EVALUATION OF THE PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF TISSUE ASSOCIATED MACROPHAGES (TAM) IN HODGKIN LYMPHOMA AND CORRELATION WITH EARLY FDG-PET ASSESSMENT

20noMeeting Abstract - Conference: 19th Congress of the European-Hematology-Association - Location: Milan, ITALY - Date: JUN 12-15, 2014openopenCencini, E; Fabbri, A; Rigacci, L; Lazzi, S; Gini, G; Cox, MC; Mancuso, S; Abruzzese, E; Puccini, B; Kovalchuk, S; Goteri, G; Di Napoli, A; Bono, R; Fratoni, S; Bartalucci, G; Schiattone, L; Simonetta, DL; Alberto, B; Leoncini, L; Bocchia, MCencini, E; Fabbri, A; Rigacci, L; Lazzi, S; Gini, G; Cox, Mc; Mancuso, S; Abruzzese, E; Puccini, B; Kovalchuk, S; Goteri, G; Di Napoli, A; Bono, R; Fratoni, S; Bartalucci, G; Schiattone, L; Simonetta, Dl; Alberto, B; Leoncini, L; Bocchia,

Computers from plants we never made. Speculations

We discuss possible designs and prototypes of computing systems that could be based on morphological development of roots, interaction of roots, and analog electrical computation with plants, and plant-derived electronic components. In morphological plant processors data are represented by initial configuration of roots and configurations of sources of attractants and repellents; results of computation are represented by topology of the roots' network. Computation is implemented by the roots following gradients of attractants and repellents, as well as interacting with each other. Problems solvable by plant roots, in principle, include shortest-path, minimum spanning tree, Voronoi diagram, $\alpha$-shapes, convex subdivision of concave polygons. Electrical properties of plants can be modified by loading the plants with functional nanoparticles or coating parts of plants of conductive polymers. Thus, we are in position to make living variable resistors, capacitors, operational amplifiers, multipliers, potentiometers and fixed-function generators. The electrically modified plants can implement summation, integration with respect to time, inversion, multiplication, exponentiation, logarithm, division. Mathematical and engineering problems to be solved can be represented in plant root networks of resistive or reaction elements. Developments in plant-based computing architectures will trigger emergence of a unique community of biologists, electronic engineering and computer scientists working together to produce living electronic devices which future green computers will be made of.Comment: The chapter will be published in "Inspired by Nature. Computing inspired by physics, chemistry and biology. Essays presented to Julian Miller on the occasion of his 60th birthday", Editors: Susan Stepney and Andrew Adamatzky (Springer, 2017

Assessing the tilt of the solar magnetic field axis through Faraday rotation observations

Context: Faraday rotation measurements of extragalactic radio sources during coronal occultation allow assessment of both the electron density distribution and the three-dimensional magnetic field topology in the outer solar corona. Aims: We simulate the three-dimensional structure of both the coronal magnetic field and the electron density distribution in order to reproduce the excess Faraday rotation measures (RMs) of the occulted radio sources observed during solar activity minimum. In particular, we infer the tilt of the solar magnetic axis with respect to the rotation axis. Methods: We compare the output of the model with Very Large Array (VLA) radio polarimetric measurements of a sample of extragalactic sources observed in May 1997. Information on the magnetic field geometry can be retrieved by fine-tuning the set of model free parameters that best describe the observations. Results: We find that predicted and observed Faraday rotation measures are in excellent agreement, thus supporting the model. Our best-fitting model yields a tilt angle $\theta_{RB}=3.3^{\circ}$ of the solar magnetic axis with respect to the solar rotation axis around Carrington Rotation 1923. This result is consistent with analogous but independent estimates computed from the expansion coefficients of the photospheric field observed at the Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO).Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Clonal and subclonal TP53 molecular impairment is associated with prognosis and progression in multiple myeloma

