Counting Cubic Extensions with given Quadratic Resolvent

Given a number field $k$ and a quadratic extension $K_2$, we give an explicit asymptotic formula for the number of isomorphism classes of cubic extensions of $k$ whose Galois closure contains $K_2$ as quadratic subextension, ordered by the norm of their relative discriminant ideal. The main tool is Kummer theory. We also study in detail the error term of the asymptotics and show that it is $O(X^{\alpha})$, for an explicit $\alpha<1$.Comment: 19 page

Method and system for the automatic recognition of lesions in a set of breast magnetic resonance images

A method of identification of potential lesions of a breast from tomographic image datasets of a chest region of a patient, the- datasets comprising a plurality of voxels (2) each having an intensity value, the images including a region of interest (10) which comprises at least one breast (6). The method comprises the steps of: acquiring a set of images after the administration of a contrast agent to the patient; normalizing (254) the intensity of voxels (2) belonging to the region of interest (10) of the acquired images according to at least one normalization factor; classifying (255) each of the normalized voxels (2) on the basis of a classification criterion, in such a way as to identify regions (40) representing potential lesions. The method is characterized in that the normalization factor is based on normalization voxels (2) corresponding to an anatomical structure (34), the normalization voxels (2) having intensity values enhanced due to the administration of the contrast agent

Incidence of uterine rupture in second-trimester abortion with gemeprost alone compared to mifepristone and gemeprost

OBJECTIVES: To compare uterine rupture rates in women having a medical abortion receiving gemeprost alone to those receiving mifepristone plus gemeprost. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the records of women undergoing medical abortion at 13 0/7-23 6/7 weeks from January 2007 to December 2014 at a single center in Italy. Prior to January 2011, we used gemeprost 1 mg vaginally every 3 h up to a maximum of five doses. After January 2011, we added mifepristone 200 mg orally 24 h prior to the same gemeprost protocol. The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of uterine rupture. We compared the outcome between women receiving gemeprost alone with the combination of gemeprost and mifepristone. RESULTS: One thousand and sixty-one (58.5%) and 753 (41.5%) women underwent medical abortion in the gemeprost-alone and the gemeprost/mifepristone groups, respectively. Five (0.47%) uterine ruptures occurred in the gemeprost and four uterine ruptures occurred in the gemeprost/mifepristone groups, respectively (0.53%) (p=.89). All uterine ruptures occurred in women with prior cesarean delivery. CONCLUSIONS: We rep orted no difference in the incidence of uterine rupture between the gemeprost-alone and gemeprost and mifepristone groups. IMPLICATIONS: Uterine rupture is a rare complication of second-trimester medical abortion with gemeprost. Use of mifepristone prior to gemeprost does not affect this risk

Università e Movimenti. Teorie e pratiche politiche tra il '68 e l'oggi

Università e movimenti. Teorie e pratiche politiche tra il Sessantotto e l’oggi rappresenta una tappa di un percorso collettivo avviato nel 2018 che ha coinvolto ricercatori, studenti, attivisti, gruppi di ricerca e collettivi di diversa provenienza, in una comune riflessione sul rapporto tra “teoria” e “politica”. Partendo da questo comune interesse gli autori hanno provato ad interrogarsi sulle condizioni, le possibilità e le modalità di esistenza, nelle società neoliberali del XXI secolo, di un pensiero critico e delle sue dimensioni di autonomia e d’inerenza alla prassi sociale.CIC

Efficacy and tolerability of treatment with line II nilotinib in a patient with coronary artery disease

The possible cardiotoxicity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is a topic of extreme interest because in the clinical practice it is frequent the management of elderly patients, in which are common comorbidities and polypharmacotherapies. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the cardiotoxicity intrinsic to TKIs, but the results are, however, often discordant between in vitro studies and clinical practice. We present a case report about a male patient with several numerous comorbidities: COPD, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. After the failure of imatinib therapy, the patient has switched in second-line to nilotinib therapy, 400 mg twice a day. The therapy was discussed and arranged with the cardiologists, with strict monitoring of cardiac and metabolic parameters. The therapy with nilotinib has allowed to obtain an optimal response according to the ELN guidelines and, from the sixth month of treatment, a major molecular response was obtained. From the standpoint of cardiologists, the patient has maintained a good compensation, despite the permanence of anginal symptoms, which required repeated therapeutic adjustments. Our case shows that nilotinib may be a well tolerated and effective therapy in a patient suffering from a major heart disease, maintaining a close clinical and cardiologic monitoring

