FIRE PLANNING OF URBAN-RURAL INTERFACE IN OPEN SOURCE GIS ENVIRONMENT: CASE STUDY OF THE APULIA REGION (SOUTHERN ITALY)

Abstract. Fires represent one of main challenges of the last decades as global changes are causing an increase in economic and environmental damages. Indeed, just in 2017, more than 10,000 km2 of land were burned in Europe, causing significant damage to both the natural heritage (25% of burned areas were part of Natura 2000 protected areas) and the economy with estimated losses around 10 billion euros. In addition, every year there are losses of human life that make even more necessary new strategies of action and monitoring. Therefore, an efficient management of forecasting, prevention, active fight and post fire phases, is essential to make the territories less vulnerable and reduce the impacts on human lives. But these steps require an integrated approach of different tools in order to make faster and more efficient the different operations. In this context, the study illustrates the expeditious and standardized methodologies in open source GIS environment proposed in a research project with the Civil Protection of Apulia Region in order to implement a vulnerability index to improve operations in forecasting, emergency management in real-near time and post-event analysis in urban-rural interface. All the techniques and methodologies proposed were based on the use of QGIS software as it is a highly user friendly software that can be easily used even by non-specialized technicians. Moreover, the methodologies have been validated through a direct comparison with the tools currently in use in Civil Protection Department of Apulia Region

Cancer-testis antigen expression in triple-negative breast cancer

Background: Cancer-testis (CT) antigens, frequently expressed in human germline cells but not in somatic tissues, may become aberrantly reexpressed in different cancer types. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CT antigens in breast cancer. Patients and methods: A total of 100 selected invasive breast cancers, including 50 estrogen receptor (ER) positive/HER2 negative and 50 triple negative (TN), were examined for NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: A significantly higher expression of MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1 was detected in TN breast cancers compared with ER-positive tumors (P = 0.04). MAGE-A expression was detected in 13 (26%) TN cancers compared with 5 (10%) ER-positive tumors (P = 0.07). NY-ESO-1 expression was confirmed in nine (18%) TN tumor samples compared with two (4%) ER-positive tumors. Conclusions: MAGE-A and NY-ESO-1 CT antigens are expressed in a substantial proportion of TN breast cancers. Because of the limited therapeutic options for this group of patients, CT antigen-based vaccines might prove to be useful for patients with this phenotype of breast cance

clinical prognostic factors in patients pts with recurrent and or metastatic rm head and neck carcinoma hnc treated with cetuximab plus chemotherapy

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A possible connective tissue primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC)

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma is an undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma with lymphoid stroma and non-keratinizing squamous cells with distinctive clinical, epidemiological and etiological features. Conversely, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas (LELCs) are carcinomas that arise outside the nasopharynx but resemble a lymphoepithelioma histologically. In this case study, LELC presentation in connective tissue (left sternocleidomastoid muscle) is peculiar and unusual, but its diagnosis is supported by histological findings and clinical history, especially long disease free survival and no primary lesions in nasopharynx and lung district. We also discuss the pathogenesis, hypothesizing an embryological theory. To our knowledge, it could be the first reported case of a primary connective tissue LELC to the neck

Clinical outcome of circulating tumor cells in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients treated with docetaxel: long-term prospective single-centre study

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metronomic administration of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in extensively pre treated metastatic breast cancer patients a mono institutional case series report

Abstract Background Metronomic chemotherapy has shown efficacy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Pegylated liposomal-doxorubicin (PLD) pharmacokinetic characteristics support the rationale for using the drug in a metronomic fashion, potentially able to combine anthracyclines efficacy to a low toxicity profile. Patients and methods In a case-series report carried out in both anthracycline-naive and pre-treated metastatic breast cancer patients, we tested feasibility, clinical efficacy and tolerability of PLD administered with a novel metronomic schedule of 20 mg/m2 i.v. every two weeks. Results 52 patients were enrolled and 45 were evaluated. Forty-four patients were assessed for either response or toxicity. Eight patients (18%) had partial responses (PR) and 17 (39%) stable disease (SD), with a clinical benefit (CB) of 45% (95% CI: 30.3%–59.7%). Nineteen patients (43%) had progressive disease (PD). Neither grade 3 nor grade 4 haematological or clinical side effects were recorded, except for 2 patients with grade 3 palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE). No cardiac toxicity was recorded. Conclusion Metronomic administration of PLD is a feasible and active treatment for extensively pre-treated metastatic breast cancer patients, alternative to classic anthracyclines, balancing clinical efficacy with a good quality of life in terms of reduced side effects and low personal costs for the patient