Phase-I dose finding and pharmacokinetic study of the novel hydrophilic camptothecin ST-1968 (namitecan) in patients with solid tumors.

PURPOSE: This is a first-in-human, phase I, dose-escalation study to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of intravenous, flat-dosed ST-1968 (namitecan), a new hydrophilic camptothecan derivative. METHODS: Namitecan was administered intravenously over 2 h on day 1 and day 8 every 21 days (D1-D8-Q21D), starting at a flat dose of 2.5 mg, and increased according to a 3 + 3 cohort design. Due to frequent skipping of day 8 dosing for cytopenias, the study was expanded to test namitecan dosing on day 1 every 21 days (D1-Q21) at a starting dose of 17.5 mg. Major dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as grade (G) 4 neutropenia persisting >5 days, febrile neutropenia, G3 thrombocytopenia or G2 non-hematological toxicity. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were included into the D1-D8-Q21D group (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 17.5, 20 mg dosing cohorts), 29 patients into the D1-21D group (17.5, 20, 23, 27, 30 mg dosing cohorts). Neutropenia was the DLT in both groups, with 15 mg being defined as the recommended dose (RD) for the D1-D8-Q21D group, and 23 mg for the D1-Q21D group. Non-hematological toxicity was negligible. One patient with endometrial cancer in the D1-D8-Q21D group and one patient with cholangiocellular carcinoma in the D1-Q21D group experienced a partial remission. Namitecan exhibited fully dose-proportional pharmacokinetics. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates clinical safety, favourable pharmacokinetics and preliminary antitumor activity of the novel hydrophilic camptothecin analogue namitecan in patients with heavily pretreated solid malignancies, when given either on a 2 out of 3 weeks or 3-weekly regimen.

Integrative population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic dose finding approach of the new camptothecin compound namitecan (ST1968).

AIMS: Namitecan is a new camptothecan compound undergoing early clinical development. This study was initiated to build an integrated pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) population model of namitecan to guide future clinical development. METHODS: Plasma concentration-time data, neutrophils and thrombocytes were pooled from two phase 1 studies in 90 patients with advanced solid tumours, receiving namitecan as a 2 h infusion on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks (D1,8) (n = 34), once every 3 weeks (D1) (n = 29) and on 3 consecutive days (D1-3) (n = 27). A linear three compartment PK model was coupled to a semiphysiological PD-model for neutrophils and thrombocytes. Data simulations were used to interrogate various dosing regimens and give dosing recommendations. RESULTS: Clearance was estimated to be 0.15 l h(-1), with a long terminal half-life of 48 h. Body surface area was not associated with clearance, supporting flat-dosing of namitecan. A significant and clinically relevant association was found between namitecan area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and the percentage drop of neutrophils (r(2) = 0.51, P < 10(-4)) or thrombocytes (r(2) = 0.49, P < 10(-4)). With a target for haematological dose-limiting toxicity of <20%, the recommended dose was defined as 12.5 mg for the D1,8 regimen, 23 mg for the once every 3 week regimen and 7 mg for the D1-3 regimen. CONCLUSION: This is the first integrated population PK-PD analysis of the new hydrophilic topoisomerase I inhibitor namitecan, that is currently undergoing early clinical development. A distinct relationship was found between drug exposure and haematological toxicity, supporting flat-dosing once every 3 weeks as the most adequate dosing regimen.

Validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess food group intake by pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies conducted among pregnant women to test the accuracy of food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) for estimating food group intake were restricted to one specific trimester of pregnancy. The present study aimed to validate a FFQ for assessing the intake of food groups throughout pregnancy. METHODS: In total, 75 adult pregnant Brazilian women were evaluated. Dietary intake was assessed by the FFQ (completed at the third trimester of pregnancy) and by three 24-h dietary recalls; one in each trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: The food items were classified into 20 groups. Adequate deatenuatted Pearson correlation coefficients (>0.4) were observed for the intake of bread/cake, butter/margarine; milk/dairy products; soft drinks/artificial juices; coffee/tea; and pastries/sandwiches. The FFQ served poorly for estimating fruit and vegetable intake. A high percentage (>70%) of women were classified into the same or adjacent quartiles for estimates of cookies/crackers, butter/margarine, milk/dairy products, fruit juices, soft drinks/artificial juices, coffee/tea, roots, rice, beans, meat/chicken/sausages, fried foods, fish, eggs, sweets/sugars, and pastries/sandwiches. Nevertheless, the agreement of joint classification between the dietary methods was mostly into adjacent quartiles, rather than in the same quartile, and low values of kappa were found. CONCLUSIONS: The data reported in the present study suggest that the FFQ might not be an appropriate dietary method for evaluating food group intake throughout pregnancy. The joint classification between methods by categories of intake of food groups was mostly into adjacent quartiles, which could lead to attenuated associations when investigating diet-disease relationships during pregnancy.

[Symptoms and upper limb work-related musculo-skeletal disorders among 173 supermarket cashiers]. / Disturbi e patologie da sovraccarico biomeccanico degli arti superiori in un campione di 173 lavoratori addetti alle casse di supermercati.

BACKGROUND: Cashiers in supermarket chains have long been considered at risk for the development of work related musculo-skeletal disorders of the upper limbs (UL-WMSDs). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of UL-WMSDs among workers operating supermarket cash tills and, after clinical tests, their frequency. METHODS: A standardized questionnaire was given to a random group of 173 workers in order to collect information regarding symptoms in the upper limbs (pain and parasthesia). Among the 111 workers who reached a "positive clinical history threshold" we selected a random sample of subjects to undergo clinical tests (professional medical care, ultrasound examination, electro-neurographic examination). RESULTS: 64% of the workers had a positive clinical history for UL-WMSDs. The most frequently reported disorder was pain, especially in the shoulder, while 37% of workers suffered from one or more disorders of the upper limbs. Clinical tests were performed on 51 workers (47 women) whose average length of service was 20 years and 2/3 were part-time workers; a total of 43 UL-WMSDs (59%) were diagnosed in 30 workers, including 13 (30.2%) cases of compressive neuropathies, 13 cases of hand/elbow tendinitis (30.2%) and 17 cases of shoulder tendinitis (39.5%). The average age of these 30 subjects was 47 years, with a length of service of 23 years, mostly part-time workers. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of general disorders and cases of UL-WMSDs among the workers investigated, including part-time workers and workers who were not working exclusively as cashiers. The study also revealed a poor health surveillance programme to identify/ UL-WMSDs that should be the responsibility of the occupational physician and a consequent underestimation of risk and lack of the information needed to adopt preventive measures.

[Critical in demolition and removal of asbestos cement materials]. / Criticità nei lavori di demolizione e rimozione di manufatti in cemento amianto.

Those involved in the asbestos removal is the main category of workers currently exposed to asbestos in the province of Brescia. Although Italy, since 1991, has special rules for the protection of workers exposed to asbestos, improved further by D. Lgs. n. 81 of 2008, the working conditions found in shipyards are still far from a satisfactory degree of protection of workers. Sanitary facilities are largely lacking, management of work clothing is left to chance, use of filtering face masks is often incorrect, wetting of surfaces with encapsulant is frequently inadequate, daily cleaning of work areas and areas of construction that may have been contaminated by asbestos fibers with extractors absolute filters is shortly implemented. Little attention is also paid to the protection of workers from the premises concerned to the replacement of the cover, as well as to the dispersion in the external environment of asbestos fibers that contaminate the gutters removed and sent for disposal. Finally, it is still very high risk of falling from, documented by the tribute of serious and fatal accidents that occur in these sites. Increased surveillance of Health Prevention Services of ASL is required to achieve higher levels of prevention.

[Dust and silica exposure on metallurgical furnace maintenance using refractory materials]. / Esposizione a polveri e a silice nella manutenzione dei rivestimenti refrattari dei forni metallurgici.

In the metallurgical industries the silica risk has long been known, particularly for the refractoryes maintenance workers. The maintenance of furnaces, ladles and tundisches refractory linings, on the current organization of production, is provided by companies under contract. The information available about the characterization of risk for this group of workers are at present inadequate. The study investigates the exposure to dust, also containing free crystalline silica (SLC), through the analysis of samples of commercial products used in the reconstruction of refractory linings of furnaces, ladles and tundisches, materials from the demolition of refractory articles and dust from work areas. It also presents the results of an environmental investigation conducted during the demolition and reconstruction of the refractory in three steel mills. The Authors, by the numerous inspections and the systematic survey of working conditions, have formulated a SLC risk profile and some proposals for prevention.

