159 research outputs found
Corrigendum: The Italian Mastocytosis Registry: 6-year experience from a hospital-based registry (Future Oncology (2018) 14:26 (2713-2723) DOI: 10.2217/fon-2018-0291)
No full textFollowing publication of the Research Article by SerenaMerante, Virginia V Ferretti, Chiara Elena, Valeria Brazzelli, Roberta Zanotti, Iria Neri, DiomiraMaglicane, Anna Belloni Fortina, Forer Ingeborg, Elide A Pastorello, Lisa Pieri, Cristina Papayannidis, Marina Mauro, Federica Grifoni, Roberto Minelli, Elena Guggiari, Elisa Difonzo, Monica Bocchia, Francesca Caroppo, Sergio DiNuzzo, ElenaMaria Elli,Michaela Rondoni, Rachele Ciccocioppo,Michele Di Stefano, Grazia Bossi, Emanuela Boveri, Patrizia Bonadonna, Fiorina Giona, Peter Valent &Massimo Triggiani, titled 'The Italian Mastocytosis Registry: 6-year experience from a hospital-based registry', which appeared in the November 2018 issue of Future Oncology (Future Oncology [Lond.] 14[26], 2713-2723 [2018]; DOI: 10.2217/fon-2018-0291), it has been brought to our attention that the name of Iria Neri has been corrected as follows: The author name was originally published as Iria Ner, and has been corrected to Iria Neri. The authors and editors of Future Oncology would like to sincerely apologise for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused our readers
Elastic scattering of electrons by water: An ab initio study
No full textIn this work we devise a theoretical and computational method to compute the elastic scattering of electrons from a non-spherical potential, such as in the case of molecules and molecular aggregates. Its main feature is represented by the ability of calculating accurate wave functions for continuum states of polycentric systems via the solution of the Lippmann-Schwinger equation, including both the correlation effects and multi-scattering interference terms, typically neglected in widely used approaches, such as the Mott theory. Within this framework, we calculate the purely elastic scattering matrix elements. As a test case, we apply our scheme to the modelling of electron-water elastic scattering. The Dirac-Hartree-Fock self-consistent field method is used to determine the non-spherical molecular potential projected on a functional space spanned by Gaussian basis set. By adding a number of multi-centric radially-arranged s-type Gaussian functions, whose exponents are system-dependent and optimized to reproduce the properties of the continuum electron wave function in different energy regions, we are able to achieve unprecedented access to the description of the low energy range of the spectrum (0.001 < E < 10 eV) up to keV, finding a good agreement with experimental data and previous theoretical results. To show the potential of our approach, we also compute the total elastic scattering cross section of electrons impinging on clusters of water molecules and zundel cation. Our method can be extended to deal with inelastic scattering events and heavy-charged particles
Are mast cells MASTers in HIV-1 infection?
No full textHIV-1 gp120 interacts with IgE VH3+ on the surface of human basophils and mast cells (FcεRI+ cells), acting as a viral immunoglobulin superantigen. gp120 from different clades induces mediator release from FcεRI+ cells. gp120 also induces IL-4 and IL-13 synthesis in human basophils. The chemokine receptors CCR3 and CXCR4, which are coreceptors of HIV-1 infection, are expressed by human FcεRI+ cells. HIV-1 Tat protein is a potent chemoattractant for basophils and lung mast cells, interacting with CCR3. Incubation of basophils with Tat protein upregulates the surface expression of the CCR3 receptor. There is evidence that human FcεRI+ cells could be infected in vitro by M-tropic HIV-1 strains. Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
Combining abiraterone and radiotherapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a review of current evidence
No full textProstate cancer is the second most frequent cancer worldwide, with a very high rate of progression despite treatment. The most aggressive form of the disease is known as castration-resistant prostate cancer, which carries a poor prognosis. We reviewed available literature regarding the combination of abiraterone acetate antihormonal drug and ablative radiation therapy for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. This dual treatment may enhance the effects of second-line hormonal therapy, as radiotherapy renders cancer cells more prone to immune-mediated cytotoxicity. Moreover, radiotherapy exerts its effect both on directly irradiated cells and on other distant tissues, with an abscopal effect, already demonstrated in other solid tumors. This combination treatment is safe and effective, with few adverse events. Moreover, it is of paramount importance in patients with oligoprogression of the primary disease, when current guidelines recommend continuing abiraterone treatment. Ablative radiation therapy is a noninvasive, nontoxic treatment with very high efficacy on local tumor growth control. In the available literature, the combination of radiation therapy and abiraterone acetate has prolonged both overall survival and progression-free survival, with a positive impact also on locoregional recurrence and distant metastases
