A surface acoustic wave bio-electronic nose for detection of volatile odorant molecules.

In this work, a "bio-electronic nose" for vapour phase detection of odorant molecules based on surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators is presented. The biosensor system is composed of an array of five SAW resonators coated with three types of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs): the wild-type OBP from bovine (wtbOBP), a double-mutant of the OBP from bovine (dmbOBP), and the wild-type OBP from pig (wtpOBP). High resolution deposition of OBPs onto the active area of SAW resonators was implemented through laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). The resonant frequency shifts of the SAW resonators after the deposition of the biomolecules confirmed the immobilisation of the proteins onto the Al/Au inter-digital transducers (IDTs). In addition, a low increase of insertion losses with a limited degradation of Q-factors is reported. The "bio-electronic nose" fabricated by LIFT is tested in nitrogen upon exposure to separated concentrations of R-(-)-1-octen-3-ol (octenol) and R-(-)-carvone (carvone) vapours. The "bio-electronic nose" showed low detection limits for the tested compounds (i.e. 0.48 ppm for the detection of octenol, and 0.74 ppm for the detection of carvone). In addition, the bio-sensing system was able to discriminate the octenol molecules from the carvone molecules, making it pertinent for the assessment of food contamination by moulds, or for the evaluation of indoor air quality in buildings.

Detection of odorant molecules via surface acoustic wave biosensor array based on odorant-binding proteins.

In this paper, we present an array of biosensors for vapour phase detection of odorant molecules based on surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators coated with odorant-binding proteins (OBPs). For the first time, the sensing capabilities of three different OBPs, as sensitive layers for SAW devices, are studied and compared. The SAW biosensor array is composed of three SAW devices coated by the droplet method with the wild-type OBP from cow (wtbOBP), a double mutant of the OBP from cow (dmbOBP) and the wild-type OBP from pig (wtpOBP). An uncoated device is used to compensate the variations of the environmental parameters. The SAW devices consist of two-port resonators fabricated on quartz (ST-cut, x propagation) with electrodes made of aluminium covered with a thin gold film (2 nm thick). The obtained surface densities of OBP layers are between 1.18×10(-6) kg/m(2) and 2.31×10(-6) kg/m(2) and were calculated measuring the resonant frequency shift of the SAW devices after the coating. The SAW biosensor array was tested in nitrogen upon exposure to vapours of R-(-)-1-octen-3-ol (octenol), in the range of concentration between 13 and 61 ppm, and R-(-)-carvone (carvone), in the range between 9 and 80 ppm. The highest sensitivity for detection of octenol (25.9 Hz/ppm) was obtained using the wtpOBP-based SAW biosensor, while the highest sensitivity for detection of carvone (9.2 Hz/ppm) was obtained using the dmbOBP-based SAW biosensor.

X-ray beam monitor made by thin-film CVD single-crystal diamond.

A novel beam position monitor, operated at zero bias voltage, based on high-quality chemical-vapor-deposition single-crystal Schottky diamond for use under intense synchrotron X-ray beams was fabricated and tested. The total thickness of the diamond thin-film beam monitor is about 60 µm. The diamond beam monitor was inserted in the B16 beamline of the Diamond Light Source synchrotron in Harwell (UK). The device was characterized under monochromatic high-flux X-ray beams from 6 to 20 keV and a micro-focused 10 keV beam with a spot size of approximately 2 µm × 3 µm square. Time response, linearity and position sensitivity were investigated. Device response uniformity was measured by a raster scan of the diamond surface with the micro-focused beam. Transmissivity and spectral responsivity versus beam energy were also measured, showing excellent performance of the new thin-film single-crystal diamond beam monitor.

Cyclase and phosphodiesterase activity on pre-T lymphoid human cells, treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

Our aim is to estimate the role of the DMSO on pre-T lymphoid human cells, we have searched the cyclase and phosphodiesterase activity. We have studied the GTPspecific cyclase (G-Case) and have observed an analogous course to that one of the cAMP-PDE, where, in both cases, the differences ratio is approximately 5. For the cyclase activity values it has been found that cAMP neo formed is undeterminable in these cells, for the controls and the treated samples.

An unusual source of massive intra-abdominal hemorrhage during cardio-pulmonary bypass.

Intra-abdominal hemorrhage occurring while on cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) is a rare and potentially lethal event during coronary artery bypass procedures. We herein report an unusual case in which massive intra-abdominal bleeding during CPB originated from a previously undiagnosed ovarian tumor, leading to acute anemization and hemodynamic instability and requiring emergency gynecologic surgery.

[Current role of open window thoracostomy]. / Attuale ruolo dell'open window thoracostomy.

The Open Window Thoracostomy (OWT) surgical method find its origin in the treatment of chronic tuberculous empyemas, in the cases where the drainage alone not permitted a sufficient cleaning of pleural cavity. In the recent years the indications for the execution of this method are extended also to metapneumoniae and post-pneumonectomy empyemas (for benign and malignant pathology), with or without bronco-pleural fistula, when these pathologies produces a general severe decline in the patient (septic shock). This method permit to effect a daily cleaning of a pleural cavity, through the introduction of a sterile gauzes imbued of specific antibiotic, reducing at least the purulent infection effects's previously present and favouring the reduction of the same cavity, in prevision of other reconstructive operations (thoracoplasty). Generally not many beloved by surgeons and patients (for the difficult management, aesthetic outcomes, the long stay in hospital), the OWT can often reestablish a dangerous situation, especially in the patients with a risk of septic shock. This study aims to analyse present indications, problems and therapeutics outcomes of this method, through the evaluation of 27 cases of OWT treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery University of L'Aquila between the 1984 and the 1998.

[Recurrent giant retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma. Report of a clinical case]. / Leiomiosarcoma retroperitoneale gigante recidivante. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

The Authors report the case of a male patient, 52 year old, suffering from retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma, submitted to multiple operations in the space of about seven years, for the presence of liver metastases and local relapses; the good general health state, the moderate grade of the neoplasm and the disease's fair interval free, have justified the therapeutic attitude adopted; the patient at present enjoys good health.