X-rays investigations for the characterization of two 17th century brass instruments from Nuremberg

A recent finding at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan of two brass natural horns from the end of the 17th century and assigned to the Haas family from Nuremberg brought to light new information about this class of objects. The instruments were heavily damaged, but their historical value was great. In this study, a multidisciplinary approach mainly based on non-invasive analytical techniques and including X-rays investigations (X-ray radiography, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction) was used. The present study was aimed at: i) pointing out the executive techniques for archaeometric purposes; ii) characterizing the morphological and the chemical features of materials; and iii) identifying and mapping the damages of the structure and the alterations of the surface

Eighty-one percent event-free survival in advanced Burkitt's lymphoma/leukemia: no differences in outcome between pediatric and adult patients treated with the same intensive pediatric protocol

BACKGROUND: Advanced Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) has an extremely poor prognosis in adults. With a previous protocol including CNS prophylaxis, 40% of our adult patients achieved CR and only 13% became long survivors. In 1988, following this poor experience, we adopted a very intensive pediatric-derived protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive patients, 8 adults (median age 35, stage III: 1; IV: 7; leukemias: 6) and 13 children (median age 10, state III: 8; IV: 5; leukemias: 4) were treated with the same protocol (POG 8617), based on alternate two-phase cycles with sequential high-dose CTX, VCR, ADM + CNS chemoprophylaxis (phase A) and HD MTX + HiDAC (phase B). Adults received 6 cycles, children 8; i.t. prophylaxis in phase B was omitted in adults. RESULTS: Twenty of 21 (95%) patients achieved CR (adults 100%, children 92%). Two patients died early; 2 relapsed at 4 and 9 months. With a median follow-up of 28 months (4-96), 17 patients (81%) are event free (adults 75%, children 85%). Severe infections affected 62% of adults and 15% of children. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The prognosis of adult advanced BL definitely improved with this intensive protocol. (2) There were no differences in outcome between adults and children. (3) Outcome of lymphoma and leukemia was similar. (4) Severe infections occurred frequently in adults. This intensive pediatric protocol requires a careful supportive therapy

Estimated 6-year event-free survival of 55% in 60 consecutive adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated with an intensive phase II protocol based on high induction dose of daunorubicin

On the basis of a previous experience suggesting that daunorubicin dose in induction was an independent prognostic factor in adult ALL, we designed a chemotherapeutic regimen (ALLVR589) characterized by high doses of daunorubicin (270 mg/msup 2) in induction and by high-dose Ara-C in post-remission. The protocol was otherwise conventional: induction and post-remission therapy were followed by chemo-radio prophylaxis of the central nervous system (CNS) and periodical reinductions over a 3-year maintenance period. Sixty consecutive patients (male 42, female 18, median age 34 years, range 14-71; B-lineage, 35; T-lineage, 25; Ph' and bcr/abl positive, 7) recruited between 1989 and 1996, were evaluated for treatment outcome. Complete remissions were 56 (93%), one patient had refractory disease, early deaths were five (8%); 19/56 (34%) patients relapsed, five of whom were Ph'+. Median time to relapse was 11 months (range 3-47); 68% of relapses occurred within 12 months from CR.No CNS relapses were observed. After a median follow-up of 44 months (1-100), 33/60 (55%) patients remain event-free; 23/60 (38%) are off-therapy in continuous CR (median follow-up from diagnosis: 63 months; range 38-100). These results suggest that increasing DNM dosage in induction is one of the possible approaches to improve the outcome of adult ALL by decreasing the relapse occurrence

Cleaning of historical scientific instruments: first analytical studies

During the recent decades, the identification of scientific instruments as cultural heritage objects has been drawing more attention to their preservation: a lack of knowledge is drastically evident, and fill it is demanding. Varnishes from the 18th century applied as the finishing of the brass component in Europe are known as an imitation of Chinese lacquer coming from the oriental tradition. It was considered to own the best aesthetic and mechanical properties in that period during which the manufacturing reached its apogee, and today it protects a great number of historical masterpieces’ surface. A non-invasive methodology is employed to characterize the varnish reproduced with a traditional recipe and to monitor the effect of three cleaning methods widely spread within the restorers’ community

Serum levels of soluble CD30 are elevated in the majority of untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease and correlate with clinical features and prognosis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the serum levels of the soluble form of the CD30 molecule (sCD30) in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) to establish whether there is a correlation with clinical features at presentation and prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sCD30 serum levels of 117 patients were measured at diagnosis with a commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) test kit, and in 78 of these patients the sCD30 levels were also recorded during the follow-up period. RESULTS: sCD30 levels at diagnosis were increased (> 20 U/mL) in a high proportion of patients (87.2%; mean +/- SD, 108 +/- 134 v 5.3 +/- 5.7 U/mL in controls, P < .0001) and correlated with stage (stages I + II, 73 +/- 97 U/mL; III + IV, 162 +/- 165 U/mL; P < .0001), with presence of B symptoms (stage A, 69 +/- 82 U/mL; stage B, 162 +/- 171 U/mL; P < .0001), and, to some extent, with tumor burden (bulky presentation, 141 +/- 129 U/mL; nonbulky, 91 +/- 133 U/mL; P = .058). Patients with sCD30 levels greater than 100 U/mL at diagnosis had a significantly higher rate of poor outcome in terms of failure to achieve a complete remission (CR) or disease relapse after CR achievement. In fact, the event-free survival (EFS) duration of patients with sCD30 levels greater than 100 U/mL was significantly worse (P = .0016). Using multivariate analysis, an sCD30 level greater than 100 U/mL retained its significance after adjustment for other prognostic parameters. CONCLUSION: sCD30 in HD at presentation strictly correlates with clinical features. Serum levels greater than 100 U/mL at diagnosis entail a significantly higher risk of treatment failure, a factor that is independent of other prognostic parameters