Social inequalities in the metropolitan area of Rome. A multidisciplinary analysis of the urban segregation of the "formerly-Bastogi" compound.

BACKGROUND: This study tries to evaluate, through a multidisciplinary approach, the relationship between urban structure, isolation and distribution of social determinants of health, in the so-called "formerly-Bastogi, a compound, with more than 1,500 inhabitants, located in north-western Rome, Italy. METHODS: The architectural-urban analysis, conducted through site visits and evaluations of urban situation, showed how strongly the compound is isolated from the neighbourhoods, and structurally degraded. The socio-demographic analysis, based on the National Census data, showed significant differences in the distribution of the social determinants of health between "formerly-Bastogi" and the surrounding areas. RESULTS: The area under study appears to be isolated from the surrounding urban space, both because of social and architectural factors. This situation could have some association with inhabitants' health. CONCLUSIONS: If our preliminary investigation was useful for a diagnosis of the situation, a more complete - qualitative and quantitative - investigation of the context will be needed to plan appropriate multidisciplinary health-promoting interventions.

Impact of damming on the Chironomidae of the upper zone of a tropical run-of-the-river reservoir.

We examined the effects of the Mogi-Guaçu river damming (São Paulo State, Brazil) on the Chironomidae fauna. Pre, during, and post-filling sampling was carried out in the main channel and margins of one site in the upper zone of the reservoir, using a modified Petersen grab (325 cm2). We evaluated the total, subfamily, and tribe densities and also their relative abundance. Analysis of genera included densities, relative abundance, richness, and dominance. The Rosso's ecological value index (EVI) determined the ecological importance of each genus. There was a tendency of decrease of the total Chironomidae density, increase in the percentage of Chironomini, and decrease in densities and percentages of Orthocladiinae and Tanytarsini. These changes in percentage were respectively related to Polypedilum, Lopescladius, and Rheotanytarsus, the genera with the highest EVI values. After-filling richness was lower in the margins and dominance of genera did not change significantly. Chironomidae in the margins was more sensitive to damming than in the main channel. This difference in sensibility sustains the use of Chironomidae as bioindicators. Damming impact was indicated by the reduction of both genera richness in the margins and relative abundance of groups typical of faster waters. The results have highlighted the need for multi-habitat analysis combined with a before-after sampling approach in the environmental impact studies concerning the damming impact on the benthic fauna.

[Results of conservative surgery in T1 breast carcinoma. Our experience in 66 treated cases]. / Risultati della chirurgia conservativa nel carcinoma mammario T1. Nostra esperienza su 66 casi trattati.

Between 1989 and 1991, 66 women affected by breast cancer smaller than 2 cm in diameter, were treated with conservative procedure plus radiotherapy. Conservative procedure consisted in quadrantectomy and axillary dissection of the 3 axillary nodes levels. Neoplasms were grouped according to TNM classification. Eleven were classified as Tis, 9 as T1aN0M0, 12 as T1bN0M0, one case T1bN1M0, 24 as T1cN0M0 and finally 9 as T1cN1M0. Actuarial 5-year survival rate was related to TNM. It has been reported to be 100% in Tis and T1aN0M0 neoplasms; 91.7% in pT1bN0M0 tumors, 95.8% in pT1cN0M0 neoplasms, 55.6% in patients affected with pT1cN1M0 tumors. According to the relationship between receptor status of the neoplasm and survival, this was 88.9% in ER+ and 77.8% in ER- tumors, and 97.1% against 71.4% (p < 0.05) in PR+ and PR- neoplasms respectively. Two patients presented (3%) local recurrence which were treated by means of a tumorectomy and radiotherapy. Both patients are still living and disease free after 6 and 9 months from re-operation.

Impact of damming on the Chironomidae of the upper zone of a tropical run-of-the-river reservoir / Impacto de um represamento sobre Chironomidae do remanso de um reservatório fio água tropical

Abstract We examined the effects of the Mogi-Guaçu river damming (São Paulo State, Brazil) on the Chironomidae fauna. Pre, during, and post-filling sampling was carried out in the main channel and margins of one site in the upper zone of the reservoir, using a modified Petersen grab (325 cm2). We evaluated the total, subfamily, and tribe densities and also their relative abundance. Analysis of genera included densities, relative abundance, richness, and dominance. The Rosso’s ecological value index (EVI) determined the ecological importance of each genus. There was a tendency of decrease of the total Chironomidae density, increase in the percentage of Chironomini, and decrease in densities and percentages of Orthocladiinae and Tanytarsini. These changes in percentage were respectively related to Polypedilum, Lopescladius, and Rheotanytarsus, the genera with the highest EVI values. After-filling richness was lower in the margins and dominance of genera did not change significantly. Chironomidae in the margins was more sensitive to damming than in the main channel. This difference in sensibility sustains the use of Chironomidae as bioindicators. Damming impact was indicated by the reduction of both genera richness in the margins and relative abundance of groups typical of faster waters. The results have highlighted the need for multi-habitat analysis combined with a before-after sampling approach in the environmental impact studies concerning the damming impact on the benthic fauna.

Resumo Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto do represamento do Rio Mogi-Guaçu, em um ponto situado na zona de remanso do reservatório, através da utilização da taxocenose Chironomidae. A amostragem foi realizada antes, durante e após o represamento, no canal e nas margens, com o auxílio de um pegador Petersen modificado (área de 325 cm2). Calculou-se a densidade total, de subfamílias, tribos e gêneros de Chironomidae, bem como sua abundância relativa. Estimou-se a riqueza e a dominância de gêneros. O índice de valor ecológico de Rosso (IVE) foi utilizado para avaliar a importância ecológica dos diferentes gêneros. Houve tendência de redução da densidade total de Chironomidae, aumento da abundância relativa de Chironomini e diminuição das abundâncias relativas de Orthocladiinae e Tanytarsini. Estas alterações de abundância relativa foram relacionadas respectivamente a Polypedilum, Lopescladius e Rheotanytarsus, gêneros que apresentaram os maiores valores de IVE. Após o represamento, houve decréscimo da riqueza de gêneros na margem, enquanto a dominância não apresentou alteração significativa. A taxocenose de Chironomidae das margens mostrou-se mais sensível ao represamento que a do canal. Esta diferença de sensibilidade confirma o potencial dos Chironomidae como bioindicadores. A ocorrência de impacto foi observada através da diminuição da riqueza de gêneros nas margens e da abundância relativa de táxons característicos de águas mais rápidas. Os resultados chamam atenção para a necessidade de utilizar a abordagem de múltiplos habitats combinada com a amostragem antes e depois do evento na avaliação dos impactos causados por represamento sobre a fauna bentônica.