Integration of Baseline Metabolic Parameters and Mutational Profiles Predicts Long-Term Response to First-Line Therapy in DLBCL Patients: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SAKK38/07 Study.

Accurate estimation of the progression risk after first-line therapy represents an unmet clinical need in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Baseline (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) parameters, together with genetic analysis of lymphoma cells, could refine the prediction of treatment failure. We evaluated the combined impact of mutation profiling and baseline PET/CT functional parameters on the outcome of DLBCL patients treated with the R-CHOP14 regimen in the SAKK38/07 clinical trial (NCT00544219). The concomitant presence of mutated SOCS1 with wild-type CREBBP and EP300 defined a group of patients with a favorable prognosis and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) of 100%. Using an unsupervised recursive partitioning approach, we generated a classification-tree algorithm that predicts treatment outcomes. Patients with elevated metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and high metabolic heterogeneity (MH) (15%) had the highest risk of relapse. Patients with low MTV and favorable mutational profile (9%) had the lowest risk, while the remaining patients constituted the intermediate-risk group (76%). The resulting model stratified patients among three groups with 2-year PFS of 100%, 82%, and 42%, respectively (p < 0.001)

Low-flow veno-venous extracorporeal CO2 removal: first clinical experience in lung transplant recipients

Low-flow extracorporeal CO2 removal devices are easy to setup and manage and may provide valuable ventilation support

Electroencephalographic Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Characteristics and Therapeutic Implications

A large body of literature reports the higher prevalence of epilepsy in subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared to the general population. Similarly, several studies report an increased rate of Subclinical Electroencephalographic Abnormalities (SEAs) in seizure-free patients with ASD rather than healthy controls, although with varying percentages. SEAs include both several epileptiform discharges and different non-epileptiform electroencephalographic abnormalities. They are more frequently associated with lower intellectual functioning, more serious dysfunctional behaviors, and they are often sign of severer forms of autism. However, SEAs clinical implications remain controversial, and they could represent an epiphenomenon of the neurochemical alterations of autism etiology. This paper provides an overview of the major research findings with two main purposes: to better delineate the state-of-the-art about EEG abnormalities in ASD and to find evidence for or against appropriateness of SEAs pharmacological treatment in ASD

Evaluation of antioxidant, antinflammatory and antityrosinase potential of extracts from different aerial parts of Rhanterium suaveolens from Tunisia

AbstractThe genus Rhanterium (Asteraceae) is a widely distributed medicinal plant throughout western North Africa and some Rhanterium species are used in folk medicine. The aim of research was to investigate methanolic extracts from different parts (flowers, leaves, and stems) of Tunisian Rhanterium suaveolens as potential sources of bioactive products useful for healthy purposes. In particular, were analyzed the phenolic composition of these extracts and their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐tyrosinase properties.The phytochemical analyses were performed using standard colorimetric procedures, HPLC‐DAD and HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS. Then, several in vitro cell‐free assays have been used to estimate the antioxidant/free radical scavenging capability of the extracts. Moreover, in vitro, and in vivo anti‐melanogenesis activities of these extracts were tested, respectively, with the tyrosinase inhibition assay and the Zebrafish embryo model. Finally, the anti‐inflammatory potential of these extracts in an in vitro model of acute intestinal inflammation in differentiated Caco‐2 cells was evaluated.The R. suaveolens extracts under study appeared particularly rich in flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids and all extracts appeared endowed with good antioxidant/free radical scavenging properties, being the flower extracts slightly more active than the others. Moreover, R. suaveolens flowers extract was able to inhibit in vitro tyrosinase activity and exhibited bleaching effects on the pigmentation of zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, all extracts showed good anti‐inflammatory activity in intestinal epithelial cells as demonstrated by the inhibition of TNF‐α‐induced gene expression of IL‐6 and IL‐8.R. suaveolens aerial parts may be considered as a potential source of whitening agents, as well as of agents for the treatment of disorders related to oxidative stress and inflammation

Predictive criteria for the outcome of patients with acute liver failure treated with the albumin dialysis molecular adsorbent recirculating system

