Differences in Immunological Evasion of the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 Variants: A Retrospective Study on the Veneto Region's Population.

In December 2021-January 2022 the Veneto region in Italy faced an unprecedented wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections, even though both the vaccine coverage and the number of previously infected individuals keep increasing. In this study we address the protection against the SARS-CoV-2 infection offered by natural immunity and a three-dose regimen through a retrospective study based on Veneto's regional databases. In particular, we compared these protection levels during two distinct periods respectively representative of the Delta (B.

The Effectiveness of a Diverse COVID-19 Vaccine Portfolio and Its Impact on the Persistence of Positivity and Length of Hospital Stays: The Veneto Region's Experience.

The vaccination campaign for the Veneto region (northeastern Italy) started on 27 December 2020. As of early December 2021, 75.1% of the whole Veneto population has been fully vaccinated.

A 24-month prospective study on the efficacy and safety of two different monthly regimens of vitamin D supplementation in pre-menopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Low vitamin D (vit.D) serum levels are common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and seem to correlate with higher disease activity. We investigated the effects of different regimens of vit.

Winter lupus flares are associated with low vitamin D levels in a retrospective longitudinal study of Italian adult patients.

Objectives: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are prone to hypo-vitaminosis D because of their photosensitivity. Vitamin D (vit.D) has beneficial effects not only on bone metabolism but also on the function of the immune system.

Tuberculosis of the cystic duct lymph node.

Tuberculosis of the cystic duct lymph node associated with cholelithiasis is rare. We report a case of a 40 year-old woman with this pathology. She presented with anorexia, biliary colic, postprandial fullness and fever.

Pseudoneoplastic lesion of the breast caused by Schistosoma mansoni.

A case of a pseudoneoplastic lesion of the breast clinically and sonographically suggestive of a fibroadenoma is reported. Excisional biopsy revealed the nodule was an inflammatory process consequent to infection by Schistosoma mansoni.

Clinical importance of interphase cytogenetics detecting occult chromosome lesions in myelodysplastic syndromes with normal karyotype.

At diagnosis, approximately half of myelodysplastic (MDS) patients presents a normal karyotype by conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA). Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is more sensitive than CCA allowing for the detection of minor clones and of submicroscopic lesions. We have analyzed by FISH 101 MDS patients with normal karyotype for the occurrence of the abnormalities which are most frequently observed in MDS (ie -5/5q-, -7/7q-, +8, 17p-).

Assessment of distribution of CD34 epitope classes in fresh and cryopreserved peripheral blood progenitor cells and acute myeloid leukemic blasts.

Background And Objective: So far several reports have described changes in the expression of surface antigens in progenitor cells and blasts following cryopreservation. However, there are no data on the effects of cryopreservation on the expression of the three CD34 epitope classes, and on their relationship with the clonogenic capacity of PBPC collected by leukapheresis.

Design And Methods: In order to analyze the effects of freezing/thawing procedures (Eth 80C storage for 3 months) and use of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on the immunophenotype profile and colony production of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) in apheresis products derived from 20 patients with stage 0-III non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (nHL), a flow cytometry study was undertaken using different CD34 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) capable of recognizing the 3 epitope classes of CD34 molecule (class III: HPCA-2/FITC, HPCA-2/PE, 581/FITC, 581/PE; class II: Q-Bend 10/PE; class I: ICH3/PE, BI3C5-PE, Immu-133-PE).

Cytogenetic profile of lymphoma of follicle mantle lineage: correlation with clinicobiologic features.

Conventional chromosome analysis (CCA) and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed in 42 patients with mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL), with BCL1 rearrangement. The t(11;14)(q13;q32) or 11q abnormalities were detected by CCA in 34 cases, 20 of which had additional aberrations. A normal karyotype was observed in 8 cases.

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

To evaluate the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) on the haemoglobin level and transfusion requirement in low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), 87 patients were enrolled in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, 44 patients were assigned to epoetin alpha (150 U/kg/d s.c. for 8 weeks) and 43 to placebo arms.

5' region and exon 7 mutations of the TP53 gene in two cases of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.

