Survival rates and extra-regional migration patterns of children and adolescents with cancer in Italy: The 30-year experience of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) with the Italian hospital-based registry of pediatric cancer (Mod. 1.01).

Since the 1970s, Italian pediatric oncologists have collaborated through the Italian Association for Pediatric Hematology Oncology (AIEOP) network using a common centralized system for the registration of childhood cancer, known as Model 1.01 (Mod. 1.

Tunable Device for Long Focusing in the Sub-THz Frequency Range Based on Fresnel Mirrors.

THz radiation has gained great importance due to its potential applications in a wide variety of fields. For this reason, continuous efforts have been made to develop technological tools for use in this versatile band of the electromagnetic spectrum. Here, we propose a reflecting device with long focusing performances in the sub-THz band, using a bimirror device in which the relative angle is mechanically adjusted with the displacement of one of the mirrors.

Circulating autoantibodies to alpha-enolase (ENO1) and far upstream element-binding protein 1 (FUBP1) are negative prognostic factors for pancreatic cancer patient survival.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has a dismal prognosis due to a lack of early diagnostic markers and effective therapy. In PDA patients, the glycolytic enzyme and plasminogen receptor alpha-enolase (ENO1) and the transcription factor far upstream element-binding protein 1 (FUBP1) are upregulated and elicit the production of autoantibodies (aAb) that discriminate healthy subjects from PDA patients, with the latter mostly directed to post-translational phosphorylated isoforms. Here, the correlation of prognosis with circulating ENO1 and FUBP1aAb, and their protein tissue expression was analyzed in PDA patients.

Long-Focusing Device for Broadband THz Applications Based on a Tunable Reflective Biprism.

THz radiation has assumed great importance thanks to the efforts in the development of technological tools used in this versatile band of the electromagnetic spectrum. Here, we propose a reflective biprism device with wavelength-independent long-focusing performances in the THz band by exploiting the high thermo-mechanical deformation of the elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This deformation allows for achieving significant optical path modulations in the THz band and effective focusing.

Unclassified clinical presentations of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

Background: To assess the ability of the 2021 European Academy of Neurology/Peripheral Nerve Society (EAN/PNS) clinical criteria for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) to include within their classification the whole spectrum of clinical heterogeneity of the disease and to define the clinical characteristics of the unclassifiable clinical forms.

Methods: The 2021 EAN/PNS clinical criteria for CIDP were applied to 329 patients fulfilling the electrodiagnostic (and in some cases also the supportive) criteria for the diagnosis of CIDP. Clinical characteristics were reviewed for each patient not strictly fulfilling the clinical criteria ('unclassifiable').

Impact of three-dimensional printed planning in Paprosky III acetabular defects: a case-control and cost-comparison analysis.

Purpose: The main challenges in revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) are the treatment of the bone loss and the pre-operative planning. 3D-printed models may enhance pre-operative planning. The aim of the study is to compare the intra- and peri-operative results and costs for Paprosky type 3 rTHAs planned with 3D-printed models to ones accomplished with the conventional imaging techniques (X-rays and CT scan).

Inhibition of MMPs supports amoeboid angiogenesis hampering VEGF-targeted therapies via MLC and ERK 1/2 signaling.

Background: In the past decades studies on anti-tumoral drugs inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) were disappointing. Recently, we demonstrated that mature endothelial cells (ECs) and endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) can switch between invasion modes to cope with challenging environments, performing the "amoeboid angiogenesis" in the absence of proteases activity.

Methods: We first set out to investigate by ELISA if the inhibitors of the main protease family involved in angiogenesis were differently expressed during breast cancer progression.

Threshold switching in nickel-doped zinc oxide based memristor for artificial sensory applications.

Electronic devices featuring biomimetic behaviour as electronic synapses and neurons have motivated the emergence of a new era in information and humanoid robotics technologies. In the human body, a nociceptor is a unique sensory neuron receptor that is capable of detecting harmful signals, leading to the central nervous system initiating a motor response. Herein, a nickel-doped zinc oxide (NZO)/Au based memristor is fabricated for the first time and characterized for artificial nociceptor application.

Thermooptical PDMS-Single-Layer Graphene Axicon-like Device for Tunable Submicron Long Focus Beams.

Submicron long focusing range beams are gaining attention due to their potential applications, such as in optical manipulation, high-resolution lithography and microscopy. Here, we report on the theoretical and experimental characterization of an elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane/single layer graphene (PDMS/SLG) axicon-like tunable device, able to generate diffraction-resistant submicrometric spots in a pump and probe configuration. The working principle is based on the phase change of an input Gaussian beam induced in the elastomer via the thermo-optical effect, while the heating power is produced by the optical absorption of the SLG.

Room temperature dilute magnetic semiconductor response in (Gd, Co) co-doped ZnO for efficient spintronics applications.