The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement of prognostic parameters after treatment with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) in patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH). The parameters conducive to a positive prognosis include: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score &gt;= 11, intracranial pressure (ICP) &lt; 15 mm Hg or an improvement of the systolic peak flow of 25-32 cm/s via Doppler ultrasound in the middle cerebral artery, lactate level &lt; 3 mmol/L, tumor necrosis factor-alpha &lt; 20 pg/mL, interleukin (IL)-6 &lt; 30 pg/mL, and a change in hemodynamic instability from hyperkinetic to normal kinetic conditions, and so define the timing (and indeed the necessity) of a liver transplant (LTx). From 1999 to 2008 we treated 45 patients with FH with MARS in the intensive care unit of our institution. We analyzed all the parameters that were statistically significant using univariate analysis and considered the patients to be candidates for inclusion in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Thirty-six patients survived: 21 were bridged to liver transplant (the BLT group) and 15 continued the extracorporeal method until native liver recovery (the NLR group) with a positive resolution of the clinical condition. Nine patients died before transplantation due to multi-organ failure. We stratified the entire population into three different groups according to six risk factors (the percentage reduction of lactate, IL-6 and ICP, systemic vascular resistance index values, GCS &lt; 9, and the number of MARS treatments): group A (0-2 risk factors), group B (3-4 risk factors), and group C (5-6 risk factors). Analyzing the prevalence of these parameters, we noted that group A perfectly corresponded to the NLR group, group B corresponded to the BLT group, and group C was composed of patients from the non-survival group; thus, we were able to select the patients who could undergo a LTx using the predictive criteria. For patients with an improvement of neurological status, cytokines, lactate, and hemodynamic parameters, LTx was no longer necessary and their treatment continued with MARS and standard medical therapy

Lack of efficacy of Lactobacillus GG in reducing pulmonary exacerbations and hospital admissions in children with cystic fibrosis: A randomised placebo controlled trial

Background: Intestinal dysbiosis has been described in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and probiotics have been proposed to restore microbial composition. Aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on clinical outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: A multicentre, randomised double-blind, clinical trial was conducted in children with CF. After 6months of baseline assessment, enrolled children (2 to 16years of age) received Lactobacillus GG (6\uc3\u97109CFU/day) or placebo for 12months. Primary outcomes were proportion of subjects with at least one pulmonary exacerbation and hospitalisation over 12months. Secondary endpoints were total number of exacerbations and hospitalisations, pulmonary function, and nutritional status. Results: Ninety-five patients were enrolled (51/95 female; median age of 103. \uc2\ub1. 50. months). In a multivariate GEE logistic analysis, the odds of experiencing at least one exacerbation was not significantly different between the two groups, also after adjusting for the presence of different microbial organisms and for the number of pulmonary exacerbations within 6. months before randomisation (OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.38 to 1.82, p = 0.643). Similarly, LGG supplementation did not significantly affect the odds of hospitalisations (OR 1.67; 95% CI 0.75 to 3.72, p = 0.211). No significant difference was found for body mass index and FEV1. Conclusions: LGG supplementation had no effect on respiratory and nutritional outcomes in this large study population of children with CF under stringent randomised clinical trial conditions. Whether earlier interventions, larger doses, or different strains of probiotics may be effective is unknown

Cardiac involvement in consecutive unselected hospitalized COVID-19 population: in-hospital evaluation and one-year follow-up

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can occur in COVID-19 and has impact on clinical course. Data on CVD prevalence in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and sequelae in survivors is limited. Aim of this prospective study carried out on consecutive unselected COVID-19 population, was to assess: 1) CVD occurrence among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 2) persistence or new onset of CVD at one-month and one-year follow-up

Unlocking the potential of urban forests : developing a local urban forestry action plan

Project title: Uforest. Uforest is a three-year Knowledge Alliance project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission. The project and alliance aim at promoting Europe's innovation capacity among universities, cities and businesses to deliver a new approach to Urban Forestry.In recent years, urban forestry has increasingly caught the attention of policymakers and politicians as a nature-based approach to tackling some of our key societal challenges. These include the impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, urban densification, the demand for forest products and the health and recreation needs of urban populations. Furthermore, urban forestry offers potential to deliver key aspects of European Union (EU) policies such as the New Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the EU Urban Agenda. This document aims to increase awareness about urban forestry, the numerous and diverse benefits that it can provide and practical steps for developing an Urban Forestry Action Plan at a local level. In this respect, the multifunctionality of urban forestry and the cross-cutting outputs and services that it can deliver must be considered one of its greatest strengths