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OBJECTIVES: to assess air pollution spatial and temporal variability in the urban area nearby the Ciampino International Airport (Rome) and to investigate the airport-related emissions contribute. DESIGN AND SETTING: the study domain was a 64 km2 area around the airport. Two fifteen-day monitoring campaigns (late spring, winter) were carried out. Results were evaluated using several runs outputs of an airport-related sources Lagrangian particle model and a photochemical model (the Flexible Air quality Regional Model, FARM). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: both standard and high time resolution air pollutant concentrations measurements: CO, NO, NO2, C6H6, mass and number concentration of several PM fractions. 46 fixed points (spread over the study area) of NO2 and volatile organic compounds concentrations (fifteen days averages); deterministic models outputs. RESULTS: standard time resolution measurements, as well as model outputs, showed the airport contribution to air pollution levels being little compared to the main source in the area (i.e. vehicular traffic). However, using high time resolution measurements, peaks of particles associated with aircraft takeoff (total number concentration and soot mass concentration), and landing (coarse mass concentration) were observed, when the site measurement was downwind to the runway. CONCLUSIONS: the frequently observed transient spikes associated with aircraft movements could lead to a not negligible contribute to ultrafine, soot and coarse particles exposure of people living around the airport. Such contribute and its spatial and temporal variability should be investigated when assessing the airports air quality impact.

Patients with diabetes mellitus are subjected to major operations, and to major complications, more frequently than those without diabetes. Diabetes control is especially important when the patient is undergoing surgery, as the trauma can result in major metabolic changes; in fact, maintaining glycemic and metabolic control is difficult in diabetic patients who are undergoing surgery. In planning the management, the type of diabetes, the current treatment, the degree of recent control, the presence of complication, and the type of surgical procedure must all be considered. The authors reported their therapeutic protocol for the management of the diabetic patients in the perioperative period, and for the complication (ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar nonketotic coma). The preparation of the diabetic patient must start, if is possible, 6 months before the operation, to reduce the possible complications after the surgical stress. To this aim, we utilize a nursing-monitoring sheet, that allows a direct comparison of laboratory tests (glicemic levels, electrolytes, urine glucose testing, ketonuria, glycohemoglobin level, hemogasanalysis, etc.), clinical status (weight, diuresis, etc.) of the patient, and the therapy (dose and times of administration).