Blocked atrial bi/trigeminy in utero evolving in supraventricular tachycardia after birth.

Transient episodes of fetal bradycardia (heart rate less than 110 bpm) are usually benign and typically result from increased vagal stimulation in the fetus. Causes of sustained fetal bradycardia include sinus bradycardia, blocked atrial bigeminy/trigeminy, high-degree atrioventricular block, and long QT syndrome. We present the case of a 34-year-old Caucasian patient referred to our department for "blocked atrial bigeminy with pseudobradycardia" detected elsewhere at 33 weeks of gestation. A fetal echocardiography showed during all the examination a blocked atrial trigeminy with a mean fetal heart rate of 100 bpm. After birth three subsequent ECGs until day 3 showed no evidence of atrial extrasystoles, confirming the well-known frequent regression of this kind of fetal benign arrhythmia, but on day 11 recurrence of supraventricular trigeminy and development of episodes of paroxystic supraventricular tachycardia were observed. On the basis of this observation, we recommend that fetuses with complex atrial ectopic beats should be closely monitored before and after birth for evidence of new arrhythmias.

[Radon concentrations in Apulian banking workplaces]. / Valutazione della concentrazione media annua di radon negli ambienti di lavoro del settore bancario in Puglia.

According to the obligations provided by the Legislative Decree 241/2000, this study was performed to evaluate the annual average concentration of radon in banking premises existing in Apulia. Passive detectors were placed in areas distant from sources of heat and/or air. The following information was gathered about the workplaces: their position regarding soil, external apertures (doors and windows), ventilation and air-conditioning systems, wall and floor characteristics. In 74 bank branches 324 measurements were carried out. The values ranged from a minimum of 2 Bq/m3 to a maximum of 848 Bq/m3; the mean concentration was 94,11 Bq/m3 (DS +/- 119,73). In 5 measurements the values exceeded the maximum limit of 500 Bq/m3; besides, 6 values was ranged from 400 to 500 Bq/m3. These data seem to be influenced by the geological features of the Apulian sub-surface with karst phenomena.

[Assessment of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields levels in the Taranto area]. / Valutazione dei livelli di campo elettromagnetico a radiofrequenza nel territorio della Provincia di Taranto.

Radiofrequencies are extremely common in telecommunication sectors, in industry, in medicine and domestic applications. We carried out an observed study focusing on the punctual monitoring of the electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones handsets or by SRB radiobase stations (transmitters), installed in Taranto and throughout the borough council. The measurement campaigns have been done by ARPA Puglia, Provincial Department of Taranto from November 2005 until March 2007, on 108 transmitting stations, of which 72 are of single installation and 36 of multiple installations, with UMTS, GSM. DCS, DVB-H kind of communication. The monitoring has been done with Wandel & Goltermann EMR-300 devices; the registered frequency is within the interval between 100 KHz and 3GHz and measures have been obtained with precise time interval of 6 minutes. In most of the monitored areas the results respected limit values; only in 2 cases on 108 the attention value has been exceeded, both within borough council area. In the town of Taranto values over 6 V/m fixed by the actual rule haven't been registered in none of the 51 monitored stations. We can, therefore, define within the limits the expositions emitted by the radiobase stations and in the buildings nearby the antennas.

[Evaluation of the levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in the territory of the city of Bari in outside and inside environments]. / Valutazione dei livelli di campo elettromagnetico a radiofrequenza nel territorio della città di Bari in ambienti esterni e confinati.

In this study we measured the levels of the high frequency field in the proximity of non-ionizing radiation sources (wireless transmitting stations for mobile telephones and radio and television transmitters) in nine districts of the city of Bari. The measurements were taken both inside and outside closed environments. For the indoor measurements we took into account electromagnetic field generating equipment (VDT, electric domestic appliances, mobile telephones) in working and non-working order and with the windows open and shut respectively. We carried out these measurements according to the methods laid down in the Italian regulation CEI ENV 50166-2 of May 1995, as shown in the enclosure to the Ministerial Decree of 10.9.98 n.381. The electromagnetic field levels near wireless transmitting stations for mobile telephones are certainly modest when we consider that they never exceeded the limits established by the aforesaid Ministerial Decree. On the contrary radio and television equipment creates a much greater source of exposure. The electromagnetic field levels are certainly superior to those of the wireless transmitting stations although they never exceed, except in one isolated case, the values established by the Ministerial Decree 381/98.

Case-control study on cancer risk associated to residence in the neighbourhood of a petrochemical plant.

