102,003 research outputs found
Casorati negli Stati Uniti
No full textIl saggio esamina la partecipazione di Felice Casorati al premio Carnegie a Pittsburgh e in altre mostre di arte moderna italiana negli Stati Uniti tra il 1924 e il 1949, e discute l'evoluzione della ricezione critica del suo lavoro, nonché il contributo offerto dal pittore alla politica di promozione della cultura italiana in Americ
Mariuccia Gandini nella vita e nell’opera di Felice Casorati (1920-24)
No full textThis paper reconstructs the forgotten biography of Mariuccia Gandini (1897-1924), a fundamental figure in the life and work of Felice Casorati (1883-1963), the major painter of Italian Magic Realism. Archival researches and new findings allow to overcome the oblivion followed to her early death. Her role was not limited to the sentimental relationship with the painter, but involves her work as a model and creative companion, as the two shared interest for music (Gandini, sister of a Turinese composer, was a celebrated pianist herself). The paper also traces her presence in paintings and drawings, from actual portraits to more ambiguous dedications or allusions, that were importantly collected in Casorati's solo exhibition at the Venice biennial in 1924
iNKT-cell help to B cells: a cooperative job between innate and adaptive immune responses
No full textT-cell help to B lymphocytes is one of the most important events in adaptive immune responses in health and disease. It is generally delivered by cognate CD4+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells via both cell-to-cell contacts and soluble mediators, and it is essential for both the clonal expansion of antibody (Ab)-secreting B cells and memory B-cell formation. CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a subset of innate-like T lymphocytes that rapidly respond to stimulation with specific lipid antigens (Ags) that are derived from infectious pathogens or stressed host cells. Activated iNKT cells produce a wide range of cytokines and upregulate costimulatory molecules that can promote activation of dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer (NK) cells, and T cells. A decade ago, we discovered that iNKT cells can help B cells to proliferate and to produce IgG Abs in vitro and in vivo. This adjuvant-like function of Ag-activated iNKT cells provides a flexible set of helper mechanisms that expand the current paradigm of T-cell-B-cell interaction and highlights the potential of iNKT-cell targeting vaccine formulations
A rare case report of a typical variant ossifying fibromyxoid tumor (OFMT), located in the retroauricular perimastoid region
No full textIntroduction: Ossifying fibromixoid tumor of soft parts (OFMT) is a rare soft tissue and bone tumor. In its classic form, is considered benign, nevertheless aggressive clinical behaviour tumors with a different cytoarchitectural features of a malignant variant, have been described.The classification contains “typical”, “atypical” and “malignant” variants. Methods: A CT ear scan without contrast enhancement was carried out (October 2015), with coronal, sagittal and 3D reconstructions. It was decided the removal of the neoformation with a simple dissection. Results: In this report, we present a case of a typical variant OFMT localized in the retroauricular perimastoid region, with mastoid bone cortex not involved. Conclusions: Considering the extreme rarity of this “enigmatic” tumor which displays an uncertain line of differentiation, renders the differential diagnosis a true challenge
An improved PCR-heteroduplex method permits high-sensitivity detection of clonal expansions in complex T cell populations.
No full textWe have modified the PCR-heteroduplex technique to render it more suitable for the study of the clonal make up of complex T cell populations. This technique is based on separate PCR amplifications of all the TCR V beta genes expressed by a polyclonal T cell sample, followed by a heteroduplex reaction of the PCR products and a gel separation. Our modification involves performing each heteroduplex reaction in the presence of excess carrier DNA, which is the PCR product of a cloned TCR V beta cDNA having the same variable and constant region of the amplified V beta family, but a different N region. In this way, every clonotypic V beta chain that is amplified in the polyclonal mixture forms a unique and reproducible pair of heteroduplex bands with the carrier DNA. This molecular footprint permits the identification of a given T cell clone over time, or in different anatomical sites. The specificity and sensitivity of the detection of T cell clones can be further increased by hybridising the blotted heteroduplex gel with oligonucleotides specific for either a TCR V beta N region or the carrier DNA. In conclusion, we have developed a simple and reproducible technique that permits the simultaneous detection of the expanded T cell clones present in heterogeneous T cell populations in a very specific and sensitive manner
Refractory Pseudomonas Osteomyelitis of the Skull Base With Gradenigo’s Syndrome: Early Dysphagia and Late Abducens Nerve Palsy
No full textGradenigo's syndrome (GS) is a rare entity characterized by otitis media, pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution and abducens nerve palsy. The classic triad is uncommon, making the diagnostic workup challenging. Specifically, the diagnostic approach includes medical history, a complete otorhinolaryngological examination, a pure-tone audiogram and radiological investigation such as contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging of head and neck. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are the first-line treatment, such as intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone and IV metronidazole. Here, we present the case of a 71-year-old man with a previous history of otitis media and poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. He presented to our attention with facial pain, left hemilarynx paralysis, dysphagia and otorrhea. The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics without any clinical improvement. Imaging evaluations demonstrated the presence of wide and poorly defined pathological material with epicenter in the masticatory space, involving all nearby structures. The patient underwent multiple biopsies without obtaining a defininerve palsy
Peripheral blood lymphocytes as target cells of retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer
No full textPeripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) are key target cells for gene therapy of a number of inherited and acquired blood disorders. We have systematically compared four retroviral vectors, designed according to different strategies, for their efficiency in transfer and expression in human PBLs of the same reporter gene. The receptor gene used in the study codes for the human low- affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR), and is not expressed on the majority of human hematopoietic cells, thus allowing quantitative analysis of the transduced gene expression by immunofluorescence, with single cell resolution. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as well as human hematopoietic cells lines of myeloid and lymphoid origin, were transduced with the four vectors and analyzed for efficiency of gene transfer, integration and stability of vector proviruses, and LNGFR expression at both RNA and protein level. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis of coexpression of LNGFR and lineage-specific cell surface markers was performed in transduced cell lines, PBLs, and T-cell clones to study gene expression on specific cell subpopulations. Although crucial differences were observed among different constructs, all retroviral vectors could transduce, under appropriate infection conditions, T-cell populations representative of the normal immune repertoire. Gene transfer and expression could be demonstrated also in circulating progenitors of mature T cells. Expression of the transduced gene was heterogeneous among cell populations infected with the different vectors, with optimal results obtained by two of the four constructs. Finally, we have devised a simple protocol based on vector- mediated gene transfer and positive immunoselection of the transduced cells that produces virtually 100% gene-modified cells. This may represent a crucial improvement in the way of designing efficacious protocols involving the use of gene-modified T lymphocytes in clinical studies
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the 4;11 translocation exhibiting early T cell features
No full textWe describe a case of ALL with the t(4;11) (q21;q23) translocation in which both surface markers and molecular analyses suggest an unusual early T cell involvement. While the morphologic and cytochemical studies showed an undifferentiated pattern, immunophenotypic data were suggestive of a very immature cell population which stained only for TdT and CD7. Moreover, in contrast to previous reports but in agreement with the immunologic findings, the IgH gene region retained a germline configuration. T cell receptor beta and gamma chain gene loci also showed a germline pattern, in accordance with the expansion of immature CD7+, TdT+ T cells
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