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Adipose tissue distribution usually varies among men and women. In men, adipose tissue is known to accumulate in the abdominal region surrounding the visceral organs (android fat distribution) whereas, in women, the accumulation of adipose tissue generally occurs in the gluteal-femoral regions (gynoid fat distribution). In some cases, however, android distribution can be found in women and gynoid distribution can be found in men. The regulation of adipose tissue accumulation involves interaction of a variety of genetic and environmental factors. This review examines genetic factors that cause differential distribution of adipose tissue in different depots of the body, between men and women and between different ethnicities. Genome-wide association studies can be used to identify genetic associations with the distribution and accumulation of adipose tissue. Insight into adipose tissue accumulation and distribution mechanisms could lead to development of personalized interventions for people who develop increased fat mass.

Face masks help contain the aerosol-mediated transmission of infectious viral particles released from individuals via cough and sneezes. However, the prolonged use of face masks has raised concerns regarding oral hygiene. Here, we present a mouthwash formulation based on α-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol that can maintain healthy oral microbiota.We isolated and cultured Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and a mix of Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Neisseria sp. from oral and throat swabs. The microorganisms were cultured in a standard medium with or without the mouthwash. To evaluate the effect of the mouthwash on the oral microbiota, the DNA from the saliva of 3 volunteers that used the mouthwash was extracted. Then, the DNA was amplified using primer pairs specific for bacterial and fungal DNA. Twelve further volunteers were offered to use the mouthwash and a questionnaire was submitted to them to assess the possible beneficial effects of mouthwash on halitosis and other oral disturbances.The bacteria and fungi cultured in media containing the mouthwash showed a growth reduction ranging from 20 to 80%. The PCR amplification of fungal and bacterial DNA extracted from volunteers that used the mouthwash showed a reduction of both bacteria and fungi. Volunteers that used the mouthwash reported a tendency towards a reduction of halitosis, gingival and mouth inflammation, and dry mouth.The use of a mouthwash containing α-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol is not aggressive against oral mucosa; it is safe and effective to reduce the bacterial and fungal load due to the continuous use of face masks.

Cutaneous aging is one of the major noticeable menopausal complications that most women want to fight in their quest for an eternally youthful skin appearance. It may contribute to some maladies that occur in aging which, despite not being life-threatening, affect the well-being, psychological state and quality of life of aged women. Skin aging is mainly affected by three factors: chronological aging, decreased levels of estrogen after menopause, and environmental factors. Aged skin is characterized by a decrease in collagen content and skin thickness which result in dry, wrinkled skin that is easily bruised and takes a longer time to heal. Cytokines play a crucial role in the manifestation of these features of old skin. The pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits collagen synthesis and enhances collagen degradation by increasing the production of MMP-9. It also lowers the skin immunity and thus increases the risk of cutaneous infections in old age. Deranged levels of several interleukins and interferons also affect the aging process. The high level of CCN1 protein in aged skin gives dermal fibroblasts an 'age-associated secretory phenotype' that causes abnormal homeostasis of skin collagen and leads to the loss of the function and integrity of skin. Further research is required especially to establish the role of cytokines in the treatment of cutaneous aging.

Various studies suggest that increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines play a key role in the declining ovarian function and the resulting complications associated with menopause. In this review article, the authors outline the role of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cardiovascular disease during menopause.

Sentinel node biopsy has been used to determine the presence of nodal metastases in cutaneous melanoma and is being investigated as a tool in patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas. Two patients at Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit with oral mucosa malignant melanoma underwent sentinel node biopsy, using a combination of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy to identify lymphatic drainage, the preoperative use of blue dye injection (in one case) and localisation of radioactive nodes with a hand-held gamma probe (in both cases). The first patient presented with a well lateralised anterior tongue melanoma and was found to have “sentinel” nodes on both sides of the neck, all of which were clear of tumour; the second patient had diffuse melanosis of the palate with an invasive component on the left side and was found to have a sentinel node on the right side containing melanin. Our experience suggests that sentinel node biopsy is technically possible for oral melanoma and may be used to investigate the neck of patients with oral melanoma.

The ultimate goal in the treatment of facial palsy is the restoration of voluntary and spontaneous movement to the paralyzed side of the face, symmetrical to the normal side. We report our experience treating 40 patients with established facial palsy over a 4-year period. All patients underwent either temporalis transfer or free latissimus dorsi transfer as a single stage to improve lower facial symmetry. We believe that both techniques reliably achieve an increase of movement in facial reanimation after oncological, traumatic, or congenital facial palsy.

