Towards specific T–H relationships: FRIBAS database for better characterization of RC and URM buildings

FRIBAS database is an open access database composed of the characteristics of 312 buildings (71 masonry, 237 reinforced concrete and 4 mixed types). It collects and harmonizes data from different surveys performed on buildings in the Basilicata and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions (Southern and Northeastern Italy, respectively). Each building is defined by 37 parameters related to the building and foundation soil characteristics. The building and soil fundamental periods were experimentally estimated based on ambient noise measurements. FRIBAS gave us the opportunity to study the influence of the main characteristics of buildings and the soil-building interaction effect to their structural response. In this study, we have used the FRIBAS dataset to investigate how the building period varies as a function of construction materials and soil types. Our results motivate the need of going beyond a 'one-fits-all' numerical period-height (T-H) relationship for generic building typologies provided by seismic codes, towards specific T-H relationships that account for both soil and building typologies

Evaluation of the performance of Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score in an Italian FH population: The LIPIGEN study

Background and aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited disorder characterized by high levels of blood cholesterol from birth and premature coronary heart disease. Thus, the identification of FH patients is crucial to prevent or delay the onset of cardiovascular events, and the availability of a tool helping with the diagnosis in the setting of general medicine is essential to improve FH patient identification.Methods: This study evaluated the performance of the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) score in FH patients enrolled in the LIPIGEN study, an Italian integrated network aimed at improving the identification of patients with genetic dyslipidaemias, including FH.Results: The DLCN score was applied on a sample of 1377 adults (mean age 42.9 +/- 14.2 years) with genetic diagnosis of FH, resulting in 28.5% of the sample classified as probable FH and 37.9% as classified definite FH. Among these subjects, 43.4% had at least one missing data out of 8, and about 10.0% had 4 missing data or more. When analyzed based on the type of missing data, a higher percentage of subjects with at least 1 missing data in the clinical history or physical examination was classified as possible FH (DLCN score 3-5). We also found that using real or estimated pre-treatment LDL-C levels may significantly modify the DLCN score.Conclusions: Although the DLCN score is a useful tool for physicians in the diagnosis of FH, it may be limited by the complexity to retrieve all the essential information, suggesting a crucial role of the clinical judgement in the identification of FH subjects

Sharing soil and building geophysical data for seismic characterization of cities using CLARA Webgis. A case study of Matera (southern Italy)

In the context of seismic risk, studying the characteristics of urban soils and of the built environment means adopting a holistic vision of the city, taking a step forward compared to the current microzonation approach. Based on this principle, CLARA WebGIS aims to collect, organize, and disseminate the available information on soils and buildings in the urban area of Matera. The geodatabase is populated with (i) 488 downloadable geological, geotechnical, and geophysical surveys; (ii) geological, geomorphological, and seismic homogeneous microzone maps; and (iii) a new Digital Surface Model. The CLARA WebGIS is the first publicly available database that reports for the whole urban area the spatial distribution of the fundamental frequencies for soils and the overlying 4043 buildings, along with probability levels of soil‐building resonance. The WebGIS is aimed at a broad range of end users (local government, engineers, geologists, etc.) as a support to the implementation of seismic risk mitigation strategies in terms of urban planning, seismic retrofitting, and management of post‐earthquake crises. We recommend that the database be managed by local administrators, who would also have the task of deciding on future developments and continuous updating as new data becomes available

Clinical protocol. Immunization of patients with malignant melanoma with autologous CD34+ cell-derived dendritic cells transduced ex vivo with a recombinant replication-deficient vaccinia vector encoding the human tyrosinase gene: a phase I trial

Protocol title: Immunization of Patients with Malignant Melanoma with Autologous CD34+ Cell-Derived Dendritic Cells Transduced Ex Vivo with a Recombinant Nonreplicating Vaccinia Vector Encoding the Human Tyrosinase Gene: A Phase I Trial. Study Phase: Phase I. Study Design: Nonrandomized, noncontrolled, single center. Study Objectives: Primary objective: Define the safety and toxicity of DCs/MVA-hTyr vaccine in patients with measurable metastatic melanoma. Secondary objectives: (1) to determine whether immunization with DCs/MVA-hTyr vaccine induces tyrosinase and melanoma-specific immune responses such as (a) development or enhancement of T lymphocyte-mediated responses in peripheral blood; (b) measurable delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in vivo; (c) development of antityrosinase antibodies in serum of treated patients; and (d) infiltration and expansion of tyrosinase-specific T lymphocytes in the inoculation site; and (2) to document any tumor regression and/or pigmentation modification that may result from immunization against tyrosinase. Number of Subjects: The total number of patients expected to complete this study is six. Study Population: Patients with malignant melanoma stage IV or high-risk stage III with measurable metastatic melanoma. Treatment Groups: Four vaccinations containing 100 X 106 DCs/MVA-hTyr will be given four times at 2-week intervals; the 1° vaccination will be given intravenously; the 2°, 3°, and 4° vaccinations will be given subcutaneously. Duration of Study: 20 weeks. Visit Schedule: Screening visit(s) Admission to the general clinical research center and baseline studies Preparative phase with the administration of filgrastim for six consecutive days followed by leukapheresis Immunization phase Follow-up visits monthly for 3 months and then at 2-month intervals for survival and general condition until death Safety parameters: Physical examination and measurements of melanoma lesions Complete blood tests Antimelanoma T lymphocyte (both CD8+ and CD4+) responses Ophthalmology evaluation including fundoscopy and visual acuity Neurological evaluation Cardiac rhythm, including Holter. Efficacy Parameters: Tumor response and time to progression by physical examination and CT scan Progression-free survival Overall survival Hypopigmentation Immunological evaluation: Melanoma antigen-specific and/or melanoma-specific CTL precursor frequency; antigen-specific HLA class II-restricted T cell responses; anti-tyrosinase antibodies in serum of treated patients; whenever possible biopsy at the site of vaccination to evaluate the infiltrate