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Understanding the mechanisms leading to the multitude of newly-formed compounds generated during the thermal processing of food is important for the reasoned construction of quality. Thanks to a solid food model with a structure and technological history comparable to that of a real sponge cake and containing only known amounts of precursors (glucose with or without leucine), an adapted reaction scheme unravelling Maillard and caramelization reactions was built and then compared to experimental kinetic data measured on numerous reaction markers (precursors, α-dicarbonyl intermediates and furanic compounds). For caramelization, this study showed that glucose mainly formed 1,2-enediol and then fructose rather than glucosone and glyoxal. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural started to form when there were sufficient quantities of fructose, and 3,4-dideoxyoglucosone was not generated until after this step. Furfural was mainly formed via 3-deoxyglucosone. The involvement of leucine tended to accelerate the breakdown of sugars as more degradation pathways (via enaminols) were added.

South-eastern Sicily has been affected by large historical earthquakes, including the 11 January 1693 earthquake, considered the largest magnitude earthquake in the history of Italy (Mw = 7.4). This earthquake was accompanied by a large tsunami (tsunami magnitude 2.3 in the Murty-Loomis scale adopted in the Italian tsunami catalogue by Tinti et al., 2004), suggesting a source in the near offshore. The fault system of the eastern Sicily slope is characterised by NNW–SSE-trending east-dipping extensional faults active in the Quaternary. The geometry of a fault that appears currently active has been derived from the interpretation of seismic data, and has been used for modelling the tsunamigenic source. Synthetic tide-gauge records from modelling this fault source indicate that the first tsunami wave polarity is negative (sea retreat) in almost all the coastal nodes of eastern Sicily, in agreement with historical observations. The outcomes of the numerical simulations also indicate that the coastal stretch running from Catania to Siracusa suffered the strongest tsunami impact, and that the highest tsunami waves occurred in Augusta, aslo in agreement with the historical accounts. A large-size submarine slide (almost 5 km3) has also been identified along the slope, affecting the footwall of the active fault. Modelling indicates that this slide gives non-negligible tsunami signals along the coast; though not enough to match the historical observations for the 1693 tsunami event. The earthquake alone or a combination of earthquake faulting and slide can possibly account for the large run up waves reported for the 11 January 1693 event.

Despite the clear evidence of active flank dynamics that is affecting the eastern side of Mount Etna, the contribution of tectonic processes has not been yet understood. So far, the various models proposed to explain the observed flank deformation have been based on onshore structural data, coming from the volcanic edifice. The Ionian offshore of Mount Etna has been only recently investigated using multichannel seismic profiles, and offers the opportunity to image the structural features of the substrate of the unstable flank of the volcano. This contribution aims at describing the deformation located offshore Mount Etna using multichannel seismic profiles recently acquired during three seismic surveys. The onshore flank deformation of Mount Etna appears to be laterally confined by two tectonic guidelines, trending roughly E–W, located to the north and south of the deforming flank; the northern guideline, in particular, takes the surface expression of a sharp fault (Pernicana Fault). Though often assumed that these boundary structures continue offshore as linear features, connected to a frontal thrust ramp, the occurrence of this simple offshore structural system has not been imaged. In fact, seismic data show a remarkable degree of structural complexity offshore Mount Etna. The Pernicana Fault, for instance, is not continuing offshore as a sharp feature; rather, the deformation is expressed as ENE–WSW folds located very close to the coastline. It is possible that these tectonic structures might have affected the offshore of Mount Etna before the Pernicana Fault system was developed, less than 15 ka ago. The southern guideline of the collapsing eastern flank of the volcano is poorly expressed onshore, and does not show up offshore; in fact, seismic data indicate that the Catania canyon, a remarkable E–W-trending feature, does not reflect a tectonic control. Seismic interpretation also shows the occurrence of a structural high located just offshore the edifice of Mount Etna. Whereas a complex deformation affects the boundary of this offshore bulge, it shows only limited internal deformation. Part of the topography of the offshore bulge pre-existed the constructional phase of Mount Etna, being an extension of the Hyblean Plateau. Only in the northern part, the bulge is a recent tectonic feature, being composed by Plio-Quaternary strata that were folded before and during the building of Mount Etna. The offshore bulge is bounded by a thrust fault that can be related to the intrusion of the large-scale magmatic body below Mount Etna.

