A Fiorina’s research while affiliated with Università degli Studi di Genova and other places

Experiments for microbiological evaluation of airborne particles were led in two haemodialysis rooms at the beginning and at the end of activity time (6 h). The efficiency of a new personal and portable aerobiological sampler in comparison with a fixed sampler and a traditional sedimetric method was evaluate. The personal and portable sampler allowed a good evaluation of concentration of bacteria and fungi per cubic metres of sampled air. Since its aspiration flow is equal to Minute Ventilation of an adult; this device provides a quantification of inhaled particles. We propose this device for evaluating the risk for patients and sanitary operators, for monitoring air quality and in implementing adequate environmental prophylaxis and for other applications, e.g. environmental applications.

The pollen grains in the atmosphere in different geographical areas differ according to the species present, the pollination seasons and pollen grain concentrations, but possibly the greatest contributors to this variability are the meteorological conditions. The aim of our research is to establish a possible correlation between Parietaria pollen concentration and meteorological conditions during the period from 1991 to 1995 in the town of Alassio (north-west Italy). As far as vegetation is concerned, the Mediterranean climatic conditions support the blooming of extensive grasslands in the environment surrounding the town; these grasslands mainly comprise Urticaceae and shrubs. The study demonstrates that the most influential parameters affecting the Urticaceae grain concentration upsurge are the absence of rainfall, a maximum daily temperature of about 21 degrees C, and a diurnal temperature range of about 5 degrees C. Moreover, our aeropalinological study indicates that this last parameter has the greatest influence on Urticaceae pollination. In fact, an increase in diurnal temperature range could be responsible for a dehydration of pollens resulting in a loss in mass. This grain lightness and volatility would ultimately permit atmospheric dispersion if there is a significant wind speed. On the other hand, days with rain or high relative humidity make pollens heavier, preventing them from flying long distances and therefore partially explaining the decline in airbone pollen concentration.

We describe two cases of respiratory allergy (asthma), which were difficult to diagnosis from an etiological viewpoint. The routine diagnostic tests were not able to determine the causal allergens, although the clinical history suggested that allergens were confined to restricted environments. Therefore, an aerobiological sampling by means of a battery-powered portable device was carried out. This approach allowed identification of the responsible allergens, which were Alternaria spores in one case and thuja pollen in the other. Once a targeted environmental care had been performed, the patients' symptoms rapidly improved and antiasthma therapy could be stepped down or discontinued. We suggest that, in selected cases of difficult diagnosis the presence of proximity allergens is suspected, aerobiological sampling with a portable device should be considered.

Aeropollinic sampling is usually performed by volumetric pollen traps located on the top of buildings at a height of 15-20 m. The present study aimed to determine whether pollen concentration is similar, at the same time, at different heights. Pollen concentrations were measured at the same time for 3 days each month (March-October 1997), with three Partrap FA 52 devices respectively located at 1.5, 5, and 15 m above the ground. A Burkard sampler was used as control at the 15-m level. No significant difference in either the total count or the single pollen counts was observed between the Partrap and Burkard samplers at 15 m. The total pollen count did not differ significantly between the Partrap at 1.5 m and 15 m (130+/-19 and 123+/-18, respectively), whereas the sampler at 5 m collected an amount of pollen (84+/-14) significantly lower than at 1.5 and 15 m (P<0.0001 and P<0.001, respectively). The amount of Urticaceae pollen was significantly higher at 1.5 m (97+/-17) than at 15m (80+/-12) and 5m (58+/-11); P<0.02 and P<0.001, respectively. Regarding grass pollen, the collector at 5 m captured significantly less pollen (4.5+/-0.8) than at 1.5m (9.5+/-1.3) and 15m (7.2+/-1.3) (P=0.002 and P=0.02, respectively). No significant difference was observed between the data obtained from samplers at 1.5 and 15 m. In addition, the Oleaceae, Cupressaceae, and Corylaceae pollen counts were significantly higher when collected at 15 than at 5 and 1.5 m. These data show that differences exist in pollen sampling performed at different heights.

The new personal portable sampler for detection of environmental biologic particles (Partrap FA52, Coppa, Biella, Italy) was used to evaluate both atmospheric and indoor biologic particles in bedding at high altitudes during two Italian scientific expeditions in Nepal, in 1994 and 1996 respectively. The sampling was performed outdoors and indoors at the following altitudes: Katmandu 1,330 meters (m), LuKla 2,800 m, Namche 3,500 m, Pericle 4,200 m and Piramide 5,050 m. In both expeditions each sample of outdoor and indoor air was obtained by sucking air into the sampler either against the wind during a 6-h period, from 9 am to 3 pm, or from bedding of inhabitants resident at the different altitudes for 5 min. The number of pollens, moulds and mites trapped in each sample were assessed. The statistical analysis of the results by Spearman correlation test revealed a significant inverse correlation (p < 0.02) between altitude and the number of the considered biologic particles for sampling carried out during both the 1994 and 1996 expeditions. Moreover, Wilcoxon paired test showed no significant difference between the biologic sampling obtained in the two expeditions. These results confirm the decrease of the environmental biologic charge in relation to the increase of altitude and prove the efficacy of Partrap FA52 in obtaining reproducible quantitative data.

Aerobiological studies are important in many fields, specifically in medicine as they enable the identification of those airborne particles of biological origin coming into contact with man. These data are useful to evaluate the cause-effect ratio, to prevent allergy, to adjust the dose of drugs. A personal sampler for aerobiological particles (PARTRAP FA 52) was handed over to eleven atopic patients for a monitoring day. The sampling room was placed at about 15 cm from nose and mouth. The patients also underwent the Prick test and RAST test. The personal sampler for aerobiological particles enables a qualitative and quantitative sampling of the air close to the patient. More allergenic particles were found with the aerobiological personal sampling as compared to the sensitisation shown by Prick test and RAST in the same patient. This sampling method can be useful to demonstrate the cause-effect ratio directly near the patient and, moreover and can be indicative for further clinical and immunological investigations.

A new personal portable sampler of biologic particles (Partrap FA52, Coppa, Biella, Italy) was used for pollen sampling in comparison with Hirst's (Burkard) fixed device. The aerobiologic samplings were carried out simultaneously outdoors with the two devices coupled on the same axis, during the daytime of 10 dry, nonconsecutive spring days. The total amount and the percentages of the pollens most often trapped by the two collectors were compared by Student's t-test for paired samples. The Partrap FA52 showed a highly significant efficacy, quite comparable to that of the Burkard device, in pollen trapping for both the total number (P < 0.0001) and the percentages of Parietaria (P < 0.0001), pine (P < 0.002), and grass (P < 0.0001) pollens. Therefore, Partrap FA52 proved to be highly effective in obtaining quantitative and qualitative aerobiologic samples in comparison with the commonly used fixed samplers.