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The impact of industrial accidents triggered by landslides in the Lombardy Alps (northern Italy) is not negligible, as demonstrated by the event of the refinery Ilsea (Valmadrera, LC), where an explosion caused by a rockfall caused a victim and two injuries in 1981. This work proposes a methodology for the assessment of societal and economic risk connected to industrial accidents triggered by rockfalls in the area of Brescia, northern Italy. The study area is located between Lake Iseo and Lake Garda, and includes lower Valcamonica, lower Valtrompia, and lower Valsabbia. The area has an extension of 1,508 km2 and includes 82 municipalities. 727,000 people live in this area, where valley bottoms are strongly urbanised, and densely populated. The expected frequency of occurrence of rockfalls in the area was calculated by combining the frequency of block detachment and the frequency of transit. The detachment frequency was estimated using intensity-frequency curves, obtained adapting and calibrating existing curves from the literature using historical events of the area (374 events in 20 years). Considering that detachment frequency depends on the size of the block, 7 different scenarios were analysed, each of them characterised by blocks with different volume, from 0.01 m3 to 10,000 m3. The transit frequency was calculated by means of the rockfall 3D model HY-STONE. The model simulates the propagation of three-dimensional trajectories of blocks on complex terrain morphologies described by a DTM. Simulations were performed using a 20 m x 20 m DTM, and considering as source areas all the cells steepest than 40° (323 km2). Ten blocks were launched from each source, with a stochastic approach that accounts for uncertainties about the modelling parameters. Energy restitution and rolling friction coefficients were assigned to different cells according to different lithology and land use, and calibrated using historical events. As a result of the model, kinetic energy of blocks impacting each industrial plant is obtained. The triggering of an accident caused by rockfall is assumed to occur when the modelled kinetic energy exceeds a critical threshold value. For each plant, the accident scenarios were defined based on existing External Emergency Plans. Both scenarios for fire and flash fire have been considered. The analysis shows the societal and economic risks due to domino effects of rockfalls on industrial plants are not negligible.

Background Since 2010 Veneto region (North-Eastern Italy) planned a special integrated surveillance of summer fevers to promptly identify cases of West Nile Fever (WNF), dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV). The objectives of this study were (i) To increase the detection rate of imported CHIKV and DENV cases in travellers from endemic areas and promptly identify potential autochthonous cases.(ii) To detect autochthonous cases of WNF, besides those of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND) that were already included in a national surveillance. Methods Human surveillance: a traveler who had returned within the previous 15 days from endemic countries, with fever >38°C, absence of leucocytosis (leukocyte count 38°C for

Background In Western Europe, about 50% of newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals are diagnosed at a late stage disease and enter in care late (i.e. with a CD4 count ≤350 μL/μL). The aim of the present study is to analyze the characteristics and the factors associated with being diagnosed late or at an advanced stage of disease among persons with a new HIV diagnosis in Italy, in the period 2010–2011. Methods We used individual data on new HIV diagnoses reported by the HIV surveillance system in 2010 and in 2011. Persons with CD4 ≤350 cells/μL or diagnosed with AIDS (regardless of the CD4 cell count) were defined as late presenters (LP); persons with CD4 ≤ 200 cells/μL or AIDS (regardless of the CD4 cell count) were defined as presenting with advanced HIV disease (AHD). Results Of the 7,300 new diagnoses reported in 2010–2011 by the included regions, 55.2% were LP; among these, 37.9% was diagnosed with AIDS. Persons presenting with AHD were 37.8%. The median age of LP was 40 years (IQR 33–48), significantly higher (p

The goal of this study was to describe and comment the experience of the Veneto Region in the bacterial invasive disease. Vaccina- tion coverage was 93% against pneumococcus and 95% against haemophilus influenzae type B. Regard to meningococcus C the coverage rate was 90.1% In children, 81% at 6 years of age and 78.2% at 15 years . The preliminary data of an active surveillance of invasive bacterial diseases show that the Streptoccoccus pneumoniae was the main agent involved and that its consequences were particularly serious in elderly subjects. With regard to Neisseria meningitidis, we observed a substantial reduction in the number of cases due to serogroup C and a concomitant rise in the percentage of cases due to serogroup B. The suspension of mandatory vaccination should be maintained , the monitoring of vaccination coverage and the active surveillance proved to be a very good assessment tools. The full article is free available on www.jpmh.org, Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 53, No 2 (2012)

A series of 14 eyes (11 patients) with choroidal metastases from breast cancer were reported. The lesions were classified into three grades according to the severity and extent of involvement. Eleven eyes (9 patients) were treated by radiotherapy with two opposed lateral fields using a 4 MeV linear accelerator. The contralateral eye received a prophylactic irradiation. An average dose of 42 Gy was delivered (range, 30-50). Results of radiotherapy were the following: 5 CR and 2 PR in grade II (9 eyes) and 2 PR in grade III (2 eyes). We conclude that radiotherapy is useful to control choroidal metastases of breast cancer. No contralateral metachronous involvement was found. Quality of life of responders showed a marked improvement. Radiation-induced injury was not seen.

Eighty-four consecutive, previously untreated patients with stage I, II A-B and IIIA Hodgkin's disease were treated with combined modality therapy including subtotal or total nodal irradiation, followed by three cycles of MOPP. MOPP was administered before radiotherapy in patients with systemic symptoms or with bulky disease. Seventy-six of 84 patients (90.5%) achieved complete remission, and 8 died from disease progression after a variable period of incomplete remission. Three of 76 (3.9%) relapsed, and 2 of them have been subsequently salvaged. Up to the present time, 70 patients are alive, without evidence of disease; 9 have died from Hodgkin's disease, 2 from acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia, and 3 from inter-current causes. No death occurred from acute toxicity due to chemotherapy. Actuarial overall survival is 82.3% and freedom from relapse is 81.8% after 48 months’ median observation (range: 12–111 months). No significant difference in survival and freedom from relapse has been observed with respect to age, sex, stage, presence or absence of unfavorable prognostic factors. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy and its use in a reduced number of cycles in early stage Hodgkin's disease are discussed.