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We present the first seismic imaging of the crustal volume affected by the March-April 2021 Thessaly sequence by applying a 3D seismic tomography to the aftershocks recorded by an unprecedented number of stations. The results, in terms of VP, VS, and VP/VS ratio and earthquakes’ location parameters, depict blind fluid-filled inherited structures within the Northern Thessaly seismic gap. The tomographic images highlight the basal detachment accommodating the Pelagonian nappe onto the carbonate of the Gavrovo unit. The high VP/VS (>1.85) where most of the seismicity occurs increases from SE to NW, showing possible fluid accumulation in the NW edge of the seismogenic volume that could have contributed to the sequence evolution. The aftershock relocations correlate well with the fault planes of the three mainshocks proposed by several geodetic models, but also show additional possible faults sub-parallel and antithetical to the main structures, not to be overlooked for future seismic risk mitigation.

Background The aims of this study were: to investigate the capacity of the rare disease healthcare network in Campania to diagnose patients with rare diseases during the outbreak of Covid-19; and to shed light on problematic diagnoses during this period. Methods To describe the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of patients with rare diseases, a retrospective analysis of the Campania Region Rare Disease Registry was performed. A tailored questionnaire was sent to rare disease experts to investigate major issues during the emergency period. Results Prevalence of new diagnoses of rare disease in March and April 2020 was significantly lower than in 2019 (117 versus 317, P Conclusions This study describes the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak on the diagnosis of rare disease in a single Italian region and investigates potential issues of diagnosis and management during this period.

Cardiovascular diseases are still the main cause of death among women despite the improvements in treatment and prognosis achieved in the last 30 years of research. The determinant factors and causes have not been completely identified but the role of "gender" is now recognized. It is well known that women tend to develop cardiovascular disease at an older age than men, and have a high probability of manifesting atypical symptoms not often recognized. Other factors may also co-exist in women, which may favor the onset of specific cardiac diseases such as those with a sex-specific etiology (differential effects of estrogens, pregnancy pathologies, etc.) and those with a different gender expression of specific and prevalent risk factors, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer. Whether the gender differences observed in cardiovascular outcomes are influenced by real biological differences remains a matter of debate.This ANMCO position paper aims at providing the state of the research on this topic, with particular attention to the diagnostic aspects and to care organization.

The Transplant Centers belonging to Gruppo Italiano per il Trapianto di Midollo Osseo (GITMO) conducted a survey with the aim of evaluating the effect of SARS-CoV2 pandemic on the allogeneic transplant activity in Italy. The pandemic period from 1/3/2020 to 31/7/2020 was compared with the same period in 2019. Overall, in 2020 there was a 2.4% reduction in the number of allo-HCT cases compared to 2019. Interestingly, this deflection did not affect the acute leukemia cases (+5.7% in 2020). The use of peripheral blood-derived stem cells (+10.7%) and cryopreservation (97.4% of the centers) was highly adopted in 2020. Despite the sanitary emergency, almost all of the surveyed centers declared no impact of SARS-CoV2 pandemic on the transplant timing and outcomes, and the sanitary policy was positively evaluated by the majority of centers. The emergency measures ensured that only a minority of the allo-HCT patients had been infected by SARS-CoV2; however, a mortality of 42.1% among the allo-HCT patients hospitalized for COVID-19 was recorded. This survey gives us the information that the GITMO Group reacted positively to the pandemic. Thanks to the emergency strategies, the Italian allo-HCT activity continued safely, showing only a minor deflection and offering the same probability of cure to the transplanted patients.

Intradermal therapy (mesotherapy) is a technique used to inject drugs into the surface layer of the skin. The intradermal micro deposit allows to modulate the kinetics of drugs, slowing down its absorption and prolonging the local mechanism of action. This technique is applied in the treatment of some forms of localized pain when a systemic drug-saving effect is useful, when it is necessary to synergize with other pharmacological or non-pharmacological thera-pies, when other therapies have failed or cannot be used.The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of a mixture with respect to its lower concentration. We also wanted to evaluate the number of sessions needed to reach the therapeutic goal (50% reduction in pain from baseline) in patients with acute or chronic neck pain.We analyzed retrospectively data from 62 patients with cervicobrachial pain treated with intradermal drugs. Group A received a mixture of drugs; group B received half the dose of drugs.Patients who received a lower concentration of drugs achieved similar results to those who received a higher dose. The therapeutic goal was achieved on average with 3.5 + 1.7 sessions on a weekly basis (min 1; max 9). Subjects in group A required 4+1.7 treatments (min 1; max 9), while subjects in group B required 3+1.5 treatments (min 1; max 7).Our study confirms that even a lower dose of drugs can induce a clinically useful result. This study confirms that the useful effect of mesotherapy is only partly due to the pharmacological action. Further randomized prospective studies are needed to standardize the technique in the various pain syndromes, but it is recommended to follow the guidelines of the Italian Society of Mesotherapy to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment.

