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Background Reproducible, high-quality surgery is a key point in the management of cancer patients. Quality indicators for surgical treatment of melanoma has been presented with benchmarks but data on morbidity are still limited. This study presents the quality indicators on morbidity after surgical treatment for non-metastatic skin melanoma in an Italian registry. Methods Data were extracted from the Central National Melanoma Registry (CNMR) promoted by the Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI). All surgical procedures (WE, SNLB or LFND) for non-metastatic skin melanoma between January 2011 and February 2017 were evaluated for inclusion in the study. Only centers with adequate completeness of information (> 80%) were included in the study. Short-term complications (wound infection, dehiscence, skin graft failure and seroma) were investigated. Results Wound infection rate was 1.1% (0.4 to 2.7%) in WE, 1.3% (0.7 to 2.5%) in SLNB and 4.1% (2.1 to 8.0%) in LFND. Wound dehiscence rate was 2.0% (0.8 to 5.1%) in WE, 0.9% (0.2 to 3.0%) in SLNB and 2.8% (0.9 to 8.6%) in LFND. Seroma rate was 4.2% (1.5 to 11.1%) in SLNB and 15.1% (4.6 to 39.9%) in LFND. Unreliable information was found on skin graft failure. Conclusions Our findings contribute to available literature in setting up the recommended standards for melanoma centers, thus improving the quality of surgery offered to patients. A consensus on the core issues around surgical morbidity is needed to provide practical guidance on morbidity prevention and management.

Background Clinical response to MAPK inhibitors in metastatic melanoma patients is heterogeneous for reasons still needing to be elucidated. As the patient immune activity contributes to treatment clinical benefit, the pre-existing level of immunity at tumor site may provide biomarkers of disease outcome to therapy. Here we investigated whether assessing the density and spatial tissue distribution of key immune cells in the tumor microenvironment could identify patients predisposed to respond to MAPK inhibitors. Methods Pretreatment tumor biopsies from a total of 213 patients (158 for the training set and 55 for the validation set) treated with BRAF or BRAF/MEK inhibitors within the Italian Melanoma Intergroup were stained with selected immune markers (CD8, CD163, beta-catenin, PD-L1, PD-L2). Results, obtained by blinded immunohistochemical scoring and digital image analysis, were correlated with clinical response and outcome by multivariate logistic models on response to treatment and clinical outcome, adjusted for American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, performance status, lactate dehydrogenase and treatment received. Results Patients with high intratumoral, but not peritumoral, CD8(+) T cells and concomitantly low CD163(+) myeloid cells displayed higher probability of response (OR 9.91, 95% CI 2.23-44.0, p = 0.003) and longer overall survival (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16-0.72, p = 0.005) compared to those with intratumoral low CD8(+) T cells and high CD163(+) myeloid cells. The latter phenotype was instead associated with a shorter progression free survival (p = 0.010). In contrast, PD-L1 and PD-L2 did not correlate with clinical outcome while tumor beta-catenin overexpression showed association with lower probability of response (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.21-1.06, p = 0.068). Conclusions Analysis of the spatially constrained distribution of CD8(+) and CD163(+) cells, representative of the opposite circuits of antitumor vs protumor immunity, respectively, may assist in identifying melanoma patients with improved response and better outcome upon treatment with MAPK inhibitors. These data underline the role of endogenous immune microenvironment in predisposing metastatic melanoma patients to benefit from therapies targeting driver-oncogenic pathways.

The autosomal dominant, giant-platelet disorders1, May-Hegglin anomaly2, 3 (MHA; MIM 155100), Fechtner syndrome4 (FTNS; MIM 153640) and Sebastian syndrome5 (SBS), share the triad of thrombocytopenia, large platelets and characteristic leukocyte inclusions (?Döhle-like? bodies). MHA and SBS can be differentiated by subtle ultrastructural leukocyte inclusion features, whereas FTNS is distinguished by the additional Alport-like clinical features of sensorineural deafness, cataracts and nephritis4. The similarities between these platelet disorders and our recent refinement of the MHA (ref. 6) and FTNS (ref. 7) disease loci to an overlapping region of 480 kb on chromosome 22 suggested that all three disorders are allelic. Among the identified candidate genes is the gene encoding nonmuscle myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9; refs 8?10), which is expressed in platelets9 and upregulated during granulocyte differentiation10. We identified six MYH9 mutations (one nonsense and five missense) in seven unrelated probands from MHA, SBS and FTNS families. On the basis of molecular modelling, the two mutations affecting the myosin head were predicted to impose electrostatic and conformational changes, whereas the truncating mutation deleted the unique carboxy-terminal tailpiece. The remaining missense mutations, all affecting highly conserved coiled-coil domain positions, imparted destabilizing electrostatic and polar changes. Thus, our results suggest that mutations in MYH9 result in three megakaryocyte/platelet/leukocyte syndromes and are important in the pathogenesis of sensorineural deafness, cataracts and nephritis.

