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M Grosso

Publications and source records attributed to M Grosso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Health risk analysis of PCDD/F emissions from MSW incineration: comparison of probabilistic and deterministic approaches.

Incremental lifetime health risks due to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) emitted from municipal waste incineration (MSWI) facilities were evaluated for resident population in the area of the plant. Risk assessment was performed through a multipathway combined probabilistic/deterministic approach for analyzing the effects of uncertainty and intrinsic variability of the main PCDD/F emission related parameters on final predicted values. Exposure through direct inhalation of contaminated air, soil ingestion, soil dermal contact and diet were considered, with the propagation of the variability of input parameters throughout the evaluation performed with Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The application to a case study representative of two different technological scenarios (modern facilities equipped with BAT - Best Available Technology - and older incinerators) in a location site typical of Northern Italy situation results in median values of the maximum individual excess risk on the order of 10(-9) and 10(-7) for most recent and older plant configurations, respectively. Corresponding ratios for the 90th and 10th percentile values are around 7 and 9. Individual risk estimates derived for the same scenarios from conventional deterministic approaches, where large conservative assumptions are normally adopted for compensating the lack of knowledge about uncertainty, are essentially comparable with maximum values resulting from the probabilistic approach, thus leading to situations with extreme and very low probabilities of occurrence. PCDD/F health risks from MSWI emissions might thus result largely overestimated if real emission characteristics are not properly considered in the assessment procedure. Sensitivity analysis for identifying the contribution of different input parameters on final predicted risk variance indicates, for the area considered in the simulation, a prevailing influence of PCDD/F stack concentration, with exposures arising from soil deposition phenomena substantially negligible: this latter result further points out the requirements for a very careful identification of base input data values for PCDD/F stack concentrations, at least for those situations where plants are located nearby urban areas.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

[Multiple primitive lipoma of the transverse mesocolon: a rare disease].

The Authors describe a case of multiple lipomatosis of the mesocolon and, after a careful review of the literature, they examine particular findings and discuss diagnostic difficulties, anatomopathological features and treatment. Intraabdominal lipoma is very rare and presents difficulties in diagnosis, both for aspecific symptoms and for the unusual site which does not allow early identification. As it is a tumor which arises from primitive and totipotent mesenchymal cells, radical surgery is the only therapeutic option. The correct diagnosis depends on histological testing which can differentiate the lesion from other mesenchymal tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Alternative strategies for energy recovery from municipal solid waste Part B: Emission and cost estimates.

This two-part paper assesses four strategies for energy recovery from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) by dedicated Waste-To-Energy (WTE) plants. In strategy 1, the residue of Material Recovery (MR) is fed directly to a grate combustor, while in strategy 2 the grate combustor comes downstream of light mechanical treatment. In strategies 3 and 4, the MR residue is converted into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), in a fluidized cumbuster bed. The results of Part A, devoted to mass and energy balances, clearly show that pre-treating the MR residue in order to increase the heating value of the feedstock fed to the WTE plant has marginal effects on the energy efficiency of the WTE plant. When considering the efficiency of the whole strategy of waste management, the energy balances show that the more thorough the pre-treatment, the smaller the amount of energy recovered per unit of MR residue. Starting from the heat/mass balances illustrated in Part A, Part B examines the environmental impacts and economics of the various strategies by means of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Results show that treating the MR residues ahead of the WTE plant does not provide environmental or economic benefits. RDF production worsens almost all impact indicators because it reduces net electricity production and thus the displacement of power plant emissions; it also increases costs, because the benefits of improving the quality of the material fed to the WTE plant do not compensate the cost of such improvement.

Bioelectric Energy Sources↗
PubMed2005

Alternative strategies for energy recovery from municipal solid waste Part A: Mass and energy balances.

This two-part paper assesses four strategies for energy recovery from municipal solid waste (MSW) by dedicated waste-to-energy (WTE) plants generating electricity through a steam cycle. The feedstock is the residue after materials recovery (MR), assumed to be 35% by weight of the collected MSW. In strategy 1, the MR residue is fed directly to a grate combustor. In strategy 2, the MR residue is first subjected to light mechanical treatment. In strategies 3 and 4, the MR residue is converted into RDF, which is combusted in a fluidized bed combustor. To examine the relevance of scale, we considered a small waste management system (WMS) serving 200,000 people and a large WMS serving 1,200,000 people. A variation of strategy 1 shows the potential of cogeneration with district heating. The assessment is carried out by a Life Cycle Analysis where the electricity generated by the WTE plant displaces electricity generated by fossil fuel-fired steam plants. Part A focuses on mass and energy balances, while Part B focuses on emissions and costs. Results show that treating the MR residue ahead of the WTE plant reduces energy recovery. The largest energy savings are achieved by combusting the MR residue "as is" in large scale plants; with cogeneration, primary energy savings can reach 2.5% of total societal energy use.

