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"Background: The high polymorphism of the HLA system reduces the probability of finding an unrelated patient HLA full-match with Bone Marrow Donor (BMD). This study represents the first investigation in the BMD Registry of Campania Region (RRNA01) in Italy of the HLA-A,-B,-Cw,-DR and –DQ frequencies. Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess genetic diversity between Campania Region and Italian population increasing compatibility chances with potential hematopoietic stem cells recipients. Methods: Serological tissue typing National Institute Health (NIH) standard method was used from 1990 to 2000 for HLA Class I (HLA-A,-B,-Cw loci) and Class II (HLA-DR,-DQ loci). This method has been integrated with low resolution molecular biology techniques SSP and\/or SSO for both the Classes (HLA-A*,-B*, -DRB* loci). From 2009 the HLA-DRB1* was typed only with high resolution. The HLA-C*, - DQB* loci was not typed more than default but only if request from Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Center. Results: A large sample of 4126 volunteer donors registered on our Regional Registry from 1990 to 2011 were examined while only 19 occurred before 1990. In this large population, 1857 are male with 3582 living in the Naples area, while the remaining 544 are proportionally distributed in other Campania cities. The volunteer donors were selected according to local rules on blood donors to which they have been equalized. This study was also subdivided according to blood groups: 1668 group is 0 (45.6%), 1326 group A (36.3%), 137 group AB (3.7%), 526 group B (14.4%). However, for this variable, we have 469 (11.4%) missing data. In this study, most frequently patterns of antigens were HLA-A2 (41%), HLA-A24 (26.4%), HLA-B35 (31.4%), HLA B18 (20%), HLA-B51 (17.8%) HLA C4 7 (31%), HLA-CW4 (26.4%), HLA-DR11 (42%), HLA-DR7 (20.6%), HLA DQ7 (25.2%) and HLA DQ2 (15.8 %). Conclusions: These data show a genetic heterogeneity of the population of Regione Campania in comparison to Italian population. Further investigations are required to evaluate possible preferential associations (linkage disequilibrium) by using advanced molecular biology techniques. "

"Background. Through the years, Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) antibodies detection has been enhanced with higher sensitivity techniques on solid phase assay (Luminex) that joined the traditional Complement Dependent Citotoxicity (CDC). HLA antibodies are relevant in patients awaiting solid organ transplantation and for the successful outcome of transplantation.. Aims. LABScreen Mixed (LSM12-One Lambda; Lagitre, IT) and Lifescreen LIFECODES Deluxe (LMX-Geneprobe; GTI, IT) are solid-phase testing platforms used for HLA antibodies both Class I and Class II detection . In this study, the sensitivities of the LABScreen Mixed product was directly compared to the Lifescreen LIFECODES Deluxe.. Methods. This study was carried out on 250 sera with or without sensitization events from patients undergoing kidney or heart transplantation, historically known to be for HLA antibodies positive or negative in CDC, ELISA assays or\/and Luminex technology. The same aliquot of each patient serum was tested, at the same time, with both kits. The two analyzed tests allow both anti-IgG antibodies detecting and the same HLA antigenic specificities relieving, except for the MICA which is present only in the LABScreen kit. We performed assays and software analysis according to the manufacturer’s instructions and criteria, with LSM12 involving the use of undiluted samples whereas LMX uses a 1:4 serum dilution.. Results. Analysis of all sera for Class I and Class II antibodies HLA showed negative results in 180\/250 (72%) and 172\/250 (69%) cases, by LABScreen and LIFECODES respectively, with a concordance of negativity in 148\/180 (82%) sera; 24\/250 (9.6%) sera were screened positively by LABScreen and 19\/250 (7.6%) by LIFECODES in both classes, with a concordance of positivity in 16 samples. Moreover, for Class I antibodies LMX was positive in 4 samples where LSM12 was negative and it was negative in 32 samples which were positive with LSM12; for Class II antibodies, we also found 8 negative samples by LMX but positive by LSM12 and 30 positive samples by LMX and negative by LSM12.. Conclusions. These preliminary data demonstrate a significant difference for both Class I and Class II antibodies. We establish that no major difference exists between the methods used in the present study. However, it is necessary to extend this study with additional tests for a better evaluation of definitive results.. . "

We discuss a new class of Micro Pattern Gas Detectors, the Gas Pixel Detector (GPD), in which a complete integration between the gas amplification structure and the read-out electronics has been reached. An Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) built in deep sub-micron technology has been developed to realize a monolithic device that is, at the same time, the pixelized charge collecting electrode and the amplifying, shaping and charge measuring front-end electronics. The CMOS chip has the top metal layer patterned in a matrix of 80 μm pitch hexagonal pixels, each of them directly connected to the underneath electronics chain which has been realized in the remaining five layers of the 0.35 μm VLSI technology. Results from tests of a first prototype of such detector with 2k pixels and a full scale version with 22k pixels are presented. The application of this device for Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry is discussed. The experimental detector response to polarized and unpolarized X-ray radiation is shown. Results from a full MonteCarlo simulation for two astronomical sources, the Crab Nebula and the Hercules X1, are also reported.

We report on a large active area (15x15mm2), high channel density (470 pixels/mm2), self-triggering CMOS analog chip that we have developed as pixelized charge collecting electrode of a Micropattern Gas Detector. This device, which represents a big step forward both in terms of size and performance, is the last version of three generations of custom ASICs of increasing complexity. The CMOS pixel array has the top metal layer patterned in a matrix of 105600 hexagonal pixels at 50μm pitch. Each pixel is directly connected to the underneath full electronics chain which has been realized in the remaining five metal and single poly-silicon layers of a standard 0.18μm CMOS VLSI technology. The chip has customizable self-triggering capability and includes a signal pre-processing function for the automatic localization of the event coordinates. In this way it is possible to reduce significantly the readout time and the data volume by limiting the signal output only to those pixels belonging to the region of interest. The very small pixel area and the use of a deep sub-micron CMOS technology has brought the noise down to 50 electrons ENC. Results from in depth tests of this device when coupled to a fine pitch (50μm on a triangular pattern) Gas Electron Multiplier are presented. The matching of readout and gas amplification pitch allows getting optimal results. The application of this detector for Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry is discussed. The experimental detector response to polarized and unpolarized X-ray radiation when working with two gas mixtures and two different photon energies is shown. Results from a full MonteCarlo simulation for several galactic and extragalactic astronomical sources are also reported.

HIPPIE is a soft X-ray beamline on the 3 GeV electron storage ring of the MAX IV Laboratory, equipped with a novel ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) instrument. The endstation is dedicated to performing in situ and operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments in the presence of a controlled gaseous atmosphere at pressures up to 30 mbar [1 mbar = 100 Pa] as well as under ultra-high vacuum conditions. The photon energy range is 250 to 2200 eV in planar polarization and with photon fluxes >10$^{12}$ photons s$^{-1}$ (500 mA ring current) at a resolving power of greater than 10000 and up to a maximum of 32000. The endstation currently provides two sample environments: a catalysis cell and an electrochemical/liquid cell. The former allows APXPS measurements of solid samples in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere (with a mixture of up to eight gases and a vapour of a liquid) and simultaneous analysis of the inlet/outlet gas composition by online mass spectrometry. The latter is a more versatile setup primarily designed for APXPS at the solid���liquid (dip-and-pull setup) or liquid���gas (liquid microjet) interfaces under full electrochemical control, and it can also be used as an open port for ad hoc-designed non-standard APXPS experiments with different sample environments. The catalysis cell can be further equipped with an IR reflection���absorption spectrometer, allowing for simultaneous APXPS and IR spectroscopy of the samples. The endstation is set up to easily accommodate further sample environments.