Background Fenretinide, a vitamin A analogue, has been shown to inhibit breast carcinogenesis in preclinical studies. We determined the efficacy of fenretinide in preventing a second breast malignancy in women with breast cancer. Methods We randomly assigned 2972 women, aged 30-70 years, with surgically removed stage I breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ to receive for 5 years either fenretinide orally (200 mg/day) or no treatment. The primary end point was the incidence of contralateral breast cancer or ipsilateral breast cancer 7 years after randomization. Other end points considered post hoc were the same outcomes stratified by menopausal status, incidence of distant metastases, overall mortality, and tumors in other organs. The hazards of breast cancer occurrence were determined by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Statistical tests were two-sided. Results At a median observation time of 97 months, there were no statistically significant differences in the occurrence of contralateral breast cancer (P =.642) or ipsilateral breast cancer (P =.177) between the two arms. However, an interaction was detected between fenretinide treatment and menopausal status in both outcomes (P for interaction in both outcomes =.045), with a possible beneficial effect in premenopausal women (contralateral breast cancer: adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 0.66, and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41-1.07; ipsilateral breast cancer: adjusted HR = 0.65, and 95% CI = 0.46-0. 92) and an opposite effect in postmenopausal women (contralateral breast cancer: adjusted HR = 1.32, and 95% CI = 0.82-2.15; ipsilateral breast cancer: adjusted HR = 1.19, and 95% CI = 0.75-1. 89). There were no statistically significant differences between the two arms in tumors in other organs, incidence of distant metastasis, and all-cause mortality. Conclusions Fenretinide treatment of women with breast cancer for 5 years appears to have no statistically significant effect on the incidence of second breast malignancies overall, although a possible benefit was detected in premenopausal women. These studies, particularly the post hoc analyses, are considered exploratory and need to be confirmed.

Context:The incidence of type 1 diabetes has been increasing over time.Objective:We estimated the genetic and environmental components of type 1 diabetes susceptibility in a twin cohort of recent-onset cases to explore the sources of changing disease epidemiology.Design:We linked the population-based Italian Twin Registry with 14803 type 1 diabetes records from 36 pediatric diabetes care centers throughout Italy, except Sardinia, and identified 173 diabetic twins. Patients were positive for at least one autoantibody to islet cell, glutamate decarboxylase, tyrosine phosphatase, insulin, or zinc transporter 8 and were insulin dependent since their diagnosis. Zygosity was determined by DNA genotyping or by questionnaire.Outcome Measures:We estimated proband-wise concordance, cotwin recurrence risk with Kaplan-Meier method, and genetic and environmental proportions of susceptibility variance by structural equation models.Results:We recruited 104 diabetic twins (53 males) from 88 pairs (34 monozygotic, 54 dizygotic) and one triplet. The mean age at diagnosis was 8.1 yr (range 1.1-20.5 yr), and the median year of diagnosis was 2002. Proband-wise concordances were 45.5 and 16.4% in monozygotic and dizygotic pairs (P = 0.01). Recurrence risks in monozygotic and dizygotic cotwins were 37 and 12% after 10 yr from the proband's diagnosis (P = 0.005). Genetic contribution to type 1 diabetes susceptibility was 40% (95% confidence interval 8-78), and the shared and individual-specific environmental components were 51% (14-77) and 9% (4-19), respectively.Conclusions:In addition to the moderate genetic effects on type 1 diabetes susceptibility, our results draw attention to the substantial shared environmental effects, suggesting that exposures in fetal or early postnatal life may contribute to the increasing incidence of the disease.

The diagnosis of GH deficiency (GHD) is based on the measurement of peak GH responses to pharmacological stimuli. Pharmacological stimuli, however, lack precision, accuracy, are not reproducible, are invasive, non-physiological and some may even be hazardous. Furthermore, different GH commercial assays used to measure GH in serum yield results that may differ considerably. In contrast to GH, IGF-I can be measured on a single, randomly-obtained blood sample. A review of the available data indicates that IGF-I measurement in the diagnosis of childhood-onset isolated GHD has a specificity of up to 100%, with a sensitivity ranging from about 70 to 90%. We suggest an algorithm in which circulating levels of IGF-I together with the evaluation of auxological data, such as growth rate and growth, may be used to assess the likelihood of GHD in pre-pubertal children.

Background Quinquennial overviews (1985–2000) of the randomised trials in early breast cancer have assessed the 5 year and 10-year effects of various systemic adjuvant therapies on breast cancer recurrence and survival. Here, we report the 10-year and 15-year effects. Methods Collaborative meta-analyses were undertaken of 194 unconfounded randomised trials of adjuvant chemotherapy or hormonal therapy that began by 1995. Many trials involved CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil), anthracycline-based combinations such as FAC (fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) or FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide), tamoxifen, or ovarian suppression: none involved taxanes, trastuzumab, raloxifene, or modern aromatase inhibitors. Findings Allocation to about 6 months of anthracycline-based polychemotherapy (eg, with FAC or FEC) reduces the annual breast cancer death rate by about 38% (SE 5) for women younger than 50 years of age when diagnosed and by about 20% (SE 4) for those of age 50–69 years when diagnosed, largely irrespective of the use of tamoxifen and of oestrogen receptor (ER) status, nodal status, or other tumour characteristics. Such regimens are significantly (2p=0·0001 for recurrence, 2p For ER-positive disease only, allocation to about 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen reduces the annual breast cancer death rate by 31% (SE 3), largely irrespective of the use of chemotherapy and of age ( These results combine six meta-analyses: anthracycline-based versus no chemotherapy (8000 women); CMF-based versus no chemotherapy (14 000); anthracycline-based versus CMF-based chemotherapy (14 000); about 5 years of tamoxifen versus none (15 000); about 1–2 years of tamoxifen versus none (33 000); and about 5 years versus 1–2 years of tamoxifen (18 000). Finally, allocation to ovarian ablation or suppression (8000 women) also significantly reduces breast cancer mortality, but appears to do so only in the absence of other systemic treatments. For middle-aged women with ER-positive disease (the commonest type of breast cancer), the breast cancer mortality rate throughout the next 15 years would be approximately halved by 6 months of anthracycline-based chemotherapy (with a combination such as FAC or FEC) followed by 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen. For, if mortality reductions of 38% (age Interpretation Some of the widely practicable adjuvant drug treatments that were being tested in the 1980s, which substantially reduced 5-year recurrence rates (but had somewhat less effect on 5-year mortality rates), also substantially reduce 15-year mortality rates. Further improvements in long-term survival could well be available from newer drugs, or better use of older drugs.

A brief survey is given of the evolution of the concept of schizoaffective psychosis in the United States. The following phases are singled out: a first, 'prehistorical', one including description of 'mixed' psychotic syndromes regarded as subtypes of manic-depressive psychosis; a second, which covers the subsequent 30 years, in which the concept of schizoaffective psychosis is gradually included under the heading of schizophrenia, in accordance with the broad Bleulerian concept of this illness prevailing in those years; a third one, in which, under the influence of a number of factors, schizoaffective psychosis is shifted from the schizophrenic to the affective area, and even good-prognosis schizophrenia and DSM III schizophreniform disorder (a syndrome characterized by the same clinical picture of schizophrenia, but which lasts less than 6 months) are regarded as variants of affective illness. It is emphasized that the history of the evolution of the American concept of schizoaffective psychosis is, indeed, the history of the vicissitudes of the American conceptions of schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis.

Platelet MAO activity was determined, using 14C-tryptamine and 14C-beta-phenylethylamine as substrates, in two groups of schizophrenic patients and a normal control population. The first patient group consisted of 75 schizophrenics who had been medication-free for 2 weeks and had not been exposed to neuroleptic drugs for at least 2 months before the off-drug period. The second patient group comprised 55 schizophrenics who were on treatment with haloperidol for at least 2 months. The enzyme activity was found to be significantly decreased in both drug-free (using only tryptamine as substrate, P less than 0.05) and haloperidol-treated (P less than 0.001) chronic schizophrenics as compared with normal controls, and to be significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in haloperidol-treated than in off-drug chronic schizophrenics. An in vitro study confirmed the lowering effect of haloperidol on MAO activity. It is suggested that low platelet MAO values observed in chronic schizophrenics might be in part an effect of neuroleptic treatment.

From 1973 to 1980, we carried out a controlled study at the National Cancer Institute in Milan to consider the value of a conservative procedure in patients with breast cancer of small size. We randomized 701 patients with breast cancer measuring less than 2 cm in diameter and with no palpable axillary lymph nodes to Halsted radical mastectomy or to "quadrantectomy" with axillary dissection and radiotherapy to the ipsilateral residual breast tissue. We treated 349 patients with Halsted mastectomy and 352 with quadrantectomy. The two groups were comparable in age distribution, size and site of primary tumor, menopausal status, and frequency of axillary metastases. There were three local recurrences in the Halsted group and one in the quadrantectomy group. Actuarial curves showed no difference between the two groups in disease-free or overall survival. From these results, mastectomy appears to involve unnecessary mutilation in patients with breast cancer of less than 2 cm and no palpable axillary nodes.

