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Introduction: COVID-19 has disrupted the global health care system since March 2020. Lung cancer (LC) patients (pts) represent a vulnerable population highly affected by the pandemic. This multicenter Italian study aimed to evaluate whether the COVID-19 outbreak had an impact on access to cancer diagnosis and treatment of LC pts compared with pre-pandemic time. Methods: Consecutive newly diagnosed LC pts referred to 25 Italian Oncology Departments between March and December 2020 were included. Access rate and temporal intervals between date of symptoms onset and diagnostic and therapeutic services were compared with the same period in 2019. Differences between the 2 years were analyzed using the chi-square test for categorical variables and the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables. Results: A slight reduction (−6.9%) in newly diagnosed LC cases was observed in 2020 compared with 2019 (1523 versus 1637, P = 0.09). Newly diagnosed LC pts in 2020 were more likely to be diagnosed with stage IV disease (P < 0.01) and to be current smokers (someone who has smoked more than 100 cigarettes, including hand-rolled cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, in their lifetime and has smoked in the last 28 days) (P < 0.01). The drop in terms of new diagnoses was greater in the lockdown period (percentage drop −12% versus −3.2%) compared with the other months included. More LC pts were referred to a low/medium volume hospital in 2020 compared with 2019 (P = 0.01). No differences emerged in terms of interval between symptoms onset and radiological diagnosis (P = 0.94), symptoms onset and cytohistological diagnosis (P = 0.92), symptoms onset and treatment start (P = 0.40), and treatment start and first radiological revaluation (P = 0.36). Conclusions: Our study pointed out a reduction of new diagnoses with a shift towards higher stage at diagnosis for LC pts in 2020. Despite this, the measures adopted by Italian Oncology Departments ensured the maintenance of the diagnostic-therapeutic pathways of LC pts.

The PEOPLE trial aimed to identify new immune biomarkers in negative and low programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) (0%-49%) advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab. Here we report the main outcomes and the circulating immune biomarkers analysis.The primary endpoint of this phase II trial was the identification of immune biomarkers associated with progression-free survival (PFS). Overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DoR) and safety were secondary endpoints. Absolute cell counts for 36 subsets belonging to innate and adaptive immunity were determined by multiparametric flow cytometry in peripheral blood at baseline and at first radiologic evaluation. An orthoblique principal components-based clustering approach and multivariable Cox regression model adjusted for clinical variables were used to analyze immune variables and their correlation with clinical endpoints.From May 2018 to October 2020, 65 patients were enrolled. After a median follow-up of 26.4 months, the median PFS was 2.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-5.6 months] and median OS was 12.1 months (95% CI 8.7-17.1 months). The ORR was 21.5%, DCR was 47.7% and median DoR was 14.5 months (95% CI 6.4-24.9 months). Drug-related grade 3-4 adverse events were 9.2%. Higher T cell and natural killer (NK) cell count at baseline and at the first radiologic evaluation were associated with improved PFS, DCR and OS. On the contrary, higher myeloid cell count at baseline or at the first radiologic evaluation was significantly associated with worse OS and DCR.Circulating immune biomarkers can contribute to predict outcomes in negative and low PD-L1 aNSCLC patients treated with first-line single-agent pembrolizumab.

The archaeological strip, map and sample enabled a banked ditch and two parcels of ridge and furrow to be further explored and dated. The north/south aligned ditch and banks were constructed sometime after the 11th century, with the ditch being backfilled post 15th century. Two parcels of east/west aligned ridge and furrow were evaluated with the parcel to the west of the ditch yielding pottery from the 11th through to the 18th century. The ridge and furrow to the west of the ditch produced no dating evidence. The potential for stripping in this area was less than to the west, due to the positioning of the development site. Ridge and furrow to the east of the ditch are still present and will not be affected by the development. Further archaeological assessments in the village of Cowthorpe would be required to start to build up a more comprehensive narrative for the medieval period.

Planning (21/00132/FUL) was approved for the construction of a small rear yard extension at 18 Lower Ebor Street, York, SE 603510. The site is located within the York City Centre Area of Archaeological Importance. Due to the site's location within the York City Centre Area of Archaeological Importance and its proximity to three undesignated monuments (Clementhorpe Roman Villa, Clementhorpe Roman Cemetery and Clementhorpe Nunnery), the granted planning permission came with an attached watching brief archaeological condition. No discrete contexts were present during the ground reduction. The archaeological layers observed related to the original late 19th century construction of Lower Ebor Street and neighbouring 20th-21st century rear extension works.