Bioelectric Energy Sources↗
PubMed2005

Short-term ursodeoxycholic acid treatment improves gallbladder bile turnover in gallstone patients: a randomized trial.

UNLABELLED: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) prevents in vitro gallbladder (GB) muscle damage caused by acute cholecystitis and reduces risk of biliary pain and complications in gallstone (GS) patients. These effects could be partially explained by the improved GB bile turnover. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of short-term UDCA treatment on GB motility and bile turnover. METHODS: Ultrasonographic (US) assessment of GB volumes was performed in 16 GS patients, in the postprandial phase, for 90 min with a time sampling of 1 min, before and after 30 days of UDCA (10 mg kg(-1) die(-1)) or placebo, randomly assigned. US data were analysed with statistical tools and with computer fluido-dynamic (CFD) software Fluent(TM) to simulate GB bile flow. RESULTS: After therapy, fasting volume (FV) increased from 21.6 +/- 9 to 28.2 +/- 12 mL (p < 0.001) while the ejection fraction (EF) remained unchanged (44.5 +/- 17% vs 45.1 +/- 20%; p: ns). Volumes before and after treatment were poorly correlated (0.02 < r < 0.35), unlike those in placebo patients (r > 0.6). The average GB volume was increased in 7 out of 10 patients following UDCA (range 7-67%). CFD analysis supports the finding of improved bile flow after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike results of conventional US parameters of GB motility, CFD analysis shows that UDCA improves GB bile turnover in GS patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Diagnostic and therapeutic implications in two cases of pancreatic cystic tumours: mucinous and serous].

Cystic tumours of the pancreas include a pathologically heterogeneous and rare group of tumours, which however have many common clinical features. They represent about 10% of pancreatic cystic lesions and 1% of all forms of neoplasms, thus having a certain relevance in organ surgery. So far two distinct categories of cystic tumours have been identified, the basically benign serous form and the potentially malign mucinous form, which may sometimes show malignant features as early as the diagnostic stage. As neoplasms are very difficult to interpret before operation, it is essential that diagnosis is as accurate as possible in order to streamline surgery, which will have to be carried out after histological tests have been performed on an adequate number of tumour sections. Basing on these two cases of cystic tumours of the pancreas and on current literature, the Authors discuss the effectiveness of imaging techniques, such as contrast echography, dosage of specific tumour markers and histological tests backed up by immunohistochemistry in identifying these neoplasms, in order to study this rare but interesting pathology more accurately.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Staging and therapy monitoring of multiple myeloma by 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy: a five year single center experience.

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the diagnostic value of 99mTc-sestamibi (MIBI) in the detection of bone marrow involvement in patients suffering from multiple myeloma (MM) and its possible role in the follow-up. Between 1998 and 2003, 68 patients with MM and 42 pts with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) were consecutively enrolled in this study. 51/68 MM patients had active disease (AD), 11/62 were in complete remission (CR) and 6/68 in partial remission (PR) after chemotherapy. 18 patients with MM repeated a 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphic study at least 2 months after high-dose chemotherapy. All the scans were scored semi quantitatively according to extension and intensity of tracer uptake. All MGUS pts had a negative 99mTc-MIBI. As far as the MM pts are concerned, 54/68 (49%) pts (48 with AD, 5 with PR and 1 with CR) had a positive 99mTc-MIBI scan, while the 99mTc-MIBI scan was negative in 14/68 pts (10 with CR, 1 with PR and 3 with AD). The overall sensitivity of the 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy was 92%; specificity was 96%. In the follow up of the pts treated with chemotherapy 99mTc-MIBI closely paralleled the activity of myeloma bone disease. In conclusion, these results indicate that 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy closely reflects myeloma disease activity in the bone marrow, and that a negative 99mTc-MIBI scan in patients with suspected MM clearly, though not absolutely, indicates absence of disease or clinical remission. The results of this study suggest a clear diagnostic value of 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy in patients with MM and its potential role during the follow-up for the monitoring of MM bone disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Doppler ultrasonographic grading of hepatic vascular malformations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia -- results of extensive screening.

