Impaired seroconversion after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with solid tumours receiving anticancer treatment

Background Patients with solid tumours have high COVID-19 mortality. Limited and heterogeneous data are available regarding the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in this population. Methods and findings This is a prospective, single-centre cohort study aiming at evaluating seroconversion in terms of anti-spike antibodies in a population of patients with solid tumours undergoing cancer therapy within 2 months before the second vaccine dose, as compared with a cohort of controls. Subjects who were not SARS-CoV-2 naïve were excluded, and 171 patients were included in the final study population (150 vaccinated with BNT162b2, 87.7%; 21 with mRNA-1273, 12.3%) and compared with 2406 controls. The median follow-up time from the second dose of vaccination was 30 days (12–42; IQR: 26–34). Most patients had metastatic disease (138, 80.7%). Seroconversion rate was significantly lower in cancer patients than in controls (94.2% versus 99.8%, p < 0.001). At univariate logistic regression analysis, Odds ratio (OR) for seroconversion was also reduced in older individuals (>70 years). A multivariate logistic model confirmed cancer as the only significant variable in impairing seroconversion (OR 0.03, p < 0.001). In the cancer population, a multivariate analysis among clinical variables, including the type of cancer treatment, showed ECOG PS > 2 as the only one of impact (OR 0.07, p = 0.012). Conclusions There is a fraction of 6% of patients with solid tumours undergoing cancer treatment, mainly with poorer performance status, who fail to obtain seroconversion after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. These patients should be considered for enhanced vaccination strategies and carefully monitored for SARS-CoV-2 infection during cancer treatment

Dataset of a comparative proteomics experiment in a methylmalonyl-CoA mutase knockout HEK 293 cell model

Methylmalonic acidemia is a rare inborn error of metabolism with severe clinical complications and poor outcome. The present data article is related to a proteomic investigation conducted on a HEK 293 cell line which has been ge- netically modified using CRISPR-CAS9 system to knockout the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase enzyme (MUT-KO). Thus, the generated cell model for methylmalonic acidemia was used for a proteomic comparison with respect to HEK 293 wild type cells performing a label-free quantification (LFQ) ex- periment. A comparison between FASP and S-Trap digestion methods was performed on protein extracts before to pro- ceed with the proteomic analysis of the samples. Four bio- logical replicates were employed for LC-MS/MS analysis and each was run in technical triplicates. MaxQuant and Perseus platforms were used to perform the LFQ of the proteomes and carry out statistical analysis, respectively. Globally, 4341 proteins were identified, and 243 as differentially regulated,of which 150 down-regulated and 93 up-regulated in the MUT-KO condition. MS proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium with the dataset iden- tifier PXD017977. The information provided in this dataset shed new light on the cellular mechanisms altered in this rare metabolic disorder, highlighting quantitative unbalances in proteins acting in cell structure and architecture organiza- tion and response to the stress. This article can be used as a new source of protein actors to be validated and a starting point for the identification of clinically relevant therapeutic targets

Unexpected finding of urachal remnant cyst. Tips for laparoscopic approach

INTRODUCTION: Incomplete obliteration of the urachal lumen could cause different types of anomalies and urachal cystis the most common among these in the adult population. Itis usually asymptomatic and may be an incidental finding during a surgical exploration for other reasons. However, it can be subject to complications. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 38-year-old female patient with history of worsening lower-quadrants abdominal pain, associated with fever and chills, presented to emergency room; clinical examination revealed a painful, tender, and fixed lump to the left inferior abdominal quadrant. Ultrasound reveled a left adnexal mass and, along the midline, between the adnexal mass, the bladder and the uterus, was evident a 3-cm unilocular cyst with regular walls and hypoechoic content. MRI confirmed the suspicion of a left tuboovarian abscess and suggested a diagnosis of urachal remnant for the smaller midline cyst. In this report, we describe the step-by-step laparoscopic management of the case, paying attention to “the tips and tricks” for urachal cyst excision. DISCUSSION: The urachal cyst, which results from the accumulations of secretions in urachal remnant, presents as a single or multiple parietal abdominal mass, per se asymptomatic. However, this condition is not without risk and infection represents the most common complication. Ultrasound is very useful in the diagnostic phase. Today, the main approach has become laparoscopic excision, with particular attention to a radical removing of the mass, due to high recurrence rate and the risk of malignancy. CONCLUSION: In our experience, laparoscopy represents an excellent diagnostic and therapeutic tool for urachal cyst, especially for patients with acute urgent conditions, doubtful clinical history, and no clear signs or symptom

Second primary neoplasms in patients with lung and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: data from a retrospective multi-centric study

Background: Patients with sporadic neuroendocrine neoplasms may exhibit a higher risk of a second primary tumor than the general population. Aim: This study aimed to analyze the occurrence of second primary malignancies. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 2757 patients with sporadic lung and gastro-entero-pancreatic neu- roendocrine neoplasms, managed at eight Italian tertiary referral Centers, was included. Results: Between 20 0 0 and 2019, a second primary malignancy was observed in 271 (9.8%) neuroen- docrine neoplasms patients with 32 developing a third tumor. There were 135 (49.8%) females and the median age was 64 years. The most frequent locations of the second tumors were breast (18.8%), prostate (12.5%), colon (9.6%), blood tumors (8.5%), and lung (7.7%). The second primary tumor was synchronous in 19.2% of cases, metachronous in 43.2%, and previous in 37.6%. As concerned the neuroendocrine neo- plasms, the 5- and 10-year survival rates were 87.8% and 74.4%, respectively. PFS for patients with a second primary malignancy was shorter than for patients without a second primary malignancy. Death was mainly related to neuroendocrine neoplasms. Conclusion: In NEN patients the prevalence of second primary malignancies was not negligible, suggest- ing a possible neoplastic susceptibility. Overall survival was not affected by the occurrence of a second primary malignancy

