Scanning XRF is a powerful elemental imaging technique introduced at the synchrotron that has recently been transposed to laboratory. The growing interest in this technique stems from its ability to ...collect images reflecting pigment distribution within large areas on artworks by means of their elemental signature. In that sense, scanning XRF appears highly complementary to standard imaging techniques (Visible, UV, IR photography and X-ray radiography). The versatile XRF scanner presented here has been designed and built at the C2RMF in response to specific constraints: transportability, cost-effectiveness and ability to scan large areas within a single working day. The instrument is based on a standard X-ray generator with sub-millimetre collimated beam and a SDD-based spectrometer to collected X-ray spectra. The instrument head is scanned in front of the painting by means of motorised movements to cover an area up to 300 × 300 mm
2
with a resolution of 0.5 mm (600 × 600 pixels). The 15-kg head is mounted on a stable photo stand for rapid positioning on paintworks and maintains a free side-access for safety; it can also be attached to a lighter tripod for field measurements. Alignment is achieved with a laser pointer and a micro-camera. With a scanning speed of 5 mm/s and 0.1 s/point, elemental maps are collected in 10 h, i.e. a working day. The X-ray spectra of all pixels are rapidly processed using an open source program to derive elemental maps. To illustrate the capabilities of this instrument, this contribution presents the results obtained on the
Belle Ferronnière
painted by Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) and conserved in the
Musée du Louvre
, prior to its restoration at the C2RMF.
The wall paintings of the Tomb of the Three Brothers in Palmyra display a very rich Greco‐Roman iconography. The study of the painting reveals the use of a great variety of pigments, including ...Egyptian blue and an extremely rare bright yellow pigment, mimetite, of which no other traces are known for this period. This pigment was identified through the combined use of two methods of analysis, scanning electron microscopy associated with X‐ray microanalysis (SEM–EDS) and X‐ray micro‐diffraction (XRD). The varied chromatic palette used underlines the refinement and the particular care given to these decorations. Notable differences have been found between the pigments of the decorations of the arch and those used for the rest of the chamber.
To study degradation processes occurring on painting materials, the use of high-resolution micro-analytical techniques is highly requested since it provides a detailed identification and localisation ...of both the original and deteriorated ingredients. Among the various pigments recently studied, the characterisation of verdigris has received a major interest. This pigment has not a unique chemical formula, but its composition depends on the recipe employed for its manufacturing. Moreover, verdigris paints are not stable and are subject to a colour change from blue-green to green, which occurs in the first few months after the application. In this paper, we focused our attention on the use of ATR-FTIR mapping as a useful method to identify verdigris secondary products and pathways. Several mock-ups and real samples have been analysed, and the correlation among the detected compounds and their spatial location, obtained by the application of ATR-FTIR microscopy in mapping mode, allowed formulating some hypotheses on the degradation pattern of verdigris, which may feed the discussion on the transformation and stability of this pigment. From an analytical point of view, we showed how FTIR mapping approaches may be extremely useful both for the identification of compounds in complex matrix in which single spectra may limit the exhaustive characterisations due to bands overlapping and for the study of degradation pathways by taking into consideration the relative distribution of degradation products.
Fifteen lead white-containing painting samples, about 1–3μg in weight, from a selection of easel painting masterpieces of the Louvre and other French museums, dating from the Renaissance to the late ...19th century, were investigated using synchrotron diffraction on the ESRF high resolution XRD beamline ID22. The Rietveld analysis revealed the nature of the pigments through the cerussite:hydrocerussite (PbCO3:Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2) ratios, the approximate dimensions of the crystallites and the presence of crystalline extenders. This first insight into a still widely unknown domain gives some hints, but also raises questions about the artists' preferences for selecting, preparing and post-treating white pigments. A significant increase of the crystallites size over five centuries also suggests an evolution of these processes.
•Micro-samples taken from painting masterpieces are analyzed by Synchrotron-XRD.•Fine crystalline phase ratios are obtained using Rietveld refinement.•Crystallites are modelized at the nanometer scale.•Variations are connected to pigment synthesis conditions and painting practices of the past.
