Investigating pollution input to coastal groundwater-dependent ecosystems in dry Mediterranean agricultural regions.

The insufficient taking into account of groundwater as a basis for implementing protection measures for coastal wetlands can be related to the damage they are increasingly exposed to. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the pertinence of combining hydrogeological tools with assessment of pollutant fluxes and stable isotopes of O, H and N, as well as groundwater time-tracers to identify past and present pollution sources resulting from human activities and threatening shallow groundwater-dependent ecosystems. A survey combining physico-chemical parameters, major ions, environmental isotopes (O, H, N and H), with emerging organic contaminants including pesticides and trace elements, associated with a land use analysis, was carried out in southern Italy, including groundwater, surface water and lagoon water samples.

Microbial, chemical, and isotopic monitoring integrated approach to assess potential leachate contamination of groundwater in a karstic aquifer (Apulia, Italy).

Landfill sites are subjected to long-term risks of accidental spill of leachate through the soil and consequential contamination of the groundwater. Wide areas surrounding the landfill can seriously be threatened with possible consequences to human health and the environment. Given the potential impact of different coexisting anthropic pollution sources (i.

Data to clarify the landfill role in the case of groundwater quality degradation (Southern Italy).

The data presented in this article are related to the research article described by "How can the role of leachate on nitrate concentration and groundwater quality be clarified? An approach for landfills in operation (Southern Italy)" (Cossu et al., 2018). The data set for this article contains chemical analyses of groundwater and leachate, isotope analysis of groundwater and leachate around a group of landfills located in the municipality of Conversano, close to Bari, the main town of the Apulia Region (Southern Italy).

How can the role of leachate on nitrate concentration and groundwater quality be clarified? An approach for landfills in operation (Southern Italy).

Where the unique natural water resource is groundwater, the attention and the susceptibility of local communities and authorities to groundwater quality degradation risks can be so high to determine relevant problems to waste management, especially for landfills in operation or to be realised. A multi-methodological approach was suggested with the purpose to clarify the role of landfill leakage on groundwater quality degradation. The selected study area (SSA) hosts some landfills in a narrow portion of a wide and deep coastal karstic aquifer, for these characteristics to be considered a case of high hydrogeological complexity and vulnerability.

Coastal hydrogeological system of Mar Piccolo (Taranto, Italy).

The Mar Piccolo basin is an internal sea basin located along the Ionian coast (Southern Italy), and it is surrounded primarily by fractured carbonate karstic environment. Because of the karstic features, the main continental water inflow is from groundwater discharge. The Mar Piccolo basin represents a peculiar and sensitive environment and a social emergency because of sea water and sediment pollution.

Custom made bioceramic implants in complex and large cranial reconstruction: a two-year follow-up.

Introduction: Large cranial defects still represent a challenge in neurosurgery. Currently different biomaterials are available for cranial reconstruction including titanium, acrylic mesh and different types of calcium phosphate-based bone grafts. The goal of surgery is a perfect fit of the implant without infection and absorption, and a good aesthetic result.

Predictors of carotid clamping intolerance during endarterectomy that would be wise to apply to stenting procedures.

Background And Purpose: Carotid artery stenting procedures are increasingly being performed with devices such as the MO.MA or the Parodi system that involve endovascular clamping of the common carotid artery, thus exposing the ipsilateral hemisphere to the risk of hypoperfusion. The aim of the present study was to look for predictors of carotid clamping intolerance by means of transcranial Doppler.

[Transcranial ultrasonography in neurosurgery].

Transcranial doppler sonography is a diagnostic tool that allows the noninvasive study of intracranial circulation. In patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral vasospasm is promptly diagnosed, even before clinical related symptoms. Feeding arteries of an arteriovenous cerebral malformation can be detected and their variations can be correlated to the treatment (neurosurgical and/or neuroradiological).

Dissecting aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar system: study of 16 cases.

In the last 14 years we have encountered 16 patients with spontaneous intracranial dissections of the vertebrobasilar (VB) system (mean age was 46 years and male/female ratio was 10/6). VB dissections presented in eight cases with subarachnoid bleeding and in eight with brainstem, cerebellar, or cerebral ischemia. Three patients had multiple dissections.

Orbital pain and unruptured carotid-posterior communicating artery aneurysms: the role of sensory fibers of the third cranial nerve.

Intact aneurysms of the carotid siphon at the point of take-off of the posterior communicating artery may exhibit orbital pain, whether associated with oculomotor palsy or not as a warning symptom prior to rupture. In order to explain this symptom the hypothesis of a sensory pathway within the third cranial nerve, which is liable to compression by the enlarging aneurysm sac, has been investigated. Data from human autopsy material show evidence of sensory ganglion cells within the rootlets of the oculomotor nerve; furthermore, studies in animals prove that the third nerve contains sensory fibers which run proximally along the nerve bundles, enter the brainstem and reach the spinal trigeminal nucleus.