An archaeological evaluation of trial trenches was implemented to the rear of 15 Borough Place, Church Street, Whitby. Three trenches of 1.00m by 2.00m were opened. The archaeological nature of the garden plot was uncertain and earlier deposits could have been present. The evaluation determined that Medieval deposits are not present. Residual material culture from the Medieval period and earlier was scarcely visible within the made ground layers. Less than 3% of the total pottery assemblage comprised sherds predating the 16th century; the majority were assigned to the 19th to 20th century. Other residual artefacts included five pieces of worked Whitby jet. The 19th century examples are likely to have been contained with other waste incorporated into the made ground layers, whereas the Bronze Age examples would have been residually present either at the site or close by. The evaluation concluded that Trenches 2 and 3, both located in the lower terrace of the garden, have seen significant 20th century disturbance and landscaping. Trench 1 was located on the upper terrace and results confirmed that this area had seen less 20th century disturbance than the lower terrace. 19th century made ground was recorded in the upper terrace at a depth of 1.00m below ground level. Beneath this, at a depth of 1.45m bgl, was natural clay. This would suggest that the first phase of significant ground build up/terracing took place during the early 19th century, after the construction of 7-11 Borough Place The evaluation established that the garden plot contains 19th century made ground laid directly onto natural clay. The original level of this process was 1.45m below ground level. The site has very low potential to contain pre-19th century undesignated archaeological deposits or discrete features.

An archaeological watching brief took place in and around the vicinity of the Sutton Bank National Park Centre between the months of May and June 2020. LS Archaeology was commissioned by the North York Moors National Park Authority to undertake the archaeological works associated with this watching brief. The watching brief involved the monitoring of groundworks associated with new leisure amenities and their associated infrastructure. The archaeological watching brief comprised a combined study area of approximately 10,780m2. One archaeological feature [Feature [4]] was observed during the watching brief; an elongated oval pit dug into the natural geology and filled with fire damaged sandstone with humified peat crumb. Dating evidence in the form of charcoal was encountered during the environmental assessment of the fill. C14 dating yielded a date of 3890+/-30BP (Beta-569347), giving a calibrated age of 2469-2291 BC (at 95.4% probability), the Late Neolithic. This Late Neolithic feature has been tentatively interpreted as a small burnt mound feature, with one possible function being that of a sweat house.

We reviewed 20 studies on wolf diet in Italy, to relate the changes in diet composition to the increase of wild ungulate population in Italy. Researches covered the period from 1976 to 2004 and the whole range of wolves from southern Apennines to western Alps. We used the frequency of occurrence of seven food categories and of the wild ungulate species occurring in the diet. Estimates of wild ungulate populations were obtained from the literature and we extrapolated their trend in the period considered. Differences among geographic areas (south-central Apennines, northern Apennines, and western Alps) were tested by nonparametric multivariate analysis of variance, while the trends of the wild ungulate and livestock use and of diet breadth were analysed by regression and curve-fit analyses. We used the same method to support the relationships between the use and availability of wild ungulates. Wolves preyed on wild herbivores more in the northern Apennines and in the western Alps than in the southern Apenni...

We retrospectively studied the outcome of pregnancy in 62 cases of absent end diastolic flow (AEDF) of umbilical artery Doppler flow velocity waveform. The history of pregnancies revealed that nearly all were of high risk. Many cases presented cerebral (65%) or uterine (55.5%) Doppler flow abnormalities, or both (38%). We noted 10 fetal deaths and decided 7 pregnancy terminations. Malformation and chromosomal defect rate was 16%. We noted 44 (71%) live-births, a very high rate of cesarean section (86%), prematurity (75%), small for gestational age (39%). Forty-five percent of the neonates had a 1-min Apgar score under 7, which dropped to 27% at 5 min. Neonate mortality rate was 6.9% and the total mortality rate was 34% (21/62). Morbidity was significant (7 cases with severe morbidity, 2 cases with chromosomal abnormality of poor prognosis). We compared different sub-groups with a view to looking for some prenatal factors which predict poor neonatal outcome in case of AEDF.

