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4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is one of the key tobacco-specific nitrosamines that plays an important role in human lung carcinogenesis. However, repeated inhalation toxicity data on NNK, which is more directly relevant to cigarette smoking, are currently limited. In the present study, the subacute inhalation toxicity of NNK was evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats. Both sexes (9–10 weeks age; 16 rats/sex/group) were exposed by nose-only inhalation to air, vehicle control (75% propylene glycol), or 0.8, 3.2, 12.5, or 50 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day of NNK (NNK aerosol concentrations: 0, 0, 0.03, 0.11, 0.41, or 1.65 mg/L air) for 1 h/day for 14 consecutive days. Toxicity was evaluated by assessing body and organ weights; food consumption; clinical pathology; histopathology observations; blood, urine, and tissue levels of NNK, its major metabolite 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), and their glucuronides (reported as total NNK, tNNK, and total NNAL, tNNAL, respectively); O6-methylguanine DNA adduct formation; and blood and bone marrow micronucleus frequency. Whether the subacute inhalation toxicity of NNK followed Haber’s Rule was also determined using additional animals exposed 4 h/day. The results showed that NNK exposure caused multiple significant adverse effects, with the most sensitive endpoint being non-neoplastic histopathological lesions in the nose. The lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) was 0.8 mg/kg BW/day or 0.03 mg/L air for 1 h/day for both sexes. An assessment of Haber’s Rule indicated that 14-day inhalation exposure to the same dose at a lower concentration of NNK aerosol for a longer time (4 h daily) resulted in greater adverse effects than exposure to a higher concentration of NNK aerosol for a shorter time (1 h daily).

Summary Purpose The intermediate-risk (IR) prostate cancer (PCa) group is heterogeneous in terms of prognosis. For unfavorable or favorable IR PCa treated by radiotherapy, the optimal strategy remains to be defined. In routine practice, the physician's decision to propose hormonal therapy (HT) is controversial. The PROACT survey aimed to evaluate pattern and preferences of daily practice in France in this IR population. Materials and methods A web questionnaire was distributed to French radiotherapy members of 91 centers of the Groupe d’Etude des Tumeurs Uro-Genitales (GETUG). The questionnaire included four sections concerning: (i) the specialists who prescribe treatments and multidisciplinary decisions (MTD) validation; (ii) the definition of IR subsets of patients; (iii) radiotherapy parameters; (iv) the pattern of practice regarding cardiovascular (CV) and (iv) metabolic evaluation. A descriptive presentation of the results was used. Results Among the 82 responses (90% of the centers), HT schedules and irradiation techniques were validated by specific board meetings in 54% and 45% of the centers, respectively. Three-fourths (76%) of the centers identified a subset of IR patients for a dedicated strategy. The majority of centers consider PSA > 15 (77%) and/or Gleason 7 (4 + 3) (87%) for an unfavorable IR definition. Overall, 41% of the centers performed systematically a CV evaluation before HT prescription while 61% consider only CV history/status in defining the type of HT. LHRH agonists are more frequently prescribed in both favorable (70%) and unfavorable (98%) IR patients. Finally, weight (80%), metabolic profile (70%) and CV status (77%) of patients are considered for follow-up under HT. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first survey on HT practice in IR PCa. The PROACT survey indicates that three-quarters of the respondents identify subsets of IR-patients in tailoring therapy. The CV status of the patient is considered in guiding the HT decision, its duration and type of drug.

The Aversa plain is one of the most important agricultural areas of the Campania region, combining the presence of very fertile soils, sites of great archaeological interest and growing residential urbanization. In this paper, the soil map (1:50,000 scale) of the Aversa plain is presented. Three main land systems (coastal, alluvial and foothill plains) characterized by different soil types (Andosols, Phaeozems, Cambisols, Vertisols, Arenosols, Histosols, Luvisols) have been identified. However, Andosols are the most widespread soil type (9768 ha) and, along with part of the Phaeozems and Cambisols, represent the most fertile soils of the Aversa plain (first and second classes of the land capability classification). In order to evaluate recent intense soil sealing, its impact over land capability classes was assessed during the last 60 years. Results show that soil sealing in the Aversa plain affected mainly the most fertile first- and second-class soils.

