S Cappello | PubMed Health

PubMed1992

Epidemiological survey of multiple sclerosis in Catania city.

The findings of an epidemiological survey of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the urban area of Catania reveal a new and in some respects original pattern of MS cases recorded on 31 December 1989 (prevalence day). They explain why special attention should be paid to patients residing in that area, which shows a remarkable upward trend of the MS prevalence rates calling for further study and for more targeted intervention in the fields of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

[Acute postintervention cholecystitis].

A case of postoperative cholecystitis in a 64 years old man is reported. This is a nosological entity characterized by gallbladder distension without any patent obstacle in the cystic duct and constancy of necrosis involving all the parietal layers. Clinical signs and symptoms are aspecific. Mortality rate is high and diagnosis has to be done quickly because the gallbladder necrosis makes cholecystectomy compulsory on such patients.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1989

Projections of the nucleus accumbens in the cat.

Due to the recent advances in knowledge on the function of the limbic system it would be wise to consider this system as being widely distributed throughout the diencephalic and mesencephalic levels as well as the forebrain. Numerous regions have been discovered that are related to the limbic structures in anatomical and functional respects. According to Koikegami et al. (1967), it would be adequate to divide this system into two main categories--the major limbic rim or the structure proper and the paralimbic structures. The former defined phylogenetically and ontogenetically as those structures around the third ventricle such as: the hippocampus, septum, dentate gyrus, fimbria hippocampi, anterior and posterior cingulate gyri, area paraolfactoria, amygdala and Diagonal Band of Broca. The paralimbic structures may represent those brain regions, which have direct connections or functional correlations with the limbic formation proper. These areas include the posterior orbital gyrus, insula, nucleus accumbens, head of the caudate, nucleus habenula, nucleus interpendencularis, nucleus pulvinaris thalami, intralaminar and anterior thalamic nucleus, preoptic area, hypothalamic nuclei, mammillary body, subthalamus, limbic midbrain area of Nauta, temporal lobe pole, superior temporal gyrus, praecuneus, nucleus dorsalis et profundis tegmenti of Gudden and claustrum. In the present paper we will deal with the projections of the nucleus accumbens. This nucleus was described by Meynert (1872) as the anterior polar region of the caudate nucleus. Kappers describes the nucleus accumbens in 1908 as the nucleus accumbens septi and considers it as a part of the striatum. Later on, the histological studies of Brochaus (1942) relate a part of the nucleus with olfactory functions, and he describes another part, which is very well developed in microsmatic mammals and in anosmic mammals like the dolphin. Szteyn (1960) describes two main areas, the accumbens septi and the accumbens caudate. Nevertheless, the accumbens constitutes a very important region of the paralimbic system and seems to play an important role in some behavioral patterns.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Comparative anatomy of the caudate nucleus in different mammals.

Volumetric comparisons of the caudate nucleus of different mammals including rat, rabbit, cat, zebra, deer, antelope, bull, horse, dolphin (Stenella graffmani) and human are presented. A linear regression coefficient is obtained with its corresponding correlation coefficient. The results indicate that there is not a close correlation between the size of the caudate nucleus and the brain weight of the different animals studied when the caudate of the horse is included. When it is omitted there is a close correspondence. The caudate nucleus of the horse is extremely large in relation to its brain weight. The possible meaning of this fact is discussed. Measurement of different brain structures is of interest, both from the purely descriptive aspect and because it can suggest phylogenetic relations as well as explanation of functional differences in different animal species (1, 2).

Animals↗