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Abstract: Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been utilized to investigate in Eurofer97 steel (9Cr, 0.01C, 1W, 0.2V Fe bal wt%) the microstructural effect of neutron irradiation at 300°C up to a dose level of 8.4dpa. For each irradiated sample an unirradiated reference was measured to distinguish as accurately as possible the actual effect of the neutron irradiation. The SANS measurements were carried out at the D22 diffractometer at the High-Flux Reactor of the Institut Max von Laue–Paul Langevin, Grenoble, France. Analysing separately the nuclear and magnetic SANS components obtained after subtraction of the reference from the irradiated sample it appears that the microstructural inhomogeneities produced under such irradiation conditions are non-magnetic ones, such as microvoids. Their size distributions are presented and compared with those previously obtained for the same steel irradiated at 2.5dpa: with increasing the dose, the volume fraction is increased by a factor of 2 roughly, while the average size of these inhomogeneities remains nearly unchanged. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction represents a cause of persistent functional intestinal failure either “secondary” to specific conditions or “chronic intestinal idiopathic pseudo-obstruction” in origin. The diagnosis is mainly clinical, supported by radiological and/or endoscopic findings excluding any mechanical cause of intestinal obstruction. We reported a case of a 39-year-old woman with chronic intestinal idiopathic pseudo-obstruction, who underwent colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis; histological examination of the surgical specimen did not reveal myogenic or neurogenic defects or other pathological abnormalities indicative of an underlying neuromuscular impairment. Because of the apparent integrity of the gut neuromuscular layer, we tested whether a functional impairment affected colonic single smooth muscle cells. Muscle cells were isolated from the right colon and their contractile response to a receptor-dependent agonist evaluated in comparison to that obtained from controls. The cell contraction induced by acetylcholine in a dose response manner was markedly decreased in the patient affected by chronic intestinal idiopathic pseudo-obstruction compared with cells from controls (percentage of cell shortening with maximal dose of acetylcholine [10−6 M]: 10.7±3% versus 34.2±4%, respectively). The present findings indicate a specific defect of colonic smooth muscle cells likely related to an ineffective response to acetylcholine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aims: The histological modification produced by neoadjuvant chemoradiation on primary rectal cancer has been investigated by many authors, and a prognostic value of tumor regression grade (TRG) has been identified. Tumor regression grade on metastatic mesorectal lymphnodes has been never evaluated. The purpose of this study is to analyse the TRG on mesorectal lymphnodes (lymphnode regression grade, LRG) after preoperative chemoradiation in rectal cancer patients and to determine the correlation with TRG of primary tumor. Methods: Surgical specimens from 35 patients who underwent chemoradiation were included. LRG on mesorectal lymphnodes was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Response to treatment was evaluated by a 5-point LRG based on the ratio of residual tumor to fibrosis. Results: Complete pathologic response (LRG 1) was observed in 18 patients (51%). In 4 patients (11%) no regression was observed (LRG 5). In 4 cases only reactive lymphnodes were found. LRG on lymphnodes significantly correlated with TRG on primary tumor (p <0.05). Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation determines a tumor regression on mesorectal lymphnodes as on primary tumor; further studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of LRG. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: Local recurrence of rectal cancer occurs in a considerable group of patients who have undergone radical treatment for primary tumour. The treatment of choice is surgical resection but the prognosis remains poor, as a negative margin excision is possible in only a small subset of patients. A review of prognostic factors for locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) after surgery is presented. Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature for reports on prognostic factors after surgical excision of LRRC. These reports were identified through a review of the Medline database from 1982 to 2004. Results: This review highlights the most important prognostic factors for LRRC patients treated with surgery. Data are grouped on the basis of the prognostic factors investigated. Conclusions: R0 resection seems to be the only reliable prognostic factor; however, symptoms, pre-operative CEA doubling time, performance status and pre-operative radiotherapy can help patient selection before surgery. The results of this review provide the basis for improved outcome, aiming to assess patients who would benefit from reoperation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for the improvement of the shelf life of fresh meat products. Three different conditions for preserving fresh sausages were tested: MAP1 (20% CO2, 70% O2, and 10% N2), MAP2 (40% CO2 and 