Evaluation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) toxic effects on the acute inflammatory response in the medicinal leech Hirudoverbana.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances are a large group of chemicals with elevated water and oil-resistance properties, widely implicated in various applicative fields. Due to the extensive use and high resistance to degradative factors, these compounds pose a significant risk of environmental spreading, bioaccumulating also in living organisms. In this context, despite many researches have been performed to demonstrate "legacy" PFAS harmfulness, only few data are still available about all the emerging fluorinated molecules, industrially introduced to replace the previous ones.

Dynamic relationship among extracellular matrix and body wall cells in Hirudo verbana morphogenesis.

A great bulk of recent experimental evidence suggests the key role of the complex crosstalk between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the cellular component of tissues during morphogenesis and embryogenesis. In particular, remodeling of the ECM and of its physical interactions pattern with surrounding cells represent two crucial processes that might be involved in muscle development. However, little information is available on this topic, especially on invertebrate species.

[Surgical approach in the management of oesophageal tumours: considerations based on therapeutic results].

Over the last two decades, oesophageal cancers, although considered among the most malignant visceral tumours, have witnessed a gradual increase in survival rates at a distance after surgery. The aims of the study were to present the results of our surgical approach and, on this basis, to discuss a number of considerations regarding the type of intervention to be adopted. In a retrospective study we recruited 105 patients with oesophageal cancer treated with various types of oesophageal resection, with or without thoracotomy, in the Division of General Surgery of the Civic Hospital of Sondrio.

Combined endoscopic and laparoscopic treatment of gallstones and bile duct stones.

The best treatment of bile duct lithiasis in the era of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not yet been defined, as we can choose between different kinds of therapies which range from the traditional laparotomic treatment to the more modern endoscopic and laparoscopic techniques. Although in some centres a wholly laparoscopic access to the bile duct is used, we believe that the fastest, safest and most reliable method is still the sequential treatment, endoscopic and laparoscopic. In our experience the endoscopic cleaning of the choledochus was performed in 87.

[Combination of endovenous laser treatment and a surgical approach for venous disease].

The aim of our study was to report our experience with endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), initiated with an exclusively US-guided approach, but then combined with a surgical approach. Over the period from September 2003 to December 2005 in the Sondrio Hospital General Surgery Unit 61 patients were submitted to EVLT. In the first 13 cases the procedure was performed under ultrasonographic guidance, whereas later we opted for a combined technique in which the use of the laser was preceded by high ligation of the saphenous vein ("crossectomy") together with complete sectioning of the venous collaterals (48 cases).