The Straits of Messina and its surroundings are considered as one of the most tectonically active area of the Mediterranean, but in spite of their hazard potential, modern geophysical data aimed at investigating their hidden structures are lacking. In order to bridge this gap, we carried out a marine multichannel seismic survey primarily aimed at: i) studying the regional fault pattern in the area of the Messina 1908 earthquake; and ii) checking the existence of a potentially seismogenic fault, the Taormina Fault, which many authors locate offshore, along the coast between Taormina and Messina. Our seismic profiles show a great structural complexity within the Messina Straits, with the best imaged faults occurring on the Calabrian side. In particular, a more than 30 km long NW-trending fault located at the SW tip of Calabria is cutting the sea floor. Moreover, our data did not image any extensional fault plane attributable to the Taormina Fault; rather, the whole slope has been tilted east-ward. The geodynamic implication is that extension in south-eastern Sicily, on the Ionian side of the Hyblean Plateau, and extension in southern Calabria and Messina Straits belong to two different tectonic systems and cannot be mechanically linked.

The Mattinata fault is an E-W-trending feature, similar to 50 km long, that cuts across the Gargano Promontory in the foreland of the Southern Apennines. Most researchers agree that it is a strike-slip fault, although the timing of activity is not well known, mainly because of the scarce occurrence of Cenozoic sediments. This contribution aims to describe the eastward extent of the Mattinata fault in the Adriatic Sea using a grid of multichannel seismic profiles specifically acquired for this study and taking advantage of the occurrence of offshore Oligocene to Quaternary sediments to help date the deformation. Results indicate that from the late Miocene to the Quaternary, compression dominated, and only a limited component of strike slip occurred along the fault. A strike-slip tectonic regime, on the other hand, was likely dominant during the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene. Seismicity affects Gargano at basement depth and extends northward into the central Adriatic, suggesting that the offshore extent of the Mattinata fault may not currently represent the main site of foreland deformation within the Adriatic region. Although the Mattinata fault probably originated as a crustal-scale strike-slip fault, it has been subsequently reactivated in different tectonic regimes. The strike-slip Ml = 5.4 2002 San Giuliano (Molise) earthquake, located similar to 70 km west of the Mattinata fault outcrop, seems to have been related to the reactivation of a set of preexisting foreland faults, and it does not characterize the seismotectonics of the entire Mattinata fault. Our reconstruction has wide implications, not only for a better understanding of the Tertiary evolution and active tectonics of the Adriatic foreland, but also for general relationships among preexisting structures, foreland tectonics, and seismotectonics.

Fatigue and corrosion-fatigue tests were performed to quantify the fatigue properties of AA2524-T3 and AA2198-T851 Al alloys. High cycle axial fatigue tests were carried out under air and salt-water fog conditions. In air, the specimens were fatigue tested at a frequency of 50 Hz, using specimens with and without preconditioning in a salt spray chamber, and for the corrosion fatigue condition, the tests took place at a frequency of 30 Hz in a salt-water fog condition. In all cases it was used a sinusoidal waveform and a stress ratio (R) of 0.1. The results indicate that the saline environment had a deleterious effect on the fatigue life of the two aluminum alloys. AA2524-T3 exhibited a better fatigue strength than AA2198-T851 when fatigue tested in air. However, considering the corrosion fatigue test in a saline fog environment an inverse behavior was observed with the AA2198-T851 exhibiting higher fatigue strength.

