Laundry wastewater and domestic sewage pilot-scale anaerobic treatment: Microbial community resilience regarding sulfide production.

In this study, the removal of anionic surfactant Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) from laundry wastewater was evaluated in co-digestion with domestic sewage, using a pilot-scale Expanded Granular Sludge Bed reactor. Surfactant influent concentration was enhanced from 5 ±â€¯3 mg LAS L-1 (stage I) to 19 ±â€¯10 mg LAS L-1 (stage II) and 36 ±â€¯19 mg LAS L-1 (stage III) throughout reactor operation. Sulfide levels higher than 20 mg L-1 influenced LAS removal efficiency, which decreased from 71% to 55% and 32% in stage I, II and III, respectively. Acclimation of microbial population was verified and higher relative abundance of the genera similar to Cytophaga, Bacteroides, Syntrophus and Syntrophobacter in the early stages (adaptation and stage I) was replaced by higher relative abundance of the genera Anaerophaga, Nitrosovibrio, Sulfurovum and Desulfovibrio in the last stages (stage II and III).

[Small size breast cancer conservative surgical therapy and subsequent radiotherapy]. / Il cancro mammario di piccole dimensioni: terapia chirurgica conservativa e successiva radioterapia.

From february 1980 to december 1985, 115 breast carcinomas were treated with QU.A.RT. with limited surgery and following radiotherapy. Median age was 51 years (range 25 to 75). Surgical approach was quadrantectomy with axillary nodes dissection. Irradiation of residual breast was performed by an anterior high energy electron beam. 50 Gy in 25 fractions was the minimal dose to whole breast. In pN+ patients systemic adjuvant therapy was done. Local control was obtained in 111 cases. Local recurrence appeared in 4: 1 menopausal pT1 pNO and 3 premenopausal (1 pT1 pNO and 2 pT1 pN+) at respectively 31, 19, 22 months from diagnosis. Distant metastases appeared in 10 patients. 7 died for cancer and 3 are still alive. Cosmetic results were scored as good in 52, better than mastectomy in 26, unsatisfactory in 3, and not stated in 34. Our results are comparable to those of other Centers. Youth, axillary metastases and delay between surgery and radiotherapy appears to influence the risk of recurrence also in our series.

[Diagnostic aspects of aneurysm of the splenic artery (description of a case)]. / Aspetti diagnostici dell'aneurisma dell'arteria splenica (descrizione di un caso).

A case of splenic artery aneurysm with ultrasonic examination discovered is reported and analyzed. The aneurysm pas asymptomatic and founded as incidental finding during standard x-ray. Arteriography was required to confirm the diagnosis and indicate the correct surgical treatment.

[Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder: ultrasonic features (remarks on 8 cases)]. / Il carcinoma primitivo della colecisti: aspetti ecotomografici (considerazioni su otto casi).

The authors illustrate the ultrasound features of gallbladder carcinoma after reviewing literature and basing upon their own experience. The diagnosis of this neoplasia is formulated more frequently today by introduction of scanning means, but it remains very difficult on initial phase because of its precocious lymphatic and hilar infiltration.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the duodenum (description of a case and review of the literature)]. / Leiomiosarcoma del duodeno (descrizione di un caso e revisione della letteratura).

The Authors report on a case of duodenal leiomyosarcoma of small dimensions in a paravaterian site and presenting a low degree of histological malignity. They summarize the main anatomoclinical features of the neoplasm and conclude by indicating less aggressive surgical therapy as adequate in such cases, accompanied, however, by a protracted post-operative follow-up.

[Hepatic angioma: a bothersome presence during staging of neoplasms of the digestive system]. / L'angioma epatico: una scomoda presenza in corso di stadiazione di neoplasie dell'apparato digerente.

On reviewing a consecutive series of 1,200 ultrasonic tomographies of the liver to assess the incidence of liver angiomas, the authors describe their sonographic, tomodensitometric and angiographic characteristics. They emphasise the fact that such lesions, though usually not constituting a serious clinical or diagnostic problem, as a simple sonographic follow-up will suffice to clarify the situation, may nevertheless, in certain particular clinical situations such as in the course of tumour staging of the digestive apparatus, require full diagnostic investigation using all the techniques available (ultrasonic tomography, CAT, liver arteriography, sonographically guided thin-needle biopsy.

[Epidemiology and monitoring of closed abdominal injuries]. / Epidemiologia e monitoraggio dei traumi addominali chiusi.

The authors review the epidemiological and aetiopathogenetic characteristics of abdominal blunt injuries (118 cases) monitored in a homogeneous manner. The relatively young age of the patients, the diagnostic difficulties encountered and the frequent presence of associated lesions call for the rigorous application of a predetermined clinico-diagnostic protocol.

[Ductal adenoma of the breast: correlations between clinico-radiologic and histo-pathologic aspects (considerations on a case)]. / L'adenoma duttale della mammella: correlazioni tra aspetti clinico-radiologici ed isto-patologici (considerazioni su di un caso).

The authors report on a case of ductal adenoma of the breast, pointing out that routine clinico-instrumental diagnostic signs, though suggesting a picture of malignancy, may actually relate to this rare benign form of tumor. In the presence of cases of this type, we therefore advise a cautions approach to surgery, in that oncological radicality is subordinate to confirmation in the form of a traditional histological preparation, as freezer examinations are unable to provide wholly reliable responses.

[Clinico-diagnostic aspects of aggressive angiomyxoma of the pelvis and perineum]. / Aspetti clinico-diagnostici dell'angiomixoma aggressivo della pelvi e del perineo.

The authors report on a case of aggressive angiomyxoma of the pelvis and perineum in a 46-year-old female patient. After reviewing the cases described in the literature, they examine the clinical characteristics of this rare form of neoplasia, which tends to occur more frequently in patients of female sex and in the young to middle-aged age bracket and is characterized by slow growth, non-infiltration of adjacent organs and a tendency to recur owing to incomplete excision. Metastases have never been reported. Failure to recognize the tumor at first approach may be due to the fact that it is easy to confuse it clinically with other more common diseases of the perineum. The authors conclude by advising systematic anatomicopathological identification of all perineal tumors, even when apparently benign.

["Wandering spleen": preoperative diagnosis by echotomography of the abdomen (review of the literature and report of a case)]. / "Wandering spleen": diagnosi pre-operatoria mediante ecotomografia dell'addome (revisione della letteratura e communicazione di un caso).

Splenic wandering is a rare condition of upset position of spleen, due to congenital fault or to excessive looseness of the supporting apparatus of this organ. The literature reports about 180 cases thereof, few of which recognized as such before operation. Ultimate investigations, in this limited number of preoperative diagnoses, resulted angiography and hepato-splenic scintigraphy; only three times the diagnosis was correctly placed through ultra-sounds. The authors show a case, confirmed by the operative report, where the ultrasonic test allowed to place the diagnosis with certainty, and, due to a particular lot of circumstances, proved to be better than TAC.

[Diagnostic up-date in thrombosis of the portal vein]. / Attualità diagnostiche in tema di trombosi della vena porta.

Portal thrombosis is a rare acquired condition with various etiology. Clinical manifestations are portal hypertension or nine. The main technics to diagnostic are: CT, indirect splenoportography and ultrasound examination. The first and the second are reliable but the third only is useful to explore the portal system and to evaluate patients with suspect portal vein thrombosis.