Agricoltura come dispositivo di rigenerazione urbana. Un’esperienza torinese: OrtiAlti a Casa Ozanam

Il contributo affronta il tema dell’agricoltura come opportunità di rigenerazione urbana. Con riferimento specifico agli orti pensili, nel solco di politiche innovative recenti promosse da città come Parigi, si intende illustrare il caso del progetto OrtiAlti a Torino (Italia). I benefici delle coperture coltivate ad orto nei confronti dell’edificio, dell’ambiente e dell’uomo sono noti: la riduzione dei consumi energetici e dell’effetto isola di calore, la diminuzione dell’inquinamento acustico, il controllo del deflusso dell’acqua piovana, ma anche la possibilità di disporre di cibo a km zero, riciclare parte dei rifiuti in compost e, soprattutto, creare opportunità di socialità e scambio

Cibo, cittadini e spazi urbani. Verso un’amministrazione condivisa dell’Urban food policy di Torino.

Il contributo riporta, come position paper, gli spunti che saranno trattati nelle 5 sezioni del volume

Cibo, cittadini e spazi urbani. Verso un’amministrazione condivisa dell’Urban Food Policy di Torino.

Atti del workshop internazionale “Gastro-polis. Città (re)immaginate per sistemi alimentari locali” tenutosi dal 27 al 28 Ottobre 2016, presso lo Spazio Thetis, Arsenale Nord, in occasione di GANG CITY, evento collaterale della XV Mostra Internazionale di Architettura La Biennale di Venezia. Il Quaderno ospita inoltre due relazioni dei Forum di Terra Madre organizzati nel quadro del progetto FSCFD

Search for genetic variants in the p66Shc longevity gene by PCR-single strand conformational polymorphism in patients with early-onset cardiovascular disease.

Background: Among the possible candidate genes for atherosclerosis experimental data point towards the longevity gene p66(Shc). The p66(Shc) gene determines an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), affecting the rate of oxidative damage to nucleic acids. Knock-out p66(Shc-/-) mice show reduction of systemic oxidative stress, as well as of plasma LDL oxidation, and reduced atherogenic lesions. Thus, p66(Shc) may play a pivotal role in controlling oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction in vivo. Methods: We searched for sequence variations in the p66(Shc) specific region of the Shc gene and its upstream promoter by PCR-SSCP in a selected group of early onset coronary artery disease ( CAD) subjects (n. 78, mean age 48.5 +/- 6 years) and in 93 long-living control subjects ( mean age 89 +/- 6 years). Results: The analysis revealed two variant bands. Sequencing of these variants showed two SNPs: -354T > C in the regulatory region of p66(Shc) locus and 92C > T in the p66 specific region (CH2). Both these variants have never been described before. The first substitution partially modifies the binding consensus sequence of the SpI transcription factor, and was detected only in two heterozygous carriers (1 CAD subjects and 1 control subject). The 92C > T substitution in the CH2 region consists in an amino acid substitution at codon 31 (proline to leucine, P31L), and was detected in heterozygous status only in one CAD subject. No subjects homozygous for the two newly described SNPs were found. Conclusion: Only two sequence variations in the p66(Shc) gene were observed in a total of 171 subjects, and only in heterozygotes. Our observations, in accordance to other studies, suggest that important variations in the p66(Shc) gene may be extremely rare and probably this gene is not involved in the genetic susceptibility to CAD

Prognostic Value of Whole-Body PET Volumetric Parameters Extracted from 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors

Our objective was to evaluate the prognostic value of somatostatin receptor tumor burden on Ga-68-DOTATOC PET/CT in patients with well-differentiated (WD) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT scans of 84 patients with histologically confirmed WD NETs (51 grade 1, 30 grade 2, and 3 grade 3). For each PET/CT scan, all Ga-68-DOTATO-Cavid lesions were independently segmented by 2 operators using a customized threshold based on the healthy liver SUVmax (LIFEx, version 5.1). Somatostatin receptor-expressing tumor volume (SRETV) and total lesion somatostatin receptor expression (TLSRE = SRETV X SUVmean) were extracted for each lesion, and then whole-body SRETV and TLSRE (SRETVwb and TLSREwb, respectively) were defined as the sum of SRETV and TLSRE, respectively, for all segmented lesions in each patient. Time to progression (TTP) was defined as the combination of disease-free survival in patients undergoing curative surgery (n = 10) and progression-free survival for patients with unresectable or metastatic disease (n = 74). TTP and overall survival were calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank testing, and the Cox proportional-hazards regression model. Results: After a median follow-up of 15.5 mo, disease progression was confirmed in 35 patients (41.7%) and 14 patients died. A higher SRETVwb (>39.1 cm(3)) and TLSREwb (>306.8 g) correlated significantly with a shortermedian TTP (12 mo vs. not reached; P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, SRETVwb (P = 0.005) was the only independent predictor of TTP regardless of histopathologic grade and TNM staging. Conclusion: According to our results, SRETVwb and TLSREwb extracted from Ga-68-DOTATOC PET/CT could predict TTP or overall survival and might have important clinical utility in the management of patients with WD NETs

Efficacy and safety of the third-generation chloroethylnitrosourea fotemustine for the treatment of chemorefractory T-cell lymphomas.