The Powell Basin, located near the Scotia-Antarctica strike-slip plate boundary, is bounded on three sides by continental crustal blocks, and it separates the South Orkney microcontinent from the northeastern Antarctic Peninsula. On the basis of the entire geophysical data set available, the main structural and geological elements of the basin are identified. The northern domain is characterized by an oceanic-like environment, with a ridge axis in the centre of the basin. Two conjugate deep, restricted sedimentary basins are located at the base of the northeastern and northwestern margins, and filled by thick sedimentary sequences. The southern domain is mainly floored by transitional crust and presents rift-related basement graben. The margins surrounding the basin are different, with the northern and southern margins mainly transcurrent, whereas most of the eastern and western margins show passive margin characteristics. The sedimentary sequences filling the basin have been correlated to the main tectonic processes responsible for Powell Basin opening, and partially dated using marine magnetic anomaly identifications. Three main evolutionary phases are recognized that explain the geological setting of the Powell Basin. An early phase of separation between the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Orkney microcontinent produced stretching and progressive continental lithospheric thinning, with the creation of restricted pull-apart basins (proto-Powell phase). This phase was followed by a northward movement, possibly accomplished with a clockwise rotation, of the South Orkney microcontinent (drift phase), with consequent oceanic crustal accretion in the northern sector of the basin, and development of rift-related structures in the southern sector (phase spanning 27-18 Ma, as determined from the marine magnetic anomalies). A successive clockwise rotation of the South Orkney microcontinent determined the complete development of the northern sector of the basin, with spreading and final structuration of the margins encircling the basin plain.

From December 2008 the Italian region of Lombardy started offering the vaccine against HPV to all schoolgirls aged 12. Many topics like knowledge, organization and acceptability should be addressed. This study investigated the compliance to the first vaccination campaign in two suburbs of Milan and assessed the knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer among the mothers of the recipients and the opinions of the healthcare professionals about the campaign by using anonymous multiple choice questionnaires. Knowledge about HPV among mothers went from 63% to 76% after vaccination. Healthcare professionals gave an average grading of 5.7 (scale 1–10) about organization and management of the campaign. Coverage of the immunization campaign was quite poor: after the first round only 55.3% got vaccinated with the first dose. Knowledge of mothers of the recipients is still to improve, particularly among immigrants and less educated. It is necessary to implement information campaigns to improve knowledge about HPV and the acceptability of the new vaccine.

The tectonics of the central Aeolian Islands, which are located within the Tyrrhenian backarc basin, has been investigated through a marine seismic reflection survey. We find that compressional structures dominate around the islands, whereas extensional faults occur only to the north of Salina and Filicudi, towards the Marsili basin. This pattern of deformation, although different from previously reported, is in agreement with the strain field and stress regime obtained from GPS measurements and seismological data. Age constraints suggest that contractional deformation was active since middle Pleistocene, being coeval with the building of the volcanic edifices of the Aeolian Islands, and is superimposed on pre-existing extensional deformation. Compressional and extensional regimes, therefore, can coexist within a backarc setting. Seismic profiles show that the Tindari-Letojanni fault, considered as a major tectonic element, does not extend to the north towards the island of Vulcano as a throughgoing fault; rather, deformation is accommodated in a broader belt displaying greater structural complexity.

[1] The Malta Escarpment represents the dominant morphological feature offshore eastern Sicily, linking the deep Ionian basin to the east with the Hyblean carbonate platform to the west. Interpretation of purposely acquired multichannel seismic data allows division of the Malta Escarpment into two portions characterized by different tectonic structures. Along the segment south of Siracusa the Malta Escarpment is not affected by recent faulting and appears as a steep surface that flattens out toward the Ionian basin. A recent deformation, characterized by a broad area of uplift, occurs 20–30 km east from the slope, along a NNW-SSE trend. The segment of the Malta Escarpment extending north of Siracusa, on the other hand, is characterized by the presence of NNW-SSE, east dipping recent extensional faults and related sedimentary basins. The observed structural features support the occurrence of a lithospheric tear between the Ionian oceanic basin and the Hyblean plateau.