[Occupational risk and work-related diseases on steel foundries]. / Rischi per la salute e patologie do lavoro nelle fonderie di ghisa.

The iron foundries are still well represented in the area of Brescia and, despite having been involved in a major technological developments, have still risks to the health of workers. In order to verify the state of the art and effectiveness of prevention measures implemented by various companies, in recent years have carried out numerous inspections, environmental monitoring and biological. Furthermore, there were in the regional information system diseases reported and/or by the reported health. In particular it is shown that, in addition to chemical and physical risk factors, although in a much reduced compared to the 80s, are still present in our workplace pollutants (PAHs, silica, metal fumes, formaldehyde) at the base of classification of iron foundries in group 1, carcinogenic to humans, IARC, 1987 e 2012.

[Cumulative exposure to polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDS), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFS) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCB) in the metallurgic workers and the general population in Brescia province, northern Italy]. / Esposizione cumulativa a policlorodibenzodiossine (PCDD), policlorodibenzofurani (PCDF) e policlorobifenili (PCB) in lavoratori metallurgici e nella popolazione generale della provincia di Brescia.

High temperature metallurgical processes may significantly contribute to the release of polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs) into the environment. Aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure to PCDDs, PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) and non dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) in a sample of 300 workers of metallurgical plants operating in the Brescia area and in a control group of 113 men. Serum samples were grouped in pools of 10 and analyzed for their concentration of PCDDs and PCDFs, DL- and NDL-PCBs. Metallurgical workers show serum concentrations of NDL-PCBs similar to those observed in non-occupationally exposed living in Brescia, except in the case of some congeners, such as PCBs 28, 52, 101 which result to be significantly higher in metallurgical workers. Their concentrations range of "dioxins" was of 32.5 - 84.8 pgTEQ g(-1) lb. No significant difference was found between metallurgical workers and the control group on the whole, but the difference became significant when comparing metallurgical workers with the group of the 47 subjects living in remote non industrialised areas. In conclusion, concentrations of total PCBs observed in metallurgy workers are comparable with those observed in the control group, with the exception of a few, more volatile, congeners which resulted to be higher in metallurgy workers. Concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs showed a range of values similar to that observed in the general population of Brescia not professionally exposed. However, concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs observed in subjects resident in "remote" areas were significantly lower than those assessed in metallurgy workers and subjects living in the town of Brescia. On the whole, men living in the town of Brescia show levels of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs higher than those observed in other groups of the Italian general population, this reflecting the intense industrial activity of the town.

Phase II of oral gimatecan in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer, previously treated with platinum and taxanes.

BACKGROUND: A prospective phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of oral gimatecan in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients had a maximum of three prior chemotherapy lines with no more than two prior platinum-containing regimens and a progression-free interval after the last dose of platinum <12 months. A total dose of 4 mg/m(2)/cycle (0.8 mg/m(2)/day from day 1 to day 5) was administered, repeated every 28 days. RESULTS: From June 2005 to December 2005, 69 assessable patients were enrolled. The best overall response to study treatment by combined CA-125 and RECIST criteria was partial response in 17 patients (24.6%) and disease stabilization in 22 patients (31.9%). The median time to progression and overall survival were 3.8 and 16.2 months, respectively. A total of 312 cycles were administered. Neutropenia grade 4 and thrombocytopenia grade 4 occurred in 17.4% and 7.2% of patients, respectively. Diarrhea grade 4 was never observed. Asthenia and fatigue were reported by 36.2% and 18.8% of patients, but were all grade 2 or less. CONCLUSION: Gimatecan is a new active agent in previously treated ovarian cancer with myelosuppression as main toxicity.

The reversed clock drawing test phenomenon in Alzheimer's disease: A perfusion SPECT study.

AIM: To unveil a brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) pattern in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, showing a reversed clock drawing test (CDT) phenomenon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 1,005 consecutive subjects, 9 AD patients who drew a reversed CDT (AD-R) underwent SPECT, which was analysed (SPM2) versus a group of 10 AD patients performing the CDT correctly (AD+) and versus 15 controls (CTR). Brain SPECT in 11 AD patients who mistook the CDT in a common way (AD-) was compared with AD+ and CTR groups. RESULTS: Relative hypoperfusion was found in AD-R versus CTR in right medial frontal, parahippocampal and subcallosal gyri, and in left insula and superior temporal gyrus. Hypoperfusion was found in AD-R versus AD+ in the right uncus, superior temporal and parahippocampal gyri. In the AD- versus CTR comparison, hypoperfusion was found in left hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and superior parietal lobule. In AD-R versus AD+ and CTR merged together, the analysis showed hypoperfusion in the right parahippocampus, medial frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus and uncus, in the left insula and superior temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION: Fronto-temporal dysfunction, especially in the right hemisphere, plays a role in the reversed CDT phenomenon in AD patients, whereas matched AD patients mistaking the CDT in a common way show left posterior temporo-parietal hypoperfusion.

[Pulmonary concentration of asbestos fibers in steel workers with pleural mesothelioma]. / Concentrazione polmonare di fibre di amianto in lavoratori siderurgici affetti da mesotelioma pleurico.

The asbestos fibre burden of the lung has been used in the past as a biological indicator of cumulative exposure to the mineral so much so that in 1997 reference limits even for non-occupationally exposed people have been proposed. This kind of analysis was performed on groups of workers of different type of industries and allowed to achieve a qualitative-quantitative estimate of past exposure to asbestos, even in absence of exposure estimates by environmental monitoring. An important example is the steel industry where asbestos was widely used in the past, but for which there are not available exposure estimates of workers. Among the mesothelioma cases collected by the Mesothelioma Registry of the Province of Brescia from 1980 to present there are 55 workers who spent at least 5 years in steel industry, on a total of 289 cases classified as asbestos exposed (19%). For 8 subjects who worked in steel mills and production of electrical steel pipes, of which 4 in the same plant, lung tissue samples were available for the asbestos fibres burden analysis (7 samples coming from autopsies and 1 from extra-pleural pneumonectomy). In all cases the diagnosis was given with histological analyses supplemented with immunohistochemistry. In 7 cases autopsied the diagnosis was confirmed. The work histories have been reconstructed in detail through the interview process, inclusive of details of duties performed. The asbestos fibre burden analyses showed a range of concentrations between 260,000 and 11,000,000 ff per grams of dry tissue; the concentration of amphiboles was much higher than that of chrysotile. The highest body burden was detected in the maintenance workers of the same plant in witch a cluster of malignant mesothelioma was observed. In conclusion, this study illustrates the results of asbestos fibres burden analyses in subjects where exposure to asbestos is sure but not quantifiable. The results showed also that these concentrations can reach values that overlap with those found in asbestos-cement workers and in asbestos-textile workers. These data suggest to consider the cases of mesothelioma occurred in the steel workers at least as "possible" exposure, even in the absence of adequate information on the circumstances of contact with asbestos. This study, although based on a small number of cases, is the only one ever held in Italy on workers in this sector.

[Lung asbestos fibre burden in textile workers with malignant mesothelioma]. / Carico polmonare di fibre di amianto in mesoteliomi di lavoratori tessili.

BACKGROUND: Lung burden of amphibole fibres is a good biological index of occupational cumulative asbestos exposure. Malignant mesothelioma (MM) has been amply documented in textile industry workers, dealing either with mineral fibres or with vegetable and animal fibres. So far the concentration of asbestos fibres in lung tissue among textile workers has not been reported in Italy. We analysed asbestos burden in the lung tissue of eleven textile-workers with malignant mesothelioma, mainly employed in industries near Brescia, in the North of Italy. OBJECTIVES: To characterize lung asbestos concentration and fibre type retained in the lung of asbestos and non-asbestos textile workers. METHODS: Sample of lung parenchyma from necropsies and extrapleural pneumonectomy were collected, stored and analysed by scanning electron microscope, according to the methods recommended in the current scientific literature. Nine patients were interviewed directly for occupational history. RESULTS: Eleven cases of MM (10 primary pleural, 1 primary peritoneal) were collected, 9 women and 2 men, aged between 51 and 87 years, 4 asbestos-textile workers and 7 non-asbestos textile workers. The highest values of asbestos fibres were detected in all the workers of the former group and in 3 non-asbestos workers (jute recycling employees), with concentrations between 9.1 and 397 million/g of dried lung tissue. The total fibre concentration in the other 4 non-asbestos textile workers (silk and cotton production workers) ranged from 0.33 to 1.2 million/g of dried lung tissue. In only one of these subjects, did lung amphibole burden exceed 1,000,000 amphibole fibres longer than 1 microm per g of dried tissue. Eight cases out of eleven, showed a higher concentration of amphiboles than chrysotile. We detected amphibole fibres in all the "non-asbestos" textile workers and for two of them a higher concentration of tremolite. CONCLUSION: i) Among textile workers using asbestos or jute recycling, the asbestos fibre burden is as high as that found in other high risk jobs (e.g. asbestos-cement workers); ii) among non-asbestos textile workers, employed in cotton and silk production, the fibre content in lung tissue was much lower and it was nonetheless above the occupational cut-off for one of them; iii) tremolite found in lung tissue of non-asbestos textile workers with MM could be a contaminant of chrysotile friction materials or originate, with other amphiboles, from some other source as yet to be investigated.

