Correlation of acute pulmonal embolism with D-dimer levels and the diameter of the pulmonary trunk in thoracic multislice computed tomography : a single-centre retrospective analysis of 100 patients

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the correlation between D-dimer levels in positive thromboembolic thoracic computed tomography (CT) with the diameter of the pulmonary trunk and to study the relation between the D-dimer and the uni- or bilateralism of the lesions and the presence of pulmonal trunk involvement. We also analysed gender-specific differences in patients with and without dilatation of the pulmonal trunk. Material and methods: A total of 100 acute care patients (50 men and 50 women) with positive thromboembolic multiple detector computed tomography of the thorax, performed on two modern CT scanners, were retrospectively studied. All thoracic CTs were evaluated by two expert radiologists, with attention paid to the diameter of the pulmonary trunk and the correlation of D-dimer level with the uni-or bilateralism of the lesions. We also analysed sex-specific correlations. All patients underwent multislice computed tomography-examination after applying 70 ml iodinated non-ionic contrast media. Graphpad Prism 8.1.1 software was used for statistical data. Results: The "strongest" weak correlation resulted between D-dimer levels and the axial diameter of the pulmonal trunk. Considering the correlation between the axial diameter of the pulmonal trunk and gender-related distributions, we found that female patients had higher axial diameters than men. Another weak relationship, almost zero, was found between the D-dimer level and gender. Regarding the correlation between the uni- or bilateralism of thromboembolism and the D-dimer levels, we also found a weak correlation. Conclusions: This retrospective study showed that D-dimer levels, the diameter of the pulmonal trunk, the location, and gender-related distributions have almost no correlation and are not significantly predictive in imaging

Gross tumour volume comparison in oropharynx carcinomas using different intelligent imaging software : a retrospective analysis

Purpose: To compare gross tumour volume (GTV) in oropharynx carcinomas using different intelligent imaging software and to evaluate which method is more reliable for tumour volume definition in comparison with 3D ProSoma software. Material and methods: We retrospectively studied 32 patients with histopathologically confirmed oropharynx carcinomas on dual-source computed tomography (CT) (all patients underwent multislice CT examination after applying 75 ml iodinated non-ionic contrast media). One radiologist calculated the tumour volume - manually measuring tumour length (L), width (W), and height (H) - and then calculated the tumour volume using the formula 0.5236 × L × W × H. The other radiologist used the syngo.CT-Liver-Analysis software to calculate the tumour volumes. Both volume measuring methods were compared with the 3D ProSoma software, which is used by radiotherapists to calculate tumour volumes. Graphpad Prism software was used for statistical data. Results: syngo.CT-Liver-Analysis software for gross tumour volume determination has greater reliability than the standard manual method with Syngo Plaza in comparison with the 3D ProSoma software. Conclusions: syngo.CT-Liver-Analysis software is a reliable tool for GTV calculation, with a high correlation score, like that of radiotherapeutic 3D ProSoma software

Suspended culture of Ostrea edulis in the Calich lagoon (North western Sardinia, Italy): preliminary results

