‘Concentration and the chemical characterization of PM10 and PM2.5 in all the Italian territory’

In order to studying the concentration and the chemical characterization of atmospheric particulate in the different season in all the Italian territory, inside the SITECOS project (PRIN 2004), a gravimetric sampling campaigns have been conducted. The PM10 and PM2.5 samplings were placed at the same time in different sites along the Italian peninsula. The sampling sites were: Bari, Taranto, Pollino (m.1800, remote site), Catania, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Arezzo, Grosseto, Capannori-LU, Prato, Montale-PT (rural site), Bologna and Monte Cimone (m.2100, remote site on Italian Apennines), Padua, Milan, San Colombano (m.2300, remote site on Italian Alps), Trieste and San Rocco a Muggia (TS). Daily PM2.5 and PM10 samples have been collected, to do a \u201csampling bank \u201c, available for a further chemical / physical / toxicological characterization of atmospheric particulate Samples have been chemically characterized according to their main species: PAHs, inorganic ions and EC/OC in the PM2.5 samples; elements in the PM10 samples. In the Padana plain (Milan, Bologna, Padua) the PM concentration is uniform and a strong seasonal trend is observed, with the highest values in winter time and the lowest values in summer while PM concentration in S. Colombano and Monte Cimone sites show an opposite seasonality, with the highest values in summer and the lowest ones in winter. These data show a slight evolution during the winter\u2019s day because of the height of the dispersion layer, in connection with microclimatic parameters; for example in Milan city during acute cases of pollution, the height is no more that 300m (Ferrero et al., 2006). Remote sites of S. Colombano and Monte Cimone in the winter time are above the boundary layer while during summer period they are on it. In the center of Italy PM seasonality concentration is less important while in the South Italy and in Sicily there is any seasonal trend. The reasons are, in part, linked to the different meteoclimatic features present in the Italian peninsula. Chemical composition data show a significant differences. In the North of Italy there is a strong seasonality of ionic component; in particular, during the winter, the Nitrate concentration is higher than the Sulfate one while the situation is opposed in summer. Ammonium does not show a strong seasonality, but it remains pretty constant; the same applies to Carbon. In the South of Italy cities, SO , NO 3 - and NH 4 + , primary component of inorganic ions, they do not show a seasonality with a Sulfate concentration that is always higher than Nitrates. In the center of Italy the seasonality is less marked thanks to the inorganic ions. Sulfate and Nitrate are similar from a percentage point of view. Also PAHs (expressed in weight/weight, quality of particulate), in the Padana plain, shows a strong seasonality, with a high percentage in the winter season and a lower one in summer (Ravindra et al., 2006). Over the year concentrations are constant in South of Italy, while in the center area, the seasonality is less strong. The vehicles traffic source is estimated to be one of the main PM source in the Padana plain, while in the South of Italy there are other sources like photochemistry reactivity, Saharan Dust events, etc. These results show a different role of PM sources along the Italian peninsula and they carry fundamental information for a correct management of the complex problem on a national scale. Ferrero, L., Lazzati, Z., Lo Porto, C., Perrone, M.G., Petraccone, S., Sangiorgi, G., Bolzacchini, E., (2006) Vertical distribution of particulate matter in the urban atmosphere of Milan. Poster. International Aerosol Conference 2006. Ravindra, K., Bencs, L., Wauters, E., Hoog, J., Deutsch, F., Roekens, E., Bleux, N., Berghmans, P., Van Grieken, R., (2006) Seasonal and sitespecific variation in vapour and aerosol phase PAHs over Flanders (Belgium) and their relation with anthropogenic activities. Atmospheric Environment 40 (2006) 771-785

La composizione chimica del Particolato Atmosferico nella penisola Italiana, similitudini e analogie

none32noneP. Bruno; M. Caselli; P. R. Dambruoso; B. E. Daresta; G. de Gennaro; C. M. Placentino; M. Tutino; D. Baldacci; M.Stracquadanio; L. Tositti; S. Zappoli; D. Gullotto; V. Librando; Z.Minniti; G. Perrini; G. Trincali; S. Becagli; A. Mannini; R. Udisti; E.Bolzacchini; L. Ferrero; C. Lo Porto; M. G. Perrone; C. Paradisi;A. Tapparo; P. Barbieri; L. Capriglia; F.Cozzi; E. Maran; E.Reisenhofer; V. Sicardi. P.Fermo; A. PiazzalungaP. Bruno; M. Caselli; P. R. Dambruoso; B. E. Daresta; G. de Gennaro; C. M. Placentino; M. Tutino; D. Baldacci; M.Stracquadanio; L. Tositti; S. Zappoli; D. Gullotto; V. Librando; Z.Minniti; G. Perrini; G. Trincali; S. Becagli; A. Mannini; R. Udisti; E.Bolzacchini; L. Ferrero; C. Lo Porto; M. G. Perrone; C. Paradisi;A. Tapparo; P. Barbieri; L. Capriglia; F.Cozzi; E. Maran; E.Reisenhofer; V. Sicardi. P.Fermo; A. Piazzalung