Funder: National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), Funder: ANR/NSF-PIRE, Funder: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Funder: Institut Laue Langevin, Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a potentially lethal respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, emerged in the end of 2019 and has since spread aggressively across the globe. A thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cellular infection by coronaviruses is therefore of utmost importance. A critical stage in infection is the fusion between viral and host membranes. Here, we present a detailed investigation of the role of selected SARS-CoV-2 Spike fusion peptides, and the influence of calcium and cholesterol, in this fusion process. Structural information from specular neutron reflectometry and small angle neutron scattering, complemented by dynamics information from quasi-elastic and spin-echo neutron spectroscopy, revealed strikingly different functions encoded in the Spike fusion domain. Calcium drives the N-terminal of the Spike fusion domain to fully cross the host plasma membrane. Removing calcium, however, reorients the peptide back to the lipid leaflet closest to the virus, leading to significant changes in lipid fluidity and rigidity. In conjunction with other regions of the fusion domain, which are also positioned to bridge and dehydrate viral and host membranes, the molecular events leading to cell entry by SARS-CoV-2 are proposed.

In order to evaluate the potential prognostic/predictive role of androgen receptor (AR) expression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), and whether it may represent a therapeutic target, we conducted a systematic search of the literature using ‘androgen receptor or AR’, ‘testosterone’, ‘bladder cancer’ and ‘non-muscle invasive bladder cancer or NMIBC’ as keywords. Eleven studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. No significant association was found between AR status and patients’ gender (p=0.232), tumor size (p=0.975), tumor stage (p=0.237), tumor grade (p=0.444), tumor multicentricity (p=0.397), concomitant CIS (p=0.316) and progression of disease (p=0.397). On the other hand, relative lack of AR expression was significantly correlated to recurrent disease (p=0.001). Evidence for a direct correlation between AR expression and recurrence-free survival of patients with NMIBC indicate ARs as potential markers of BC behavior; moreover, the finding of a role of androgen blockade therapy in improving survival highlights the potential clinical application of this pathway, which deserves to be further explored.

A mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) formulation for symbolic regression was proposed to identify physical models from noisy experimental data. The formulation was tested using numerical models and was found to be more efficient than the previous literature example with respect to the number of predictor variables and training data points. The globally optimal search was extended to identify physical models and to cope with noise in the experimental data predictor variable. The methodology was coupled with the collection of experimental data in an automated fashion, and was proven to be successful in identifying the correct physical models describing the relationship between the shear stress and shear rate for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, and simple kinetic laws of reactions. Future work will focus on addressing the limitations of the formulation presented in this work, by extending it to be able to address larger complex physical models.

Trabajo presentado al 17th European Meeting on Supercritical Fluids (EMSF) y al 7th European Meeting on High Pressure Technology, celebrados en Ciudad Real (España) del 8 al 11 de abril de 2019., This work was supported by the project AGL2017-89417-R (MINECO, Spain). G.A.-R. would like to acknowledge the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for a Juan de la Cierva-Formación postdoctoral grant. Z.S.M. would like to acknowledge the University of Nariño (Colombia) for financial support

Melanoma in situ (MIS) of the penis is very rare in dermatologic literature. The standard of care for MIS is surgical removal by excision with a 5-mm margins or Mohs micrographic surgery. Nevertheless, surgery is occasionally not feasible for a number of reasons, such as patient comorbidities, potential aesthetic and functional impairment and patient preference. Recently, topical treatment with an immunomodulator, imiquimod, has been proposed as an alternative treatment for MIS. Dermoscopy, beyond its well established usefulness in the diagnostic evaluation of melanocytic lesions, has also shown to be an important tool in monitoring therapeutic response to various dermatoses. We present a case of a 38-year-old man who presented a MIS of the glans penis, histopathologically diagnosed, treated successfully using imiquimod.