Performance of a fully automatic lesion detection system for breast DCE-MRI

PURPOSE: To describe and test a new fully automatic lesion detection system for breast DCE-MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies were collected from two institutions adopting different DCE-MRI sequences, one with and the other one without fat-saturation. The detection pipeline consists of (i) breast segmentation, to identify breast size and location; (ii) registration, to correct for patient movements; (iii) lesion detection, to extract contrast-enhanced regions using a new normalization technique based on the contrast-uptake of mammary vessels; (iv) false positive (FP) reduction, to exclude contrast-enhanced regions other than lesions. Detection rate (number of system-detected malignant and benign lesions over the total number of lesions) and sensitivity (system-detected malignant lesions over the total number of malignant lesions) were assessed. The number of FPs was also assessed. RESULTS: Forty-eight studies with 12 benign and 53 malignant lesions were evaluated. Median lesion diameter was 6 mm (range, 5-15 mm) for benign and 26 mm (range, 5-75 mm) for malignant lesions. Detection rate was 58/65 (89%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 79%-95%) and sensitivity was 52/53 (98%; 95% CI 90%-99%). Mammary median FPs per breast was 4 (1st-3rd quartiles 3-7.25). CONCLUSION: The system showed promising results on MR datasets obtained from different scanners producing fat-sat or non-fat-sat images with variable temporal and spatial resolution and could potentially be used for early diagnosis and staging of breast cancer to reduce reading time and to improve lesion detection. Further evaluation is needed before it may be used in clinical practice

The Framingham cardiovascular risk score in multiple sclerosis

Background and purpose: Cardiovascular risk factors can increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) and modify its course. However, such factors possibly interact, determining a global cardiovascular risk. Our aim was to compare the global cardiovascular risk of subjects with and without MS with the simplified 10-year Framingham General Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score (FR) and to evaluate its importance on MS-related outcomes. Methods: Age, gender, smoking status, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, type II diabetes and use of antihypertensive medications were recorded in subjects with and without MS to estimate the FR, an individualized percentage risk score estimating the 10-year likelihood of cardiovascular events. Results: In total, 265 MS subjects were identified with 530 matched controls. A t test showed similar FR in cases and controls (P = 0.212). Secondary progressive MS presented significantly higher FR compared to relapsing-remitting MS (P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed a direct relationship between FR and Expanded Disability Status Scale (P < 0.001) and MS Severity Scale (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The FR, evaluating the global cardiovascular health by the interaction amongst different risk factors, relates to MS disability, severity and course

From technological advances to biological understanding: The main steps toward high-precision RT in breast cancer.

Radiotherapy improves local control in breast cancer (BC) patients which increases overall survival in the long term. Improvements in treatment planning and delivery and a greater understanding of BC behaviour have laid the groundwork for high-precision radiotherapy, which is bound to further improve the therapeutic index. Precise identification of target volumes, better coverage and dose homogeneity have had a positive impact on toxicity and local control. The conformity of treatment dose due to three-dimensional radiotherapy and new techniques such as intensity modulated radiotherapy makes it possible to spare surrounding normal tissue. The widespread use of dose-volume constraints and histograms have increased awareness of toxicity. Real time image guidance has improved geometric precision and accuracy, together with the implementation of quality assurance programs. Advances in the precision of radiotherapy is also based on the choice of the appropriate fractionation and approach. Adaptive radiotherapy is not only a technical concept, but is also a biological concept based on the knowledge that different types of BC have distinctive patterns of locoregional spread. A greater understanding of cancer biology helps in choosing the treatment best suited to a particular situation. Biomarkers predictive of response play a crucial role. The combination of radiotherapy with molecular targeted therapies may enhance radiosensitivity, thus increasing the cytotoxic effects and improving treatment response. The appropriateness of an alternative fractionation, partial breast irradiation, dose escalating/de-escalating approaches, the extent of nodal irradiation have been examined for all the BC subtypes. The broadened concept of adaptive radiotherapy is vital to high-precision treatments

Erratum: Antibodies from multiple sclerosis patients preferentially recognize hyperglucosylated adhesin of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 39430; published online: 23 December 2016; updated: 22 March 2017. The original version of this Article contained typographical errors in the Abstract. ‘In autoimmune diseases, there have been proposals that exogenous “molecular triggers”, i.e., specific this should be ‘non-self antigens’ accompanying infectious agents, might disrupt control of the adaptive immune system resulting in serious pathologies’.</jats:p