Floating plastics in Adriatic waters (Mediterranean Sea): From the macro- to the micro-scale.

Macro- and microplastics abundances were determined in the Adriatic Sea following the MSFD TG10 protocol. The studied areas included populated gulfs, river outlets and offshore waters in five Adriatic countries. The use of small ships enabled us to detect small sized plastics (2.5-5 cm) and record average macroplastics densities of 251 ±â€¯601 items km-2, one order of magnitude higher than previously considered. Results from manta net tows for microplastics revealed an average abundance of 315,009 ±â€¯568,578 items km-2 (217 ±â€¯575 g km-2). We found significantly higher microplastics abundances in nearshore (≤4 km) than in offshore waters (>4 km) and this trend seems to affect also the small sized macro plastic fragments (2.5-5 cm). The dominant polymers were polyethylene and polypropylene while the presence of some rare polymers and waxes used in food and dentistry indicated waste water treatment plants as potential sources of microplastics.

[Conservative elective surgery in kidney neoplasms]. / Chirurgia conservativa di elezione nelle neoplasie renali.

After the good results of "necessary" conservative surgery in the treatment of kidney neoplasms (bilateral neoplasms, congenital, acquired or functional solitary kidney), conservative surgery itself has been employed as elective treatment in selected cases presenting without the overmentioned problems. The authors report two cases of elective conservative surgery in kidney neoplasm with good results after 18 and 24 months.

[Interpretation of experimental data in the presence of accidental perturbations: characterization of the bladder]. / Interpretazione di dati sperimentali in presenza di perturbazioni accidentali: la caratterizzazione della vescica.

Some tests are subject to the influence of a special kind of "irreducible" effects which do not satisfy the Central Limit Theorem of statistics, even though they show no systematic character or tendency. These effects especially present when physiological experiments are concerned "in vivo". In such the lack of specific methods to reduce these effects brings about the necessity of special case in minimizing the loss of information. Contained in the experimental data as well as the accumulation of useless information. Recent work has suggested the extensive use of several indexes derived from combination of available variables and their respective mathematic correlation. The information obtained by following this methodology has the character of "working hypothesis" so it needs many favorable confirmation to assess its reliability. It is convenient to analyze a large number of relations in order to emphasize the concordant effects and discord the others. In order to obtain some preliminary indication of the reliability of this procedure we have analyzed some CMG curves in prostatic and non-prostatic subject. The final slope of the curves (urge point) t = dP/dVr has been adapted as an index of the "elasticity" of the bladder; it was compared with the filling volume, the muscular volume and their ratio, i.e. with a geometric index of the bladder shape. The correlation show that the index t can, to some extent significantly represent the mechanical behaviour of the bladder in its physiological condition or when there is a partial obstruction of urine deflection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Therapy of hyperthyroidism: indications, advantages and disadvantages of treatment of the adult and the elderly]. / Terapia dell'ipertiroidismo: indicazioni, vantaggi e svantaggi del trattamento nell'adulto e nell'anziano.

Hyperthyroid syndromes can be approached in three different ways: medical, surgical and radiant. The medical therapy concerning the treatment of Basedow's disease is based on the extended use of thionamide drugs, which inhibits thyroid hormone biosynthesis and allows progressive recovery to normal glandular function. Agranulocytosis has been reported as the most serious side-effect. Inorganic iodide, lithium salts, beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents and glucocorticoids have been employed as therapeutic alternatives, though of not common clinical use. Thyroidectomy is preferentially indicated in the treatment of toxic adenoma in fertile age groups and hyperfunctional bulky goiters. The postoperative complications connected with thyroidectomy are the main disadvantages. The use of radioactive iodine is currently the therapy chosen for toxic adenoma after forty years of age and particularly for hyperthyroid syndromes of elderly people, in whom scanty compliance with therapeutic suggestions and the increased postoperative risk make it preferable to other therapies, though incidental development of hypothyroidism after radioactive iodine treatment is not an unusual consequence.

[Changes in urinary NAG activity in patients with climacteric syndrome treated with estrogens]. / Variazioni dell'attività NAG-urinaria in pazienti con sindrome climaterica trattate con estrogeni.

The behaviour of urinary NAG activity was studied in patients during menopause, some of whom were given estrogen therapy due to severe vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes etc.). One group of these patients revealed slightly higher than normal blood pressure. A second group had slight arterial hypertension and pancreatic diabetes. The third group consisted of apparently healthy menopausal women. The significant increase in enzymuria in the first two groups suggests that blood pressure should be carefully checked before starting estrogen therapy. Furthermore this treatment should be given very cautiously and under constant surveillance in the presence of slight hypertension. In patients with diabetes or more severe hypertension, estrogens should never be given.

Comparison between bladder wall's strain analysis and CMG in clinical urodynamics: preliminary report.

On the basis of data obtained in previous experimental investigations, the application of a new physical entity, "strain" (sigma), was evaluated in bladder dynamics. In this preliminary study 12 cases of urodynamically evaluated subjects are reported; the significance of the traditional P(V) curves is critically compared with the new sigma (V) curve, proposed by the authors.

Symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic obstruction with nicergoline: a placebo controlled clinical study and urodynamic evaluation.

A double-blind crossover study of the alpha-blocker Nicergoline was carried out in sixteen patients affected by benign prostatic bladder outflow obstruction. The "irritative" symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy, including nocturnal frequency and dysuria, were improved after Nicergoline significantly more than after placebo. In 10 further patients with prostatic hypertrophy, peak and mean flow rates increased by 50% and 77% respectively after the acute administration of Nicergoline. No side effects were detected. In conclusion Nicergoline seems to be active and well tolerated in the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction.