Nuove varianti di Bronchite Infettiva negli allevamenti avicoli siciliani

Avian Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is a disease caused by a Coronavirus, included in Coronaviridae family. The disease, endemic in Italy, affects both broilers and laying hens. It represents one of the main health issue in sicilian poultry farms. The presence of new antigenic variants makes problematic the implementation of an adequate prophylaxis through the use of appropriate vaccines. The present work aims to study the spread of IB strains in Sicily by serological and biomolecular tests in order to investigate the presence of "historical" strains as well as new strains and to carry out the genotyping of viruses isolated. The serological results show that the used vaccination protocols are able to develop an adequate antibody titre along all production steps both laying hens and broilers. The virological results underline the presence of QX strain in a broilers farm. This is a strain widespread in Italy but never reported in the regional territory

Ultrasound and cone beam CT fusion for liver ablation : technical note

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of fusion imaging between intraprocedural ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced cone-beam CT (CBCT) for small (< 2 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods: Six patients (five males, one female, age range 58\u201380, mean 69 years), with small (mean diameter 16.8 mm) HCC poorly visible at US underwent percutaneous microwave ablation under US/CBCT fusion guidance. During general anesthesia with apnea control, a contrast- enhanced CBCT was acquired with an active tracker. Subsequently, real time US images were fused with CBCT images, and treatment performed under fusion imaging guidance. Feasibility of fusion imaging and percutaneous ablation were assessed, correct targeting (distance from center of tumor and center of ablation area <5 mm) and one-month primary technical efficacy were evaluated. Major and minor complications as well as overall procedural time were recorded. Results: US/CBCT fusion was feasible in all cases, allowing for completion of the treatment as previously planned (technical success 100%). Correct targeting was achieved in 4/6 cases (66%), while in two cases, center of tumor and center of ablated area were respectively 7 and 8 mm distant. At 1 month CT scan, all tumors were completely ablated (primary technical efficacy 100%). No major or minor complications occurred. Mean overall procedure time was 127 min. Conclusions: US/CBCT fusion is a feasible technique for liver ablation, and might represent a useful tool to increase the correct targeting of poorly US-visible HCC nodules in the angio suite

Interventional Radiology in Benign Liver Tumors

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are interventional radiological techniques widely used in the locoregional treatment of malignant, unresectable lesions confined to the liver