Identification and treatment of false methane values produced by the tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy technology equipped on unmanned aerial vehicles.

Fugitive or diffuse methane emissions constitute an important source of damage to the environment, much greater even than CO2 both over a time span of 20 years and over a longer time span of 100. It is therefore of preeminent importance to undertake all the efforts necessary to implement new tools, protocols, and methods that contribute to the identification and measurement of these emissions to implement site-specific actions of mitigation, repair, and conscious management of the emitting plants. Among the remote sensing and leak detection technologies currently used, the tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) method plays a relevant role.

The growing, resilient, inclusive and sustainable (GRINS) project for the development of life cycle inventory databases of beef cattle raised in Italy: The statistical datasets and the environmental assessment.

Within the framework of the Growing, Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable (GRINS) project (Spoke 1, WP3, Next Generation EU program), this work aims to overcome the absence of Italian beef cattle Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets through a capillary analysis of several parameters. Specifically, the contribution to the environmental impact of livestock breeding of breed features (age, gender, weight, daily weight gain, breeding, feed intake and composition, milk and manure production), as well as stable management and crop cultivation was investigated. Statistical inventory datasets (84 in total) were developed for the predominant (<1 % population cut-off) beef cattle breeds in Italy.

Progress in monitoring methane emissions from landfills using drones: an overview of the last ten years.

Solid waste landfills are responsible for much of the anthropogenic methane emitted from the waste sector. The quantification of fugitive CH emissions from a landfill is to date characterised by high uncertainty and several methodologies have been devised to estimate emission fluxes. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, also known as drones) are revolutionising the way CH emission monitoring is conceived and offer new opportunities for quantifying emission fluxes from a landfill, mainly due to recent advances in sensor miniaturisation that make these instruments lighter and more suitable to be equipped on a drone.

Effect of artificial or autologous coverage of the pancreatic remnant or anastomosis on postoperative pancreatic fistulas after partial pancreatectomy: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistulas remain a driver of major complications after partial pancreatectomy. It is unclear whether coverage of the anastomosis or pancreatic remnant can reduce the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistulas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of autologous or artificial coverage of the pancreatic remnant or anastomosis on outcomes after partial pancreatectomy.

Glucocorticoids are differentially synthesized along the murine and human respiratory tree.

Background: Synthetic glucocorticoids (GC) are effective in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the lung. However, long-term use leads to severe side effects. Endogenous GC can be synthesized locally, either de novo from cholesterol in a 11β-hydroxylase (Cyp11b1)-dependent manner, or by reactivation from 11-dehydrocorticosterone/cortisone by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (Hsd11b1).

Life Cycle Assessment of a system for the extraction and transformation of Waste Water Treatment Sludge (WWTS)-derived lipids into biodiesel.

In recent years, the demand for biofuels has been growing exponentially, as has the interest in biodiesel produced from organic matrices. Particularly interesting, due to its economic and environmental advantages, is the use of the lipids present in sewage sludge as a raw material for the synthesis of biodiesel. The possible processes of this biodiesel synthesis, starting from lipid matter, are represented by the conventional process with sulfuric acid, by the process with aluminium chloride hexahydrate and by processes that use solid catalysts such as those consisting of mixed metal oxides, functionalized halloysites, mesoporous perovskite and functionalized silicas.

Minimally invasive versus open pancreatic surgery: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Widespread implementation of the minimally invasive technique in pancreatic surgery has proven to be challenging. The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes of minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) pancreatic surgery with open pancreatic surgery using data obtained from RCTs.

Methods: A literature search was done using Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and Web of Science; all available RCTs comparing minimally invasive pancreatic surgery and open pancreatic surgery in adults requiring elective distal pancreatectomy or partial pancreatoduodenectomy were included.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4: a new member of the MEN family.

Objective: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4 (MEN4) is caused by a CDKN1B germline mutation first described in 2006. Its estimated prevalence is less than one per million. The aim of this study was to define the disease characteristics.

Life Cycle Assessment of UV-C based treatment systems for the removal of compounds of emerging concern from urban wastewater.

In the last decades particular attention is being paid to the efficient and effective removal of compounds of emerging concern (CECs) present in wastewater before their eventual reuse or disposal. Several technologies have been developed for the degradation of CECs in aqueous matrix, in this regard advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) represent a nascent technological solution developed on a laboratory scale with applications on a prototype scale. The experimental evidences have shown that AOPs processes can oxidize numerous organic compounds in a much faster and more efficient way than that of the most common disinfection processes.

Adrenal myelolipoma: Defining the role of surgery. A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Adrenal myelolipomas (AMLs) are rare, non-functional, benign tumours mostly diagnosed incidentally. They present as small and unilateral masses that are histologically composed of mature adipose tissue with admixed haemopoietic elements. In a small percentage of patients, pressure symptoms, retroperitoneal haemorrhage or tumour rupture may occur.

Colobronchial fistula: a rare cause of non-resolving pneumonia in Crohn's disease.

