TOX Expression in Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome.

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) are the two most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Currently, no markers can be clearly related to prognosis or to differential diagnosis between early stages and inflammatory benign diseases (IBD). The thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box factor (TOX), has been proposed as a possible marker in differential diagnosis between early CTCL stages and IBD. Recently TOX has been related to prognosis. We aimed to investigate whether TOX may be a diagnostic or prognostic marker. MF and SS biopsies between 2010 and 2020 were retrieved. New tissues slides were stained with an anti-TOX antibody, (Clone NAN448B). On each slide, 5 fields were examined at high magnification (400×), to evaluate the percentage of marker-positivity in a quantitative way. Thirty-six patients (12 females and 24 males) and 48 biopsies were collected. Nine patients had multiple biopsies. TOX expression in MF/SS cases showed an increase from early to advanced phases. TOX was not regarded as a prognostic marker due to the absence of significant changes by comparing early MF cases with reactive conditions. TOX statistical significance increased in patients alive with disease and in those dead of disease (p = 0.013 and = 0.0005, respectively) as compared with patients in complete remission. Our results show that TOX should be regarded more as a prognostic than a diagnostic marker.This research received no external fundingS

Open Science @ UNIBO: il servizio di supporto a rete per le comunità di ricerca

Le forti spinte globali a favore dell’Open Access (OA) e dell’Open Science (OS) hanno sollecitato i sistemi bibliotecari delle università a rivedere servizi e competenze in funzione dei nuovi bisogni delle loro comunità di riferimento. Il Sistema Bibliotecario dell’Università di Bologna ha risposto a questi stimoli definendo un modello a rete a supporto dell’Open Access avviato sperimentalmente nella seconda metà del 2018. L’obiettivo strategico condiviso e co-gestito dall’intera comunità accademica è la promozione di prassi che consentano il libero accesso e il riuso delle pubblicazioni e dei dati della ricerca scientifica. Il servizio si struttura come una rete decentrata di punti di supporto collocati nelle biblioteche con il coordinamento centrale a cura della Biblioteca Digitale di Ateneo, AlmaDL. AlmaDL si occupa della formazione dei bibliotecari del servizio di supporto, fornisce loro assistenza specialistica anche in materia di diritto d’autore, coordina, monitora e sostiene il servizio con personale dedicato, oltre a offrire assistenza per la gestione FAIR dei dati di ricerca nel data repository di Ateneo e a garantire il raccordo istituzionale partecipando al Gruppo di lavoro Open Science di Ateneo. I punti di servizio offrono alle loro comunità scientifiche consulenza e orientamento, validano le pubblicazioni scientifiche depositate nel repository istituzionale, organizzano campagne di sensibilizzazione e rispondono alle esigenze specifiche delle comunità scientifiche. Ad oggi i bibliotecari coinvolti nel servizio sono 61; quasi 24.000 le pubblicazioni in OA e oltre 200 i dataset depositati nei repository istituzionali; 4830 le consulenze e 178 ore di formazione a cui hanno partecipato 1307 utenti. Il modello adottato ha presentato numerosi vantaggi rivelandosi sostenibile e attento alle specificità dei diversi ambiti disciplinari. Inoltre il continuo scambio di informazioni tra i nodi della rete permette lo sviluppo delle competenze e delle conoscenze in una continua ridefinizione del modello organizzativo e dei contenuti del servizio

Adenocarcinoma in the intrathoracic transposed colon

Patients who had esophagectomy with colon interposition for benign disease have long survivals. Adenocarcinoma arising in the interposed colon is a possible event. We describe a 65 year old female in whom we performed 37 years ago esophagectomy with left colon interposition for lye-induced strictures. At endoscopy an obstructing adenocarcinoma in the interposed colon was detected. She underwent complete endoscopic removal of the tumor. The lady is in good general conditions, having a regular diet, and without evidence of recurrent disease, 5 years later.SI ANALIZZANO LE POSSIBILITA' DI INSORGENZA DI UN TUMORE NEL COLON INTERPOSTO NEL TORACE DOPO ESOFAGECTOMI

One-pot synthesis of alpha,omega-chain end functional, stereoregular, star-shaped poly(lactide)

