

The relevant absolute gamma-ray emission probabilities from the beta-decay of (238)Np were measured by means of alpha- and gamma-spectroscopic techniques. We obtained values of (25.6+/-0.4)%, (8.9+/-0.2)% and (18.8+/-0.3)% for the 984.45-, 1025.87- and 1028.54-keV gamma-rays, respectively, in agreement with the previous measured ones. These intensities were used to deduce the thermal neutron capture cross section of (237)Np for which a value of (182.2+/-4.5)b is obtained higher by 11% than the recommended value.

An attempt to date an antique Benin bronze using neutron resonance capture analysis.

Neutron resonance capture analysis was applied to a bronze commemorative plaque from the West-African country Benin. By comparison with recently published element compositions of Benin memorial heads, the alloy of the plaque could be dated to the period 1725-1897 AD. In the analysis procedure, the object was not damaged, cleaned or altered, and very little long-lived radioactivity was induced.

Evaluation of the thermal resistance of different Salmonella serotypes in pork meat containing curing additives.

The preliminary heat resistance evaluation of 94 Salmonella strains was carried out in culture medium (Trypticase soy broth, TSB). The heat resistance of three S. typhimurium strains (ATCC 14028, 133 and 1116), a strain each of S. derby B4373, S. potsdam 1133, S. menston 179. S. eppendorf 166, and S. kingston I124 was determined also in pork meat containing curing additives. As expected, the eight Salmonella strains showed greater heat resistance in pork meat than in TSB. At the lowest temperature (58 degrees C), the heat resistance increased 1.5-4 times, and it was most pronounced for the strains being most heat sensitive in TSB. S. potsdam 133 was the most resistant strain in pork meat, with D-values at 58 degrees C, 60 degrees C and 63 degrees C of 4.80, 1.57 and 0.30 min, respectively. The most sensitive strain turned out to be S. kingston 1124, with D-values of 2.79. 0.92 and 0.24 min, at the same temperatures. According to collected data, the heating processes, as applied to cured pork meat, providing an internal temperature of 60 degrees C for 9-10 min or of 63 degrees C for 3-4 min can be expected to provide a > or = 7 D kill of Salmonella belonging to the serotypes studied.

Evaluation of test kits for the determination of aflatoxins in meat products.

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of 4 different assays for rapidly screening samples of artificially contaminated hams and salami for the presence of aflatoxins (B1+B2+G1+G2) at concentrations ≥5 µg/kg. Test samples were contaminated in the range of 0 - 100µg/kg.At 0 µg/kg level no false positive (all <5 µg/kg) were found for all commodities by the kits tested; all test samples spiked at level >20 µg/kg were found positive by each kit, while most of the errors associated in the assays occurred on samples containing <10µg/kg. For samples either negative or contaminated above 20µg/kg all the methods were suited for use as rapid screening tests.

[Correction of severe myopia by refractive lamellar keratoplasty without freezing]. / Correction de la myopie forte par la kératoplastie lamellaire réfractive sans congélation.

The analysis of 56 successive procedures for correction of severe myopia enables us to determine the indications of the two surgical techniques we use: Myopic keratomileusis or Myopic Epikeratophakia. The results are very different. They are reliable and steady throughout one year for certain myopias, but more uncertain for more severe ones. This led us to distinguish two subgroups: the first includes the initial myopia equal to or less than -15 dioptres, the second includes the more severe myopia. Epikeratophakia, always implemented using fresh lenticules corrects more severe myopias than keratomileusis (from -15 to -30 dioptres). So, the indication for epikeratophakia depends on the initial ametropia, as well as on refractive parameters such as keratometry. With the same myopia, an anterior curvature radius over 8.2 mm will render a myopic keratomileusis less efficient then a myopic epikeratophakia. The results with one year follow up are more predictable and stable for the first subgroup. The second group and those cases corrected by epikeratophakia had less predictable results.

[Cornea farinata. Report of a case: clinical, histologic and ultrastructural study]. / Cornea farinata. A propos d'un cas: étude clinique, histologique et ultrastructurale.

A woman-aged 44-had corneal dystrophy anterior to Descemet's membrane. This corneal abnormality resembles Cornea Farinata with tiny, punctate, grey opacities localized in the entire thickness of the corneal stroma. We used light and electron microscopic to study this case. The corneal opacities were due to abnormal stromal keratocyte enlarged by intra-cytoplasmic vacuole containing lipid-like inclusions.

[Principal complications and contraindications in the use of mechanical contraceptives]. / Considerazioni sulle principali complicanze e controindicazioni dell'uso dei contraccettivi meccanici.

PIP: Considerable progress has been made in the past few years in the field of intrauterine contraception. IUDs are not as effective as oral contraception (OC); their side effects and complications, however, are less serious than those from OC. IUD complications include: 1) uterine pain, in about 10-20% of IUD wearers; 2) bleeding, the most common complaint; 3) dysmenorrhea; 4) uterine perforation, the most serious but also the rarest complication; 5) pelvic infection; 6) necessity of removal in 10-20% of wearers for a variety of medical reasons; 7) expulsion, in about 1-13% of wearers. It must also be remembered that, however seldom, pregnancy can occur with IUD in situ, and that 1-10% of these pregnancies are ectopic. Absolute contraindications to the use of an IUD are pelvic infection, uterine cavity malformation, serious menstruation disorders, possibility of initial pregnancy or of malignant genital neoplasia, and, above all, nulliparity.^ieng

[Principle complications and contraindications of the use of oral contraceptives]. / Considerazioni sulle principali complicanze e controindicazioni dell'uso dei contraccettivi orali.

PIP: The use of oral contraceptives should at all times be under physician's control. Most contraindications and complications from oral contraceptives are now a thing of the past, when higher doses were prescribed. However oral contraceptives are still responsible for many side effects and complications. Some of these are gastrointestinal problems; menstruation disorders, such as spotting or amenorrhea; decreased libido; increase in body weight; mastodynia; blood coagulation effects; lipid and carbohydrate metabolic effects; ophthalmological and dermatological problems; and, possibly, an increase in susceptibility to some infectious diseases. Patients with hypertension; with heart or hepatic diseases; with a history of family thrombolic accidents; with diabetes; or hyperthyroidism should utilize another form of contraception. Oral contraceptives are totally contraindicated for obese or emotionally depressed people, for pregnant or nursing mothers, for women with uterine or breast cancer, and for adolescents.^ieng

[A case of tubal pregnancy caused by an intrauterine contraceptive device]. / Un caso di gravidanza tubarica da contraccettivo intrauterino.

PIP: A young patient, a wearer of a copper IUD for about 18 months, was hospitalized for bleeding and severe pain. Several tests were performed and a diagnosis of tubal pregnancy made. The patient underwent surgery for rupture of the left oviduct. Presence of corpus luteum was found in the right ovary. It is possible that the presence of the copper IUD helped in the formation of substances similar to prostaglandins, which caused peristaltic contractions in the left oviduct.^ieng

[A new cause of ectopic pregnancy: intrauterine contraceptives]. / Una nuova causa di gravidanza ectopica: i dispositivi intrauterini.

PIP: The author carefully reviews the published literature from 1966 to 1978 about ectopic, usually ovarian, pregnancies resulting from IUD failure. It appears that the incidence of ectopic pregnancy has increased 6-fold during the past few years in IUD acceptors. Such phenomenon is still very rare in Italy where IUD acceptors are few, and where IUD types utilized are the least conducive to ectopic pregnancy. There have been published cases of ectopic pregnancy in women on low-dose progestin drugs; symptomatology is the same in both cases, and diagnosis should not be difficult.^ieng