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Long-term changes of wolf feeding habits have been recorded in several parts of its European range and were related to the increase of wild ungulate populations. An increased use of wild prey often is linked to a decrease of predation on livestock, and consequently it can reduce wolf–human conflict and make for easier predator conservation. We analysed wolf diet from scats collected from 2007 to 2012 in a 927.3-km2area of the Northern Apennines (Northern Italy) to compare the present diet to that recorded in the late 1980s when the area was colonised by wolves, and to examine short-term changes of wolf feeding habits together with annual and seasonal variations of wild and domestic ungulate selection, possibly related to the increase of wild ungulate abundance. We calculated the availability proportions of wild ungulate species from the presence signs recorded on itineraries and those of livestock species from the data on farms of veterinary services. We identified 17 kinds of prey, pooled into six categories, of which wild ungulates (70%) and livestock (20%) were the most important. During the study period, we observed a reduction in the diet breadth of wolves, to a greater use of wild ungulates, depending on the increase in the availability of wild prey species. Significant seasonal variations were observed in the trophic habits of the wolf, but generally there was a wide use of wild ungulates, especially wild boars. Livestock was mainly used in summer, which corresponds to the period of greatest presence of domestic ungulates on the pastures. Considering the study period, a fast response of wolf feeding habits to the increase of wild ungulate species resulted, together with changes in selection patterns. The change in diet towards a greater use of wild ungulates is an important step in the recovery and conservation of the wolf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortality due to illegal killing is still today one of the main threats to wolf conservation, and an effective management of the conflict between wolf presence and husbandry is a key element for species conservation. The research was aimed at identifying the farm characteristics and the environmental factors that influence predation, and at formulating predictive models of predation risk. We collected and analysed the data on official predation events that occurred during the period 2005–2012 in an area of the northern Apennines, and on the characteristics of livestock farms recorded at the veterinary services. Furthermore, we mapped the grazing areas used by livestock farms and measured 23 variables of the pastures. Our results showed that the majority of predation events were upon cattle, and that grazing management significantly influences the number of predation events. In particular, the pastures that suffered predation were those in which births occur directly on the pasture, those that had at least one period of free grazing during the year, and cattle farms that were lacking in any preventive methods. The number of killed animals per event was higher for sheep than for cattle and goats and increased progressively during the study period. Predation risk increases if the farms practice free grazing at least for a period during the year, if they are not protected by any preventive method and if the degree of surveillance is regular or constant. The risk of predation also increases with the increasing complexity of pasture shape, the decrease in the percentage of coniferous forest and if the pasture is exposed to the north. The model of predation risk showed that 56.6% of the pastures in the study area are potentially exposed to wolf predation, and it allowed us to identify the grazing areas where it is worthwhile intervening with preventive methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report their experience in haemorrhage after thyroid surgery. Haemorrhagic complications occurred in 5 cases in a series of 1803 sequential thyroidectomies (incidence: 0.27%). In particular, incidence was 1.9% after interventions for thyroid neoplasias (adenoma and carcinoma) and 0.18% after interventions for non-neoplastic thyroid pathology. Haemorrhage occurred always after "total" operations, even if monolateral. Causative and contributing factors, precautions and measures helpful in reducing the incidence and the potential dangerousness of haemorrhagic complications are discussed.

It goes without saying that, at first glance, it is the velocity with which the fired bullet pierces the solid target and perhaps even penetrates it that bears witness to the efficiency of a firearm. Prior to the advent of ceramic and composite materials, iron and its clone, steel, provided the most satisfactory and most coveted evidence as a test material in both the positive and negative senses. It the biological field, wood and deal in particular were for decades the only witnesses, alongside tests in cadavers, which, despite obvious reservations, provided us with a wealth of data, much of which is still regarded today as among the mainstays of forensic didactics. Prominent among these, in terms of clinical importance, in that they mark the start of the bullet wound, are the velocity and energy thresholds per presentation area. The bullet, after overcoming the barrier of the skin, continues on its course through the soft tissues, and there leaves its most authentic and singular mark as a bullet wound.