Udgivelsesdato: 2004-Jul BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine the reliability and reproducibility of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) as a staging tool in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) for T1/2 clinically N0 patients by means of a standardized technique. METHODS: Between June 1998 and June 2002, 227 SNB procedures have been performed in HNSCC cases at six centers. One hundred thirty-four T1/2 tumors of the oral cavity/oropharynx in clinically N0 patients were investigated with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (LSG), intraoperative use of blue dye/gamma probe, and pathological evaluation with step serial sectioning and immunohistochemistry, with a follow-up of at least 12 months. In 79 cases SNB alone was used to stage the neck carcinoma, and in 55 cases SNB was used in combination with an elective neck dissection (END). RESULTS: In 125/134 cases (93%) a sentinel node was identified. Of 59 positive nodes, 57 were identified with the intraoperative gamma probe and 44 with blue dye. Upstaging of disease occurred in 42/125 cases (34%): with hematoxylin-eosin in 32/125 (26%) and with additional pathological staging in 10/93 (11%). The sensitivity of the technique with a mean follow-up of 24 months was 42/45 (93%). The identification of SNB for floor of mouth (FOM) tumors was 37/43 (86%), compared with 88/91 (97%) for other tumors. The sensitivity for FOM tumors was 12/15 (80%), compared with 30/30 (100%) for other tumor groups. CONCLUSION: SNB can be successfully applied to early T1/2 tumors of the oral cavity/oropharynx in a standardized fashion by centers worldwide. For the majority of these tumors the SNB technique can be used alone as a staging tool.

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) to direct sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in the identification of occult metastases in the clinically N0 neck for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). 57 clinically N0 neck sides in 48 patients were assessed using the triple diagnostic approach of pre-operative LSG, intra-operative use of a gamma probe and blue dye. SNB was performed after radiocolloid and blue dye injection. Pre-operative LSG and the intra-operative use of a gamma probe identified radioactive sentinel nodes, and visualization of blue stained lymphatics identified blue sentinel nodes. 104 sentinel nodes were harvested from 43 patients. The identification rate was 90% (43 of 48). Of the 104 nodes harvested, 17 of 62 (27%) nodes identified as both radioactive and blue were positive for occult metastases compared with 5 of 42 (12%) nodes identified as hot or blue only (p

Background Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is a new technique in staging the clinically N0 neck. On June 25 and 26, 2001, the First International Conference on Sentinel Node Biopsy in Mucosal Head and Neck Cancer took place in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Background & Aims SCN5A encodes the α-subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.5. Many patients with cardiac arrhythmias caused by mutations in SCN5A also have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated whether patients with IBS have SCN5A variants that affect the function of NaV1.5. Methods We performed genotype analysis of SCN5A in 584 persons with IBS and 1380 without IBS (controls). Mutant forms of SCN5A were expressed in human embryonic kidney-293 cells, and functions were assessed by voltage clamp analysis. A genome-wide association study was analyzed for an association signal for the SCN5A gene, and replicated in 1745 patients in 4 independent cohorts of IBS patients and controls. Results Missense mutations were found in SCN5A in 13 of 584 patients (2.2%, probands). Diarrhea-predominant IBS was the most prevalent form of IBS in the overall study population (25%). However, a greater percentage of individuals with SCN5A mutations had constipation-predominant IBS (31%) than diarrhea-predominant IBS (10%; P

Two hundreds mild to moderate hypertensive patients (mean age 54 +/- 10, 115 males, 85 females) were randomised in a multicentre, double blind, two parallel groups trial in order to compare the efficacy of moxonidine (0.2 mg od) and rilmenidine (1 mg od), two selective I1 receptor agonists. The dosage had to be shifted after a four-week treatment period (moxonidine 0.4 mg od or rilmenidine 2 mg bid) if DBP > 90 mmHg. More than half of the patients had to be shifted to a double dose. The blood pressure was normalised (DBP < or = 90 mmHg) for 47% of the moxonidine patient's and 50% of the rilmenidine patients. The DBP decrease reached 7.3 mmHg in the moxonidine group and 8.0 mmHg in the rilmenidine group (P = 0.28). The SBP decrease was the same in the two groups (7.6 mmHg). Both drugs were well tolerated. The great affinity of moxonidine and rilmenidine for the I1 receptors and the weak affinity for the alpha 2 receptors were probably responsible of the small number of adverse events which are generally linked to the centrally acting antihypertensive drugs (asthenia, somnolence, oedema). Because moxonidine and rilmenidine are often to be prescribed at double dose and are often associated with other antihypertensives, moxonidine whose dosage could be shifted without having to increase the number of daily intakes could enhance the patient's comfort and make the compliance easier.

