Morphological and functional abnormalities in platelets exposed in vitro to ioglicinic acid, a new ionic contrast medium

The inhibitory effect on platelet function induced by several radiographic contrast media is still poorly understood. In this study platelet abnormalities caused by in vitro addition of ioglicinic acid, a new ionic contrast medium, were evaluated. The appearance of several granules similar to dense bodies associated with shape change and internal reorganization were detected by electron microscopy techniques. A functional study revealed a marked decrease in the aggregating response of platelets to adenosine diphosphate and calcium ionophore A23187, while aggregation in response to collagen was completely normal. It is suggested that ioglicinic acid induces platelet abnormalities related to the effect on calcium movements and that studies with this contrast medium may help the understanding of some basic events of platelet activation.

Circulating Immunocomplexes in the Diagnosis of Autoimmune and Neoplastic Disorders: New Perspectives

Two new competitive immunoenzymatic assays (“C.I.C.-conglutinin” and “C.I.C.-C1q“) were employed to evaluate circulating immunocomplexes in 90 patients with a variety of autoimmune and neoplastic disorders. In autoimmune diseases the assays appeared very sensitive and relatively concordant, while in malignancies sensitivity was high with the C.I.C.-conglutinin method but much lower with the C.I.C.-C1q method. The clinical significance of these results is discussed with particular regard to the possibilities of application of the two assays in the diagnostic routine of a general hospital laboratory.

Intrarectal ultrasound and computed tomography in the pre- and postoperative assessment of patients with rectal cancer

The ability of intrarectal ultrasound to recognize the local extent of disease was investigated in 23 patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the lower two-thirds of the rectum before operation. Two probes, 12 cm long, working at a frequency of 3.5 and 7.5 MHz, were used. The results were compared with those of pre-operative computed tomography (CT) and with the pathological report of the resected specimens. Sonography correctly staged 20 of 23 tumours with two false negatives and one false positive, while CT correctly staged 19 of 23 tumours with two false negatives and two false positives. The results of ultrasound were found to be as accurate as those of CT; the low cost and simple use of ultrasound makes it preferable in the pre-operative assessment of the depth of invasion of rectal cancer. In addition, intrarectal ultrasound was routinely performed in 42 patients, operated on for rectal cancer by means of sphincter-saving procedures, at variable intervals in the first 2 years postoperatively. Eight local recurrences were recognized and confirmed by CT. Based on the low cost, reliability and simple use, intrarectal ultrasound is proposed as first examination for local recurrence detection in the follow-up of patients with low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

[Contribution to the serologic study of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy]

Toxoplasma antibodies in five women sera during the pregnancy were detected by direct agglutination and immunofluorescent tests both for IgG and IgM. The presence and the changes of the IgG and IgM titers are related to the abortion and/or foetal pathology. In order to prevent such a risk the authors suggest to test all the women before or early in the pregnancy for toxoplasma antibodies.

[Phage-typing in the surveillance of hospital infections: tests on strains of Staphylococcus aureus]

The sensitivity of 44 coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus strains to antibiotics has been determined. They have been isolated from in-patients and staff in a piedmontese hospital. It has been possible to obtain the phage typing of 26 of these strains: 4 have been attributed to group I, 3 to group II, 13 to group III and 6 to the "miscellanea". Some correlations have been established considering the data obtained by the laboratory and through epidemiologic research.

[Experimental research on microbiological profile of josamycin. II: Findings on the phenomenon of resistance in comparison with other macrolides]

The interactions between josamycin, other macrolides and lincomycin have been considered as far as the microbic resistance phenomenon is concerned, in relation to Staph. aureus strains. It has been possible to give rise to resistance to josamycin as well as to erythromycin even though the daily average increase is far lower for josamycin. Subinhibitory concentrations of josamycin have not provoked resistance in relation to other macrolides while this phenomenon has been observed as far as the use of erythromycin is concerned.

[Glycosylated hemoglobin in chronic renal insufficiency]

Glycosylated haemoglobin (Hb A1) was measured by ion-exchange column chromatography in 70 normal subjects, 40 diabetics and 83 patients with chronic renal failure, including 54 on chronic dialysis. The results, compared with glycemic balance and renal function, suggest that the coexisting occurrence of any kind of chronic renal failure can really interfere with the blood level of the fast haemoglobin fractions, disclosing new interesting perspectives of diagnostic and clinic employment.

[Serological recognition of agglutinins against O and H antigens of various Salmonellae in "normal" adult subjects]

The distribution of Salmonella agglutinins among 390 normal sera from people living in the district of Pisa is described, and the relation of these findings with the Salmonella serotypes occurring in the same area is discussed. Clusters of agglutinins for several O and H antigens were found at or above a titre of 1:20, in many samples. In order to explain the significance of such antibodies and their origin an identical survey was carried out on some sera from patients with chronic liver disease, using the same antigens suspensions. The results from healthy persons compared with the increased antibody titres detected in liver patients support the hypothesis that the anti-Salmonella agglutinins may be originate by various antigenic stimuli which may be specific or most frequently non-specific, since it is well established the cross-reactivity between both the somatic and flagellar antigens of Salmonella and those of other organisms.

[Epidemiological aspects relating to the determination of fosfomycin sensitivity: results of a study on 300 strains isolated in a hospital milieu in Turin]

The AA. evaluated the sensitivity to Fosfomycin and to other commonly used antibiotics of 105 bacterial strains isolated from hospital environment and 195 from pathological materials. They also studied the problem of bacterial resistence to Fosfomycin considering the frequency of "inner colonies" and of bacterial cross-resistance to other antibiotics.