We previously found that cases of typical B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), atypical B-CLL with t(11;14) and mantle cell lymphomas characterized by rapid progression of the disease and resistance to therapy, had mutations of the TP53 gene. In this paper, abnormalities of the TP53 gene were investigated in two cases of prolymphocytic leukemia, one with t(11;14)(q13;q32), evolving from atypical CLL (patient 1), and one presenting as a de novo condition (patient 2). TP53 DNA was investigated by Southern blot and PCR-SSCP analysis, and TP53 expression was investigated by Northern blot analysis and immunocytochemistry.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization for the detection and monitoring of the Ph-positive clone in chronic myelogenous leukemia: comparison with metaphase banding analysis.

In order to analyze the efficiency of interphase FISH for the detection and monitoring of Ph+ cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) under interferon (IFN) treatment, the following experiments were performed: (1) 98 specimens derived from 32 patients were analyzed in parallel by dual-color FISH and by conventional chromosome analysis (CCA). A 300/200 kb BCR/ABL probe was used in all tests and a smaller 35.5/39 kb probe was tested in parallel in 22 BM samples; (2) 30 BM samples were prepared by direct harvest and by 24-h culture and were analyzed in parallel; (3) PB and BM samples obtained simultaneously from 11 patients were analyzed.

Exposure to myelotoxic agents and myelodysplasia: case-control study and correlation with clinicobiological findings.

To better define the role of exposure to myelotoxic agents in the genesis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), we carried out (a) a case-control study for the determination of the relative risk (RR) of developing MDS, including 178 consecutive patients and 178 sex- and age-matched controls: (b) a study of clinicobiological features in MDS arising after occupational exposure to myelotoxic agents and in MDS in 'non-exposed' patients. The definition of the 'exposure' status was based on a predetermined questionnaire, with calculation of an 'exposure' index (hours/day x days/year x years). Cumulative exposure to pesticides or to organic solvents, for >2400 h, was recorded in 48 and 25 MDS patients, respectively, compared to 27 and four controls (P<0.

Detection and monitoring of trisomy 8 by fluorescence in situ hybridization in acute myeloid leukemia: a multicentric study.

Background And Objective: The role of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the detection and monitoring of trisomy 8 (+8) in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) has not been defined exactly. This multicentric study was performed in order to: i) analyze the sensitivity of interphase FISH with respect to conventional chromosome analysis (CCA) in detecting +8; ii) compare the results of FISH and CCA in the quantitation of the frequency of +8-positive cells; iii) analyze the possible role of FISH in the cytogenetic follow-up of patients with +8.

Design And Methods: One hundred and ninety-eight nonconsecutive patients with a diagnosis of AML seen at five centers over a 3-year period were studied by CCA and FISH with a chromosome 8-specific centromeric probe.

Chromosome aberrations in atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a cytogenetic and interphase cytogenetic study.

To define better the chromosomal profile of atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia (aCLL), cytogenetic and interphase cytogenetic studies were performed in 43 cases, using mitogen-stimulated cultures and DNA probes detecting the two most frequently occurring aberrations in CLL, ie +12 and 13q14 deletions. All cases showed monoclonal CD5/CD19-positive lymphocytosis, with more than 10% large lymphocytes and/or prolymphocytes in peripheral blood smears and reactivity with FMC7, or bright expression of surface immunoglobulins in a fraction of the cases. Karyotype aberrations were detected in 27 of 43 cases (62.

[Role of computerized tomography in the diagnosis of bone disease in multiple myeloma].

Purpose: To assess the role of CT in the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma (MM) and to investigate if CT findings can influence the clinical approach, prognosis and treatment.

Study Design And Patients: We reviewed the findings relative to 273 MM patients submitted to CT June, 1994, to December, 1996. The patients were 143 men and 130 women (mean age: 65 years): 143 were stage I, 38 stage II and 92 stage III according to Durie and Salmon's clinical classification.

Detection of numerical aberrations in hematologic neoplasias by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Background And Objective: Over the last 5 years, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques have had an important impact on molecular cytogenetic diagnosis, providing a better understanding of the role of numerical aberrations in hemopoietic neoplasms. The objective of this article is to analyze the clinical applications of FISH in the management of hemopoietic malignancies.

