TTF-1/p63-positive poorly differentiated NSCLC: A histogenetic hypothesis from the basal reserve cell of the terminal respiratory unit

TTF-1 is expressed in the alveolar epithelium and in the basal cells of distal terminal bronchioles. It is considered the most sensitive and specific marker to define the adenocarcinoma arising from the terminal respiratory unit (TRU). TTF-1, CK7, CK5/6, p63 and p40 are useful for typifying the majority of non-small-cell lung cancers, with TTF and CK7 being typically expressed in adenocarcinomas and the latter three being expressed in squamous cell carcinoma. As tumors with coexpression of both TTF-1 and p63 in the same cells are rare, we describe different cases that coexpress them, suggesting a histogenetic hypothesis of their origin. We report 10 cases of poorly differentiated non-small-cell lung carcinoma (PD-NSCLC). Immunohistochemistry was performed by using TTF-1, p63, p40 (∆Np63), CK5/6 and CK7. EGFR and BRAF gene mutational analysis was performed by using real-time PCR. All the cases showed coexpression of p63 and TTF-1. Six of them showing CK7+ and CK5/6− immunostaining were diagnosed as “TTF-1+ p63+ adenocarcinoma”. The other cases of PD-NSCLC, despite the positivity for CK5/6, were diagnosed as “adenocarcinoma, solid variant”, in keeping with the presence of TTF-1 expression and p40 negativity. A “wild type” genotype of EGFR was evidenced in all cases. TTF1 stained positively the alveolar epithelium and the basal reserve cells of TRU, with the latter also being positive for p63. The coexpression of p63 and TTF-1 could suggest the origin from the basal reserve cells of TRU and represent the capability to differentiate towards different histogenetic lines. More aggressive clinical and morphological features could characterize these “basal-type tumors” like those in the better known “basal-like” cancer of the breast

Factors Influencing Depression Endpoints Research (FINDER): baseline results of Italian patients with depression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Factors Influencing Depression Endpoints Research (FINDER) is a 6-month, prospective, observational study carried out in 12 European countries aimed at investigating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in outpatients receiving pharmacological treatment for a first or new depressive episode. Baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in Italy are presented.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All treatment decisions were at the discretion of the investigator. Data were collected at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Baseline evaluations included demographics, medical and psychiatric history, and medications used in the last 24 months and prescribed at enrolment. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), was adopted to evaluate depressive symptoms, while somatic and painful physical symptoms were assessed by using the Somatic Symptom Inventory (SSI) and a 0 to 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), HRQoL via 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions (EQ-5D) instrument.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 513 patients were recruited across 38 sites. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age at first depressive episode was 38.7 ± 15.9 years, the mean duration of depression 10.6 ± 12.3 years. The most common psychiatric comorbidities in the previous 24 months were anxiety/panic (72.6%) and obsessive/compulsive disorders (13.4%), while 35.9% had functional somatic syndromes. Most patients (65.1%) reported pain from any cause. Monotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) was prescribed at enrolment in 64.5% and 6.4% of the cases, respectively. The most commonly prescribed agents were sertraline (17.3%), escitalopram (16.2%), venlaflaxine (15.6%) and paroxetine (14.8%). The mean HADS subscores for depression and anxiety were 13.3 ± 4.2 and 12.2 ± 3.9, respectively; 76.4% of patients could be defined as being 'probable cases' for depression and 66.2% for anxiety. The mean total score of VAS-pain in the last week was 42.9 ± 27.1, with highest scores reported in the 'interference of pain with daily activities' and in 'amount of time patient was awake and had pain'. From SF-36, the worst health status was found for role limitations due to emotional problem, mental health and social functioning. A mean score < 50 (that is, below the standardised population norm) was also found in all remaining domains. The SF-36 summary scores and EQ-5D (health status and VAS) were lower in patients with moderate/severe pain than in those with no or mild pain.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The baseline results of patients enrolled in the FINDER study in Italy show clinical and functional impairments, and poor HRQoL. The results obtained after 6 months of therapy will permit better understanding the effects of different variables on clinical outcomes and HRQoL.</p

