Publications by authors named "R A Martino"

CD30-directed CART cell therapy (CART30) has limited efficacy in relapsed or refractory patients with CD30+ lymphoma, with a low proportion of durable responses. We have developed an academic CART30 cell product (HSP-CAR30) by combining strategies to improve performance. HSP-CAR30 targets a proximal epitope within the non-soluble part of CD30, and the manufacturing process includes a modulation of ex vivo T cell activation, as well as the addition of interleukin-21 to IL-7 and IL-15 to promote stemness of T cells.

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Biofilms are critical in the persistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, particularly in cystic fibrosis patients. This study explores the adaptive mechanisms behind the phenotypic switching between Small Colony Variants (SCVs) and revertant states in P. aeruginosa biofilms, emphasizing hypermutability due to Mismatch Repair System (MRS) deficiencies.

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Objective: Brachial artery aneurysms are rare entities that have typically been associated with trauma, infection, arterio-venous fistula creation or connective tissue disorders. These aneurysms are often asymptomatic, but they can also cause local tenderness or thrombo-embolic events. Due to the very low incidence of true brachial artery aneurysms, there are no standardized guidelines on their optimal management.

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Objectives: This study aimed to develop a prediction model for feeding tube dependence in a large homogenous cohort of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV + OPSCC) patients receiving chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We further aimed to externally validate three previously published feeding tube prediction models on this cohort.

Materials And Methods: p16-confirmed HPV + OPSCC patients treated with definitive CRT at a tertiary cancer centre between April 2017 and February 2022 were identified.

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Article Synopsis
  • Microbial evolution can occur in positive inter-species interactions, leading to different evolutionary outcomes.
  • In a study, four microbe species were evolved in both monocultures and communities to see how they interacted under the presence of a toxic pollutant.
  • After 44 weeks, some species evolved to rely on each other less and showed signs of resource specialization, contradicting the Black Queen Hypothesis which suggested they would develop stronger mutualistic relationships.
  • Ultimately, the co-evolved community was less effective at degrading the pollutant compared to their ancestors, indicating that collaboration among species can lead to weaker interactions and hinder adaptation.
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