The effect of distension of the uterus on plasma renin activity (PRA) in anaesthetized pigs

It has recently been shown that distension of the uterus in anaesthetized pigs causes reflex haemodynamic responses through efferent sympathetic mechanisms. The present study was undertaken to determine whether these mechanisms include activation of the renin-angiotensin system. The same methods were used in 14 pigs which were anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose and artificially ventilated. Balloons positioned within the uterus were distended for periods of 30 min by injecting 20 ml of warm Ringer solution. The responses of arterial blood pressure and heart rate were respectively prevented by blockade of alpha-adrenergic receptors with phentolamine and atrial pacing. Changes in plasma renin activity (PRA) were assessed during the last minute of distension by radioimmunoassay of angiotensin I. In each of 10 pigs, distension of the uterus (mean uterine transmural pressure of 17 mmHg) caused an increase in PRA in the absence of changes of interfering haemodynamic variables. In the remaining four pigs, this response was graded by step increments of the distension. The increase in PRA caused by uterine distension was abolished by bilateral section of the renal nerves (five pigs) or by blockade of beta-adrenergic receptors with propranolol. The present study showed that distension of the uterus in anaesthetized pigs primarily caused a reflex increase in PRA. This reflex response was mediated by renal nerves and involved beta-adrenergic receptors.

[Pulmonary sequestration. Report of a clinical case]

Concerning a clinical situation of intralobar pulmonary sequestration, in a seventeen year old young man, the authors review this nosological entity. They emphasize the importance of the complementary examens of diagnosis, namely of thoracic scan and aortography, for the establishment of the said diagnosis.

[The operating and preventive dental ergonomic aspects in a public dentistry service]

The authors describe some aspects of an activity of prevention directed to a target group in a hospital stomatology department. They describe locations and their operative destination; the time of intervention in different phases; the considerations on the efficiency of a program of prevention constant in time.

[Murata city project: principal epidemiologic parameters of a target group]

Authors describe epidemiological data (DMF: 0.23; dmf: 3.86) about children involved in Progetto Città Murata attending first elementary school, born in the 1983. The 80.39% of children took regularly fluoride tablets in the last year. For the first time 35.18% were visited by the dentist. During the program have been applied 1499 sealants and made 50 fillings.

[Clinical monitoring of sealant use in a public institution setting]

It was examined the maintenance of the applied sealants in the posterior permanent teeth in a heterogeneous infantile population. It was observed, 24 months later, the 3% of the elements was carried and, also 24 months later we had a total retention of the sealant around 57%; partial retention of 26% and a total loss of the sealant about 14% of the teeth.

[The evaluation of and comments on a regional experience of dental prophylaxis. The relations between school, local health screening units and the Veneto region]

The paper analyses the opinion and proposals which emerged from a series of meetings held between the local health units, school representatives and the Department of Health of the Veneto Regional Government in the context of a regional plan for oral and dental hygiene aimed at kindergarten and primary school children. In addition to the traditional sensitivity of schools with regard to health-related problems, in the future in would be advantageous to involve families directly at the level of pediatric outpatient clinics (in order to create an adequate clinical back-up), thus removing dental care from a strictly educational context.

Quantitation of melphalan in plasma of patients by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

An analytical procedure for the separation and determination of melphalan in human plasma was carried out. A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection was developed taking advantage of the high sensitivity of the electrode redox reaction. The sample pretreatment consisted of a direct extraction of the interferents rather than of melphalan, owing to the difficulty of extraction of the drug, and was very simple, rapid and reproducible.

[Walled city project: fluoroprophylaxis in the prevention of caries]

The Authors evaluate some parameters relative to the concentration of fluoride in the potable water and in that bottled available in the territory of the Ussl no. 19. The integration of these parameters with the data that regard some life habits (frequency of assumption of the fluoride compresses, beverages of common use) in a target group, underlines the importance of the educational aspects of a preventive program in a community environment aiming to obtain the benefits of such method.

[Prevention of caries in a district. Comparison of a target group with a control group at 7 years]

In the trial of the Ussl n. 19 it is developing since a period a specific program for prevention of the caries on a target group (Progetto città murata). For the verification of the efficiency, it was compared the oro-dental situation of the same group in a territory near and similar in socio-economic characteristics. It was emerged a better oro-dental situation in the target group with respect to the control-group. In fact the children who have undergone the therapy of the PCM do not only demonstrate better indices of DMF at seven years, but also a major adhesion to the fluorophylaxis.

[Prevention and families. Opinions and attitudes of a group of parents]

Through a questionnaire filled by the children's accompaniers involved in prevention program of the first elementary classes, was emerged a direct involvement of the parents. In the field of the scholastic prevention, the teacher is the principal mediator with the families. It emerges from the answers a frasting attitude of what was performed by our sanitary service, and a direct information adopted by mass media in the prevention field. Up till now it is not totally perceived the importance of the periodic controls to maintain a better oro-dental health of their children.

[Empathy and prevention: from the child's viewpoint. Comments on a school diary developed from dental prophylaxis messages]

The paper presents, explains and comments on the theoretical, practical and applied aspects of a collaborative enterprise between Health Services and a primary school in the context of a dental hygiene and preventive project organised by the USSL no. 19 in Mediobrenta. The enterprise in question concerned the experimental writing, by the children themselves, of a school diary, based on messages regarding dental health and hygiene formulated by the Odontostomatological Service in line with learning processes and communication models used during infancy. The experiment formed part of the general active approach of modern psychological pedagogy, and proved particularly efficacious in introducing medical concepts to an infantile population which would otherwise have met with much greater resistance.

[Prevention and school. Behavioral response of children and critical evaluation of teachers]

The Authors have examined the spontaneous attitude of the children of the first elementary class during a day spent at the department of Odontostomatology in a course programme for education and prevention of caries. It was shown an extremely positive behaviour, with images principally centered on the trip between school and Hospital (the bus, the sight of the town). The teachers based on a day by day diary have demonstrated a positive impression on the various aspects of the initiative, stressing the importance of continuative relationship between doctors-teachers-parents.

[The quadrilateral of prevention. Comments and reflections on the operative methodology in dental prophylaxis in Italy]

The authors have evaluated their experience in the field of dental prevention accumulated over the course of the past few years. It is apparent that there is considerable interest in projects aimed at restricted target groups, in this case children between 6-7 years old. Attention is also focused on synergies deriving from the collaboration between doctors (dentists and non-dentists), teachers, parents and public officials.

[Prevention and the public sector. The "Città murata" project. Results of a year's activity]

Transporting the pupils in pullman directly towards the locations of Sanitary Services has been made a complete screening process of caries applied on the first primary classes pertaining to the territory of the Ulss n.19 (Veneto Region). After a lesson on oral hygiene and a specialistic visit of the orodental state, it was performed a sealing of the surfaces of the permanent molar teeth in subjects at risk. It was emphasized that at the age of 6 years, the 73.76% of the subjects has presented at least one molar tooth erupted, and that among the permanent molar teeth, the 11.01 has already had a caries experience. The sealing was performed on 1149 molar teeth, equivalent to 68.47% of the elements at risk. the initiative will be completed by a recall of the same subjects, with the same modalities of treatment, in the second primary class.

[Between public and private. Possibilities and prospects for dentistry in Italy in the 90's]

The Italian dental panorama is largely changing. In addition to the major increase of professionals, there is also an increase of the population sensibility and of the political and administrative authorities with respect to the health of the oral cavity. In the short and medium term it is foreseen a variation of the dental sanitary interventions from the mere therapeutic-rehabilitative approach to a global action which is educative and preventive.