Purpose: The management of older patients in radiation therapy (RT) departments has been challenging in the context of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. We report our experience of RT adapted schedules or strategy changes in older patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods and Materials: Patients aged ≥75 years were recruited during weekly chart rounds. All were potentially eligible for a specific intervention to reduce the frequency of patients’ visits to the hospital. The effect of deferring radiation and hypofractionation of RT schedules was assessed in terms of the number of courses initially planned and replanned during the lockdown. Results: Twenty patients were identified during the official lockdown in France (March 17 to May 11). Median age was 78 years (75-95 years). Most patients were male (n = 12, 60%) being treated in the postoperative setting (n = 17, 85%). RT was delayed in 11 cases (55%) with hormonal therapy prescribed in 10 cases (50%). Altered RT fractionation was proposed for 5 cases (25%); combinations of altered fractionation and deferral of radiation were applied in 3 cases (15%). The number of radiation courses initially planned and replanned according to the pandemic context: 563 and 197, respectively (−62%; P < .001). None presented recurrence when RT was initiated, and no patient developed symptomatic COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, individual risk-based radiation therapy seems to be safe. Systematic screening of patients for COVID-19 before starting radiation therapy is mandatory. In our department the oncogeriatrics expertise availability for daily practice was of great use during the pandemic. Other prospective studies are needed to validate such strategies in case of resurgence of similar outbreaks.

Aim To assess the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) lockdown on glycaemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and Methods In this observational, multicentre, retrospective study conducted in the Lazio region, Italy, we compared the differences in the HbA1c levels of 141 subjects with T2D exposed to lockdown with 123 matched controls with T2D who attended the study centres 1 year before. Basal data were collected from 9 December to 9 March and follow‐up data from 3 June to 10 July in 2020 for the lockdown group, and during the same timeframes in 2019 for the control groups. Changes in HbA1c (ΔHbA1c) and body mass index (ΔBMI) during lockdown were compared among patients with different psychological well‐being, as evaluated by tertiles of the Psychological General Well‐Being Index (PGWBS). Results No difference in ΔHbA1c was found between the lockdown and control groups (lockdown group −0.1% [−0.5%−0.3%] vs. control group −0.1% [−0.4%−0.2%]; p = .482). Also, no difference was found in ΔBMI (p = .316) or ΔGlucose (p = .538). In the lockdown group, subjects with worse PGWBS showed a worsening of HbA1c (p = .041 for the trend among PGWBS tertiles) and BMI (p = .022). Conclusions The COVID‐19 lockdown did not significantly impact glycaemic control in people with T2D. People with poor psychological well‐being may experience a worsening a glycaemic control because of restrictions resulting from lockdown. These findings may aid healthcare providers in diabetes management once the second wave of COVID‐19 has ended.

Aims To evaluate whether subjects with diabetes hospitalized for Coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) represent a subgroup of patients with high-risk clinical features compared to patients with diabetes without Covid-19. Methods In this case-control study 79 patients with type 2 diabetes out of 354 adults hospitalized for Covid-19 and 158 controls with type 2 diabetes but without Covid-19, matched for age and gender, were enrolled. Medical history and concomitant therapies were retrieved from medical charts and compared between cases and controls, controlling for confounders. Results Fully-adjusted multivariate logistic regression model showed that previous CVD history did not differ between patients with and without Covid-19 (odds ratio 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-3.32, p=0.45). A higher prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 3.72, 95%CI: 1.42-9.72, p=0.007) and of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR 3.08, 95%CI: 1.18-8.06, p=0.022) and a lower prevalence of ever smokers (OR 0.30, 95%CI: 0.13-0.67, p=0.003), of users of lipid lowering agents (OR 0.26, 95%CI: 0.12-0.54, p

