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Pr5-ALA has been well-established for use in intraoperative fluorescence-guided resection of malignant glioma. It is not as strongly supported for use with low-grade gliomas (LGG) because only a few of these, less than 20%, have visible porphyrin accumulation, which is useful for 5-ALA-guided surgery. We report here our experience with 5-ALA uptake in a case of suspected relapse of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted.

Facial nerve schwannoma localized in the middle fossa is a rare lesion. We report a case of a facial nerve schwannoma in a 30-year-old male presenting with facial nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 3 cm diameter tumor of the right middle fossa. The tumor was removed using a sub-temporal approach. Intraoperative monitoring allowed for identification of the facial nerve, so it was not damaged during the surgical excision. Neurological clinical examination at discharge demonstrated moderate facial nerve improvement (Grade III House-Brackmann).

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a common malignant brain tumor that rarely metastasizes extracranially, despite its aggressive clinical course. This report details the case of a young man presenting with a single subcutaneous localization of GBM that arose six months after initial surgery and recurred after excision. Only six other cases of scalp metastasis of GBM following surgery have been described in the literature, each with peculiar features. Whenever feasible, surgery is the most effective way to obtain local control of disease. However, a correct approach must be carefully planned to minimize the risks of recurrence and wound dehiscence.

The introduction of modern endoscopy in neurosurgery brought light to one of the darkest areas: the skull base. In particular, the trans-nasal route allowed skull base surgeons to visualize and dominate the entire midline skull base. We analyzed our surgical series of 199 patients that were affected by several pathologies (pituitary adenomas, clivalchordomas, craniopharyngioma, Rathke's cleft cysts, tuberculum sellaemeningiomas, and craniovertebral junction pathologies with bulbar compression) and treated each by using a 3D-HD endoscope between December 2012 and December 2015 and reviewed the literature. We present our results in terms of tumor resections and decompression inpatients affected by craniovertebral junction pathologies. Analyzing our direct experience, as well as the literature, we can assert that the amount and accuracy of necessary movements in order to achieve a determined target are affected by the screen clarity and image resolution of the device. Additionally, the experience of the surgeon has an important role in the surgical outcome. Moreover, depth perception is critical in order to obtain precise and accurate movements. Our observations and the experts' opinion indicate that this modality provides improved surgical dexterity by affording the surgeon with depth perception while manipulating tissue and maneuvering the endoscope in the endonasal corridor, which is especially crucial in reducing the learning curve of young neurosurgeons.

Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, remains incurable despite of the advent of modern surgical and medical treatments. This poor prognosis depends by the recurrence after surgery and intrinsic or acquired resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Nitric oxide is a small molecule that plays a key roles in glioma pathophysiology. Many researches showing that NO is involved in induction of apoptosis, radiosensitization and chemosensitization. Therefore, NO role, if clarified, may improve the knowledge about this unsolved puzzle called GBM.

Objective: Gross-Total Resection (GTR) is one of the most important predictors of overall survival in patients affected by High-Grade Glioma (HGG). In the literature there are no studies on the association between intra-operative ultrasound (io-US) and 5-ALA. We show a case description about this new[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 66. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor. Despite the best treatment and advances in therapy, prognosis remains poor. One of the mainstays of therapy in GBM is surgical excision. Several studies have confirmed that the extent of resection (EOR) positively influences overall survival (OS) in patients with high-grade gliomas (HGGs). A literature search was performed using PubMed to assess the useful neurosurgical tools to achieve the best neurosurgical performance. In order to achieve the major extent of resection, preserving neurological function, many tools are now available, especially neuronavigation, intraoperative fluorescence, intraoperative ultrasound, and neuromonitoring. In addition to the maximal excision of tumor, the neurosurgeon can use photodynamic therapy (PTD) and local drug delivery (LDD) to improve the local control and bridge conventional radio and chemotherapy. EOR improves OS in patients with HGGs. There are technological possibilities for achieving a complete resection preserving neurological function, and it is not acceptable to perform only biopsy of these lesions.

The increase of global environmental consciousness is pushing more and more towards sustainable systems for the management of cities and agricultural area. Organic waste can be converted into good soil amendments by composting, which is therefore recognized as an ecofriendly process. Recently, CNR-ISAFOM developed a simplified static composting method easy to be carried out at farm level for olive mill waste recycling; in order to analyze and model the impacts of such a method, a highly air-forced automated apparatus including two 35-liters bioreactors has been designed and developed. The system is able to analyze in real time the emissions derived from the respiration activity of the in situ microbiota. The air flow is managed by means of mass flow controller able to keep the oxygen concentration in the exhausted air within a pre-fixed optimal aerobic value. An accurate monitoring of temperature in the biomass, as well as in the inlet and outlet airflow, is carried out all along the composting trials. In addition, the apparatus records the progressive weight loss of the two bio-reactors while the concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are gathered in the exhausted air by means of separate specific detectors. The equipment is managed by custom NI LabVIEW software: parameters under control are recorded every fifteen minutes and promptly displayed in tables, graphs and spreadsheets. The apparatus has been tested by composting olive mill waste with hygroscopic additives, such as straw and waste wool. Monitoring at a Lab-scale the amount of emissions from composting may led to optimize those parameters which influence the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. This may help composting companies in comply the even more restrictive rules imposed by Regulators for reducing its environmental impacts.