Objectives. The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) performed by a transforamenal approach in patients with isolated chronic intractable pelvic pain. Materials. Sevenpatients with intractable pelvic pain underwent implantation of self-anchoring leads by way of the dorsal S3 foramen in four cases and of the dorsal S4 foramen in three cases. Patients with pain improvement > 50% underwent sacral nerve root stimulation device implantation. SNS therapeutic efficacy was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and its effects on quality of life (QoL) using the SF-36 scale. Results. During test stimulation five patients had significant and permanent pain relief and subsequently underwent implantation of a permanent device. VAS score improvement was evident in these patients and remained unchanged at 3, 6, and 12 months (median 8 months); SF-36 QoL questionnaire also revealed significant improvement in many domains of QoL including all the four physical domains and three of the four mental domains. There were three complications in our seven patients: one lead fracture, one lead displacement in the presacral space, and one patient who developed pain at the implantable pulse generator site. Conclusions. Transforamenal SNS is effective in relieving isolated pelvic pain but a high complication rate was found.

Liposomal locked-in dendrimers (LLDs), the combination of liposomes and dendrimers in one formulation, represents a relatively new term in the drug carrier technology. LLDs undergone appropriate physicochemical investigation can merge the benefits of liposomal and dendrimeric nanocarriers. In this study generation 1 and 2 hydroxy-terminated dendrimers were synthesized and were then "locked" in liposomes consisting of DOPC/DPPG. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) was loaded into pure liposomes or LLDs and the final products were subjected to lyophilization. The loading of Dox as well as its in vitro release rate from all systems was determined and the interaction of liposomes with dendrimers was assessed by thermal analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results were very promising in terms of drug encapsulation and release rate, factors that can alter the therapeutic profile of a drug with low therapeutic index such as Dox. Physicochemical methods revealed a strong, generation dependent, interaction between liposomes and dendrimers that probably is the basis for the higher loading and slower drug release from the LLDs comparing to pure liposomes. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

Here we report our recent experience in supratentorial cortico-subcortical stimulation mapping during surgery for cerebral lesions closely related to sensorimotor and language areas.We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 101 consecutive patients operated on with the aid of electrical stimulation mapping (ESM). Patients harbored a mass lesion situated in or near language (Group A, 30 patients) and sensorimotor (Group B, 71 patients) areas.A macroscopically complete removal of the tumor was carried out in 22 cases out of 28 of group A and in 57 out of 73 of group B. In the first group there was one postoperative death due to a pulmonary embolism. At a mean follow-up of 24.3 months, 15 patients are still alive, 12 out of them are recurrence free and hold a useful language function, while the other 12 patients had a mean survival time of 19.3 months, with a mean high quality survival period (KPS?70) of 17.8 months. In the second group there was no postoperative death. At a mean follow-up of 24.8 months, 55 patients are alive and 47 maintain a useful motor function. Eighteen patients died for tumor progression, with a mean survival time of 18.7 months. Their median high-quality survival period (KPS ? 70), with preservation of a useful motor function, was 16.5 months.When properly indicated and correctly carried out, ESM for language and motor functions allows to enhance resection of lesions in eloquent areas with a surgical permanent morbidity comparable to that for lesion in non eloquent areas.

We discuss the imaging properties of Controlled-Drift Detectors at high photon occupancy that is when the analog waveform at the anode to be readout contains several pulses that may even be partially overlapping. This condition is encountered when the detector is operated in integrate-readout mode at high count rates like in synchrotron experiments. The imaging information, i.e. the incident photon distribution along the column, is still preserved in the waveform and it can be reconstructed by means of a suitable multiple-pulse signal processing. We evaluated multiple-pulse processing based on the weighted least square algorithm in the most relevant operating conditions to assess the achievable resolution of pulse amplitude and position. This analysis allows definition of achievable performances and limitations of Controlled Drift Detectors in high-rate single-photon spectroscopic imaging of X-rays.

Aim of the present work is the development of the hardware, firmware and software architecture of a Data Acquisition (DAQ) system suitable for the readout of high-speed high-resolution Silicon Drift Detectors and of Controlled-Drift Detectors for spectroscopic imaging of X-rays. The novelty of the developed DAQ system is to be sensitive to multiple pulses present in the sampled waveform without loss in measurement resolution with respect to a single pulse algorithm. This feature is particularly important at high event rates as it would improve the detected rate and also avoid errors in the pulse measurements. A multi-max search algorithm has been developed and implemented in order to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. The focus is on the description of the general architecture and on the full test of DAQ chain in experimental conditions. The resolution of the measured amplitude and time-of-arrival has been evaluated in the case of two pulses per waveform, including the case of partially overlapping events. In the case of Poissonian occurrence of pulses we compared the main performance parameters of the developed multiple-pulse DAQ (case of n=2 pulses) with respect to a single- pulse DAQ which confirmed the expected increase of the event throughput in nice agreement with the theoretical expectations and showed no degradation of the measurement resolution.

