The largest prehistoric mound in Europe is the Bronze-Age Hill of Udine (Italy) and legend linked its origin to Attila the Hun

Prehistoric monuments often constitute evident landmarks and sometimes, after falling into disuse, fascinated local people enough to stimulate speculations about their origin over time. According to legend, the Hill of Udine (NE Italy) was built by Attila the Hun's soldiers, but its origin (natural or anthropogenic) has been debated until now. Our research analyzed five new 40-m long stratigraphic cores, investigating for the first time the total thickness of the hill and compared the data with the available archaeological information. Moreover, we considered other hills and mounds in northern Italy and other European regions where folklore traditions relate their origin to Attila. The geoarchaeological and ethnographic data prove that the Hill of Udine is a Bronze Age anthropogenic mound erected between 1400 and 1150 BCE and that, later, folklore has transformed the ancestral memory of its origin into legend. By measuring 30 m in height and over 400,000 m³ in volume, the flat-topped hill is the largest prehistoric mound in Europe. This discovery reveals unprecedented skills in earth construction and confirms significant anthropogenic modifications of the environment during Bronze Age.

Early diagnosis of hearing loss: otoacoustic emissions evoked by distortion products and pure-tone audiometry: Preliminary findings

OBJECTIVE

Literary studies underline the effectiveness of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), which are not affected by the collaboration of the subject examined, in the early diagnosis of hearing loss. Aim of the study is to compare the objective technique of DPOAEs with respect to the pure-tone audiometry in early diagnosis of hearing loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical research was carried out on 852 workers. All subjects underwent pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry and distortion products.

RESULTS

The results show: a) a prevalence of subjects with impaired DPOAEs higher than the prevalence of subjects with impaired audiometries in the studied samples; and, after division by gender: b) a prevalence of subjects with impaired DPOAEs higher than the prevalence of subjects with impaired audiometries only in men; c) a prevalence of impaired DPOAEs and of impaired audiometries in men higher than in women.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the higher effectiveness of DPOAEs compared to pure-tone audiometry in making an early diagnosis of hearing loss.

Autologous fat grafting for scleroderma-induced digital ulcers. An effective technique in patients with systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Digital ulcers (DUs) occur in up to 50% of patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). DUs are painful, recurring and lead to functional disability. Management of DUs includes pharmacologic and local therapy, the healing process is slow and the ulcer can become infected or evolve to gangrene. Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is a technique used to promote tissues repair. We used AFG to treat DUs refractory to conventional treatment to enhance healing process.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We treated 9 SSc patients for a total of 15 ulcers. All 9 patients were treated with iv Iloprost. The purified fat tissue was injected at the border of larger ulcers or at the finger base of smaller DUs. The AFG was performed from 2 to 8 months since the ulcer onset.

RESULTS

Complete healing occured in 10 DUs and size reduction ≥50% in 2, within 8-12 weeks. In all but 2 patients the pain improved allowing a reduction of analgesics. In the majority of the cases AFG was able to hasten ulcer healing and to reduce pain and the need of pharmacological therapy. The lack of efficacy on healing and pain reduction was observed when the ulcers were long-lasting, located on legs and with concurrent atherosclerotic macroangiopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resective treatment for finger ulcers in patients affected by SSc is fraught with morbidity and long prolonged recovery. This study introduces a novel minimally invasive approach. The procedure is safe and effective, with short recovery time and local deficient vascularization improvement.

Postoperative complications after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy affect long-term outcome of patients with peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer: a two-center study of 101 patients

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is an effective but potentially morbid treatment for colorectal cancer peritoneal metastases. The impact of treatment-related morbidity on long-term survival has been reported in various malignancies, but it has never been assessed in this clinical setting.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of major postoperative complications on oncological outcomes after cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal peritoneal metastases.

DESIGN

Two prospective databases were reviewed. Major complications were defined as grade 3 to 5 according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. The extent of peritoneal involvement was scored by the use of the Peritoneal Cancer Index.

SETTINGS

This study was conducted in 2 high-volume peritoneal malignancy management centers.

PATIENTS

One hundred one consecutive patients with peritoneal metastases potentially amenable to macroscopically complete cytoreduction were selected.

INTERVENTIONS

Peritonectomy procedures and multivisceral resections were used to remove all macroscopic tumor, and mitomycin-C plus cisplatin-based hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy was used to control microscopic residual disease.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes measured were overall and disease-specific survival.

RESULTS

Mortality and major morbidity were 3.0%, and 23.8%. Median follow-up was 44.9 months (95% CI, 24.1-65.7). Five-year disease-specific survival was 14.3% for patients who experienced major complications and 52.3% for those who did not (p = 0.001). Five-year overall survival was 11.7% for patients who experienced major complications, and 58.8% for those who did not (p = 0.003). At multivariate analysis, major morbidity correlated to both worse overall and disease-specific survival, along with a Peritoneal Cancer Index >19, and suboptimal cytoreduction. Poor performance status correlated only to worse disease-specific survival, and liver metastases correlated to worse overall survival. Longer operative time (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.3-12.6; p = 0.01) and Peritoneal Cancer Index >19 (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-6.0; p = 0.02) were independent risk factors for major morbidity.