Aims and background The incidence of malignant melanoma is rapidly increasing in many countries, and when this disease has reached advanced stages, standard therapies have little impact. Dacarbazine (DTIC) is the most effective chemotherapeutic agent with an overall response rate of 20-25%, but durable responses are uncommon. Interesting results with the use of cisplatin (CDDP) have been reported in DTIC-resistant melanoma. Moreover, malignant melanoma is an immunogenic tumor and a potential target for biological response modifier (BRM) therapies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a chemo-immunotherapeutic regimen including high-dose CDDP combined with glutathione (GSH) to limit platinum-related toxicity, and natural interferon-α (IFN-α) in patients with DTIC-resistant metastatic melanoma. Methods The treatment schedule included GSH 1,500 mg/m2 i.v. and CDDP 40 mg/m2 i.v. for 4 consecutive days every 3 weeks, with a maximum of 6 courses, and IFN-α 3 MIU i.m. 3 times a week, continuative for a maximum of 12 months. Results Twelve patients were enrolled in this phase II trial. Accrual was stopped due to treatment-related toxicity. Ten patients were evaluable for response; there were 2 partial responses, lasting 5+ and 9+ months, respectively, and 2 cases of stable disease, lasting 3+ and 8+ months. None of these patients completed the therapeutic program due to treatment-related side effects. Conclusions This regimen seems to be only partially active in DTIC-resistant metastatic melanoma. Hematologic and non-hema-tologic (nausea and vomiting, peripheral neurotoxicity, and asthenia) side effects are significant and GSH is not effective in limiting CDDP-related neurotoxicity in pretreated patients. Therefore, there is no indication to employ this regimen as second-line treatment in metastatic melanoma and these disappointing results highlight the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches.

Background In early breast cancer, variations in local treatment that substantially affect the risk of locoregional recurrence could also affect long-term breast cancer mortality. To examine this relationship, collaborative meta-analyses were undertaken, based on individual patient data, of the relevant randomised trials that began by 1995. Methods Information was available on 42 000 women in 78 randomised treatment comparisons (radiotherapy vs no radiotherapy, 23 500; more vs less surgery, 9300; more surgery vs radiotherapy, 9300). 24 types of local treatment comparison were identified. To help relate the effect on local (ie, locoregional) recurrence to that on breast cancer mortality, these were grouped according to whether or not the 5-year local recurrence risk exceeded 10% (10%, 25 000 women). Findings About three-quarters of the eventual local recurrence risk occurred during the first 5 years. In the comparisons that involved little (10%) differences, however, 5-year local recurrence risks were 7% active versus 26% control (absolute reduction 19%), and 15-year breast cancer mortality risks were 44·6% versus 49·5% (absolute reduction 5·0%, SE 0·8, 2p These 25 000 women included 7300 with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in trials of radiotherapy (generally just to the conserved breast), with 5-year local recurrence risks (mainly in the conserved breast, as most had axillary clearance and node-negative disease) 7% versus 26% (reduction 19%), and 15-year breast cancer mortality risks 30·5% versus 35·9% (reduction 5·4%, SE 1·7, 2p=0·0002; overall mortality reduction 5·3%, SE 1·8, 2p=0·005). They also included 8500 with mastectomy, axillary clearance, and node-positive disease in trials of radiotherapy (generally to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes), with similar absolute gains from radiotherapy; 5-year local recurrence risks (mainly at these sites) 6% versus 23% (reduction 17%), and 15-year breast cancer mortality risks 54·7% versus 60·1% (reduction 5·4%, SE 1·3, 2p=0·0002; overall mortality reduction 4·4%, SE 1·2, 2p=0·0009). Radiotherapy produced similar proportional reductions in local recurrence in all women (irrespective of age or tumour characteristics) and in all major trials of radiotherapy versus not (recent or older; with or without systemic therapy), so large absolute reductions in local recurrence were seen only if the control risk was large. To help assess the life-threatening side-effects of radiotherapy, the trials of radiotherapy versus not were combined with those of radiotherapy versus more surgery. There was, at least with some of the older radiotherapy regimens, a significant excess incidence of contralateral breast cancer (rate ratio 1·18, SE 0·06, 2p=0·002) and a significant excess of non-breast-cancer mortality in irradiated women (rate ratio 1·12, SE 0·04, 2p=0·001). Both were slight during the first 5 years, but continued after year 15. The excess mortality was mainly from heart disease (rate ratio 1·27, SE 0·07, 2p=0·0001) and lung cancer (rate ratio 1·78, SE 0·22, 2p=0·0004). Interpretation In these trials, avoidance of a local recurrence in the conserved breast after BCS and avoidance of a local recurrence elsewhere (eg, the chest wall or regional nodes) after mastectomy were of comparable relevance to 15-year breast cancer mortality. Differences in local treatment that substantially affect local recurrence rates would, in the hypothetical absence of any other causes of death, avoid about one breast cancer death over the next 15 years for every four local recurrences avoided, and should reduce 15-year overall mortality.