Equilibrium hydrostatic equation and Newtonian limit of the singular f(R) gravity

We derive the equilibrium hydrostatic equation of a spherical star for any gravitational Lagrangian density of the form $L=\sqrt{-g}f(R)$. The Palatini variational principle for the Helmholtz Lagrangian in the Einstein gauge is used to obtain the field equations in this gauge. The equilibrium hydrostatic equation is obtained and is used to study the Newtonian limit for $f(R)=R-\frac{a^{2}}{3R}$. The same procedure is carried out for the more generally case $f(R)=R-\frac{1}{n+2}\frac{a^{n+1}}{R^{n}}$ giving a good Newtonian limit.Comment: Revised version, to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravity

Poliploidía inducida en amarantos

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el efecto de la inducción de poliploidía con colchicina sobre caracteres morfológicos y fisiológicos en 11 genotipos de Amaranthus. Los materiales genéticos utilizados fueron: A. caudatus L. cv Osear Blanco (TI) y cv Blanco Molinera (T2); A. mantegazzinus Passer cv Don manuel (T·), cv Don Juan (T4), cv panoja roja precoz (T5), cv panoja roja tardío (T6), A. hipocondriacus L. cv Artasa 9122 (T7), cv Anguil 59 (T8), cv Horticola (T9), A. cruentus L. cv Don Guiem (TIO) y cv Don Armando (TII). Los tratamientos fueron los siguientes: T: plantas tratadas con solución de colchicina al 2 % en el estado de plántula y NT: plantas no tratadas. El diseño dispuestas al azar en parcelas apareadas y con treinta repeticiones para cada cultivar. Las variables a medir fueron: altura de planta, días a floración de TI, 1'2, T3, T4 T5 YTlI, tamaño de estomas y células parenquimáticas del TI y peso de mil semillas. Los resultados se analizaron mediante" t" de Student para determinar el significado estadístico de las diferencias de medias entre plantas tratadas y no tratadas. Para el carácter altura de planta se encontraron diferencias significativas (p&lt;0,05) en Tl0 (T= 92,5; NT= 103,8) Y en TII (T=64; NT=85,5) Y diferencias altamente significativas (p&lt;0,01) en el T6 (T= 98,5; NT= 132,5). Para los días desde emergencia a floración se encontraron diferencias significativas (p&lt;0,05) en el TI (T= 171,6; NT = 169,4) Y diferencias altamente significativas (p&lt;0,01) en el 1'2 (T= 172; NT = 166,3) Y TII (T= 137,7; NT = 130,8). Para el peso de mil semillas no se encontraron diferencias significativas (p&lt;0,05) entre T y NT para ninguno de los cultivares inducidos con colchicina. Para el carácter tamaño de estomas y células parenquimáticas del TI se encontraron diferencias altamente significativas (p&lt;0,01) (T = 29,8 micrones NT = 21 micrones) y T= 62 micrones NT= 50,2, respectivamente. Esta efectividad debe corroborarse cultivando las semillas obtenidas analizando los mismos caracteres y efectuando un conteo de cromosomas.Director: Ing. Agr. Guillermo F. Covas. Cátedra de Genética y mejoramiento de plantas y animales. Facultad de Agronomía UNLPa

Vino e Ambiente: sostenibilità e qualità primaria nel sottobacino Iudeo-Bucari (TP).

In questa raccolta di scritti, vengono riportati i risultati dell’attività di ricerca realizzata con la collaborazione della cantina UVAM e dell’Istituto Regionale Vino e Olio di Sicili

Relativistic dynamics of cylindrical shells of counter-rotating particles

Although infinite cylinders are not astrophysical entities, it is possible to learn a great deal about the basic qualitative features of generation of gravitational waves and the behavior of the matter conforming such shells in the limits of very small radius. We describe the analytical model using kinetic theory for the matter and the junction conditions through the shell to obtain its equation of motion. The nature of the static solutions are analyzed, both for a single shell as well as for two concentric shells. In this second case, for a time dependent external shell, we integrate numerically the equation of motion for several values of the constants of the system. Also, a brief description in terms of the Komar mass is given to account for the gravitational wave energy emitted by the system.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure