ABSTRACT
An example of an integrated approach to assess air pollution threats to cultural heritage in a semi-confined environment is presented in this work, where the monitoring campaign carried out at the Michelozzo's Courtyard (in Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy) is used as a case study. A wide research project was carried out, with the main aim of obtaining the first quantitative data on air quality and microclimate conditions inside the Courtyard, and, if possible, identifying the main causes of degradation and suggesting appropriate conservation strategies. The investigation adopted a holistic approach involving thermographic measurements on the wall paintings, microclimatic analysis, gaseous pollutant monitoring, atmospheric particles characterisation and dry deposition compositional analysis. Attention was focused on the wall painting depicting the city of Hall because of its anomalous and critical conservation conditions, which are visible at a glance, due to the contrast between a wide darker zone around the central subject of the painting and external lighter areas.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants/analysis , Atmosphere/chemistry , Confined Spaces , Culture , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Particulate Matter/analysis , Air Pollution/prevention & control , Calcium/analysis , Italy , Nitrogen Dioxide/analysis , Ozone/analysis , Paintings , Silicon/analysis , Sulfur/analysisSubject(s)
Carcinoma/genetics , Carcinoma/pathology , Choroid Plexus Neoplasms/genetics , Choroid Plexus Neoplasms/pathology , Genes, p53 , Base Sequence , Carcinoma/surgery , Choroid Plexus Neoplasms/surgery , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Germ-Line Mutation , Humans , Infant , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Mutation, Missense , PedigreeABSTRACT
Subependymoma was first described by Scheinker in 1945; it frequently occurs in the ventricles and rarely in the spinal canal representing 0.7% of all central nervous system tumours. Most of these intraventricular tumours are subclinical entities, remaining of small size and discovered at autopsy with 0.4%incidence. We report a case of subependymoma with a completely exophytic growth from the foramen of Luscka: only a similar one has been described in the literature but with a lesser cysternal involvement. Neuroradiological and anatomopathological features of subependymoma are discussed.
Subject(s)
Cerebellopontine Angle/pathology , Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms/pathology , Fourth Ventricle/pathology , Glioma, Subependymal/pathology , Adult , Cerebellopontine Angle/physiopathology , Cerebellopontine Angle/surgery , Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms/physiopathology , Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms/surgery , Cranial Nerves/pathology , Cranial Nerves/surgery , Fourth Ventricle/physiopathology , Glioma, Subependymal/physiopathology , Glioma, Subependymal/surgery , Humans , Hydrocephalus/etiology , Hydrocephalus/physiopathology , Hydrocephalus/prevention & control , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Medulla Oblongata/pathology , Medulla Oblongata/surgery , Muscle Weakness/etiology , Nausea/etiology , Neurosurgical Procedures , Pons/pathology , Pons/surgery , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: This study describes a case of autochthonous neurocysticercosis in a non endemic region where a differential diagnosis with more frequent single parenchymal lesions must be carried out. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The patient presenting generalized seizures and coma status under the suspicion of cerebral neoplasia was admitted to the neurosurgery division. MRI showed the presence of an ovoidal cystic lesion in right-frontotemporal region. INTERVENTION: After right fronto-temporal osteoplastic bone flap elevation and usual dural tacking and opening, trans-scissural subaracnoid access was made possible by microsurgical strumentation in right Sylvian fissure. A cystic, translucid lesion was identified in the deep Sylvian fissure, involving the distal segment of the fissure and the frontal lobe, the cystic lesion was removed surgically. Pathological examination showed a typical picture of neurocysticercosis. CONCLUSIONS: After both surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment with albendazole the outcome was successful. The diagnosis of neurocysticercosis should be taken into account in the presence of generalized seizures possibly due to single parenchymal lesions, even in non-endemic regions for this parasitic infection.
Subject(s)
Neurocysticercosis/surgery , Albendazole/therapeutic use , Anthelmintics/therapeutic use , Coma/etiology , Combined Modality Therapy , Craniotomy , Epilepsy, Generalized/etiology , Frontal Lobe/parasitology , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Neurocysticercosis/complications , Neurocysticercosis/diagnosis , Neurocysticercosis/drug therapy , Neurocysticercosis/pathologyABSTRACT
Combined repair of the mitral and tricuspid valves involved with acute infective endocarditis was carried out in a 38-year-old drug addict. Mitral valve repair included vegetectomy, closure of posterior leaflet perforation, and posterior annuloplasty with a patch and a strip of glutaraldehyde-tanned autologous pericardium, respectively, while the tricuspid valve was reconstructed with the use of artificial chordae and valve bicuspidalization. At five months follow up the patient is asymptomatic, with echocardiographic evidence of only trivial mitral and tricuspid incompetence, and no signs of recurrent infection. This case report supports the use of valve reconstruction as a valuable option in patients in whom there is simultaneous involvement of the mitral and tricuspid valves with infective endocarditis.