Cerebral vasospasm represents the most critical event that could occur after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Therapy is only partially effective because cerebral arterial constriction is not fully understood yet. One of the most important biological messenger associated to SAH is nitric oxide (NO), that is considered local regulator of cerebral blood flow. Different nitric oxide synthase (NOS) forms play a role in different biological processes, one of which is to link neuronal activity to blood flow in cerebral cortex. We performed a reassessment of the literature to summarize the role of NO as the main inflammatory pathway activated after SAH to clarify its importance for treatment of vasospasm.

Plant nursery industry makes extensive use of non-biodegradable plastic pots (polypropylene, PP); in Italy, it is estimated an annual consumption of about 440 million PP pots which, at the end of their use, represent an expensive waste to be disposed of; therefore, the replacement of PP pot with similar products based on biodegradable materials, may reduce significantly the environmental impact of this sector. ECO-POT project aims at a cost-effectively production and successive field validation of biodegradable pots realized in different sizes; the mechanical properties of pots, i.e. resistance to lateral deformation and crushing, and rate of biodegradation should match needs of both operators and consumers. In particular, the biodegradation will be tested on plantable pot which are left intact on the root ball and planted into the field. In this case pots are designed to allow root to grow through the container walls and to decompose rapidly after being planted. In addition, the rate of biodegradation will be also tested on pots which are designed to be removed before final planting, thus speculating on the compostability of the used containers (test ISO UNI 14855-1) Different commercial biodegradable products, alone or mixed, will be tested. ECOPOT project involves different plant nursery farms located in Pistoia; up to 10,000 ornamental plants, placed in pots of different sizes, in different environments and belonging to 10 different species / varieties, will be tested. The most important expected results are: reduction in the consumption of non-renewable resources; economic benefits for nurseries gained in the international markets thanks to the adoption of recognizable low environmental impact trademarks (ECOLAB).

An experimental Lab device compliant with the standard UNI EN 13432 and ISO 14855-1 has been designed and set-up at ISAFOM-CNR, Perugia. Developed within the framework of ECO-POT project, the equipment is used to study the ultimate biodegradability of different bio-polymers exploited for making biodegradable pots used for plant nursery. Designed to estimate the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of polymers on exposure to a controlled-composting environment under laboratory conditions, the machinery automatically measures the evolved carbon dioxide emission by IRGA over a period up to 6 months. Test specimens are exposed to an inoculum that is derived from compost from olive mill waste. The multiunit performs sequential analysis on exhausted air coming from different samples run in triplicates (up to 12 bio-reactors) by selecting the mass flow escaping from each bioreactor (vessel) and switching the air-manifold. The apparatus keeps under automatic control pressure of the inlet air, temperatures, CO2 concentration and flow rate of the exhausted air, by a custom LabVIEWTM program, interfaced with a data acquisition system. To ensure optimal and homogeneous microbial activity all along the test, vessels are weekly shaken while the humidity of the inoculum is maintained around 50%. Acquisition of signals, control of actuators, remote software supervision, data elaboration and monitoring are performed by means of fit-for-purpose integration of hardware and software. Parameters under control are recorded, plotted and promptly displayed in tables, graphs and spreadsheets, clearly showing in real time the degree and rate of biodegradation of each sample under analyses. Findings (biodegradation curves) showed that some of the tested samples reached a degree of biodegradation > 80% in a very short time (less than 20 days). CO2 emissions (mass balance), recorded and calculated by the multiunit here described, has been validated simultaneously to the IRGA analyses by using the titration method carried out on the exhausted air trapped in BaOH solution and outgoing from vessels randomly chosen.

This paper is a brief review of recent studies on the feasibility of using olive mill solid waste (OMW) as a major ingredient in the preparation of humified compost (HC), and the application of the HC to soil on the growth of horticultural crops such as Olea europaea (olive), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Lactuca sativa (lettuce), Fragaria vesca (strawberry) and Agaricus bisporus (white button mushroom). OMW-based compost subjected to thermal composting process resulted in significant decrease in the level of polyphenols making it non-phytotoxic. Addition of the compost to olive orchard soil significantly increased total organic carbon and humic substances by 40% and 58% respectively. Similar results on elevated nutritional status and enhanced crop productivity were obtained in trials with other horticultural crops and the cultivated mushrooms. The outcomes of these studies have been the integration of soil health and environmental management practices to achieve sustainable crop production.

