Search

Purpose: Grade 3 neuroendocrine tumor (NET G3) is a novel pathologic category within gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) but its clinical behavior and therapeutic management still remain challenging. Prognostic and predictive factors aiding NET G3 management are needed. Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis from 2015 to 2020 of all patients with > 20% Ki-67, well-differentiated NETs evaluated within our NEN-dedicated multidisciplinary team. We divided the sample according the timing of NET G3 diagnosis, the radiotracers distribution and Ki-67. We analyzed the correlation between these NET G3 features and clinical outcomes. Results: Among 3238 multidisciplinary discussion reports, we selected 55 patients, 48 from GEP and 7 from an occult GEP origin. In 45 patients, NET G3 diagnosis occurred at the beginning of clinical history (upfront-NET G3), whereas in 10, during the NET G1-G2 clinical history (late-NET G3). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that Ki-67 cutoff, functional imaging and the timing to NET G3 diagnosis may help clinicians in more accurate selection of NET G3 management. Prospective studies are needed.

Genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to the etiology of the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis (MG). Viral involvement has long been suspected, but direct evidence of involvement has not been found. We recently reported that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)—a key activator of innate immunity—was overexpressed in the thymus of some patients with MG, suggesting that thymic infection by pathogens might be involved in MG pathogenesis. We searched for evidence of intrathymic infection in patients with MG.

The possibility of a pressure monitoring system by differential pressure sensors to detect contaminant effects on cellular cultures metabolic activity is discussed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lymphocyte, and AHH1 cell cultures. Metabolic (aerobic and anaerobic) processes in cells are accompanied by CO2production that induces changes in pressure values when cells are cultured in sealed vessels. These values are subsequently converted in voltage units and plotted pressure dynamics versus time. This procedure leads to a standard curve, typical of the cellular line, which characterizes cellular metabolism when all parameters are controlled, such as temperature and nutrients. Different phases appear in the S. cerevisiaedifferential pressure curve: an initial growth up to a maximum, followed by a decrement that leads to a typical “depression” (pressure values inside the test-tubes are lower than the initial one) after about 35 h from the beginning. The S. cerevisiaedifferential pressure curve is successfully used to test the effects of chemical (Amuchina®, trieline) and physical (UV radiation, blue light, magnetic fields) contaminants. The same technique is applied to lymphocytes and AHH1 cultures to investigate the effects generated by a 72-h exposure to a 50-Hz, 60-T electromagnetic field. Lymphocyte samples, cultured in a PHA medium, grow less than control ones, but exhibit a greater metabolic activity: changes in the exposure system configuration influence neither sample growth differences nor metabolic response variations between control and irradiated samples, while all the other irradiation parameters remain constant. Control and irradiated lymphocyte samples, without PHA in culture medium, show the same behavior both during irradiation and metabolic test. AHH1 control and irradiated samples show no difference both in growth percentage during irradiation and in metabolic activity. Different cell cultures respond to the same stimulus in different manners. © 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Chiral dirhodium(II) compounds, Rh2(O2CR)2(pc)2 (pc = ortho-metalated arylphosphine), with a head-to-tail arrangement (1−21) are used in the cyclopropanation of α-diazo ketones. The influence of catalyst ligands and substrate structure on enantioselectivity is studied. Temperature and solvent dependence assays are performed, the best ee values being obtained in refluxing pentane. Results compare favorably with those reported in the literature using Ru, Cu, and other Rh(II) catalysts.

Racemic dirhodium(II) complexes derived from orthometalated aryl phosphines, Rh2(O2CCH3)2(pc)2 (pc = orthometalated phosphine, with head-to-tail arrangement) (1−7), are isolated as pure enantiomers by conventional resolution methods. They are the first examples of dirhodium(II) chiral catalysts without chiral ligands. These compounds have been used in the cyclization of α-diazo ketones; the influence of catalyst and substrate on enantioselectivity is studied. Results are compared with those obtained for reactions catalyzed by Rh2(protos)4 and Rh2(protos)2(pc)2 [ProtosH (8) = N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl-l-proline] (9−22). Only catalysts 1−7 afford a high level of enantioselectivity in the synthesis of carbocycles from α-diazo ketones.

A male subject exposed for many years to metal dusts from grinding and cutting hard metals was investigated four years after the exposure ceased. While chest x-ray films and histologic examinations showed diffuse interstitial fibrosis and severe perivascular and peribronchiolar fibrosis, radiochemical neutron activation analysis (NAA) showed high W, Ta and Co concentrations in the pulmonary specimen compared to the corresponding determinations in 17 control subjects. Tantalum was also found in high concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and in the blood. In addition other elements such as Ni, Cr, Th and Cd were found in the lung biopsy specimen of the worker in amounts significantly higher than in the control subjects. The results suggest that hard metal origin of pulmonary fibrosis can be detected many years after removal from exposure.

The importance of the return of sensibility in transplanted skin as a functional necessity for the success of a surgical reconstruction, especially in the hand, has led to many studies to develop a technique for the evaluation of postoperative sensibility, in which the application of the sensory stimulus is constant, controlled, and the degree of sensibility recorded without the subjective collaboration of the patient. Since the tactile and pain stimuli are appreciated by nerve fibres which are different from those which register thermal sensation, two different apparatuses have been devised to evaluate these two aspects of sensibility. Experimental studies and clinical application of these two methods are reported.

A study on the thermal sensitivity of healthy skin of the hand, of pedicle flaps and of donor areas is reported. The experimental method consists of measuring the increase in temperature after an amount of heat has been provided over the interval of time required to give the patient the minimum sensation of heat.

Summary The numerous advantages offered by the use of the cross-arm flaps are underlined. These flaps are particularly suitable for the reconstruction of the skin of the fingers, the first interdigital space and the palm of the hand.

Chiral dirhodium(II) complexes, Rh2(O2CCF3)2(PC)2, [PCH = (p-CH3C6H4)3P, (m-CH3C6H4)3P], provide an excellent yield and a high enantiocontrol in the cyclopropanation of α-diazo ketones with γ and δ double bonds. The ee values are significantly dependent on the solvent used; the best results are obtained using pentane.