[Source apportionment of benzo(a)pyrene in Taranto and carcinogenic risk estimate in general population]. / Individuazione e caratterizzazione delle sorgenti di benzo(a)pirene nel comune di Taranto e stima del rischio cancerogeno associato all'esposizione della popolazione generale.

INTRODUCTION: In 2009 the limit value of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in ambient air of 1.0 ng/m3 has been exceeded in the urban district of Taranto near to the industrial area, where a several large plants are located, including an integrated cycle steel plant. OBJECTIVE: To identify emission sources and quantify relative contribution to the PAHs levels; to estimate health impact associated to PAHs exposure in general population. METHODS: Multivariate receptor models have been used. Concentration of PAHs measured in 4 location in Taranto in 2008-2009 have been analyzed. 5 different models estimated profiles of unknown sources and identified significant chemical species. To compute the lung cancer risk the WHO unit risk estimate for BaP (8.7 x 10(5) ng/m3) has been adopted. RESULTS: Models employed identify 3 to 4 emission sources. Estimated profiles have been compared with measured ones. Based on the average annual BaP level measured (1.3 ng/m3), 2 attributable cancer cases in the district Taranto population are estimated to result from a life-time exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Among different emissive sources, the analysis identifies theoretical sources whose profiles, compared with observed data, allow to identify dominant contributions to PAHs pollution and to design corrective actions to reduce environmental and health impact.

[Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors and survival in patients with "glioblastoma multiforme"]. / Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors and survival inpatients with "glioblastoma multiforme".

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival of patients with "glioblastoma multiforme", to analyse the prognostic factors influencing the survival rate and to review recent results in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy five patients underwent radiation treatment between May 1998 and April 2003. Among the factors under investigation we ascertained that sex, chemotherapy, conformal treatment, surgery, and the choice of the irradiation area (whole brain or only the involved field) did not influence the survival in a statistically significant manner. RESULTS: Whereas age and total dose were the 95% statistically significant variables. Hazard ratio of patients older than 58 years compared to younger patients was 1.69. The death risk was 69% in older than younger patients. A greater irradiation dose improved the survival with an increase of the median survival days. The total dose lower than 6000 cGy caused an increase of 81.8% in the death risk. The median survival from the diagnosis to the death was 14.7 months (446 days) and 1-, 2- and 3- year survival rate was 69.3%, 38.4%, and 14.7% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The current medical literature and our experience attests that the use of temozolomide improves the survival of these patients.