Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) is responsible of acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in young dogs. CPV-2 emerged in 1978 in the USA, but new antigenic types, CPV-2a, 2b and 2c, have completely ...replaced the original type. In this study, we analyzed 81 animals collected in Sardinia, Italy. The VP2 sequence analysis of 27 positive samples showed that all antigenic CPV-2 types are circulating. CPV-2b seems to be the most widespread variant, followed by CPV-2a. Furthermore, 12 CPV-2b strains displayed further amino acid substitutions and formed a separate cluster in a phylogenetic tree, indicating regional genetic variation.
Summary
African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the aetiological agent of a highly lethal haemorrhagic disease affecting pigs that inflicts significant economic damage on the swine industry. ASF is ...present in many African countries, in several eastern and central European countries and in Sardinia (Italy). Sequence analyses of variable genomic regions have been extensively used for molecular epidemiological studies of ASFV isolates. Previous sequencing data of genes that codify for viral protein p54, p72 and the central variable region (CVR) within the B602L gene revealed that Sardinian isolates show a very low level of variability. To achieve a finer level of discrimination among such closely related viruses, in this study, we have chosen three different genome regions to investigate the within‐genotype relationships and to provide a more accurate assessment of the origin of outbreaks. The analysis of p30 and I73R/I329L sequences obtained from ASFV collected in Sardinia over a 13‐years period confirms a remarkable genetic stability in these regions. The sequence comparison of the protein encoded by the EP402R gene (CD2v), carried out on various strains from 1978 to 2014, revealed a temporal subdivision of Sardinian viruses into two subgroups: one group includes the historical isolates from 1978 to 1990, and the second one is comprised of the viruses collected from 1990 until 2014. These data, together with those obtained from CVR within the B602L gene analysis, demonstrated that the viruses circulating in Sardinia belong to p72 genotype I, but have undergone genetic variations in two different regions of the genome since 1990. We proposed the cytoplasmic region of CD2v protein as a new genetic marker that could be use to analyse ASFVs from different locations to track virus spread. Our study reaffirms the need to analyse other genome regions in order to improve the molecular characterization of ASFV.
Currently, the acquisition of tissue from metastatic deposits is not recommended as a routine practice. Our aim was to evaluate the discordance rate of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor ...(PgR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptor status between primary tumor and liver metastases and its potential impact on treatment choice.
We retrospectively analyzed a database including 1250 ultrasound-guided liver biopsies carried out at the European Institute of Oncology from August 1999 to March 2009. ER, PgR, and HER2 status were determined by immunohistochemistry and/or FISH. Differences between proportions were evaluated using Fisher’s exact test.
We identified 255 consecutive patients with matched primary and liver tissue samples. Changes in ER status were observed in 37 of 255 patients (14.5%). Changes in PgR status were observed in 124 of 255 patients (48.6%). Changes in HER2 status were observed in 24 of 172 assessable patients (13.9%). We observed a discordance in receptor status (ER, PgR, and HER2) between primary tumor and liver metastases, which led to change in therapy for 31 of 255 of patients (12.1%).
Biopsy of metastases for reassessment of biological features should be considered in all patients, when safe and easy to carry out, since it is likely to impact treatment choice.
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) represent a group of viruses infecting sheep and goats worldwide. Despite the high heterogeneity of genotype A strains, which cluster into as many as ten subtypes, ...genotype B was believed to be less complex and has, so far, been subdivided into only two subtypes. Here, we describe two novel full-length proviral sequences isolated from Sarda sheep in two Italian regions. Genome sequence as well as the main linear epitopes clearly placed this cluster into genotype B. However, owing to long-standing segregation of this sheep breed, the genetic distances that are clearly >15 % with respect to B1 and B2 subtypes suggest the designation of a novel subtype, B3. Moreover the close relationship with a gag sequence obtained from a Turkish sheep adds new evidence to historical data that suggest an anthropochorous dissemination of hosts (small ruminants) and their pathogens (SRLV) during the colonization of the Mediterranean from the Middle East.
Abstract Objectives The aim of this phase II multicentric study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with weekly topotecan and cisplatin in locally-advanced squamous ...cervical cancer. Patients and methods From November 2008 to January 2011, 92 patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled. Eligibility criteria were: squamous or adenosquamous cervical cancer; clinical stages IB2, IIA, IIB; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) ⩽ 2; neutrophils ⩾ 1500/μL; platelets ⩾ 100,000/μL, normal renal and liver function. Treatment consisted of six courses of weekly topotecan (2 mg/m2 ) and cisplatin (40 mg/m2 ). All responsive and stable patients were submitted to radical surgery, while progressed cases underwent definitive radiotherapy ± chemotherapy. Primary end-point was evaluation of efficacy and toxicity. All patients are evaluable for toxicity and efficacy. Results Ninety-six percent of patients completed the six planned courses of chemotherapy, and 95% of courses were administered at a full dose and without interruption or delay. Mean age was 49 years (35–64 years). FIGO Stage distribution was 30 IB2, 13 IIA and 49 IIB. Treatment was well tolerated and no death occurred. G3–G4 haematological toxicity was observed in 28% of patients (5% out of cycles). Support therapies (blood transfusions and/or erythropoietin and/or Granocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor) were given to 24% of patients. Clinical response rate was 77%. The nine progressed cases were irradiated, while the remaining 83 patients were submitted to radical surgery. An overall pathologic response was observed in 67% of patients, with an optimal response rate of 32% and a disease downstage in 57% of patients. Nodal metastases occurred in 36% of patients. Adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy and or chemotherapy) was prescribed in 55% of patients, because of lymph node metastases, parametrial or vaginal involvement or cut-through margins. Median follow-up was 18 months: 76% of patients are alive and free from recurrence, 24% of patients relapsed and 13% died. Conclusions Weekly topotecan and cisplatin showed an acceptable toxicity profile; the promising response rate warrants further investigation.