60% O2), and MAP3 (40% CO2, 30% O2, and 30% N2). Samples from the MAP2 group had fewer spoilage bacteria, stable red color (no change of a* value), and good physical attributes (high water-holding capacity, little loss from cooking, and low shear force needed for cutting) compared with samples from other treatment groups. Thus, high concentrations of CO2 (40%) and O2 (60%) resulted in a longer shelf life for fresh sausages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background.: The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire is a specific health-related quality of life assessment designed for patients with liver diseases. Aim.: The aim of this paper is to report on the validity, reliability and sensitivity to change of the Italian version (Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-I) in subjects with HCV infection. Subjects.: The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-I was administered to 350 subjects with HCV infection together with the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment, abbreviated version, a generic quality of life assessment. Methods.: The instrument was translated from English, backtranslated and reviewed in focus groups in the framework of a large multicentre study. Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors accounting for 65% of the variance of Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-I items and only partially overlapping with those found in the original version. Results.: The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-I proved to discriminate between subjects with and without comorbid diseases at baseline (t-test=3.59, p <0.001). Test–retest reliability was moderate (ICC=0.60). The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-I was sensitive to change in patients who deteriorated after one month of treatment. Change in the overall Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-I score in deteriorated patients was correlated with changes in World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment, abbreviated version scores in the physical, psychological and environment, but not in the social area. Conclusions.: The Italian version of Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to be used in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose The regional quantification of amyloid burden is crucial for the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease [1]. The best method to evaluate regional amyloid deposition in PET is through the use MR imaging for brain space normalization. However, since MR imaging is not always available in the clinical practice, a MR-less methodology is needed in order to compute semi-quantitative and analyze regional amyloid burden. Methods Forty-four patients with clinical evidence of dementia, underwent 18F-Florbetaben PET (FBB-PET), FDG-PET, neuropsychological assessment and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. We implemented a methodology that uses SPM12 to import and normalize the FBB-PET images in Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) space without MRI, and the Automated Anatomical Labeling (AAL) atlas [2] in order to extract regional uptake from normalized FBB-PET. SUVR has been computed by using cerebellum as control region (' Cerebelum _ 4 _ 5 ' of AAL atlas). We then computed Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve in order to find best thresholds for identifying clinical subgroups in our patients. Results Semi-quantitative evaluation of FBB-PET images and ROC analysis stated that SUVR value of 1,006 in the bilateral inferior frontal cortex and a SUVR of 1.03 in the precuneus region were the best cutoff (AUC 0.883 and 0.826, respectively). Box-Plot analysis showed a trend distribution of elevated SUVR levels in bilateral frontal cortex, angular girus, occipital, parietal, precuneus and paracentral lobule, among AD patients. Conclusion MR-less methodology based on Tissue Probability Map and AAL atlas provide regional quantification of amyloid burden. The ROC analysis is able to retrieve useful thresholds for the classification of AD versus non-AD thus providing a tool in clinical practice. We will perform the study on a larger sample in order to confirm the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: In Italy, vaccination against hepatitis B virus infection was strongly recommended for healthcare workers since 1985. Update findings on vaccination coverage are lacking. Aim: To assess current vaccination coverage against hepatitis B in this job category. Methods: In 2006, 1632 healthcare workers randomly selected in 15 Italian public hospitals completed a self-administered precoded questionnaire. Results: The overall vaccination coverage was 85.3%, a figure higher than the 64.5% observed in 1996. Vaccine coverage showed a significant downtrend (p <0.01) from the Northern (93.1%) to the Southern (77.7%) areas. Logistic regression analysis showed that residence in the North (Odds ratio 4.2; 95% confidence interval 2.6–6.7) and youngest age (Odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval 2.6–7.8), both were independent predictors of vaccine acceptance. Conclusions: Ten years apart, vaccine coverage has markedly increased, closely paralleling the downtrend in the incidence of acute B hepatitis among healthcare workers in Italy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]