MRI evaluation of post-mastectomy irradiated breast implants: prevalence and analysis of complications.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (RT) on breast implants as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) searching for short-term complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty patients (total of 144 implants) were evaluated by MRI; 80 (group 1) had undergone RT, whereas the remaining 60 patients (group 2) underwent mastectomy with implant reconstruction without RT. Two radiologists evaluated MRI images searching for implant rupture signs, sub-capsular seromas, capsular contracture, soft-tissue oedema, peri-implant fluid collections. Implant ruptures were classified as severe complications; seromas and capsular contractures as moderate complications; oedema and fluid collections as mild complications. The prevalence of MRI findings in the two groups was calculated and compared by unpaired t-test. Cohen's kappa statistics was used to assess interobserver agreement. RESULTS: Sixty-nine out of 144 (48%) implants presented pathological findings at MRI with complication rates of 47.5 and 48.4 for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Two (5%) severe complications, 10 (26%) moderate complications, and 26 (69%) mild complications occurred in group 1 and surgical treatment was performed in 10 cases. Two (6%) severe complications, seven (23%) moderate complications, and 22 (71%) mild complications occurred in group 2 and surgical treatment was performed in eight cases. No significant difference between the two groups was found (p>0.1). Almost perfect agreement between the two radiologists was found for MRI image detection (k=0.86). CONCLUSION: RT does not seem to cause a significant effect on breast implants in terms of complication rate in patients undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction. One-stage immediate implant-based breast reconstruction performed at the same time as mastectomy could be proposed.

Low pressure plasma functionalized cellulose fiber for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons polluted water.

This work reports the first example of effective purification, at laboratory level, of water polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons, by means of low pressure plasma fluorine grafted cellulose fiber extracted from Spanish Broom. In order to improve the affinity of the cellulosic surface towards water dispersed hydrocarbons, its original hydrophilic character was turned to super-hydrophobic, by a fluorine functionalization. Batch experiments were performed with the aim of studying kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of the adsorption process, as a function of the initial total hydrocarbon load and of the adsorbent amount. The kinetics data showed that the fiber removal efficiency ranged between 80-90% after one minute of contact time, in dependence of the initial hydrocarbon/fiber weight ratio (20-240 mg/g). A maximum adsorption capacity larger than 270 mg/g was estimated by fitting the adsorption isotherm measurements with the Langmuir model. It turned out that the functionalized fiber is capable to perform a significant hydrocarbons removal action if compared to other cellulosic materials reported in the literature. Finally, the efficiency of the plasma modified cellulose fiber, after iterative re-uses, was studied.

[Serologic study on the prevalence of HIV, HBV infection and on the false positive reaction of VDRL at a prison]. / Studio sierologico della prevalenza dell'infezione da HIV, HBV e dalla falsa positività della VDRL in un Istituto di Pena.

Prisoners are considered to be a high risk population for HIV and HBV infection. Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV, HBV infection and of the VDRL false positivity by performing screening tests in 496 prisoners of Monza in 1987. About a third of prisoners was HIV infected (with a high prevalence in drug addicts) and about a half had a contact with HBV virus. We observed a very common association between HIV and HBV infections. About ten per cent of HIV infected presented a false positivity for VDRL while one per cent of not infected did. Our data show that in Italian prison HIV and HBV infections are spreadly diffused. False positivity for VDRL may be due not only to drug addiction but also to the immunological variations connected with AIDS.

Evidence for the co-existence of immunocomplexes and platelet specific antibodies in HIV infection-related thrombocytopenia in narcotic drug addicts. Experimental results and immunopathogenetic discussion.

BACKGROUND: The development of symptomatic or asymptomatic thrombocytopenia is not uncommon in HIV seropositive drug addicts. METHODS: Platelet binding immunoglobulins, as immune complexes or as platelet specific antibodies, were studied in eleven patients. Whole sera anche serum factions obtained by PEG sedimentation and gel filtration were investigated using methods able to characterize the IgG and IgM immunoglobulin classes. Immune complexes-containing fractions were used in competition assays with some monoclonal antibodies with receptor specificities. RESULTS: Immune complexes able to bind both autologous and allogenic platelets were detected in all patients, while platelet specific IgG or IgM autoantibodies were detected in most, but not in all, patients. The results obtained with the various individual tests were sometimes discrepant, owing to the low avidity binding of platelet-reacting immunoglobulins. Anti-low-affinity FcRII monoclonal antibody moderately reduced the platelet binding of IgG containing immune-complex fractions. CONCLUSIONS: In thrombocytopenic, HIV seropositive drug addicts immunecomplexes and platelet specific antibodies usually coexist and possibly have different pathogenetic potential in the development of thrombocytopenia.