1,640 research outputs found
Apparent diffusion coefficient values in borderline breast lesions upgraded and not upgraded at definitive histopathological examination after surgical excision
Purpose: The study aims were to evaluate if the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value could distinguish between breast lesions classified as B3 at core needle biopsy (CNB) that show or do not show atypia or malignancy at definitive histopathological examination (DHE) after surgical excision. Material and methods: From January 2013 to December 2017, 141 patients with a B3 breast lesion underwent magnetic resonance imaging and were included in the study. The ADC value was assessed drawing a ROI outlining the entire lesion, evaluating the mean () and minimum ADC values (). Results: Both and ADCmin values showed a statistically significant difference between B3 lesions without and with malignancy or, for B3a lesions, atypia at DHE. They both showed a statistically significant difference also between B3a lesions without or with atypia or malignancy at DHE, but only (not ) showed statistically significant difference between B3b lesions without or with malignancy at DHE. Conclusions: The ADC value could help distinguish between B3a lesions without or with atypia/malignancy at DHE after surgical excision and between B3b lesions without or with malignancy at DHE. Therefore, it could be used to help guide the diagnostic-therapeutic pathway of these lesions, particularly of B3a lesion
An extended Lyman outflow from a radio galaxy at z=3.7?
Spatially resolved observations of AGN host galaxies undergoing feedback
processes are one of the most relevant avenues through which galactic evolution
can be studied, given the long lasting effects AGN feedback has on gas
reservoirs, star formation, and AGN environments at all scales. Within this
context we report results from VLT/MUSE integral field optical spectroscopy of
TN J1049-1258, one of the most powerful radio sources known, at a redshift of
3.7. We detected extended ( 18 kpc) Lyman emission, spatially
aligned with the radio axis, redshifted by 2250 60 km s with
respect to the host galaxy systemic velocity, and co-spatial with UV continuum
emission. This Lyman emission could arise from a companion galaxy,
although there are arguments against this interpretation. Alternatively, it
might correspond to an outflow of ionized gas stemming from the radio galaxy.
The outflow would be the highest redshift spatially resolved ionized outflow to
date. The enormous amount of energy injected, however, appears to be unable to
quench the host galaxy's prodigious star formation, occurring at a rate of
4500 M, estimated using its far infra-red luminosity.
Within the field we also found two companion galaxies at projected distances of
25 kpc and 60 kpc from the host, which suggests the host galaxy is
harbored within a protocluster.Comment: Pre-proofs version - Accepted for publication in ApJ
The Tat Protein of HIV-1 Prevents the Loss of HSV-Specific Memory Adaptive Responses and Favors the Control of Viral Reactivation
The development of therapeutic strategies to control the reactivation of the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is an unaddressed priority. In this study, we evaluated whether Tat, a HIV-1 protein displaying adjuvant functions, could improve previously established HSV-specific memory responses and prevent viral reactivation. To this aim, mice were infected with non-lethal doses of HSV-1 and, 44 days later, injected or not with Tat. Mice were then monitored to check their health status and measure memory HSV-specific cellular and humoral responses. The appearance of symptoms associated with HSV-reactivation was observed at significantly higher frequencies in the control group than in the Tat-treated mice. In addition, the control animals experienced a time-dependent decrease in HSV-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG), while the Tat-treated mice maintained antibody titers over time. IgG levels were directly correlated with the number of HSV-specific CD8+ T cells, suggesting an effect of Tat on both arms of the adaptive immunity. Consistent with the maintenance of HSV-specific immune memory, Tat-treated mice showed a better control of HSV-1 re-infection. Although further studies are necessary to assess whether similar effects are observed in other models, these results indicate that Tat exerts a therapeutic effect against latent HSV-1 infection and re-infection by favoring the maintenance of adaptive immunity
The Spatial Evolution of Stellar Structures in the LMC/SMC
We present an analysis of the spatial distribution of various stellar
populations within the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. We use optically
selected stellar samples with mean ages between ~9 and ~1000 Myr, and existing
stellar cluster catalogues to investigate how stellar structures form and
evolve within the LMC/SMC. We use two statistical techniques to study the
evolution of structure within these galaxies, the -parameter and the
two-point correlation function (TPCF). In both galaxies we find the stars are
born with a high degree of substructure (i.e. are highly fractal) and that the
stellar distribution approaches that of the 'background' population on
timescales similar to the crossing times of the galaxy (~80/150 Myr for the
SMC/LMC respectively). By comparing our observations to simple models of
structural evolution we find that 'popping star clusters' do not significantly
influence structural evolution in these galaxies. Instead we argue that general
galactic dynamics are the main drivers, and that substructure will be erased in
approximately the crossing time, regardless of spatial scale, from small
clusters to whole galaxies. This can explain why many young Galactic clusters
have high degrees of substructure, while others are smooth and centrally
concentrated. We conclude with a general discussion on cluster 'infant
mortality', in an attempt to clarify the time/spatial scales involved.Comment: 6 pages, conference contribution to IAU Symposium 256, van Loon J.T.