Suspended culture is a widespread farming method used for many bivalve species such as mussels, oysters and scallops. In the Mediterranean, this technique is mainly practised in lagoons or in sheltered coastal areas using floating lines from which molluscs are suspended in several ways. In this study, the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis Linné, 1758) was grown in suspended lantern nets in the Calich lagoon (Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) from March 2004 to March 2005. Two distinct groups of 6 lanterns each were hung to longline ropes near the mouth (station 1) and in the central portion of the lagoon (station 2). In each lantern (diameter=50cm; height=30cm), 90 O. edulis specimens were grown and, in order to ensure good water circulation inside the lantern net, fouling organisms were removed every month. Overall mortality, shell length (anterior-posterior axis), shell width (maximum distance on the lateral axis, between both valves of the closed shell) and total wet weight of a 180 specimen oyster sample (30 from each lantern) were recorded every 2 months at each site. In addition, water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were monitored monthly by means of a multi-parametric probe at both sites (between 10a.m. and 12p.m.). One-way ANOVA was used to test for differences in oyster final mean morphometric characters recorded at the 2 growing stations. Chi-square test (with Yates correction for continuity) was performed to compare survival rates at the end of the trial. From an initial mean shell length of 49.5±4.6mm, O. edulis growth rate showed a similar trend at both the stations. Nevertheless, ANOVA detected significant differences (F=7.10; p<0.01) in final mean oyster length values (83.7±6.5mm at station 1 vs 81.7±7.6mm at station 2). Significant differences (F=9.74; p<0.01) were also found in final mean oyster width (28.4±3.1mm at station 1 vs 27.5±2.8mm at station 2) and weight (F=4.00; p<0.05) values (91.4±16.7g at station 1 vs 87.7±18.3g at station 2). Moreover, chi-square test revealed a significantly different survival rate (χ2=10.04; p<0.01) between the 2 groups (57.4% at station 1 vs 47.6% at station 2).Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH monthly values recorded at the 2 growing stations were almost identical. Thus, the observed differences in oyster growth and survival seemed not to be due to the hydrological variables considered. Instead, they could probably be related to mechanical and chemical effects of water renewal by coastal waters, which may have led to different seasonal seston food supplies at the 2 sites. The suspended culture of the European flat oyster described in this paper can increase the mollusc production of the Calich lagoon by growing a valuable bivalve species which is naturally scarce in this biotope. In fact, our preliminary results showed good survival and growth rates of O. edulis especially near the mouth of the lagoon. Furthermore, this farming technique could be a possible source of economic benefits for local fishermen and, above all, a low impact aquacultural activity compatible with the environment

Suspended culture of <i>Ostrea edulis</i> in the Calich lagoon (North western Sardinia, Italy): preliminary results

Suspended culture is a widespread farming method used for many bivalve species such as mussels, oysters and scallops. In the Mediterranean, this technique is mainly practised in lagoons or in sheltered coastal areas using floating lines from which molluscs are suspended in several ways. In this study, the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis Linné, 1758) was grown in suspended lantern nets in the Calich lagoon (Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) from March 2004 to March 2005. Two distinct groups of 6 lanterns each were hung to longline ropes near the mouth (station 1) and in the central portion of the lagoon (station 2). In each lantern (diameter=50cm; height=30cm), 90 O. edulis specimens were grown and, in order to ensure good water circulation inside the lantern net, fouling organisms were removed every month. Overall mortality, shell length (anterior-posterior axis), shell width (maximum distance on the lateral axis, between both valves of the closed shell) and total wet weight of a 180 specimen oyster sample (30 from each lantern) were recorded every 2 months at each site. In addition, water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were monitored monthly by means of a multi-parametric probe at both sites (between 10a.m. and 12p.m.). One-way ANOVA was used to test for differences in oyster final mean morphometric characters recorded at the 2 growing stations. Chi-square test (with Yates correction for continuity) was performed to compare survival rates at the end of the trial. From an initial mean shell length of 49.5±4.6mm, O. edulis growth rate showed a similar trend at both the stations. Nevertheless, ANOVA detected significant differences (F=7.10; p&lt;0.01) in final mean oyster length values (83.7±6.5mm at station 1 vs 81.7±7.6mm at station 2). Significant differences (F=9.74; p&lt;0.01) were also found in final mean oyster width (28.4±3.1mm at station 1 vs 27.5±2.8mm at station 2) and weight (F=4.00; p&lt;0.05) values (91.4±16.7g at station 1 vs 87.7±18.3g at station 2). Moreover, chi-square test revealed a significantly different survival rate (χ2=10.04; p&lt;0.01) between the 2 groups (57.4% at station 1 vs 47.6% at station 2).Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH monthly values recorded at the 2 growing stations were almost identical. Thus, the observed differences in oyster growth and survival seemed not to be due to the hydrological variables considered. Instead, they could probably be related to mechanical and chemical effects of water renewal by coastal waters, which may have led to different seasonal seston food supplies at the 2 sites. The suspended culture of the European flat oyster described in this paper can increase the mollusc production of the Calich lagoon by growing a valuable bivalve species which is naturally scarce in this biotope. In fact, our preliminary results showed good survival and growth rates of O. edulis especially near the mouth of the lagoon. Furthermore, this farming technique could be a possible source of economic benefits for local fishermen and, above all, a low impact aquacultural activity compatible with the environment

