87 research outputs found
A deep Chandra observation of the interacting star-forming galaxy Arp 299
We present results from a 90 ks Chandra ACIS-S observation of the X-ray
luminous interacting galaxy system Arp 299 (NGC 3690/IC 694). We detect 25
discrete X-ray sources with luminosities above 4.0x10^38 erg s^-1 covering the
entire Ultra Luminous X-ray source (ULX) regime. Based on the hard X-ray
spectra of the non-nuclear discrete sources identified in Arp 299, and their
association with young, actively star-forming region of Arp 299 we identify
them as HMXBs. We find in total 20 off-nuclear sources with luminosities above
the ULX limit, 14 of which are point-like sources. Furthermore we observe a
marginally significant deficit in the number of ULXs, with respect to the
number expected from scaling relations of X-ray binaries with the star
formation rate (SFR). Although the high metalicity of the galaxy could result
in lower ULX numbers, the good agreement between the observed total X-ray
luminosity of ULXs, and that expected from the relevant scaling relation
indicates that this deficit could be the result of confusion effects. The
integrated spectrum of the galaxy shows the presence of a hot gaseous component
with kT = 0.72+-0.03 keV, contributing 20% of the soft (0.1-2.0 keV) unabsorbed
luminosity of the galaxy. A plume of soft X-ray emission in the west of the
galaxy indicates a large scale outflow. We find that the AGN in NGC 3690
contributes only 22% of the observed broad-band X-ray luminosity of Arp 299.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, 9 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Abundance and temperature of the outer hot circum-Galactic medium: The SRG/eROSITA view of the soft X-ray background in the eFEDS field
Despite their vital importance to understand galaxy evolution and our own
Galactic ecosystem, our knowledge of the physical properties of the hot phase
of the Milky Way is still inadequate. However, sensitive SRG/eROSITA large area
surveys are now providing us with the long sought-after data needed to mend
this state of affairs. We present the properties of the soft X-ray emission as
observed by eROSITA in the eFEDS field. We measure the temperature and metal
abundance of the hot circum-Galactic medium (CGM) to be within
keV and , depending on
the contribution of solar wind charge exchange (SWCX). Slightly larger CGM
abundances are possible, considering the
uncertain extrapolation of the extragalactic Cosmic X-ray background (CXB)
emission below keV. To recover CGM abundances as large as
, it must be postulated the presence of an additional component,
likely associated with the warm-hot intergalactic medium, providing
% of the flux in the soft X-ray band. The emission in the soft band
is dominated by the CGM, with contributions from the CXB and the local hot
bubble. Moreover, the eROSITA data require the presence of an additional
component associated with the elusive Galactic corona plus a possible
contribution from unresolved M dwarf stars. This component has a temperature of
keV and it might be out of thermal equilibrium. It contributes
% to the total emission in the 0.6--2 keV band, therefore it is a likely
candidate to produce part of the unresolved CXB flux observed in X-ray
ultra-deep fields. We also observe a significant contribution to the soft X-ray
flux due to SWCX, during periods characterised by stronger solar wind activity,
and causing the largest uncertainty on the determination of the CGM
temperature.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Acute central nervous system toxicity during treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia : phenotypes, risk factors and genotypes
Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Ferrata Storti Foundation Published under a CC BY-NC license.Central nervous system (CNS) toxicity is common at diagnosis and during treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We studied CNS toxicity in 1, 464 children aged 1.0-17.9 years, diagnosed with ALL and treated according to the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology ALL2008 protocol. Genome-wide association studies, and a candidate single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; n=19) study were performed in 1, 166 patients. Findings were validated in an independent Australian cohort of children with ALL (n=797) in whom two phenotypes were evaluated: diverse CNS toxicities (n=103) and methotrexate-related CNS toxicity (n=48). In total, 135/1, 464 (9.2%) patients experienced CNS toxicity for a cumulative incidence of 8.7% (95% confidence interval: 7.31-10.20) at 12 months from diagnosis. Patients aged ≥10 years had a higher risk of CNS toxicity than had younger patients (16.3% vs. 7.4%; P<0.001). The most common CNS toxicities were posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (n=52, 43 with seizures), sinus venous thrombosis (n=28, 9 with seizures), and isolated seizures (n=16). The most significant SNP identified by the genome-wide association studies did not reach genomic significance (lowest P-value: 1.11x10-6), but several were annotated in genes regulating neuronal functions. In candidate SNP analysis, ATXN1 rs68082256, related to epilepsy, was associated with seizures in patients <10 years (P=0.01). ATXN1 rs68082256 was validated in the Australian cohort with diverse CNS toxicities (P=0.04). The role of ATXN1 as well as the novel SNP in neurotoxicity in pediatric ALL should be further explored.Peer reviewe
Report of the Workshop on Growth-increment Chronologies in Marine Fish: climate-ecosystem interactions in the North Atlantic 2.
Molecular changes indicative of cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis development in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in COVID-19 patients with haematological malignancies: a report from the EPICOVIDEHA registry
Background: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment decreases the hospitalisation rate in immunocompetent patients with COVID-19, but data on efficacy in patients with haematological malignancy are scarce. Here, we describe the outcome of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment in a large cohort of the latter patients. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study from the multicentre EPICOVIDEHA registry (NCT04733729) on patients with haematological malignancy, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between January and September 2022. Patients receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir were compared to those who did not. A logistic regression was run to determine factors associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir administration in our sample. Mortality between treatment groups was assessed with Kaplan-Meier survival plots after matching all the patients with a propensity score. Additionally, a Cox regression was modelled to detect factors associated with mortality in patients receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Findings: A total of 1859 patients were analysed, 117 (6%) were treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, 1742 (94%) were treated otherwise. Of 117 patients receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, 80% had received ≥1 anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose before COVID-19 onset, 13% of which received a 2nd vaccine booster. 5% were admitted to ICU. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment was associated with the presence of extrapulmonary symptoms at COVID-19 onset, for example anosmia, fever, rhinitis, or sinusitis (aOR 2.509, 95%CI 1.448-4.347) and 2nd vaccine booster (aOR 3.624, 95%CI 1.619-8.109). Chronic pulmonary disease (aOR 0.261, 95%CI 0.093-0.732) and obesity (aOR 0.105, 95%CI 0.014-0.776) were not associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir use. After propensity score matching, day-30 mortality rate in patients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was 2%, significantly lower than in patients with SARS-CoV-2 directed treatment other than nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (11%, p = 0.036). No factor was observed explaining the mortality difference in patients after nirmatrelvir/ritonavir administration. Interpretation: Haematological malignancy patients were more likely to receive nirmatrelvir/ritonavir when reporting extrapulmonary symptoms or 2nd vaccine booster at COVID-19 onset, as opposed to chronic pulmonary disease and obesity. The mortality rate in patients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was lower than in patients with targeted drugs other than nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Funding: EPICOVIDEHA has received funds from Optics COMMIT (COVID-19 Unmet Medical Needs and Associated Research Extension) COVID-19 RFP program by GILEAD Science, United States (Project 2020-8223)
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