LIMITATIONS

This study is limited by its observational design.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevention of major complications, by refining surgical technique and patient selection, is crucial because it affects oncologic outcome.

Correlation between urinary nickel and testosterone plasma values in workers occupationally exposed to urban stressors

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to assess whether occupational exposure to low doses of nickel (Ni) present in urban air can cause alterations in the concentration of plasma testosterone in workers of the Municipal Police of a large Italian city assigned to different types of outdoor tasks.

METHODS

359 male subjects were included in the study and divided on the basis of job, age, length of service and smoking habits. The dosage of the atmospheric Ni was performed by personal dosimetries on a sample of the workers included in the study. For each worker included in the study the dosage of whole blood Ni and of the plasma testosterone was carried out. The total sample was subjected to the independent-samples T-test and the Mann-Whitney U test for variables with 2 modes (smoking cigarette) and the ANOVA test and the Kruskal Wallis test for variables with more than 2 modes (age, length of service and job function). The correlation of Pearson with p at 2 wings between the variables was evaluated in the total sample and after subdivision on the basis of smoking and on the basis of the job. After taking into account the major confounding factors the multiple linear regression was performed on the total sample and after breakdown by tasks.

RESULTS

The correlation between the values of urinary Ni and the values of plasma testosterone on the total sample and for all classes of subdivision was found constantly negative. These results were confirmed by multiple linear regression, which indicated the Ni as the only significant variable that can contribute to the alterations of the testosterone.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results, the Authors suggest that occupational exposure to low doses of Ni present in the urban environment is able to influence some lines of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in exposed workers.

Liver damage in automotive and industrial workers of the glass

OBJECTIVE

High doses of organic solvents can cause hepatic disease. We investigated whether exposure to low doses of solvents in automotive and industrial workers may lead to changes in liver tests.

METHODS

We studied the liver parameters (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), gamma-glutamyl-traspeptidasi (γ-GT), alkaline phosphatase (PHA), total (TB) and direct bilirubin (DB) of 24 workers exposed to organic solvents and of 30 unexposed controls.

RESULTS

A significant increase of GOT, GPT and γ-GT was found in exposed workers compared to unexposed controls workers. The ratio GPT/GOT was significantly higher among the exposed compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirmed the hypothesis that exposure to low doses of solvents may determine a liver damage.

[Urban individual exposure to cadmium and baroreceptor response to posture]

OBJECTIVE

Outdoor workers are daily exposed to urban pollutants. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between the values of environmental monitoring collected by personal dosimetries and changes in blood pressure due to posture in outdoor workers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

32 subjects of both sexes were enrolled in the study, we evaluated the values of environmental monitoring of breathable dust, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, lead, benzene, toluene, xylene and 16 PAHs. Blood pressure in supine and standing positions was measured in all subjects.

RESULTS

The multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant reduction of orthostatic response of diastolic blood pressure in non-smoking outdoor workers occupationally exposed to cadmium.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study let us to believe that exposure to low doses of urban polluted cadmium may affect the response of diastolic blood pressure to orthostatism, as per a paraphysiological condition of sympathetic down-regulation.

Workers exposed to urban stressors and the effects on antidiuretic hormone secretion

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether urban pollutants can affect plasma levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in outdoor workers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We selected 208 subjects, 104 exposed to urban stressors and 104 non exposed to urban stressors. We divided these workers in 3 groups: Group 1 (non-smokers and non-drinkers), Group 2 (smokers and not drinkers) and Group 3 (drinkers and not smokers). The means and standard deviations of ADH were calculated, and a Student's t-test was used to compare means. The data were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

The outdoor workers in Group 1 had significantly reduced plasma levels of ADH. In contrast, the outdoor workers in Groups 2 and 3 had increased plasma levels of ADH. These results were consistent in both men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that urban pollutants may influence the secretion of ADH.

Secondary cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: a multi-institutional study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and morbidity and mortality of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

DESIGN

A retrospective study conducted using information extracted from a multi-institutional prospective database on peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs). Setting Four Italian centres specializing in locoregional treatment of PSM.

POPULATION

Patients with recurrent EOC.

