EGFR and HER2 Gene Copy Number and Response to First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

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Phytosociology and phytogeography of fragmented Alnus glutinosa forests in a Tyrrhenian district (Central Italy)

Alnus glutinosa stands are common in riparian forests along the main Italian peninsular watercourses. In many sites of central and southern Italy, it is possible to observe interesting forest fragments not yet completely compromised by human alterations. The study pointed out the importance of the central Tyrrhenian sector of the Italian peninsula, both in floristic and vegetational terms, and highlighted the phytogeographical role of the deep valley as a significant habitat for the concentration of rare species. In the present paper, the structural, coenological and syntaxonomical features of the forest fragments occurring along the main and minor watercourses of northern volcanic Latium (Tolfa district) are described. Here, and similarly in the whole territory of the Tuscan and Latium Maremma, there are various populations of rare species on a regional and national level (Osmunda regalis, Blechnum spicant, Polystichum setiferum, Dryopteris filix-mas and Athyrium filix-foemina) that emphasize the gorge habitat with well-preserved riparian coenoses. The presence of many interesting species allowed us to assign the investigated communities to the Polysticho-Alnetum glutinosae (Osmundo-Alnion), a syntaxon rich in hygrophilous ferns that shows a strong resemblance with other alder woods with ferns described in various sites of the western Mediterranean area.Les bois d’aulne sont les forêts riveraines les plus diffusées au long des principaux fleuves de l’Italie péninsulaire. Dans beaucoup de sites de l’Italie centrale et méridionale on peut observer, même au long des cours d’eau mineurs, d’intéressants fragments de forêts qui ne sont pas encore entièrement compromis par l’action humaine. Cette étude relève l’importance du secteur Tyrrhénien de l’Italie centrale, au niveau floristique aussi qu’à celui végétationnel, et met en relief le rôle phytogéographique des vallons en tant qu’habitats utiles à la conservation des entités rares. Ce travail décrit les caractères physiognomiques, coenologiques et syntaxonomiques des fragments de forêts qui se trouvent au long de nombreux fleuves du Latium volcanique du nord (Tolfa). Ici, comme dans tout le territoire de la Maremma toscane et du Latium, on a plusieurs peuplements d’entités rares à l’échelle régionale et nationale (Osmunda regalis, Blechnum spicant, Polystichum setiferum, Dryopteris filix-mas et Athyrium filix-foemina) qui confirment l’existence de coenoses riveraines en état de bonne conservation. La présence de nombreuses entités intéressantes nous permet d’assigner les coenoses étudiées à l’association Polysticho-Alnetum glutinosae (alliance Osmundo-Alnion), un syntaxon riche en fougères hygrophiles qui montre la forte ressemblance avec les autres bois d’aulne avec fougères relevés en plusieurs sites de la Méditerranéen occidentale.Cutini Maurizio, Cancellieri Laura, Cioffi Maria-Teresa, Licursi Claudio. Phytosociology and phytogeography of fragmented Alnus glutinosa forests in a Tyrrhenian district (Central Italy). In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 36 n°2, 2010. pp. 55-73

Increased Frequency of Bronchiolar Histotypes in Lung Carcinomas Associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

The association between lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is well-known, however the significance of this association is poorly understood. Bronchiolar honeycomb cysts have been proposed as possible precursors for development of carcinoma, but limited evidence of this hypothesis is available

Mechanical Properties of Ag Nanoparticle Thin Films Synthesized by Supersonic Cluster Beam Deposition

The morphological and mechanical properties of nanoparticles-based ultrathin Ag films, synthesized by supersonic cluster beam deposition over a sapphire substrate, are unveiled exploiting ultrafast optoacoustic, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The films, with thicknesses in the 10–50 nm range, have a porous structure composed of metallic Ag nanoparticles with a crystalline structure and average diameter of 6 nm. The films acoustic modes are in the hypersonic frequency range, the thinner films frequencies exceeding 100 GHz. The acoustic spectra are well accounted for modeling the nanoparticles film as an effective continuous medium. The modes quality factors show the existence of acoustically quasi-dark and bright states. The film effective density and effective elastic stiffness constants are respectively 0.8 and 0.5 that of bulk Ag. The present results are relevant in view of applications for optoacoustic transducers in the hypersonic frequency range, for optical coatings technology and for the production of mechanically stable bactericidal coatings