AIMS: In previous studies, the prevalence of hepatic vascular malformations (VMs) in a large Italian family with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) was examined by Doppler ultrasonography (US) as screening technique, and the relevant Doppler US findings were described and classified. Thereafter, Doppler US has been routinely used to screen HHT families for liver involvement. Hepatic VMs were evaluated and classified on the basis of Doppler US findings. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-six subjects belonging to 64 pedigrees were checked for the presence of signs of HHT. All of them underwent abdominal Doppler US screening for hepatic VMs. Vascular abnormalities were classified as minimal if the hepatic artery was dilated in extrahepatic tract only and measured > 6 mm; as moderate if the hepatic artery was dilated in both intra and extrahepatic tract; and as severe if complex changes of the arterial hepatic branches were associated with hepatic and/or portal vein dilatation. Furthermore, Doppler parameters, both qualitative (flow direction, turbulence) and quantitative (peak flow velocity and resistivity index in hepatic artery, mean velocity in portal vein, diastolic peak flow velocity in hepatic veins), were entered into our VM classification. RESULTS: HHT was found in 222 subjects, with hepatic VMs detected by Doppler US in 92 (41.4 %) (24 males, 68 females, mean age 52.2). Hepatic VMs were minimal in 11 subjects, moderate in 70, and severe in 11. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our proposed grading, hepatic VMs can be easily classified in subjects with HHT by Doppler US. Depending on the degree of hepatic vascular derangement, appropriate programs for follow up and/or therapy can be designed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Prediction and observation of sustained oscillations in a sheared liquid crystalline polymer.

Experimental observations of sustained oscillations of both shear stress and first normal stress differences are reported in flowing liquid crystalline polymers in a limited range of shear rates. The results can be described by considering the response of a rigid-rod model. Depending on the initial conditions, the frequency spectrum of the stress signal contains either one or two characteristic frequencies. This can be explained by the occurrence of either pure "wagging" or the coexistence of wagging and "log-rolling" behavior of the director.

Cresols↗
PubMed2003

Follow-up of varicocele treated with percutaneous retrograde sclerotherapy: technical, clinical and seminal aspects.

Varicocele is a common cause of male infertility; it can be treated by percutaneous retrograde embolization of the internal spermatic vein in order to improve sperm parameters and male fertility. The aim of this study was to verify the improvement of semen parameters after varicocele retrograde sclerotherapy. We evaluated 223 patients with left (206) or bilateral (17) varicocele (mean age +/- SD, 27.3 +/- 4.7 yr, range 18-37) by clinical, Doppler and seminal examinations; all the patients underwent phlebography, using 5F Cobra catheter from the right femoral vein access to the internal spermatic vein and varicocele sclerosing with Hydroxy-polyaethoxydodecanol. Doppler and seminal examinations 6 months after sclerotherapy were requested for the follow-up. Sixty-seven patients with left or bilateral varicocele who did not undergo sclerotherapy were studied as controls. Six months after sclerotherapy, a complete resolution of left varicocele was present in 172 patients (77.1%), while a partial improvement was obtained in 34 patients (15.3%). In these 206 patients seminal examination showed a significant improvement of sperm concentration (mean +/- SEM, 52.1 +/- 4.1 vs 44.2 +/- 3.6 million/ml, p = 0.002) and progressive motility (40.5 +/- 2.2 vs 33.3 +/- 2.0%, p = 0.0001), but not of normal sperm morphology (38.9 +/- 2.3 vs 37.4 +/- 2.1%, ns). In the control group no significant variations of seminal parameters were observed 6 months after the basal examination. In conclusion, varicocele retrograde sclerotherapy is a well-tolerated technique with a low cost-benefit ratio, able to improve semen parameters.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Distinctive expression of STAT3 in papillary thyroid carcinomas and a subset of follicular adenomas.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), HGF receptor (c-met) and the interleukin 6 (IL-6) are expressed in thyroid nodules. In extra-thyroidal tissues, the HGF/c-met and IL-6/IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) systems activate STAT3, a member of the signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) family. To evaluate whether either system utilizes STAT3 in thyroid nodules, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of HGF, c-met, IL-6, IL-6R, STAT3 in 6 normal thyroids and in 68 thyroid nodules. STAT3 expression was observed in 12/12 (100%) papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) but in none of the follicular tumors. Among benign thyroid nodules, only 2/10 (20%) follicular adenomas (FA) were STAT3+. All these 14 STAT3+ cases expressed both HGF and c-met, but only 5 PTC co-expressed IL-6 and IL-6R and the 2 FA were IL-6+ but IL-6R-. The remaining 8 FA were all HGF/c-met-, but IL-6+; of these 8, only 2 were also IL-6R+. In conclusion, in thyroid nodules STAT3 is expressed only in PTC and a number of FA. Since these cases are consistently HGF+/c-met+ and only one-third of them co-express IL-6/IL-6R, STAT3 expression correlates with the HGF/c-met expression, not with the IL-6/IL-6R expression. The 100% rate of expression of the HGF/c-met/STAT3 signaling in PTC could be relevant for the establishment of the papillary phenotype. Because of the communeness of a HGF/c-met/STAT3 pattern between all PTC and a subset of FA, we speculate that a fraction of FA may progress to PTC.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2003