In the present paper feasibility and potential advantages of using diode laser for surgical treatment of cerebral ischemia and intracranial aneurysms will be evaluated. At this purpose non linear mathematical model was developed and experimentally validated to investigate the effects of the changes in tissue physical properties, in terms of operating time, tensile strength and tissue damage during medical laser application. The numerical simulations have been carried on by a finite-elements based software package (FEMLAB). In vitro results of human saphenous veins of inferior limbs (n=55) after 799 nm diode laser soldering, combined with an indocyanine green-enhanced, will be presented. The simulations results and their comparison with experimental measurements will be reported.

Neuromodulation is an appealing new technique that can be proposed even to treat paediatric neurogenic bladder dysfunction in view of its usefulness and miniinvasiveness. Further technological improvements, including the production of miniaturized, more flexible and resistant electrodes, more stable and empowered integrated circuits and the application of telemetry for computerized setting of the stimulators and transfer of data, will likely broaden the indications of neuromodulation, which could become the standard treatment option for neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

Neurogenic low urinary tract dysfunctions unresponsive to medical and conservative therapy are difficult to manage. Nowadays they can be treated with Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS), even if clinical experiences reported in literature are still limited.We performed SNS in 6 patients with neurogenic bladder: 3 patients had incontinence-urgency (1 myelitis, 1 multiple sclerosis, 1 autonomic polineuropathy) and 3 patients had urinary retention (1 incomplete spinal cord lesion, 1 operation for discal hernia T5-T6, 1 hysterectomy).Among cases with incontinence-urgency we achieved complete control of the bladder in 2 patients while in 1 patient the number of urinary losses was reduced of the 80%. In 2 patients with urinary retention we obtained complete recovery of the bladder function, while in 1 patient the number of cateterisms/die reduced of 50%, the urinary volume for micturion increased and residual urinary volume decreased. Results were unchanged during the follow-up (maximum 26 months), except for 1 patient in which a partial loss of effectiveness occurred.Chronic electric stimulation of S3 sacral roots via an implanted neuroprotesis is therefore an effectiveness, save and promising therapeutic option in treatment of neurogenic bladder dysfunctions.

The preliminary results obtained by the Study Group for Treatment of Involuntary Movements by Extradural Motor Cortex Stimulation (EMCS) of the Italian Neurosurgical Society, are reported. The series includes 16 cases of very advanced Parkinson's Disease (PD), aged 46-81; 15 of them were not eligible for Deep Brain Stimulation. Ten cases have been evaluated at 3-30 months after implantation. Unilateral, sub-threshold extradural motor cortex stimulation (2 8 Volt, 100-400 microsec., 20-120 Hz) by chronically implanted electrodes, relieves, at least partially, but sometime dramatically, the whole spectrum of symptoms of advanced PD. Tremor and rigor bilaterally in all limbs and akinesia are reduced. Standing, gait, motor performance, speech and swallowing are improved. Benefit is marked as far as axial symptoms is concerned. Also the symptoms of Long Term Dopa Syndrome -dyskinesias, motor fluctuations - and other secondary effect of levodopa administration psychiatric symptoms - are improved. Levodopa dosage may be reduced by 50%. The effect seems persistent and does not fade away with time. Improvement ranged, on the basis of the UPDRS scale, from25% to 75%. There was only one case of complete failure. Quality of life is markedly improved in patients who were absolutely incapable of walking and unable arise out of chair. After stimulation they could walk, even if assistance was necessary. Improvement was observed also in those with disabling motor fluctuation and dyskinesias which could be abolished.