open19noThis work was supported by AIRC—Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro (IG2014-15839) and (IG2018-22059), Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca (RF-2016-02362532) and Associazione Italiana Leucemia, Linfomi e Mieloma—AIL ODV, Bologna. AIRC IG2014-15839 and IG2018-22059 RF-2016-02362532, AIL Bologna.Aberrations on TP53, either as deletions of chromosome 17p (del17p) or mutations, are associated with poor outcome in multiple myeloma (MM), but conventional detection methods currently in use underestimate their incidence, hindering an optimal risk assessment and prognostication of MM patients. We have investigated the altered status of TP53 gene by SNPs array and sequencing techniques in a homogenous cohort of 143 newly diagnosed MM patients, evaluated both at diagnosis and at first relapse: single-hit on TP53 gene, either deletion or mutation, detected both at clonal and sub-clonal level, had a minor effect on outcomes. Conversely, the coexistence of both TP53 deletion and mutation, which defined the so-called double-hit patients, was associated with the worst clinical outcome (PFS: HR 3.34 [95% CI: 1.37–8.12] p = 0.008; OS: HR 3.47 [95% CI: 1.18–10.24] p = 0.02). Moreover, the analysis of longitudinal samples pointed out that TP53 allelic status might increase during the disease course. Notably, the acquisition of TP53 alterations at relapse dramatically worsened the clinical course of patients. Overall, our analyses showed these techniques to be highly sensitive to identify TP53 aberrations at sub-clonal level, emphasizing the poor prognosis associated with double-hit MM patients.openMartello M.; Poletti A.; Borsi E.; Solli V.; Dozza L.; Barbato S.; Zamagni E.; Tacchetti P.; Pantani L.; Mancuso K.; Vigliotta I.; Rizzello I.; Rocchi S.; Armuzzi S.; Testoni N.; Marzocchi G.; Martinelli G.; Cavo M.; Terragna C.Martello M.; Poletti A.; Borsi E.; Solli V.; Dozza L.; Barbato S.; Zamagni E.; Tacchetti P.; Pantani L.; Mancuso K.; Vigliotta I.; Rizzello I.; Rocchi S.; Armuzzi S.; Testoni N.; Marzocchi G.; Martinelli G.; Cavo M.; Terragna C

Diversity and temporal dynamics of the epiphytic bacterial communities associated with the canopy-forming seaweed Cystoseira cornpressa (Esper) Gerloff and Nizamuddin

Canopy-forming seaweed species of the genus Cystoseira form diverse and productive habitats along temperate rocky coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Despite numerous studies on the rich macrofauna and flora associated with Cystoseira spp., there is little knowledge about the epiphytic bacteria. We analyzed bacterial populations associated with canopies of Cystoseira compressa, over an annual vegetative cycle (May-October), and their relationships with the bacterial populations in the surrounding seawater, at intertidal rocky shores in Vasto (Chieti - Italy). The bacterial diversity was assessed using Illumina Miseq sequences of V1-V3 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA gene. C. compressa bacterial community was dominated by sequences of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria especially of the Rhodobacteriaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Sapropiraceae, Verrucomicrobiaceae and Phyllobacteriaceae families. Seawater libraries were also dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes sequences, especially of the Candidatus Pelagibacter (SAR11) and Rhodobacteriaceae families, but were shown to be clearly distinct from C. compressa libraries with only few species in common between the two habitats. We observed a clear successional pattern in the epiphytic bacteria of C. compressa over time. These variations were characterized by gradual addition of OTUs (Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria and SR1) to the community over a growing season, indicative of a temporal gradient, rather than a radical reorganization of the bacterial community. Moreover, we also found an increase in abundance over time of Rhodobacteraceae, comprising six potential pathogenic genera, Ruegeria, Nautella, Aquimarina, Loktanella, Saprospira and Phaeobacter which seemed to be associated to aged thalli of C. compressa. These bacteria could have the potential to affect the health and ecology of the algae, suggesting the hypothesis of a possible, but still unexplored, role of the microbial communities in contributing to the extensive ongoing declines of populations of Cystoseira spp. in the Mediterranean Sea