An extensive theoretical literature predicts that X-ray Polarimetry can directly determine relevant physical and geometrical parameters of astrophysical sources, and discriminate between models further than allowed by spectral and timing data only. X-ray Polarimetry can also provide tests of Fundamental Physics. A high sensitivity polarimeter in the focal plane of a New Generation X-ray telescope could open this new window in the High Energy Sky., Comment: 8 pages 1 table 14 figures

Hematological patients at higher risk of severe COVID-19 were excluded from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine trials. In this single-center observational prospective study (NCT05074706), we evaluate immune response in the hematological patients followed at the Hematological Division of San Gerardo Hospital, Monza (Italy) deemed to be severely immunosuppressed after vaccination with two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G titers above the cutoff value of 33.8 BAU/ml were detected in 303 (80.2%) out of the 378 patients enrolled. Patients with lymphoproliferative disorders had a significant lower probability of immunization (43.2% vs. 88.4%, p < 0.001). Patients treated with anti-CD20 showed a significantly lower probability of immunization compared to all other treatments (21.4%, p < 0.0001). Among 69 patients who failed seroconversion, 15 patients (22.7%) showed a positive T-cell response. Patients previously treated with anti-CD20 were 2.4 times more likely to test positive for T-cell responses (p = 0.014). Within a follow-up of 9 months from the second COVID-19 vaccination, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections were reported by 20 patients (5.3%) and four of them required hospitalization. Successful serological or T-cell-mediated immunization conferred protection from symptomatic COVID-19. Patients treated with anti-CD20 who were not seroconverted after vaccination might still be protected from COVID-19 due to the T-cell immune response.

IntroductionThe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting social distancing, determined a reduction in access to care and limitations of individual freedom, with a consequent strong impact on quality of life (QoL), anxiety levels and medical management of onco-hematological people. In particular, in the case of patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), concern about SARS-CoV-2 infection added to the burden of symptoms (BS) which already weights on the QoL of these patients. We designed a cross-sectional survey in order to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on status of anxiety, BS and QoL in MPN patients.MethodsWe analyzed the anxiety levels using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS); BS modifications were studied using the 18 items of the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form [MPN-SAF].Results132 people answered to the survey: 27 (20.4%) patients achieved a moderate to marked anxiety index value: this group described a greater worsening of symptoms than the rest of the cohort (p ConclusionThis study first showed that the COVID-19 quarantine had a significant negative impact on the level of anxiety and BS in MPN patients. We identified female gender, absence of physical activity, the need for frequent visit to the hospital and the absence of a direct access to healthcare staff as the main factors associated to a higher anxiety index and worst BS.

The search of HLA antibodies is currently more accessible by solid-phase techniques (Luminex) in the immunized patients leading to an expansion of the antibody patterns. The aim of this study was to investigate low median fluorescence intensity value in unexpected reactivity patterns. Here, we performed HLAMatchmaker analyses to evaluate the potential functional epitopes that can elicit HLA-specific alloantibody responses in a pregnancy-sensitized woman with an epitope defined by the 82LR. Surprisingly, in according to the registry of HLA epitopes, we found that 82LR epitope covered all allelic specificities of our unexpected antibody patterns, shared between Bw4-positive HLA-B antigen and HLA-A23, -A24, -A25 and -A32. This finding is consistent with the verification of HLA ABC epitope recorded in the website-based HLA Epitope Registry and addresses the importance of determining HLA antibody epitope-specificities on Luminex technique-dependent antibody reactivity. 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics.

Automated chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIAs) are useful for the detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus 1/2 antigen/antibodies (HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab) in blood donor screening. Eight hundred and forty serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HCV antibodies (anti-HCV), and HIV1/2 Ag/Ab in parallel using 2 different CLIAs (Abbott Architect i2000SR and Roche Cobas e411). The concordance between the 2 systems was high (Cohen's kappa 0.97 for HBsAg, 0.77 for anti-HCV, 0.92 for HIV1/2 Ag/Ab) and the specificity and the positive predictive value were comparable. Among the 12 discrepant results, 11 were false-positive and 1 (reactive by Architect) was true-positive for anti-HCV. Positivity for HBV DNA, HCV RNA, and HIV RNA was recorded in 90.9%, 38.9%, and 100% of true-positive samples, respectively. This study represents the first stringent comparison between Architect i2000SR and Cobas e411 in blood donors. We observed a good correlation and high agreement among HBV, HCV, and HIV with the 2 automated systems.