Bioarchaeology aids the cultural understanding of six characters in search of their agency (Tarquinia, ninth-seventh century BC, central Italy).

Etruria contained one of the great early urban civilisations in the Italian peninsula during the first millennium BC, much studied from a cultural, humanities-based, perspective, but relatively little with scientific data, and rarely in combination. We have addressed the unusual location of twenty inhumations found in the sacred heart of the Etruscan city of Tarquinia, focusing on six of these as illustrative, contrasting with the typical contemporary cremations found in cemeteries on the edge of the city. The cultural evidence suggests that the six skeletons were also distinctive in their ritualization and memorialisation. Focusing on the six, as a representative sample, the scientific evidence of osteoarchaeology, isotopic compositions, and ancient DNA has established that these appear to show mobility, diversity and violence through an integrated bioarchaeological approach. The combination of multiple lines of evidence makes major strides towards a deeper understanding of the role of these extraordinary individuals in the life of the early city of Etruria.

[Comparison of the leukaemia incidence in two cohorts of farmers and traders in the Vercelli province of Italy, 2002-2009]. / Confronto delle incidenze di leucemia di due coorti d'agri- coltori e di commercianti della provincia di Vercelli dal 2002 al 2009.

This study aims to investigate the incidence of leukaemia between 2002 and 2009 (ICDIX 204-208) among farmers active in the Vercelli province (North West Italy), during the period: 1962-1991. The farmer cohort (14397 subjects, 78 cases) was compared with a retail trader cohort (4565 subjects, 11 cases) who were Vercelli province residents as well, but not exposed to the risk factors associated with professional farming. A proportional hazard Cox model shows among the farmers, an approximately double leukaemia incidence with respect to traders (Hazard Ratio = 1,90 P-value 0,043 IC95% 1,00-3,60). Moreover men's incidence appears approximately to double that of women (Hazard Ratio = 1,92 P-value 0,003 IC95% 1,25-2,95).

[State of health of the population of Trino (Vercelli): cancer mortalities 2000-2007 and historical analysis of all causes of death from 1980 to 2000]. / Stato di salute della popolazione del comune di Trino Ver- cellese: mortalità oncologica 2000-2007 e analisi storica per tutte le cause di morte dal 1980 al 2000.

The survey takes an in-depth look at the state of health of the inhabitants of Trino, in the province of Vercelli. The presence of various industries like cement factories, foundries and the placing of a nuclear plant (E.FERMI) in past decades, led to the carrying out of several surveys in order to reveal possible epidemiological excesses. In the survey in question, a detailed analysis of cancer mortalities occurring from 2000 to 2007 was carried out, examining the results in comparison with the Local Health Authorities of Vercelli and data from the Rencam Registry of the city of Turin from 2004 to 2006. The results highlight and confirm significant excesses for cancers like the nervous system, leukaemia, mesothelioma and peritoneum. Subsequent historical analysis (1980 - 2000) with data from the BDM Piedmont with regards to cancer mortalities confirms part of our data, while for all other causes we highlight the anomaly of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in both sexes after the age of 65. The combination of these related results and our previous study of cases in Trino certainly require an in-depth epidemiological analysis through etiological studies.

[Assessment of breast feeding rates during compulsory vaccination: preliminary outcomes]. / Rilevazione dei tassi di allattamento al seno al momento delle vaccinazioni obbligatorie: dati preliminari.

AIM: In consideration of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on promoting and supporting breast feeding, a measurement of breast feeding rates was planned within Vercelli's Province (ASL 11, Piedmont, Italy) in order to compare the local situation to the national and international one, and to promote ideas and strategies for increasing the practice of breast feeding up to six months or beyond. METHODS: During Diptheria Tetanus whole cell Pertussis vaccination (DTP) vaccination a questionnaire about their children's feeding was handed out to all mothers. Preliminary outcomes were elaborated after a follow-up of six months. RESULTS: So far 1591 questionnaires have been collected. During the first DTP immunizations 31.63% of the children were exclusively breastfed and 15.81% were partially breastfed. At the second vaccination, 11.14% and 37.68% of infants were completely and partially breastfed, respectively. A 36.11% of partially breast feeding still emerged during the third DTP vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study are inferior compared to WHO expectation and to national statistics. Increasing breast feeding rates should consequently become a priority aim, pursuing it through the health workers training, the support of mothers who encounter difficulties during their hospital stay or at home, and making the public aware of breast feeding practices.

