Comparison of two inline photopheresis systems: A paired crossover trial.

Background: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). The inline system was developed by Therakos in 1987. Recently, Fresenius Kabi implemented an integration of cell separator Amicus and a UVA photoactivation device (Phelix), realizing an inline photopheresis system.

Microplastics in urban water cycles: Looking for a more scientific approach for sampling and characterization in wastewater and drinking water treatment plants.

Specific campaigns to detect microplastics (MPs) in the urban water cycle were carried out in three drinking water plants and two wastewater treatment plants. A self-designed sampler for MPs detection in water matrices was in this study preliminary validated and then tested in long term campaigns sampling up to 1000 L. Raw drinking water and wastewater show microplastics (MPs) concentrations of 2-11 and of 480-801 MPs/m, respectively, and MPs removals of 47-78 % and of 84-98 %, correspondingly.

Novel extended hybrid tool for real time control and practically support decisions to reduce GHG emissions in full scale wastewater treatment plants.

In this paper, a novel methodology and extended hybrid model for the real time control, prediction and reduction of direct emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is proposed to overcome the lack of long-term data availability in several full-scale case studies. A mechanistic model (MCM) and a machine learning (ML) model are combined to real time control, predict the emissions of nitrous oxide (NO) and carbon dioxide (CO) as well as effluent quality (COD - chemical oxygen demand, NH-N - ammonia, NO-N - nitrate) in activated sludge method. For methane (CH), using the MCM model, predictions are performed on the input data (VFA, CODs for aerobic and anaerobic compartments) to the MLM model.

The impact of gynecologic cancer on female sexuality in Europe and MENA (Middle East and North Africa): a literature review.

Introduction: Gynecologic cancer has a negative impact on the sexuality of women who are or have been affected by this disease. In fact, gynecologic cancers cause negative changes in female sexuality, affecting body image and psychophysical well-being, with serious consequences for women's sex lives.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the differences in sexuality among women who have or have had gynecologic cancer in Europe and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Tool for fast assessment of stormwater flood volumes for urban catchment: A machine learning approach.

Specific flood volume is an important criterion for evaluating the performance of sewer networks. Currently, mechanistic models - MCMs (e.g.

Peripheral Blood Allogeneic Stem Cell Mobilization: Can We Predict a Suboptimal Mobilization?

Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells mobilization is now the basis of most stem cell transplants. In a very limited number of cases, mobilization is suboptimal leading to further collection procedures, to suboptimal cell doses infusion with delayed engraftment time, increased risks of transplant procedure and of related costs. To date we have no recognized and shared criteria for early estimating the probability of poor mobilization in healthy donors.

Techno-economic assessment of biorefinery scenarios based on mollusc and fish residuals.

Biorefineries aim to maximise resource recovery from organic sources that have been traditionally considered wastes. In this respect, leftovers from mollusc and seafood processing industries can be a source of multiple bioproducts such as protein hydrolysates (PH), calcium carbonate and co-composted biochar (COMBI). This study aims to evaluate different scenarios of biorefineries fed by mollusc (MW) and fish wastes (FW) to understand which is the most convenient to maximise their profitability.

Polyethylene pipes exposed to chlorine dioxide in drinking water supply system: A critical review of degradation mechanisms and accelerated aging methods.

Polyethylene (PE) pipes have been widely used in drinking water distribution systems across the world. In many cases, chlorine dioxide (ClO) is used to maintain a residual disinfectant concentration in potable water. Practical experiences have shown that the lifetime of PE pipes is significantly reduced due to exposure to drinking water with ClO.

Impact of Pretransplant Salvage Therapies on Outcome of Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Performing Allogeneic Transplant.

Background: Allogeneic transplant is an effective salvage therapy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) relapsed or refractory (R/R) to previous treatments. In recent years, immunotherapies (conjugated antibody and checkpoint inhibitors [CPI]) showed interesting results and were used as bridge therapies to allotransplant.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study in Lazio region was to evaluate the impact of these new therapies on outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) in comparison with standard chemotherapies used in the past.

Multicolor flow cytometry on pericardial effusion for a prompt diagnosis and treatment of hematological malignancies with heart involvement.

Background: Malignancies represent 15-50% of total causes of pericardial effusions (PE). Routine analyses recommended to be performed on pericardial fluid include general chemistry, cytology, polymerase chain reaction, and microbiological cultures. Multicolor flow cytometry (FC) is a laboratory test that already proved to be useful in the detection of lymphoproliferative and metastatic malignancies in pleural and peritoneal effusions, but current guidelines do not mention its use on PE to reach a diagnosis.

Flood occurrence analysis in small urban catchments in the context of regional variability.

