The Environmental Pollution and Cardiovascular Risk: The Role of Health Surveillance and Legislative Interventions in Cardiovascular Prevention.

Environmental pollution in considered an established determinant of non-communicable illness, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Air pollution is the result of a complex combination of chemical, physical, and biological agents, and represents one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in the world population. It is responsible for 7.6% of global mortality. In this regard, it has been documented that it increases the risk of CVDs and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. In northern regions of China, long-term exposures to the particulate matter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) increase in the risk of ischemic heart disease by almost two-folds. Similarly, the additional risk for stroke, increases by almost 10% for long-term exposure to PM2.5. The detrimental effects of air pollution on cardiovascular system are particularly manifest in vulnerable subjects, such as the elderly, patients with heart disease, and obese individuals. Therefore, nowadays, cardiovascular prevention strategies, in addition to controlling traditional risk factors, should also include measures to improve the environment. This goal can be achieved by the implementation of the health surveillance in occupational medicine and by the extensive application of the national and international legislative measures. In fact, the health surveillance represents a crucial preventive measure for workers exposed to health risks (chemical, physical agents, etc.) that may lead to occupational diseases after long-term exposure. On the other hand, since environmental pollution does not recognize well-defined boundaries, only the implementation of regulations among large territorial areas can be useful to improve the quality of environment.

Autologous anterior lens capsule flap and serum transplant in managing idiopathic and refractory full-thickness macular holes.

PURPOSE: To report the results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with inner limiting membrane (ILM) peeling alongside phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with autologous anterior lens capsule flap (ALCF) and autologous serum transplantation (AST) into full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) and 14% perfluoropropane (C3F8) tamponade for idiopathic and refractory FTMHs. METHODS: Retrospective study involving eleven patients with idiopathic FMTHs and seven with refractory FMTHs after standard surgery with PPV, ILM peeling, and gas tamponade. All eyes underwent a 'combination procedure' of PPV with ILM peeling alongside phacoemulsification and IOL implantation with autologous ALCF and AST into the FTMH and 14% C3F8 tamponade. A face-down position for one week was recommended. RESULTS: The mean preoperative FMTH size was 558.95 ± 186.30 µm. Seven patients aged 64 ± 5 years had a refractory FMTH and eleven patients with a mean age of 63.72 ± 4.97 years had an idiopathic FMTH. The main BCVA improvement six months postoperatively was 0.3 ± 0.29 logMAR. Seventeen macular holes fully closed six months postoperatively, with one FTMH closure failure because of a retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: ALCF transplantation alongside AST may help to improve the closure rate and visual outcomes in both idiopathic and refractory FMTHs.

COMPARISON OF PAIN EXPERIENCE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SUB-TENON'S ANESTHESIA VERSUS PERIBULBAR ANESTHESIA DURING ELECTIVE VITREORETINAL SURGERY.

PURPOSE: To assess and compare the patients' discomfort and pain experienced during anesthesia, pars plana vitrectomy, and 24 hours postoperatively after sub-Tenon's injection (STI) versus peribulbar block (PB) in elective vitreoretinal surgery. METHODS: Retrospective study involving 80 patients who underwent elective vitreoretinal surgery receiving either PB (Group 1, n = 40) or STI (Group 2, n= 40) between January 2021 and March 2022. Patients' pain experienced during the procedure and 24 hours postoperatively were assessed using a pain scale and a two-section questionnaire. One hour postoperatively, patients were asked to rate the level of pain they felt during the entire procedure by pointing at a 0 to 100 Visual Analog Scale. Subsequently, patients answered a two-section questionnaire regarding pain and discomfort felt 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: According to Visual Analog Scale measurements, patients experienced significantly more pain during PB than during STI 1 hour after surgery. Patients undergoing PB experienced more pain than those who underwent STI, experiencing burning and discharge feeling. Patients undergoing STI had a lower pain level score 24 hours postoperatively despite similar discomfort. CONCLUSION: Sub-Tenon's injection has a lower pain score than PB during the procedure and 24 hours postoperatively, representing a valuable procedure to deliver analgesia in vitreoretinal surgery.