MP36-10 Chest follow-up schedule of surgically resected renal cell carcinoma should be differentiated according to histological subtype

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: European Association of Urology, National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Uro- logical Association provide follow-up guidelines for surgically treated Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). However these guidelines are not sup- ported by good quality evidence. The potential exposure of the patients (pts) to the risks connected to unnecessary ionizing radiations is an important factor to consider. Aim of this study was to evaluate the oncological outcomes in a large cohort of pts to better tailor follow-up schedules of pts that underwent surgery for RCC. METHODS: We enrolled 1932 pts surgically treated for spo- radic pT1 pN0, M0 RCC from 7 Italian Accademic Centers with mini- mum follow-up of 6 months. The exclusion criteria were: high nuclear grade, presence of intratumoural necrosis, lymphovascular invasion, collecting system invasion, rare histological RCC subtype and positive surgical margin. Recurrences were classified in accordance to their location: abdomen, chest, multiple districts and other sites (including central nervous system, bone and skin). RESULTS: Median age of the pts was 60 years (53-70). 1174 pts underwent partial nephrectomy and 758 radical nephrectomy. His- tological subtype of the specimens were: 1491 Clear Cell RCC (ccRCC), 244 papillary RCC (pRCC) and 197 chromopobe RCC (chRCC). Median follow-up was 90 months (36-125). 145 (7,5%) pts developed a recurrence. Site and rate of recurrences are reported in table 1. Statistical analysis identifies a significant difference in the incidence of all site recurrences among all histological subtypes (P1\u204440,0017); significant statistical difference was observed also in the incidence of primary chest recurrences for all histological subtypes (P1\u204440,002). In the chRCC subgroup no chest recurrences were observed. 20 pts with ccRCC have a chest recurrence, 13 of them more than 5 years from surgery. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data currently guidelines for RCC surveillance potentially expose a considerable number of pts to unnecessary chest examinations. Furthermore concluding follow-up after 5 years could lead to lose many primary chest recurrences in pts with ccRCC. In conclusion chest follow-up schedules should be differ- entiated and tailored on the basis of histological subtype

Estimating minimum adult HIV prevalence: A cross-sectional study to assess the characteristics of people living with HIV in Italy

In 2012, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to assess the number of people living with HIV linked to care and, among these, the number of people on antiretroviral therapy. The health authority in each of the 20 Italian Regions provided the list of Public Infectious Diseases Clinics providing antiretroviral therapy and monitoring people with HIV infection. We asked every Public Infectious Diseases Clinic to report the number of HIV-positive people diagnosed and linked to care and the number of those on antiretroviral therapy during 2012. In 2012, 94,146 people diagnosed with HIV and linked to care were reported. The majority were males (70.1%), Italians (84.4%), and aged between 25 and 49 years (63.4%); the probable route of transmission was heterosexual contact in 37.5% of cases, injecting drug use in 28.1%, and male-to-male contact in 27.9%. Among people in care, 20.1% had less than 350 CD4 cells/μl, 87.6% received antiretroviral therapy, and among these, 62.4% had a CD4 cell count higher than 350 cells/μl. The overall estimated prevalence of individuals diagnosed and linked to care in 2012 in Italy was 0.16 per 100 residents (all ages). Adding the estimated proportion of undiagnosed people, the estimated HIV prevalence would range between 0.19 and 0.26 per 100 residents. In Italy, the majority of people diagnosed and linked to care receive antiretroviral therapy. A higher prevalence of individuals diagnosed and linked to care was observed in Northern Italy and among males. More information for developing the HIV care continuum is necessary to improve the entire engagement in care, focusing on test-and-treat strategies to substantially reduce the proportion of people still undiagnosed or with a detectable viral load