Long-term results after modified Burton-Pellegrini’s technique in 24 cases affected by advanced rhizarthrosis

Background and aim: Rhizarthrosis iscommon in elderly and represents 10% of all artrhitic manifestations. Trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition remains the gold standard for stages II to IV according to Eaton and Littler. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the results of 24 patients affected by advanced rhizarthrosis who underwent to modified Burton-Pellegrini’s trapeziectomy with ligamentoplasty using the entire flexor carpi radialis tendon. Methods: Patients were assessed through DASH and PRWHE questionnaires; the examination focused also on pain symptoms (VAS score) and the results obtained in carrying out specific tests to evaluate the trapezius-metacarpal functionality (key-pinch, grip strength, Kapandji test, reduction of wrist flexion strength). Furthermore, postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: Clinical evaluation and individual satisfaction were positive in most cases (mean DASH 18,8 and mean PRWHE 21,7). VAS pain score reduced of 76.7%, grip strength and key pinch were similar to those of the non-operated hand and Kapandji test was excellent in 20 patients. One superficial wound infection was encountered which resolved by specific antibiotic therapy. Conclusions: The choice of the most appropriate treatment depends on clinical conditions and socio-occupational factors of the patient (age, sex and functional needs), the degree of osteoarthritis and the presence of deformities of the first metacarpophalangeal joint. Surgery aims to relief pain and to improve joint function and strength. According to the results observed this surgical technique has to be considered a valid option for the treatment of advanced rhizarthrosis as it provides pain relief, stability and mobility of the thumb. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Sub-doppler two-photon spectrum of asymmetric rotor molecules

The Doppler-free two-photon excitation spectrum of the qqQ branch of the 1410 vibrational band of the S1(1B2u) ← S0(1A1g) transition of benzene-d1 has been recorded using a cw single-mode dye laser coupled to an external concentric resonator. The spectrum has been analysed using a non-rigid Watson Hamiltonian. More than 200 lines with J up to 20 have been assigned and the rotational constants which best reproduce the spectrum are A1v = 0.181435, B1v = 0.169990, C1v = 0.089055 cm−1. The Ka = odd lines of the qqQ5(J) subbranch show small and quite regular perturbations of 60 ± 5 MHz which are probably due to a coupling to another vibrational state of the S1 manifold

The GTPase-activating protein RN-tre controls focal adhesion turnover and cell migration.

SummaryBackgroundIntegrin-mediated adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM) relies on the dynamic formation of focal adhesions (FAs), which are biochemical and mechanosensitive platforms composed of a large variety of cytosolic and transmembrane proteins. During migration, there is a constant turnover of ECM contacts that initially form as nascent adhesions at the leading edge, mature into FAs as actomyosin tension builds up, and are then disassembled at the cell rear, thus allowing for cell detachment. Although the mechanisms of FA assembly have largely been defined, the molecular circuitry that regulates their disassembly still remains elusive.ResultsHere, we show that RN-tre, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Rabs including Rab5 and Rab43, is a novel regulator of FA dynamics and cell migration. RN-tre localizes to FAs and to a pool of Rab5-positive vesicles mainly associated with FAs undergoing rapid remodeling. We found that RN-tre inhibits endocytosis of β1, but not β3, integrins and delays the turnover of FAs, ultimately impairing β1-dependent, but not β3-dependent, chemotactic cell migration. All of these effects are mediated by its GAP activity and rely on Rab5.ConclusionsOur findings identify RN-tre as the Rab5-GAP that spatiotemporally controls FA remodeling during chemotactic cell migration

Carotid intima-media thickness by B-mode ultrasound as surrogate of coronary atherosclerosis: correlation with quantitative coronary angiography and coronary intravascular ultrasound findings

Aims. Although well supported by postmortem studies, the reliability of carotid atherosclerosis as surrogate marker of coronary atherosclerosis has been put in doubt by in vivo studies showing a poor correlation between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) detected by external carotid ultrasound (ECU) and coronary stenosis assessed by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). In the present study, we have investigated whether a stronger in vivo correlation between the two arteries can be obtained by using homogeneous variables such as carotid and coronary IMT, detected by ECU and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), respectively. Methods and results. ECU, QCA, and IVUS measurements were made in 48 patients. Carotid IMT was correlated with both angiographic and IVUS findings. A significant but weak correlation was observed between ECU and QCA variables (r = 0.35, P 1 mm was associated with an 18-fold increase in risk of having a positive IVUS test (OR = 17.99, 95% CI 1.83\u2013177.14, P = 0.013) and with a seven-fold increased risk of having a significant IVUS coronary stenosis (OR = 7.4, 95% CI 1.27\u201344.0, P = 0.028). Conclusion. Carotid atherosclerosis correlates better with coronary atherosclerosis when both circulations are investigated by the same technique (ultrasound) using the same parameter (IMT). This supports the concept that carotid IMT is a good surrogate marker of coronary atherosclerosis

Coma morphology and dust emission pattern of comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)

The recent close approach of comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) allowed us to study the morphology of its inner coma. From the measurement of the dust ejection velocity on spiral structures expanding around the nucleus, we estimated a mean deprojected expansion velocity Vd = 1.11 ± 0.08 km s-1. Assuming that a new shell formed after every rotation of the comet, a period of 7.8 ± 0.2 h was derived. The spin axis orientation was estimated at RA 210° ± 10°, Dec. +35° ± 10°. The coma morphology appears related to two strong, diametrically opposite emissions located at mid-latitudes on the nucleus. A qualitative modelling of the coma produced consistent results with a wide range of dust sizes (0.80-800 μm), with inversely correlated densities (0.003-3.0 g cm-3). Images taken with Vj and r-Sloan filters showed a greater concentration of dust in the first two shells, and an increasing density of radicals emitting in the B and V band passes from the third shell outwards. Striae-like structures in the tail suggest that dust particles have different sizes