An original method for analyzing the influence of the meteorological, as well as physical-geographical conditions on the flooding of stormwater in small urban catchment areas is proposed. A logistical regression model is employed for the identification of the flooding events. The elaborated model enables to simulate the stormwater flooding in a single rainfall event, on the basis of the rainfall depth, duration, imperviousness of the catchment and its spatial distribution within the analyzed area, as well as the density of the stormwater network.

Integrated selection of PHA-storing biomass and nitrogen removal via nitrite from sludge reject water: a mathematical model.

One of the most recent innovations to promote a circular economy during wastewater treatment is the production of biopolymers. It has recently been demonstrated that it is possible to integrate the production of biopolymers in the form of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with nitrogen removal via nitrite during the treatment of sludge reject water. In the present study, simulation of a new process for bioresource recovery was conducted by an appropriate modification of the Activated Sludge Model 3.

An overview of operations and processes for circular management of dredged sediments.

Dredging is an essential technique to maintain proper water depths in ports and bays. Many dredged sediments are considered as toxic waste due to their significant amounts of metals and other pollutants. In consequence, they need to be treated to reduce this toxicity and avoid pollutant resuspensions.

PD-L1 expression in peripheral blood granulocytes at diagnosis as prognostic factor in classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a neoplastic disease in which the inflammatory microenvironment plays a pivotal role in the tumorigenesis. Neutrophilia is a typical finding in HL at diagnosis and, in particular, in association with lymphocytopenia, is a negative prognostic factor. As the immune checkpoint Programmed Death (PD)-L1/PD-1 has become an important therapeutic target, we were interested in the expression of PD-L1 in peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes using flow cytometry and RT-PCR in patients with HL and healthy controls.

Effects of the Sludge Retention Time and Carbon Source on Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Storing Biomass Selection under Aerobic-Feast and Anoxic-Famine Conditions.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are versatile biodegradable polymers produced by bacteria and are suitable for many downstream applications. They can be produced inexpensively from mixed microbial cultures under feast and famine conditions in the presence of biobased volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Here, we investigated the effect of changing the sludge retention time (SRT) and the addition of fermented cellulosic primary sludge (CPS) as a carbon source on the selection of PHA-storing biomass when applying the feast and famine strategy under aerobic and anoxic conditions, respectively.

Novel longitudinal Multiple Overall Toxicity (MOTox) score to quantify adverse events experienced by patients during chemotherapy treatment: a retrospective analysis of the MRC BO06 trial in osteosarcoma.

Objectives: This study aims at exploring and quantifying multiple types of adverse events (AEs) experienced by patients during cancer treatment. A novel longitudinal score to evaluate the Multiple Overall Toxicity (MOTox) burden is proposed. The MOTox approach investigates the personalised evolution of high overall toxicity (high-MOTox) during the treatment.

Validation of an evidence-based methodology to support regional carbon footprint assessment and decarbonisation of wastewater treatment service in Italy.

In this paper, a new regional methodological approach for determining direct and indirect emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is proposed. Additionally, an entire territorial wastewater treatment service located in the northern Italy and serving 411,484 PE was assessed. The most accurate emission factor identification is presented using appropriate on-site measurements, monitoring different aerated operational units and sampling several streams in 12 relevant WWTPs of different treatment capacities, ranging from 3000 to 73,000 PE.

Brine treatment technologies towards minimum/zero liquid discharge and resource recovery: State of the art and techno-economic assessment.

In the framework of minimum liquid discharge (MLD) or zero liquid discharge (ZLD), sustainable brine management can be achieved via appropriate hybrid treatment technologies that provide water reuse, resource recovery, energy recovery and even freshwater production. This paper reviews the state of the art brine treatment technologies targeting MLD/ZLD and resource recovery and highlights their advantages and limitations. The right combination of treatment processes can add a high value to the brine management and shift the focus from removal to recovery and reuse point and help to adopt a more circular economy approach.

Effects of different pre-treatments on the properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates extracted from sidestreams of a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The paper deals with effects of two different widespread extraction methods (conventional extraction and Soxhlet extraction) and four different pre-treatments (homogenization with pressure and with blades, sonication, and impact with glass spheres) on the extraction yields and properties of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) extracted from biomass coming from an innovative process (short-cut enhanced phosphorus and PHA recovery) applied in a real wastewater treatment plant. The results show that the two different extraction processes affected the crystallization degree and the chemical composition of the polymer. On the other hand, the extractive yield was highly influenced by pre-treatments: homogenization provided a 15% more extractive yield than the others.

Monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms and assessing polymer-enhanced microfiltration and ultrafiltration for microcystin removal in an Italian drinking water treatment plant.

The water intake of a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) in Central Italy was monitored over six bloom seasons for cyanotoxin severity, which supplies drinking water from an oligo-mesotrophic lake with microcystin levels up to 10.3 μg/L. The historical data showed that the water temperature did not show extreme/large seasonal variation and it was not correlated either with cyanobacterial growth or microcystin concentration.