Nuclear collisions at the Future Circular Collider

The Future Circular Collider is a new proposed collider at CERN with centre-of-mass energies around 100 TeV in the pp mode. Ongoing studies aim at assessing its physics potential and technical feasibility. Here we focus on updates in physics opportunities accessible in pA and AA collisions not covered in previous Quark Matter contributions, including Quark-Gluon Plasma and gluon saturation studies, novel hard probes of QCD matter, and photon-induced collisions.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, proceedings of Quark Matter 201

Site-occupancy factors in the Debye scattering equation : a theoretical discussion on significance and correctness

The Debye scattering equation (DSE) [Debye (1915). Ann. Phys. 351, 809-823] is widely used for analyzing total scattering data of nanocrystalline materials in reciprocal space. In its modified form (MDSE) [Cervellino et al. (2010). J. Appl. Cryst. 43, 1543-1547], it includes contributions from uncorrelated thermal agitation terms and, for defective crystalline nanoparticles (NPs), average site-occupancy factors (s.o.f.'s). The s.o.f.'s were introduced heuristically and no theoretical demonstration was provided. This paper presents in detail such a demonstration, corrects a glitch present in the original MDSE, and discusses the s.o.f.'s physical significance. Three new MDSE expressions are given that refer to distinct defective NP ensembles characterized by: (i) vacant sites with uncorrelated constant site-occupancy probability; (ii) vacant sites with a fixed number of randomly distributed atoms; (iii) self-excluding (disordered) positional sites. For all these cases, beneficial aspects and shortcomings of introducing s.o.f.'s as free refinable parameters are demonstrated. The theoretical analysis is supported by numerical simulations performed by comparing the corrected MDSE profiles and the ones based on atomistic modeling of a large number of NPs, satisfying the structural conditions described in (i)-(iii)

Oral platelet gel supernatant plus supportive medical treatment versus supportive medical treatment in the management of radiation-induced oral mucositis: a matched explorative active control trial by propensity analysis

OBJECTIVES:: In this active control trial, the rate of radio-induced WHO grade 3/4 oral mucositis and the change in quality of life, assessed by OMWQ-HN, were measured in subjects with head and neck cancer treated by platelet gel supernatant (PGS) and supportive medical treatment versus subjects treated by supportive medical treatment alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: Eighty patients with nonmetastatic head and neck cancer underwent curative or adjuvant radiotherapy. All patients underwent supportive medical treatment and/or PGS at the beginning and during radiotherapy. Sixteen patients received PGS in association with supportive medical treatment. To obtain 2 groups virtually randomized for important clinical characteristics subjects were matched, by propensity analysis, with a group of subjects (64 patients) treated with supportive medical treatment alone. RESULTS:: Subjects treated with standard supportive treatment experienced significant higher WHO grade 3/4 toxicity (55%; 35/64) than subjects treated by PGS (13%; 3/16). The reduced toxicity found in PGS group paralleled with the evidence that they developed later symptoms with respect to controls. The Cox proportional hazard model indicated that patients treated with standard supportive medical treatment experienced 2.7-fold increase (hazard ratio=2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-5.7) in the occurrence of WHO grade 3/4 toxicity. PGS group significantly experienced higher quality of life than control groups as measured by OMWQ-HN. A significant decrease in the opioid analgesics usage was found in the PGS group. CONCLUSIONS:: These preliminary data should be interpreted with caution and could serve as a framework around which to design future trials

Clinical utility of dual energy computed tomography in gout: Current concepts and applications

Summary. Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis and is increasing in prevalence and incidence in many countries worldwide. Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) has a high diagnostic accuracy in established gout, but its diagnostic sensitivity is low in subjects with recent-onset gout. A meta-analysis of 17 studies showed a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.85 and 0.88, respectively. DECT is a useful diagnostic tool for patients with contraindications for joint aspiration or for those who refuse joint aspiration. This article aims to give an up to date review and summary of existing literature on the role and accuracy of DECT in the imaging of gout. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Biparametric (bp) and multiparametric (mp) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach to prostate cancer disease: a narrative review of current debate on dynamic contrast enhancement

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in male population. Over the last few years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proved to be a robust clinical tool for identification and staging of clinically significant prostate cancer. Though suggestions by the European Society of Urogenital Radiology to use complete multiparametric (mp) T2-weighted/diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)/dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) acquisition for all prostate MRI examinations, the real advantage of functional DCE remains a matter of debate. Recent studies demonstrate that biparametric (bp) and mp approaches have similar accuracy, but controversial evidences remain, and the specific potential benefits of contrast medium administration are still poorly discussed in literature. The bp approach is in fact sufficient in most cases to adequately identify a negative test, or to accurately define the degree of aggressiveness of a lesion, especially if larger or with major characteristics of malignancy. This feature would give the DCE a secondary role, probably limited to a second evaluation of the lesion location, for detecting small cancer or in case of controversy. However, DCE has proved to increase the sensitivity of prostate MRI, though a less specificity. Therefore, an appropriate decision algorithm is needed to standardize the MRI approach. Aim of this review study was to provide a schematic description of bpMRI and mpMRI approaches in the study of prostatic anatomy, focusing on comparative validity and current DCE application. Additional theoretical considerations on prostate MRI are provided

Clinical and instrumental assessment of herniated discs after nucleoplasty: A preliminary study