Evidence And Information Sources: The material examined in the present review includes articles and abstracts published in journals covered by the Science Citation Index and Medline, and personal published and unpublished data.

Interleukin-3 plus interleukin-6 may improve chromosomal analysis of multiple myeloma: cytologic and cytogenetic evidence in thirty-four patients.

To better define the role of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and IL-6 in the cytogenetic analysis of multiple myeloma (MM), we performed concomitant chromosome and cytologic studies in 34 patients. In each case, 10-30 x 10(6) bone marrow cells were incubated in two independent cultures consisting of conventional cytogenetic medium with and without IL-3 plus IL-6 added for 72 hours. 1-ml aliquots of each culture were aspirated at 24, 48, and 72 hours and exposed to colcemid for 6 hours.

Experience with poorly myelosuppressive chemotherapy schedules for advanced myeloma. The Cooperative Group of Study and Treatment of Multiple Myeloma.

In a multicentre study, 83 patients with advanced and previously uniformly treated multiple myeloma (MM) were randomised between cyclophosphamide (600 mg m-2) and epirubicin (70 mg m-2), administered every 3 weeks for three courses and both associated with prednisone and interferon-alpha2b. Both regimens were administered on an outpatient basis and had low haematological toxicity. Clinical results were similar.

Richter's syndrome in a case of atypical chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with the t(11;14)(q13;q32): role for a p53 exon 7 gene mutation.

Clinicobiological, histological, cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies were performed in a case of atypical B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) with the t(11;14)(q13;q32) evolving into Richter's syndrome (RS) in order (a) to determine the clonal relationship between the cell of origin for B-CLL and RS, and (b) to analyse genetic events underlying the disease progression in this patient. After 4 years following diagnosis, a rapid deterioration of the clinical picture occurred, concomitant with the appearance of large lymphoid blasts in peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) and ascites samples. A diagnosis of RS was made and cytogenetic analysis revealed karyotype evolution with trisomy 7 and del(17p) in addition to t(11;14).

Atypical chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with t(11;14)(q13;q32): karyotype evolution and prolymphocytic transformation.

In order to define better the cytological and clinical features of atypical B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) with t(11:14)(q13;q32), sequential morphologic immunological and cytogenetic studies were performed in seven patients belonging to a series of 72 consecutive cases presenting with a diagnosis of CLL or atypical CLL according to the FAB criteria. Cytologic diagnosis in these seven patients with t(11;14) was typical CLL in two cases presenting with < 10% large lymphocytes (LL) and prolymphocytes (PL) and atypical CLL in five cases in which LL and PL comprised between 10% and 55%. The diagnosis was supported by histologic findings on bone marrow biopsy (five cases) or splenectomy specimens (two cases).

A prospective, controlled, nonrandomized study on prophylactic parenteral dichloromethylene bisphosphonate (clodronate) in multiple-myeloma.

Bone resorption by osteoclasts causes neoplastic bone disease, which is a significant cause of death in multiple myeloma (MM). Counteracting bone resorption with prophylactic bisphosphonates has delayed bane disease, and this is expected to improve survival. Between January, 1987 and March, 1990, 341 evaluable previously untreated, consecutive patients with MM entered a prospective, multicenter study in which cytostatic therapy was randomized.

Trisomy 12 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and hairy cell leukemia: a cytogenetic and interphase cytogenetic study.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with a chromosome 12-specific pericentromeric probe was performed in 42 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and in 10 patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL). In all cases, a normal karyotype in more than 10 metaphase cells was obtained by conventional chromosome study. FISH documented that 6/42 patients with CLL in fact had trisomy 12 in 15-49% interphase cells.

Lineage switch and multilineage involvement in two cases of pH chromosome-positive acute leukemia: evidence for a stem cell disease.

Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute leukemias (Ph+ AL) show variable cytologic features, possibly reflecting heterogeneous stem cell involvement. Morphologic, immunologic and cytogenetic studies were performed in two cases of Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in order to better delineate the clinicobiological features of this cytogenetic subset of AL. Sequential cytoimmunologic studies in patient 1 documented a lineage switch from pro-B ALL with a minor myeloid component at diagnosis to minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at relapse.