Despite the relatively low prevalence, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death from cancer among women. As such, an early diagnosis for establishing a timely surgical and/or ...chemotherapeutic treatment is essential for improving the outcome. The most reliable, but not always straightforward, approach to diagnose ovarian cancer relies on multiple, time-consuming and expensive investigative tools. These typically include clinical presentation (i.e., pelvic or abdominal pain, urinary frequency or urgency, increased abdominal size or bloating) with pelvic examination, transvaginal ultrasonography (US), and measurement of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125). Although the conventional pathway to develop and market a clinically useful biomarker is challenging, recent advances in genomic and proteomic technologies have led to the identification of previously unknown candidate markers of ovarian cancer. Some of these are currently under clinical validation. The human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for monitoring recurrence or progression of epithelial ovarian cancer. Nevertheless, reliable clinical evidence demonstrates that HE4, used alone or in combination with CA125, substantially improves the accuracy of screening and/or disease monitoring. This chapter will review the current knowledge on biologic and clinical applications of ovarian cancer biomarkers, with particular emphasis on the newly proposed marker, HE4.
Pion–Muon separation with a RICH prototype for the NA62 experiment Angelucci, B.; Anzivino, G.; Avanzini, C. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
09/2010, Letnik:
621, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The NA62 experiment at CERN, aimed to measure
K
+
→
π
+
ν
ν
¯
branching fraction (O(10
−10)), relies on a Neon based RICH detector for
π
/
μ
separation, time measurement and level 0 trigger. The ...experimental requirements for this detector are: a muon contamination in pion samples lower than 5×10
−3 in the momentum range 15–35
GeV/
c and a time resolution on the charged track better than 100
ps. A prototype of such a detector was built and tested in 2009; it consists of a full length (
≈
18
m
) Ne filled vessel equipped with a spherical mirror and 414 PMs on its focal plane, located about 17
m upstream of the mirror. This prototype was tested at CERN SPS on a positive hadron beam, in the required momentum range, to measure the
π
/
μ
separation and to confirm the time resolution obtained with a previous prototype; the
μ
misidentification probability is about 0.7% and the time resolution is better than 100
ps in the whole momentum range.
The recent European sovereign debt crisis clearly illustrates the importance of measuring the contagion effects of bank failures. Indeed, to better understand and monitor contagion risk, the European ...Central Bank has assumed the supervision of the largest banks in each of the member states. We propose a measure of contagion risk based on the spatial autocorrelation parameter of a binary spatial autoregressive model. Using different specifications of the interbank connectivity matrix, we estimate the contagion parameter for banks within the Eurozone, between 1996 and 2012. We provide evidence of high levels of systemic risk due to contagion during the European sovereign debt crisis.
In order to investigate the genetic heterogeneity of small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) isolates in Italy, 55 clinical samples collected between 1998 and 2010 were analysed. The phylogenetic study was ...based on analysis of gag–pol sequences. Our findings revealed that the SRLVs belonged to the subtype A9 (n = 3, sheep), B1 (n = 5, goat), B2 (n = 3, sheep) and E2 (n = 5, goat). Interestingly, 39 isolates from both sheep and goat, significantly differed from all the other SRLVs previously described and formed two separate clusters within genotypes A and B tentatively named A11 (n = 27, goat and sheep) and B3 (n = 12, goat and sheep), which have never been shown before. These results revealed a marked diversity among Italian field SRLV strains which might reflect the absence of any systematic control measures.
Construction and test of a RICH prototype for the NA62 experiment Anzivino, G.; Biino, C.; Bizzeti, A. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
08/2008, Letnik:
593, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
A RICH prototype has been constructed and tested. The detector was cylindrical, 17
m long and 60
cm diameter, filled with neon gas at atmospheric pressure. A spherical mirror with 17
m focal length ...was used and 96 photomultipliers were placed in the mirror focal plane. The prototype was exposed to a
200
GeV
/
c
momentum negative beam derived from the CERN SPS in the 2007 fall. The performances of the detector in terms of Cherenkov angle resolution, number of photoelectrons and time resolution are presented.
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