Temperature and pH sensors based on graphenic materials.

Point-of-care applications and patients' real-time monitoring outside a clinical setting would require disposable and durable sensors to provide better therapies and quality of life for patients. This paper describes the fabrication and performances of a temperature and a pH sensor on a biocompatible and wearable board for healthcare applications. The temperature sensor was based on a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layer that changed its electrical resistivity with the temperature. When tested in a human serum sample between 25 and 43°C, the sensor had a sensitivity of 110±10Ω/°C and an error of 0.4±0.1°C compared with the reference value set in a thermostatic bath. The pH sensor, based on a graphene oxide (GO) sensitive layer, had a sensitivity of 40±4mV/pH in the pH range between 4 and 10. Five sensor prototypes were tested in a human serum sample over one week and the maximum deviation of the average response from reference values obtained by a glass electrode was 0.2pH units. For biological applications, the temperature and pH sensors were successfully tested for in vitro cytotoxicity with human fibroblast cells (MRC-5) over 24h.

Multi-technique study of a ceramic archaeological artifact and its content.

In this paper we report the results of a study performed with different physical and chemical methods on a ceramic vase originally attributed to the I century CE. The joint use of infrared spectroscopic analysis and laser techniques, as well as pyrolysis-gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and thermoluminescence, allowed us to characterize the vase material and its content. The chemical data were combined with morphological and stylistic examinations of the object and helped in defining its actual geographical and chronological pertinence.

Evaluation of human sperm membrane integrity using the water test and the hypoosmotic test.

The objective of the study was to compare the water test and the hypoosmotic test (HOS) in the assessment of the human sperm membrane. A total of 686 semen samples from human male donors were subjected to water and HOS tests after routine semen evaluation. The mean percentage of swollen spermatozoa was 71.8 +/- 9.6% in the HOS test and 67.8 +/- 9.4% for the water test; these values were not statistically different. The correlation of coefficients between the water test and the HOS test was highly significant whether the values for the HOS test were higher or lower than 60% (P < 0.001). A poor correlation was obtained when the two tests were compared for sperm counts either higher or lower than 20 x 6 ml-1 and when the results for both tests were compared with the percentage of eosin-Y staining spermatozoa. A poor correlation was also obtained when the results of each test were compared with eosin-Y staining spermatozoa in normal and abnormal semen samples. The coefficient of regression between the two tests showed a high correlation (P < 0.001). In conclusion, even though a high correlation between the HOS test and water test was observed in this study, it is not possible to recommend assessment of sperm membrane integrity using the water test and the consequent replacement of the HOS test in routine practice. Further studies are necessary to establish the best test for sperm vitality.

[Chrono-risks in the episodes of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism]. / Cronorischio degli episodi di tromboembolia polmonare fatale.

A study on circadian and circannual rhythmicity in the episodes of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism has been conducted in 152 cases. The data demonstrate that the incidence in the episodes of pulmonary thromboembolism, evaluated as hour and day of onset in the clinical symptoms, presents a temporal, both circadian, and circannual distribution. The greater incidence occurs in the morning hours and in the winter season. The rhythmometric analysis by "cosinor" method showed a significant circadian and circannual rhythms in incidence of episodes of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism. The temporal distribution does not seem to be casual, but the effect of interrelationship between exogenous rhythms, such as those in the haemostatic system, endogenous rhythms, such as the cold temperature, and disease. These results demonstrate that the pulmonary thromboembolism is a disease with an high "chrono-risk", i.e. it is an expectable disease in its temporal recurrence.

[Correlation with mammography and estrogen receptors in breast neoplasms]. / Correlazione tra aspetti mammografici e recettori estrogenici nelle neoplasie mammarie.