[PAH exposure in asphalt workers]. / Monitoraggio biologico dell'esposizione ad idrocarburi policiclici aromatici in un gruppo di asfaltatori.

BACKGROUND: There has been interest in evaluating the potential carcinogenicity of bitumen fumes in asphalt workers since the 1960's. The IARC classified air-refined bitumens as possible human carcinogens, while coal-tar fumes were classified as known carcinogens. Occupational/environmental PAH exposure can be measured by several urinary markers. Urinary 1-OHP has become the most commonly used biological marker of PAH exposure in asphalt workers. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess asphalt workers' exposure levels by monitoring 1-OHP urinary excretion and compare this data with those of non-occupationally exposed subjects. METHODS: We investigated three groups of asphalt workers: 100 in summer 2007, 29 in winter 2007, and 148 during summer 2008 and compared 1-OHP urinary concentrations using Kruskall-Wallis test. RESULTS: Median 1-OHP urinary concentrations during the three biomonitoring sampling periods were 0.65, 0.17 and 0.53 microg/g creatinine respectively. There was a significant difference in 1-OHP values between the three groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: our study showed that PAH exposure of asphalt workers' is higher than that observed in the general population and in workers in urban areas. Our results suggest that PAH exposure in the three groups studied is not sufficiently kept under control by the use of personal protective equipment and that biomonitoring is useful in evaluating PAH exposure and for risk assessment. Regulations need to be enforced for workers exposed to cancer risk, such as the register of workers exposed to carcinogens.

[Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome. Motivations and results of a surveillance system]. / Sindrome del tunnel carpale da attività lavorativa. Motivazioni e risultati di un sistema di sorveglianza.

BACKGROUND: Current statistics show that work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been increasing constantly over the last ten years. Nevertheless, available data on the incidence of CTS in the general population and on the occupational proportion of the aetiology of this disease suggest considerable underreporting of work-related cases, which reflects on the number of cases reported to INAIL (National Insurance Institute for Industrial Accidents) and does not give an accurate epidemiological picture of their origin and distribution. For this reason, in the course of a prevention programme of upper limb disorders due to biomechanical overload, a second experiment concerning CTS surveillance system was carried out by collecting self-reported information via postal questionnaires. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of work-related cases in the selected group of the general population and to identify work tasks and factories with significant risk of CTS clusters. METHODS: From the hospital discharge lists of the Province of Brescia for 2001 and 2005, 1558 surgical cases were selected, aged 18-65 years, excluding housewives (nearly 25% of the total); thus 637 surgical cases were included in the study (68.6% female and 31.4% male). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Obesity frequency was observed to be higher in the sample than in the general population. This was not the case for diabetes. The probability of surgical CTS cases attributable to occupational exposure was estimated by dividing the 637 cases into three exposure categories:probable, possible and improbable with results of respectively 44.4%, 36.6% and 19%; in the first category, the frequency among females was 78.8%. The CTS cases among females less than 40 years old was 40% in the probable exposure category versus 10% into the improbable exposure category. In the latter category, the prevalence of concomitant hand tendinitis was 11% versus 22% in the probable exposure category. Obese patients fell into the three occupational risk groups in the same proportion. Among the 283 STC cases considered as probable occupational exposure cases, only 11 were reported as required by law to the Occupational Health Service. Whereas a number of work tasks and work sectors with high risk factors were confirmed, there were relatively few factories with a possible presence of clusters, probably due to the small sample size compared to the general population and to the density of the factories potentially at risk. The epidemiological surveillance thus carried out provided more evidence confirming the serious underreporting of the work-related STC cases in a highly industrialised province and also provided useful information on the local situation regarding high-risk occupations, which need to be addressed via interventions of primary prevention should, possibly with greater involvement of the occupational physicians.