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive tumors in mankind with 50% of patients dying within the 1st year of diagnosis, and being refractory to conventional therapies. The aim of our work has been to analyse the expression of the HMGA1 proteins in human astrocytomas and glioblastomas in order to verify whether the detection of these proteins might be of some help in the diagnosis of these neoplasias. Here we report the analysis of 27 cases, including 12 astrocytomas and 15 glioblastomas, for HMGA1 expression. All the neoplastic samples showed positive staining even though the number of positive cells and the staining intensity was higher in glioblastomas compared to astrocytomas. Conversely, HMGA1 proteins were not detected in normal brain. Accordingly, expression of the hmga1 gene, analysed by RT-PCR, was higher in glioblastomas than in astrocytomas.

Introduction: This study assessed in-vitro shear bond strength and in-vivo survival rate of orthodontic brackets bonded with either a halogen or a plasma arc light. Methods: Ninety extracted premolars were divided into 6 groups of 15. Stainless steel brackets were bonded to the teeth by using either a halogen light with a 20-second curing time or a plasma arc light with a 2-, 6-, or 10-second curing time. Brackets were debonded either within 30 minutes of bonding or after thermocycling for 24 hours. Bond strengths were tested on a testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/minute. The bracket failure interface was measured with a modified adhesive remnant index score. Data were analyzed by using ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison tests. For the in-vivo study, a split-arch design was used to determine the bracket-failure rate and distribution in 25 patients. The patients were followed for a mean period of 1.1 years (386 days). Survival analysis was carried out to compare the failure rates of the 2 techniques. Results: No significant differences in bond strengths were found 30 minutes after bonding between the halogen light (13.6 ± 3.8 MPa) and the plasma arc light with 2-, 6-, or 10-second curing times (9.6 ± 2.9, 14.2 ± 4.6, 16.0 ± 3.0 MPa, respectively). Similar bond strengths were also found between the halogen light with a 20-second (16.1 ± 3.6 MPa) curing time and plasma arc light with 6 seconds (18.2 ± 4.6 MPa) of curing time after 24 hours of thermocycling. For the in-vivo study, no significant difference was found in bracket failure rates between the 2 light sources (4.9% in both groups). No significant differences were found between ARI scores for the halogen light and the plasma arc light at either 30 minutes or 24 hours after debonding. Conclusions: These results indicate that the plasma arc light with a 6-second curing time can produce similar bond strength and bracket-failure rates as the halogen light that requires a longer curing time.

A pseudohypertrophy of the calf can be rarely associated with neurogenic pathologies as S-1 radiculopathy, poliomyelitis, spinal muscular atrophy, traumatic lesions of peripheral nerves, intraspinal neurinoma. The causes of this particular phenomenon are unknown. The authors present the case of a 52-year-old man with an enlargement of the left calf suffering from a mild form of spinal paralytic poliomyelitis in the early childhood and episodes of severe left sciatica in the last four years. Electromyography demonstrated a pattern of denervation in both legs and an H-reflex absent when the left tibial nerve was stimulated. An open muscle biopsy of the left calf was performed. Light microscopic and ultrastructural examination of the muscle confirmed the presence of a pattern of "neurogenic type" pseudohypertrophy. Our results could be interesting for the understanding of the mechanism of neurogenic pseudohypertrophy. This case suggests that timing of stimulus or "dose" of denervation may be important factors in such a phenomenon.

A retrospective clinical-pathological review of 192 lumbar intervertebral discs removed via an interlaminar approach or percutaneous nucleotomy from patients suffering from sciatic pain was carried out in order to assess if routine examination is useful. Only for a case of our series, which showed ill defined features at preoperative neuroradiologic imaging, an intraoperative pathologic examination was necessary. Immunohistochemical study was never required. A routine examination with a hematoxilin-eosin stain was sufficient also to recognize postoperative scar in patients reoperated. In conclusion we think that routine examination of the intervertebral disc is a procedure which is not expensive and useful to assess the nature of the lesion in reoperated patients and in rare cases showing unclear radiologic pattern.

This retrospective look at literature and information regarding the epidemiology of HIV and its progression to AIDS is based on many worldwide sources to determine with some certainty the true severity of the epidemic. The purpose of this article is to permit the reader to become more informed concerning the epidemic, based on a global outlook.Global survey estimates of HIV/AIDS suggest an overwhelming increase in the severity of the epidemic. According to UN survey estimates, over 3.1 million people were infected with HIV in 1996, with 8500 new cases occurring per day. About 5 million adults and 1.5 million children have died since the beginning of the epidemic, and this proportion is continually increasing. Substantial increases in the HIV prevalence rate are observed in Vietnam, Thailand, Europe, the US, Australia and sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of these infections is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse as well as intravenous drug use. While people of reproductive age are the most common victims of HIV/AIDS, children are not spared from contracting the disease. Studies have shown that this deadly disease can be controlled and prevented through early identification and initiation of antiretroviral therapy, use of prophylactic medications to prevent secondary AIDS-related diseases, as well as vigorous implementation of prevention activities such as community outreach and needle-exchange programs. Since the clinical status of most persons infected with HIV has not yet progressed to AIDS, AIDS prevalence underestimates the total number of people with HIV in need of related services and further highlights the need for early detection and prevention methods.

