Seroprevalence of infection-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among health care users of Northern Italy: results from two serosurveys (October-November 2019 and September-October 2021)

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in autumn 2019 (before case zero was identified in Italy) and 2021 among residual sera samples from health care users in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. METHODS: Two serosurveys were conducted. Using a semiquantitative method, samples were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the S1 domain of the spike protein. Samples with positive test results from the 2019 survey were independently retested using a multiplex panel to detect IgG antibodies against the receptor binding domain, S1 and S2 domains, and nucleocapsid. Samples with positive test results from the 2021 survey underwent repeat testing with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies. Prevalence rates according to gender and age groups, together with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, the proportion of samples with positive test results was 2/353 in 2019 and 22/363 in 2021, with an estimated seroprevalence of 0.27% (95% CI 0-1.86) and 6.21% (95% CI 3.9-9.31) in 2019 and 2021 respectively. CONCLUSION: Results of this study support the hypothesis that the virus was circulating in Italy as early as autumn 2019. The role of these early cases in broader transmission dynamics remains to be determined

Peptostreptococcus tetradius: a new pathogenous for the acute ocular infections?

In our Ophthalmologic Hospital (Turin ,Italy) was isolated from some years a new pathogenous, in the our experience, expecially in the ocular infections and endophthalmitis. The our casistic of the genus Peptostreptococcus in five years is of 23 cases. In this work are described also 2 clinic cases with final discussion. We have also examinated the sensibility of this pathogenous versus all the antibiotics for topical ocular use

HO‐1 Limits the Efficacy of Vemurafenib/PLX4032 in BRAF^V600E Mutated Melanoma Cells Adapted to Physiological Normoxia or Hypoxia

Induction of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) favors immune-escape in BRAF(V600) melanoma cells treated with Vemurafenib/PLX4032 under standard cell culture conditions. However, the oxygen tension under standard culture conditions (~18 kPa O(2)) is significantly higher than the physiological oxygen levels encountered in vivo. In addition, cancer cells in vivo are often modified by hypoxia. In this study, MeOV-1 primary melanoma cells bearing the BRAF(V600E) mutation, were adapted to either 5 kPa O(2) (physiological normoxia) or 1 kPa O(2) (hypoxia) and then exposed to 10 μM PLX4032. PLX4032 abolished ERK phosphorylation, reduced Bach1 expression and increased HO-1 levels independent of pericellular O(2) tension. Moreover, cell viability was significantly reduced further in cells exposed to PLX4032 plus Tin mesoporphyrin IX, a HO-1 inhibitor. Notably, our findings provide the first evidence that HO-1 inhibition in combination with PLX4032 under physiological oxygen tension and hypoxia restores and increases the expression of the NK ligands ULBP3 and B7H6 compared to cells exposed to PLX4032 alone. Interestingly, although silencing NRF2 prevented PLX4032 induction of HO-1, other NRF2 targeted genes were unaffected, highlighting a pivotal role of HO-1 in melanoma resistance and immune escape. The present findings may enhance translation and highlight the potential of the HO-1 inhibitors in the therapy of BRAF(V600) melanomas

Comparing simultaneous integrated boost vs sequential boost in anal cancer patients: results of a retrospective observational study

Abstract Background To evaluate clinical outcomes of simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) - intensity modulated radiotherapy (RT) in patients with non metastatic anal cancer compared to those of a set of patients treated with 3-dimensional conformal RT and sequential boost (SeqB). Methods A retrospective cohort of 190 anal cancer patients treated at 3 academic centers with concurrent chemo-RT employing either SIB or SeqB was analysed. The SIB-group consisted of 87 patients, treated with 2 cycles of Mitomycin (MMC) and 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) using SIB-IMRT delivering 42-45Gy/28–30 fractions to the elective pelvic lymph nodes and 50.4-54Gy/28-30fractions to the primary tumor and involved nodes, based on pre-treatment staging. The SeqB group comprised 103 patients, treated with MMC associated to either 5FU or Capecitabine concurrent to RT with 36 Gy/20 fractions to a single volume including gross tumor, clinical nodes and elective nodal volumes and a SeqB to primary tumor and involved nodes of 23.4 Gy/13 fractions. We compared colostomy-free survival (CFS), overall survival (OS) and the cumulative incidence of colostomy for each radiation modality. Cox proportional-hazards model addressed factors influencing OS and CFS. Results Median follow up was 34 (range 9–102) and 31 months (range 2–101) in the SIB and SeqB groups. The 1- and 2-year cumulative incidences of colostomy were 8.2% (95%CI:3.6–15.2) and 15.0% (95%CI:8.1–23.9) in the SIB group and 13.9% (95%CI: 7.8–21.8) and 18.1% (95%CI:10.8–27.0) in the SeqB group. Two-year CFS and OS were 78.1% (95%CI:67.0–85.8) and 87.5% (95%CI:77.3–93.3) in the SIB group and 73.5% (95%CI:62.6–81.7) and 85.4% (95%CI:75.5–91.6) in the SeqB, respectively. A Cox proportional hazards regression model highlighted an adjusted hazard ratio (AdjHR) of 1.18 (95%CI: 0.67–2.09;p = 0.560), although AdjHR for the first 24 months was 0.95 (95%CI: 0.49–1.84;p = 0.877) for the SIB approach. Conclusions SIB-based RT provides similar clinical outcomes compared to SeqB-based in the treatment of patients affected with non metastatic anal cancer

Peritransplant Radiation Therapy in Patients With Refractory or Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: Long-Term Results of a Retrospective Study of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi

Purpose: In this multicenter collaboration, we report real-world data in the largest published series of long-term outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated with peritransplant radiation therapy (pt-RT) and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Methods and materials: We conducted a retrospective analysis including data from 12 institutions. Eligibility required histologic diagnosis of HL, receipt of ASCT plus pt-RT between 2004 and 2014 for r/r HL, and age ≥18 years at the time of ASCT. All patients received salvage chemotherapy for maximum debulking before ASCT. Metabolic responses were scored according to the Lugano Classification. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards were calculated to estimate the effect of covariates on patients' outcome. Results: One hundred thirty-one patients were eligible: 68 were male (52%), and median age at ASCT was 32 years (range, 18-70). At the time of diagnosis with r/r HL, 92 patients (70%) had limited (stage I-II) disease, and 10 patients (8%) had bulky disease. Pt-RT was given pre-ASCT in 32 patients (24%) and post-ASCT in 99 (76%); median prescribed dose was 30.6 Gy (range, 20-44 Gy). With median follow-up of 60 months, 3- and 5-year OS were 84% and 77%, while 3- and 5-year progression-free survival were 75% and 72%, respectively. On univariate and multivariate analysis, advanced stage at relapse (hazard ratio [HR], 2.18; P = .04), irradiation of >3 sites (HR, 3.69; P = .01), and incomplete metabolic response after salvage chemotherapy (HR, 2.24; P = .01) had a negative effect on OS. The sequencing of pt-RT (pre- vs post-ASCT) did not affect outcomes. Conclusions: Overall, the addition of pt-RT to ASCT for patients with r/r HL is associated with very good outcomes. Limited relapsed disease with ≤3 sites involved and achievement of complete metabolic response after salvage chemotherapy were predictive of more favorable prognosis