Fast method for the determination of short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (scl-PHAs) in bacterial samples by In Vial-Thermolysis (IVT).

A new method based on the GC-MS analysis of thermolysis products obtained by treating bacterial samples at a high temperature (above 270°C) has been developed. This method, here named "In-Vial-Thermolysis" (IVT), allowed for the simultaneous determination of short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (scl-PHA) content and composition. The method was applied to both single strains and microbial mixed cultures (MMC) fed with different carbon sources. The IVT procedure provided similar analytical performances compared to previous Py-GC-MS and Py-GC-FID methods, suggesting a similar application for PHA quantitation in bacterial cells. Results from the IVT procedure and the traditional methanolysis method were compared; the correlation between the two datasets was fit for the purpose, giving a R2 of 0.975. In search of further simplification, the rationale of IVT was exploited for the development of a "field method" based on the titration of thermolyzed samples with sodium hydrogen carbonate to quantify PHA inside bacterial cells. The accuracy of the IVT method was fit for the purpose. These results lead to the possibility for the on-line measurement of PHA productivity. Moreover, they allow for the fast and inexpensive quantification/characterization of PHA for biotechnological process control, as well as investigation over various bacterial communities and/or feeding strategies.

On the Origin of AMS "Cooking Organic Aerosol" at a Rural Site.

A number of field observations employing aerosol mass spectrometers (AMS) have demonstrated that organic matter rich in monocarboxylic acids and aliphatic carbonyls originating from cooking activities (the COA factor) contributes significantly to ambient organic matter (OM) in urban environments. Little is known about the contribution and nature of COA in rural localities. We studied the correlation of COA with chemical tracers at a rural site in the Po Valley, Italy. Our statistical approach, based on positive matrix factorization (PMF) shows that the COA factor was clearly linked to local emissions of chloride and methanesulfonic acid (MSA), chemical tracers not associated with cooking emissions, or with combustion sources. While the association with Cl is not understood at this stage, the emission of reduced sulfur compounds, aliphatic carbonyls and monocarboxylic acids is consistent with several agricultural practices (e.g., manure storage) and waste disposal systems (e.g., landfills) which characterize the suburban and rural areas of the Po Valley and of other many populated environments. It is concluded that the nature and origins of the AMS COA factor measured at a rural site are complex and include far more than the emissions from food cooking.

[Professional exposure to natural ultraviolet radiation: risk assessment and management and preventing strategies]. / Esposizione professionale a radiazione ultravioletta (UV) naturale: valutazione, controllo del rischio e strategie di prevenzione.

The aim of our study was to verify the impact of work risk factor in causing cutaneous neoplasia on a group of patients and to assess the risk of exposure to UV on outdoor workers. The survey was divided in three phases: a) Questionnaire, b) Dermatological clinical examination. c) Exposure measurement by spectral radiance method (mW/cm2). 248 subjects were enrolled, 100 of which affected by basal cellular carcinoma (BCC) (68% M and 32% F: mean age 70 +/- 11.93 y) 130 by melanoma (42% M and 58% F; mean age 53 +/- 17.35 y) and 18 by squamous cellular carcinoma (33% F and 67% M: mean age 78 +/- 11.41 y). In addiction 22 healthy male subjects exposed to UV were examined (mean age 38.59 +/- 13.65 y; specific working age 11.88 +/- 10.92 y). The assessment of UV exposure was performed over a 24 days timeframe during summer 2007, all over the working day. Furthermore, maximum allowed exposure time (t(max)) without protection was calculated according to ACGIH guidelines in order to prevent cutaneous alterations. It turned out that the UV exposure, both in working and spare time, is the root cause for squamous cellular cancer developing. Furthermore our results proved that also BCC is related to the overall UV exposure. No clear link to the UV exposure was found for cutaneous melanoma. No precancerous lesions were observed on shortly exposed subjects. The measurements performed revealed, as expected, lower exposure during first and last hours of the day without any particular constrain on t(max), and maximum exposure in the timeframe between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Therefore, it is necessary to pay higher attention to the UV exposure and related consequences on employees health in order to provide with the most suitable preventing measures such the usage of protections depending from the requested exposure time.

[Development of a physical performance scale for patients with implanted pacemakers]. / Messa a punto di una scala di misura della performance fisica in pazienti sottoposti a impianto pacemaker.