When Less Is More: Specific Capture and Analysis of Tumor Exosomes in Plasma Increases the Sensitivity of Liquid Biopsy for Comprehensive Detection of Multiple Androgen Receptor Phenotypes in Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients
No full textWe evaluated the advantages and the reliability of novel protocols for the enrichment of tumor extracellular vesicles (EVs), enabling a blood-based test for the noninvasive parallel profiling of multiple androgen receptor (AR) gene alterations. Three clinically relevant AR variants related to response/resistance to standard-of-care treatments (AR-V7 transcript, AR T878A point mutation and AR gene amplification) were evaluated by digital PCR in 15 samples from patients affected by Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC). Plasma was processed to obtain circulating RNA and DNA using protocols based on tumor EVs enrichment through immuno-affinity and peptide-affinity compared to generic extraction kits. Our results showed that immuno-affinity enrichment prior to RNA extraction clearly outperforms the generic isolation method in the detection of AR-V7, also allowing for a distinction between responder (R) and non-responder (NR) patients. The T878A mutation was detected, overall, in nine out of 15 samples and no approach alone was able to reveal mutations in all harboring samples, showing that the employed methods complement each other. AR amplification was detected in the majority of CRPC samples analysed using either cell-free DNA (cfDNA) or exosome isolation kits (80%). We demonstrated that selective isolation of a subset of circulating exosomes enriched for tumor origin, rather than analysis of total plasma exosomes, or total plasma nucleic acids, increases sensitivity and specificity for the detection of specific alterations
Post-synthesis phase and shape evolution of CsPbBr3 colloidal nanocrystals: The role of ligands
No full textThe surface chemistry of colloidal cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr 3 ) nanocrystals is decisive in determining the stability and the final morphology of this class of materials, characterized by ionic structure and a high defect tolerance factor. Here, the high sensitivity of purified colloidal nanocubes of CsPbBr 3 to diverse environmental condition (solvent dilution, ageing, ligands post synthetic treatment) in ambient atmosphere is investigated by means of a comprehensive morphological (electron microscopy), structural (θ/2θ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and grazing incidence wide angle scattering (GIWAXS)), and spectroscopic chemical ( 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY), absorption and emission spectroscopy) characterization. The aging and solvent dilution contribute to modify the nanocrystal morphology, due to a modification of the ligand dynamic. Moreover, we establish the ability of aliphatic carboxylic acids and alkyl amines ligands to induce, even in a post preparative process at room temperature, structural, morphological and spectroscopic variations. Upon post synthesis alkyl amine addition, in particular of oleyl amine and octyl amine, the highly green emitting CsPbBr 3 nanocubes effectively turn into one-dimensional (1D) thin tetragonal nanowires or lead halide deficient rhombohedral zero-dimensional (0D) Cs 4 PbBr 6 structures with a complete loss of fluorescence. The addition of an alkyl carboxylic acid, as oleic and nonanoic acid, produces the transformation of nanocubes into still emitting orthorombic two-dimensional (2D) nanoplates. The acid/base equilibrium between the native and added ligands, the adsorbed/free ligands dynamic in solution and the ligand solubility in non-polar solvent contribute to render CsPbBr 3 particularly sensitive to environmental and processing conditions and, therefore prone to undergo to structural, morphological and, hence spectroscopic, transformations
Influence of psychological factors on Hereditary Angioedema attacks in children and adolescents
No full textBackground: Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is characterized by unexpected attacks, and its warning signs can vary significantly. However it is considered that stress or emotional and physical traumas are relevant to the development of HAE attacks.