& Oliviera J.M., ed
Mediterranean-Oriented Dietary Intervention Is Effective to Reduce Liver Steatosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Results from an Italian Clinical Trial
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in western countries. Lifestyle interventions are recommended as the primary therapy for NAFLD. Methodology. In this clinical trial, NAFLD patients were enrolled in a 12-month dietary intervention aimed to improve their eating habits according to the Mediterranean pattern, with scheduled appointments every three months. After the exclusion of steatosis, healthy subjects were recruited and received general advice based on current Italian food-based dietary guidelines. Results. One hundred and 8fty 8ve subjects aged 20–59 years underwent (i) liver ultrasound (US), (ii) clinical and anthropometric evaluations, (iii) blood tests, and (iv) assessment of dietary habits. According to US evaluation, 73 of them had severe, moderate, or mild liver steatosis (NAFLD patients) and 82 had no liver steatosis (healthy controls). Fifty-eight NAFLD patients and 73 controls completed the study. Among NAFLD patients, 26 (45%) downgraded steatosis severity, 12 of which achieved complete steatosis regression (21%). *ree of the healthy controls developed NAFLD. *e NAFLD patients improved their dietary habits and reduced BMI and waist circumference, during the study period, more than healthy controls. Liver steatosis remission/regression was independent of changes in BMI or liver enzymes and was more frequent among patients with mild steatosis at baseline. Conclusions. Mediterranean dietary advices, without a personalised meal planning, were eCcient in reducing/remitting NAFLD, especially among patients with mild disease, which argues in favour of early identi8cation and lifestyle intervention. *is trial is registered with NCT03300661
The MURALES survey. VI. Properties and origin of the extended line emission structures in radio galaxies
This is the sixth paper presenting the results of the MUse RAdio Loud
Emission line Snapshot survey (MURALES). We observed 37 radio sources from the
3C sample with z<0.3 and declination <20 degrees with the MUSE optical integral
field spectrograph at the VLT. We here focus on the properties of the extended
emission line regions (EELRs) that can be studied with unprecedented detail
thanks to the depth of these observations. Line emission in the 10 FRIs is, in
most cases, confined to within 4 kpc) ionized gas
is seen in all but two of the 26 FRIIs. It usually takes the form of elongated
or filamentary structures, typically extending between 10 and 30 kpc, but also
reaching distances of ~80 kpc. We find that 1) the large-scale ionized gas
structures show a tendency to be oriented at large angles from the radio axis,
and 2) the gas on a scale of a few kpc from the nucleus often shows ordered
rotation with a kinematical axis forming a median angle of 65 degrees with the
radio axis. We also discuss the velocity field and ionization properties of the
EELRs. The observed emission line structures appear to be associated with
gaseous "superdisks" formed after a gas rich merger. The different properties
of the EELR can be explained with a combination of the source evolutionary
state and the orientation of the "superdisk" with respect to the radio axis.
