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"In vitro" experiments carried out by us and partially published have resulted in significant data concerning the contracting activity of migraineurs sera on extracranial animal arteries. In the present study, human and animal arteries (superficial temporal) were tested by means of blood samples taken under identical conditions. No contracting activity from sera taken both in the headache-free period and during the migraine crisis was observed in animal arteries. By contrast, sera obtained in the pre-attack and post-onset stages showed a synergistic effect not only on the action of serotonin and histamine but also on that of norepinephrine. This synergism increases with the worsening of the migraine attack while it decreases as soon as the attack wears off. Other experiments on human specimens provided data which cannot be evaluated yet. There is evidence that, on the occasion of the migraine attack, vasoactive substances which enable isolated organs to contract "in vitro" are released or activated. Moreover, an activity raises in sera which interferes with the other mediators on extracranial arteries.

After considering the natural history of spleen auto-transplant, a clinical case followed up for seven months with instrumental (echography, scintigraphy) and humoral (Jolly bodies, Heinz bodies, reticulocytes, platelets, complement, immune globulin) examinations has been considered so as to verify "take" and function. One months after reimplantation the patient was again operated on for the onset of an intestinal occlusion due to adherences. On that occasion it was possible to control that the implant had taken. It is concluded that personally used parameters proved to be well correlated and that scintigraphy and echography are two complementary, effective techniques for monitoring auto-transplants.

Twenty-four patients with bowel lesions that could be imaged on a sonogram underwent ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Indications for biopsy included: poor condition of the patient precluding the use of barium studies and/or endoscopy (9 cases) or hindering technically adequate examinations (3); nonspecific radiographic images (6); inability to obtain an adequate biopsy sample during endoscopy (6). The results of biopsy were correct in the 18 cases proven by surgery or autopsy; in the remaining 6 patients, histologic results were considered conclusive, and were later confirmed by clinical, radiographic, and ultrasound follow-up. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy may be considered a simple, rapid, and accurate diagnostic procedure when an alternative approach to the study of gastrointestinal tract lesions is needed.