This contribution describes the first stage of a broader research on the influence of psychological factors on the development of HAE attacks in children and adolescents. The first stage of this research aimed at exploring the parents’ interpretations of the condition, based on the hypothesis that these interpretations could influence the way in which the parents cope with the condition and work through the experiences connected to it.
Methods: The parents of 14 patients with HAE, between 4 and 18 years of age, who have been referred to Naples’s centre for the treatment of HAE, have been involved in the research. During an initial meeting the parents answered the questions of an interview about the history of the children and the meaning attributed to HAE.
During a second meeting the parents completed the test Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL).
Results: According to the interviews each parent has constructed a more or less complex interpretation in order to make sense of the unpredictability of HAE: 14% of parents reported that the attacks arise in response to physical traumas; 7% reckoned that intense emotions represent a trigger; while 79% offered an explanation that refers both to emotional and physical stressors. Through the CBCL 52% of the parents recorded critical scores on the Activities subscale. Two children appeared to be at psychopathological risk.
Conclusions: The hypothesises provided by parents seem to have the function of filling the void of meaning caused by the extremely variable and unexpected nature of the condition that creates a sense of confusion, which is managed subjectively. This seems to be closely connected to the burden of HAE on the patients, who are significantly limited in their daily activities
An Unusual Case of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and A Revision of Current Literature
No full textBACKGROUND:
Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) accounts for 5% of all thyroid cancers and occurs either sporadically or in a hereditary pattern. Routine calcitonin (CT) measurement is suggested for MTC screening in patients with nodular thyroid disease.
PATIENT FINDINGS:
A 45 years-old woman incidentally discovered, with neck ultrasound, the presence of thyroid micronodules. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) on thyroid prevailing nodule did not demonstrate cellular atypia. During follow-up, FNA was repeated on the previously analyzed nodule suspicious for Hürthle cell nodule suspicious for follicular neoplasm and on another hypoechoic right nodule which showed cellular atypia. CT was <2 pg/ml (normal values <18.2 pg/ml), anti-thyroid antibodies were positive and the patient showed a normal thyroid function. The patient also was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism with an enlarged parathyroid gland behind the right thyroid lobe. Therefore, she underwent total thyroidectomy and a selective parathyroidectomy was performed. Histology showed an encapsulated microMTC (pT1aNxMx) associated with diffuse C-cell hyperplasia and lymphocytic thyroiditis. The neoplasm was positive for calcitonin and chromogranin A and negative for thyroglobulin. A right parathyroid adenoma was also diagnosed. One month after surgery basal and stimulated CT were <2 ng/ml. Genetic analysis did not reveal mutation of RET proto-oncogene. Twelve months after surgery, neck ultrasonography, chest and abdomen computed tomography did not demonstrated residual/recurrent disease with undetectable serum CT.
CONCLUSION:
In the literature, few MTC cases with normal serum CT have been reported. Although MTC without elevated plasma CT is extremely rare, normal or low CT levels, do not entirely exclude this diagnosis
Nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots based hybrids as functional materials
No full textCarbon Nanodots (CNDs) are quasi spherical carbon-based nanoparticles with sizes below 10 nm. CNDs have interesting properties, such as fluorescence, chemical inertness, photobleaching resistance, low toxicity and good solubility in water, as well as a variety of organic solvents. All these features make CNDs promising candidates for a wide range of biological and optoelectronic applications. Recently, our group reported a simple bottom-up approach to Nitrogen-Doped CNDs (NCNDs), through a bottom-up microwave assisted hydrothermal process. These nanoparticles were designed to expose amine functional groups on their surface, which were exploited for post-synthetic functionalization with organic chromophores, in order to prepare novel donor-acceptor nano-hybrids (Figure 1, left). Lately, we focused on tuning the
fluorescence emission of NCNDs from blue to green, in order to facilitate their application in the biomedical field. Similarly to the photofunctional hybrid, we further exploited the amine rich surface for preparing hybrids that carry
biologically active molecules, such as antibiotics and antifungal agents (Figure 1, right)
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