BACKGROUND. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy originally was described as a means of identifying lymph node metastases in malignant melanoma and breast carcinoma. The use of Sl.N biopsy in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and clinically NO necks was investigated to determine whether the pathology of the SLN reflected that of the neck. METHODS. Patients undergoing elective neck dissections for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma accessible to injection were enrolled into our study. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed after blue dye and radiocolloid injection. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and the perioperative use of a gamma probe identified radioactive SLNs; visualization of blue stained lymphatics identified blue SLNs. A neck dissection completed the surgical procedure, and the pathology of the SLN was compared with that of the remaining neck dissection. RESULTS. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed on 40 cases with clinically NO necks. Twenty were pathologically clear of tumor and 20 contained subclinical metastases. SLNs were found in 17 necks with pathologic disease and contained metastases in 16. The sentinel lymph node was the only lymph node containing tumor in 12 of 16. CONCLUSIONS. The SLN, in head and neck carcinomas accessible to injection without anesthesia, is an accurate reflector of the status of the regional lymph nodes, when found in patients with early tumors. Sentinel lymph nodes may be found in clinically unpredictable sites, and SLN biopsy may aid in identifying the clinically NO patient with early lymph node disease. If SLNs cannot be located in the neck, an elective lymph node dissection should be considered.

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has emerged as an accurate means of identifying nodal disease in patients with malignant melanoma. Superselection of pathological nodes has allowed improved pathological staging of disease. The aim of this study was to look at the impact of immunohistochemistry on pathological staging of sentinel nodes. The first 100 patients undergoing SNB for primary cutaneous malignant melanoma were included in this study. Sentinel node harvesting was performed with the aid of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and the intraoperative use of both a gamma probe and blue dye. If the sentinel nodes contained tumour on either routine pathology or immunohistochemistry, patients were offered a therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND). Patients underwent no other treatment to the primary lymph node basin if the sentinel node was free of metastases. In all, 95 patients had at least one node identified, and 25 were staged SNB positive and offered subsequent TLND. We found that 76% (19/25) of SNB positive patients were staged positive on routine pathology, and 24% (6/25) were staged with immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemistry upstaged disease in 8% of patients (6/76). In all, 21 of the patients staged positive with SNB underwent TLND; 50% (8/16) of the patients staged sentinel node positive with routine pathology showed no further disease in the TLND, compared with 100% (5/5) of the patients staged sentinel node positive with immunohistochemistry only (P

BACKGROUND: Although modified radical neck dissection type III preserves the spinal accessory nerve, the internal jugular vein, and the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the authors believe there is a significant morbidity to retained structures after neck dissection. Although the effects on accessory nerve function and internal jugular vein patency have been documented, there is little information about sternocleidomastoid morphology and function following modified dissection. METHODS: Using a SonoSite ultrasound machine, the authors assessed sternocleidomastoid muscle morphology, at rest and during contraction, in a cohort of 45 patients who underwent modified radical neck dissection type III with no radiotherapy. All patients had head and neck cancers and received unilateral neck dissection as part of their primary treatment. Static and dynamic measurements were performed at three different levels of the muscle, with the neck in the neutral position. The contralateral neck of the same patient was used as a control. Local muscle asymmetry patterns were calculated using the Absolute Asymmetry Index. RESULTS: Significant sternocleidomastoid atrophy was noted on the side of modified radical neck dissection type III (p < 0.05). The atrophy was particularly marked in the caudal and middle portions of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and was likely related to damage to the segmental blood supply in the caudal and middle portions of the muscle as well as injury to the innervation. CONCLUSION: Despite evidence of significant atrophy, the muscle still underwent morphological changes during contraction that were comparable to those on the normal control side.