Vertebro-basilar aneurysms: does delayed surgery represent the best surgical strategy?

The appropriate time to perform surgery for posterior circulation aneurysms is debated. Controversy exists secondary to the lack of information regarding the overall management and outcome, as well as difficulties with their surgical treatment and infrequent occurrence. The present study examines the results of 46 patients with ruptured vertebro-basilar aneurysms treated with a delayed surgical protocol.

Overall results in 304 consecutive patients with acute spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The results obtained in 304 consecutive patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage are described, the majority of whom (86%) were admitted while in acute condition. Only 46% of the patients in this series were in good condition at admission. The initial management was standardized for all patients, but the protocol of "delayed surgery" was applied to patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage from aneurysmal rupture.

[Cardiopathy and acute cerebrovascular insufficiency. Prospective study with two-dimensional echocardiography].

Many cardiac disorders can cause acute cerebrovascular insufficiency. The spectrum of potentially embolic cardiac conditions is wide; early recognition may determine a definite change in the management and prognosis of patients. In recent years the relevance of echocardiography in the screening of patients with cerebral ischemia has been emphasized.

Hemorheologic changes in patients with a history of stroke or cerebral remittent ischemic attacks.

Hemorheologic parameters were measured in cerebrovascular patients with a history of stroke or recurrent ischemic attacks in a quiescent phase of the disease. All patients were submitted to aortic arch angiography and then classified according to the presence or absence of detectable arterial lesions. In comparison with a group of control subjects, cerebrovascular patients had significantly elevated levels of blood and plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, factors VIII:C and VIIIR:Ag and lowered values of erythrocyte filtration.

Long-term follow-up in 257 ICA occlusion: comparison between EIAB-treated and untreated patients.

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the real value of the Extra-Intracranial Arterial Bypass (EIAB) in preventing or reducing further and more catastrophic ischaemic events in patients suffering from an Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) occlusion. 257 patients, suffering from ICA occlusion, are considered retrospectively: 122 of them submitted to EIAB and 135 medically treated or untreated. In both groups, homogeneous by sex, age, neurological grading distribution and length of follow-up, the following parameters were considered: the incidence of ischaemic recurrences during the follow-up period; the characters of the recurrences with particular reference to the fatal stroke; the rate of ischaemic events per year.

Delayed angiographic appearance of a large basilar aneurysm.

A technically adequate four-vessel cerebral angiogram was normal on the first day after a typical episode of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study was repeated 40 days later showing a large aneurysm of the basilar bifurcation. Hypothetically, the first attempt to visualize the aneurysm was negative due to early transitory thrombosis of the aneurysmal sac.

Extra-intracranial arterial bypass in typical carotid reversible ischaemic deficits: long-term follow-up in 100 patients.

The long-term follow-up of 100 consecutive patients who suffered from a reversible ischaemic attack (RIA) in the carotid territory and were submitted to extra-intracranial arterial bypass (EIAB) surgery in seven Italian Neurosurgical Centres is reported. The preoperative angiographic and clinical features, and the surgical complications are reported. The follow-up ranged from two to seven years with a mean of thirty-five months.

Long term prognosis after occlusion of middle cerebral artery.

Seventy patients who had developed occlusion of the middle cerebral artery confirmed by angiography between 1970 and 1980 were followed up after an average of six years. Fourteen patients had died in the acute stage of the initial stroke. In the remaining 56 patients actuarial analysis showed that the observed incidence of survival for five years was 81.

[Cardiac arrhythmias associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Prospective study with dynamic electrocardiography].

Electrocardiographic abnormalities associated with intracranial diseases, especially subarachnoid hemorrhage, are well known, while there is hardly mention of cardiac arrhythmias in the neurological and cardiological literature. In order to assess the incidence of arrhythmias 52 consecutive patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to ruptured aneurysm were investigated with 24-hour Holter recordings. Bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias were found in 46 patients (88%); premature ventricular beats in 25 pts (12 of these in 3rd-5th Lown classes), ventricular tachycardia in 2, premature supraventricular beats in 14, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 1, sinoatrial blocks and arrests in 18, atrioventricular dissociation in 2 and idioventricular rythm in 2.

Aneurysm growth and hemodynamic stress.

Two cases of intracranial saccular aneurysm related to an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) are illustrated, in which a remarkable growth of the sac over the years was demonstrated angiographically. According to the relevant literature, aneurysm enlargement is correlated to the flow toward the AVM, increasing the intrasaccular turbulence and stress on the wall to which "solitary" aneurysms are usually subjected. The presence of bilateral infundibular widening at the origin of the posterior communicating artery is noted in one of the cases.

The clinical course and prognosis of carotid artery occlusion.

The clinical course of 100 consecutive patients with angiographically proven carotid occlusion was reviewed. Ninety-three patients had been hospitalised for early stroke appropriate to the occlusion, and seven for transient ischaemic attacks. 68 patients were followed up from 1.