Static composting of olive mill waste (OMW) can be regarded as an easy and convenient way for the disposal and valorisation of such agro-industrial by-product. We investigated the bacterial community dynamics during OMW composting by applying a culture-independent molecular approach based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiling and Illumina next generation sequencing (NGS) of amplified 16S rRNA genes. DGGE analysis indicated the presence of a very high bacterial diversity in both the OMW and the composting mixture and the occurrence of a rapid succession of different bacterial populations throughout the process. Indeed, only few populations were shared among all the samples, while most seemed peculiar of the different phases of biotransformation of OMW into mature compost.NGS analysis allowed the identification of these populations. Actinobacteria were abundant in the OMW, declined at the beginning of the active/thermophilic phase and then represented the predominant populations during the curing/mesophilic phase. Interestingly, while in the OMW most Actinobacteria belonged to the family Microbacteriaceae, the compost in the curing phase featured a high abundance of Pseudonocardiaceae, mostly represented by the moderately halophilic Prauserella genus. As expected, the most abundant populations found in the active phase, when the temperature reached 60°C, were the Bacilli, particularly those belonging to the thermophilic, spore-forming Geobacillus genus. Finally, the compost in the maturing phase was mainly characterized by an even distribution of bacteria belonging to the orders Actinomycetales, Sphingobacteriales, Burkholderiales, Xanthomonadales and Rhizobiales.

Malignant brain tumours are one of the most relevant causes of morbidity and mortality across a wide range of individuals. Malignant glioma is the most common intra axial tumor in the adult. Many researches on this theme brought advances in the knowledge of gliomas biology and pathogenesis and to the development of new agents for targeted molecular therapy. Recent studies focused on either tumor metabolism analysis or epigenetic regulation in the pathogenesis or maintenance of brain tumors. This Review summarizes these developments analyzing molecular pathology and possible further developments for targeted therapies.

The activity has been developed within the framework of a novel static composting method set up by ISAFOM-CNR for olive mill waste (OMW) bioremediation. Usually, composting procedure requires that temperature should keep over 55°C for a minimum of three days in order to reduce human pathogens and ensure the safety of the end product. Briefly, OMW was mixed with appropriate bulking agents and packaged in polyethylene bags (Big Bag, BB); after packaging, the Active Thermal Composting (ACT) phase immediately started and it was monitored by means of a prototype equipment consisting of a grid including 45 thermistors NTC 10K Ohm 1% (MuRata Electronics) placed in Eppendorf polypropylene tubes and sealed by epoxy resin. The grid was located in a vertical section of the BB which was stored outdoor and protected from the rain. Outdoor conditions (temperature and relative humidity) were collected during the trial. In order to minimize noise coupling, the thermistors were connected with shielded twisted-pair cable for the transmission of the floating signal source to the data stand-alone acquisition device (ArduinoTM) and powered by 3.3V DC circuit. A multiplexer device and a real time clock were arranged in external junction box in order to expand the signals and synchronize the time. Appropriate software, developed in Arduino-based free platform, ensured temperature collection to a file on a SD card; acquisition of data occurred automatically every 15 minutes during the ACT phase of composting which lasted 2.5 months. Temperatures were elaborated and contour plotted with profiles by OriginPro graphing and data analysis software; it showed patterns similar to those reported for usual composting systems. Taking into account weight and volume changes during the ACT phase, results showed that over 85% of the mass put inside the BB kept over 60°C for more than 10 days, thus confirming the safety of the innovative static composting procedure carried out.

The activity deals with a novel static composting procedure set-up at farm scale by ISAFOM-CNR which aims at Olive Mill Waste (OMW) bioremediation. OMW was thoroughly mixed with hygroscopic additives (bulking agents), such as waste wool and straw, to avoid leaching and provide optimal moisture and mass porosity; fresh mixture was immediately packaged in gas-permeable 1 m3 polyethylene bags (Big Bag, BB), where the Active Thermal Composting (ATC) phase naturally occurred. The use of BB during the ACT phase has not required forced aeration nor watering and turning of the mixture thus allowing a naturally aerated static composting. After the ATC phase, BB have been opened, thoroughly mixed, slightly watered and allowed to age naturally in the successive "curing" phase conducted in windrow. During the ACT phase, temperature were taken every 15 minutes through an experimental tailor-made ArduinoTM based device with 45 thermistors arranged in a vertical section mesh placed into the BB; in order to confirm the aerobic nature of the ongoing maturation process, oxygen was also monitored in the exhausted air periodically extracted from the BB. The oxygen and temperature trends of BB showed patterns typical of a common composting system. Respiration and phytotoxicity standard tests stated high biological stability and maturity of the end product (compost). The maturation process caused drastic degradation of the labile organic matter and polyphenols while the stable carbon (humic substances) still remain at a high level in the end compost which therefore showed to be an excellent carbon sink. Chemical-physical and microbiological properties of the OMW compost obtained at the end of the static composting procedure above described fully satisfied the standard requirements set by EU regulators for compost.