Resume La radiotherapie a beneficie durant ces vingt dernieres annees de nombreuses evolutions. Ces dernieres sont liees aux progres de l’informatique et de l’imagerie permettant de mieux definir les cibles, assurer une meilleure epargne des organes a risque et une excellente reproductibilite des traitements grâce au controle parfait du positionnement. Dans la radiotherapie des cancers du sein, l’evolution a ete marquee par la possibilite de reduire la duree des traitements de 6–7 a 3–4 semaines en utilisant des schemas hypofractionnes, voire en la limitant a une semaine grâce a la focalisation du traitement au seul site operatoire. Ce concept d’irradiation partielle et acceleree du sein a remis en cause le paradigme de l’obligation d’irradier la totalite de la glande mammaire en situation adjuvante pour toutes les patientes. En outre, sa maitrise technique et le developpement de la stereotaxie contribuent actuellement a l’initiation de projets de recherche en situation neoadjuvante. Ces projets evaluent l’impact de l’irradiation tumorale preoperatoire a hautes doses, seule ou en combinaison aux traitements systemiques, etudient les modifications biologiques de la tumeur, evaluent l’immunite antitumorale et l’impact sur la reponse pathologique complete qui constitue un marqueur predictif, dans certains cas, d’une meilleure probabilite de survie a long terme. Dans cette revue, nous ferons le point sur ces evolutions, en situations adjuvante et neo-adjuvante, qui permettent a la radiotherapie de s’inscrire egalement dans l’ere de la personnalisation des traitements.

Background Cardiometabolic disorders may worsen Covid-19 outcomes. We investigated features and Covid-19 outcomes for patients with or without diabetes, and with or without cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Methods We collected and compared data retrospectively from patients hospitalized for Covid-19 with and without diabetes, and with and without cardiometabolic multimorbidity (defined as ≥ two of three risk factors of diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidaemia). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk of the primary composite outcome (any of mechanical ventilation, admission to an intensive care unit [ICU] or death) in patients with diabetes and in those with cardiometabolic multimorbidity, adjusting for confounders. Results Of 354 patients enrolled, those with diabetes (n = 81), compared with those without diabetes (n = 273), had characteristics associated with the primary composite outcome that included older age, higher prevalence of hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), higher levels of inflammatory markers and a lower PaO2/FIO2 ratio. The risk of the primary composite outcome in the 277 patients who completed the study as of May 15th, 2020, was higher in those with diabetes (Adjusted Odds Ratio (adjOR) 2.04, 95%CI 1.12–3.73, p = 0.020), hypertension (adjOR 2.31, 95%CI: 1.37–3.92, p = 0.002) and COPD (adjOR 2.67, 95%CI 1.23–5.80, p = 0.013). Patients with cardiometabolic multimorbidity were at higher risk compared to patients with no cardiometabolic conditions (adjOR 3.19 95%CI 1.61–6.34, p = 0.001). The risk for patients with a single cardiometabolic risk factor did not differ with that for patients with no cardiometabolic risk factors (adjOR 1.66, 0.90–3.06, adjp = 0.10). Conclusions Patients with diabetes hospitalized for Covid-19 present with high-risk features. They are at increased risk of adverse outcomes, likely because diabetes clusters with other cardiometabolic conditions.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that has never been identified in humans before. COVID-19 caused at the time of writing of this article, 2.5 million cases of infections in 193 countries with 165,000 deaths, including two-third in Europe. In this context, Oncology Departments of the affected countries had to adapt quickly their health system care and establish new organizations and priorities. Thus, numerous recommendations and therapeutic options have been reported to optimize therapy delivery to patients with chronic disease and cancer. Obviously, while these cancer care recommendations are immediately applicable in Europe, they may not be applicable in certain emerging and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this review, we aimed to summarize these international guidelines in accordance with cancer types, making a synthesis for daily practice to protect patients, staff and tailor anti-cancer therapy delivery taking into account patients/tumour criteria and tools availability. Thus, we will discuss their applicability in the LMICs with different organizations, limited means and different constraints., Highlights • The first recommendations concerned mainly staff and patients with cancer protection. • More than half of the worldwide cancers are diagnosed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). • Organization in accordance with available means: main key for anti-cancer strategy in LMICs. • European recommendations applicability for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is questioned in LMICs. • Amplification of pandemic effects on both COVID and cancer is to be feared in LMICs.