The general alignment between the superdisks and radio axis might be produced
by stable and coherent accretion maintained over long timescales.Comment: Pre-proofs version - Accepted for publication in A&
The MURALES survey. IV. Searching for nuclear outflows in 3C radio galaxies at z < 0.3 with MUSE observations
We analyze VLT/MUSE observations of 37 radio galaxies from the Third
Cambridge catalogue (3C) with redshift 0.3 searching for nuclear outflows of
ionized gas. These observations are part of the MURALES project (a MUse RAdio
Loud Emission line Snapshot survey), whose main goal is to explore the feedback
process in the most powerful radio-loud AGN. We applied a nonparametric
analysis to the [O~III] 5007 emission line, whose asymmetries and
high-velocity wings reveal signatures of outflows. We find evidence of nuclear
outflows in 21 sources, with velocities between 400 - 1000 km s,
outflowing masses of M, and a kinetic energy in the
range erg. In addition, evidence for extended outflows
is found in the 2D gas velocity maps of 13 sources of the subclasses of
high-excitation (HEG) and broad-line (BLO) radio galaxies, with sizes between
0.4 and 20 kpc. We estimate a mass outflow rate in the range 0.4 - 30 M
yr and an energy deposition rate of erg s. Comparing the jet power, the nuclear luminosity of the active
galactic nucleus, and the outflow kinetic energy rate, we find that outflows of
HEGs and BLOs are likely radiatively powered, while jets likely only play a
dominant role in galaxies with low excitation. The low loading factors we
measured suggest that these outflows are driven by momentum and not by energy.
Based on the gas masses, velocities, and energetics involved, we conclude that
the observed ionized outflows have a limited effect on the gas content or the
star formation in the host. In order to obtain a complete view of the feedback
process, observations exploring the complex multiphase structure of outflows
are required.Comment: 40 pages; accepted for publication on A&A
Bubbles and outflows: the novel JWST/NIRSpec view of the z=1.59 obscured quasar XID2028
Quasar feedback in the form of powerful outflows is invoked as a key
mechanism to quench star formation in galaxies, although direct observational
evidence is still scarce and debated. Here we present Early Release Science
JWST NIRSpec IFU observations of the z=1.59 prototypical obscured quasar
XID2028: this target represents a unique test case to study QSO feedback at the
peak epoch of AGN-galaxy co-evolution thanks to its existing extensive
multi-wavelength coverage and massive and extended outflow detected both in the
ionised and molecular components. With the unprecedented sensitivity and
spatial resolution of JWST, the NIRSpec dataset reveals a wealth of structures
in the ionised gas kinematics and morphology previously hidden in the
seeing-limited ground-based data. In particular, we find evidence of
interaction between the interstellar medium of the galaxy and the QSO-driven
outflow and radio jet, which is producing an expanding bubble from which the
fast and extended wind detected in previous observations is emerging. The new
observations confirm the complex interplay between the AGN jet/wind and the ISM
of the host galaxy, highlighting the role of low luminosity radio jets in AGN
feedback, and showcase the new window opened by NIRSpec on the detailed study
of feedback at high redshift.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, submitted to A&A. Comments welcom
Long-Term Outcome After Adoptive Immunotherapy With Natural Killer Cells: Alloreactive NK Cell Dose Still Matters
Recently, many reports were published supporting the clinical use of adoptivelytransferred natural killer (NK) cells as a therapeutic tool against cancer, including acutemyeloid leukemia (AML). Our group demonstrated promising clinical response usingadoptive immunotherapy with donor-derived alloreactive KIR-ligand-mismatched NK cellsin AML patients. Moreover, the antileukemic effect was correlated with the dose of infusedalloreactive NK cells (“functional NK cell dose”). Herein, we update the results of ourprevious study on a cohort of adult AML patients (median age at enrollment 64) infirstmorphological complete remission (CR), not eligible for allogeneic stem celltransplantation. After an extended median follow-up of 55.5 months, 8/16 evaluablepatients (50%) are still off-therapy and alive disease-free. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) are related with the dose of infused alloreactive NK cells (≥2×105/kg
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