BACKGROUND: Fungal infections are still a relevant challenge for clinicians involved in the cure of patients with cancer. We retrospectively reviewed charts of hospitalized patients with hematological malignancies (HMs), in which a documented fungemia was diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2015 at 28 adult and 6 pediatric Italian Hematology Departments. METHODS: During the study period we recorded 215 fungal blood stream infections (BSI). Microbiological analyses documented that BSI was due to molds in 17 patients (8%) and yeasts in 198 patients (92%), being Candida spp identified in 174 patients (81%). RESULTS: Mortality rates were 70% and 39% for mold and yeast infections, respectively. Infection was the main cause of death in 53% of the mold and 18% of the yeast groups. At the multivariate analysis, ECOG ≥2 and septic shock were significantly associated with increased mortality, and removal of CVC survival was found to be protective. When considering patients with candidemia only, ECOG >2 and removal of CVC were statistically associated with overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Although candidemia represents a group of BSI with a good prognosis, its risk factors largely overlap with those identified for all fungemias, even though the candidemia-related mortality is lower when compared to other fungal BSI. Management of fungal BSI is still a complex issue, in which both patients and disease characteristics should be focused to address a personalized approach. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Article In Europe, over the last decades, the arboriculture for woody biomass production has significantly expanded, often using poplar plantations. In order to maximize prod uction, the flexibility of the cultivation algorithms becomes necessary. For this reason, it is necessary to apply monitoring tools for the evaluation and estimate of the wood productions, without significantly affect the production costs. In particular, f or the estimate of the productions, the choice of the sample size is of particular importance. The aim of this study was to verify a simplified sampling approaches in poplar plantations characterized by constant tree density. The research was conducted in a poplar plantation on the Tuscan hills (Italy). The surveys were carried out each year for 13 years, from 4 to 16 years old. Through different statistical techniques, the change in the social position of each tree over time was evaluated. The results show ed that the social position of each tree has been characterized by the first years after the plantation. Consequently, the estimate of the productions can be carried out by analysing the diameter increment of 10% of the trees, included in the diameter clas ses around the medium - sized tree at the time of the survey. This study provided a valid method for forest managers characterized by a simplified approach useful to estimate the growth and yield of hybrid poplars. This method will permit reliable biomass es timates, but also a reduction of the costs in the sampling activities in the field.

Resumen del trabajo presentado a las III Jornadas Científicas CIAL Fórum, celebradas del 22 al 23 de noviembre de 2018 en el Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación (CIAL)., Nowadays, valorization of biological wastes from agricultural activity and processing industry has become a challenge. The olive oil industry has a great economic, commercial and industrial relevance in Spain, being olive leaves one of the main by-products and a promising source of bioactive compounds. Several authors have reported the presence and biological activity of different terpenoids in olive leaves; among them, the most abundant triterpenoids in olive leaves (derived from oleanane and ursane) have been described as possessing pharmacological activity against neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, accounting for approximately two thirds of all cases of dementia and affecting up to 20% of individuals older than 80 years. At present, there is not effective treatment for this disease. Since AD is a multifactorial neurological pathology, a current strategy is to target different factors, being one of them related to the high activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain. This work was oriented towards the valorization of olive leaf residues through the systematic and selective supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of different families of bioactive terpenoids with potential anticholinergic (anti-AChE) activity. Thus, a sequential SFE procedure was applied for the isolation of low, medium and high molecular weight terpenoids (C10-C15, C15-C20, C20-C30), using CO2 as pure solvent and different working pressures (from 80-120 bar) at 40°C. Extracts obtained at different SFE conditions were characterized by GC-MS and its anti-AChE activity evaluated. Good anti-AChE activity was obtained for some of the terpene-rich SFE extracts from olive leaves, demonstrating the interest of this strategy to help to discover promising therapeutic approaches and natural compounds that can delay the detrimental effects of AD., This work was supported by the project AGL2017-89417-R (MINECO, Spain). G.A.-R. would like to acknowledge the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for a Juan de la Cierva-Formación postdoctoral grant. Z.S.M. would like to acknowledge the University of Nariño (Colombia) for financial support