Novel markers of vascular disease in diabetes could help identify new disease pathways and enhance risk stratification. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteopontin (OPN) are key molecules involved in bone and vascular calcification processes, both compromised in diabetes. To evaluate whether OPG and/or OPN are associated with diabetic vascular complications, we measured their serum concentrations in 995 type 2 diabetes subjects enrolled in the Sapienza University Mortality and Morbidity Event Rate (SUMMER) Study. Any association with history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and reduced eGFR were examined with ANOVA, correcting for age, gender, HbA1c and lipid profile. Among the population, 15.7% had CVD, 18.4% had DR, 12.0% had an eGFR between 45-59 ml/min/1.73m2 and 7.5% had an eGFR Disclosure E. Maddaloni: Consultant; Self; Merck KGaA. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Pikdare. K. Park: None. M. Di Guida: None. L. Coraggio: None. C. Luordi: None. L. D’Onofrio: None. M.G. Baroni: None. M.G. Cavallo: None. P. D’Angelo: None. S. De Cosmo: None. F. Leonetti: None. S. Morano: None. L. Morviducci: None. P. Pozzilli: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company. Research Support; Self; Medtronic, Sanofi. S. Prudente: None. G. Pugliese: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Mundipharma International, Sanofi-Aventis, Sigma-tau, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Other Relationship; Self; Laboratori Guidotti. V. Trischitta: None. R.R. Holman: Advisory Panel; Self; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. G.L. King: Research Support; Self; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. R. Buzzetti: Advisory Panel; Self; Sanofi. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Lilly Diabetes, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Funding European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes; AstraZeneca (MS 2017_2); Società Italiana di Diabetologia

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak forced Italy to begin lockdown on 9 March 2020. This suddenly changed the daily routine of people with diabetes, increasing sedentary behavior, changing eating patterns, and increasing their psychological burden (1,2), all of which may result in changes in glucose control. This is especially relevant for patients on complex therapeutic regimens such as multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Therefore, the COVID-19 lockdown is an unprecedented model to investigate how acute changes in lifestyle affect glucose control in diabetes. To investigate the effects of lockdown on ambulatory glucose metrics, defined according to the international consensus on time in range (TIR) (3), we performed an analysis of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data of the 14 days preceding (baseline: 24 February to 8 March 2020) and following (lockdown: 10 March to 25 March 2020) the extension of lockdown to the whole of Italy in people with diabetes on MDI or CSII. After exclusion of individuals unable to upload data on online platforms or who had contact with diabetologists for therapeutic changes, 55 adults (43.6% male, median [25th, 75th percentile] age 41 [28, 49] years, disease duration 11 [5, 23] years) with diabetes (90.9% autoimmune, 5.5% type 2, 3.6% post-pancreatectomy) treated with MDI (≥4 insulin injections per day, 50.9%) or CSII (49.1%) …

Purpose: During the first weeks of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in France, it was necessary to clearly define organizational priorities in the radiation therapy (RT) departments. In this report, we focus on the urgent measures taken to reduce risk for both our staff and patients by reducing the number of patients receiving treatment. Methods and Materials: We reviewed the fractionation schemes for all patients in our department, including those receiving treatment and those soon to start treatment. Our goals were to (1) decrease the number of patients coming daily to the hospital for RT, (2) adapt our human resources to continue patients’ care in the department, and (3) help to cover understaffed COVID-19 sectors of the hospital. Results: We identified 50 patients who were receiving treatment (n = 6), were going to start radiation after CT scan simulation (n = 41), or for whom the CT scan was pending (n = 3). The majority were women (64%) treated for breast cancer (54%). RT was delayed for 22 (44%) patients. The majority were offered hormone therapy as “waiting therapy.” Hypofractionation was considered in 21 (42%) patients mainly with breast cancer (18 of 21, 86%). The number of courses initially planned and replanned as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak during the period of March 15 to May 31, 2020, were 1383 and 683, respectively, which represented a reduction of 50% (including delayed sessions) that allowed our reorganization process. Conclusions: To conserve resources during the pandemic, we successfully reduced the number of patients receiving treatment in a proactive fashion and adapted our organization to minimize the risk of COVID-19 contamination. Departments across the world may benefit from this same approach.

