Projectivity in (bounded) integral residuated lattices

In this paper we study projective algebras in varieties of (bounded) commutative integral residuated lattices from an algebraic (as opposed to categorical) point of view. In particular we use a well-established construction in residuated lattices: the ordinal sum. Its interaction with divisibility makes our results have a better scope in varieties of divisibile commutative integral residuated lattices, and it allows us to show that many such varieties have the property that every finitely presented algebra is projective. In particular, we obtain results on (Stonean) Heyting algebras, certain varieties of hoops, and product algebras. Moreover, we study varieties with a Boolean retraction term, showing for instance that in a variety with a Boolean retraction term all finite Boolean algebras are projective. Finally, we connect our results with the theory of Unification

Structural and universal completeness in algebra and logic

In this work we study the notions of structural and universal completeness both from the algebraic and logical point of view. In particular, we provide new algebraic characterizations of quasivarieties that are actively and passively universally complete, and passively structurally complete. We apply these general results to varieties of bounded lattices and to quasivarieties related to substructural logics. In particular we show that a substructural logic satisfying weakening is passively structurally complete if and only if every classical contradiction is explosive in it. Moreover, we fully characterize the passively structurally complete varieties of MTL-algebras, i.e., bounded commutative integral residuated lattices generated by chains.Comment: This is a preprin

'Incidental' and 'non-incidental' thyroid papillary microcarcinomas are two different entities

Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (microPTC) may be 'incidental' (Inc-microPTC), occasionally found at histology after surgery for benign disease or 'non-incidental' (Non-Inc-microPTC), diagnosed on clinical grounds. It is unclear whether these different microPTC reflect the same disease. The aim of the study was to compare Inc-microPTC and Non-Inc-microPTC for clinical and histological features as well as for serum TSH, a known factor involved in PTC development

Identification of two distinct molecular subtypes by digital RNA counting of "non-invasive follicular tumour with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP)"

Backgound. The follicular variant (FV) is one of the most common variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Clinically, the FVPTC is considered a low-risk variant of PTC, and the encapsulated forms of FVPTC represent a group of thyroid tumours with an overall good prognosis. Consequently, these neoplasms were very recently reclassified as "non-invasive follicular tumour with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP)". From a molecular standpoint, NIFTP appears similar to the follicular pattern thyroid neoplasm; however, limited data are currently available regarding their gene expression profile

Thyroid autoimmunity, thyroglobulin autoantibodies and thyroid cancer prognosis

Relevance of thyroid autoimmunity to prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma is still unsettled. We decided to investigate the impact of thyroid autoimmunity on prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma and the handling of TgAbs. We evaluated the clinical course of a large group of patients according to the presence (PTC-LT) or absence (PTC) of lymphocytic thyroiditis at histology. We studied 194 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of PTC and treated with total thyroidectomy plus ¹³¹I ablation between 2007 and 2009. Median follow-up (with 25th-75th percentiles) was 84·0 (56·4-118·0) months. The remission criteria were: basal Tg <0·2 ng/mL (or stimulated Tg <1), TgAbs <8 IU/mL (otherwise "decreasing TgAb trend", a decline of ≥20% in sequential TgAb measurements) and unremarkable imaging. PTC-LT and PTC patients had comparable treatment.TgAbs were detectable in 72·5% of PTC-LT and 16·5% of PTC patients. Time to remission was longer in the detectable than in the undetectable TgAb cohort (28·5 vs· 7·5 months [median]; HR 0·54, CI 0·35-0·83, p=0·005). When comparing PTC-LT to PTC patients the difference was maintained in the detectable TgAb (29·3 vs 13·0 months; HR 0·38, CI 0·18-0·80; p=0·01), but not in the undetectable TgAb cohort (7·7 vs 7·3 months; HR 0·90, CI 0·55-1·47; p=0·68). Using the decreasing TgAb trend, the influence of detectable TgAbs on time to remission was abolished. Thyroid autoimmunity does not influence the prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. A decreasing TgAb trend seems an appropriate criterion to establish the remission of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Infliximab in the treatment of Crohn’s disease

The recent introduction of infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-α, has greatly modified the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD). Data from the literature show encouraging results after intravenous infusion both for closure of intestinal or perianal fistulas and for induction and maintenance of remission in patients with moderate to severe intestinal disease unresponsive to other treatments. However, some contraindications such as fibrostenosing CD and sepsis have been identified. In addition, the data on long-term outcomes and safety is still limited. Our initial experience showed that in selected cases local injection of infliximab is effective in the treatment of complex perianal disease offering the possibility of using such treatment even in small bowel obstructing disease with minimal systemic effects. This paper analyzes the state of the use of both intravenous and local injection of infliximab in patients with CD

IgM-Rheumatoid factor confers primary resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapies in NSCLC patients by reducing CD137 + T-cells

Background: ICIs have strongly improved the outcome of NSCLC patients. However, primary and secondary resistance occur during treatment in most of the patients, with several of them developing fast progressions. Autoantibodies can be related with a dysfunctional immune system, although their association with immune-based anti-cancer therapies has never been investigated. Moreover, so far no reliable predictive factor is currently available to aid in treatment selection. CD137+T-cells are largely known to be the anti-tumor activated effector cells, but they have never been associated with the response to immunotherapies. Methods: Forty-two patients with metastatic NSCLC receiving anti-PD-1 ICIs at Sant'Andrea Hospital and Policlinico Umberto I, from June 2016 to September 2018 were enrolled. Circulating levels of IgM-Rheumatoid Factor were evaluated at baseline and correlated with patients clinical response following the anti-PD-1 treatment. IgM-RF interaction and effect on T-cells in vivo and in vitro were investigated. Findings: IgM-RF in NSCLC patient sera strongly predicted the development of early progression to ICIs. Also, a significant reduction of progression-free survival rate in anti-PD-1 treated patients could be identified when patients were stratified based on IgM-RF positivity and titers. IgM-RF bound preferentially circulating naïve and central memory T-cells and a significant reduction of CD137+ anti-tumor T effector cells was found in IgM-RF positive patients. In addition, a higher percentage of CD137+T-cells in peripheral blood of NSCLC patients at baseline resulted as a strong independent prognostic factor for a better outcome in terms of PFS and OS after the anti-PD-1 treatment. Furthermore, T-cells exposed to IgM-RF showed a robust defect in their migratory ability in response to CCL19 chemokine. Interpretation: In this study we showed that serum IgM-RF can be regarded as predictive factor for the development of early progression and prognostic factor of a reduced progression-free survival and overall-survival in anti-PD-1 treated NSCLC patients. The ability of IgM-RF to bind naïve and central memory T-cells and impair their migration could make account for the reduction of the tumor-reactive CD137+ T-cells population that may cause a non-effectiveness of these T-cells targeting drugs