Budd-Chiari syndrome in chronic myeloid leukemia.

A29-year-old Ph-positive patient in accelerated phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with marked thrombocytosis developed fever, abdominal pain and signs of severe acute hepatitis, although was negative for viral markers. Real-time and Doppler ultrasound (US) scan showed marked hepatomegaly, caudate lobe hypertrophy (Figure 1), failure to visualize hepatic veins and their flow, portal vein ectasy with slow hepatopetal flow, splenomegaly and massive ascites. MRI and angiography confirmed occlusion of all hepatic veins and partial obstruction of the inferior vena cava hepatic segment, likely due to disproportionate caudate lobe enlargement. These findings suggested Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS); treatment was diuretics, anticoagulants, chemotherapy and peritoneum-jugular shunt. Liver histology, obtained by uncomplicated percutaneous biopsy, confirmed the diagnosis (Figure 2

Liver nodular regenerative hyperplasia after bone marrow transplant.

We report an unusual liver disease which may occur after bone marrow transplantation, i.e. the collapse of hepatic lobuli followed by regenerative islets: the resulting clinical picture may mimic GvHD or a viral disease, but histology is diagnostic, showing nodular regeneration in the absence of inflammation or fibrosis

Refusing to Endorse. A must Explanation for Pejoratives.

In her analysis of pejoratives, Eva Picardi rejects a too sharp separation between descriptive and expressive content. I reconstruct some of her arguments, endorsing Eva’s criticism of Williamson’s analysis of Dummett and developing a suggestion by Manuel Garcia Carpintero on a speech act analysis of pejoratives. Eva’s main concern is accounting for our instinctive refusal to endorse an assertion containing pejoratives because it suggests a picture of reality we do not share. Her stance might be further developed claiming that uses of pejoratives not only suggest, but also promote a wrong picture of reality. Our refusal to endorse implies rejecting not only a wrong picture of reality but also a call for participation to what that picture promotes

Clinical relevance of intrahepatic hepatitis B virus DNA in HBsAg-negative HBcAb-positive patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies.

Hepatitis flare-up due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a well-recognized complication associated with chemotherapy. Data on the clinical impact of HBV DNA in liver tissue of HB-surface antigen (sAg)-negative patients undergoing immunosuppression are scanty

The Show Must Go On: A Snapshot of Italian Academic Working Life during Mandatory Work from Home through the Results of a National Survey

During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities worldwide have provided continuity to research and teaching through mandatory work from home. Taking into account the specificities of the Italian academic environment and using the Job Demand-Resource-Recovery model, the present study provides, through an online survey, for the first time a description of the experiences of a large sample of academics (N = 2365) and technical and administrative staff (N = 4086) working in Italian universities. The study analyzes the main differences between genders, roles or work areas, in terms of some job demands, recovery experiences, and outcomes, all important dimensions to achieve goals 3, 4, and 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The results support the reflections on gender equality measures in universities and provide a general framework useful for further in-depth analysis and development of measures in order to improve well-being (SDG 3), quality of education (SDG 4), and gender equality (SDG 5)

Il Questionario «Experiences In Close Relationships» (Ecr) Per la Valutazione dell’attaccamento negli Adulti: Ampliamento Delle Evidenze di Validità per la Versione Italiana.

Objective Improvement in the assessment of adult attachment are mandatory, if research on attachment and psychopathology is to make substantial progress. In a preliminary study, the Italian version of the questionnaire ‘Experiences in Close Relationships’ (ECR) demonstrated good psychometric properties. We aimed at collecting further evidence of the validity of the questionnaire. Methods We included in the study subjects of 18-65 years, with at least junior high school degree. We examined convergent validity on 364 subjects, with the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) as a criterion measure. In these subjects, we also compared three different Italian translations of item 21 with regard to factorial validity and internal consistency. Data from these subjects and other 386 subjects were used to compute norms for scale scores, stratified for age and gender. Results Internal consistency was satisfactory. Cronbach’s alpha was. 89 for both the ‘Anxiety’ and ‘Avoidance’ scales. A new Italian version of item 21 showed better psychometric properties as compared to the preceding version. A six-factor solution was obtained, explaining 61.3% of total variance. Then, factor scores were computed with the regression method, and a second-order factor analysis was performed. A two-factor solution was obtained, and the factors were clearly interpretable as ‘anxiety’ and ‘avoidance’. The pattern of correlations between ECR and RQ was as hypothesised, and the ECR was also found to possess good classification properties. Conclusion The Italian version of the ECR was confirmed to be reliable and valid. It might be useful for Italian researchers interested in adult attachment

The A to I editing landscape in melanoma and its relation to clinical outcome

RNA editing refers to non-transient RNA modifications that occur after transcription and prior to translation by the ribosomes. RNA editing is more widespread in cancer cells than in non-transformed cells and is associated with tumorigenesis of various cancer tissues. However, RNA editing can also generate neo-antigens that expose tumour cells to host immunosurveillance. Global RNA editing in melanoma and its relevance to clinical outcome currently remain poorly characterized. The present study compared RNA editing as well as gene expression in tumour cell lines from melanoma patients of short or long metastasis-free survival, patients relapsing or not after immuno- and targeted therapy and tumours harbouring BRAF or NRAS mutations. Overall, our results showed that NTRK gene expression can be a marker of resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibition and gives some insights of candidate genes as potential biomarkers. In addition, this study revealed an increase in Adenosine-to-Inosine editing in Alu regions and in non-repetitive regions, including the hyperediting of the MOK and DZIP3 genes in relapsed tumour samples during targeted therapy and of the ZBTB11 gene in NRAS mutated melanoma cells. Therefore, RNA editing could be a promising tool for identifying predictive markers, tumour neoantigens and targetable pathways that could help in preventing relapses during immuno- or targeted therapies