The co-precipitation approach was utilized to experimentally synthesize ZnO, ZnGdO and Zn GdCo O (Co = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.

Diluted magnetic semiconductor properties in TM doped ZnO nanoparticles.

The hydrothermal method was used to create dilute magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles of Zn Co O ( = 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.

Liver involvement and mortality in COVID-19: A retrospective analysis from the CORACLE study group.

Introduction: liver abnormalities are common in COVID-19 patients and associated with higher morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate clinical significance and effect on the mortality of abnormal liver function tests (ALFTs) in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: we retrospectively evaluated in a multicentre study all patients admitted with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Survival and Hospitalizations in Patients with Severe Obesity. A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Bariatric surgery (BS) confers a survival benefit in specific subsets of patients with severe obesity; otherwise, effects on hospital admissions are still uncertain. We assessed the long-term effect on mortality and on hospitalization of BS in patients with severe obesity. This was a retrospective cohort study, including all patients residing in Piedmont (age 18-60 years, BMI ≥ 40 kg/m) admitted during 2002-2018 to the Istituto Auxologico Italiano.

Prolonged distal motor latency of median nerve does not improve diagnostic accuracy for CIDP.

Compression of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel can give demyelinating features and result in distal motor latency (DML) prolongation fulfilling the EFNS/PNS demyelinating criteria for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Accordingly, being carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) common in the general population, the EFNS/PNS guidelines recommend excluding the DML of the median nerve when DML prolongation may be consistent with median neuropathy at the wrist from CTS. The main aims of this study were to verify whether the inclusion of DML of the median nerve (when consistent with CTS) could improve electrophysiological diagnostic accuracy for CIDP and if the median nerve at the carpal tunnel was more prone to demyelination.

Risk Factors for Mortality in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients in Piedmont, Italy: Results from the Multicenter, Regional, CORACLE Registry.

Background: CORACLE is a retrospective and prospective, regional multicenter registry, developed to evaluate risk factors for mortality in a cohort of patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection within non-intensive wards.

Methods: The primary objective was to estimate the role of several prognostic factors on hospital mortality in terms of adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR) with multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: A total of 1538 patients were enrolled; 42% were female, and 58% were >70 years old.

The neurophysiological lesson from the Italian CIDP database.

Introduction: Electrophysiological diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) may be challenging. Thus, with the aim ofproviding some practical advice in electrophysiological approach to a patient with suspected CIDP, we analyzed electrophysiological data from 499 patients enrolled inthe Italian CIDP Database.

Methods: We calculated the rate of each demyelinating feature, the rate of demyelinating features per nerve, the diagnostic rate for upper andlower limb nerves, and, using a ROC curve analysis, the diagnostic accuracy of each couple of nerves and each demyelinating feature, for every CIDP subtype.

Macrophages expressing TREM-1 are involved in the progression of HPV16-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Many types of research have been performed to improve the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of oropharyngeal carcinomas (OP-SCCs). Since they arise in lymphoid-rich areas and intense lymphocytic infiltration has been related to a better prognosis, a TREM-1 putative function in tumour progression and survival has been hypothesized.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-seven human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 OP-SCC specimens have been analyzed to relate TREM-1 expression with histiocytic and lymphocytic markers, HPV presence and patients' outcome.

Dielectric-Loaded Waveguides as Advanced Platforms for Diagnostics and Application of Transparent Thin Films.

An alternative approach to classical surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy is dielectric-loaded waveguide (DLWG) spectroscopy, widely used in the past decades to investigate bio-interaction kinetics. Despite their wide application, a successful and clear approach to use the DLWGs for the one-step simultaneous determination of both the thickness and refractive index of organic thin films is absent in the literature. We propose here, for the first time, an experimental protocol based on the multimodal nature of DLWGs to be followed in order to evaluate the optical constants and thickness of transparent thin films with a unique measurement.

Enhanced Antitumoral Activity and Photoacoustic Imaging Properties of AuNP-Enriched Endothelial Colony Forming Cells on Melanoma.

Near infrared (NIR)-resonant gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) hold great promise in cancer diagnostics and treatment. However, translating the theranostic potential of AuNPs into clinical applications still remains a challenge due to the difficulty to improve the efficiency and specificity of tumor delivery in vivo as well as the clearance from liver and spleen to avoid off target toxicity. In this study, endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) are exploited as vehicles to deliver AuNPs to tumors.

Limited carbon sources prevent sulfate remediation in circumneutral abandoned mine drainage.

Passive remediation systems (PRS) use both biotic and abiotic processes to precipitate contaminants from abandoned mine drainage (AMD) so that the contaminants do not spread into local watersheds. PRS are efficient at removing heavy metals but sulfate remediation frequently does not occur. To understand the reasons for the lack of sulfate remediation, we studied four PRS that treat circumneutral AMD and one raw mine drainage discharge.