– The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of biofeedback (BF) and of electrostimulation (SEF) of the perineal floor in male patients suffering from urinary incontinence. Eleven patients entered the study, five of them suffering from mixed urinary incontinence and six from pure stress incontinence. They were treated with six sittings of BF, SEF and domiciliary exercises. The results are promising. Additional monthly sittings and domiciliary SEF maintenance are advised.

– In this retrospective study, the Authors report their experience on the analysis of sensitivity and specificity of DRE, PSA and transrectal ultrasound, individually and in association, in the study of 118 patients with suspected prostate cancer. Results show that the association of these three techniques give a specificity of 96.6% but low sensitivity (53%).

Background: The management of the N0 neck in oral and oropharyngeal cancer is often determined by the risk of metastases related to features of the primary tumor. Where the risk of metastases is >20%, elective neck dissection (END) has been advocated. This study reviewed clinical staging, surgical staging, pathologic staging, and histopathologic parameters to determine the prediction of nodal metastases and micrometastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: A prospective series of 61 clinically neck node–negative patients undergoing surgical resection of a T1/2 intraoral or oropharyngeal invasive squamous cell carcinoma and surgical staging of the neck, with sentinel node biopsy (SNB) alone or SNB-assisted END, between June 1998 and March 2002 were included in this study. Results: Pathologic upstaging of the clinically N0 neck occurred in 27 (44%) of 61 patients. Routine pathology with hematoxylin and eosin upstaged disease in 22 of 27 patients (sensitivity of 81%). Five patients with micrometastasis were staged pN1mi after stepped serial sectioning and immunohistochemistry. Tumor thickness, a noncohesive invasive front, and perineural and bone invasion were all histological predictors for cervical metastases. Five patients with micrometastases were staged pN1mi. Conclusions: Both clinical staging and routine pathologic staging underestimate the presence of nodal metastases. Staging with either SNB alone or SNB-assisted END shows promise in the management of the N0 neck by identifying patients with micrometastases (pN1mi).

The Authors report their experience on 24 patients with prostatodynia. The Adynamic alterations, which occur in most cases, show the usefulness of cystomanometry and pressure-flow study for providing a better nosological picture and therapeutic management.

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap has achieved popularity recently for free-flap reconstruction of intraoral defects following excision of squamous cell carcinoma. We have assessed the feasibility of the ALT flap as a free flap for oral lining and the potential use of the thinned ALT flap in a one-stage reconstruction. We used the ALT flap to reconstruct the oral cavity in 18 consecutive patients between December 2000 and December 2001 following intraoral resection of squamous cell carcinoma. Twelve patients underwent reconstruction using a standard ALT flap, four patients received a thinned ALT flap in a one-stage procedure, one patient received a standard ALT flap in combination with a fibula flap and one patient received a combination of a standard ALT flap and vascularised iliac bone. There were no complications in any of the 14 cases in which a standard ALT flap was used. Two of these flaps were thinned subsequently as secondary procedures. Of the four thinned ALT flaps, one flap failed completely and two flaps experienced partial necrosis. In all but one case the donor site was closed directly with minimal donor-site morbidity. The ALT flap is a versatile flap that can be used in combination with other flaps for more complex defects with minimal donor-site morbidity and is a useful alternative in the armamentarium of the head and neck surgeon. Thinning of the flap is best performed as a secondary procedure, should it be required.