The purpose of the present study is to create a database for the collection and analysis of data related to the inspection program carried out by a Food and Nutrition Unit, Department of Health Services Milan 1. 1202 reports, stored in the archives of the Unit, were examined. On the basis of the results a computerised reporting form by Microsoft Access was created. The study confirms the necessity of a computerised recording system to point out the most common infractions and to standardise the work of operators. Moreover, on the basis of available data, food inspection activity can be more easily planned focusing on the actual local problems. The described system is a valid tool to store and analyse the information gathered from the inspections. Further implementations could make the database more informative.

Background: Previously, we have shown that the combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (CAP) and single-agent carboplatin produce similar survival and progression-free survival rates in women with ovarian cancer. Subsequently, paclitaxel combined with platinum has become a widely accepted treatment for the disease. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of paclitaxel plus carboplatin with a control of either CAP or carboplatin alone. Methods: Between February, 1995, and October, 1998, we enrolled 2074 patients from 130 centres in eight countries. Women were randomly assigned paclitaxel plus carboplatin or control, the control (CAP or single-agent carboplatin) being chosen by the patient and clinician before randomisation. The primary outcome measure was overall survival. Secondary outcomes were progression-free survival and toxicity. Analysis was by intention to treat. Findings: With a median follow-up of 51 months, 1265 patients had died, and survival curves showed no evidence of a difference in overall survival between paclitaxel plus carboplatin and control (hazard ratio 0.98, 95% CI 0.87-1.10, p=0.74). The median overall survival was 36.1 months on paclitaxel plus carboplatin and 35.4 months on control (difference 0.7 months, 95% CI -3.6 to 4.7). 1538 patients had progressive disease or died, and again, Kaplan-Meier curves showed no evidence of a difference between the groups (hazard ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.84-1.03, p=0.16). Median progression-free survival was 17.3 months on paclitaxel plus carboplatin and 16.1 months on control (difference 1.2 months, 95% CI -0.5 to 2.8). Paclitaxel plus carboplatin caused more alopecia, fever, and sensory neuropathy than carboplatin alone, and more sensory neuropathy than CAP. CAP was associated with more fever than paclitaxel plus carboplatin. Interpretation: Single-agent carboplatin and CAP are as effective as paclitaxel plus carboplatin as first-line treatment for women requiring chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. The favourable toxicity profile of single-agent carboplatin suggests that this drug is a reasonable option as first-line chemo therapy for ovarian cancer.

Several prognostic factors for stage I ovarian carcinoma have been analyzed. Some of them are biological and clinical in nature, but others such as the thoroughness of the staging procedure, the extent of the surgery and the philosophy of treatment, are defined by the human element.We reviewed the records of 351 patients with Stage I ovarian cancer who had been treated from 1981 to 1991. For all patients the following information was available: age, size of the tumor, FIGO sub-stage, tumor grade, histologic type, rupture of the tumor, cytology, extent of the staging and of the surgery (hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy vs. fertility-conserving surgery) and use of adjuvant treatments. The thoroughness of the staging was defined as: optimal staging: total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or fertility-conserving surgery, peritoneal cytology or washing, omentectomy, multiple peritoneal biopsies, sampling of the retroperitoneal nodes or formal lymphadenectomy, peritoneal staging: all the criteria described above were met with the exception of retroperitoneal sampling, incomplete staging: lack of any of the previously-cited criteria.An optimal staging was performed in 100 patients, a peritoneal staging in 107 and an incomplete staging in 144. Radical surgery was performed in 295 women and fertility-conserving surgery in 56. With a median follow-up of 108 months (range 14-184) 64 patients had recurrence of the tumor. Fifty-three died of the disease, two are currently alive with disease and nine were salvaged by surgery and/or chemotherapy. In a multivariate analysis only the tumor grade and the type of staging were significant independent prognostic factors for both disease-free and overall survival.As described by other authors, we confirm that tumor grade is the single most important biological prognostic factor in early ovarian carcinoma. The thoroughness of the staging impacts significantly on survival, particularly in poorly differentiated carcinomas. Fertility-sparing surgery is not associated with a worse outcome than standard radical surgery.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. The geographic prevalence of HCC is largely variable and this reflects the different distribution of possible etiological factors. Liver cirrhosis is the major determinant of neoplastic transformation (1). The strong association between chronic HBV and HCV infection and developement of HCC is widely demonstrated by epidemiological studies (2,3) but the exact mechanism by which malignant trasformation occurs remains still unclear. HBV might exert a direct role in liver carcinogenesis by a combination of different non exclusive effects as DNA integration (4) and transactivating activity of HBX and truncated pre-S2/S proteins (5,6). Concerning HCV related liver oncogenesis, it is still obscure whether HCV might exert, in addition to inducing cirrhosis, a direct effect in malignant transformation. The evidence that HCV persists and replicate in HCC developing in absence of cirrhosis (7) may be a basis for further molecular studies on the potential oncogenic effect of HCV.

