Dose estimation in B16 tumour bearing mice for future irradiation in the thermal column of the TRIGA reactor after B/Gd/LDL adduct infusion.

To test the efficacy of a new (10)B-vector compound, the B/Gd/LDL adduct synthesised at Torino University, in vivo irradiations of murine tumours are in progress at the TRIGA Mark II reactor of the Pavia University. A localised B16 melanoma tumour is generated in C57BL/6 mice and subsequently infused with the adduct. During the irradiation, the mouse will be put in a shield to protect the whole body except the tumour in the back-neck area. To optimise the treatment set-up, MCNP simulations were performed. A very simplified mouse model was built using MCNP geometry capabilities, as well as the geometry of the shield made of 99% (10)B enriched boric acid. A hole in the shield is foreseen in correspondence of the back-neck region. Many configurations of the shield were tested in terms of neutron flux, dose distribution and mean induced activity in the tumour region and in the radiosensitive organs of the mouse. In the final set-up, up to five mice can be treated simultaneously in the reactor thermal column and the neutron fluence in the tumour region for 10 min of irradiation is of about 5×10(12) cm(-2).

Patterns of drug use among young men in Piedmont (Italy).

Increasing alarm is shown regarding patterns of polydrug use among young people, particularly regarding recreational drugs. Prevalence of recreational drug usage in Europe is not clearly defined, varying for ecstasy, from 0.2% (Finland, 1995) to 9.2% (UK, 1995) and suggesting a tendency to increase in the last years. The aim of this study is to present patterns of polydrug use among a sample of the general population of young males in Piedmont (Northern Italy), focusing particularly on ecstasy consumption. A cross sectional study was carried out between September and November 1998 on a continuous sample of 3274 18-year-old conscripts. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics and substances use was submitted during routine tests. Results showed that the overall lifetime prevalence of drug use is 36.6%; prevalence of polydrug use is 30% and the more frequently associated drugs are LSD, cocaine, inhalants and ecstasy. One hundred and forty five (4.6%) subjects reported having taken ecstasy at least once in their life; 20 of the 145 (13.8%) suffered from negative effects and three (2%) presented to a hospital or to a physician. The risk of ever taking ecstasy is inversely related to father's education, with a trend that is quite similar to that of heroin consumption but that is different from the trend for cannabis. In conclusion the four major results of this study are: (i) a prevalence of drug consumption similar to other European estimates, with a clear tendency to polydrug use; (ii) for ecstasy, a very high association rate with other substances; (iii) the moderately high prevalence of self-reported symptoms, and (iv) a social distribution of use similar to the one observed for heroin. This last consideration suggests that a high level of attention and further research should be addressed to the natural history of ecstasy use.

[Intervention models in the medical consultation on a patient base in the area of mental discomfort. Epistemological considerations and indications for starting specialist treatment]. / Modelli di intervento nella consultazione medico di base-paziente nell'ambito del disagio psichico. Considerazioni epistemologiche ed indicazioni per l'avvio al trattamento specialistico.

The report focuses on the possible models activated in GP-patient consultation. Psychological discomfort treated according to the traditional doctor-patient model relates to a positivistic epistemological construct typical of the science of nature in which the doctor is more interested in the symptom than the patient. A "relational" model linked to a personalized concept of the operation will consider the patient's recognition, experience and subjective feelings. In particular it is suggested that collaboration between doctor and psychotherapy will start the patient on a process of maturation and emancipation.

[Psychodynamics aspects of drug addiction]. / Aspetti psicodinamici nelle tossicodipendenze.

The problem is considered in the light of both structural personality deficiencies in drug addicts and symbolic interactive contents that are structurally perceptible in the functioning of the caring community.