A procedure is proposed for the conceptual design phase of wind turbine for electrical distributed generation systems. Fixed speed wind turbine and asynchronous generation are been chosen as case study, and only stationary aspects are analysed for energy production evaluation. The procedure by the coordination between turbine and site wind characteristics can minimize following work on the detailed design process.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible role of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) alone to upstage the clinically N0 neck in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Head and neck referral center. PATIENTS: Patients with primary untreated oral and/or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma accessible to injection and with clinically N0 necks were enrolled in the study. INTERVENTION: An SNB was performed after radiocolloid and blue dye injection. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and the perioperative use of a gamma probe identified radioactive sentinel nodes and visualization of blue-stained lymphatics identified blue sentinel nodes. If the sentinel node was found negative, there was no further treatment to the neck. If the sentinel node tested positive, a therapeutic neck dissection was performed. All patients underwent regular follow-up at the outpatient clinic to identify possible recurrence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Upstaging of the clinically N0 neck by SNB and development of subsequent disease in SNB-negative necks. RESULTS: An SNB was performed on 57 clinically N0 necks in 48 patients. Sentinel nodes were harvested in 43 (90%) of 48 patients. Fifteen (35%) of 43 patients were upstaged by SNB and 28 (65%) of 43 were staged SNB negative. There was a mean follow-up of 18 months. One patient developed subsequent disease after having been staged negative with SNB. The overall sensitivity of the procedure using the full pathologic protocol was 94% (15/16). CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node biopsy can be used to upstage the N0 neck in patients with early subclinical nodal disease. However, before it becomes the standard of care in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, longer follow-up observational trials are needed.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy originally was described as a means of identifying lymph node metastases in malignant melanoma and breast carcinoma. The use of SLN biopsy in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and clinically N0 necks was investigated to determine whether the pathology of the SLN reflected that of the neck.Patients undergoing elective neck dissections for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma accessible to injection were enrolled into our study. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed after blue dye and radiocolloid injection. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and the perioperative use of a gamma probe identified radioactive SLNs; visualization of blue stained lymphatics identified blue SLNs. A neck dissection completed the surgical procedure, and the pathology of the SLN was compared with that of the remaining neck dissection.Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed on 40 cases with clinically N0 necks. Twenty were pathologically clear of tumor and 20 contained subclinical metastases. SLNs were found in 17 necks with pathologic disease and contained metastases in 16. The sentinel lymph node was the only lymph node containing tumor in 12 of 16.The SLN, in head and neck carcinomas accessible to injection without anesthesia, is an accurate reflector of the status of the regional lymph nodes, when found in patients with early tumors. Sentinel lymph nodes may be found in clinically unpredictable sites, and SLN biopsy may aid in identifying the clinically N0 patient with early lymph node disease. If SLNs cannot be located in the neck, an elective lymph node dissection should be considered.

Intraneural lipofibroma of the median nerve is rare. We present three cases of this condition and discuss the surgical management. Open biopsy and carpal tunnel release are usually required.

Our aim was to study the lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) levels in various pathological states.This investigation was prospective and included a healthy control group.This study was carried out in two internal medicine and angiology services in teaching hospitals.505 patients were included with various diseases: 66 acute infections, 9 HIV infections, 25 cancers, 86 diabetes, 36 systemic diseases, 94 atheromatous vascular disease, 27 arterial hypertensions. A control group was composed of 21 healthy subjects.There was no therapeutic intervention but cardiovascular treatments were recorded.Serum Lp(a), total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, calculated LDL-cholesterol, apolipoproteins A-I and B were measured together with inflammatory parameters, serum creatinine, proteinuria, serum aminotransferase activity.There was no difference in Lp(a) levels between controls and each patient group. However, a correlation was found in systemic diseases between Lp(a) and C reactive protein (r = 0.371, p = 0.026) or serum albumin concentration (r = 0.453, p = 0.006). In hypertension, Lp(a) correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.420, p = 0.03). In the whole patient population, Lp(a) was correlated with cholesterol (r = 0.156, p = 0.0001), apolipoprotein B (r = 0.215, p = 0.0001), age (r = 0.108, p = 0.015), arterial events (r = 0.174, p = 0.0001) and platelet anti-aggregant drugs (r = 0.169, p = 0.0001).Lp(a), was related to atheromatous events and in systemic diseases to inflammation, suggesting that Lp(a) might vary in some patients in a manner similar to acute phase proteins.

On the basis of our experience from 1981 to 1989, advantages of staplers in digestive surgery are reported. Complications such as bleeding and stenosis are not clinically important, however, in most cases, they can be avoided if the instruments are properly used.

– Ultrasound was used to measure the detrusor thickness in 20 women with urodynamically-proved detrusorial instability. In 95% of the cases, detrusor thickness is greater than or equal to 5 mm. Comparison with a control group confirms the reliability of these results.