From 1983 to 1990, 271 consecutive patients with stage I ovarian cancer entered two randomised trials, aimed at assessing the role of adjuvant chemotherapy after radical surgery in early stages of ovarian cancer. Trial I compared cisplatin (50 mg/m2 with repeated courses every 28 days for 6 cycles) to no further therapy in F.I.G.O. stage Iab Grade II-III patients; trial II compared cisplatin (same dose and schedule) to 32P in Iaiibii and Ic patients.Both studies were multicentric and centrally randomized. Treatment was allocated by phone and stratified by center. All patients satisfying major eligibility criteria (histological and grade, no previous neoplasms) were analysed according to treatment allocated by randomisation.With a median observation time of 76 months, cisplatin significantly reduced the relapse rate by 65% (HR = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.14-0.89, p = 0.028; Cox Model) in trial I and 61% (HR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.19-0.77, p = 0.007; Cox Model) in trial II. Survival was not significantly different (trial I - Kaplan-Meier overall 5-year survival: cisplatin = 88%, control = 82%, HR = 1.15; 95% CI = 0.44-2.98; p = 0.773; Cox Model); trial II - overall 5-year survival: cisplatin = 81%, 32P = 79%, HR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.37-1.43; p = 0.354; Cox model). In both studies the risk of dying after relapse increased for patients originally randomized to the cisplatin arms: in trial I, 6 of 7 patients in the cisplatin relapsed arm and died of tumor compared with 8 of 14 patients in the control arm. In trial II 11 of 12 patients on cisplatin, and 18 of 26 on 32P succumbed to tumor recurrence.Adjuvant cisplatin treatment in early ovarian cancer significantly prevents relapse in comparison to 32P in stage IC patients or to no immediate treatment in earlier stage women. The impact of cisplatin adjuvant treatment on survival remains, however, unclear.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by ovarian carcinoma is rare.From September 1982 to September 1994, 23 patients with CNS metastases from ovarian carcinoma were observed in our institution.Their median age at the time of CNS metastasis diagnosis was 59 years, and the median interval between diagnosis of ovarian cancer and documentation of the metastasis was 35 months. The most common symptoms related to CNS involvement were motor weakness, headache, seizures, dizziness and visual disturbances. One patient had meningeal carcinomatosis; 22 had parenchymal lesions (18 cerebral and 4 cerebellar). Nine patients had a single CNS lesion, and 13 had multiple metastatic sites. CNS was the only site of disease in 9 patients, while 8 had concomitant extraperitoneal dissemination. The median survival (MS) from diagnosis of cerebral metastases for the entire series was five months. Four patients were not treated (MS 3 months); 14 received radiotherapy (MS 5.5 months), and five underwent surgical resection of solitary metastases followed by radiotherapy (MS 17 months). Number of CNS lesions, extent of the disease at the time of CNS metastasis and treatment were the only factors which significantly affected survivalThe prognosis of patients with CNS metastasis from ovarian carcinoma appears poor. However, early diagnosis followed by multimodal treatment may result in significant palliation and improve overall survival in a selected group of patients.