In patients with autoimmune diabetes no significant differences were observed in glucose control, expressed as time in range evaluated by continuous glucose monitoring comparing the 3 days after Sars-Cov2 vaccine with the 14 days preceding the vaccine.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies and main causes of cancer death in Western countries. In the presence of metastatic disease, systemic treatment remains the main clinical option. However, since the introduction of highly sensitive imaging techniques, a new clinical ‘entity' of metastatic patients with a limited number of lesions has been defined: oligometastatic patients. In this patient group, the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or other local therapies against all active sites of disease revealed by 18F-choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) could achieve sufficient prostate-specific antigen (PSA) control. However, a clear benefit of this procedure in terms of significant endpoints is yet to be demonstrated. This case report describes our experience with treating a castration-resistant PCa patient with 18F-choline PET/CT-guided SBRT. Because of the occurrence of 5 metachronous lesions over 4 years, the pattern of recurrence was defined by the local multidisciplinary team as oligometastatic disease, and the patient was treated with 5 courses of SBRT which yielded good PSA control. He started systemic therapy with abiraterone acetate almost 5 years after the diagnosis of recurrent PCa.

Background: The optimal duration of hormonal therapy (HT) when associated with postprostatectomy radiation therapy (RT) remains controversial. Objective: To test the impact of HT duration among patients treated with postprostatectomy RT, stratified by clinical and pathologic characteristics. Design, setting, and participants: The study included 1264 patients who received salvage RT (SRT) to the prostatic and seminal vesicle bed at eight referral centers after radical prostatectomy (RP). Patients received SRT for either rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or PSA persistence after RP, defined as PSA ≥0.1 ng/ml at 1 mo after surgery. Administration of concomitant HT was at the discretion of the treating physician. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The outcome of interest was clinical recurrence (CR) after SRT, as identified by imaging. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to test the association between CR and HT duration. We applied an interaction test between HT duration and baseline risk factors to assess the hypothesis that CR-free survival differed by HT duration according to patient profile. Three risk factors were prespecified for evaluation: pT stage ≥pT3b, pathologic Gleason ≥8, and PSA level at SRT >0.5 ng/ml. The relationship between HT duration and CR-free survival rate at 8 yr was graphically explored according to the number of risk factors (0 vs 1 vs ≥2). Results and limitations: Overall, 1125 men (89%) received SRT for rising PSA and 139 (11%) were treated for PSA persistence. Concomitant HT was administered to 363 patients (29%), with a median HT duration of 9 mo. At median follow-up of 93 mo after surgery, 182 patients developed CR. The 8-yr CR-free survival was 92%. On multivariable analysis, HT duration was inversely associated with the risk of CR (hazard ratio 0.95; p = 0.022). A total of 531 (42%) patients had none of the prespecified risk factors, while 507 (40%) had one and 226 (18%) had two or more risk factors. The association between HT duration and CR was significantly different by risk factors (0 vs 1, p = 0.001; 0 vs ≥2, p < 0.0001). We observed a significant effect of HT duration for patients with two or more risk factors, for whom HT administration was beneficial when given for up to 36 mo. This effect was attenuated among patients with one risk factor, with concomitant HT slightly beneficial when administered for a shorter time (

Background/aim In the last years, the use of Image Guided Stereotactic Radiotherapy (IG-SBRT) in patients with metastatic prostate cancer has increased. In this study, we aimed to assess the role of IG-SBRT in terms of local control and safety in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Materials and methods Primary and secondary endpoints of this prospective observational study were local control and safety related to IG-SBRT. All lesions were treated with 24 Gy as a single fraction or 27 Gy in 3 fractions. After SBRT, Systemic therapies were administered only after the occurrence of more than three synchronous active lesions in oligometastatic patients (patients with less than 4 active synchronous lesions) or new lesions occurrence in patients with more than 3 synchronous lesions. Results From April 2011 to June 2017, 78 metastatic lesions (32 bone and 46 node) from 51 patients with prostate cancer were treated. After a median follow-up of 18.5 months (range=3-103 months), only 2 lesions (4%) relapsed inside the radiation field. All local recurrences were located on the bone. Estimated 12 and 24 months local control ratios were 98.7 and 97.4%, respectively. Except for one case, toxicity greater than G2 was not recorded. Conclusion IG-SBRT is safe and can be considered as a valid therapy in patients with metastatic prostate cancer requiring a long-lasting metastases control.

