Abundance trend with condensation temperature for stars with different Galactic birth places

During the past decade, several studies reported a correlation between chemical abundances of stars and condensation temperature (also known as Tc trend). However, the real astrophysical nature of this correlation is still debated. The main goal of this work is to explore the possible dependence of the Tc trend on stellar Galactocentric distances, Rmean. We used high-quality spectra of about 40 stars observed with the HARPS and UVES spectrographs to derive precise stellar parameters, chemical abundances, and stellar ages. A differential line-by-line analysis was applied to achieve the highest possible precision in the chemical abundances. We confirm previous results that [X/Fe] abundance ratios depend on stellar age and that for a given age, some elements also show a dependence on Rmean. When using the whole sample of stars, we observe a weak hint that the Tc trend depends on Rmean. The observed dependence is very complex and disappears when only stars with similar ages are considered. To conclude on the possible dependence of the Tc trend on the formation place of stars, a larger sample of stars with very similar atmospheric parameters and stellar ages observed at different Galactocentric distances is neededComment: Accepted by A&

Is Subdural Peritoneal Shunt Placement an Effective Tool for the Management of Recurrent/Chronic Subdural Hematoma?

Objectiveæ To describe a surgical techniqueæand to report using a retrospective studyæthe efficacy of peritoneal shunts for the treatment of recurrent/chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). We describeæthe considerations, complications, and outcomes related to this technique. Methodsæ In a retrospectiveæcohort study, 125 charts with a diagnosis of subacute/chronic subdural hematoma were assigned for evaluation. Of the charts reviewed, 18 charts were found from subjects with a diagnosis of recurrent sub-acute or chronic subdural hematoma. All patients had undergone initial surgical treatment of their condition followed by peritoneal shunt placement to help alleviate intracranial pressure. Factors including the age, size of subdural hematoma, number of previous events, BMI, complications, survival, and clinical course were analyzed. Resultsæ After subdural peritoneal shunt placement all patients had full neurological recovery with no complaints of headaches, lethargy, weakness, confusion or seizures. None of the cases had new subdural hematoma episodes after placement for a minimum of a two-year period (mean 26.1 months) (range 24.3-48.6 months). No postoperative complications were reported. The rates of postoperative hemorrhage, infection, distal catheter revision, and perioperative seizures was found to be zero percent. Shunt drainage was successful in all cases, draining 85% of the blood in the first 48 hours. There was no significant relationship between complications and the use of anticoagulants four weeks after surgery. Conclusions Peritoneal shunts, though rarely used, are a viable option in the treatment of sub-acute/chronic subdural hematomas. When pursuing this treatment, this technique is recommended to mitigate the risks of repeat surgical intervention and lessen perioperative time in high-risk patients

The Importance Of Monoclonal Proteins Determination For The Correct Diagnosis Of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis By [Tc-99m]Tc-diphosphonates

EPS-066 Aim/Introduction: To analyze the influence of the determination of free monoclonal proteins in blood and urine in the final diagnosis of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis (TTRA). Materials and Methods: We have analyzed 200 [99mTc]Tc-diphosphonates scans: 192 performed on 190 patients under suspicion of TTRA and 7 patients with grade II-III radiotracer myocardial deposit as a casual finding (November/2013 - January/2020). Likewise, clinical and laboratory characteristics (heart failure, LVEF, proBNP levels, immunofixation in serum and/or urine for the detection of monoclonal chains and chronic renal failure) have been evaluated. A positive case has been considered for TTRAwt or senile (Score Perugini II-III scan, negative immunofixation in serum and/or urine, negative genetic study), positive case for hereditary TTRA (Score Perugini II-III scan, negative immunofixation and positive genetic study), positive case for secondary amyloidosis (positive immunofixation and presence of hematologic malignancy) and undetermined amyloidosis (immunofixation not performed or positive and absence of haematologic malignancies at follow-up). Results: 59 positive scans have been detected, 47 men (79’7%) and 12 women (20’3%). The mean age of the group of positives was 82’66 years, while that of the negatives was 72’15. The mean proBNP levels in the positives are 7561, compared to 5869 in the negative group. Immunofixation (serum and/or urine for detection of kappa or lambda monoclonal chains at 30 (50.8%) has been performed on these patients. Finally, 37.2% (22/59) resulted in ATTRwt, 3.4% (2/59) hereditary ATTR (genetic study: variant E54Q and mutation c.424> A (p.Va.122Ile) in exon 4 of TTR) and 1.7% (1/59) secondary amyloidosis. The remaining 34/59 (57.7%) cases were undetermined amyloidosis (6 positive immunofixation and 27 without monoclonal proteins determination). Conclusion: Determination of monoclonal bands in blood and urine is mandatory to correctly characterize cases of cardiac amyloidosis and, in presence of monoclonal bands, to assess the existence of underlying haematological malignancies

Impact Of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy In Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

