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The case of a patient with myelofibrosis who developed polycythaemia vera after corticosteroid therapy, splenectomy and Busulphan therapy is reported. The possible pathogenetic role of each of these agents is discussed.

In order to report the eventual role of mastzellen in hepatic pathology, we recorded the histological count on 75 sections of transcutaneous hepatic biopsies. We observed that there is no difference between the number and the localization of the mastzellen of normal subjects and those of nonevolving pathologies (Chronic Persistent Hepatitis, Portal Fibrosis, Steatosis). We saw consisent increase in number in the evolving pathologies and in particular near the collagenopoietic cytolitic foci, indicating a possible role of these elements in inflammation and in the production of collagen in liver diseases.

Partial nodular transformation is a rare disorder of the liver, that is becoming a very interesting speculative problem, in relation to the nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver and cirrhosis. This disease is a cause of non cirrhotic protal hypertension. Clinical and pathological aspects are discussed a propos of a case.

The undoubted advantages deriving from the use of abdominal ultrasonography both in diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment are reported. In particular ultrasonography has proved very helpful in the study of pathologies of the liver and biliary tract, especially in a Rural Hospital, where it is not possible to have recourse to more refined diagnostic techniques.

Neurological involvement in acute myeloid leukaemia has become more common in recent years. The increase seems to be related to the longer survival rates made possible by more intensive treatment protocols. The predictive elements appear to be the tumour mass, cytomorphological variety M5, splenomegaly and serum LDH. Prophylaxis with craniospinal radiotherapy or spinal chemotherapy does not modify the course of the leukaemia or diminish the frequency of neuromeningeal complications. Six cases of AML involving the central nervous system were examined, two at onset and 4 at first relapse. Neuromeningeal complications are to be feared since they are extremely difficult to eradicate completely and the prognosis is extremely unfavourable especially if a bone marrow relapse occurs simultaneously.

A patient suffering from Gaucher's disease observed for the first time five years age while in pregnancy and observed again during a second pregnancy ended with the delivery of a malformed female infant is presented. Laboratory findings of this case and their correlation with the clinical manifestations of this disease are underlined. Occurrence of foetal malformations in this disease is also discussed.

After a brief review of the data on cefotiam in the literature the report presents the results of microbiological research, a preliminary study into the drug's possible actions on phagocytosis and a polycentric clinical study of 93 cases of broncho-pleuro-pulmonary pathology and one sinusitis of the jaw. In vitro cefotiam was found to have an excellent inhibitory effect on gram positive and gram negative bacteria with MICs50 and 90 respectively 0.2 and 0.8 mcg/ml V. Staph. aureus, Str. pyogenes. E. Coli, K. pneumoniae and Pr. mirabilis. A dose-dependent increase in phagocytosis was noted. The clinical response was excellent with 90.43% (88/94) of the cases achieving clinical and radiological cure or very much improved. Cefotiam was very well tolerated with the appearance of 2/94 skin rashes (2.12%). The liver and kidney parameters showed no change at the end of treatment. No increase in enzymuria was noted during treatment with cefotiam.

A personal series of abdominal emergencies subjected to ultrasound studies is reported. The results of these studies were identical to the surgical and histological findings. It is therefore concluded that even in the absence of other diagnostic techniques (scintiscans, angiographic, CAT scans, etc.) ultrasound imaging can make a major contribution to the diagnosis of intra and extraperitoneal abdominal emergencies especially in district hospitals.