Totem: a case study in HEP

It is being proved that the neurochip \Totem{} is a viable solution for high quality and real time computational tasks in HEP, including event classification, triggering and signal processing. The architecture of the chip is based on a "derivative free" algorithm called Reactive Tabu Search (RTS), highly performing even for low precision weights. ISA, VME or PCI boards integrate the chip as a coprocessor in a host computer. This paper presents: 1) the state of the art and the next evolution of the design of \Totem{}; 2) its ability in the Higgs search at LHC as an example.Comment: Latex, elsart.sty, 5 pages, talk presented by I.Lazzizzera at CHEP97 (Berlin, April 1997

Hepatitis C virus and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: Meta-analysis of epidemiology data and therapy options.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global health problem affecting a large fraction of the world\u2019s population: This virus is able to determine both hepatic and extrahepatic diseases. Mixed cryoglobulinemia, a B-cell \u201cbenign\u201d lymphoproliferative disorders, represents the most closely related as well as the most investigated HCV-related extrahepatic disorder. Since this virus is able to determine extrahepatic [non-Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma (NHL)] as well as hepatic malignancies (hepatocellular carcinoma), HCV has been included among human cancer viruses. The most common histological types of HCV-associated NHL are the marginal zone, the lymphoplasmacytic and diffuse large cell lymphomas. The role of the HCV in the pathogenesis of the B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders is confirmed also by the responsiveness of the NHL to antiviral therapy. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the recent literature and a meta analysis of the epidemiology data, to explain the role of HCV in the development of NHL\u2019s lymphoma. Furthermore, the possibility to treat these HCV-related NHL with the antiviral therapy or with other therapeutic options, like chemotherapy, is also discussed

Randomized trial of combination therapy in relapser or non-responder HCV patients

The combination of interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RIBA) has efficacy in previously non-responder (NR) or relapser (REL) HCV patients. However, the effect of increased dose of IFN associated with RIBA is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate different IFN dose in combination with RIBA in NR or REL patients.We randomised 102 patients with biopsy-proven chronic HCV hepatitis to receive either 3 or 5 MU of recombinant IFN three times a week and RIBA (1000-1200 mg/die) for 6 months and followed for additional 6 months. Patients with cirrhosis were excluded from the study. The treatment was stopped at 4 months for cases with abnormal ALT levels and HCV-RNA positivity. The patients with undetectable HCV-RNA and normal ALT at the end of the treatment were defined as complete responders (CR), and those with the same state the end of follow-up were defined as long-term responders (LTR). There were 52 non-responders and 58 relapsers to prior IFN treatment. Mean age and histological severity of liver disease was comparable in the four groups. Four patients (4%) dropped out because skin lesions or severe anaemia. A large fraction of patients (68 cases, 64 %) developed mild anaemia but therapy was not discontinued. Full follow-up data are available on 102 cases. IFN 3 MU 3 times a week End of treatment End follow-up 25 previous NR 4 CR (16%) 21 NR (84%) 4 LTR (16%) 25 previous REL 15 CR (60%) 10 NR (40%) 12 LTR (46%) IFN 5 MU 3 times a week 27 previous NR 18 CR (66%) 9 NR (33%) 12 LTR (44%) 25 previous REL 22 CR (88%) 3 NR (12%) 17 LTR (68%) There was a statistically significant difference between previous REL and NR either at the end of the treatment and of the follow-up. There was difference between previous REL subjects randomised to receive 3 or 5 MU at the end of the therapy but not at the end of the follow-up. On the contrary, in previous NR an increased dose of IFN obtained a statistically (p<0.03) improvement of responses. Interestingly, a fraction (10-40%) of previous REL became NR at the combination therapy, this could indicate the appearance of viral quasispecies or genotypes highly resistant to antiviral drugs. In conclusions, when used in combination with RIBA, 5MU of IFN is able to enhance the response rate compared with 3MU, especially in previous NR. In NR or REL cases after combination therapy, new therapeutical approaches are needed

Retinopathy following radiation therapy of paranasal sinus and nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Radiation retinopathy is a complication of the therapeutic irradiation of orbital and periorbital structures. The authors studied two groups of patients who had orbital (group 1) and periorbital (group 2) external irradiation. Radiation retinopathy occurred in 63.6% of patients in group 1 and 36.3% group 2. Retinal radiation damage showed a different clinical evoluation in the two groups, appearing earlier (mean, 11 versus 55 months) and with greater involvement of the peripheral retina in group 1 (with three cases of neovascular glaucoma). This study demonstrates that radiation retinopathy occurs in a significant number of cases when the eye is not totally involved in the irradiation field and shows at least two different clinical aspects in relation to the radiation treatment. It also suggests that portal design and choroidal circulation damage may represent important factors in the development of radiation retinopathy