We report a case of post-Paget telangiectatic osteosarcoma of the skull in a 75-year-old woman. Such a neoplasia is a rare variant of osteosarcoma, a tumor rare in the cranic bones. The patient was submitted for a careful analysis by the following procedures: technetium scintigram, X-rays, CT scan, and MRI. After the surgical procedure, pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. Both radiological and pathological pattern of this tumor are discussed in relation to the differential diagnosis. Our report shows that benign lesions may represent a possible cause of diagnostic errors. They must be excluded by histological analysis.

Tubercular infection is a rare occurrence in the lower cervical spine. The isolated involvement of the posterior arch is particularly rare, and the very few cases in which it is reported at the thoracic or lumbar levels were principally observed in immunodepressive patients. It is the purpose of this study to describe two cases of tuberculosis of the lower cervical spine with neurological deficit: one expansive neoformation at the level of the arch of C7, with saving of the vertebral body and the discs, and a spondylodiscitis at C4-C5, treated conservatively, the healing process of which was followed by MRI.

e15142 Background: Radical cystectomy is commonly considered the standard primary approach for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Some randomized trials and a large metanalysis suggest an overa...

This report describes and illustrates the results of the histopathological and histochemical investigation on five slow-growing tumors of the central nervous system: four meningiomas and an ependymoma of the spinal cord. We have studied, by means of polarizing microscopy, sections stained with picro-sirius red F3BA that enhance the birefringence of collagen and reticulum fibres. The heterogeneous behaviour of the distribution of the collagen let us conclude that the fibrillar component of the extracellular matrix have a scarce importance for the speed of growth of these tumours.

Quantitative determination of neuron-specific enolase in the serum was performed by RIA method in 18 neurological patients and in 22 patients with pulmonary diseases. The data confirmed that the specificity of this marker is not absolute for the detection both of the nature and of the seat of origin of the disease. Further problems are posed in patients which simultaneously suffer from endocrine, nervous and pulmonary abnormality.

We present seven cases of tension pneumocephalus developing after burr hole evacuation of chronic subdural haematoma. After a careful review of the literature we discuss the physiopathology, the diagnosis and the treatment of this complication of chronic subdural haematoma surgery.

Glioblastoma. Immunohistochemical staining for tenascin is in the basement membrane zone of tumour vessels and also in the extracellular matrix (originally ×125). The stroma of astrocytic tumours has been investigated in the past years by various authors. Among the proteins of the extracellular matrix tenascin is considered a very important molecule because of presumed links with the malignancy of the tumours and with the angiogenesis1 2 and also a possible target for therapy. To verify these opinions we have performed an immunohistochemical analysis of 10 astrocytic tumours of the cerebral hemispheres. The series of patients comprised six men and four women, ranging in age from 43 to 72 years; seven underwent …

The fine structure of a human medulloblastoma cell strain characterized by the emission of two types of cytoplasmic processes was studied with particular regard to the cytoskeleton organization of the cell processes. A particular abundance of intermediate filaments (6–11 nm) was found in the primary processes. This study suggests that this abundance can strongly condition the cell shape of in vitro medulloblastoma cells and can represent a marker of this type of cells.

Seven patients with spinal osteoid osteomas are reported and another 110 cases from the literature are reviewed. Among the patients spinal pain is the constant clinical complaint, while radicular pain and scoliosis are present in half of the patients. Whereas radiograms and tomograms of the spine are sometimes inadequate for diagnosis, bone scanning is positive in 100% of patients and is useful for directing spinal computed tomography at the exact level of the lesion. Complete removal of the tumoral nidus produces remission of pain in more than 95% of cases. The possibility of an erroneous diagnosis of a lumbar protruded disk and the necessity of a bone scan in young patients with spinal or radicular pain are emphasized.