The pathogenetic potentiality of firearms differs in relation to whether we are dealing with rifled long-barrelled weapons, handguns, or smooth-bore long-barrelled guns. Up until a few years ago, the tissue-damaging effect, at least in the modern warfare context, of short-barrelled or smooth-bore long-barrelled firearms, was thoroughly negligible; today, however, their impact, as causes of wounds and death, is steadily increasing, and for the first time small bullets designed for low-cost military training are also coming to play a primary role on the battlefield. At the same time short-gun bullets are appearing which, which in the name of "stopping power" seem to contradict the very definition of a handgun. The smooth-bore long-barrelled gun, in turn, is casting off the anti-humanitarian image of the trench gun to play the more suggestive ordinance role of the grenadiercumhunter.

This brief chapter, focusing essentially on a single topic, has been written in homage to Emile Theodor Kocker, a masterful exponent of the art of surgery and founder of the culture of terminal ballistics. For most of the literature we are indebted to Fackler and Dougherty, who, with the particular grasp, and fair of historians, act as guides on a trial which is only apparently retrograde, but which actually bears eloquent witness to the fact that even in the most physically tangible of arts, namely the art of surgery, inspired curiosity may help us to go well beyond the limits of our day and age. This chapter is also dedicated to the memory of another great surgeon, Vittorio Pettinari, who for one of the authors was an incomparable mentor and past-master of such curiosity.

The Authors, consistent with their aim to compare and contrast the two protagonists of bullet wounds, namely the bullet and its soft human target, delineating their respective profiles, strengths and weaknesses, feel obliged to dwell at some length on the most frequently pathogenetic regulation firearms. Up until the early twentieth century bullet wounds could be generically classified among the forms of open traumatism, but with the advent of high-speed bullets they have come to take on a unique profile of their own, setting against the old permanent cavity due to mechanical insult a new type of transitory ghost, the definition of which as a cavity would merely be an oversimplification in theoretical terms. Can we really attribute this somewhat privileged dimension to bullet wounds today or must we relegate them once again to the sphere of mechanical traumatisms, albeit with a new inflammatory key to their interpretation, making the most in this sense of the contribution provided by the speed of the bullet? The literature is abundant, but uncertain; we intend to attempt an answer to this tricky question in the following pages, devoted more properly to terminal ballistics. Undoubtedly, the new speeds have had a substantial impact on the wounds inflicted upon the soft target, but the streamlining of the jacket has modified and even offset the results, giving rise to the unexpectedly humanitarian bullet, later subject to reappraisal in military quarters as tactically more efficient, because it obliges the enemy to employ greater resources for recovering, assisting and healing the wounded. We can safely claim that ballistic science in the field of light or portable firearms is experiencing a contradiction between the speed of the bullet and the streamlining of the jacket which makes this speed possible, but which undermines the efficacy of the often unconfessable results. Short-barrelled firearms, which on account of their defensive role, the alibi of their problematic access to speed, and their characteristic use as "last-chance" weapons, are less subject to international constraints and enjoy an extensive civilian market with specific claims to stopping power, thus become the true witnesses to a reality no different to the one Dum-Dum interpreted: the field of modern regulation firearms is shrouded in similar doubts, strengthened by the increasingly short barrels of the weapons, remedies and temptations, with, in addition, the increasingly precarious nature of the human element behind the firearm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