Morphometric relationships and annual gonad index of the edible Sea urchin <i>Paracentrotus lividus</i> from North Western Sardinia = Relazioni morfometriche e indice gonadico annuale del riccio di mare commestibile <i>Paracentrotus lividus</i> nel nord ovest Sardegna

Weight/diameter, weight/height and height/diameter morphometric relationships were calculated for a shallow rocky Paracentrotus lividus population sampled monthly near Alghero (Italy) from November 2004 to October 2005. Gonad index (GI) of the sea urchins was also evaluated. Statistical analyses showed significant differences of GI between 2 distinct periods of the year: late fall-winter and spring-late summer

An Alternative suspended culture method for the Mediterranean carpet clam, <i>Tapes decussatus</i> (L.), in the Calich Lagoon (North Western Sardinia) = Un Metodo alternativo di allevamento in sospensione della vongola verace mediterranea, <i>Tapes decussatus</i> (L.), nello stagno di Calich (Sardegna nord occidentale)

Tapes decussatus seed was grown in two distinct groups of six suspended modules each placed at two different sites of the Calich lagoon from January to July 2004. Each module was composed of three stacked plastic baskets filled with coarse sand to prevent shell deformities. Statistical analyses showed significant differences in carpet clam survival at the two sites, while no differences in growth were detected

Accrescimento in long-line di <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> Lmk. nello stagno di Calich (Sardegna nord-occidentale) = Growth of long-line cultured <i>Mytilus galloprovincialls</i> Lmk. in the Calich Lagoon (North-Western Sardinia)

The Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) was long-line cultured in two different areas of the Calich Lagoon (NW Sardinia, Italy). Several physical and chemical water parameters, chlorophyll a and sedimentation rate were measured in the two culture stations and in a third considered as a control. Mussel growth rate was similar in the two stations. It was positively affected by the increase of water temperature and chlorophyll a concentration and negatively by oxygen depletion

Chiral cyclometalation of 6-(1-phenylbenzyl)-2,2′-bipyridine

A new bipyridine ligand, 6-(1-phenylbenzyl)-2,2′-bipyridine, has been prepared by a multistep synthesis starting from the corresponding substituted pyridine. The coordinating properties of the new ligand have been tested with two d8 metal ions, Pt(II) and Pd(II), to give the cyclometalated complexes [Pt(N,N,C)Cl] and [Pd(N,N,C)Cl], where N,N,C is a terdentate deprotonated bipyridine containing a new stereogenic carbon atom directly generated by C–H bond activation. The single-crystal of the platinum complex has been solved by X-ray diffraction. DFT calculations confirm the presence of a Pt⋯H interaction that stabilizes one of the two possible conformers by 14.7 kJ mol−1 for Pt and 12.9 kJ mol−1 for Pd. The energy barrier to pass from one conformer to the other is 25.4 and 23.8 kJ mol−1 respectively. Under different reaction conditions, regioselective activation of a pyridine C–H bond gave the less common cyclometalated rollover complex [Pt(L-H)Me(DMSO)], which was isolated and characterised

Principali avversità biotiche dell'eucalipto in Sardegna

Il genere Eucalyptus (fam. Mirtaceae) è originario dell'Oceania e include oltre 600 specie di alberi e arbusti sempreverdi. Nell'Italia centro meridionale la specie più diffusa è l'Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dhenh. La grave diffusione di fenomeni di deperimento e di moria di piante nei popolamenti di eucalipto della Sardegna ha richiesto indagini di carattere entomologico e patologico, condotte in 12 aree dell'Isola