Identification of Super- and Sub-critical Regions in Shocks driven by Coronal Mass Ejections

In this work, we focus on the analysis of a CME-driven shock observed by SOHO/LASCO. We show that white-light coronagraphic images can be employed to estimate the compression ratio X = rho_d / rho_u all along the front of CME-driven shocks. X increases from the shock flanks (where X ~ 1.2) to the shock center (where X ~ 3.0 is maximum). From the estimated X values, we infer the Alfv\'en Mach number for the general case of an oblique shock. It turns out that only a small region around the shock center is supercritical at earlier times, while higher up in the corona the whole shock becomes subcritical. This suggests that CME-driven shocks could be efficient particle accelerators at the initiation phases of the event, while at later times they progressively loose energy, also losing their capability to accelerate high energy particles. This result has important implications on the localization of particle acceleration sites and in the context of predictive space weather studies

Surgery for Bentall endocarditis: Short- And midterm outcomes from a multicentre registry

none34Objectives: Endocarditis after the Bentall procedure is a severe disease often complicated by a pseudoaneurysm or mediastinitis. Reoperation is challenging but conservative therapy is not effective. The aim of this study was to assess short- and midterm outcomes of patients reoperated on for Bentall-related endocarditis. Methods: Seventy-three patients with Bentall procedure-related endocarditis were recorded in the Italian registry. The mean age was 57 ± 14 years and 92% were men; preoperative comorbidities included hypertension (45%), diabetes (12%) and renal failure (11%). The logistic EuroSCORE was 25%; the EuroSCORE II was 8%. Results: Preoperatively, 12% of the patients were in septic shock; left ventricular-aortic discontinuity was present in 63% and mitral valve involvement occurred in 12%. The most common pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (22%) and Streptococci (14%). Reoperations after a median interval of 30months (1-221 months) included a repeat Bentall with a bioconduit (41%), a composite mechanical (33%) or biological valved conduit (19%) and a homograft (6%). In 1 patient, a heart transplant was required (1%); in 12%, a mitral valve procedure was needed. The hospital mortality rate was 15%. The postoperative course was complicated by renal failure (19%), major bleeding (14%), pulmonary failure (14%), sepsis (11%) and multiorgan failure (8%). At multivariate analysis, urgent surgery was a risk factor for early death [hazard ratio 20.5 (1.9-219)]. Survival at 5 and 8 years was 75 ± 6% and 71 ± 7%, with 3 cases of endocarditis relapse. Conclusions: Surgery is effective in treating endocarditis following the Bentall procedure although it is associated with high perioperative mortality and morbidity rates. Endocarditis relapse seems to be uncommon.openSponga S.; Mauro M.D.; Malvindi P.G.; Paparella D.; Murana G.; Pacini D.; Weltert L.; De Paulis R.; Cappabianca G.; Beghi C.; De Vincentiis C.; Parolari A.; Messina A.; Troise G.; Salsano A.; Santini F.; Pierri M.D.; M. Di Eusanio; Maselli D.; Dato G.A.; Centofanti P.; Mancuso S.; Rinaldi M.; Cagnoni G.; Antona C.; Marco Piciche; Salvador L.; Cugola D.; Galletti L.; Pozzoli A.; De Bonis M.; Lorusso R.; Bortolotti U.; Livia U.Sponga, S.; Mauro, M. D.; Malvindi, P. G.; Paparella, D.; Murana, G.; Pacini, D.; Weltert, L.; De Paulis, R.; Cappabianca, G.; Beghi, C.; De Vincentiis, C.; Parolari, A.; Messina, A.; Troise, G.; Salsano, A.; Santini, F.; Pierri, M. D.; Di Eusanio, M.; Maselli, D.; Dato, G. A.; Centofanti, P.; Mancuso, S.; Rinaldi, M.; Cagnoni, G.; Antona, C.; Marco, Piciche; Salvador, L.; Cugola, D.; Galletti, L.; Pozzoli, A.; De Bonis, M.; Lorusso, R.; Bortolotti, U.; Livia, U