[Health evaluation of the population of the city of Trino Vercellese: epidemiological study on cancer incidence and mortality]. / Analisi dello stato di salute della popolazione del comune di Trino V.se: studio epidemiologico sull'incidenza e mortalità delle patologie neoplastiche.

The study includes an analysis of the state of health of the inhabitants of the City of Trino, County of Vercelli, 15 km south-west of the capital town. With industries making a significant environmental impact and an old nuclear centre under dismantlement, in recent years, the City has often been mentioned in local newspapers and pressurised by residents and local associations. Hence the drawing up of this study to describe the state of health of residents and cancer pathologies (incidence and mortality rate) and, consequently, to evaluate the need for further epidemiological analysis. The rates (SIR and SMR) were obtained by calculating the expected results compared with those of the Local Health Authority of Vercelli and the Airtum registries of Northern Italy: the results (divided by sex) highlight significant excesses in neoplasias of the mouth, nervous system, peritoneum in addition to eukaemias and mesoteliomas. Furthermore, the analysis by age shows epidemiological anomalies both at paediatric (0-14 years) and young people (0-44 years) levels: these results certainly require further epidemiological research through aetiological studies, including an ad hoc questionnaire.

Levels of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) in the urine of northern italy occupationally exposed agricultural workers.

MCPA residues were assayed in 18 urine samples collected from northern Italy herbicide spraymen. Urine was collected within less than or equal to 24 hr from workshift start and kept at -20 degrees C until analysis. Twenty-five-milliliter urine specimens were ether-extracted at pH 1 and then the free MCPA was turned into its methyl ester. Detection and quantitation were carried out by high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with low-resolution mass spectrometry (hrGC-lrMS) run in the multiple ion detection (MID) mode. Specimen mass chromatograms were referred to MCPA methyl ester external standards. Detection thresholds were 25 and 10 ppb when S/N ratios of approximately 10 and 2.5, respectively, were adopted for the quantitation ion mass. Mean recovery was better than 80% over the full concentration range tested (10-1000 ppb). Urine analysis yielded the following results: eight outcomes fell in the 10-50 ppb range, five outcomes in the 50-150 ppb range, and five in the 150-500 ppb range.

Ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of aspartame and related products.

A simple and accurate quantitative determination of aspartame (L-alpha-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester), a new artificial sweetener, is described. The method, which is based on ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography, allows the determination of aspartame in finished bulk and dosage forms, and the detection of a few related products at levels down to 0.1%.

[Broncho-alveolar cancer. Contribution toward a further clinical classification]. / II carcinoma bronchiolo alveolare contributo per un ulteriore inquadramento clinico.

The incidence of alveolar bronchiole carcinoma in 1665 histologically verified cases of lung cancer is referred to on the basis of autoptic observations made at the San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital of Orbassano between 1973 and 1979. In agreement with the most recent reviews of the question, a net increase in the absolute values of this form of cancer was confirmed. Reviewing the personal series, stress is laid on the problems of clinico-nosological classification of a.b.c. which, although defined by its peculiar histological expression, presents diagnostic and interpretative problems that are not easy to solve.

[Study of the respiratory manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Contributo clinico allo studio delle manifestazioni respiratorie del lupus erythematodes sistemico.

Following a short discussion of the anatomopathological and clinical features of respiratory signs during systemic l.e., some clinical cases in which involvement of the respiratory system (pleural and/or parenchymal) was observed alone or was clearly predominant are reported. The cases also presented some unusual clinical characteristics. Clinical investigations must be extended to the systemic mesenchyma in the presence of pleuritis or pulmonary fibrosis of unclear aetiology, even where there are no extra-respiratory signs of S.L.E.