Background and Aim: The therapy for low back pain boasts different approaches; one of these is nucleoplasty. We wanted to assess the effectiveness of nucleoplasty both by clinical response both by MR imaging evaluation, including even extrusions larger than one third of the spinal canal. Methods: Fifty-seven patients were treated with nucleoplasty in our hospital, 11 of these patients accepted both clinical and MRI evaluation after six months from treatment. The clinical evaluation was performed with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain, scored before and after the procedure. MRI evaluation consisted of analysing some imaging parameters of disc protrusions before and after the treatment. Results: In 10 out of 11 (91%) patients, VAS was reduced and only 1 out of 11 (9%) had the same pain after procedure. The mean of decrease of VAS score was 64%. In our population 8/11 (72%) patients had a herniation larger than 1/3 of the sagittal diameter of spinal canal and 100% of them had an improvement with a mean VAS reduction value of 75%. With MRI evaluation, the mean percentage of expulsion before and after treatment was respectively 40% and 34%. The expulsion decreased in 7/13 discs, remained equal in 4/13, and increased in 2/13 discs. Among the 9 larger protrusions, 3 didn\u2019t change, 6 reduced with a decrease mean value of 13%. Other MRI parameters didn\u2019t change significantly. Conclusions: Our preliminary experience supports the success of coblation on pain relief, aiming to show progressively that this treatment is suitable even in case of great extrusions, which are generally treated only with surgical approach. It\u2019s not clear the usefulness of MRI control yet, even if in most of cases we could have found a certain reduction of expulsion degree

Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain Predicts Cognitive Progression in Prodromal and Clinical Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a marker of neuronal damage in different neurological disorders and might predict disease progression in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The study enrolled 45 controls and 44 DLB patients (including 17 prodromal cases) who underwent an extensive assessment at baseline and at 2 years follow-up. At baseline, plasma NfL levels were higher in both probable DLB and prodromal cases compared to controls. Plasma NfL emerged as the best predictor of cognitive decline compared to age, sex, and baseline severity variables. The study supports the role of plasma NfL as a useful prognostic biomarker from the early stages of DLB

POS1344 EVALUATING THE MULTIVISCERAL INVOLVEMENT ON ADULT-ONSET STILL'S DISEASE TO RETRIEVE IMAGING-BASED DIFFERENCES IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION SYNDROME; RESULTS FROM A SINGLE-CENTRE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background:Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder usually affecting young adults, burdened by life-threatening complications, mainly macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), a secondary form of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis [1]. In this context, the importance of an accurate assessment of AOSD is suggested to promptly recognise the multivisceral involvement of the disease which is associated with life-threatening complications. The assessment of the most aggressive subsets of the disease could guide the clinicians when to apply additional resources but avoiding unnecessary expenditures in patients with a less severe clinical picture.Objectives:In this study, we aimed at describing the multivisceral involvement of the disease to retrieve imaging-based differences in AOSD patients with and without MAS.Methods:The present evaluation has been designed as a cross-sectional study to descriptively compare the multivisceral involvement in AOSD patients with and without MAS. Patients admitted to our Institution, who underwent a total body CT scan, were selected from our historical cohort and assessed. Clinical and CT scan characteristics of AOSD patients with and without MAS were compared. Clinical and CT scan characteristics of AOSD patients with and without MAS were analysed by parametric or non-parametric t tests for all continuous variables, and chi squared test was used for categorical ones, as appropriate. Furthermore, possible correlations among radiological outcomes with laboratory markers and systemic score were estimated by using a point-biserial coefficient correlation.Results:This study evaluated 39 AOSD patients (men 64.1%), mean age of 48.8±16.6 years). Out of those, 14 patients (35.9%) were complicated by MAS. These patients showed higher values of ferritin [AOSD: 770.0 (1306.5) ng/mL vs MAS: 2926.3 (4918.5) ng/mL p=0.003] and systemic score (AOSD: 4.6±1.4 vs MAS: 6.9±1.7, p<0.0001). AOSD patients with MAS presented a higher prevalence of lung disease than others (AOSD: 56.0% vs MAS 85.7% p=0.048). Lung disease correlated with the systemic score (coefficient 0.491, p=0.003). AOSD patients with MAS were more frequently characterised by hepatomegaly (AOSD: 12.0% vs MAS: 50.0% p=0.019) and splenomegaly (AOSD: 16.0% vs MAS 50.0% p=0.033), respectively, than others. Hepatomegaly correlated with CRP (coefficient 0.421, p=0.016), ferritin (coefficient 0.397, p=0.020), and systemic score (coefficient 0.391, p=0.022). Furthermore, the presence of splenomegaly correlated with the systemic score (coefficient 0.439, p=0.009). CT scan features of abdominal effusions were more frequently observed in AOSD patients with MAS than those without this complication (AOSD: 12.0% vs 57.1% p=0.007). Finally, a higher percentage of AOSD patients with MAS showed a significant lymph node enlargement, either mediastinal or abdominal, than others on CT scan (AOSD: 36.0% vs MAS 71.4% p=0.048). The presence of lymphadenomegaly correlated with the systemic score (coefficient 0.368, p=0.032).Conclusion:Our findings showed a higher prevalence of multiorgan involvement in AOSD patients with MAS, suggesting imaging-based differences, although other studies are needed to fully assess this issue. Pulmonary disease, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymph nodes enlargement, and abdominal effusions were associated with these more aggressive patients.References:[1]Giacomelli R, Ruscitti P, Shoenfeld Y. A comprehensive review on adult onset Still's disease. J Autoimmun. 2018 Sep;93:24-36.Disclosure of Interests:None declare