Invasive fungal infections are a frequent complication after intensive chemotherapy. The aims of this prospective study were to describe the use of antifungal therapy and to report which strategy was routinely adopted to guide the introduction of antifungal therapy. A total of 321 febrile episodes in 160 paediatric patients affected by acute leukaemia or non-Hodgkin-lymphoma were investigated. Antifungal therapy was used in 100 of 321 febrile episodes (31%), and classified as empiric in 73 episodes, diagnostic-driven in 25 episodes and targeted in 2 episodes. Switching to a second-line antifungal therapy was needed in 28 of 100 episodes (28%) and was classified as empiric in 10 episodes (36%), diagnostic-driven in 17 episodes (61%) and targeted in 1 episode (4%). In 9 of 28 episodes (32%), switching to a third-line antifungal therapy was performed and was classified as empiric in 2 episodes (22%), diagnostic-driven in 6 episodes (67%) and targeted in 1 episode (11%). Invasive fungal infections was reported in 23 of 100 episodes: confirmed in 4 episodes, probable in 8 episodes, and possible in 11 episodes. Attributable mortality was 2.8%. Antifungal therapy was still used mostly empirically, whereas as fever persisted, its modification was guided by a diagnostic-driven approach. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH

New and more demanding international standards for payment, clearing and settlement systems, including central counterparties (CCPs) have been issued in April 2012 by the Committee on payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) and International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). These “Principles for financial market infrastructures” will provide important support for the G20 strategy to make the financial system more resilient by promoting central clearing and trade reporting of over-the-counter derivatives. CPSS and IOSCO members strove to adopt the new standards by the end of 2012. Financial market infrastructures (FMIs) are expected to observe the standards as soon as possible. Regulators and the financial industry worldwide need to work hand in hand to ensure international convergence in the ongoing implementation process. This article reviews and assesses how the Principles contribute to the global agenda for reforming financial markets, outlines the various roles and functions that the new Principles have for FMIs and regulators, explains the motivation for reviewing regulatory standards for FMIs, and sets out in greater detail the new and strengthened regulatory requirements that have come out of the review process. It emphasizes the importance of consistent implementation at global level for achieving regulatory convergence and explains how the international regulatory community intends to proceed towards this end. Finally, the article sketches some of the core elements of ongoing work in view of developing a recovery and resolution framework for FMIs.

The importance of well-functioning over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets for fi nancial stability was highlighted during the financial market turmoil, when significant shortcomings in risk management and market transparency were exposed. In response to these experiences, public authorities have launched a series of measures to strengthen OTC derivatives markets. This article provides an overview of this work. It explains the significance of well-functioning OTC derivatives markets and discusses the main lessons from the financial crisis regarding the need to strengthen their resiliency and transparency. Then, we describe the main tools under consideration, relating to the use of sound market infrastructures – central counterparties and trade repositories –, enhanced bilateral risk management as well as to cooperation between regulators and overseers of infrastructures and banking supervisors. We finally describe the state of play of the main initiatives within these areas.

A stochastic model is developed for the analysis of the traveltime distribution f(tau) in a hillslope. The latter is described as made up from a surficial soil underlain by a less permeable subsoil or bedrock. The heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity K is described as a stationary random space function, and the model is based on the Lagrangian representation of transport. A first-order approach in the log conductivity variance is adopted in order to get closed form solutions for the principal statistical moments of the traveltime. Our analysis indicates that the soil is mainly responsible for the early branch of f(tau), i.e., the rapid release of solute which preferentially moves through the upper soil. The early branch of f(tau) is a power law, with exponent variable between -1 and -0.5; the behavior is mainly determined by unsaturated transport. The subsoil response is slower than that of the soil. The subsoil is mainly responsible for the tail of f(tau), which in many cases resembles the classic linear reservoir model. The resulting shape for f(tau) is similar to the Gamma distribution. Analysis of the f(tau) moments indicates that the mean traveltime is weakly dependent on the hillslope size. The traveltime variance is ruled by the distribution of distances of the injected solute from the river; the effect is coined as source zone dispersion. The spreading due to the K heterogeneity is less important and obscured by source zone dispersion. The model is tested against the numerical simulation of Fiori and Russo (2008) with reasonably good agreement, with no fitting procedure.