Concentration and the chemical characterization of PM10 and PM2.5 in all the Italian territory

In order to studying the concentration and the chemical characterization of atmospheric particulate in the different season in all the Italian territory, inside the SITECOS project (PRIN 2004), a gravimetric sampling campaigns have been conducted. The PM10 and PM2.5 samplings were placed at the same time in different sites along the Italian peninsula. The sampling sites were: Bari, Taranto, Pollino (m.1800, remote site), Catania, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Arezzo, Grosseto, Capannori-LU, Prato, Montale-PT (rural site), Bologna and Monte Cimone (m.2100, remote site on Italian Apennines), Padua, Milan, San Colombano (m.2300, remote site on Italian Alps), Trieste and San Rocco a Muggia (TS). Daily PM2.5 and PM10 samples have been collected, to do a \u201csampling bank \u201c, available for a further chemical / physical / toxicological characterization of atmospheric particulate Samples have been chemically characterized according to their main species: PAHs, inorganic ions and EC/OC in the PM2.5 samples; elements in the PM10 samples. In the Padana plain (Milan, Bologna, Padua) the PM concentration is uniform and a strong seasonal trend is observed, with the highest values in winter time and the lowest values in summer while PM concentration in S. Colombano and Monte Cimone sites show an opposite seasonality, with the highest values in summer and the lowest ones in winter. These data show a slight evolution during the winter\u2019s day because of the height of the dispersion layer, in connection with microclimatic parameters; for example in Milan city during acute cases of pollution, the height is no more that 300m (Ferrero et al., 2006). Remote sites of S. Colombano and Monte Cimone in the winter time are above the boundary layer while during summer period they are on it. In the center of Italy PM seasonality concentration is less important while in the South Italy and in Sicily there is any seasonal trend. The reasons are, in part, linked to the different meteoclimatic features present in the Italian peninsula. Chemical composition data show a significant differences. In the North of Italy there is a strong seasonality of ionic component; in particular, during the winter, the Nitrate concentration is higher than the Sulfate one while the situation is opposed in summer. Ammonium does not show a strong seasonality, but it remains pretty constant; the same applies to Carbon. In the South of Italy cities, SO , NO 3 - and NH 4 + , primary component of inorganic ions, they do not show a seasonality with a Sulfate concentration that is always higher than Nitrates. In the center of Italy the seasonality is less marked thanks to the inorganic ions. Sulfate and Nitrate are similar from a percentage point of view. Also PAHs (expressed in weight/weight, quality of particulate), in the Padana plain, shows a strong seasonality, with a high percentage in the winter season and a lower one in summer (Ravindra et al., 2006). Over the year concentrations are constant in South of Italy, while in the center area, the seasonality is less strong. The vehicles traffic source is estimated to be one of the main PM source in the Padana plain, while in the South of Italy there are other sources like photochemistry reactivity, Saharan Dust events, etc. These results show a different role of PM sources along the Italian peninsula and they carry fundamental information for a correct management of the complex problem on a national scale. Ferrero, L., Lazzati, Z., Lo Porto, C., Perrone, M.G., Petraccone, S., Sangiorgi, G., Bolzacchini, E., (2006) Vertical distribution of particulate matter in the urban atmosphere of Milan. Poster. International Aerosol Conference 2006. Ravindra, K., Bencs, L., Wauters, E., Hoog, J., Deutsch, F., Roekens, E., Bleux, N., Berghmans, P., Van Grieken, R., (2006) Seasonal and sitespecific variation in vapour and aerosol phase PAHs over Flanders (Belgium) and their relation with anthropogenic activities. Atmospheric Environment 40 (2006) 771-785

Efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin in polycythemia vera

BACKGROUND: The use of aspirin for the prevention of thrombotic complications in polycythemia vera is controversial. METHODS: We enrolled 518 patients with polycythemia vera, no clear indication for aspirin treatment, and no contraindication to such treatment in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to assess the safety and efficacy of prophylaxis with low-dose aspirin (100 mg daily). The two primary end points were the cumulative rate of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes and the cumulative rate of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, pulmonary embolism, major venous thrombosis, or death from cardiovascular causes. The mean duration of follow-up was about three years. RESULTS: Treatment with aspirin, as compared with placebo, reduced the risk of the combined end point of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes (relative risk, 0.41; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.15 to 1.15; P=0.09) and the risk of the combined end point of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, pulmonary embolism, major venous thrombosis, or death from cardiovascular causes (relative risk, 0.40; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.18 to 0.91; P=0.03). Overall mortality and cardiovascular mortality were not reduced significantly. The incidence of major bleeding episodes was not significantly increased in the aspirin group (relative risk, 1.62; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.27 to 9.71). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose aspirin can safely prevent thrombotic complications in patients with polycythemia vera who have no contraindications to such treatment

Long term outcome of acute pancreatitis in Italy: Results of a multicentre study

Background: In Italy, no long-term studies regarding the natural history of acute pancreatitis have been carried out. Aim: To report the results of a follow-up on a large series of patients hospitalised for pancreatitis. Methods: Data of 631 patients admitted to 35 Italian hospitals were retrospectively evaluated 51.7 ± 8.4 months after discharge. Results: The average recovery time after mild or severe pancreatitis was 28.2 and 53.4 days respectively. Fourteen sequelae were not resolved and 9 cases required late surgical intervention. Eighty patients (12.7%) had a second hospital admission. Of the patients with mild biliary pancreatitis, 67.9% underwent a cholecystectomy. The overall incidence of relapse was 12.7%. Mortality was 9.8% and no death was related to pancreatitis. Three patients died from carcinoma of the pancreas. Conclusion: Reported recovery time after an attack of pancreatitis was longer than expected in the mild forms. The treatment of sequelae was delayed beyond one year after discharge. The incidence of relapse of biliary pancreatitis in patients not undergoing a cholecystectomy was low, due to endoscopic treatment. Mortality from pancreatic-related causes is low, but there is an association with malignant pancreatic or ampullary tumours not diagnosed during the acute phase of the illness

Long term outcome of acute pancreatitis in Italy: Results of a multicentre study

Background: In Italy, no long-term studies regarding the natural history of acute pancreatitis have been carried out. Aim: To report the results of a follow-up on a large series of patients hospitalised for pancreatitis. Methods: Data of 631 patients admitted to 35 Italian hospitals were retrospectively evaluated 51.7 ± 8.4 months after discharge. Results: The average recovery time after mild or severe pancreatitis was 28.2 and 53.4 days respectively. Fourteen sequelae were not resolved and 9 cases required late surgical intervention. Eighty patients (12.7%) had a second hospital admission. Of the patients with mild biliary pancreatitis, 67.9% underwent a cholecystectomy. The overall incidence of relapse was 12.7%. Mortality was 9.8% and no death was related to pancreatitis. Three patients died from carcinoma of the pancreas. Conclusion: Reported recovery time after an attack of pancreatitis was longer than expected in the mild forms. The treatment of sequelae was delayed beyond one year after discharge. The incidence of relapse of biliary pancreatitis in patients not undergoing a cholecystectomy was low, due to endoscopic treatment. Mortality from pancreatic-related causes is low, but there is an association with malignant pancreatic or ampullary tumours not diagnosed during the acute phase of the illness. © 2013 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l

Surgical management of acute pancreatitis in Italy: lessons from a prospective multicentre study

This study aimed to evaluate the surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis in Italy and to assess compliance with international guidelines.A series of 1173 patients in 56 hospitals were prospectively enrolled and their data analysed.Twenty-nine patients with severe pancreatitis underwent surgical intervention. Necrosectomy was performed in 26 patients, associated with postoperative lavage in 70\% of cases. A feeding jejunostomy was added in 37\% of cases. Mortality was 21\%. Of the patients with mild pancreatitis, 714 patients with a biliary aetiology were evaluated. Prophylactic treatment of relapses was carried out in 212 patients (36\%) by cholecystectomy and in 161 using a laparoscopic approach. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was associated with cholecystectomy in 83 patients (39\%). Forty-seven patients (22\%) were treated at a second admission, with a median delay of 31 days from the onset of pancreatitis. Eighteen patients with severe pancreatitis underwent cholecystectomy 37.9 days after the first admission. There were no deaths.The results indicate poor compliance with published guidelines. In severe pancreatitis, early surgical intervention is frequently performed and enteral feeding is seldom used. Only a small number of patients with mild biliary pancreatitis undergo definitive treatment (i.e. cholecystectomy) within 4 weeks of the onset of pancreatitis