To report and evaluate a conservative and individualized treatment policy in a homogeneously selected series of patients affected by pure ovarian immature teratoma.This prospective trial, with specific treatment policies according to stage and grade, was planned and started in 1982. The study population consisted of 32 patients affected by pure immature teratoma, with the exclusion of mixed germ cell tumors. Fertility-sparing surgery was performed whenever possible. Surgery alone, with careful follow-up, was adopted for stage I or II according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and grade 1 or 2 tumors. The other patients, with stage III or with grade 3 stage I or II tumors, or those referred at relapse, were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy regimens.Thirty of 32 patients underwent fertility-sparing surgery. Ten of 32 patients received chemotherapy after surgery, either as adjuvant treatment or in the presence of visible tumor. All 32 patients are alive and disease-free, with a median follow-up from surgery of 47 months (range 11-138). In six patients, regardless of the administration of chemotherapy, the tumor either spontaneously differentiated toward mature glia or increased in volume, mimicking progression but still remaining completely mature. Five of six patients wishing to procreate had a total of seven normal pregnancies.Pure ovarian immature teratoma is a potentially curable disease with a unique natural history. Our data substantiate the hypothesis that low-grade and low-stage tumors do not require chemotherapy, and that a fertility-sparing surgical approach is warranted in all cases.

In an attempt to identify variables predicting prognosis, 100 consecutive patients with compensated cirrhosis of the liver were followed for a mean of 4.9 (SD 0.7) yr. Fifty-one patients belonged to Child-Pugh class A, 49 to class B. At entry, five laboratory parameters were considered, together with sex, the grade of esophageal varices, and seven variables measured by ultrasonography (liver and spleen volume and the calibers of the splanchnic vessels). In a subgroup of 56 patients, the galactose elimination capacity also was determined. Forty-six patients were alive at the end of follow-up. Survival was analyzed according to Cox's model. Six parameters were able to predict survival (albumin, bilirubin, liver volume, prothrombin activity, cholesterol, varices). However, step-wise Cox regression analysis identified only four variables that independently correlated with survival: albumin, bilirubin, cholesterol, and liver volume. Galactose elimination failed to add any significance to routine liver function tests. This prospective study confirms the ability of routine liver function tests in predicting survival in compensated cirrhosis. The measurement of liver volume, easily obtained by ultrasonography, is also significant for prognosis, and may be introduced into clinical practice.