Background Standard operative management of colorectal cancer (CRC) with adherent adjacent organs is en bloc resection to obtain clear resection margins. We analyzed early and long-term outcomes ...after multivisceral resection for clinically suspected T4 CRC and identified factors predicting survival. Methods All patients operated on for clinically suspected T4 CRC between 2000 and 2010 were identified retrospectively. Data concerning demographics, surgery, pathologic examination and oncologic outcome were analyzed. Results One hundred fifty-two patients underwent partial or total en bloc resection of ≥1 adherent organ. An R0 resection was achieved in 136 patients (89.5%). Malignant invasion of the adherent organ was histologically confirmed in 98 patients (64.5%). Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 77.4% and 58.1%, respectively. On univariate analysis, margin positivity, pT4 stage, and lymph node invasion were predictors of a worse disease-free survival. The presence of liver metastases and concomitant hepatectomy were both factors of poor overall and disease-free survival. On multivariate analysis, resection of ≥2 adjacent organs was a predictor of better overall survival. This finding may be explained by the significantly higher rate of tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI) in the group with resection of multiple organs. Conclusion The oncologic outcome of multivisceral resection for clinically suspected colorectal T4 tumors was good, especially in MSI patients and patients without liver metastases. The number of organs requiring resection should not contraindicated radical surgery as in this study it was associated with a good prognosis.
Abstract Background Although Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) confers health benefits in peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) treatment, it is associated ...with significant postoperative morbidity and mortality rate with increased length of hospital stay. The goal of this study is to determine whether a new comprehensive physiotherapy program including epidural loco-regional analgesia can improve the quality of care and patients recovery. Methods Between 2009 and 2013, 124 patients with PC were operated for CRS and HIPEC procedures. These patients were analyzed and divided in 2 groups by means of time. No Physio group included patients operated from 2009 to 2011 (n=57) having a thoracic patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) but no preoperative physiotherapy program. The Physio Group included patients operated from 2012 to 2013 (n=67) having both a PCEA with a preoperative physiotherapy program. Results The mortality rate was 1.6 % (n=2). The median length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) was lower in the Physio group, 2 days vs 0 for No Physio group (p<0.0001). The first time of mobilization after surgery was shorter in the Physio group (day 3 vs. 2, p=0.0043). The overall satisfaction in the Physio group was achieved in 93% of patients, helping in decreasing fear of surgery and mobilization in 70% and 84% of cases respectively. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that a clear pre-operative information and education by a physiotherapist, associated with a PCEA-pain management significantly benefits the patient’s post-operative recovery and reduces the length of stay in the ICU.
Background The purpose of this work was to examine the ability of an oncolytic vaccinia virus expressing the human sodium iodine transporter (hNIS) to provide real time monitoring of viral therapy ...and effective treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods Infectivity and cytotoxic effects of GLV-1h153 on mesothelioma cell lines of all histologic subtypes were assayed in vitro. Viral replication was examined by standard viral plaque assay. Orthotopic MPM xenografts were generated in athymic nude mice, treated with intrapleural GLV-1h153, and assessed for effect on tumor burden and survival. Orthotopic tumors were also imaged on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) after131 I administration. Results GLV-1h153–infected and killed all cell lines in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Viral replication demonstrated a >2.5-log increase in titer over 4 days. Intrapleural treatment of orthotopic MPM xenografts resulted in a significant decrease in tumor burden 1 week after treatment and an improvement in survival. Infection of orthotopic xenografts was both therapeutic and facilitated monitoring by131 I-SPECT/CT via expression of hNIS in infected tissue. Conclusion Our results suggest that GLV-1h153 may be a promising therapeutic agent for MPM and warrants further investigation.
Abstract Background An interaction between tumor cells and the microenvironment, as well as the development of angiogenesis, are required to form liver metastases (LMs). Material and methods ...Immunofluorescence detection of α-smooth muscle actin, desmin, Ki67, laminin, and CD31 was used to analyze the kinetics of tumor angiogenesis determinants, especially the contribution of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to angiogenesis in hepatic metastasis produced by intrasplenically injected LS174 colorectal cancer cells. Immunostaining was performed at various times (days 9, 14, 28, and 39). Results At the earliest stage, micrometastases consisted of proliferating cancer cells, a well-organized network of activated HSCs and laminin deposits. No vascular network was observed. As the LMs grew in size, an organized vascular network appeared; the laminin network colocalized with CD31 immunostaining. At the later stages, all the immunostained markers became peripheral as a central necrosis developed. Purified activated HSCs isolated from transgenic mice livers developing hepatocellular carcinoma secreted laminin and showed enhanced human umbilical vein EC network formation in a Matrigel assay. In a coinjection LM experiment, activated HSCs enhanced the metastatic process. Moreover, colorectal LMs from six patients were analyzed, and a pattern of marker distribution similar to the coinjection experiment was found in human LMs. Conclusions For the first time, our results show that HSCs play a crucial role in organizing and accelerating the progression of metastasis in modulating the prometastatic niche, interacting with colorectal cancer cell recruitment, and the organization of angiogenesis during colorectal LM development. Therefore, HSCs may be an early therapeutic target in colorectal cancer therapies.
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