[Asbestos fibre lung burden and exposure indices in asbestos-cement workers]. / Carico polmonare di fibre di asbesto e indici di esposizione cumulativa in lavoratori del cementoamianto.

BACKGROUND: In many previous studies, the asbestos fibres retained in the lung were regarded as a good index of cumulative occupational asbestos exposure. Twelve workers suffering from asbestos-related diseases and had been employed in an asbestos-cement factory operating from 1961 to 1994 underwent post mortem investigations in the course of a criminal law suit. OBJECTIVES: Samples of lung tissues were collected for electron microscopy analysis to measure the asbestos fibre burden of the lungs in workers with high exposure, and assess the possible correlation between asbestos fibre lung burden and the estimated levels of cumulative exposure. METHODS: Samples of lung parenchyma obtained from a consecutive series of 12 post-mortem examinations that were performed between 1994 and 2007and included 5 cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma, 4 lung cancers, 1 case of asbestosis and2 ofpleuralplagues, were collected, stored and analysed by SEM electron microscopy, according to the methods suggested by the current scientific literature. For each worker, all males, a detailed occupational history was reconstructed by means ofpersonal interviews; both the measurements of airborne asbestos fibresperformed by the factory in the 1970's and the duration of each single job in the plant were taken into account to estimate an individual cumulative exposure index. RESULTS: A wide variation of total asbestos fibre concentrations in the lung (1,320-118 million) was observed; in all 12 workers, the lung amphibole fibre burden exceeded 1,000,000 fibres per g/dry tissue, The highest values were detected in the mesothelioma cases, in which the mean fibre concentrations differed statistically (t=2.29, p=0.045) from the mean calculated for the other asbestos-related diseases; in 9 subjects only amphibole fibres were detected. There was a good correlation between total asbestos fibre concentration and cumulative exposure index (r=0.91, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study, which was numerically the biggest ever performed in Italy for this category of workers, confirms a wide range of total asbestos fibre burden in heavily occupationally exposed workers and showed that of the asbestos-related diseases, the highest lung concentrations of asbestos fibres were reached in cases of mesothelioma. It was also observed that almost the entire lung burden consists of only amphibole fibres, all exceeding 1 million per gramme of dry tissue. This study tested a synthetic cumulative occupational exposure index, which appears to be well correlated to the level of exposure established by biological analysis.

Optical particle counter data collected in two inhabited sites close to an industrial hot spot during a three months survey.

Data on this paper describe the monitoring of different size ranges of particulate matter on dwellings positioned close to an integral cycle steel plant. Data were collected by eight channel (PM0.3, PM0.5, PM0.7, PM1, PM2, PM3, PM5, PM10) optical particle counters positioned in two sites. The data were recorded as counts-per-minute for every size channel in a three months survey from June to September 2015. Basic statistical elaboration and boxplot graphs as well as raw data are included. The data are related to "Characterization of variability of air particulate matter size profiles recorded by Optical Particle Counters near a complex emissive source by use of Self-Organizing Map algorithm" Licen et al.,2019, in which a statistical elaboration by Self-Organizing Map algorithm is proposed.

Multivariate classification and modeling in surface water pollution estimation.

The present study deals with the application of self-organizing maps (SOM) and multiway principal-components analysis to classify, model, and interpret a large monitoring data set for surface water quality. The chemometric methods applied made it possible to reveal specific quality patterns of the chemical and biological parameters used to monitor the water quality (relation between water temperature, turbidity, hardness, colibacteria), seasonal impacts during the long period of observation and the relative independence on the spatial location of the sampling sites (water supply sources for the City of Trieste).

Evaluation of recA sequencing for the classification of Aeromonas strains at the genotype level.

AIMS: To evaluate the usefulness of partial recA sequences for the identification of Aeromonas strains at the genotype level. METHODS AND RESULTS: A partial recA sequence was obtained from 21 type or reference strains and 33 Aeromonas isolates, collected in the South of Switzerland from human, animal and aquatic environments. The 272 bp long recA fragments showed a mean interspecies divergence of 7.8% and allowed the classification of strains at genotype level. However, some discrepancies could be observed with other gene sequence based analyses in the classification of some strains. CONCLUSIONS: The 272 bp long recA fragment is a good molecular marker to infer taxonomy of members of the genus Aeromonas, even if the primers we chose for the amplification did not allow its direct sequencing. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In the genus Aeromonas, nucleotide sequences of some protein-encoding genes have already been evaluated as molecular markers to be used in taxonomical and epidemiological researches. This study suggests the usefulness of a recA fragment as a further sequence to investigate for these purposes.