Thyroid dysfunction has long been reported in patients with liver disease, but limited information is available on thyroid gland size in cirrhosis. Most studies were carried out on small, selected series of patients, and no study has measured thyroid volume in relation to the etiology of liver disease. Thyroid volume was measured at ultrasound in 118 consecutive patients with cirrhosis of different etiology and 48 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. No subjects had evidence of overt thyroid disease. The mean volume was increased by 17% (from 16.0 [SD 5.2] ml in controls to 18.8 [7.6] in cirrhosis; P less than 0.025), and thyroid enlargement (antero-posterior diameter greater than 20 mm) was present in 38% of cases, in the presence of hormone values indicative of low-T3 syndrome. No significant differences in thyroid gland size were observed in relation to the extent of liver dysfunction or to the etiology of liver disease. The prevalence of thyroid nodules was similar in controls and in patients with cirrhosis. In only 8% of cases were laboratory values indicative of hypothyroidism, with low free triiodothyronine and raised thyroid-stimulating hormone levels; in these patients thyroid volume was decreased on average by 26%. This was mainly the case with patients with primary biliary and alcoholic cirrhosis. The largest mean thyroid volume was observed in patients with HBsAg + ve postnecrotic cirrhosis, whose thyroid volume was increased on average by 37%, and 53% of subjects had thyroid enlargement. This finding raises the question of a possible direct involvement of the thyroid in hepatitis B virus infection.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and tumor-associated lymphocytes (TALs) were isolated from 36 patients with advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma and peritoneal effusions for study of lymphokine-activated killer activity. PBLs and TALs cultured in vitro for 3-5 days in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2, supernatant of the MLA 144 gibbon cell line, or human recombinant IL-2) expressed higher levels of cytotoxicity as compared to cells cultured in medium alone, against natural killer (NK)-susceptible (K562) or NK-resistant targets (Daudi and the human ovarian carcinoma cell line SW626). When ovarian tumor cells, freshly isolated from carcinomatous ascites or surgical specimens, were used as target cells in the cytotoxicity assay, 8 of 14 PBLs and 5 of 7 TAL preparations lysed the autologous tumor after treatment with IL-2, while no spontaneous reactivity was observed in any of the 14 patients tested. Although levels of lysis were usually relatively low, these data demonstrate that PBLs and TALs from ovarian cancer patients (TALs usually exhibiting low NK activity) when stimulated in vitro by IL-2 acquire some cytotoxic potential against the autologous tumor.

From 1982 to 1989 positive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were detected after surgery in 3 patients with pure immature teratoma, 7 patients with mixed germ cell tumors and 16 patients with pure endodermal sinus tumor (EST) of the ovary. In the three patients with pure immature teratoma, AFP serum levels became spontaneously undetectable in one month without chemotherapy. The marker was thereafter negative, despite the persistence of tumor in 2 patients, and a relapse in the third one. The serum levels of AFP did not correlate with the stage of EST and mixed germ cell tumors. The monitoring of AFP serum levels during treatment correlated with response to chemotherapy: of the 16 patients with pure EST, 14 achieved a serological complete response and did not undergo second look surgery; two patients had a serological partial response. One of them reached a serological complete response after further chemotherapy. The other patient with liver extragonadic tumor underwent liver lobectomy with negative histology. Among 7 patients with mixed germ cell tumor, 6 achieved a serological and pathologic complete response. The 7th patient had a serological complete response, but microscopic residual tumor at second look laparotomy. The decrement curve of AFP was not predictive for recurrence. However, AFP monitoring was useful for an early diagnosis of relapse in 4 patients. AFP is a reliable marker for the diagnosis, treatment evaluation and follow-up of patients with pure EST and a useful marker in the clinical management of mixed germ cell tumors of the ovary.

The presence of antibodies of the IgA class against dietary antigens (bovine IgG (BGG), beta-lactoglobulin, casein, alpha-lactalbumin and xanthine oxidase, chicken ovalbumin and crude gliadin) was checked in the sera of 23 severely atherosclerotic subjects (ATS) and 20 highly selected controls (C). In these subjects an association between serum IgA levels and atherosclerosis had previously been shown. Determinations were performed by a micro-ELISA method and results were expressed as absorbances at 405 nm x 1000. Higher levels of IgA antibodies were found in ATS with respect to C against beta-lactoglobulin (respectively, 113.4 +/- 152.4 (1 SD) vs. 40.0 +/- 34.2; P less than 0.005) and casein (69.8 +/- 35.5 vs. 52.4 +/- 27.5; P less than 0.05). There was no difference in IgG and IgM against these 2 proteins between the 2 groups. Significant differences of prevalence of IgA antibodies were found for the following antigens: beta-lactoglobulin (4 C and 16 ATS over the limit value of 51; P less than 0.002), xanthine oxidase (1 C and 9 ATS over 289; P less than 0.01), BGG (7 C and 17 ATS over 87; P less than 0.02) and casein (5 C and 14 ATS over 60; P less than 0.02). These data suggest an association between anti-milk IgA antibodies and atherosclerosis. Its relevance and significance deserves further investigation.