[Radon risk in healthcare facilities: environmental monitoring and effective dose]. / Il rischio radon in ambienti sanitari: monitoraggio ambientale e dose efficace.

BACKGROUND: Radon, the second cause of lung cancer after smoking (WHO- IARC), is a natural, radioactive gas, which originates from the soil and pollutes indoor air, especially in closed or underground spaces. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of radon gas, its effective dose, and the measurement of microclimatic degrees C; U.R. % and air velocity in non-academic intensive care units of public hospitals in the Naples area. METHODS: The annual average concentrations of radon gas were detected with EIC type ionization electret chambers, type LLT with exposure over four 3-month periods. RESULTS: The concentrations varied for all health facilities between 186 and 1191 Bq/m3. Overall, the effective dose of exposure to radon gas of 3mSv/a recommended by Italian legislation was never exceeded. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of radon gas showed a decreasing trend starting from the areas below ground level to those on higher floors; such concentrations were also influenced by natural and artificial ventilation of the rooms, building materials used for walls, and by the state of maintenance and improvements of the building (insulation of floors and walls). The data obtained confirmed the increased concentration of radionuclides in the yellow tuff of volcanic origin in the Campania Region and the resulting rate of release of radon gas, whereas the reinforced concrete structure (a hospital located on the hillside), which had the lowest values, proved to provide good insulation against penetration and accumulation of radon gas.

Receptor imaging with 111In-pentreotide and 123I-methoxybenzamide, and inhibition tests with octreotide and bromocriptine of mixed growth hormone/prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors.

We have performed pituitary scintigraphy with 111In-pentreotide (OCT), a somatostatin analogue, and with metoxybenzamide (IBZM) by 123I-IBZM in two patients affected by mixed growth hormone/prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors. Short-term growth hormone (GH) inhibition by a single injection of OCT (100 micrograms s.c.), and short-term prolactin (PRL) inhibition by oral administration of 2.5 mg of bromocriptine (BCR), were also performed in both patients. The first patient, a 26 year old man, showed intense tumor uptake of 123I-IBZM scintigraphy, whereas 111In-OCT scintigraphy showed moderate tumor uptake. Five hours after the BCR inhibition test, a fall of 83% in PRL plasma levels (from 8,336 micrograms/L to 1,417 micrograms/L), and of 91.6% in GH plasma levels (from 39.5 micrograms/L to 3.3 micrograms/L) were observed. OCT inhibition test suppressed GH plasma levels from 36 micrograms/L to 3.5 micrograms/L. The patient was submitted to treatment with BCR and OCT. A dramatic shrinkage of the tumor was seen after six months of therapy. The lesion disappeared one year after the start of therapy. The second patient, a 64 year old man, showed intense uptake at 111In-OCT scintigraphy, while 123I-IBZM uptake was not observed. A test dose of BCR resulted in an acute fall of PRL (from 145 micrograms/L to 118 micrograms/L), but not of GH. A test dose of OCT decreased the GH plasma level from 61 micrograms/L to 4.5 micrograms/L. The patient was submitted to treatment with BCR and OCT that resulted in a computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging decrease of 45% of tumor volume one year after the start of therapy. Our results suggest that both suppression tests with OCT and BCR, and scintigraphic studies in vivo with 123I-IBZM and 111In-OCT can be predictive for the effectiveness of therapies with dopamine agonists and/or SS-analogs in patients with mixed PRL/GH-secreting pituitary tumors. Further studies are required to evaluate the role of suppressive tests in selecting patients for appropriate clinical treatments.

[Densitometry analysis with quantitative computerized tomography in 530 subjects from Southern Italy]. / Analisi densitometrica con tomografia Computerizzata Quantitativa di 530 soggetti dell'Italia meridionale.

Quantitative measure of bone mineral content (BMC) loss is an important diagnostic indicator for determining the risk of fracture and in following the course of patients undergoing therapy for osteoporosis. Several techniques have been used to evaluate this parameter. Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) is the most precise and accurate method allowing selective measurement of trabecular compartment of the vertebrae. Age, sex, ethnic heritage and geographic factors influence BMC variability. The aim of this study is to describe the normal cross-section pattern of age-related spinal bone loss in a Southern Italy population (530 healthy subjects: 450 women, 80 men) and to provide a local data-base for better interpretation of the BMC values. The BMC of lumbar spine was measured by single energy QCT, using a reference phantom with five tubes containing known amounts of CaCO3, placed approximately at the vertebral bodies L2-L4. Results indicate an age-related bone loss with the lowest values at 55-70 years, particularly in women, while no major further decrease was observed in subjects over 65 years. Normal linear BMC decrease rate can be derived from this data.

[Hepatic echography, angiography and angiotomography: results of a combined study in hepatic tumors (author's transl)]. / Ecografia angiografia angiotomografia del fegato: risultati di uno studio congiunto dei processi espansivi epatici.

The authors demonstrate the interest of the association among echography, angiography and angiotomography in the diagnosis of the primitive or secondary expansive formation of the liver. The casuistry is based on 22 multiple metastases of the liver, 5 primitive tumours, 3 hepatic echinococcus, 1 abscess of the left lobe, 1 renal tumour and 1 retroperitoneal neuroblastoma with secondary hepatic localizations. The analysis of the comparison of the results among the various methods employed has shown that the identification of the lesion is (resolvable) by echography; the study of the intrahepatic vessels compromise pertains to angiography; echography, even giving significant help in judging about a possible engagement of the vena cava, necessarily needs cavography.

[Radiologic diagnosis of the retroperitoneal masses (author's transl)]. / La diagnosi radiologica delle formazioni espansive retroperitoneali.

A series of 75 patients with retroperitoneal masses (60 malignant and 15 benign tumours) have been studied. Urography and angiography were employed. The results of the two methods are correlated. The following criteria are taken into consideration: a) site; b) nature; c) extension of the mass. The importance of a precise definition of the extension of the tumour is stressed. In fact this can greatly influence the choice of the therapy.