Multi-year record of atmospheric and snow surface nitrate in the central Antarctic plateau.

Continuous all year-round samplings of atmospheric aerosol and surface snow at high (daily to 4-day) resolution were carried out at Dome C since 2004-05 to 2013 and nitrate records are here presented. Basing on a larger statistical data set than previous studies, results confirm that nitrate seasonal pattern is characterized by maxima during austral summer for both aerosol and surface snow, occurring in-phase with solar UV irradiance. This temporal pattern is likely due to a combination of nitrate sources and post-depositional processes whose intensity usually enhances during the summer. Moreover, it should be noted that a case study of the synoptic conditions, which took place during a major nitrate event, showed the occurrence of a stratosphere-troposphere exchange. The sampling of both matrices at the same time with high resolution allowed the detection of a an about one-month long recurring lag of summer maxima in snow with respect to aerosol. This result can be explained by deposition and post-deposition processes occurring at the atmosphere-snow interface, such as a net uptake of gaseous nitric acid and a replenishment of the uppermost surface layers driven by a larger temperature gradient in summer. This hypothesis was preliminarily tested by a comparison with surface layers temperature data in the 2012-13 period. The analysis of the relationship between the nitrate concentration in the gas phase and total nitrate obtained at Dome C (2012-13) showed the major role of gaseous HNO3 to the total nitrate budget suggesting the need to further investigate the gas-to-particle conversion processes.

Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of screening by fecal occult blood testing (FOBT). Comparison of FOB Gold and OC Sensor assays in a consecutive prospective screening series.

We evaluated a new immunological fecal occult blood testing assay (FOB Gold, Sentinel = SENT) compared to the assay currently employed in the Florence screening program (OC-Hemodia, Eiken = OC). A total of 4,133 subjects were screened with both tests and underwent colonoscopy if positive (100 ng/mL Hb cutoff) to either test: 190 (4.59%) were positive (OC =140 (3.4%); SENT = 131 (3.2%)). The relative sensitivity for 7 cancers was 100% with OC and 67.9% with SENT, and for 48 high-risk adenomas (HRAs) it was 77.0% with OC and 66.6% with SENT. The positive predictive value (PPV) for cancer+HRA was 31.4% for OC and 28.2% for SENT and the specificity was 97.7 for both. The differences were not statistically significant. Adding SENT to OC increased the positivity rate by 32% and the cancer+HRA detection rate by 25%, and decreased the PPV by 10%. Both tests were performed on the same tubes in 1,601 cases, and in 18 of 47 cases they differed on different tubes but not on the same tube, suggesting inhomogeneous Hb content or varying fecal matrix influence in different samples. SENT has practical advantages for screening [corrected] (fully automated, high output, requires no dedicated instrument), a comparable specificity and a lower sensitivity, though the latter difference may be partially ascribed to differences in sampling and not to the assay itself [corrected] Because of the statistical insignificance of the differences, further studies are needed for confirmation.

Detection of circulating immune complexes in gynecological malignancies.

Extensive studies have demonstrated that immune complexes represent an important affidable tumor marker with a significant value as diagnostic and prognostic indicator of malignant diseases. In this view, we have studied a group of 11 healthy donors and a group of 11 patients with gynecological malignancies, pre- and post-operatively. Blood samples stored at -30 degrees C were tested by a new competitive immunoenzymatic assay (C3bi test). The data obtained, showed significant differences between healthy donors and tumor patients (p less than 0.001). Furthermore it is notable that the results obtained pre- and post-operatively could be proved with further longitudinal studies.

[Glycohemoglobin evaluation as a index of glycemic status in diabetic and prediabetic subjects]. / Dosaggio dell'emoglobina (Hb) glicosilata quale indice dello "status" glicemico dei soggetti diabetici e prediabetici.

HbA1c concentrations were evaluated according to Trivelli et al., in three groups of male and female subjects 14-65 years of age. Analysis of results confirms reliability of the test and its specificity in evaluating glycemic status in diabetic patients. The test does not appear to be any more sensitive than the traditional glucose tolerance test in detecting subjects at risk.

[Interrelationship between oral contraceptives and some parameters of the coagulative-fibrinolytic function (author's transl)].

PIP: The effect of 2 oral contraceptives (OCs) (0.05 mg ethinyl estradiol + 0.250 mg norgestrel; 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol + 0.125 mg norgestrel) on some parameters of the coagulative-fibrinolytic function was studied in a group of young women 19-26 years of age. To this end, blood samples were taken before OC use and during the 2nd month of suspension after 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 months of treatment. The parameters examined were: fibrinogen, plasminogen, antithrombin 3, chi 2 macroglobulin, and FDP. The most significant data (presented in tabular form) were: the gradual reduction of antithrombin 3 until the 36th month of treatment, the diminution of chi 2 macroglobulin, the progressive increase of FDP, and the stability of fibrinogen and plasminogen during the period of observation. (author's)^ieng

[Oestroprogestogen interference on some haematochemical parameters: glycaemia, lipid metabolism and hepatic functionality (author's transl)].

PIP: The collateral effects of 2 oral contraceptives (OCs) (0.05 mg ethinyl estradiol + 0.250 mg norgestrel; 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol + 0.125 mg norgestrel) were studied in a group of young women ages 19-26. These effects were investigated by evaluating some hemato-chemical parameters such as glycemia; lipid metabolism (triglycerides, cholesterol, and total lipids); and hepatic functionality (SGOT, SGPT, serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase). Blood samples were taken before OC use and then during the 2nd month of suspension after 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 months of treatment. This research, carried out over a period of 4 years found no significant variations which would necessitate cessation of treatment. (author's)^ieng

[Immunological dtermination of at. III (author's transl)]. / La determinazione immunologica della antitrombina III. Differenza nelle concentrazione siero-plasmatiche e determinazione in soggetli in trattamento con farmaci contracettivi ormonali orali

We have effectuated immunologically determination of At. III in serum and plasma into two groups of patients: 1) constituted of 10 subjects which never take oral hormone contraceptives; 2) constituted of 22 subjects who are taking OHC; for various time period. The results indicating that a difference exist between serum and plasma At. III concentration, ad this difference reaches to 30%. In this series of data the At. III levels was normals.