Intra-arterial hepatic chemotherapy: management of liver tumors by percutaneous port-a-cath positioning.

In the past, intrahepatic arterial locoregional chemotherapy was performed by surgical approach via gastroduodenal artery; early use of percutaneously placed arterial port was complicated by clotting and bleeding in 50% of pts. More recently, permanent catheters were positioned percutaneously in GDA by Japanese group and fixed to the artery by means of bucrylate in order to reduce dislocation. We present the technique and the preliminary results of percutaneous implantation of intraarterial catheters connected to a subcutaneous infusion reservoir for prolonged regional chemotherapy of hepatic tumors. Two hundred patients underwent to percutaneous arterial port implant, for loco-regional chemotherapy for liver primary or metastatic tumors. Catheter dislodgments were observed in 14,5%, but in 90% the catheters could be reinserted. No case of catheter related mortality was registered. Percutaneous positioning of arterial port is a safe and effective technique to deliver loco-regional treatment for hepatic tumors. Complication rates are similar to the surgical series and to other percutaneous interventional radiological reports. This percutaneous approach in the hands of a skilled team allows intra-arterial infusion in a wide percentage of pts, improving the accuracy of clinical trials by a faster and optimal balanced comparison between systemic and arterial arm.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2002

Hep Par 1 in gastric and bowel carcinomas: an immunohistochemical study.

AIMS: Hep Par 1 has been described as a specific marker of hepatocellular differentiation and its immunohistochemical use has been suggested as a helpful tool for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis. Most metastatic liver tumours come from the gastrointestinal tract and usually can be distinguished from HCC only through histology. We evaluated by immunohistochemistry the specificity of Hep Par 1, studying the presence of the epitope that reacts with Hep Par 1 in primary gastric and colorectal cancers. METHODS: A series of 39 cases of primary gastric and 18 cases of colorectal carcinoma were selected. Twenty-six of the 39 gastric carcinomas were of the intestinal type, six of the diffuse type, three of the mixed type and five had hepatoid differentiation. Two of the 18 colorectal adenocarcinomas were well differentiated, 14 moderately differentiated, one poorly differentiated and one was of the mucinous type. Five-microm sections were stained by immunohistochemistry using Hep Par 1 as primary antibody. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining was observed in 26 gastric carcinomas (69%) and nine large bowel carcinomas (50%). Fifteen of the 26 positive-stained gastric cancers were of intestinal type, four of diffuse type and two of mixed type cases. All of the five hepatoid type cases stained positively. Two of the nine positively stained colorectal cancers were well differentiated, six were moderately differentiated and one was a mucinous type adenocarcinoma. The staining pattern was cytoplasmic and granular as described in benign and malignant hepatocytes. The percentage of immunostained cells was graded as follows: 0 (no staining); 1 (>0-5%); 2 (> 5-50%); 3 (> 50%). Of the 26 positive gastric tumours, 13 showed a staining score of 1, eight scored 2, and five scored 3. Four of the nine positive intestinal carcinomas showed a staining score of 1, and five scored 2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Hep Par 1 is a highly sensitive marker of hepatocellular differentiation as demonstrated by the expression in gastric tumours with hepatoid histotype. However, the frequent reaction with neoplastic cells of gastric and bowel carcinomas shows a low grade of specificity of this antibody.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2002

Immunoexpression of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), HGF-receptor (c-met) and STAT3 on placental tissues from malformed fetuses.