We have chosen to conceive of terminal ballistics as a violent and extremely rapid confrontation between two forms of resistance before the final state of rest is reached. This definition, which cannot help but don the admittedly loud and outlandish garb of physics, is the most promising for the purposes of biological interpretation. The main characters on this stage are two, but only one of these really plays the lead, namely the human target, which acts out the basic roles inherent in its physical make-up; the other, the bullet, remains a background figure, frozen in its walk-on part, and ready for the next performance. This modus operandi, which is no simplification, but rather an academic necessity, enables us to focus on images which stand out more clearly as a result of an intensive macroscopic spotlight which brings out the features of the individual phenomena, broken down into a succession of close-ups, and subtracts them from the cold physical nature of this or that form of inert matter, which here is merely an occasional, disagreeable witness, or even more, a standing from time to time for but one of the infinite facets of the biological composite being. Here, then, faced with a kind of exploded macrophotograph of a complex kaleidoscope, we see the animal universe, of which we capture so far the plasticity, the subdivisibility, the anisotropy and the cavitation.

In this chapter, the leading role is played by the mechanical-thermal-ballistic device, issued as a long-barrelled regulation firearm to modern armies. The most accurate description of this type of firearm and its present and possible future development seeks to be in line with the objective comparison between the biological matter and the mechanical material, which constitutes the essential basis for any optimal nosological, aetiological, or pathogenetic classification of bullet wounds. We should not forget that the advent of the M 16 A 1 has aroused great technical interest, particularly--though not only--as regards the hydroshock aspect, and that the technological developments in future can hardly fail to increasingly confirm the singular nature of bullet wounds, which refuse to be encompassed merely within the somewhat limited sphere of their strictly local effects, but carry a broader significance in a critical context open to further verification in the future. There can be no denying that this unique nature of modern bullet wounds makes them ideal candidates bearing witness to a new interpretation of traumatism, which at present is only in its infancy.

The authors review the problems relating to the healing of colorectal anastomotic complications following anterior resection. They report on their own experience with 328 anastomoses, 281 of which constructed manually and 47 using a mechanical suturing gun. Following manual anastomosis, the reported incidence of clinical dehiscence was 1%, as against a 10.3% incidence of radiologically detectable dehiscence. In the cases of mechanically produced anastomoses the incidence of clinical dehiscence was 6.4%. In 2 cases stenosis developed as a result of the clinically manifest dehiscence following manual anastomosis. In the patients undergoing mechanical anastomosis, occlusion occurred in one case and stenosis in another, without any concomitant peri-anastomotic inflammatory processes; these complications were caused by a membrane extending between the margins of the anastomosis. The authors ascribe the greater incidence of clinically important dehiscence following mechanical anastomosis to a greater sensitivity of the mechanical suture to colonic contamination compared to the manual suture. According to the authors, the stenosis is attributable to inflammatory processes resulting from the dehiscence in the manual anastomosis cases and from the anastomotic structure in the mechanical-suture case.

The authors report on a case of leiomyosarcoma with intussusception of the large bowel. They stress the importance of the clinical suspicion in targeting preoperative instrumental instrumental investigations.

In the light of their experience, the Authors examine the validity of synchronous abdomino-perineal resection. Their study population consists of 224 such operations. On the basis of the results achieved, the conclusion is reached that there is still no realistic alternative today to synchronous abdomino-perineal resection for the treatment of malignancies whose lower borders lie at a distance of less than 6.5 cm from the anal margin.

Personal experience of 135 operations on the left colon and the rectum, with simultaneous formation of decompressive transversotomy, is presented. According to the Authors, decompressive transversotomy is the sole method capable not of avoiding anastomotic dehiscences, but of ensuring that they do not become clinically manifest, and hence of reducing the mortality connected therewith. The doubts sometimes raised with regard to the method seem in the Authors' opinion to be linked to technical shortcomings in performance of the transversotomy itself.

The authors show their experience about the surgical treatment of colonic perforations in course of neoplastic disease. Their casuistry is compared with those of other centres.

In the light of findings emerging from a critical review of the literature, the Authors present a case of solitary non-specific ulcer of the transverse colon successfully treated by surgery. The various pathogenetic theories are examined, and the diagnostic work-up to which the patient must be subjected is discussed. The study concludes with a description of the choice of therapy.

