Epidemiological patterns of asbestos exposure and spatial clusters of incident cases of malignant mesothelioma from the Italian national registry

Abstract BACKGROUND: Previous ecological spatial studies of malignant mesothelioma cases, mostly based on mortality data, lack reliable data on individual exposure to asbestos, thus failing to assess the contribution of different occupational and environmental sources in the determination of risk excess in specific areas. This study aims to identify territorial clusters of malignant mesothelioma through a Bayesian spatial analysis and to characterize them by the integrated use of asbestos exposure information retrieved from the Italian national mesothelioma registry (ReNaM). METHODS: In the period 1993 to 2008, 15,322 incident cases of all-site malignant mesothelioma were recorded and 11,852 occupational, residential and familial histories were obtained by individual interviews. Observed cases were assigned to the municipality of residence at the time of diagnosis and compared to those expected based on the age-specific rates of the respective geographical area. A spatial cluster analysis was performed for each area applying a Bayesian hierarchical model. Information about modalities and economic sectors of asbestos exposure was analyzed for each cluster. RESULTS: Thirty-two clusters of malignant mesothelioma were identified and characterized using the exposure data. Asbestos cement manufacturing industries and shipbuilding and repair facilities represented the main sources of asbestos exposure, but a major contribution to asbestos exposure was also provided by sectors with no direct use of asbestos, such as non-asbestos textile industries, metal engineering and construction. A high proportion of cases with environmental exposure was found in clusters where asbestos cement plants were located or a natural source of asbestos (or asbestos-like) fibers was identifiable. Differences in type and sources of exposure can also explain the varying percentage of cases occurring in women among clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates shared exposure patterns in territorial clusters of malignant mesothelioma due to single or multiple industrial sources, with major implications for public health policies, health surveillance, compensation procedures and site remediation programs

Induction of breast cancer resistance protein by the camptothecin derivative DX-8951f is associated with minor reduction of antitumour activity

DX-8951f (exatecan mesylate), a new water-soluble derivative of camptothecin, is currently being evaluated in phase II clinical trials. Resistance may be acquired when treating cancer patients with DX-8951f. Therefore, we selected a subline of the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780 for resistance against DX-8951f to investigate possible mechanisms of resistance. This DX-8951f-resistant subline, designated 2780DX8 (resistance factor=9.3), displayed a typical cross-resistance pattern including compounds, such as topotecan (resistance factor =34), SN-38 (resistance factor =47), mitoxantrone (resistance factor =59) and doxorubicin (resistance factor =2.9), which have previously been associated with the expression of breast cancer resistance protein. 2780DX8 cells did not show changes in the topoisomerase I gene, in topoisomerase I protein levels or catalytic activity. Overexpression of breast cancer resistance protein could be detected, both at the mRNA and protein level, while staining for Pgp, MRP1, or LRP was negative. GF120918, an inhibitor of breast cancer resistance protein, was able to reverse the DX-8951f-induced resistance in 2780DX8 cells. In vivo experiments in well-established 2780DX8 human tumour xenografts demonstrated that the growth inhibition induced by CPT-11 was more affected by breast cancer resistance protein expression than that of DX-8951f. These data indicate for the first time that DX-8951f is able to induce breast cancer resistance protein as a mechanism of resistance. Breast cancer resistance protein, however, results in only minor reduction of antitumour activity of DX-8951f which is an advantage over topotecan and CPT-11/SN-38

Abrasion of the status badge in the male Italian sparrow Passer italiae

During early winter the pale fringe of the throat and crown feathers of the male Italian sparrow does not abrade, and the size of the black bib and the brightness of the brown crown which act as a status badge in winter flocks do not change. The pale fringe becomes worn and the bright breeding plumage is assumed fairly rapidly from February onward, when winter flocks break-up and sexual activity begins

Abrasion of the status badge in the male Italian sparrow Passer italiae

During early winter the pale fringe of the throat and crown feathers of the male Italian sparrow does not abrade, and the size of the black bib and the brightness of the brown crown which act as a status badge in winter flocks do not change. The pale fringe becomes worn and the bright breeding plumage is assumed fairly rapidly from February onward, when winter flocks break-up and sexual activity begins

Espansione del cinghiale (Sus scrofa) e danni alle coltivazioni in un'area delle Prealpi occidentali

<strong>Abstract</strong> <strong>Wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>) spreading and crop damage in an area of western Prealps</strong> We analysed the agricultural damage reports from 1986 to 1996 to evidence the wild boar distribution in Biella province and the pattern of land occupancy. These reports were yearly divided and mapped for the single municipalities to obtain a picture of the range variations in the time. From the same reports we calculated three indexes of the importance of the Wild boar damages: the damaged surface for each municipality, its percentage value on the surface of each municipality and the occurrence of damages for each municipality. During the study period, we observed a dramatic increase of the number of municipalities affected by wild boar damages and of the species range. The yearly damaged surface grew over 25 times too. The Discriminant Function Analysis carried out between damaged and undamaged municipalities correctly classified 78,1% of total cases by three variables: mixed woods, pastures and dry crops, the second one being the most important. The Multiple Regression Analysis of the damages occurrence vs. habitat variables explained 77,3% of independent variable variance by five variables, which entered the model. The trend analysis, carried out by the seasonal regression, using the surface and the occurrence of damages, evidenced a marked seasonality of the damages and a stability trend, after an initial positive trend. <strong>Riassunto</strong> Per evidenziare la distribuzione del Cinghiale in provincia di Biella e le modalità d'occupazione del territorio nel corso degli anni, sono state utilizzate le denunce dei danni pervenute all Amministrazione provinciale dal 1986 al 1996. Queste sono state ripartite per comune e mappate anno per anno per fornire una rappresentazione delle variazioni di areale nel corso del tempo. Dalle stesse denunce di danni e per lo stesso arco di tempo sono stati calcolati tre indici dell'importanza dei danni causati dal Cinghiale: l'estensione in ettari dei danni per ogni comune, l'estensione dei danni in percentuale sulle superfici comunali e la frequenza dei danni per ogni comune. Nell'arco degli 11 anni considerati si è avuto un sensibile incremento del numero di comuni interessati dalla presenza del Cinghiale e, parallelamente, della superficie dell'areale di distribuzione. Anche la superficie totale danneggiata ogni anno, considerata come indice della consistenza della popolazione, è aumentata di oltre 25 volte dal 1986 al 1996. L'Analisi Discriminante effettuata tra i comuni in cui si sono verificati i danni e quelli in cui non si sono verificati ha individuato tre variabili importanti per la discriminazione: le percentuali di boschi misti, di pascoli e di seminativi asciutti. Di queste i pascoli sono stati la variabile con maggior contributo alla funzione discriminante che ha classificato correttamente il 78,1% dei casi complessivi. L'Analisi di Regressione Multipla della frequenza dei danni verso le variabili ambientali misurate nei comuni ha individuato 5 variabili con coefficiente parziale di regressione significativo e positivo che hanno spiegato complessivamente il 77,3% della varianza della variabile dipendente. L'analisi di tendenza, effettuata col metodo della regressione stagionale, utilizzando l'entità e la ricorrenza dei danni ha evidenziato una marcata stagionalità dei danneggiamenti e una tendenza alla stabilità dopo un primo incremento iniziale