Achieving a Molecular Remission before Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adult Patients with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Impact on Relapse and Long Term Outcome

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) in first complete remission (CR1) remains the consolidation therapy of choice in Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The prognostic value of measurable levels of minimal residual disease (MRD) at time of conditioning is a matter of debate. We analyzed the predictive relevance of MRD levels before transplantation on the clinical outcome of Ph+ ALL patients treated with chemotherapy and imatinib in 2 consecutive prospective clinical trials. MRD evaluation before transplantation was available for 65 of the 73 patients who underwent an alloHSCT in CR1. A complete or major molecular response at time of conditioning was achieved in 24 patients (37%), whereas 41 (63%) remained carriers of any other positive MRD level in the bone marrow. MRD negativity at time of conditioning was associated with a significant benefit in terms of risk of relapse at 5 years, with a relapse incidence of 8% compared with 39% for patients with MRD positivity (P\u2009=\u2009.007). However, thanks to the post-transplantation use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), disease-free survival was 58% versus 41% (P\u2009=\u2009.17) and overall survival was 58% versus 49% (P\u2009=\u2009.55) in MRD-negative compared with MRD-positive patients, respectively. The cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality was similar in the 2 groups. Achieving a complete molecular remission before transplantation reduces the risk of leukemia relapse even though TKIs may still rescue some patients relapsing after transplantation

Novel strategies to deliver melatonin (in SLN and as cryo-laser therapy) to prostate cancer cells in vivo

Background. Melatonin, synthesized in the pineal gland, modulates malignant cell proliferation via MT1 receptor or dihydrotestosterone-induced calcium influx attenuation. It has also important antioxidant and antiangiogenic properties. Solid-lipid nanoparticles (SLN) is a technology to target drugs against a specific organ, with control of the pharmacokinetics and optimization of their uptake into cancer cells. Cryopass laser therapy consists in the topical application of a frozen drug emulsion followed by a laser scan of the area to give the energy to penetrate the cutaneous barrier and deliver the active principle to the target area. Aim of the study and Methods The aim was to add knowledge on the anticancer action of melatonin with concern to prostate. We used a model of nude mice xenograft of human LNCaP prostate cancer cells and compared the response of the xenografts using up-to-date techniques and different routes to deliver the drug to cancer cells: (a) i.p. as saline; (b) i.p. in SLN; (c) by cryolaser as saline and (d) included in SLN.. Results. Melatonin administered both by i.p. or topically by cryolaser, only 50% of the xenografts resulted in the tumour growth, vs 75% in the control groups. Tumour growth curves showed a similar trend in both groups, but with a marked delay with respect to controls. The mean weight of the tumours collected 45 days after the xenograft was lower in melatonin-treated mice with respect to saline-treated controls (p<0.05). SLN-melatonin did not produce the same inhibition, but histological analysis revealed a different tumour composition. Studies on how the molecular response fits into the observed phenotype are in progress. Conclusions. The results obtained could be the basis for the introduction of this natural molecule as adjuvant active component in therapeutic strategies for the treatment of malignant prostate cancer in humans, and for prevention of cancer relapses

Donor Lymphocyte Infusions After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Acute Leukemia: A Survey From the Gruppo Italiano Trapianto Midollo Osseo (GITMO)

We conducted a retrospective multicenter study including pediatric and adult patients with acute leukemia (AL) who received donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015, in order to determine the efficacy and toxicity of the immune treatment. Two hundred fifty-two patients, median age 45.1 years (1.6\u201373.4), were enrolled from 34 Italian transplant centers. The underlying disease was acute myeloid leukemia in 180 cases (71%). Donors were HLA identical or 1 locus mismatched sibling (40%), unrelated (40%), or haploidentical (20%). The first DLI was administered at a median time of 258 days (55\u20133,784) after HCT. The main indication for DLI was leukemia relapse (73%), followed by mixed chimerism (17%), and pre-emptive/prophylactic use (10%). Ninety-six patients (38%) received one single infusion, whereas 65 (26%), 42 (17%), and 49 patients (19%) received 2, 3, or 654 infusions, respectively, with a median of 31 days between two subsequent DLIs. Forty percent of evaluable patients received no treatment before the first DLI, whereas radiotherapy, conventional chemotherapy or targeted treatments were administered in 3, 39, and 18%, respectively. In informative patients, a few severe adverse events were reported: grade III\u2013IV graft versus host disease (GVHD) (3%), grade III\u2013IV hematological toxicity (11%), and DLI-related mortality (9%). Forty-six patients (18%) received a second HCT after a median of 232 days (32\u20131,390) from the first DLI. With a median follow-up of 461 days (2\u20133,255) after the first DLI, 1-, 3-, and 5- year overall survival (OS) of the whole group from start of DLI treatment was 55, 39, and 33%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, older recipient age, and transplants from haploidentical donors significantly reduced OS, whereas DLI for mixed chimerism or as pre-emptive/prophylactic treatment compared to DLI for AL relapse and a schedule including more than one DLI significantly prolonged OS. This GITMO survey confirms that DLI administration in absence of overt hematological relapse and multiple infusions are associated with a favorable outcome in AL patients. DLI from haploidentical donors had a poor outcome and may represent an area of further investigation