The synthesis of stereoregular alpha,omega-chain end functional linear, telechelic, and star-shaped polymers and copolymers is reported using a one-pot chain end functionalization methodology. Aluminum methyl complexes are applied in combination with functional and multifunctional initiating species to synthesize stereoregular poly(lactide)s by the stereospecific ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide. The quenching of the reactions with an excess of acid chloride functional molecules has enabled the in situ quantitative modification of the omega-chain ends of the polymers such that primary and secondary alkyl and aryl groups can be incorporated. This methodology has been extended to the synthesis of linear, telechelic, and star-shaped polymers with "click" functional handles for both copper-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and thiol-ene Michael additions and block copolymers through the application of a trithiocarbonate, suitable for mediating RAFT polymerization. This tolerant and mild method is used in the synthesis of star-shaped block copolymers with a biodegradable poly(lactide) core and results in poly(lactide)s that display increased resistance to degradation

Proposed Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Methylmalonic and Propionic Acidemia

Methylmalonic and propionic acidemia (MMA/PA) are inborn errors of metabolism characterized by accumulation of propionic acid and/or methylmalonic acid due to deficiency of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT) or propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC). MMA has an estimated incidence of ~ 1: 50,000 and PA of ~ 1:100’000 -150,000. Patients present either shortly after birth with acute deterioration, metabolic acidosis and hyperammonemia or later at any age with a more heterogeneous clinical picture, leading to early death or to severe neurological handicap in many survivors. Mental outcome tends to be worse in PA and late complications include chronic kidney disease almost exclusively in MMA and cardiomyopathy mainly in PA. Except for vitamin B12 responsive forms of MMA the outcome remains poor despite the existence of apparently effective therapy with a low protein diet and carnitine. This may be related to under recognition and delayed diagnosis due to nonspecific clinical presentation and insufficient awareness of health care professionals because of disease rarity., These guidelines aim to provide a trans-European consensus to guide practitioners, set standards of care and to help to raise awareness. To achieve these goals, the guidelines were developed using the SIGN methodology by having professionals on MMA/PA across twelve European countries and the U.S. gather all the existing evidence, score it according to the SIGN evidence level system and make a series of conclusive statements supported by an associated level of evidence. Although the degree of evidence rarely exceeds level C (evidence from non-analytical studies like case reports and series), the guideline should provide a firm and critical basis to guide practice on both acute and chronic presentations, and to address diagnosis, management, monitoring, outcomes, and psychosocial and ethical issues. Furthermore, these guidelines highlight gaps in knowledge that must be filled by future research. We consider that these guidelines will help to harmonize practice, set common standards and spread good practices, with a positive impact on the outcomes of MMA/PA patients.PubMedWoSScopu

Surgeons’ practice and preferences for the anal fissure treatment: results from an international survey

The best nonoperative or operative anal fissure (AF) treatment is not yet established, and several options have been proposed. Aim is to report the surgeons' practice for the AF treatment. Thirty-four multiple-choice questions were developed. Seven questions were about to participants' demographics and, 27 questions about their clinical practice. Based on the specialty (general surgeon and colorectal surgeon), obtained data were divided and compared between two groups. Five-hundred surgeons were included (321 general and 179 colorectal surgeons). For both groups, duration of symptoms for at least 6 weeks is the most important factor for AF diagnosis (30.6%). Type of AF (acute vs chronic) is the most important factor which guide the therapeutic plan (44.4%). The first treatment of choice for acute AF is ointment application for both groups (59.6%). For the treatment of chronic AF, this data is confirmed by colorectal surgeons (57%), but not by the general surgeons who prefer the lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) (31.8%) (p = 0.0001). Botulin toxin injection is most performed by colorectal surgeons (58.7%) in comparison to general surgeons (20.9%) (p = 0.0001). Anal flap is mostly performed by colorectal surgeons (37.4%) in comparison to general surgeons (28.3%) (p = 0.0001). Fissurectomy alone is statistically significantly most performed by general surgeons in comparison to colorectal surgeons (57.9% and 43.6%, respectively) (p = 0.0020). This analysis provides useful information about the clinical practice for the management of a debated topic such as AF treatment. Shared guidelines and consensus especially focused on operative management are required to standardize the treatment and to improve postoperative results