We discuss the case of a 44-year-old man with a refractory left lower lobe pneumonia progressing to a pulmonary abscess caused by a colobronchial fistula, a rare complication of underlying Crohn's disease. The patient presented with weight loss and signs of a pulmonary consolidation, which responded incompletely to the targeted antibiotic treatment. The causative colobronchial fistula was demonstrated by CT-guided puncture and retrograde injection of contrast medium.

Colon cancer cells produce immunoregulatory glucocorticoids.

Expression or release of immunosuppressive molecules may protect tumor cells from the recognition and destruction by the immune system. New findings indicate that colorectal tumors produce immunoregulatory glucocorticoids and thereby suppress immune cell activation. The nuclear receptor LRH-1 plays a critical role in the regulation of colorectal tumor proliferation and glucocorticoid synthesis.

Thiazolide-induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells is mediated via the Jun kinase-Bim axis and reveals glutathione-S-transferase P1 as Achilles' heel.

Glutathione-S-transferase of the Pi class (GSTP1) is frequently overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors and has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy. GSTP1 is a phase II detoxification enzyme and conjugates the tripeptide glutathione to endogenous metabolites and xenobiotics, thereby limiting the efficacy of antitumor chemotherapeutic treatments. In addition, GSTP1 regulates cellular stress responses and apoptosis by sequestering and inactivating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).

[Treatment practice in patients with isolated blunt splenic injuries. A survey of Swiss traumatologists].

Background: The non-operative management (NOM) of blunt splenic injuries has gained widespread acceptance. However, there are still many controversies regarding follow-up of these patients. The purpose of this study was to survey active members of the Swiss Society of General and Trauma Surgery (SGAUC) to determine their practices regarding the NOM of isolated splenic injuries.

The impact of the introduction of total mesorectal excision on local recurrence rate and survival in rectal cancer: long-term results.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of the introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) on local recurrence rate and survival in patients with rectal cancer.

Methods: A total of 171 consecutive patients underwent anterior or abdominoperineal resection for primary rectal cancer. When the TME technique was introduced, the clinical setting, including the surgeons, remained the same.

Colon cancer cells produce immunoregulatory glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoids (GC) have important anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic activities. Initially thought to be exclusively produced by the adrenal glands, there is now increasing evidence for extra-adrenal sources of GCs. We have previously shown that the intestinal epithelium produces immunoregulatory GCs and that intestinal steroidogenesis is regulated by the nuclear receptor liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1).

Management of blunt injuries to the spleen.

Background: Non-operative management (NOM) of blunt splenic injuries is nowadays considered the standard treatment. The present study identified selection criteria for primary operative management (OM) and planned NOM.

Methods: All adult patients with blunt splenic injuries treated at Berne University Hospital, Switzerland, between 2000 and 2008 were reviewed.

Systematic review of atraumatic splenic rupture.

Background: Atraumatic splenic rupture (ASR) is an ill defined clinicopathological entity.

Methods: The aim was to characterize aetiological and risk factors for ASR-related mortality in order to aid disease classification and treatment. A systematic literature review (1980-2008) was undertaken and logistic regression analysis employed.

Ulcerative colitis: correlation of the Rachmilewitz endoscopic activity index with fecal calprotectin, clinical activity, C-reactive protein, and blood leukocytes.

Background: The accuracy of noninvasive markers for the detection of endoscopically active ulcerative colitis (UC) according the Rachmilewitz Score is so far unknown. The aim was to evaluate the correlation between endoscopic disease activity and fecal calprotectin, Clinical Activity Index, C-reactive protein (CRP), and blood leukocytes.

Methods: UC patients undergoing colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled and scored independently according the endoscopic and clinical part of the Rachmilewitz Index.

Symptomatic retroperitoneal cyst: a diagnostic challenge.

Retroperitoneal cystic masses pose an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Simple drainage, internal or external, is usually not sufficient. We report a case of a large symptomatic retroperitoneal cyst and its management.

Atraumatic splenic rupture in amyloidosis.

Background: Splenic involvement in amyloidosis is rather frequent (5-10%). An atraumatic rupture of the affected spleen is however an extremely rare event. We report on a patient with undiagnosed amyloidosis who underwent emergency splenectomy for atraumatic splenic rupture.

Quantitative isolation of mouse and human intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes by elutriation centrifugation.

Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) are specialized subsets of T cells with distinct functional capacities. While some IEL subsets are circulating, others such as CD8alphaalpha TCRalphabeta IEL are believed to represent non-circulating resident T cell subsets [Sim, G.K.

Long-term follow up (37-69 years) of patients with bladder exstrophy treated with ureterosigmoidostomy: uro-nephrological outcome.

Objective: To describe the urological and nephrological long-term outcome of patients born with classical bladder exstrophy treated with bilateral ureterosigmoidostomies in early childhood.

Patients And Method: Out of 42 patients born with bladder exstrophy in Switzerland between 1937 and 1968, 25 participated in this study; seven had died, seven were lost to follow up and three refused consent. Assessment included chart review, clinical examination, and assessment of renal function and morphology.

Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus and intracardiac extension: radical resection may improve recurrence free survival.

Background: Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) represents 0.2% of all uterine malignancies. Based on the mitotic activity, a distinction is made between low and high-grade ESS.