Background: A new entity of patients with recurrent prostate cancer limited to a small number of active metastatic lesions is having growing interest: the oligometastatic patients. Patients with oligometastatic disease could eventually be managed by treating all the active lesions with local therapy, i.e. either surgery or ablative stereotactic body radiotherapy. This study aims to assess the impact of [18F]Choline ([18F]FMCH) PET/CT and the use stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients (pts) with oligometastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Twenty-nine pts with oligometastatic PCa (≤3 synchronous active lesions detected with [18F]FMCHPET/CT) were treated with repeated salvage SBRT until disease progression (development of > three active synchronous metastases). Primary endpoint was systemic therapy-free survival measured from the baseline [18F]FMCHPET/CT. Results: A total of 45 lesions were treated with SBRT. After a median follow-up of 11.5 months (range 3-40 months), 20 pts were still in the study and did not receive any systemic therapy. Nine pts started systemic therapy, and the median time of the primary endpoint was 39.7 months (CI 12.20-62.14 months). No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was recorded. Conclusions: Repeated salvage [18F]FMCHPET/CT-guided SBRT is well tolerated and could defer the beginning of systemic therapy in selected patients with oligometastatic PCa.

Background: The role of radiolabeled choline (Cho) in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical treatment for prostate cancer (PCA) is well established. Its widespread clinical use has prompted the depiction of incidentalomas, unusual sites of metastatic lesions, as well as false positive and negative cases. We reported a series of patients affected by biochemical recurrence of PCA imaged by [18F]Cho positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) which resulted suspected for a second malignancy. Case presentation: [18F]Cho PET/CT was performed in patients with biochemical PCA recurrence. From an internal clinical database we identified patients in which PET/CT resulted suspected for a second malignancy. A second malignancy was suspected in presence of "unusual" site of [18F]Cho uptake not consistent with clinical-instrumental history. Histology was used as reference standard for final diagnosis. Seven PCA patients (76 years, 71-84 years) with the suspicion of a second tumor based on [18F]Cho PET/CT findings were identified. Mean value of PSA at the time of [18F]Cho PET/CT was 2,37 ng/mL. The median time between PCA diagnosis and PET/CT was 6 years (range 0-14 years). In two cases history of a second malignancy (lung cancer and cutaneous basocellular carcinoma) was known (diagnosed 12 and 6 years after PCA, respectively). PET/CT identified 13 sites of [18F]Cho uptake (lung = 5, lymph node = 7, bone = 1). Final diagnosis was consistent with lung cancer in 5/7 cases (first diagnosis = 4/5, recurrence = 1/5), colorectal cancer and nodal metastases from melanoma in 1 case each. Conclusions: Although the clinical usefulness of Cho PET/CT for detecting cancer lesions other than prostate origin is known, for those patients who undergo this examination according to indication, the diagnosis of a second tumor has a significant impact on their therapeutic management.

The role of neuroinflammatory cells in the establishment of neuropathic pain has been investigated in depth in the last few years. In particular, microglia have been shown to be key players in the induction of tactile allodynia, as they release proinflammatory molecules that, in turn, sensitize nociceptive neurons within the spinal cord. However, the role of peripheral immune cells such as macrophages, infiltrating monocytes, mast cells, and T-cells has been highlighted in the last few studies, even though the data are still conflicting and need to be clarified. Intriguingly, the central (microglia) and peripheral (T-cell)-adaptive immune cells that orchestrate maladaptive process-driven neuropathic pain seem to be involved in a gender-dependent manner. In this review, we highlight the role of the microglia and peripheral immune cells in chronic degenerative disease associated with neuro-immune-inflammatory processes.

Aim To assess the role of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and methods Thirty-three consecutive patients with pulmonary metastases from CRC who received SBRT were included in the analysis. The primary endpoints were local and systemic progression-free survival, a secondary endpoint was the safety profile of SBRT. Results A total of 56 lesions were treated with SBRT. A single nodule was treated in 15 patients, two in 13 and three in five. The radiotherapy dose and the adopted fractionations were 24-27 Gy as a single fraction for 40 lesions and 27-42 Gy in three fractions (2-3 times a week) for the other 16 lesions. After a median follow-up of 22.8 months (range=1.3-45.7 months), the median progression-free survival of the irradiated sites was 13.4 months. Conclusion SBRT can be considered as local therapy in patients with lung metastases from CRC.