Solute transport in a three-dimensional, heterogeneous hillslope is analyzed through a series of detailed, three-dimensional numerical simulations. The investigation focuses on the transport of a pulse of a passive solute, taking into account realistic features of the relevant flow domain (i.e., the spatial heterogeneity of the soil hydraulic properties and records of the time-dependent meteorological data and evapotranspiration). The scope of the present work is to analyze a few issues regarding the travel time probability density function (pdf) f(tau) of solute, with particular reference to the following: (1) the suitability of the time invariance assumption and the circumstance under which it may represent a valid approximation, (2) the shape of the resulting travel time pdf f(tau), and (3) the difference between f( tau) and the instantaneous unit hydrograph. It is found that in many cases of practical interest the transport of contaminants in catchments can be analyzed by assuming the time-invariant approximation for f(tau), provided that the calendar time is replaced by a flow-corrected time. Here f(tau) is calculated through the analysis of the breakthrough curve represented in terms of flux-averaged concentration versus cumulate discharge. The rescaling of time with respect to the cumulated outflow takes care in an approximate way of the transient processes occurring in the porous medium. The derived f(tau) is weakly dependent on various attributes, like the level of heterogeneity, presence of evaporation or transpiration, and injection period. The main exception regards the cases in which plant transpiration is intense in the vicinity of the channel after relatively long periods of low rain. The impact of the parameters' heterogeneity on f(tau) is generally quite limited, the dispersion being ruled by the distribution of length paths within the hillslope. The derived f(tau) seems compatible with the Gamma distribution, being characterized by both fast and slow responses, with a pronounced power law early peak and an exponential-like tail. Comparison of f(tau) with the often employed Gamma instantaneous unit hydrograph emphasizes the differences between water and solute dynamics after rainfall events.

Background: Posttransplant erythrocytosis (PTE; i.e., hematocrit [Ht] >= 51%) may be responsible for cardiovascular events. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are increasingly employed in PTE treatment. Diverse ACEIs have been administered at variable doses and with erratic follow-up. In addition, guidelines recommend the administration of ACEIs as first-line therapy for PTE but do not give information on dosage. In this study the dose-response of a single ACEI was assessed, and patients were followed up for 1 year. The role of ACE gene polymorphism in both prevalence of PTE and successful response to ACEI therapy was also tested. Methods: At study entry, blood chemistry and ACE-gene polymorphism were measured. ACEI (ramipril) was initiated at 1.25 mg/day; if Ht was still >= 51%, ramipril was increased every 6 weeks to ensuing greater dosages. Scheduled dosages were 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 mg/day. Blood chemistry was repeated every 6 weeks. Serum erythropoietin (EPO) concentration was assayed at the start and end of the study. Follow-up was extended for 1 year. Results: PTE developed 12.6 +/- 16.0 months after transplantation in 40 out of 400 patients; 27 patients completed the study. Initial Ht was not correlated with any variable. Final Ht appeared normalized in 26 out of 27 patients. Mean dose (+/- SD) of ramipril was 4.6 +/- 3.6 mg. Mean time for correction of PTE was 135 days, and was not dependent on baseline Ht, hemoglobin or EPO. PTE relapsed in 4 patients. Prevalence of PTE and successful response to ramipril was not dependent on ACE-gene polymorphism. Conclusion: Ramipril was effective in PTE; low doses normalized Ht in most patients. No clinical characteristics or biochemical variables predicted the response to ramipril. PTE may relapse; thus long-term follow-up is mandatory.

The rote played by subsurface flow in the rainfall-runoff transformation is still poorly understood. In particular, two aspects are highly debated. The first one is the relatively fast response of the catchments to rainfall input which is often observed. The rapid response contradicts the general notion of slow movement of water in the subsurface. Another important issue is the control of pre-event water to streamflow. In the present work, we perform a series of 2D numerical simulations in order to gain understanding on the above problems. The platform is the experimental site described in Montgomery and Dietrich [Montgomery, D.R., Dietrich, W.E., 2002. Runoff generation in a steep, soil-mantled landscape. Water Resour. Res. 38(9), 1168, doi:10.1029/2001WR000822]. The aim is not to replicate exactly the experimental conditions but rather to use the model as a numerical laboratory for investigating streamflow generation processes. The simulations show that a Darcian formulation of subsurface flow in a combined soil-bedrock system can generally reproduce fast catchment streamflow responses comparable to observations. The principal mechanisms for the streamflow generation are subsurface flow along the soil-bedrock interface combined with groundwater ridging in the vicinity of the hillslope base. Numerical analysis of solute transport indicates high proportions of pre-event water in the resulting hydrograph. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The paper aims at analyzing subsurface flow and streamflow generation in steep hillslopes after rainfall. The principal scope of the work is to assess the role played by the spatial variability of the hydraulic properties on the subsurface flow patterns and hillslope discharge. We try to address this task through a three-dimensional numerical model which solves the Richards equation under prescribed initial and boundary conditions. Along an established practice, the relevant hydraulic parameters are modeled as random space functions with given statistical properties. Realistic features of the spatially variable formation parameters and the precipitation data are incorporated into the simulation model. It is found that spatial heterogeneity has a significant impact on the movement of water in the hillslope and the streamflow generation. In particular, the heterogeneous systems are more sensitive to rain input and display an increase of both the water table and saturation which is faster than the homogeneous case. The same is for water velocity, which is everywhere larger when heterogeneity is considered. As a consequence, the dynamics of subsurface stormflow (recognized as the leading mechanism for streamflow generation in the simulations) and the outflow discharge produced by the hillslope after a rain event are enhanced by heterogeneity. Despite of the possible lack of generality of the numerical experiments, they provide useful insight into the complex dynamics occurring in hillslope systems. The simulations show the importance of including realistic spatial heterogeneity in hillslope hydrology studies.

