DIRITTI TV E COMPETITIVE BALANCE NEL CALCIO PROFESSIONISTICO ITALIANO

Introduzione – 1. L’effetto Champions League sull’equilibrio dei campionati – 2. I ricavi dei club – 3. L’indagine AGCM del 2007 – 3.1 La natura della Lega Calcio – 3.2 Gli obiettivi dei club secondo l’AGCM – 3.3 I tifosi nell’indagine AGCM – 3.4 L’indagine AGCM ed i diritti tv – 4. Applicare l’analisi economica alla misura della CB – 5. Un possibile intervento per migliorare la CB: il revenue sharing – 6. La via italiana al revenue sharing: il nuovo riparto dei diritti tv – Conclusioni – BibliografiaCalcio, diritti TV, competitive balance

Rare diseases and congenital malformations integrated registry in Tuscany-Italy

Aims: Rare diseases (RD) are life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases with prevalence of fewer than 5 cases among 10,000. For these conditions there is lack of scientific information, research, diagnosis, and treatment. To obtain epidemiological information the Italian Network of RD was set up in 2001. The Network is formed by Presidia specifically identified by each Region for diagnosis/treatment and by regional and national Registries. Among the 583 RDs eligible for free healthcare treatment, congenital malformation (CM) is the most frequent group with 254 diseases. Analysis of data and information available from both registries is therefore crucial to improve knowledge on the actual size of the CMs phenomenon also by activating an integrated system of registration. Methods: Linkage analysis was performed on data of the Tuscany Registries of CMs (RTDC) and of RDs (RTMR) for cases observed from 1992 to 2006 over approximately 420,000 surveilled resident births. Five specific rare CMs were selected: microcephaly, acrocephalosyndactyly, lissencephaly, oesophageal atresia, Down syndrome. Variables used for linkage were CM, names, date of birth, and residence. Results: Undernotification of rare CM cases more difficult to diagnose at birth like the lissencephaly was observed in the RTDC compared to the RTMR, while overlapping of record of cases emerged for other anomalies such as the Down syndrome. Linkage has allowed in some cases to better specify the diagnosis and to provide missing information. Conclusions: Use of different information sources has enabled to reduce undernotification of cases and to mutually validate information

Case-Control Study on Congenital Malformation Risk in the Petrochemical Area of Gela (Sicily-Italy)

Objective: A study on congenital malformations (CMs) prevalence in newborns residing in the Gela municipality over 1991 to 2002 showed statistically significant excesses of total CMs, spina bifida, microcephaly, heart defects, hypospadias, if compared with the Italian EUROCAT registries (Bianchi, 2006). Many environmental and occupational risk factors reported as potentially associated with CMs have been documented in Gela and other similar industrial areas. Among toxic substances documented in the Gela site several are known as teratogenic and mutagenic (heavy metals, chloro- and organophosphates solvents, PCBs, aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons), some of which are documented or suspected to be endocrine disruptors. A case-control study was carried out to evaluate whether among malformed subjects there was risk excess due to environmental, occupational, or lifestyle exposures, particularly eating habits. Material and Methods: Among 91 cases with malformations found in excess, 77 were selected by specialty medical visits; 91 matched controls were included. The questionnaire included information on pregnancy, parents\u27 work (particularly in the industrial plants) before and during pregnancy, parents\u27 eating habits, purchase place (shop, street vendor, growing own food plants/fishing). Statistical analyses were performed for all CMs and for hypospadias only. Results: Significant risk associations resulted for consumers of fish, fruit, and vegetables if purchased at street vendors or for fishing and growing own food plants (OR from 6.0 to 51.3). Conclusions: Results on food consumption suggest a possible reproductive risk for fish, fruit, or vegetables purchased at street vendors or for fishing or growing own food plants potentially locally contaminated either by men (eg, pesticides) or by substances released in the environment. Notwithstanding the impossibility of making a distinction between effects of the 2 potential contamination sources and the possible bias and misclassification problems typical of retrospective studies, results obtained still represent major concern on food chain and on possible effects on reproductive health

A new holistic 3D non-invasive analysis of cellular distribution and motility on fibroinalginate microcarriers using light sheet fluorescent microscopy