Patients with recurring T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (T-NHL) are incurable and candidate for investigational agents. Here, we report on five patients with T-NHL refractory to multiple chemotherapy lines, including in all cases alkylators and gemcitabine, who received the third-generation chloroethylnitrosourea fotemustine at a dose of 120 mg/m(2) every 21 d, up to eight courses. Median actual dose intensity was 79%; toxicity was manageable and mainly hematological. One complete remission, one partial remission, two protracted disease stabilization, and one transient, minor response were achieved. Time to progression ranged from 48 to 240+ d. This is the first evidence ever reporting the activity of fotemustine in end-stage T-NHL. Formal studies with this agent are warranted in T-cell malignancies

Anti-PD1 Consolidation in Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma at High Risk of Relapse after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: A Multicenter Real-Life Study

(1) Background: Consolidation therapy is an emerging strategy for patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) at high risk of failing salvage autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). (2) Objectives: To assess the safety and effectiveness of PD1-blockade consolidation for these high-risk patients. (3) Design: Multi-center retrospective analysis. (4) Methods: We identified 26 patients given anti-PD1 consolidation, from June 2016 to May 2020. (5) Results: Patients displayed the following risk factors: refractory disease (69%), relapse 3, occurred in 12 patients (46.15%) and mainly included skin rashes (41.7%), transaminitis (33.3%), and thyroid hypofunction (25%). Patients completed a median of 13 courses (range 6–30). At a median follow-up of 25.8 months post-ASCT, the median progression-free (PFS) was 42.6 months, with a 2-year PFS and overall survival rates of 79% and 87%, respectively. (6) Conclusions: Post-ASCT consolidation with anti-PD1 is feasible and effective. Further studies are warranted to define the optimal treatment length and patients’ subsets more likely to benefit from this approach

Integration of new biological and physical retrospective dosimetry methods into EU emergency response plans : joint RENEB and EURADOS inter-laboratory comparisons

Purpose: RENEB, 'Realising the European Network of Biodosimetry and Physical Retrospective Dosimetry,' is a network for research and emergency response mutual assistance in biodosimetry within the EU. Within this extremely active network, a number of new dosimetry methods have recently been proposed or developed. There is a requirement to test and/or validate these candidate techniques and inter-comparison exercises are a well-established method for such validation. Materials and methods: The authors present details of inter-comparisons of four such new methods: dicentric chromosome analysis including telomere and centromere staining; the gene expression assay carried out in whole blood; Raman spectroscopy on blood lymphocytes, and detection of radiation induced thermoluminescent signals in glass screens taken from mobile phones. Results: In general the results show good agreement between the laboratories and methods within the expected levels of uncertainty, and thus demonstrate that there is a lot of potential for each of the candidate techniques. Conclusions: Further work is required before the new methods can be included within the suite of reliable dosimetry methods for use by RENEB partners and others in routine and emergency response scenarios

Disease-Modifying Therapies and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the impact of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies on the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: We retrospectively collected data of PwMS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. All the patients had complete follow-up to death or recovery. Severe COVID-19 was defined by a 3-level variable: mild disease not requiring hospitalization versus pneumonia or hospitalization versus intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death. We evaluated baseline characteristics and MS therapies associated with severe COVID-19 by multivariate and propensity score (PS)-weighted ordinal logistic models. Sensitivity analyses were run to confirm the results. Results: Of 844 PwMS with suspected (n = 565) or confirmed (n = 279) COVID-19, 13 (1.54%) died; 11 of them were in a progressive MS phase, and 8 were without any therapy. Thirty-eight (4.5%) were admitted to an ICU; 99 (11.7%) had radiologically documented pneumonia; 96 (11.4%) were hospitalized. After adjusting for region, age, sex, progressive MS course, Expanded Disability Status Scale, disease duration, body mass index, comorbidities, and recent methylprednisolone use, therapy with an anti-CD20 agent (ocrelizumab or rituximab) was significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-4.74, p = 0.015) with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Recent use (&lt;1 month) of methylprednisolone was also associated with a worse outcome (OR = 5.24, 95% CI = 2.20-12.53, p = 0.001). Results were confirmed by the PS-weighted analysis and by all the sensitivity analyses. Interpretation: This study showed an acceptable level of safety of therapies with a broad array of mechanisms of action. However, some specific elements of risk emerged. These will need to be considered while the COVID-19 pandemic persists