*Square Project: V.M. Agate (Palmanova, UD), A.M. Anelli (Pistoia), L. Apicella (Salerno), D. Avino (Vairano Scalo, CE), Y. Battaglia (Ferrara), P.L. Bedani (Ferrara), G. Bellinghieri (Messina), A.M. Bernardi (Rovigo), C. Bonifati (Corato, BA), M. Borzumati (Verbania), P.L. Botti (Mantova), M. Brigante (Campobasso), F. Brighina (San Nicola La Strada, CE), P. Calzavara (Conegliano, TV), C. Caputo (Albenga, SV), F. Cardone (Lavello, PZ), F. Cavatorta (Imperia), N. Confessore (Scafati, SA), M. Cossu (Sassari), E. Costantino (Gavardo, BS), G. Costantino (Messina), L. D’Apice (Caserta), R. D’Arcangelo (Arzano, NA), F. Dagostino (Corato, BA), A. Dal Canton (Pavia), G. Delgado (Teano, CE), R. Di Pietro (Napoli), C. Esposito (Pavia), P. Esposito (Pavia), E. Fasianos (Altamura, BA), F. Fiorini (Rovigo), P. Galeotti (Viterbo), G. Garibotto (Genova), A. Gemelli (Rovigo), M.C. Gregorini (Reggio Emilia), P. Iuliano (Benevento), L. La Peccerella (Benevento), M. Liuzzi (Benevento), M. Merola (Sorrento, NA), C. Montesano (Imperia), L.F. Morrone (Benevento), M. Napoli (Galatina, LE), F. Napolitano (Corato, BA), S. Paglia (Lavello, PZ), M. Parravano (Sora, FR), S. Pasquali (Reggio Emilia), A. Rosa (Benevento), M.L. Sambati (Taranto), P. Schiavone (Brindisi), E. Sozzo (Galatina, LE), A. Storari (Ferrara), R. Tarchini (Mantova), G. Tirino (Montesarchio, BN), L. Turchetta (Sora, FR). School Project: G. Bellinghieri (Messina), G. Beltrame (Torino), M. Bozzi (Bari), E. Casolino (Rionero in Vulture, PZ), E. Centrone (Ruvo di Puglia, BA), M. Ciccarelli (Reggio Calabria), T. Cicchetti (Rossano, CS), C. Colturi (Sondrio), E. Costantino (Gavardo, BS), G. Costantino (Messina), F. Dagostino (Corato, BA), E. Fasianos (Altamura, BA), P. Galeotti (Viterbo), Garibotto (Genova), F. Indraccolo (S. Fermo della Battaglia, CO), M. Lombardi (Borgo S. Lorenzo, FI), C. Minoretti (S. Fermo della Battaglia, CO), F. Napolitano (Corato, BA), R. Parsi (Alcamo, TP), F. Petrarulo (Bari), E. Prati (Desenzano del Garda, BS), F. Quarello (Torino), V. Rondanini (Palmi, RC), D. Russo (Barletta), P. Tira (Manerbio, BS), S. Turina (Manerbio, BS), W.D. Valentini (Rieti) WORLD KIDNEY DAY

For its DNA repair, transcription factor regulation and anti-apoptotic activity, the apurinic/apirimidinic ApeI/Ref-I endonuclease is thought to play a relevant role in human tumorigenesis. In human thyroid tumors, we demonstrated an altered nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio in all the carcinomas examined but not in follicular adenomas. In this study, Ref-I expression and cellular localization were analyzed in a series of human thyroid carcinoma cell lines. We found a reduced nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio in BCPAP, TPC I and ARO cells and not in WRO cells. Such a pattern of expression corresponds to that observed in thyroid tumoral tissues except for the WRO cells which behave as the follicular adenomas rather than carcinomas. Thus, these cell lines represent an excellent in vitro model to analyze the molecular mechanisms involved in Ref-I regulation and activity and clarify its role in thyroid tumorigenesis.