Cell interaction with biomaterials is one of the keystones to developing medical devices for tissue engineering applications. Biomaterials are the scaffolds that give three-dimensional support to the cells, and are vectors that deliver the cells to the injured tissue requiring repair. Features of biomaterials can influence the behaviour of the cells and consequently the efficacy of the tissue-engineered product. The adhesion, distribution and motility of the seeded cells onto the scaffold represent key aspects, and must be evaluated in vitro during the product development, especially when the efficacy of a specific tissue-engineered product depends on viable and functional cell loading. In this work, we propose a non-invasive and non-destructive imaging analysis for investigating motility, viability and distribution of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) on silk fibroin-based alginate microcarriers, to test the adhesion capacity of the fibroin coating onto alginate which is known to be unsuitable for cell adhesion. However, in depth characterization of the biomaterial is beyond the scope of this paper. Scaffold-loaded MSCs were stained with Calcein-AM and Ethidium homodimer-1 to detect live and dead cells, respectively, and counterstained with Hoechst to label cell nuclei. Time-lapse Light Sheet Fluorescent Microscopy (LSFM) was then used to produce three dimensional images of the entire cells-loaded fibroin/alginate microcarriers. In order to quantitatively track the cell motility over time, we also developed an open source user friendly software tool called Fluorescent Cell Tracker in Three-Dimensions (F-Tracker3D). Combining LSFM with F-Tracker3D we were able for the first time to assess the distribution and motility of stem cells in a non-invasive, non-destructive, quantitative, and three-dimensional analysis of the entire surface of the cell-loaded scaffold. We therefore propose this imaging technique as an innovative holistic tool for monitoring cell-biomaterial interactions, and as a tool for the design, fabrication and functionalization of a scaffold as a medical device

Il Registro Regionale Malattie Rare della Toscana

Rare diseases (RDs) are life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases with a prevalence lower than 5 cases among 10,000. For these conditions there is a lack of scientific information, research, diagnosis, treatment and expert availability. In 2001 the Italian Network for RDs was set up in order to obtain epidemiological information on these diseases. Presidia specifically identified by the Regions for diagnosis/treatment and by the Regional and National Registries are part of the national Network. Some RDs Registries were also created at the regional level. The Tuscany Registry for Rare Diseases (RTMR) is a network of presidia identified by the regional administration. The single presidium refers to a coordination centre for each group of RDs. The "G. Monasterio" Foundation for Medical Research and Public Health, formerly Institute of Clinical Physiology of the CNR, in charge of the Registry management, has produced a protocol, a questionnaire and a software allowing electronic registration of RD cases treated in Tuscany health centres via the Internet. Additionally, the local Register uploads local cases into the National Registry for RDs, coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanit? (ISS). The registration questionnaire is divided in several sections and seeks information on patient, disease, diagnosis, tests performed for diagnosis, besides health condition and treatment. Cases are patients, dead or alive, diagnosed and followed by the Tuscan Presidia of the Regional Health System, including those residing outside the Region, properly diagnosed with one of the RDs included in the 279/2001 Ministerial Decree\u27s list. To ensure privacy, data can only be accessed using a login username and password assigned to each user. Further information is available on the Tuscan Registry for Rare Diseases website: www.rtmr.i

Infant Mortality in 27 Italian Municipalities With Solid Waste Incinerators (1981-2001)

Objective: Recently, an epidemiological study was carried out to verify the hypothesis of an association between infant mortality and residence near incinerators (Tango, 2004). Limits to the study were represented by rarity of death events and heterogeneity of infant mortality. However, availability of mortality data and of an incinerator database has allowed performing an exploratory investigation. Materials and Methods: Infant mortality was investigated over 2 periods (1981-1991, 1992-2001) in 27 municipalities with active incinerators in the 1981-2001 time frame. For each municipality the observed/expected ratio (O/E) was obtained. To calculate expected mortality, municipalities were included inside a 50-km radius circle. A pooled estimation of the O/E ratio obtained by meta-analysis was performed for the 27 municipalities. A multiple metaregression model was used to analyze the study, activity and latency periods, the incinerator burning capacity, the number of resident newborns, the residence density, the deprivation index. Results: Mortality analysis was performed on resident population for the whole period on approximately 250,000 infants under 1 year of age. In the overall period 1673 cases of infant mortality were observed. The pooled estimation of the O/E ratio resulted 1.04 (CI 95%: 0.97-1.11) for total cases. The multiple metaregression model showed the incinerator burning capacity as a statistically significant factor (P=0.011). Municipalities having incinerators with a burning capacity >50,000 ton/year showed a higher mortality excess (O/E=1.11, CI 95% 1.03-1.20) compared to municipalities with incinerators of <50,000 ton/year (O/E=0.95; CI 95%: 0.86-1.04). Conclusions: Findings call for further insight by analytic epidemiologic studies to confirm possible association between infant mortality and living near incinerators

Correlation analysis reveals the emergence of coherence in the gene expression dynamics following system perturbation

Time course gene expression experiments are a popular means to infer co-expression. Many methods have been proposed to cluster genes or to build networks based on similarity measures of their expression dynamics. In this paper we apply a correlation based approach to network reconstruction to three datasets of time series gene expression following system perturbation: 1) Conditional, Tamoxifen dependent, activation of the cMyc proto-oncogene in rat fibroblast; 2) Genomic response to nutrition changes in D. melanogaster; 3) Patterns of gene activity as a consequence of ageing occurring over a life-span time series (25y–90y) sampled from T-cells of human donors