In the light of their experience, the authors review the data reported in the literature regarding Arbuthnot Lane Disease. The therapeutic indications are examined, and the results of the various types of surgery proposed are compared.

The authors review their patient population with regard to the surgical treatment of diverticular disease. This population consists of 76 cases, 30 of which were subjected to elective surgery. They conclude by stating that, in the light of their experience, the most effective elective operation is resection of the tract affected by diverticuli followed by and end-to-end anastomosis with the protection of a decompressive transversostomy.

The pulmonary metastatic locations due to colorectal cancer were considered, in not remote times, not worthy of surgical treatment. At present, according to our experience and some other Authors' one, the surgical removal of metachronal pulmonary metastases should be considered suitable to improve the period of life free from symptoms and the survival. The surgical treatment has improved the survival in the single or double pulmonary locations, whereas the monolaterality of multiple pulmonary lesions, in respect of the bilaterality, was not significantly bettered the prognosis (Hiroshi Takita, Francis Edgerton). The survival, moreover, seems to be affected by the interval free from illness and by the doubling time of the metastatic location. The surgical indication to the pulmonary metastasectomy is done on condition of the absence of any metastases in other organs. In our experience, out of 742 interventions with radical purposes for colorectal cancer, we documented 15 cases where lung appeared as the first and sole metastatic filter (many patients were lost for their non-cooperation in the follow-up). In 7 cases pulmonary resections were performed, in patients selected and free from secondary locations in other organs, with a satisfactory result. Casuistry and personal results are reported.

The authors maintain the opportunity of a mechanical and chemotherapeutical preparation of colon for the surgical operation, and illustrate the methods thereof. They report their clinical experience about the preoperative and peroperative cleaning, and confirm the importance of decompressive transversostomy as a protection of colorectal anastomoses.

The authors examine a case of malignant ileal schwannoma successfully treated in the Verona Surgical Clinic. They compare their experience with the data reported in the literature, confirming the extreme difficulty encountered in diagnosing the disease. Therapy is discussed, and the authors stress that, in the presence of an intestinal haemorrhage the origin of which traditional diagnostic investigations are unable to establish, one should always bear in mind the possibility of schwannoma despite its rarity.

The authors examine the question of the pathogenesis of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (S.R.U.S), illustrating the importance of a correct differential diagnosis versus other relevant forms of disease affecting this region, particularly rectal cancer. They describe their experience with both the medical and surgical treatment of the syndrome.

The routine technique used by the Authors for performance of decompressive transversotomy in operations on the left colon and the rectum is described. The technique for extraperitoneal closure of the stoma is described in detail: the method is easy to perform and does not involve any noteworthy postoperative complications. Long-term follow-ups demonstrate that there are no functional disorders connected with adhesion of the organ to the abdominal wall.

The Authors describe 2 cases of anorectal melanoma, which underwent operation in the Surgical Clinic of Verona in the years 1981-83. They review the literature confirming the high malignancy of this neoplasm, the poor prognosis forecasting a demolishing surgical treatment only. They, at last, once again affirm the principle whereby the results of such surgery are proportional to the stage of evolution the neoplasm is caught in, and the difficulty to reach a precocious diagnosis is therefore one of the main reasons for the scanty remote results of such surgery.

The Authors study the statistics of the Verona Surgical Centre, concerning 5 cases of colovesical fistula. They support the two-time operation, that is, the colon resection with colo-colic anastomosis sheltered by a decompressive transversostomy and stitching of the vesical breach. They affirm the usefulness of the operation according to Hartmann in patients facing a greater operative risk.

Following a brief introduction in which they outline the frequency of colonic angiomatosis and its characteristic symptom triad, the authors describe one case of this condition come to their observation and treated surgically. Next they discuss the classification, differential diagnosis versus other colonic diseases and disorders, available diagnostic aids, and therapeutic resources. They stress in particular the difficulty of diagnosing this condition correctly, to the point where definite recognition is often made only by exploratory laparotomy.