Background: Nutritional support is a crucial and challenging part of treatment for patients with oral cancer. The aim of this audit was to assess the need for planned pretreatment percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement in this group of patients and to assess diet consistency as a predictor of poor outcomes. Method: This was a retrospective study of 77 consecutive patients with stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated by radical surgery and post-operative radiotherapy between January 1999 and December 2001. Information was taken from dietitians’ records. Patients were divided into two groups according to survival: group 1 (40 patients) comprised nonsurvivors and group 2 (37 patients), survivors. All patients were enterally fed post-operatively. After approximately 10 days, swallowing was assessed and, if deemed competent, patients progressed to a fluid diet. Tube feeding was gradually reduced and then stopped when oral nutrition was sufficient to maintain weight. Patients progressed to soft diet as they were able. During radiotherapy, liquid diet or tube feeding was instigated as required. Results: In group 1, 65% required tube feeding for less than 30 days (mean 17 days), 20% for 31–100 days (mean 51 days) and 15% for over 100 days (mean 231 days). The overall mean length of tube feeding was 97 days. Thirty-eight per cent of nonsurvivors developed recurrence and went on to subsequent operations necessitating further tube feeding for an average of 129 days. In group 2, 70% were tube fed for less than 30 days (mean 11 days), 14% for between 31–100 days (mean 43 days), and 17% for more than 100 days. The overall mean length of tube feeding was 72 days. The dietary consistency of nonsurvivors was worse than survivors throughout treatment. At first presentation, only 37% of nonsurvivors managed a normal diet, 8% managed a near normal diet and 3% required tube feeding, whereas 48% of survivors managed a normal diet and 16% a near normal diet. At 1 year, there was a significant difference between the two groups’ diets. No patients in group 1 managed a normal or near normal diet, whilst 62% required tube feeding. In group 2, 12 and 32% managed a normal and near normal diet, respectively and only 9% required or wished to remain on tube feeding to supplement their diet. Five per cent of patients in this group remained nil by mouth due to fistula. Conclusion: Deciding whether a patient has a naso-gastric tube, PEG or radiologically inserted gastrostomy tube placed can be a difficult decision. However, a gastrostomy should be considered prior to treatment in patients whose diet is of poor consistency at presentation or who have an inadequate oral intake to maintain or increase weight and in those with a fistula, expected slow recovery of swallowing function, for example, pharyngeal tumour or undergoing brachytherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Conservative management of distal gastro-intestinal bleeding is successful in most cases; 10% of patients hospitalised with this diagnosis will however undergo emergency surgery. Preoperative localisation of the bleeding site allows to perform a limited, segmental colectomy even in emergency. This has been shown to be associated with a lower operative mortality and morbidity when compared with subtotal colectomy. In this retrospective study we reviewed the notes of 134 patients admitted with lower gastro-intestinal bleeding. 22 of these required more than 4 units of blood transfusion and 12 underwent emergency surgery. Preoperative localisation of the source of bleeding was possible in 7 cases (58%); the remaining 5 underwent a subtotal colectomy. The operative mortality was 8%. The Authors emphasise the importance of an aggressive diagnostic work up in all cases of massive bleeding (i.e. more than 4 units of blood requirement in the first 24 hours following hospitalisation) in order to minimise the number of emergency subtotal colectomy.

Marine pollution has been increasing as a consequence of human activities. In the near future will start the extraction of minerals from ocean depths, Deep Sea Mining (DSM). However, the impacts at the ecosystem level are still unknown. It is necessary to know the effects to contribute to the creation of rules, laws and mining codes that protect and conserve ecosystems and biodiversity. Sea urchin and mussels represents one of the most important seafood product, but also, a sentinel organism for ecotoxicological studies to assess aquatic environments quality. They are directly exposed to anthropogenic contaminants in their habitat. The aim of this study is to understand the influences of two trace element (which will probably be released into the water column by DSM) at three different environmentally realistic concentrations in Arbacia lixula and Mytilus galloprovincialis: Cu (0.6μg/l; 339.15 μg/l; 1709 μg/l), and Pb (1.0 μg/l; 619.16 μg/l; 2291 μg/l). We observed the short-term (3 and 7 days) effects at biochemical level (total cells count, cell mortality, total protein concentration and lysosomal membrane stability) and their bioaccumulation in different tissues. In A. lixula the bioaccumulation was studied in gonads while in M. galloprovincialis in gills and mantle. This study demonstrates the importance of biomonitoring contaminants and understanding how biomarkers relate to each other on exposure to particular contaminants in different species due to their wide application in environmental management. Few studies have used multiple biomarkers in more than a single species to learn about the variability of the sub-lethal effects of a contaminant

L'opzione, il contratto preliminare e il contratto imposto rientrano tra le principali figure che compongono i c.d. rapporti giuridici preparatori. Il lavoro ne analizza gli elementi essenziali in punto di struttura e funzione, evidenziando il diverso grado di compressione dell'autonomia privata (riferita al perfezionamento di un successivo contratto) cui esse mettono capo