PO-485 Low abundance circulating proteins in giant cell tumours of bone

Introduction Circulating low-abundance proteins/fragments generating from tumour cells and tissues, represent the most important source of cancer biomarkers useful for early diagnosis and prognosis. Giant cell tumour of bone (GCT) is a benign neoplasm occurring in the long bone and in the axial skeleton of young adults. Approximately 5% of GCT develop pulmonary metastases. Although many biomarkers have been proposed, identification of circulating low abundance molecules may be useful to predict metastasis with a non invasive method. Material and methods The hydrogel nanoparticles technique followed by mass spectrometry was used to detect low molecular weight serum proteins or protein fragments in serum of 20 GCT patients with different clinical course and in 10 healthy sera used as control. The most representative low-abundant de novo or differentially abundant proteins were submitted to String database in order to define protein-protein interaction network. Cluster analysis was performed to identify prognostic groups of patients with similar abundance of proteins that significantly discriminate between the groups. Results and discussions For the 25 low-abundant de novo or differentially abundant proteins identified, we recognised that the top interconnected pathways included protein activation cascade, wound healing, blood coagulation, cell-substrate adhesion. Proteoma cluster analysis separated metastasis-free from metastatic GCT patients in two well-defined groups where serum levels of signalling transduction mediators and regulators of kinase activity presented a high discriminatory power. Increased expression of proteins STAT5B, GRB2 and OXSR1 was related to a higher probability of metastasis. Conclusion In conclusion, using a no invasive technique, we identified differentially abundant serum biomarkers, also providing prognostic information in patients with GCT of bone. Future studies are ongoing to establish the interplay between these biomarkers in order to fully understand the mechanism involved in tumour development and to focus on the planning of tailored therapies that should be more effective and less toxic

Denosumab in patients with aneurysmal bone systs: A case series with preliminary results

Abstract PURPOSE:: Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a rare skeletal tumor usually treated with surgery/embolization. We hypothesized that owing to similarities with giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB), denosumab was active also in ABC. METHODS:: In this observational study, a retrospective analysis of ABC patients treated with denosumab was performed. Patients underwent radiologic disease assessment every 3 months. Symptoms and adverse events were noted. RESULTS:: Nine patients were identified (6 male, 3 female), with a median age of 17 years (range 14-42 years). Primary sites were 6 spine-pelvis, 1 ulna, 1 tibia, and 1 humerus. Patients were followed for a median time of 23 months (range 3-55 months). Patients received a median of 8 denosumab administrations (range 3-61). All symptomatic patients had pain relief and 1 had paresthesia improvement. Signs of denosumab activity were observed after 3 to 6 months of administration: bone formation by computed tomography scan was demonstrated in all patients and magnetic resonance imaging gadolinium contrast media decrease was observed in 7/9 patients. Adverse events were negligible. At last follow-up, all patients were progression-free: 5 still on denosumab treatment, 2 off denosumab were disease-free 11 and 17 months after surgery, and the last 2 patients reported no progression 12 and 24 months after denosumab interruption and no surgery. CONCLUSIONS:: Denosumab has substantial activity in ABCs, with favorable toxicity profile. We strongly support the use of surgery and/or embolization for the treatment of ABC, but denosumab could have a role as a therapeutic option in patients with uncontrollable, locally destructive, or recurrent disease

A global collaboRAtive study of CIC-rearranged, BCOR::CCNB3-rearranged and other ultra-rare unclassified undifferentiated small round cell sarcomas (GRACefUl)

[Background] Undifferentiated small round cell sarcomas (URCSs) represent a diagnostic challenge, and their optimal treatment is unknown. We aimed to define the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of URCS patients.[Methods] URCS patients treated from 1983 to 2019 at 21 worldwide sarcoma reference centres were retrospectively identified. Based on molecular assessment, cases were classified as follows: (1) CIC-rearranged round cell sarcomas, (2) BCOR::CCNB3-rearranged round cell sarcomas, (3) unclassified URCSs. Treatment, prognostic factors and outcome were reviewed.[Results] In total, 148 patients were identified [88/148 (60%) CIC-rearranged sarcoma (median age 32 years, range 7–78), 33/148 (22%) BCOR::CCNB3-rearranged (median age 17 years, range 5–91), and 27/148 (18%) unclassified URCSs (median age 37 years, range 4–70)]. One hundred-one (68.2%) cases presented with localised disease; 47 (31.8%) had metastases at diagnosis. Male prevalence, younger age, bone primary site, and a low rate of synchronous metastases were observed in BCOR::CCNB3-rearranged cases. Local treatment was surgery in 67/148 (45%) patients, and surgery + radiotherapy in 52/148 (35%). Chemotherapy was given to 122/148 (82%) patients. At a 42.7-month median follow-up, the 3-year overall survival (OS) was 92.2% (95% CI 71.5–98.0) in BCOR::CCNB3 patients, 39.6% (95% CI 27.7–51.3) in CIC-rearranged sarcomas, and 78.7% in unclassified URCSs (95% CI 56.1–90.6; p < 0.0001).[Conclusions] This study is the largest conducted in URCS and confirms major differences in outcomes between URCS subtypes. A full molecular assessment should be undertaken when a diagnosis of URCS is suspected. Prospective studies are needed to better define the optimal treatment strategy in each URCS subtype.This work was supported by the Carisbo Foundation Call for Translational and Clinical Medical Research.Peer reviewe