The Impact of Steep Trendelenburg Position on Intraocular Pressure.

Intraocular pressure occurring during the Trendelenburg position may be a risk for postoperative visual loss and other ocular complications. Intraocular pressure (IOP) higher than 21 mmHg poses a risk for ocular impairment causing several conditions such as glaucoma, detached retina, and postoperative vision loss. Many factors might play a role in IOP increase, like peak expiratory pressure (PIP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) and surgical duration and some others (anaesthetic and neuromuscular blockade depth) contribute by reducing IOP during procedures requiring both pneumoperitoneum and steep Trendelenburg position (25-45° head-down tilt). Despite transient visual field loss after surgery, no signs of ischemia or changes to the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) have been shown after surgery. Over the years, several studies have been conducted to control and prevent IOPs intraoperative increase. Multiple strategies have been proposed by different authors over the years to reduce IOP during laparoscopic procedures, especially those involving steep Trendelenburg positions such as robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), and abdominal and pelvic procedures. These strategies included both positional and pharmacological strategies.

[Injuries in the maritime workers and fisheries]. / Andamento degli infortuni nel settore marittimo e della pesca.

This work is based on a Search conducted by IPSEMA and in course of publication. It was considered the accident trend of seafarers in the period 2004-2011, based on INAIL data. The category of vessels most affected by the accident phenomenon is passenger transport (about half of the cases), followed by cargo ships (20.2%) and fishing boats (16.0%). The average age of the injured is equal to 41.6 years. Further evidence relating to the qualification of seafarers injured (mostly "sailor", "hub" and "small") and nationality (94% of Italians), while the main mechanism of injury on board is the trauma that affects mostly the arts. In most cases, finally, it came to accidents that occurred during the navigation.

Inappropriate leptin secretion in thalassemia: a potential cofactor of pubertal timing derangement.

The objective of the present study was to gain a better understanding of the role played by scarce leptin production in the deranged sexual development observed in patients with thalassemia. We studied 101 patients at different stages of puberty. Patients of both sexes were divided into three groups according to Tanner stages: T1-2 (20 males and 12 females), T3-4 (9 males and 4 females) and T5 (48 males and 8 females). Serum levels of leptin, ferritin, testosterone and estradiol were assessed. Leptin levels were adjusted for body mass index (BMI) using reference ranges stratified on the basis of gender and pubertal development. Deviations from the mean reference values were evaluated by calculating the standard deviation scores. Mean leptin standard deviation scores were significantly lower than expected in pubertal stage T1-2 and T3-4 in males and T3-4 and T5 in females. The peak leptin level was delayed in boys (13 years). In girls, parallelism between leptin and BMI was present until age 7-10 years; thereafter, although BMI constantly increased, leptin levels fell dramatically. Mean ferritin levels were significantly higher in pubertal stage T1-2 among males and in T5 among females. These findings show that in thalassemia adipose tissue is unable to assure adequate leptin production just when the highest leptin secretion is required and suggest that this inappropriate leptin secretion may be a cofactor of the derangement in pubertal timing observed in patients with thalassemia.

Hb Vila Real [beta36(C2)Pro-->His] in Italy: characterization of the amino acid substitution and the DNA mutation.

A rare high oxygen affinity hemoglobin variant was identified in a 22-year-old male patient from Napoli (Naples, Italy) affected by erythrocytosis. A detailed structural characterization of the variant hemoglobin was carried out, both at the protein and DNA levels essentially by mass spectrometric procedures and allele-specific amplification techniques. The amino acid substitution was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the tryptic digest as beta36(C2)Pro-->His; the corresponding DNA mutation was identified as C-->A at the second position of codon 36 of the beta chain (CCT-->CAT). These variations identified the presence of Hb Vila Real, described only once before in a Portuguese woman. Haplotype analysis of DNA polymorphisms showed that the beta-globin gene of Hb Vila Real was associated with haplotype I.