[en] The objective was to assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients with localized prostate cancer (LPC) after treatment by radical radiotherapy (RR). An ''ad hoc'' self-administered questionnaire was developed, which comprised a series of 41 items grouped into seven subscales reflecting the main QoL domains, and the questionnaire's psychometric properties were assessed. Ninety patients (76%) completed the questionnaire; because 20 of them were also treated with hormonal therapy, QoL was assessed only in the remaining 70 patients, to avoid confusion. The assessment of the psychometric properties showed that the questionnaire was valid and reliable (Cronbach's α coefficient >0.8 for each subscale). The main side effects of RR were urinary symptoms and sexual impairment, while physical, psychological and relational well-being were good. The degree of information available about the therapy and the disease seemed to play a major role in the patients' QoL adjustment after RR. (Author)

[en] In the years 1971-77 we have treated 250 Stage Ib patients with cancers of the cervix. One hundred twenty-three (49.2%) underwent a radical surgery, 37 had a classical Wertheim-Meigs operation, and 86 had a lymphadenectomy that was extended to the lumbar-aortic region. When feasible, all patients received postoperative radiumtherapy on the vaginal vault. The remaining 127 patients received a complete course of radiotherapy. This was not a randomized clinical trial. In fact surgery was preferred for patients who were younger (mean age: 49.6 years) and more physically fit, while radiotherapy was the treatment chosen for those who were older (mean age: 57.7) and generally less fit or obese. The 5 year NED survival was 89.3% in the surgical group and 90.9% in the radiotherapy group (P< .05). Four fatal complications were observed in the surgical group (3.2%). Rate and causes of failures or complications are analyzed in detail

[en] In the years 1971-77 we have treated 250 Stage Ib patients with cancers of the cervix. One hundred twenty-three (49.2%) underwent a radical surgery, 37 had a classical Wertheim-Meigs operation, and 86 had a lymphadenectomy that was extended to the lumbar-aortic region. When feasible, all patients received postoperative radiumtherapy on the vaginal vault. The remaining 127 patients received a complete course of radiotherapy. This was not a randomized clinical trial. In fact surgery was preferred for patients who were younger (mean age: 49.6 years) and more physically fit, while radiotherapy was the treatment chosen for those who were older (mean age: 57.7) and generally less fit or obese. The 5 year NED survival was 89.3% in the surgical group and 90.9% in the radiotherapy group (P< .05). Four fatal complications were observed in the surgical group (3.2%). Rate and causes of failures or complications are analyzed in detail

[en] The radical treatment of deeply invasive bladder cancer with full dose radiotherapy and concomitant 5- fluorouracil continuous infusion is feasible even in frail patients, with an acceptable toxicity and a response rate comparable to that obtained using radiotherapy and simultaneous cisplatin. Many patients can retain a functioning bladder. (author)

No abstract available

[en] The construction of a new fuel cycle facility gives opportunities to improve the process of establishing and controlling safety parameters. As far as Criticality Safety is concerned, the limitation of the dimensions or shape of operational equipment as a method of control is usually preferred by operators and regulators as it is based on passive safety and needs few operating constraints. However, this approach requires many studies in the design phase especially for complex geometry and when this equipment is handled in order to define IROFS (Item Relied On For Safety) and limiting control. Thus, the choice of the geometry as a controlled parameter leads to the definition of safety requirements which have to be managed in the various phases of a project by the design engineers, the equipment suppliers and the operator. The compliance of the equipment dimensions with these requirements will have to be proven, taking into account the possible changes caused by corrosion, abrasion, earthquake, overpressurization or temperature variations. Goals to be reached by safety criticality engineers depend on the project phase. Concerning the design phase: use of existing simple or similar results based on AREVA activities in order to draft an NCS package to all disciplines by presenting the safe-by-design approach and some recommendations. Concerning the 'detailed design phase': perform complete calculations by taking into account possible geometry variations, identification of criticality dimensions to be checked by measurement in an updated nuclear criticality safety package and at last working with suppliers to share on the possibility to check all dimensions required and apply experience feedback with others suppliers (partnership, difficulties met in the as manufacturing and construction phase...). Concerning the 'Manufacturing and construction phase': support suppliers in the verification of criticality dimensions and study non compliant dimensions. Concerning the 'Operational phase': this final phase must be taken into account in all the previous phases by exchanging with the operator. Some studies can be performed in this phase to optimize future operations (maintenance, modifications...). This paper provides advices considered by design engineers and AREVA experiences on the safe-by-design approach. (authors)