The aim of the present study is to investigate cancer mortality and residence in the neighbourhood of the petrochemical plant located in Brindisi, South-eastern Italy. Cases were all subjects resident in Brindisi and in three neighbouring municipalities who died in the study area in 1996-1997 from lung cancer, pleural neoplasm, bladder cancer and lymphohematopoietic malignancies. Controls were subjects resident in the same area and deceased in 1996-1997 for any cause except those listed for the cases. Next of kin's of all study subjects were visited by an interviewer who collected anamnestic information. The main residence of each subject, defined as the longest held residence with exclusion of the last 10 years, was reported on a digitalized map of the study area (MapInfo). The study included 144 cases and 176 controls; response rate was 98%. Residence within 2 km from the centre of the petrochemical plant was associated with a 3 fold increase of the Odds ratios (OR) for lung cancer, which did not reach statistical significance. Living close to the petrochemical plant was associated with moderate increases of OR for bladder cancer and lymphohematopoietic neoplasms which did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion the present study has shown moderate increases in risk for lung, bladder and lymphohematopoietic neoplasms in the population resident within 2 km from the centre of the petrochemical plant in Brindisi. These figures were confirmed after adjusting for smoking habit, occupation and school level. Random misclassification may have somehow resulted in risk underestimation.

[Indoor radon pollution in houses in the Apulian Region of Italy and evaluation of the probability of lung cancer in the population]. / Contaminazione da radon indoor nelle abitazioni pugliesi e valutazione della probabilità di insorgenza di tumore polmonare nella popolazione residente.

BACKGROUND: Radon-222 is a gaseous radioactive chemical which can be transformed into other radioactive chemicals, defined as "products of decay" or "radon's daughter". The modality of radon penetration into the buildings depends on the convection motion created in the ground, which suck it back, so causing the penetration. The principal effect on human health is the increase risk of lung cancer, in proportion to the concentration and the time people spend indoors with exposure to radon. OBJECTIVES: The study proposed to estimate the expected cases of radon-induced lung cancer in the population of Apulia due to contamination by indoor radon. METHODS: The study used the data obtained in a national survey made by ANPA (National Environmental Protection Agency) and ISS (High Health Institute), with the collaboration of the Regional Reference Centres for the Control of Environmental Radioactivity (CRR). In the Apulia Region 310 families (5000 nationwide) were involved, which were selected so as to constitute a representative sample both of the region and the country. Appropriate instruments for the measurement of mean concentrations of indoor radon (passive nuclear trace monitors were installed in the homes of the sample families in two different periods of year). We evaluated the variations of indoor radon concentration in the houses during spring-summer and autumn-winter periods, observing a predictable increase in the latter period. We assessed concentrations in relation to: 1. architectural features and location, 2. construction year, 3. building material, 4. presence of windows. RESULTS: We found higher contamination in the oldest non-cement buildings and on the lower floors. In Lecce and Castrì di Lecce we found a mean radon concentration higher than the national and the regional mean, which is equivalent to annual exposure of 0.54 and 0.46 WLM respectively. For these levels we estimated that the expected cases of radon-induced lung cancer will be 1.5 in Lecce and 1.3 in Castrì per 10,000 inhabitants. CONCLUSION: The results of our investigations confirm that indoor radon pollution is a significant problem as it is one of the main causes of lung cancer. Hence, precautionary measures to reduce as much as possible exposure to indoor radon are highly recommended.

[Measurement of radon concentrations in schools at 2 communities of Puglia and oncologic risk]. / Indagine sulle concentrazioni di radon nelle scuole di due comuni pugliesi e rischio oncologico.

Measurements of radon's concentration have been effected in the schools of two communes of Puglia: Polignano and Valenzano. The average concentration of radon, based on the prospecting effected in the research period (spring/summer 1997), appeared, for both communes, lower than national average (75 Bq/m3). However, these average concentrations is below estimated caused of the limitation of the research period, owing to organization only at the period spring/summer. In fact, by the extrapolation applying a right factor of conversion, of the "winter" average concentrations from that average calculated during the research period (considering the evident limits of such procedure) we obtain, respectively, for both schools of Polignano and Valenzano, an average concentrations about of 75 Bq/m3 e 103 Bq/m3. The research shows the existence of a correlation among the obtained results and two important factors: the buildings materials utilized and the geological conformation of the subsoil; in particular, the buildings having main wall (tufa) or built by mixed materials (cement, bricks and tufa) measured the highest radon concentrations. Nevertheless, the absolute risk to develop a pulmonary tumour due to the radon exposition, limitedly for the population of the common of Valenzano, appears lightly superior in respect of the national risk (6 cases on 100,000 fellows) resulted about 8.5 case on 100,000 fellows.