On the basis of their own clinical experience and the data provided in the literature, the authors examine the question of the surgical therapy of the two main dysplastic diseases of the colon, i.e. colonic angiodysplasia and angiomatosis. While the larger cavernous angiomas necessarily call for surgery, large-bowel angiodysplasia and capillary angiomas, which are disease falling primarily within the internist's sphere of competence, may be treated conservatively, when symptomatic, by endoscopic electrocoagulation, though a surgical approach may be contemplated in that small percentage of cases presenting coagulopathy or frequent, intense haemorrhages with a severe anaemic tendency.

The authors report on a study population of extended operations for locally spread colon-rectum cancer in the Verona Surgical Clinic over the period from 1971 to 1987 (114 surgical demolitions for colon-rectum cancer out of a total of 1294 operations). They report an overall 5-year survival rate of 41% and a 3-year survival rate of 59% with a perioperative mortality rate of 1.75%. A number of aspects of such extended operations are discussed, and, in accord with most other reports in the literature, the authors confirm the validity of the choice of this type of surgery.

The authors consider the behaviour of TBII (TSH receptor binding inhibitory immunoglobulins) in multinodular goiter, in relation to the functional status of the thyroid classified on the basis of T3, FT4, TSH IRMA. The samples were collected from 53 patients with normal T3, FT4 and TSH; 14 patients with T3 and FT4 in normal range and TSH less than 0.15 milli U/l; 8 patients with T3 and/or FT4 above the superior limits of normal range and TSH less than 0.15 milli U/l and from a control group of 10 patients with Grave's disease. TBII was measured by radioreceptor assay and the index resulted less than 15% in all the patients with eufunctioning or hyperfunctioning multinodular goiter. Mean value in biochemically hyperthyroid patients was 6.25% and in euthyroid patients was 5.69%. The difference was statistically not significant. Moreover, significantly elevated levels of TBII were found in 60% of patients with Grave's disease.

The Authors show a case of rectal ampulla carcinoid, and review the literature thereabout. They suggest the removal through sphincter according to Mason, which technique, in their opinion, can ensure a satisfying radicalness when the diameter of carcinoid is shorter than 2 cm.

The use of immunohistochemistry and radioimmunological assay of the pancreatic polypeptides in the plasma has contributed substantial advances to the histophysiopathology and preoperative diagnosis of tumours of the endocrine pancreas and the related functional syndromes. Consequently, in addition to furthering knowledge on clinical pictures already known for some time, it has been possible to define new categories of the disease which were previously misunderstood or confused with others. The physiopathology and diagnostic methodology (clinical, biohumoral and instrumental) of each main known syndrome (insulinoma, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, Verner-Morrison disease and glucagonoma) are described in detail; there are notes on hormonal syndromes that are not fully known and which constitute a field of research in evolution (pluriendocrine and carcinoid syndromes, polypeptidoma, somatostatinoma, nesidioblastosis). The problems of preoperative preparation, intraoperative diagnostic tactics and surgical technique are illustrated. Lastly the possibilities of alternative therapeutic treatment are outlined.

The Authors face the problems involved in the colonic familial polyposis, with particular attention to the surgical treatment of subjects bearing neoplastic degeneration. They, moreover, report their clinical experience, and compare it with the experience of other centres.

The Authors, on the basis of the casuistry of the Verona Surgical Centre, concerning the interventions for Crohn's disease from 1973 up to 1983, and comparing the data of literature, study the problem of appendicectomy in Crohn's disease. They suggest the operation of appendicectomy both when there are signs of appendicopathy in course, joined to a pathology of the last ileum ansa, and in presence of apparently sound appendix and clear signs of ileum Crohn's disease. They think it opportune to avoid appendicectomy only in presence of clear signs of involvement of caecum by the morbid process.