[en] The CORSAIR (Cloud Oriented Radiation Sensor for Advanced Investigation of Rocks) project was born to meet the EU guidelines 2013/59/EURATOM on safety standards for protection against ionizing radiations. The project designed an automated system capable of providing a real-time measurement of the radioactive activity concentration index for building materials according to regulations of more than 20 different countries. Measurements are conducted through in situ gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques on 3 x 3 x 3 m3 blocks of rock at quarries and processing centers, and quantify the activities, the abundances and the related effective dose-rates of natural radionuclides (40K, 232Th, 238U and their progenies) in stone materials for the building industry. The detector comprises a 2” x 2” cylindric CeBr3 crystal having a 2.5% energy resolution at 1461 keV. A lateral lead shield of 1.3 cm enables a ~60% reduction of the gamma signal coming from above and beside the detector. The system is designed for providing the radiometric index in less than 30 min with an overall uncertainty of the order of 5%. The innovative aspects of the detector are in its autonomous operation and the easy fruition of the results of the material characterization. Energy calibration and peak recognition are automatically performed on‑board through an innovative stochastic method based on simulated annealing. The computation of the results is fully-automated and requires no intervention of the operator. The battery-powered detector is equipped with GPS, LoRa, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and can be remotely controlled thanks to a dedicated Android app. Acquired data and activity indexes are synced through LoRa connectivity to a cloud database, where they can be easily accessed by sellers and buyers, thus preventing the placing on the market of blocks hazardous to public health.

[en] The CORSAIR (Cloud Oriented Radiation Sensor for Advanced Investigation of Rocks) project was born to meet the EU guidelines 2013/59/EURATOM on safety standards for protection against ionizing radiations. The project designed an automated, transportable and nondestructive detection system capable of providing a real-time measurement of the radioactive activity concentration index for building materials according to regulations of more than 20 different countries. Measurements are conducted through in situ ɣ-ray spectroscopy based on a nondestructive technique placing the device on top of stone blocks of rock at quarries and processing centers, and quantify the activities, the abundances and the related effective dose-rates of natural radionuclides (40K, 232Th, 238U and their progenies) in stone materials for the building industry. The innovative aspects of the detector are in its autonomous operation and the easy fruition of the results of the material characterization. The cyber-physical system empowered by cloud-based technologies consisting of sensing nodes, data collection gateways and a centralized cloud application. These components are interconnected in a star-of-stars topology, exploiting respectively LoRa WAN and Internet network, and provide specialized user interface that can be remotely controlled thanks to a dedicated Android app. Moreover, it makes those data available to all stakeholders (i.e. producers, exporters, constructors, etc.), enabling to trace the materials along the full market chain, from extraction to the final customer, with the modern RFID technology. (author)

[en] Injury to the renal artery following blunt trauma is detected increasingly due to widespread and early use of multidetector computed tomography (CT), but optimal treatment remains controversial as no guidelines are available. This review illustrates the spectrum of imaging findings of traumatic renal artery dissection based on our experience, with the aim of understanding the physiopathology of ischaemic damage to the kidney, and the process of choosing the best therapeutic strategy (conservative, endovascular, surgical). Five main patterns of traumatic renal artery dissection are described: avulsion of renal hilum; dissection of the segmental renal branches; preocclusive main renal artery dissection; renal artery stenosis without flow limitation; thrombogenic renal artery intimal tear. In the polytrauma patient, management depends on various factors (haemodynamic status, associated lesions, time of diagnosis) rather than on the degree of renal artery stenosis. Non-operative management (NOM) is the preferred option in case of non-flow-limiting dissection of the renal artery and angio-embolisation is an important adjunct to NOM in cases of active bleeding. Embolisation of the renal artery stump may be the best option in cases of occlusive dissection, as catheter manipulation carries a high risk of vessel rupture. The therapeutic window for kidney revascularisation in cases of flow-limiting dissection of main renal artery may be variable. Endovascular stenting >4 h after trauma should be performed only if residual flow with preserved parenchymal perfusion is detected at angiography. Antiplatelet therapy administration is recommended in cases of stenting, but conditioned by the bleeding risk of the patient.