EPS 196 Aim/Introduction: To analyze how many of the patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) may benefit from SLNB, as well as the impact on patient management, especially in those with early axillary involvement. Materials and Methods: We included patients with breast carcinoma candidates to NCT discussed at the Tumor Committee of our hospital (April/2017-August/2019). All of them were subjected to clinical assessment, ultrasound and, if appropriate, histological analysis, axillary pre and post- NCT. Sentinel lymph node detection was performed after periareolar injection of [99mTc]Tc-nanocoloid (74 MBq) the day before surgery. In some cases, blue dye was injected and/or a pre-NPC metal clip was placed in the affected node. Results: Sixty-two patients were included. NCT achieved a complete breast response in 12 patients, partial in 46 and non-response in 4. Initially, 31 patients were classified as N0 and 31 as N+ (28 N1 and 3 N2), achieving a complete axillary response in 58% of N+ (18). SLNB was performed in 49 patients (79%; 100% in N0 and 58% in N+ from baseline). The gamma detection rate of the sentinel lymph node was 91.8% (93.5% in N0 and 88.9% in N+). 28 lymphadenectomies were undergone (45.2%; 22.5% in N0 and 67.7% in N+), 11 due to positive SLNB (5 N0 and 6 N1), 13 owing to lack of axillary response and 4 caused by the non-localization of the sentinel lymph node. SLNB was performed in 58% of N+ patients, of which 44.4% were negative, avoiding lymphadenectomy. Metal clip and/or blue dye techniques were used in 31 cases (50%). Conclusion: SLNB is viable in a high percentage of patients with previous NCT, with a high detection rate, even in patients with early affected axilla, avoiding lymphadenectomy to patients who achieve a complete response of the axillary lymph node

Signaling via interleukin-4, receptor alpha chain is required for successful vaccination against schistosomiasis in BALB/c mice

Radiation-attenuated (RA) schistosome larvae are potent stimulators of innate immune responses at the skin site of exposure (pinna) that are likely to be important factors in the development of Th1-mediated protective immunity. In addition to causing an influx of neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs) into the dermis, RA larvae induced a cascade of chemokine and cytokine secretion following in vitro culture of pinna biopsy samples. While macrophage inflammatory protein 1 and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were produced transiently within the first few days, the Th1-promoting cytokines IL-12 and IL-18 were secreted at high levels until at least day 14. Assay of C3H/HeJ mice confirmed that IL-12 secretion was not due to lipopolysaccharide contaminants binding Toll-like receptor 4. Significantly, IL-12 p40 secretion was sustained in pinnae from vaccinated mice but not in those from nonprotected infected mice. In contrast, IL-10 was produced from both vaccinated and infected mice. This cytokine regulates IL-12-associated dermal inflammation, since in vaccinated IL-10/ mice, pinna thickness was greatly increased concurrent with elevated levels of IL-12 p40. A significant number of IL-12 p40 cells were detected as emigrants from in vitro-cultured pinnae, and most were within a population of rare large granular cells that were Ia, consistent with their being antigen-presenting cells. Labeling of IL-12 cells for CD11c, CD205, CD8, CD11b, and F4/80 indicated that the majority were myeloid DCs, although a proportion were CD11c F4/80, suggesting that macrophages were an additional source of IL-12 in the skin

COVID-19 severity and mortality in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a joint study by ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL, and CLL Campus

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease of the elderly, characterized by immunodeficiency. Hence, patients with CLL might be considered more susceptible to severe complications from COVID-19. We undertook this retrospective international multicenter study to characterize the course of COVID-19 in patients with CLL and identify potential predictors of outcome. Of 190 patients with CLL and confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed between 28/03/2020 and 22/05/2020, 151 (79%) presented with severe COVID-19 (need of oxygen and/or intensive care admission). Severe COVID-19 was associated with more advanced age (≥65 years) (odds ratio 3.72 [95% CI 1.79–7.71]). Only 60 patients (39.7%) with severe COVID-19 were receiving or had recent (≤12 months) treatment for CLL at the time of COVID-19 versus 30/39 (76.9%) patients with mild disease. Hospitalization rate for severe COVID-19 was lower (p < 0.05) for patients on ibrutinib versus those on other regimens or off treatment. Of 151 patients with severe disease, 55 (36.4%) succumbed versus only 1/38 (2.6%) with mild disease; age and comorbidities did not impact on mortality. In CLL, (1) COVID-19 severity increases with age; (2) antileukemic treatment (particularly BTK inhibitors) appears to exert a protective effect; (3) age and comorbidities did not impact on mortality, alluding to a relevant role of CLL and immunodeficiency

Long daytime napping is associated with increased adiposity and type 2 diabetes in an elderly population with metabolic syndrome

Research examining associations between objectively-measured napping time and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate daytime napping in relation to T2D and adiposity measures in elderly individuals from the Mediterranean region. A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 2190 elderly participants with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome, in the PREDIMED-Plus trial, was carried out. Accelerometer-derived napping was measured. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for T2D were obtained using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression with constant time. Linear regression models were fitted to examine associations of napping with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Participants napping ≥90 min had a higher prevalence of T2D (PR 1.37 (1.06, 1.78)) compared with those napping 5 to <30 min per day. Significant positive associations with BMI and WC were found in those participants napping ≥30 min as compared to those napping 5 to <30 min per day. The findings of this study suggest that longer daytime napping is associated with higher T2D prevalence and greater adiposity measures in an elderly Spanish population at high cardiovascular risk