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The performance of the High-density Projection Chamber (HPC), the barrel electromagnetic calorimeter of the DELPHI experiment, is described. The detector adopts the time projection technique in order to obtain exceptionally fine spatial granularity in the three coordinates ([similar to] 2 x 20 [mrad.sup.2] in [Theta] x [Phi] with nine samplings along the shower axes), using a limited number of readout channels (18,432). Among the various topics concerning the HPC construction and operation, major emphasis is given to the aspects related to the calibration in energy of the calorimeter, based mainly on the analysis of the detector response to 83mKr decays, and to the treatment of ageing in the readout proportional counters.

Background/Objective: Patients with severe asthma (SA) and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (BE) without microbiological colonization represent a unique and understudied population. Type 2-targeted biologic therapies have emerged as a promising treatment for these patients. However, predictive factors for achieving clinical remission remain unclear. This study aims to identify the predictive factors for achieving clinical remission in patients with severe asthma and non-colonized bronchiectasis undergoing type 2-targeted biologic therapies. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal analysis was conducted on 14 patients with severe asthma and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis without microbiological colonization. Clinical remission was assessed at baseline (T0) and after 12 months (T1) of biologic therapy. Clinical remission was defined according to the Severe Asthma Network Italy (SANI) criteria, including the absence of oral corticosteroid use, no asthma-related symptoms, stable lung function, and no exacerbations. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of remission. ROC curves were constructed to evaluate the predictive accuracy of lung function parameters, specifically FEV1 and FVC. Results: After 12 months of biologic therapy, 28.6% of patients ( n = 4) achieved clinical remission. The mean FEV1 percentage at baseline was significantly higher in the remission group (92.25 ± 15.64%) compared to the non-remission group (65.10 ± 23.36%, p = 0.034). Logistic regression analysis identified baseline FEV1 as a significant predictor of remission (OR = 1.008, p = 0.050). ROC curve analysis revealed that an FEV1 cutoff of 72.5% had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 70% (AUC = 0.900, p = 0.024) for predicting clinical remission. Conclusions: FEV1 is a crucial predictor of clinical remission in patients with severe asthma and non-colonized bronchiectasis treated with type 2-targeted biologic therapies. An FEV1 threshold of 72.5% can guide clinicians in identifying patients most likely to achieve remission. These findings underline the importance of preserving lung function to optimize therapeutic outcomes in this complex population.

Galectins are a group of β-galactoside-binding proteins with several roles in immune response, cellular adhesion, and inflammation development. Current evidence suggest that these proteins could play a crucial role in many respiratory diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and respiratory infections. From this standpoint, an increasing body of evidence have recognized galectins as potential biomarkers involved in several aspects of asthma pathophysiology. Among them, galectin-3 (Gal-3), galectin-9 (Gal-9), and galectin-10 (Gal-10) are the most extensively studied in human and animal asthma models. These galectins can affect T helper 2 (Th2) and non-Th2 inflammation, mucus production, airway responsiveness, and bronchial remodeling. Nevertheless, while higher Gal-3 and Gal-9 concentrations are associated with a stronger degree of Th-2 phlogosis, Gal-10, which forms Charcot-Leyden Crystals (CLCs), correlates with sputum eosinophilic count, interleukin-5 (IL-5) production, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) secretion. Finally, several galectins have shown potential in clinical response monitoring after inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and biologic therapies, confirming their potential role as reliable biomarkers in patients with asthma.

Background/Objectives: Several studies have demonstrated the positive clinical and functional impact of adding Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) to Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) and Long-Acting Beta-Agonists (LABA) therapy in the treatment of severe asthma. Aim and objectives: To demonstrate that treating Small Airways Disease (SAD) in severe asthma patients who are candidates for biologics can improve respiratory symptoms, lung function, and airways inflammation, potentially avoiding or delaying the use of biological therapy. Methods: Thirty-two severe asthma patients with SAD were transitioned from separate inhalers for ICS/LABA and LAMA to extrafine single-inhaler beclomethasone, formoterol, and glycopyrronium. None of these patients underwent biological therapy before the study. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at baseline (T0) and three months after initiation (T3). Assessments included clinical evaluations, spirometry, oscillometry, and inflammation markers. Results: Transitioning to single-inhaler triple therapy from T0 to T3 resulted in significant improvements in Asthma Control Test (ACT) and SAD parameters, including increased Forced Expiratory Volume in the mid-range of lung capacity and improved airway resistance and reactance measurements using impulse oscillometry. A significant reduction in airway inflammation was evidenced by lower levels of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide 350 (FeNO 350) ( p < 0.001 for all). Conclusions : Adopting a single-inhaler triple therapy notably enhanced clinical control and small airway function in patients with severe asthma and SAD, supporting the positive impact of target-therapy for the achievement of a stable state termed "Quiet Asthma".

Introduction: Dupilumab, a fully human anti-interleukin-4/interleukin-13 monoclonal antibody, has shown efficacy in many aspects of Type-2 severe asthma management. Currently, we lack real-life studies addressing the achievment of clinical remission in patients treated with this biologic., Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective study enrolling 18 patients with severe asthma treated with Dupilumab. We assessed main clinical, functional and biological severe asthma features at baseline (T0) and after a 1-year course of treatment (T12). Clinical remission was defined at T12 in patients without asthma exacerbations, no oral corticosteroid (OCS) use, ACT ≥ 20 and FEV1 improvement ≥ 100 ml from baseline., Results: Among total population, 38.9% of patients achieved clinical remission at T12. Anti IL-4/IL-13 treatment significantly reduced asthma exacerbations and OCS use in the overall cohort, with a more pronounced ACT improvement in the remission group. Patients achieving clinical remission went through a step down of the inhalation therapy, suspending long-acting anti-muscarinics administration at T12., Conclusions: Treatment with anti-IL4/IL13 can induce clinical remission in patients with T2 severe asthma., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Giovanna Elisiana Carpagnano reports a relationship with University of Bari that includes: speaking and lecture fees and travel reimbursement. Silvano Dragonieri reports a relationship with University of Bari that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Andrea Portacci reports a relationship with University of Bari that includes: board membership, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. Enrico Buonamico reports a relationship with University of Bari that includes: speaking and lecture fees., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The population of Brazil, formed by extensive admixture between Amerindians, Europeans and Africans, is one of the most variable in the world. We have recently published a study that used ancestry-informative markers to conclude that in Brazil, at an individual level, color, as determined by physical evaluation, was a poor predictor of genomic ancestry, estimated by molecular markers. To corroborate these findings we undertook the present investigation based on data from 12 commercially available forensic microsatellites that were utilized to estimate the personal genomic origin for each of 752 individuals from the city of São Paulo, belonging to different Brazilian color categories (275 Whites, 192 Intermediates and 285 Blacks). The genotypes permitted the calculation of a personal likelihood-ratio estimator of African or European ancestry. Although the 12 marker set proved capable of discriminating between European and African individuals, we observed very significant overlaps among the three color categories of Brazilians. This was confirmed quantitatively using a Bayesian analysis of population structure that did not demonstrate significant genetic differentiation between the three color groups. These results corroborate and validate our previous conclusions using ancestry-informative markers that in Brazil at the individual level there is significant dissociation of color and genomic ancestry.