The development and the validation of the Pavia Physical Performance Scale (PPPS) is here presented. PPPS is a new instrument evaluating the physical performance of pacemaker implanted patients. Data comes from a cross-over clinical trial on the efficacy of two functions of the pacemaker device. Primary end-point is the improvement of the physical performance together with the quality of life. We used data of 168 patients actually enrolled and interviewed with the Pavia Physical Performance Scale. We first selected 30 Likert-type items; then we applied a statistical methodology of Homogeneity Analysis (HOMALS). We verified the homogeneity of the scale and the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92). With the same methodology, we developed the final version of PPPS. The final version lists 20 items; based on the results of the psychometric analysis, we turned the Likert-type scoring into a binary scoring (1 = no limitation of physical activity, 0 = limitation or never tried). The external validity, trough an Analysis of Variance of PPPS mean scores within New York Heart Association classes (NYHA), has been performed. We found a negative linear trend of PPPS scores and NYHA classes. That means an association between high PPPS scores (good physical performance) and low NYHA classes (also good physical capacity). The Pavia Physical Performance Scale (PPPS) could be proposed as a valid and consistent scale aimed to evaluate physical performance in pacemaker implanted patients. We suggest to use it in the clinical practice in addition to more traditional techniques.

[The pattern of patients admitted to psychiatric rehabilitation services: defining homogeneous groups. Multivariate analysis of a sample. A working group]. / Tipologia di pazienti ricoverati in strutture di riabilitazione psichiatrica: individuazione di gruppi omogenei. Analisi multivariata di un campione. Gruppo di Lavoro.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a multidimensional description about the pattern of patients recovered in some Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, as emerging from identification of similar groups regarded the total severity. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional survey has been conducted on patients recovered in 4 Northern-Italy Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. A statistical bottom-up analysis (Principal Components and Cluster Analysis) has been performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Any patient has been evaluated using a questionnaire with well-known rating scales (BPRS-psychiatric rating, Katx index and IADL index, IDS index of comorbidity) together with informations on sex, age, social and economic state, psychiatric history, therapeutic devices and staff involvement. RESULTS: We analyzed 455 patients. 267 (58.7%) male and the mean age is 58.517.9. After statistical analysis, 4 clusters of patients has been found: the first group (106 patients) is younger, described as not seriously compromised, mostly with psychotic problems; the second (96 patients, most of them woman with diagnosis of dementia) is much older, with serious problems of independency and comorbidity. The third (82 patients) and fourth (171 patients) group show intermediate patterns. The level of care requested by these groups has been provided. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show the usefulness of sophisticated statistical methods to describe patients recovered in psychiatric rehabilitation services. Moreover, our findings could be useful as good proposal to the people involved in this field, planning an active intervention in this area.

Cutaneous involvement in leukaemic patients. A review of the literature and personal experience.

The authors, on the basis of a review of the literature and on their personal experience, derived from the observation of 169 cases of acute and chronic leukaemias, describe the different aspects of the cutaneous lesions present during the course of these neoplastic conditions. The cutaneous lesions, subdivided according to the type of leukaemia, show an extremely variable pattern and it is therefore difficult to differentiate on the basis of the sole macroscopic appearances, specific leukaemic nodules or infiltrates from dermatoses due to bacterial, viral and fungal infections on which an haemorrhagic component may be superimposed. Similarly, if a clearly established diagnosis of leukaemia has not been confirmed, it is difficult to distinguish leukaemic infiltrates from cutaneous lesions caused by a malignant lymphoma, metastatic carcinoma, an eosinophilic granuloma, or from benign lymphohistiocytic infiltrates, secondary to cutaneous infections. It is important also to bear in mind the development of skin eruptions, often with an haemorrhagic component, due to acquired sensitivity to numerous agents, cytostatic drugs, antibiotics, blood products and others, used in therapy. The authors therefore underline the importance of an early recognition of an infectious lesion, often complicated by a previous haemorrhagic event or secondary to microbial invasion of a catheter tip or of a venipuncture site, and consequently, the authors emphasize the need to distinguish these non-specific skin alterations, amenable to appropriate treatment from those lesions due to the development of a skin tumour or to a leukaemic infiltrate, which is nearly always indicative of a leukaemia recurrence or extension of the leukaemic process.

Training home health nurses in i.v. therapy: a collaborative effort.

To stay competitive, many home care agencies have had to assess for acuity of the home care patient, revise their traditional method of care, and reevaluate their staffing patterns. This has been particularly true when caring for patients receiving home IV therapy.