Background: Neurological immune-related adverse events (nirAEs) are rare toxicities of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). With the increase of ICI oncological indications, their incidence is growing. Their recognition and management remain nevertheless challenging. Methods: A national, web-based database was built to collect cases of neurological symptoms in patients receiving ICI and not attributable to other causes after an adequate workup. Results: We identified 27 patients who developed nirAEs (20 males, median age 69years). Patients received anti-PD1/PDL1 (78%), anti-CTLA4 (4%), or both (19%). Most common cancers were melanoma (30%) and non-small cell lung cancer (26%). Peripheral nervous system was mostly affected (78%). Median time to onset was 43.5days and was shorter for peripheral versus central nervous system toxicities (36 versus 144.5days, p = 0.045). Common manifestations were myositis (33%), inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathies (33%), and myasthenia gravis (19%), alone or in combination, but the spectrum of diagnoses was broad. Most patients received first-line glucocorticoids (85%) or IVIg (15%). Seven patients (26%) needed second-line treatments. At last follow-up, four (15%) patients were deceased (encephalitis, 1; myositis/myasthenia with concomitant myocarditis, 2; acute polyradiculoneuropathy, 1), while seven (26%) had a complete remission, eight (30%) partial improvement, and six (22%) stable/progressing symptoms. ICI treatment was discontinued in most patients (78%). Conclusions: Neurological irAEs are rare but potentially fatal. They primarily affect neuromuscular structures but encompass a broad range of presentations. A prompt recognition is mandatory to timely withheld immunotherapy and administrate glucocorticoids. In corticoresistant or severely affected patients, second-line treatments with IVIg or plasmapheresis may result in additional benefit.

The eighth annual conference of “Innovative therapy, monoclonal antibodies, and beyond” was held in Milan on Jan. 26, 2018, and hosted by Fondazione IRCCS–Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (Fondazione IRCCS INT). The conference was divided into two main scientific sessions, of i) pre-clinical assays and novel biotargets, and ii) clinical translation, as well as a third session of presentations from young investigators, which focused on recent achievements within Fondazione IRCCS INT on immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Presentations in the first session addressed the issue of cancer immunotherapy activity with respect to tumor heterogeneity, with key topics addressing: 1) tumor heterogeneity and targeted therapy, with the definition of the evolutionary Index as an indicator of tumor heterogeneity in both space and time; 2) the analysis of cancer evolution, with the introduction of the TRACERx Consortium—a multi-million pound UK research project focused on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); 3) the use of anti-estrogen agents to boost immune recognition of breast cancer cells; and 4) the high degree of functional plasticity within the NK cell repertoire, including the expansion of adaptive NK cells following viral challenges. The second session addressed: 1) the effectiveness of radiotherapy to enhance the proportion of patients responsive to immune-checkpoint blockers (ICBs); 2) the use of MDSC scores in selecting melanoma patients with high probability to be responsive to ICBs; and 3) the relevance of the gut microbiome as a predictive factor, and the potential of its perturbation in increasing the immune response rate to ICBs. Overall, a picture emerged of tumor heterogeneity as the main limitation that impairs the effectiveness of anti-cancer therapies. Thus, the choice of a specific therapy based on reproducible and selective predictive biomarkers is an urgent unmet clinical need that should be addressed in order to increase the proportion of long-term responding patients and to improve the sustainability of novel drugs.

Predictive biomarkers of response to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an urgent clinical need. The aim of this study is to identify manageable parameters to use in clinical practice to select patients with higher probability of response to ICIs. Two-hundred-and-seventy-one consecutive metastatic solid tumor patients, treated from 2013 until 2017 with anti- Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) ICIs, were evaluated for baseline lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) serum level, performance status (PS), age, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, type of immunotherapy, number of metastatic sites, histology, and sex. A training and validation set were used to build and test models, respectively. The variables&rsquo, effects were assessed through odds ratio estimates (OR) and area under the receive operating characteristic curves (AUC), from univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. A final multivariate model with LDH, age and PS showed significant ORs and an AUC of 0.771. Results were statistically validated and used to devise an Excel algorithm to calculate the patient&rsquo, s response probabilities. We implemented an interactive Excel algorithm based on three variables (baseline LDH serum level, age and PS) which is able to provide a higher performance in response prediction to ICIs compared with LDH alone. This tool could be used in a real-life setting to identify ICIs in responding patients.

