Investigation of TiCr Hydrogen Storage Alloy

A new reversible hydrogen storage material, based on TiCr metal alloy, is proposed. Cr and Ti were mixed and melted in a final atomic ratio of 1,78. Chemical-physical characterisations, in terms of XRD and SEM-EDX, were performed. The quantification of Laves phases was performed through Rietveld refinements. The atomic Cr/Ti ratio was determined by EDX analysis and 1,71 was obtained. The H2 sorption/desorption measurements by Sievert apparatus were carried out. After different tests varying temperature and pressure, a protocol measurement was established; and a H2 sorption value of 0,4 wt% at 200 °C/10 bar with a fast kinetic at 5 bar (Dwt% of about 0,3 wt%) were obtained. Hydrogen desorption measurements performed in the same conditions of T confirmed a totally reversible trend. A confirm of metal hydride formation was recorded by XRD, in fact, comparing X-Ray patterns before and after volumetric tests a notable difference was recorded

Volumetric and Dosimetric Assessment by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Scans in Head and Neck Radiation Therapy: A Monitoring in Four Phases of Treatment

Due to the anatomical changes frequently occurring during the course of head and neck (H&N) cancer radiotherapy, the dose distribution, which was actually delivered to the patient, might significantly differ from that planned. The aim of this paper is to investigate these volumetric changes and the resulting dosimetric implications on organs at risk (OARs) and clinical target volumes (CTVs) by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans throughout the treatment. Ten H&N patients, treated by Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, were analyzed. CTVs and OARs were delineated on four CBCT, acquired at the 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th treatment session, and then compared with the ones at planning CT. The planned beams were applied to each CBCT to recalculate the dose distribution and the corresponding dose volume histograms were compared with those generated on planning CT. To evaluate the HU discrepancies between the conventional CT and CBCT images we used a Catphan® 504, observing a maximum discrepancy of about 30 HU. We evaluated the impact of this HU difference in dose calculation and a not clinically relevant error, within 2.8%, was estimated. No inhomogeneity correction was used. The results showed an increased CTV mean dose (Dmean) of about 3% was found, without significant reduction in volume. Due to the parotids' shrinkage (up to 42%), significant dosimetric increases were observed: ipsilateral gland at 15th CBCT (Dmean by 18%; V30 by 31%); controlateral gland at the 10th CBCT (Dmean by 12.2%; V30 by 18.7%). For the larynx, a significant increase of volume was found at the 20th (15.7%) and 25th CBCT (13.3%) but it complied with dose constraint. The differences observed for the spinal cord and mandible maximum doses were not clinically relevant. In conclusion, the dosimetric analysis on CBCT can help clinicians to monitor treatment progress and to evaluate whether and when a new plan is necessary. The main benefit of replanning could be to preserve the parotids and our data support the hypothesis that the 3rd week of radiotherapy should be a check point for parotids

Evaluation of the Performance of ACR TI-RADS Also Considering Those Nodules with No Indication of FNAC: A Single-Center Experience

Background: Several US risk stratification score systems (RSSs) have been developed to standardize a thyroid nodule risk of malignancy. It is still a matter of debate which RSS is the most reliable. The purpose of this study is to evaluate: (1) the concordance between the American College of Radiology TI-RADS (ACR TI-RADS) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), (2) the cancer rate in the ACR TI-RADS categories, (3) the characteristics of nodules evaluated by FNAC even if not formally indicated according to ACR TI-RADS ('not indicated FNACs"). Methods: From January 2021 to September 2022, patients attending the Endocrinology Unit of the CTO Hospital of Rome for evaluation of thyroid nodules were included. Results: 830 nodules had negative cytology, belonging to TIR2 and TIR1C. One hundred and thirteen nodules were determined to be suspicious for or consistent with malignancy belonging to TIR3B/TIR4/TIR5. Of this last group, 94% were classified as TR4/TR5 nodules. In total, 87/113 underwent surgery. Among these, 73 had histologically proven cancer, 14 turned out to be benign. "Not indicated FNACs" was 623. Among these, 42 cancers were present. Conclusions: This study confirmed the diagnostic power of ACR TI-RADS. In addition, these data suggest revising the ACR TI-RADS indication to FNAC, especially for TR4

Role of interventional radiology in the management of complications after pancreatic surgery: a pictorial review

Pancreatic resections are surgical procedures associated with high incidence of complications, with relevant morbidity and mortality even at high volume centres. A multidisciplinary approach is essential in the management of these events and interventional radiology plays a crucial role in the treatment of patients developing post-surgical complications. This paper offers an overview on the interventional radiological procedures that can be performed to treat different type of complications after pancreatic resection. Procedures such as percutaneous drainage of fluid collections, percutaneous transhepatic biliary procedures, arterial embolisation, venous interventions and fistula embolisation are viable treatment options, with fewer complications compared with re-look surgery, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery. A selection of cases of complications following pancreatic surgery managed with interventional radiological procedure are presented and discussed. Teaching Points \u2022 Interventional radiology is crucial to treat complications after pancreatic surgery \u2022 Percutaneous drainage of collections can be performed under ultrasound or computed tomography guidance \u2022 Percutaneous biliary procedures can be used to treat biliary complications \u2022 Venous procedures can be performed effectively through transhepatic or transjugular access \u2022 Fistulas can be treated effectively by percutaneous embolisation