The modeling through computational fluid dynamics of oxy-natural-gas combustion experimental tests in a 3 MW semi-industrial furnace equipped with a low NOx burner is discussed. Since the complex geometry of the burner and the size of the furnace, a modeling strategy has been adopted to diminish the computational time and thus to make the simulations affordable. The model aims at validating different sub-models (e.g. combustion/kinetics, radiation/spectral) for oxy-natural-gas fired conditions through the comparison of predictions and in-flame measurements of temperature and chemical species. It is found that fast chemistry approaches are unable to predict the temperature field. The spectral model was also found to play a fundamental role for the correct analysis of such scale devices. Uncertainties in experimental and modeling results are discussed and compared.

Coal combustion is investigated in both air and oxy-fuel conditions by feeding pulses of coal particles in an entrained flow reactor able to provide high residence times. The radiant energy emitted in the range from UV to IR was collected by several photodiodes operating with high acquisition rate. The signal analysis showed the capability of the technique to capture the passage of coal streams and to identify different phenomena (e.g., volatiles ignition, char oxidation). The spatial arrangement of the photodiodes was planned in order to allow also deriving quantitative information, such as particle velocity, ignition delay, and devolatilization time, from the correlation of more signals. The ignition delay was found to be higher in oxy-fuel conditions than in air, mainly because the larger specific heat of the oxy-fuel environment. The proposed diagnostics may help the qualification of advanced experimental apparatus as entrained flow reactors, with the purpose to make them suited for heterogeneous kinetics studies in oxy-fuel conditions. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

International audience; This paper focuses on the simulation analysis and the experimental implementation of a Rule-Based (RB) control strategy for on-board energy management of a Hybrid Solar Vehicle (HSV), consisting in a series hybrid electric vehicle assisted by photovoltaic panels. The RB strategy consists of two tasks: one external, which determines the final battery State of Charge (SOC) to be reached at the end of the driving schedule to allow full exploitation of solar energy during parking phase; the other internal, whose aim is to define the optimal Electric Generator (ICE-EG) power trajectory and SOC oscillation around the final value. This control strategy has been implemented in a real time NI® cRIO control unit, thus allowing to perform experimental tests for energy management validation on a real HSV prototype developed at the University of Salerno.

This paper reports part of the results of the campaigns performed on a low NO x burner, firing natural gas in oxy-fuel conditions. The results of combustion tests on burning natural gas with different flue gas recycle rates are presented, with a particular emphasis on NO x production that might affect retrofitting of oxy-fuel technology in conventional boilers. The process and flame characterisation performed on natural gas provides a valuable set of experimental data for the technological development of oxy-combustion burner technology with recycled flue gas, especially in retrofitting scenarios. The data can be used to develop a better understanding of the chemical and physical phenomena involved in oxy-fuel combustion and can provide modellers with a valuable hint for the development of specific sub-models for oxy-combustion simulation. Since is seems technologically unfeasible to reduce down to zero the presence of nitrogen in recycled flue gases, due to air in-leakages, the presence of relatively small amounts of nitrogen in crucial location in the burner provides a thermal NO x source, depending on local levels of temperature and oxygen concentration.

Understanding visuomotor coordination requires the study of tasks that engage mechanisms for the integration of visual and motor information; in this paper we choose a paradigmatic yet little studied example of such a task, namely realistic drawing. On the one hand, our data indicate that the motor task has little influence on which regions of the image are overall most likely to be fixated: salient features are fixated most often. Viceversa, the effect of motor constraints is revealed in the temporal aspect of the scanpaths: (1) subjects direct their gaze to an object mostly when they are acting upon (drawing) it; and (2) in support of graphically continuous hand movements, scanpaths resemble edge-following patterns along image contours. For a better understanding of such properties, a computational model is proposed in the form of a novel kind of Dynamic Bayesian Network, and simulation results are compared with human eye–hand data.