Background & Aims Potential celiac disease is characterized by positive results from serologic tests for tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti-TG2) but normal duodenal architecture (Marsh stages 0–1). There is controversy over the best way to manage these patients. We investigated risk factors associated with the development of villous atrophy in children with potential celiac disease. Methods We performed a prospective study of 280 children (ages 2–18 years) in Italy with suspected celiac disease, followed for up to 12 years (range, 18–150 months; median 60 months). The subjects had 2 consecutive positive results from tests for anti-TG2, tested positive for the endomysial antibody (anti-EMA), had total serum levels of immunoglobulin A in the normal range, normal duodenal architecture (Marsh stages 0–1) in 5 biopsies, and HLA DQ2- or DQ8-positive haplotypes. The children underwent serologic tests and clinical analyses every 6 months and a small bowel biopsy was taken every 2 years. A total of 210 patients of the original cohort were assessed at the 9-year follow-up evaluation. We performed multivariate analyses of clinical, genetic, and histologic data to identify factors associated with progression to villous atrophy. Results During the follow-up period, 42 (15%) of 280 children developed villous atrophy, whereas 89 (32%) children no longer tested positive for anti-TG2 or anti-EMA. The cumulative incidence of progression to villous atrophy was 43% at 12 years. In multivariate analysis, the baseline factors most strongly associated with development of villous atrophy were numbers of γδ intraepithelial lymphocyte cells followed by age and homozygosity for the HLA DQB1*02. In discriminant analysis, these baseline factors identified 80% of the children who developed baseline atrophy. Conclusions In a long-term study of 280 children with suspected celiac disease (based on anti-TG2 and anti-EMA) on gluten-containing diets, the cumulative incidence of progression to villous atrophy was 43% over a 12-year period. We identified factors that can be used to identify children at highest risk for villous atrophy. This approach might be used to determine whether children with suspected celiac disease should immediately start a gluten-free diet or be monitored on their regular diet.

Aims Insulin pump failure and/or malfunction requiring replacement have not been thoroughly investigated. This study evaluated pump replacement in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes using insulin pump therapy. Methods Data were collected for all participants younger than 19 years, starting insulin pump therapy before 31 December 2013. For each child, age, disease duration, date of insulin pump therapy initiation, insulin pump model, failure/malfunction/replacement yes/no and reason were considered for the year 2013. Results Data were returned by 40 of 43 paediatric centres belonging to the Diabetes Study Group of the Italian Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology. In total, 1574 of 11 311 (13.9%) children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes were using an insulin pump: 29.2% Animas VIBE™, 9.4% Medtronic MiniMed 715/515™, 34.3% Medtronic MiniMed VEO™, 24.3% Accu-Check Spirit Combo™ and 2.8% other models. In 2013, 0.165 insulin pump replacements per patient-year (11.8% due to pump failure/malfunction and 4.7% due to accidental damage) were recorded. Animas VIBE™ (22.1%) and Medtronic MiniMed VEO™ (17.7%) were the most replaced. Conclusions In a large cohort of Italian children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes, insulin pump failure/malfunction and consequent replacement are aligned with rates previously reported and higher in more sophisticated pump models. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical and biochemical features of 115 children (98 female, mean age 11.3 ± 3.5 years) with Graves disease to identify possible determinants of remission. STUDY DESIGN: We defined as positive outcome the improvement of clinical features and restoration of euthyroidism or induction of hypothyroidism after antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy and as negative outcome hyperthyroidism persistent over 2 years of ATD therapy or relapsed after ATD withdrawal. RESULTS: Thirty-eight children (33%) had remission after 2 years of ATD therapy. The absence of goiter at diagnosis was correlated with a better outcome. Median thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) values at diagnosis were significantly lower in patients with a positive outcome (P = .031). We found a significant relationship between the time required for TRAb normalization and the patient outcome; TRAb normalization within 1 year from time of Graves disease diagnosis was significantly more common among patients with a positive outcome (P < .0001), and the mean time for TRAb normalization was significantly shorter in patients with a positive outcome (1.3 ± 0.8 years) compared with that observed in patients with a negative outcome (2.5 ± 2.7 years, P = .026). CONCLUSIONS: Although no clinical variable investigated is constantly associated with a definite outcome, the absence of goiter at the diagnosis may be associated with a better outcome. The most relevant predictor of Graves disease outcome was serum level; TRAb at time of Graves disease diagnosis less than 2.5 times the upper reference limit, TRAb normalization during ATD, and TRAb normalization timing each may predict positive outcomes. These results may have a role in the empiric clinical management of pediatric patients with Graves disease.

