12 research outputs found
COMBINED USE OF SPACE-BORNE OBSERVATIONS OF NO2 AND REGIONAL CTM MODEL FOR AIR QUALITY MONITORING IN NORTHERN ITALY
The use of space-borne measurements of trace gas constituents for air quality monitoring is considerably increased during
the past decade. This is due mainly to the new generation sensors able to observe large areas with good temporal resolution and due
to new assimilation techniques that allow a synergetic use of information from satellite and from Chemical Transport Models
(CTM). In fact the in situ sampling method used by the local environmental agencies for air quality monitoring is becoming too
expensive to be further continued without a sensible reduction in the number of observing stations.
In this paper we present the work that has been performed so far within the QUITSAT project funded by the Italian Space Agency.
SCIAMACHY (Uv-Vis spectrometer on board ESA-ENVISAT platform from 2002) observations of earth radiance are used to
retrieve NO2 tropospheric column by DOAS spectrometric technique and radiative transfer modelling for AMF computation. Such
kind of product has been widely used to estimate emissions, to monitor pollution hot spot as well as cross country and
intercontinental transport. Within this work we have merged the column measurements of nitrogen dioxide with the simulations of
the Transport Chemical Aerosol Model (TCAM) to improve the model output at the ground level. The method used is a weighted
rescaling of the model column in the troposphere according to the SCIAMACHY observations where the weights are the
measurement errors and the model column variances within the satellite ground-pixel, respectively. The employed data are related to
the Northern Italy area.
The obtained ground concentrations of NO2 have been compared with in-situ observations performed by the regional environmental
agencies. Results show good agreement mainly where well horizontal mixing is present. The ground concentration from
SCIAMACHY-TCAM gives an average NO2 amount within the satellite ground-pixel of 30x60 km2 that is important information
for air quality assessment on a regional and/or national scale not easy to obtain only with ground-based observations. Our
conclusions thus stress also the actual potential role of satellite observations combined with regional CTM models in the context of
air quality monitoring, mainly in rural area, where the ground-based observations are missing
Latte in polvere: strategie di controllo del rischio di contaminazione da Enterobacter sakazakii.
Modern imaging tests and preoperative management of pheocromocytoma: case report and review of the literature.
Modern imaging methods and preoperative management of pheochromocytoma: review of the literature and case report.
OBJECTIVES:
To discuss the modern imaging techniques and preoperative management of pheochromocytoma and to report on one additional case.
METHODS:
A 66-year-old male with an incidentally discovered left adrenal mass is described. The adrenal medulla strongly accumulate 131 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG). The patient underwent left adrenalectomy after preoperative therapy with alpha and beta-blockers. The recent literature on pheochromocytoma modern imaging techniques and preoperative management is reviewed.
RESULTS:
MIBG scintigraphy diagnosed a benign functioning adrenal pheochromocytoma, allowing preoperative medical management. Postoperative workup was unremarkable. Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed by immunohistopathology. At 18 months follow-up, the patient is alive and disease-free.
CONCLUSIONS:
Incidentally discovered adrenal masses have to be investigated to detect malignancy and subtle hormonal overproduction. MIBG scintigraphy has a high specificity (100%) in detecting pheochromocytoma, metastasis, surgical residual tumor, local relapse and other adrenal crest tumors. Positive results of octreotide scintigraphy in detecting malignant pheochromocytoma have been reported. Currently, pheochromocytoma removal is a safe operation with mortality rates ranging from 0 to less than 3%. Preoperative alpha adrenergic blockage with phenoxybenzamine or prazosin is important in decreasing the operative risk. Beta-blockers may be necessary for cardiac arrhythmia. Intraoperative invasive monitoring of hemodynamic variables may be both diagnostic and therapeutic of inadequate preoperative management. Lifelong follow-up for patients with pheochromocytoma is important
Modern imaging methods and preoperative management of pheochromocytoma: review of the literature and case report.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To discuss the modern imaging techniques and preoperative management of pheochromocytoma and to report on one additional case.
METHODS: A 66-year-old male with an incidentally discovered left adrenal mass is described. The adrenal medulla strongly accumulate 131 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG). The patient underwent left adrenalectomy after preoperative therapy with alpha and beta-blockers. The recent literature on pheochromocytoma modern imaging techniques and preoperative management is reviewed.
RESULTS: MIBG scintigraphy diagnosed a benign functioning adrenal pheochromocytoma, allowing preoperative medical management. Postoperative workup was unremarkable. Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed by immunohistopathology. At 18 months follow-up, the patient is alive and disease-free.
CONCLUSIONS: Incidentally discovered adrenal masses have to be investigated to detect malignancy and subtle hormonal overproduction. MIBG scintigraphy has a high specificity (100%) in detecting pheochromocytoma, metastasis, surgical residual tumor, local relapse and other adrenal crest tumors. Positive results of octreotide scintigraphy in detecting malignant pheochromocytoma have been reported. Currently, pheochromocytoma removal is a safe operation with mortality rates ranging from 0 to less than 3%. Preoperative alpha adrenergic blockage with phenoxybenzamine or prazosin is important in decreasing the operative risk. Beta-blockers may be necessary for cardiac arrhythmia. Intraoperative invasive monitoring of hemodynamic variables may be both diagnostic and therapeutic of inadequate preoperative management. Lifelong follow-up for patients with pheochromocytoma is important
Multuple System Atrophy and Autonomic failure with early urogenital onset
Multuple System Atrophy and Autonomic failure with early urogenital onse