The purpose of this study was to assess the lifting performance of boys (N = 12; age 11.3 ± 0.8 yr), teens (N = 13; age 13.6 ± 0.6 yr), and men (N = 17; age 21.4 ± 2.1 yr) to various rest interval (RI) lengths on the bench press exercise. Each subject performed 3 sets with a 10 repetition maximum load and a 1, 2, and 3 min RI between sets. Significant differences in lifting performance between age groups were observed within each RI for selected sets with boys and teens performing significantly more total repetitions than adults following protocols with 1 min (27.9 ± 3.1, 26.9 ± 3.9, and 18.2 ± 4.1, respectively), 2 min (29.6 ± 1.0, 27.8 ± 3.5, and 21.4 ± 4.1, respectively) and 3 min (30.0 ± 0.0, 28.8 ± 2.4, and 23.9 ± 5.3, respectively) RIs. Significant differences in average velocity and average power between age groups were also observed. These findings indicate that boys and teens are better able to maintain muscle performance during intermittent moderate-intensity resistance exercise as compared with men.

In this paper a neurosymbolic hybrid system for robot self-localization is proposed. This crucial issue in autonomous robotic research field has been tackled with slightly different approaches depending mainly on robot sensors and actuation devices, its available computational resources, and the environment in which it acts. The system we present has been designed for robot endowed with poor sensors (a 16-element sonar array, a camera just performing very light computation, odometric sensors) which acts in an office-like environment. In the proposed landmark based approach, we have considered as "natural" environmental features the corners formed by wall intersections, and corners formed by doors that are present in the scene. The whole problem, from landmark recognition to position estimation, is carried out by a unified neurosymbolic system.

The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional relation between reported levels of parental smoking restriction and several behavioral and cognitive variables in a sample of 757 (363 males, 394 females) adolescent smokers. Experimenters administered surveys to students in the homerooms of three Florida high schools. After controlling for student age, gender, and parental smoking status, results revealed that more restrictive parental smoking policies were significantly associated with less smoking on weekdays and weekend days, greater latency to smoking the first cigarette of the day, greater motivation to quit smoking, greater confidence in ability to quit smoking, and higher estimated risk perception regarding the health consequences of smoking. Results also revealed that 44% of adolescent smokers reported that their parents or legal guardians did not know that they smoked tobacco. These findings suggest that parental smoking restrictions may have the potential to impede adolescent progression to adult smoking behavior by reducing smoking rates and nicotine dependence, and increasing motivation to quit, self-confidence to quit, and health risk perception. Parental restrictions on smoking may present obstacles and inconveniences to adolescent smoking behavior that make smoking cessation a more attractive option.

We are developing the control architecture of a portraitist artificial agent called DrawBot that reproduces the visuomotor behaviour of a human carrying out a realistic portrait. The visuomotor strategy adopted by DrawBot is based on computational models of eye movements in human beings,and one xperimental findings on eye-hand coordination in expert draughtsmen. In this paper we present a behavioural model of the visuomotor coordination adopted by a draughtsman, designed in terms of visual routines.Eventually we outline the implementation of the basic routines.

The SETDWN initiative is positioned to develop a better understanding of sediment behavior and losses throughout the dredging and placement process. Present regulation bases beneficial use options for dredged material on the in-situ fine fraction, However, evidence indicates that a significant amount of these fines are released during the dredging process and are not present at the placement site. Empirically determining the percentage of fines lost between the dredge intake and final placement on the beach or in the littoral zone as a function of the dredge equipment and construction method and is intended to provide justification for a fundamental shift in the current overly conservative regulatory approach to a more engineered actual risk based set of permit requirements.

This report documents development of a Conceptual Regional Sediment Budget (CRSB) for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) North Atlantic Division (NAD). The NAD requested preparation of a CRSB as part of the post-Hurricane Sandy assessment to provide information about sediment sources and opportunities for strategic placement of sediment within the Division. Development of a detailed working sediment budget is fundamental to better sediment management. A conceptual sediment budget is the first phase in development of the working budget, and is intended to provide a general framework based on existing transport information from which a more detailed sediment budget can be later prepared based on rigorous data analysis and numerical modeling. For this CRSB, existing literature and databases were reviewed and analyzed to characterize sediment transport pathways and magnitudes, and morphologic zones of erosion and accretion. The CRSB highlights areas with data gaps, conflicts in existing budgets, and opportunities for better sediment management within the NAD and is available via a Geographic Information System (GIS) portal.