[Recycle of jute bags; asbestos in agriculture, exposure and pathology ]. / Riciclaggio di sacchi di juta, patologie asbesto-correlate ed esposizione ad amianto in agricoltura.

During the last four years, a deeper examination of malignant mesothelioma (MM) cases occurred within non asbestos textile industry highlighted asbestos past exposure in several textile industrial divisions. In spite of that, poor information about recycled textile bags previously containing asbestos fibres is available to the National Mesothelioma Registry, although holding a remarkable data bank on more than 3500 work histories and sources of asbestos exposures. Besides the analysis of the exposure circumstances and the registered health effects of the past exposure within the recycling activity, the aim of this research was to relate the possible involvement of the agricultural sector, where the use of recycled jute bags was very diffused. The MM cases were collected from the Mesothelioma Registry of Brescia, asbestosis, pleural plaques and lung cancer cases were collected from the Occupational Diseases Archive of the Local Public Occupational Health Service of the Province of Brescia. During the 1977-2006 period, 8 cases of MM, 4 cases of pulmonary asbestosis, 4 of isolated bilateral pleural plaques and I of lung cancer in pulmonary asbestosis, were observed among workers employed in bags recycling activity in 4 small companies, one of them still operating, employing about 50 workers. Even more, among the 65 MM cases classified by the Registry with "unknown asbestos exposure" (UAE), the most relevant frequency of working histories concerned the agriculture sector. Confirming a past signalling, the investigations underlined the cross linkage between this working activity and the diffusion of recycled bags in the agriculture sector. In the Province of Brescia, the activities of these small jute bags recycling plants were linked, even geographically, to the asbestos cement manufacture plant using a huge number of bags, roughly until mid seventies. Therefore, a large number of these recycled bags, previously containing asbestos, were generally used for harvesting and trading agricultural typical products of northern Italy. According to the 2003 National Mesothelioma Registry Guide Lines, MM in agricultural workers are still classified as UAE due to poor information available. In the light of these new findings, it looks reasonable to review the UAE within agriculturalists attributing a new classification of "possible" occupational asbestos exposure, although other exposure circumstances might have occurred in the past.

[Malignant mesothelioma in garment sewing-machine workers]. / Mesoteliomi maligni nelle confezioni abbigliamento: un'ulteriore fonte di esposizione ad amianto.

BACKGROUND: Due to poor information collected through patient interviews, a considerable number of malignant mesothelioma (MM) cases still remain classified as "unknown" asbestos exposure in the Italian Mesotelioma Registry (Re.Na.M). At the same time, some occupational asbestos exposures, which were previously unknown, have been demonstrated in certain types of work, i.e., in agriculture and in the textile industry. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to investigate the possible past occupational exposure to asbestos in clothing workers using sewing-machines. METHODS: The MM cases were collected from the Mesothelioma Registry of Brescia. Work histories were obtained via a standardized questionnaire. Investigations were conducted in sewing-machine maintenance workshop in order to collect information regarding the possible use of asbestos parts. In addition, the use of asbestos friction materials and the use of insulated asbestos materials was checked in the clothing divisions by interviewing the management and maintenance workers of two companies where cases of MM were observed. RESULTS: The Mesothelioma Registry of Brescia identified and collected 10 MM cases with past work in the clothing industry: 6 used sewing-machines and 4 were self-employed tailors. The search for asbestos materials gave positive results as the use of friction materials had been widespread since the 1950's in all types of sewing-machines; in addition, asbestos materials were used to insulate some parts of the ironing equipment and the steam pipelines. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation suggest assigning at least "possible occupational asbestos exposure" to those cases employed in clothing manufacture since the 1950's, who used sewing-machines or pressing machines, according to the Re.Na.M guidelines. Other possible occupational exposures to asbestos in this working sector cannot be excluded; when the simple interview of patients does not reveal such exposures further investigations are needed in order to demonstrate all the possible circumstances of exposure.