Primary mediastinal lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment options.

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a unique B-cell lymphoma variant that arises from a putative thymic medulla B cell. It constitutes 2-4% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and occurs most frequently in young females. PMBCL is characterized by a diffuse proliferation of medium-to-large B cells associated with sclerosis. Molecular analysis shows that PMBCL is a distinct entity compared to other types of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. PMBCL is characterized by a locally invasive anterior mediastinal bulky mass. The combination of rituximab with CHOP/CHOP-like regimens followed by mediastinal radiation therapy (RT) is associated with a 5-year progression-free survival of 75-85%. However, the role of consolidation RT still remains uncertain. More intensive regimens, such as DA-EPOCH-R without mediastinal RT, have shown very promising results. The conclusive role of PET-CT scan requires prospective studies and there is hope that this may allow to de-escalate RT and accordingly yield reliable prognostic information

Heparanase and macrophage interplay in the onset of liver fibrosis

Abstract The heparan sulfate endoglycosidase heparanase (HPSE) is involved in tumor growth, chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Since a role for HPSE in chronic liver disease has not been demonstrated to date, the current study was aimed at investigating the involvement of HPSE in the pathogenesis of chronic liver injury. Herein, we revealed that HPSE expression increased in mouse livers after carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-mediated chronic induction of fibrosis, but with a trend to decline during progression of the disease. In mouse fibrotic liver tissues HPSE immunostaining was restricted in necro-inflammatory areas, co-localizing with F4/80 macrophage marker and TNF-α. TNF-α treatment induced HPSE expression as well as HPSE secretion in U937 macrophages. Moreover, macrophage-secreted HPSE regulated the expression of α-SMA and fibronectin in hepatic stellate LX-2 cells. Finally, HPSE activity increased in the plasma of patients with liver fibrosis but it inversely correlated with liver stiffness. Our results suggest the involvement of HPSE in early phases of reaction to liver damage and inflammatory macrophages as an important source of HPSE. HPSE seems to play a key role in the macrophage-mediated activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), thus suggesting that HPSE targeting could be a new therapeutic option in the treatment of liver fibrosis

Desde la cúspide de la pirámide a la historia oral

Este breve ensayo no pretende tener nada de exhaustivo. Se trata simplementedel fruto del trabajo y de las reflexiones críticas sobre el problema de lasfuentes efectuadas con los estudiantes de la carrera de historia de la UES 1 enel marco de la asignatura Teoría y enfoque II en segundo ciclo del año académico 2004. Agradezco a mis estudiantes por la seriedad y la capacidad deanálisis que han demostrado en el trabajo efectuado sobre obras clásicas de lahistoriografía mundial, propiciando mis reflexiones

Distal aortic arch aneurysm after endovascular stent graft repair for type B chronic aortic dissection

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Molecular Identification of Italian Mouse-eared Bats (genus Myotis)

Despite the fact that the genus Myotis (Mouse-Eared bats) is one of the most investigated microchiropteran groups, recent molecular studies highlighted the presence of several cryptic species with substantial implications for ecological and conservation issues. Our dataset includes 55 coxI sequences from 11 morphologically-identified Italian Mouse-Eared bats species. We applied an integrated approach comparing data from a traditional morphological identification and molecular variability in a fragment of the mitochondrial coxI gene (DNA barcoding). Our results clearly show a strong coherence between the two identification approaches for almost all of the examined species, and revealed interesting patterns of intraspecific variability within the species M. nattereri. Finally, we successfully tested the efficacy of our identification method on undetermined individuals sampled in the field

Group-based Early Start Denver Model: un modello educativo per alunni con Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico nelle scuole dell’infanzia italiane

Research on the implementation of evidence-based-practices in education has increasingly focusedon identifying models for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that can be adaptable inpreschools. This article outlines the main features of the Group-based Early Start Denver Model(G-ESDM), an intervention for children with ASD that has gained prominence in recent years (Vivanti,Duncan, Dawson, Rogers, 2017). Based on the philosophy, principles and strategies of theEarly Start Denver Model (ESDM), the G-ESDM is a manualized evidence-based early interventionthat includes a set of strategies to adapt to the physical and social learning environment in orderto support pupil participation in classroom activities and the school community at large.While the presence of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Italian school settings representsa challenge for both special education scholars and teachers which has endorsed the paradigmof full inclusion, some reflections on the possibility of promoting the adoption of theG-ESDM in Italian preschools are required. This article outlines the main features of the G-ESDMmodels and concludes by illustrating a possible research itinerary for its implementation in theItalian educational system

A Path Model of the Intention to Adopt Variable Rate Irrigation in Northeast Italy

Irrigated agriculture determines large blue water withdrawals, and it is considered a key intervention area to reach sustainable development objectives. Precision agriculture technologies have the potential to mitigate water resource depletion that often characterises conventional agricultural approaches. This study investigates the factors influencing farmers\u2019 intentions to adopt variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology. The Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM-3) was employed as a theoretical framework to design a survey to identify the factors influencing farmers\u2019 decision-making process when adopting VRI. Data were gathered through quantitative face-to-face interviews with a sample of 138 fruit and grapevine producers from the Northeast of Italy (Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia). Data were analysed using partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM). The results highlight that personal attitudes, such as perceived usefulness and subjective norm, positively influence the intention to adopt VRI. Additionally, the perceived ease of use positively affects intention, but it is moderated by subject experience

Prevalence of Fabry Disease in Female Patients With Late-Onset Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background— Fabry disease (FD) has been recognized as the cause of left ventricular hypertrophy in 6% of men with late-onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Although FD is considered a recessive X-linked disorder, affected women are increasingly reported. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of FD in female patients with HCM. Methods and Results— Thirty-four consecutive women (mean age, 50±13.6 years) who received an ECG and echocardiographic diagnosis of HCM were submitted to an invasive cardiac study that included a biventricular endomyocardial biopsy. Tissue samples were analyzed for histology and electron microscopy. Peripheral blood activity of α-galactosidase (α-Gal) A was assessed in all patients. None of them had a family history of FD. Histology and electron microscopy showed in 4 patients (12%; mean age, 51.5±3.9 years) the presence of cell vacuoles characterized by the accumulation of glycolipid material organized in concentric lamellar structures, diagnostic for FD. In the remaining patients, histology was consistent with HCM. In all the female carriers, the heart was the only organ clinically involved in the disease, showing concentric hypertrophy in 2 patients, asymmetric hypertrophy in 1, and apical hypertrophy in 1. The α-Gal A enzymatic activity was 44±14% of control values. Genetic analysis showed the presence of α-Gal A gene mutation in all 4 cases. Conclusions— FD may account for up to 12% of females with late-onset HCM. Those heterozygous for FD with left ventricular hypertrophy are potential candidates for enzyme enhancement/replacement therapy