METHODS

Fifty-six patients underwent 57 combined procedures. CRS was performed using peritonectomy procedures and HIPEC using the closed-abdomen technique with cisplatin and doxorubicin or cisplatin and mitomycin-C.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), morbidity and mortality rates.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 55.2 years (range 30-75 years). The median peritoneal cancer index was 15.2 (range 4-30). Forty-seven patients had microscopic residual disease (completeness of cytoreduction, CC-0), seven had residual disease ≤2.5 mm (CC-1) and one had residual disease >2.5 mm (CC>2). Major complications occurred in 15 patients (26.3%), and procedure-related mortality occurred in three patients (5.3%). The median follow-up time was 23.1 months. The median OS and PFS were 25.7 (95% CI 20.3-31.0) and 10.8 (95% CI 5.4-16.2) months, respectively. The 5-year OS and PFS were 23% and 7%, respectively. Independent prognostic factors affecting OS according to the multivariate analysis were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, preoperative serum albumin, and completeness of cytoreduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with recurrent EOC treated with CRS and HIPEC showed promising results in terms of outcome. The combined treatment strategy could benefit subsets of patients wider than that defined for conventional secondary debulking surgery without HIPEC. These data warrant further evaluation in randomised clinical trials.

Pancreatic large mucinous cystoadenoma with invasive ductal carcinoma in pregnancy. Case report

BACKGROUND

Cystic tumour of the pancreas are infrequent and malignancy of the pancreas during pregnancy is extremely rare. Mucinous cystoadenomas is the most frequent cystic pancreatic neoplasm and it is seen mainly in women suggesting a sex hormone influence. Its presentation during pregnancy is extremely rare and entails difficulties in diagnosis and therapy.

CASE REPORT

A 28 year old woman was referred to our service for abdominal mass. She had given birth to her second child two weeks previously. Ultrasound and CT scan showed a large cystic lesion, with sepitation and inner solid growth portions, involved mainly the left sovramesocolic space. An ultrasound-guided aspiration of the cystic fluid showed high level of CEA and CA. 19-9. The patient underwent laparotomic body-tail pancreatectomy and splenectomy. The histological examination showed mucinous cystoadenoma with associated invasive ductal carcinoma, with ovarian-like stroma and a well delimited fibrous capsule. Hystochemical study revealed a strong positivity for progesterone receptors.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge this is the eighth case of mucinous cystoadenoma reported in English literature and the forth with an invasive adenocarcinoma associated. This pathological entity should always be kept in mind in case of patient with an hepigastric mass during or soon after pregnancy. Aggressive approach is mandatory.

Three-trocar laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patient with situs viscerum inversus totalis: case report and review of the literature

Situs viscerum inversus totalis is a rare defect with a genetic predisposition, which can present difficulties in the management of abdominal pathology, especially in laparoscopic surgery (mirror-image anatomy). We report the case of a 52-year-old female with situs viscerum inversus totalis, known from pediatric age, with a medical history of colic pain in the epigastrium radiating to the right abdominal quadrant. Laparoscopic cholecistectomy was safely performed with a three trocar technique. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that laparoscopic cholecistectomy by three trocars was performed in a patient with situs viscerum inversus. We also review the relevant literature concerning this issue.

Screening the allergenic repertoires of wheat and maize with sera from double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge positive patients

BACKGROUND

Food allergy to wheat and maize is an increasing factor of deterioration of life quality, especially childhood and can, in rare cases, even induce anaphylaxis. Although omega-5 gliadin from wheat and maize lipid transfer protein have been characterized as major cereal allergens on the molecular level, the list of food allergens is far to be complete.

METHODS

To identify the IgE-binding repertoires of wheat and maize we screened respective cDNA libraries displayed on phage surface with sera from patients with a confirmed food allergy. The study included six patients with a positive double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) to wheat, nine patients with a positive DBPCFC to maize, and six patients with anaphylactic reactions after ingestion of wheat.

RESULTS

The enriched sequences encoding IgE-binding proteins showed heterogeneous repertoires for both, wheat and maize. The selected wheat repertoire yielded 12, the maize repertoire 11 open reading frames. Among these we identified allergens belonging to already characterized allergens families, such as gliadin, profilin and beta-expansin. Besides, we found novel proteins with high cross-reactive potential, such as thioredoxins, as well as sequences that had so far not been related to cereal allergy at all. The IgE-binding capacity of some selected proteins was evaluated in vitro and cross-reactivity was demonstrated by competition ELISA.

CONCLUSION

With regard to the heterogeneity of the characterized sequences as well as to the biochemical nature of the new allergens detected we conclude that wheat and maize-related food allergy is more complex than so far anticipated.

[Actinomycosis infection presenting as malignant pelvic frostbite]

Actinomycosis is a chronic inflammatory disease rarely observed in the pelvic form but rather frequently in the cervicofacial tract. The pelviabdominal form is difficult to diagnose because of its various clinical presentations that can lead to misdiagnosis by imitating a neoblastic disease, a bowel inflammatory disease, an acute diverticulitis or gynecological disorders. The case is reported of a 43 year old woman with prolonged use of an intrauterine contraceptive device and with severe phlogosis secondary to extensive pelvic actinomycosis involving both ovaries, the urinary duct and the rectosigmoid, misdiagnosed as pelvic frostbite presentation of a malignant neoplasm. A bilateral hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy surgery was performed and a urethral stent was placed before the operation. Rarely, has the pelvis been so heavily involved by a chronic actinomycosis infection.