Allergy in adolescent population (14-18 years) living in campania region (southern Italy). a multicenter study

Adolescents (Ad) constitute a difficult to manage population among individuals suffering from asthma. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics and age of onset of allergic sensitization and clinical symptoms in a sample of atopic Ad living in the Campania region (Southern Italy). Sixteen Allergy units or Centers belonging to the Italian Association of Hospital and Territorial Allergologists (AAIITO, Campania region) participated in this cross-sectional study. A case report form (CRF) was specifically designed for this study and commercial allergen extracts used for screening SPTs were provided by ALK-Abelló Group (Milan, Italy). A total of 443 patients were examined (females, f 220, 49.6 %; males, m 223, 50.3%). Dust mites represent the most common sensitizing agents in allergic Ad living in Campania region (Dermatoph. pteronyssinus 67.4% and Dermatoph. farinae 66.5%), followed by Parietaria (58.9%), grasses (45.8%), Artemisia vulgaris (16.7%), Olea Europaea (32.2%), dog dander (17.1%), cat dander (20.0%), Alternaria alternata (8.1%), Cupressus sempervirens (4.9%), Betula pendula (4.7%), other allergens (19.4%). An interesting comparison has been made between clinical data of our Ad with data of elderly patients (E). The role of allergic sensitization is significantly higher in Ad compared to E. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is the first sensitizing allergen in Ad and the last in E. Parietaria constitutes the first sensitizing pollen both in Ad and E, the percentage of sensitization is higher in Ad. Another important difference is the higher prevalence of As, as only symptom, in E compared to Ad (19.7% versus 7.6%). In conclusion, our findings confirm the high prevalence and clinical significance of airway allergic sensitization in the adolescents living in Campania region

Modelling the correlation between EGFr expression and tumour cell radiosensitivity, and combined treatments of radiation and monoclonal antibody EGFr inhibitors

Purpose To estimate the effects of heterogeneity on tumour cell sensitivity to radiotherapy combined with radiosensitizing agents attributable to differences in expression levels of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFr). Materials and methods Differences in radiosensitivity are not limited to cells of different cancer histotypes but also occur within the same cancer, or appear during radiotherapy if radiosensitizing drugs are combined with ionizing radiation. A modified biologically effective dose (MBED), has been introduced to account for changes in radiosensitivity parameters (alpha and alpha/beta) rather than changes in dose/fraction or total dose as normally done with standard biologically effective dose (BED). The MBED approach was applied to cases of EGFr over-expression and cases where EGFr inhibitors were combined with radiation. Representative examples in clinical practice were considered. RESULTS: Assuming membrane EGFr over-expression corresponds to reduced radiosensitivity (alphaH = 0.15 Gy-1 and alphaH/betaH = 7.5 Gy) relative to normal radiosensitivity (alpha = 0.2 Gy-1 and alpha/beta = 10 Gy), an increased dose per fraction of 2.42 Gy was obtained through the application of MBED, which is equivalent to the effect of a reference schedule with 30 fractions of 2 Gy. An equivalent hypo-fractionated regime with a dose per fraction of 2.80 Gy is obtained if 25 fractions are set. Dose fractionations modulated according to drug pharmacokinetics are estimated for combined treatments with biological drugs. Soft and strong modulated equivalent hypo-fractionations result from subtraction of 5 or 10 fractions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: During this computational study, a new radiobiological tool has been introduced. The MBED allows the required dose per fraction to be estimated when tumour radiosensitivity is reduced because EGFr is over-expressed. If radiotherapy treatment is combined with EGFr inhibitors, MBED suggests new treatment strategies, with schedules modulated according to drug pharmacokinetics

Combining Network Modeling and Gene Expression Microarray Analysis to Explore the Dynamics of Th1 and Th2 Cell Regulation

Two T helper (Th) cell subsets, namely Th1 and Th2 cells, play an important role in inflammatory diseases. The two subsets are thought to counter-regulate each other, and alterations in their balance result in different diseases. This paradigm has been challenged by recent clinical and experimental data. Because of the large number of genes involved in regulating Th1 and Th2 cells, assessment of this paradigm by modeling or experiments is difficult. Novel algorithms based on formal methods now permit the analysis of large gene regulatory networks. By combining these algorithms with in silico knockouts and gene expression microarray data from human T cells, we examined if the results were compatible with a counter-regulatory role of Th1 and Th2 cells. We constructed a directed network model of genes regulating Th1 and Th2 cells through text mining and manual curation. We identified four attractors in the network, three of which included genes that corresponded to Th0, Th1 and Th2 cells. The fourth attractor contained a mixture of Th1 and Th2 genes. We found that neither in silico knockouts of the Th1 and Th2 attractor genes nor gene expression microarray data from patients with immunological disorders and healthy subjects supported a counter-regulatory role of Th1 and Th2 cells. By combining network modeling with transcriptomic data analysis and in silico knockouts, we have devised a practical way to help unravel complex regulatory network topology and to increase our understanding of how network actions may differ in health and disease