To characterize the possible relationship between the expression of the HGF/HGF-R system with transcription factor STAT3, responsible for morphogenetic response of HGF stimulation, and the embryonic development alterations, we investigated, by immunohistochemistry, the expression of HGF, c-met and STAT3 in 9 placentas from malformed fetuses and 9 control placentas from non-malformed fetuses. The major and distinct patterns of expression characterizing the placentas from malformed fetuses were a higher percentage mean of stromal cells stained for HGF, c-met and STAT3 antibodies (60%, 66% and 54%, respectively on fibroblast cells and 44%, 57% and 42%, respectively on myofibroblast cells) and a lower percentage mean of cytotrophoblast cells stained for the same antibodies (2%, 2% and 1%, respectively), than in control placentas. In fact, in this latter group, the stromal fibroblast cells were stained in a percentage mean of 27%, 22% and 7%, respectively; the stromal myofibroblast cells in a percentage mean of 5%, 6% and 2%, respectively and the cytotrophoblast cells in a percentage mean of 25%, 34% and 18%, respectively. The expression of each antibody on stromal cells in both groups suggests an alternative role of the HGF/HGF-R system activating the via STAT3 transdution and operating on placental tissues, overall in organogenesis alteration conditions. This immunohistochemical approach could be used in the diagnostic practice of pathologists on chorionic villi biopsy when genetic alterations are absent and ultrasound aspects are doubtful for malformations.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed2001

Prediction of chaotic dynamics in sheared liquid crystalline polymers.

A rheological model for rodlike polymers in the nematic liquid-crystalline phase is analyzed to characterize irregular dynamical response under pure shear flows. The model is studied with a continuation approach, and a period doubling scenario is detected. Time series generated via simulation are studied with nonlinear analysis tools to prove the existence of chaotic regimes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Tc 99m-Sestamibi scintimammography in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast microcalcifications.

The capability of the mammography-scintimammography combination to distinguish between benign and malignant isolated clusters of breast microcalcifications is discussed. Scintimammography using Tc 99m-Sestamibi was performed in 97 women with an isolated cluster of microcalcifications on mammograms. Seventy-two women had final histopathologic diagnoses (24 cancer and 48 benign pathology). The other 25 patients had follow-up to 3 years. The results of mammography, scintimammography and mammography-scintimammography combination were divided into five groups, based on the suspicion of malignancy. The sensitivity, specificity, false negative fraction, false positive fraction, predictive positive value, predictive negative value and diagnostic accuracy were calculated varying the diagnostic threshold. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) statistical technique was employed to compare the diagnostic value of mammography to mammography-scintimammography combination. The area under the ROC curves was calculated by the Wilcoxon statistic without any hypothesis on data distribution. The detected difference between areas under the mammography ROC curve (area=0.854, standard error=0.049) and mammography-scintimammography ROC curve (area=0.897, standard error 0.033) was statistically significant (P>0.05, one tail). The area under a ROC curve represents the probability that a randomly chosen diseased or non-diseased subject could be correctly classified. From this point of view this paper demonstrates that, if properly used, scintimammography can add to mammography in the characterization of an isolated cluster of microcalcifications, even if it is not able to replace FNAB and core biopsy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Combined regional and systemic chemotherapy by a mini-invasive approach for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases.

From February 1996 to December 1998, 95 patients affected with colorectal liver metastases underwent the positioning of an intraarterial hepatic catheter by a transcutaneous subclavian access, under local anesthesia. All patients were evaluated for catheter implantation complications. Moreover, 61 patients of 95 treated at our center were retrospectively evaluated for results of chemotherapy performed with two different schedules of hepatic artery infusion (HAI) combined with systemic chemotherapy (SC). Eleven patients (group A) were treated with combined SC (5-fluorouracil continuous infusion) and HAI (floxuridine). A subsequent 50 patients underwent HAI (floxuridine, 4 cycles) followed, if a response or stable disease were observed, by combined SC and HAI (group B). Three cases of aneurysm of subclavian artery occurred, which were treated by the positioning of a radiologic arterial stent and the reimplantation of the catheter by a femoral access. Thrombosis of the hepatic artery was registered in four cases. We observed 10.5% occurrence of dislocation of the catheter, which was always moved again in the hepatic artery. In group A, with 45% clinical objective response rate and 10% stable disease rate, median survival time and median time to extrahepatic progression were 9 and 6 months, respectively. In group B, we observed 44% clinical objective responses and 26% stable disease after HAI. Patients without disease progression and therefore submitted to sequential SC and HAI had a median survival time of 21 months and a median time to extrahepatic progression of 16 months. The development of the mini-invasive technique of implantation of an arterial port can avoid laparotomy for HAI. Percutaneous implantation of an arterial port has a low rate of technical complications. HAI followed by combined systemic and regional chemotherapy has good results in terms of survival and time to extrahepatic progression.

Adult↗