A form of autosomal dominant macrothrombocytopenia is characterized by mild or no clinical symptoms, normal platelet function, and normal megakaryocyte count. Because this condition has so far received little attention, patients are subject to misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapy. To identify the molecular basis of this disease, 12 Italian families were studied by linkage analysis and mutation screening. Flow cytometry evaluations of platelet membrane glycoproteins (GPs) were also performed. Linkage analysis in 2 large families localized the gene to chromosome 17p, in an interval containing an excellent candidate, the GPIbα gene. GPIbα, together with other proteins, constitutes the plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) receptor, which is altered in Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS). In 6 of 12 families, a heterozygous Ala156Val missense substitution was identified. Platelet membrane GP studies were performed in 10 patients. Eight were distinguished by a reduction of GPs comparable to that found in a BSS heterozygous condition, whereas the other 2, without the Ala156Val mutation, had a normal content of platelet GPs. In conclusion, the current study provides evidence that most (10 of 12) patients with an original diagnosis of autosomal dominant macrothrombocytopenia shared clinical and molecular features with the heterozygous BSS phenotype. The remaining 2 affected subjects represented patients with “true” autosomal dominant macrothrombocytopenia; the GPIb/IX/V complex was normally distributed on the surface of their platelets. Thus, the diagnosis of heterozygous BSS must always be suspected in patients with inherited thrombocytopenia and platelet macrocytosis.

CONTEXT: Antipituitary antibodies (APA) are frequently present in patients with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS). DESIGN: The aim was to evaluate the predictive value of APA for the occurrence of hypopituitarism. A total of 149 APA-positive and 50 APA-negative patients with APS and normal pituitary function were longitudinally studied for 5 yr. METHODS: APA, by indirect immunofluorescence, and anterior pituitary function were assessed yearly in all patients. The risk for developing autoimmune pituitary dysfunction was calculated using survival and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Hypopituitarism occurred in 28 of 149 (18.8%) APA-positive patients but in none of the 50 APA-negative patients. The immunostaining pattern in APA-positive patients involved either isolated pituitary cells [type 1 pattern; n=99 (66.4%)] or all pituitary cells [type 2 pattern; n=50 (33.6%)]. All patients developing pituitary dysfunction throughout the study span had a type 1 pattern. Kaplan-Meier curves for cumulative survival showed a significantly higher rate for developing hypopituitarism in relation to positive APA tests (P

Three cases of lobular carcinoma of the breast showing a complex morphology that included myoepithelial cell differentiation are reported. One case was a pure in situ acinar lesion, while the other 2 cases were in situ and invasive carcinomas. Three different cell types were seen in these tumors: one was the phenotype commonly seen in the garden variety of in situ lobular carcinoma (LCIS) constituted by noncohesive round to ovoid cells with round nuclei and positivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), estrogen receptor (ER), and progesteron receptor (PR). E-cadherin was negative in these cells. The second type was represented by cohesive elements with irregular nuclei. These cells were immunoreactive for smooth muscle actin, calponin, keratin 14, p63, and e-cadherin. EMA, ER, and PR were consistently negative. The third type, seen in a minority of cell population of case nos. 2 and 3, consisted of cells showing at the same time EMA and smooth muscle actin in their cytoplasm. This type was defined as "hybrid myosecretory cell" to highlight contractile and secretory properties present at the same time. Cells with hybrid features probably indicate that myoepithelial and secretory cells are strictly related and the existence of a stem cell, at least for these cases, is not necessary.

Three cases of carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma of the breast are reported. Patients were 82, 60 and 56 years old and presented with a breast lump. All tumours showed areas of pleomorphic adenoma adjacent to typical areas of malignant transformation. These cases add to the spectrum of tumours shared by breast and salivary gland. The relationship between these neoplasms and metaplastic carcinoma of matrix-producing type is discussed.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hematopoietic growth hormone that regulates survival, proliferation, and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. A reduction in tissue oxygenation stimulates EPO production, through a complex feedback mechanism. Patients with cancer-related anemia have an inadequate EPO response that is further impaired by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Cancer-related anemia substantially impairs patient functioning and may contribute to poor treatment outcomes. A significant number of studies demonstrates that treatment of anemia in cancer patients using recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO, epoetin alfa) significantly increases haemoglobin (Hb) levels, reduces transfusion requirements, and improves quality of life, particularly by relieving fatigue. Recent data also show that epoetin alfa therapy may improve cognitive function in patients receiving chemotherapy. In addition, the correction of anemia may prolong survival by enhancing tumor oxygenation, thus increasing tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy or radiation. The indicated dose of epoetin alfa is 150-300 IU/kg three times per week, but it is commonly dosed at 40,000-60,000 IU once weekly based on trial data and extensive clinical use. Determining the timing of initiation of epoetin alfa is a clinical judgement; however, data suggest that patient functioning declines and the risk of transfusion increases when the Hb level falls under 12 g/dL.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by genomic instability, bone marrow failure, congenital malformations, and cancer predisposition. FA is a genetically heterogeneous disease with at least seven genes so far identified. The role of FA proteins is unknown although they interact in a common functional pathway. Here, we report six novel FANCA sequence changes and review all the mutations identified in Italy. Except for two missense substitutions, all are expected to cause a premature termination of the FANCA protein at various sites throughout the molecule. The premature terminations are due to nonsense and splice site mutations, as well as small insertions and deletions, and large genomic rearrangements. The expected truncated proteins were not detectable on Western blot analyses. The FANCA-S858R variant is instead expressed at lower level than that seen in normal cell lines and is associated with a non -ubiquinated FANCD2 protein, strongly suggesting that the amino acid substitution is a disease-causing mutation. The spectrum of FA mutations is widely in agreement with the heterogeneous ethnic origin of the Italian population. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