Search for leptoquarks in Z0^{0} decays

We have searched for direct leptoquark production in Z 0 decays from a scan of the Z 0 resonance, in the energy range 88.2 ≤ √s ≤94.2 GeV, using 5.2 pb -1 of data. We exclude the existence of scalar leptoquarks with masses less than 41 to 44 GeV, depending on the charge assignments, at the 95% confidence level

Search for leptoquarks in Z 0 decays

We have searched for direct leptoquark production in Z 0 decays from a scan of the Z 0 resonance, in the energy range 88.2 ≤ √s ≤94.2 GeV, using 5.2 pb -1 of data. We exclude the existence of scalar leptoquarks with masses less than 41 to 44 GeV, depending on the charge assignments, at the 95% confidence level

A prospective multicentre survey on the treatmentof acute pancreatitis in Italy

30 citazioni su Scopus. L'articolo è il risultato di uno studio multicentrico di cui G. Benassai è un autore (membro Proinf-Aisp Study Group). RE: Missing Author Name Scopus [email protected]; Dear Prof. Giacomo Benassai, Thank you very much for your detailed explanation. You have made the issue perfectly clear to me. Please be informed that I have escalated the issue to our Content Department for investigation and they will rectify the issue accordingly. As soon as I receive an answer, I am happy to contact you back. If I, or one of my colleagues, can assist you with another matter please do let us know. Kind Regards, Jeroen Hulsmann E-Helpdesk EMEA Coordinator Regional Sales Office - EMEA Elsevier B.V. [THREAD ID:1-1J7YLX6] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Sent: 12/09/2012 14:52:37 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: FW: Author's name correction Distinct Mr. Hulsmann Thank you for the sollicit interest about my query.This question it's very important for my career evaluation and also for the University 's department in which i belong. I have participated as a researcher in the 3 papers reported in my previous email,all of them were multicentric,so as of definition they involve diverse Institutions and Authors.In the list of Authors reported,members of the ProINF-AISP study group are citated under the voice "the members of the ProInf-AISP Study Group" who obviously do not correspond to a single unit.The single members of the citated group,amongst them the writer,are citated singularly on the last page's appendix ("G. Mosella, G. Benassai Policlinico Universitario Federico II") Napoli. The non citation of this partecipation of the Naples University Federico II comes with a problem regarding the financiation of the department,and also a discrimination on the evaluation of my personal profile as a researcher about the calculation of the citations in the H index. Furthermore in other circumstances i was citated as a participant in group studies of multicenter works,such as "Imipenem/cilastatina (1,5gr/die) versus meropenem (3,0gr/die) in pazienti con infezioni intra-addominali:risultati di uno studio clinico multicentrico,randomizzato,prospettico" publicated on Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 29:503-508,1997.I believe you have an original PDF file of this work and not a copy,therefore i result citated on scopus as a participant of the group study "Gruppo di studio Italiano" Thank you for your courtesy and interest,given the importance of the query. Trustfully yours, Prof. Giacomo Benassai Elsevier B.V. Registered Office: Radarweg 29, 1043 NX Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Registration No. 33156677 (The Netherlands) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17602904 http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-34547668852&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=a+prospective+multicentre+survey+on+the+treatment+of+acute&sid=oNVoDQG_UHipYnJz9G131SP%3a630&sot=q&sdt=b&sl=78&s=TITLE-ABS-KEY-AUTH%28a+prospective+multicentre+survey+on+the+treatment+of+acute%29&relpos=9&relpos=9&searchTerm=TITLE-ABS-KEY-AUTH(a prospective multicentre survey on the treatment of acute) BACKGROUND: The Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas released a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for acute pancreatitis in 1999. AIM: This study focused on the analysis of the therapeutic approach for the treatment of acute pancreatitis in Italy. PATIENTS: One thousand, one hundred and seventy-three patients were recruited: 1006 patients (85.8%) had mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and 167 (14.2%) had the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP); 161 patients showed pancreatic necrosis at computed tomography; 121 patients (10.3%) had sequelae and 36 (3.1%) died. RESULTS: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tramadol were used more frequently in patients with the MAP whereas opioids and the association schedules were used more frequently in patients with the SAP (P<0.001). Gabexate mesilate was utilised in 831 out of 1173 patients (70.8%); in particular, gabexate mesilate was used in 70.6% patients with MAP and in 73.1% of those with SAP (P=0.521). The duration of the drug administration was significantly shorter in those having MAP than in those having the SAP (P<0.001). The antibiotics most frequently used for the prophylaxis against infection from pancreatic necrosis (43.1%) were carbapenems. Only a small number of patients received enteral nutrition (4.7%). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was carried out in 344 of the 1173 patients (29.3%). Surgery was performed in 48 with SAP (19 had elective biliary surgery and 29 had pancreatic surgery). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey indicate a lack of compliance with the guidelines which regard the indications mainly for interventional endoscopy and surgery

Rapidity and transverse momentum dependence of inclusive J/psi production in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

5 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett. B See paper for full list of authorsThe ALICE experiment at the LHC has studied inclusive J/psi production at central and forward rapidities in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. In this Letter, we report on the first results obtained detecting the J/psi through its dilepton decay into e+e- and mu+mu- pairs in the rapidity range |y|<0.9 and 2.