Antioco Franco Sedda

Dermatological high-dose-rate brachytherapy for the treatment of basal and squamous cell carcinoma

Background.  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are among the most common cancers in humans. Various therapies are currently being used to treat these tumours including surgery, topical treatments and radiotherapy. We describe a new treatment for BCC and SCC. This consists of superficial radiotherapy, using synthetic resin containing a radioactive β‐emitting isotope. The resin is applied to the lesion to perform a selective β‐irradiation brachytherapy treatment.

Gamma camera imaging of osseous metastatic lesions by strontium-89 bremsstrahlung

Abstract.The aim of this study was to optimise the parameters affecting the Bremsstrahlung scintigraphy of patients injected with strontium-89 chloride. The parameters considered were : (1) instrumental detection efficiency, and (2) tissue attenuation factor for 89Sr calibrated sources, which permit quantitative evaluation of the activity in a given bone lesion. Some typical examples of in vivo 89Sr imaging are presented to illustrate the clinical utility of the imaging procedure developed by us, which is implemented in our department for all patients treated with 89Sr chloride.

Feasibility of oak leaves as monitor for airborne pollution

The present paper confirms that evergreen oak leaves (Ouercus ilex) are a reliable biological monitor for pollution originating from vehicular traffic. By treating of experimental data statistically a simple model was obtained which explains pollution levels in terms of vehicular density and particulate resuspension effects. An extensive list of current literature in this field is also included.

Determination of firing distance and firing angle by neutron activation analysis in a case involving gunshot wounds

This paper reports the determination of the firing distance and a method for the evaluation of the firing angle in a fatal incident caused by two gunshots. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) was used to determine the Sb pattern around the bullet entrance holes on a garment of the victim, and around bullet holes produced by different shots on test targets from the gun and ammunition under investigation. The calibration curves obtained at various distances and firing angles enabled the determination of the firing distances and angles of the crime shots with a standard deviation of +/- 2 cm and +/- 5 degrees, respectively.

Bullet Identification: A Case of a Fatal Hunting Accident Resolved by Comparison of Lead Shot Using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Bullet identification by chemical analysis often provides a powerful clue in forensic science. A case is reported in which a hunting accident was resolved by using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for direct comparison of the trace element content in lead shot. Different preparation batches of lead shot appear to have a high within-group composition homogeneity, and good differentiation is achieved between different batches. Determination of the nickel and antimony content on a bush branch demonstrated that the branch had been perforated by one of the shot pellets, and this helped the detectives in reconstruction of the crime scene.

Bullets fragments identification by comparison of their chemical composition obtained using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Bullets found in crime scenes are usually compared by examination of the rifling impressions produced in the barrel of the questioned firearm. When, however, a bullet is fragmented or highly deformed, the comparison of rifling micro striations cannot be performed, and the only way two compare two or more bullets is by a match of their chemical analysis. In spite of the limits of the chemical analysis methods, due to the frequent compositional lead variability of ammunition boxes, the technique still keeps its full value, both as trial element, and as an aid in the investigations. A case is reported in the present paper, in which some crushed and deformed bullets, recovered from a murder victim body, have been analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. The analysis allowed the assignation of the bullets to one of the ammunitions lots owned by one of the murder suspect.

A PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF STRONTIUM FROM THE URINE OF PATIENTS INJECTED WITH 89SR

89Sr is a beta emitter used for palliation of pain in patients with metastatic bone cancer. After each intravenous administration, up to 80% of the isotope is eliminated in the urine. A simple chemical process is described, which permits the recovery and purification of the 89Sr from the urine.

Determination of iron isotopes by neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been applied to the determination of Fe isotopic abundances in iron materials with the experimental accuracy of 5%. The proposed method can be considered as a quite simple and fast quality check system on the iron isotope enriched oxides used as standard in Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Epidermal Radionuclide Therapy: Dermatological High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for the Treatment of Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Non-melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) is the most frequent malignancy among populations of European origin, and in some countries it accounts for about half of all tumours. In the present paper a therapeutic option for the treatment of Basal CellCell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is described. It basically consists in a superficial high dose brachytherapy, characterised by the use of radioactive beta emitting isotopes, incorporated in a specially formulated inert, synthetic resin, which is applied on the surface of skin tumours. The electrons from high energy (> 1MeV) beta emitters isotopes deposit more than 90 % of the dose to the first 2 mm of the skin, which is the depth usually interested from tumour invasion, but spare the deeper tissues from irradiation. The therapy has been used in a large variety of BCC and SCC: tumours of very large sizes, relapsing or recurrent forms, multifocal lesions, without restriction of site, dimension, clinical or histological type, patients clinical situation. A complete response was obtained in 95% of the treated lesions, and in 84 % of the lesions after a single application. A clear advantage of the proposed nuclear medicine therapeutic treatment with respect to the surgery is especially evident for all the tumours located in difficult sites, on which surgery would be difficult (nose, ears) or would produce functional mutilations (penis, vulva, eyelids)

The use of a radioactive tracer for the determination of distillation end point in a coke oven

A novel high precision detection method for the determination of the distillation end point of the coking process (usually in the 950–1100°C range) has been developed. The system is based on the use of a metallic capsule that melts at a fixed temperature and releases a radioactive gas tracer (133Xe) in the stream of the distillation gas. A series of tests on a pilot oven confirmed the feasibility of the method on industrial scale. Application of the radioactive tracer method to the staging and monitoring in the coking process appears to be possible.