Indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment in a multistorey shopping mall by high-spatial-resolution monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

In order to assess indoor air quality (IAQ), two 1-week monitoring campaigns of volatile organic compounds (VOC) were performed in different areas of a multistorey shopping mall. High-spatial-resolution monitoring was conducted at 32 indoor sites located in two storehouses and in different departments of a supermarket. At the same time, VOC concentrations were monitored in the mall and parking lot area as well as outdoors. VOC were sampled at 48-h periods using diffusive samplers suitable for thermal desorption. The samples were then analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The data analysis and chromatic maps indicated that the two storehouses had the highest VOC concentrations consisting principally of terpenes. These higher TVOC concentrations could be a result of the low efficiency of the air exchange and intake systems, as well as the large quantity of articles stored in these small spaces. Instead, inside the supermarket, the food department was the most critical area for VOC concentrations. To identify potential emission sources in this department, a continuous VOC analyzer was used. The findings indicated that the highest total VOC concentrations were present during cleaning activities and that these activities were carried out frequently in the food department. The study highlights the importance of conducting both high-spatial-resolution monitoring and high-temporal-resolution monitoring. The former was able to identify critical issues in environments with a complex emission scenario while the latter was useful in interpreting the dynamics of each emission source.

Cost analysis of the combined procedure of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

AIM: The aim of the present study was to address the economic cost of the innovative comprehensive approach involving cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to treat peritoneal surface malignancies, and to compare it with the financial support received by our centre. METHODS: A retrospective economic analysis was carried out on 382 consecutive procedures performed at a tertiary referral centre during the period 1995-2008. The costs of the combined therapy were estimated using the activity-based costing methodology. The financial support was assessed according to the current diagnosis-related group classification and reimbursement rates. RESULTS: The mean cost for one hospital stay was euro36,015.89 (range 28,435.24-82,189.08); mean length of stay was 24.3 days (range 9-108). In counterpart, our hospital received a total financial support of euro804,483.30, resulting in a deficit of euro1861,301.99 for the two years. CONCLUSION: The Italian current diagnosis-related groups classification does not include cytoreduction and HIPEC. This results in a relevant economic deficit for the hospitals offering this treatment option to their patients and a slow diffusion of the technique in our country. Two corrective measures are needed: to include this procedure in the official list of medical acts, and to determine its specific cost for reimbursing.

Research on potentially bioactive aza and thiaza polycyclic compounds containing a bridgehead nitrogen atom. Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzothiazines, Part 2.

Acid catalyzed cyclization reactions of both 3-alkyl- and 3-aryl-substituted N-(2,2-dialkoxyethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzothiazines (2) lead to 2,3-dihydro-pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzothiazines (3). The pyrrolobenzothiazine structure was deduced on the basis of 2D 1H NMR-NOESY experiments and fully determined by X-ray data. Compounds 3a-c showed poor antibacterial activity. However, the 3-phenyl-N-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzothiazine (2b') showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger 16-fold greater than miconazole.