HLA antigens and RBC/plasma lithium ratio were studied in a sample of 49 patients, diagnosed as bipolar affective psychotics (n = 22), unipolar depressive psychotics (n = 18) and cycloid psychotics (n = 9), receiving prophylactic lithium for 1–4 years and maintained at lithium plasma levels of 0.6–1.2 mEq/1. Mean values of the ratio were found to be significantly higher in patients who responded to treatment when compared with non-responders, whereas the frequency of the HLA-A3 antigen was significantly higher in non-responders. The only 6 patients with a lithium ratio above the median and the absence of the HLA-A3 antigen coexistent with bipolarity and a family history of the illness were all good responders to treatment. Further research in this field will probably bring about the isolation of a subgroup of lithium-responsive patients with well-defined clinical and biological features. When patients were divided into two subgroups according to their lithium ratios (above and below the median), the HLA-A3 and Aw26 antigens were found to be significantly more frequent in those with ratios below the median. It can be hypothesized that these antigens disturb lithium transport in some way, leading to low lithium ratio values.

A set of socio-demographic, clinical, psychological and biological variables was examined in 100 patients diagnosed according to Perris as bipolar affective psychotics or unipolar depressive psychotics, maintained on prophylactic lithium for 2 years and divided into responders and non-responders to this treatment on the basis of strict criteria. The results confirmed the potential role of four indices as predictors of response to prophylaxis: a positive family history of bipolar affective illness and a high red blood cell/plasma lithium ratio (positive predictors) and the presence of the HLA-A3 antigen and a high score on the Neuroticism Scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (negative predictors). A stepwise discriminant analysis showed that neuroticism score, lithium ratio and HLA-A3 antigen, taken together, correctly classified 74.6% of responders and 68.3% of non-responders. It is hypothesized that these variables as a group may be of practical value in predicting response to lithium prophylaxis, and that pharmacogenetic and, perhaps, personality factors may be involved in treatment failures.

S-Adenosylmethionine blood levels have been estimated by a specific radioenzymatic method in 52 schizophrenics and 12 depressives, diagnosed and subtyped according to ICD-9 and compared with 38 normal controls. Previous reports of significantly lower levels of blood SAMe in acute schizophrenics in comparison with normal subjects could not be confirmed in this study. Indeed, acute schizophrenics showed higher mean SAMe blood levels as compared both with chronic and with normal controls. No significant difference has been found comparing both schizophrenics as a whole and depressives with normal controls. This investigation aims to bring a contribution to the recently started critical revision of transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia.

Memories of parental rearing behaviour were assessed by the EMBU in 61 epileptics and 151 healthy controls. The occurrence of the first crisis during the childhood was an inclusion criterion for patients. Epileptics, as compared with controls, rated their fathers and mothers as less stimulating, their fathers as less performance oriented and affectionate, and their mothers as more tolerant. Moreover, the score on the subscale 'favouring subject' for both fathers and mothers was higher in epileptics. As patients with and without interictal psychopathological features were compared, the scores on the subscales 'overprotective' and 'favouring subject' for mothers and 'abusive' and 'depriving' for fathers were higher in the former subgroup, whereas that on the subscale 'performance oriented' for fathers was higher in the latter. No significant difference was observed among patients suffering from the various subtypes of epilepsy. These results are consistent with the idea that parents of epileptics tend to encourage passivity in their children, have low expectations as regards their ability to operate effectively, and treat them in a more indulgent way because of their disability. Furthermore, they are in line with the reported association between maternal overprotectiveness and problem behaviour in epileptics.