Cheese trademarks: Italian dairy firms’ practices during the 20th century

Trademarks have recently become a very useful sources for business historians. This longitudinal analysis of the twentieth-century trademarking activities of the most important Italian dairy firms of the era, namely Galbani, Invernizzi and Locatelli, demonstrates that trademarks were used both as a protective weapon against competitors and as an innovation carrier to open up new markets. This article also argues that trademark registrations had another dual purpose – not only were they used as buffers against negative shocks but they were also used to support periods of economic growth. A fundamental finding of this work is that trademarks, across various types of registrations, were closely connected to the features on which the companies based their sales strategies

Surgical classification of renal calculi

A classification of renal calculi is presented. 'C' describes the morphology, size and topography of the stone in five descriptive categories; the letter 'P', 'S', 'M', 'I' indicate the pelvis, the superior, middle and inferior calices, respectively, and complete the topographic description. The letter 'E' stands for the excretory tract; the symbols + and - are added tho indicate the presence or absence of dilatation and the small letters e and i indicate the intra- and extrarenal position of the pelvis. 'R' points out the number of surgical recurrences. In conclusion, the letter 'P' indicates the functional status of the parenchyma, and the numbers 1, 2, 3 refer to a normally functioning kidney; moderate renal insuffiency, or serious renal insufficiency. 'U' symbolizes a solitary anatomical or functional kidney

Long-term results of intrarenal surgery for branched calculi: is such surgery still valid?

Objective: To evaluate whether intrarenal surgery for branched calculi remains valid in the light of current new techniques, e.g. percutaneous nephrolithotomy and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Patients and methods: Between January 1978 and October 1984, 44 patients (24 male and 20 female, mean age 42.5 years, range 14-66) underwent complex surgery for large stones, requiring opening of the renal pelvis and a transparenchymal approach to the calices; 47 renal units were operated in 49 procedures. The evaluation before surgery included creatinine and blood nitrogen levels, blood pressure measurement, urine culture, abdominal plain X-ray (44 patients), intravenous urography (42) and isotopic renography with renal scintigraphy (five). Renal lithiasis was categorized and all patients underwent extended pyelolithotomy with a transparenchymal approach, achieved by partial nephrectomy (six patients), radial paravascular nephrotomy (10), posterior lower nephrolithotomy (29), resection of the posterior segment (two), and posterior segmentotomy and reconstruction (2); 16 operations were performed under ischaemia. In October 1996, the patients were clinically evaluated by serum creatinine levels (42), urine cultures (42), abdominal plain X-ray (42), IVU (34), isotopic renography (eight), renal ultrasonography (eight) and blood pressure measurement (44). The mean follow-up was 14.8 years. Results The major postoperative complications were; residual stones (six patients), fistula with ureteric stenosis (one, with a permanent nephrostomy), toxic temporary hepatic failure (one), femoral arterial embolism (one, resolved using a Fogarty catheter) and recurrent large stones (two, operated 1 and 5 years later). From 1984 to 1996, 19 patients had recurrent stones and two underwent dialysis. In October 1996, the renal function of 47 renal units was stable or normal in 36 (77%), reduced in seven (15%) and lost in four (8%); 24 patients were hypertensive (12 preoperatively), nine have urinary tract infection, three are positive for hepatitis B or C virus, and lithiasis has recurred in 15 renal units. Conclusions Intrarenal surgery, conducted using modern anatomical guidelines, was an effective treatment for renal branched stones. The long-term results are satisfactory after appropriate correction of the urinary tract, with the consequent prevention of stasis and chronic infection. The definitive comparison between surgical and combined endoscopic/extracorporeal methods will only become clear when there is a comparable follow-up. Currently, surgery remains preferable in patients with giant calculi, a small pelvis and prevalent calyceal development

Recurrence of lithiasis after extracorporeal lithotripsy, percutaneous surgery, and open surgery for calculi of the upper urinary tract

The safety and short-term effectiveness of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) have already been well established. However, long-term follow-up studies are essential to prove that the recurrence rate after PCNL and/or ESWL is equal or even better than that of surgery. We reviewed 57 patients treated with ESWL monotherapy, 45 patients treated by PCNL (or by PCNL combined with ESWL for complete staghorn stones) and 59 patients treated by open surgery who all had at least three years of follow-up. The overall recurrence rate for ESWL was 37% for PCNL and for open surgery 39%. ESWL, PCNL and open surgery all showed a higher rate of recurrence and persistent bacteriuria when associated with residual stones. Therefore every effort should be made to remove residual fragments following stone treatment. We conclude that because of its efficacy and low morbidity ESWL should be the treatment of choice for most of renal calculi. Complete staghorn calculi are best treated with open surgery because the complete elimination of all calculous material and the eradication of infection are achieved at a higher rate than by PCNL and ESWL

Enoxacin in the treatment of bacterial prostato-cystitis

Thirty-three patients suffering from acute, subacute or chronic prostatovesiculitis were admitted to an open, non comparative trial. Enoxacin was administered at the daily dosage of 400 mg every 12 hours for 10 days starting from the enrollment. A second cycle of treatment was performed if cure was not obtained with the first cycle. Treatment efficacy was established by assessing patient symptoms related to the infection, such as pollakiuria and dysuria, consistency and volume of prostate and spermatic vesicles (evaluated by rectal examination and transrectal ultra-sonography); bacterioscopical and bacteriological evaluations of prostate/vesicles secretion with sensitivity testing were also carried out. All observations were collected at baseline, 5 and 30 days after the end of the first cycle and 5 days after the end of the 2nd cycle of treatment. After the first cycle of treatment, cure was obtained in 22 subjects (67%) and clinical improvement in 24 (73%). All but one patients still infected at the end of the first treatment period, showed improvement (5; 45.5%) or cure (6; 54.5%). The end of the second cycle None of the 22 patients cured with one cycle of treatment relapsed within 30 days after the end of treatment, confirming they really achieved cure. Side effects were observed only in 1 case (mild vertigo); no drop outs were observed. These results suggest that enoxacin may be successfully used in the treatment of prostato-vesiculitis