The mysterious death of Francesco I de' Medici and Bianca Cappello: an arsenic murder?

Modern analytical techniques have allowed re-evaluation of the cause of death of Francesco I de' Medici and his wife, Bianca Cappello. It now seems that the grand-ducal couple died of acute arsenic poisoning and not malaria as previously believe

Spontaneous renal artery dissection diagnosed by unenhanced magnetic resonance angiography: case report.

A 47-year-old patient is presented who was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of right-sided flank pain and hypertension. His creatinine and glomerular filtration rate were 2.5 mg/dl and 37 ml/min respectively, so that contrast media administration was contraindicated. The unenhanced magnetic resonance angiography image obtained with 3D in-flow inversion recovery sequence showed right renal artery dissection, without aortic dissection. Selective renal angiography confirmed the diagnosis and a stent was placed in the renal artery. The patient was free of pain after stenting, with normalized laboratory values and blood pressure

Wet versus slurry carbonation of EAF steel slag

The CO2 uptake and Ca-to-carbonate conversion yield attained by wet and slurry-phase carbonation of stainless steel slag are reported. A maximum CO2 uptake of 180 g CO2/kg slag was achieved under wet conditions (50 degrees C, 3 bar CO2, 0.4 l/kg), corresponding to a Ca-to-carbonate conversion yield of 50%. The slurry-phase process, even when adopting more energy-intensive operating conditions, did not improve the CO2 uptake kinetics and conversion yield in comparison to the wet treatment. The mineralogy of the carbonated slag exhibited a decreased content of silicate phases (Ca2SiO4 in particular), a marked reduction of Ca and Mg oxides, and a noteworthy increase of calcite. (C) 2011 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Lt

The effects of accelerated carbonation on CO2 uptake and metal release from incineration APC residues

This work presents the results of a study on acceleratedcarbonationof incinerator air pollution control residues, with a particular focus on the modifications in the leaching behaviour ofthe ash. Aqueous carbonation experiments were carried out using 100% CO2 at different temperatures, pressures and liquid-to-solid ratios, in order to assess their influence on process kinetics, CO2 uptake and the leaching behaviour of major and trace elements. The ash showed a particularly high reactivity towards CO2, owing to theabundance of calcium hydroxides phases, with a maximum CO2 uptake of ∼250 g/kg. The main effectsofcarbonation on trace metal leaching involved a significant decrease in mobility for Pb, Zn and Cu at high pH values, a slight change or mobilization for Cr and Sb, and no major effects on the release of As and soluble salts. Geochemical modelling of leachates indicated solubility control by different minerals after carbonation. In particular, in the stability pH range of carbonates, solubility control by a number ofmetal carbonates was clearly suggested by modelling results. These findings indicate that acceleratedcarbonationof incinerator ashes has the potential to convert trace contaminants into sparingly soluble carbonate forms, with an overall positive effect on their leaching behaviour. Article Outlin

Musculoskeletal and adipose tissue hydatidosis based on the iatrogenic spreading of cystic fluid during surgery: Report of a case

Hydatidosis or echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus or E. multilocularis, which forms cysts in the liver and lung after penetrating the duodenal mucosa and entering the portal circulation. The liver and lung act as a filter but some embryos enter the general circulation and disseminate throughout the body. Muscoloskeletal involvement is a rare manifestation of hydatidosis, which is usually reported to affect a single muscle. We report here a rare case of a 68-year-old man with widespread hydatidosis of the retroperitoneum and the subcutaneous adipose tissue, and with multiple muscle involvement in the absence of liver, lung, and spleen involvement. The patient underwent surgical excision of a subcutaneous hydatid cyst 7 years earlier. It is likely that the large dissemination of parasites resulted from accidental rupture of the primary focus during surgery with consequent release and spreading of scolices via lymphatics

Endorectal and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for detection of local recurrence after radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of endorectal MRI combined with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to detect local recurrence after radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS . A total of 51 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy for prostatic adenocarcinoma 10 months to 6 years before underwent a combined endorectal coil MRI and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MRI before endorectal sonographically guided biopsy of the prostatic fossa. The MRI combined with MR dynamic imaging results were correlated with the presence of recurrence defined as a positive biopsy result or reduction in prostate-specific antigen level after radiation therapy. RESULTS. Overall data of 46 (25 recurred, 21 nonrecurred) out of 51 evaluated patients were analyzed. All recurrences showed signal enhancement after gadolinium administration and, in particular, 22 of 24 patients (91%) showed rapid and early signal enhancement. The overall sensitivity and specificity of MR dynamic imaging was higher compared with MRI alone (88%, [95% CI] 69-98% and 100%, 84-100% compared with 48%, 28-69% and 52%, 30-74%). MRI combined with dynamic imaging allowed better identification of recurrences compared with MRI alone (McNemar test: chi-square1 = 16.67; p = < 0.0001). CONCLUSION. MRI combined with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI showed a higher sensitivity and specificity compared with MRI alone in detecting local recurrences after radical prostatectomy. © American Roentgen Ray Society