Publications by authors named "P BERARDI"

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a potently immunosuppressive protein that inhibits antitumor immunity through both tryptophan metabolism and non-enzymatic functions. Pharmacological therapies targeting IDO1 enzyme activity have generally failed to improve the overall survival of patients with cancer. Developing new therapeutic agents that are capable of neutralizing both enzyme-and non-enzyme-derived immunosuppressive IDO1 effects is therefore of high interest.

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Purpose: Contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) is a relatively new imaging technique recombining low- and high-energy mammograms to emphasise iodine contrast. This work aims to perform a multicentric physical and dosimetric characterisation of four state-of-the-art CEDM systems.

Methods: We evaluated tube output, half-value-layer (HVL) for low- and high-energy and average glandular dose (AGD) in a wide range of equivalent breast thicknesses.

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Purpose: The aim of the present study, conducted by a working group of the Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM), was to define typical z-resolution values for different digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) models to be used as a reference for quality control (QC). Currently, there are no typical values published in internationally agreed QC protocols.

Methods: To characterize the z-resolution of the DBT models, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the artifact spread function (ASF), a technical parameter that quantifies the signal intensity of a detail along reconstructed planes, was analyzed.

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Article Synopsis
  • A survey was conducted to evaluate how Canadian hospitals prepare and select red blood cells (RBCs) for intrauterine transfusions (IUT), revealing various practices based on historical precedent rather than solid evidence.
  • Results showed that hospitals typically preferred specific RBC characteristics, including negativity for certain antibodies and a preference for fresh, irradiated units, but processing methods varied significantly between sites.
  • The study emphasizes the need for standardized national guidelines to improve the consistency of RBC selection and processing for IUT procedures and stresses the importance of effective transfusion traceability methods.
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FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 () mutations are detected in approximately 20-30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with the presence of a internal tandem duplication (-ITD) mutation being associated with an inferior outcome. Assessment of mutational status is now essential to define optimal upfront treatment in both newly diagnosed and relapsed AML, to support post-induction allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) decision-making, and to evaluate treatment response via measurable (minimal) residual disease (MRD) evaluation. In view of its importance in AML diagnosis and management, the Canadian Leukemia Study Group/Groupe canadien d'étude sur la leucémie (CLSG/GCEL) undertook the development of a consensus statement on the clinical utility of mutation testing, as members reported considerable inter-center variability across Canada with respect to testing availability and timing of use, methodology, and interpretation.

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