A comparative study of 71 patients with unilateral primary breast cancer was performed to verify a possible correlation between the mammographic findings of the cancer and the content of hormonal receptor. The Nielsen & Poulsen, and Wolfe classification were employed. Hormonal receptor content was determined using the Taylor method. The estrogen content was found to be high in type 1, intermediate in 2 and 4, and low in 3 and 5. Statistically significant difference in the estrogen receptor content was found between type 1 and others groups. Using the Wolfe classification, the hormonal content was found to be high in P1. Statistically significant difference was found between N1 and P2; N1 and DY. No relationship was found between histologic cancer type and hormonal receptor content. The Nielsen & Poulsen classification seems to be most simple and reproducible method respect of the Wolfe's parenchymal patterns. Mammographic findings could be used in selecting patients for endocrine therapy where no estrogen-receptor assay is available.

[Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism. A study of 178 cases]. / Tromboembolia polmonare fatale. Studio di 178 casi.

A retrospective study was undertaken on 178 cases of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism, 86 males and 92 females, in whom major pulmonary emboli were found at autopsies, performed from 1971 to 1988. The 178 cases represent 6.9% from 2569 autopsies. In 43 cases (24.2%) the fatal pulmonary thromboembolism developed after surgery. The clinical diagnosis was performed in 59 cases (33.1%). The conditions at risk for fatal pulmonary thromboembolism were orthopedic surgery and radical surgery for malignancy among the surgical patients, and heart diseases and neoplasias among the medical patients. The death by fatal thromboembolism occurred in the 63.5% in the first six hours after onset of symptoms. The data suggest that recognition of those conditions which coexist with pulmonary thromboembolic disease can facilitate early diagnosis, and that when high risk is present antithrombotic prevention is of critical importance.

[Prognostic factors in multiple myeloma. Selection using multivariate analysis]. / Fattori prognostici nel mieloma multiplo. Selezione mediante analisi multivariata.

In order to assess the prognostic value of 15 different prognostic variables for multiple myeloma and to select the variables with the best prognostic significance, the multivariate analysis according to Cox's proportional hazard regression model was employed for a group of 80 patients followed from first diagnosis to their demise. The significant prognostic variables were bone marrow plasma cell percentage, degree of lytic bone lesions, Bence-Jones proteinuria, and haemoglobinaemia. A scoring clinical staging system was also developed, assigning the score of 1 to each of the following features: bone marrow plasma cells more than 30%, lytic bone lesions of 2-3 degrees, presence of Bence-Jones proteinuria, and haemoglobinaemia less than 110 g/l. Therefore, the score for each patient ranges from 0 to 4, and the entire group of patients with multiple myeloma is subdivided into five clinical stages: stage I = score 0, stage II = score 1, stage III = score 2; stage IV = score 3, stage V = score 4. Significant differences exist between both mean survivals (p less than 0.01), and between the survival curves (p less than 0.0001) within the five scoring clinical stages.

[Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism: is its incidence increasing or diminishing? Analysis of 178 cases from 1971 to 1988]. / La tromboembolia polmonare fatale: patologia in aumento o in diminuzione? Analisi di 178 casi dal 1971 al 1988.

A retrospective study was undertaken on 178 cases (6.9% out of 2569 autopsies) of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism, 86 males and 92 females, aged 28-87 years (mean age = 71 +/- 13), in whom pulmonary emboli were found at autopsies, performed from 1971 to 1988. Fatal pulmonary thromboemboli means that no other cause of death was found at autopsy, and emboli occluded at least 2 lobar arteries. In 43 cases (24.2%) the fatal pulmonary thromboembolism developed after surgery. Considering the percentage of the cases of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism on the number of autopsies performed every year, the incidence of this disease increased throughout the period under study. There is a significant difference in incidence of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in the autopsies in years 1971-79 in comparison with the years 1980-88. In fact the fatal pulmonary thromboembolism cases are 5.1% from 1340 autopsies in the period 1971-79, and 8.9% from 1229 autopsies in the period 1980-88. This increase in incidence is due mainly to the fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in the medical patients (from 3.2% to 7.5%) while the postoperative cases show a slight decrease, from 1.9% to 1.4%. The mean age of patients with fatal pulmonary thromboembolism increases in the second period considered. Age and medical treatment are the most important risk factors. In spite of the increasing age of the population and the increased use of major surgery, there is a tendency to constant or decreased incidence of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism, at least in surgical patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)