University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

About: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is a education organization based out in Modena, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 8179 authors who have published 22418 publications receiving 671337 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia & Universita degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia.

Adapted Treatment Guided by Interim PET-CT Scan in Advanced Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Abstract: BACKGROUND We tested interim positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) as a measure of early response to chemotherapy in order to guide treatment for patients with advanced Hodgkin' ...

Astrocytes and Glioblastoma cells release exosomes carrying mtDNA.

Abstract: Cells can exchange information not only by means of chemical and/or electrical signals, but also via microvesicles released into the intercellular space. The present paper, for the first time, provides evidence that Glioblastoma and Astrocyte cells release microvesicles, which carry mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). These microvesicles have been characterised as exosomes in view of the presence of some protein markers of exosomes, such as Tsg101, CD9 and Alix. Thus, the important finding has been obtained that bonafide exosomes, constitutively released by Glioblastoma cells and Astrocytes, can carry mtDNA, which can be, therefore, transferred between cells. This datum may help the understanding of some diseases due to mitochondrial alterations.

Autosomal-dominant hemochrom-atosis is associated with a mutation in the ferroportin (SLC11A3) gene

Abstract: Hemochromatosis is a progressive iron overload disorder that is prevalent among individuals of European descent. It is usually inherited in an autosomal-recessive pattern and associated with missense mutations in HFE, an atypical major histocompatibility class I gene. Recently, we described a large family with autosomal-dominant hemochromatosis not linked to HFE and distinguished by early iron accumulation in reticuloendothelial cells. Through analysis of a large pedigree, we have determined that this disease maps to 2q32. The gene encoding ferroportin (SLC11A3), a transmembrane iron export protein, lies within a candidate interval defined by highly significant lod scores. We show that the iron-loading phenotype in autosomal-dominant hemochromatosis is associated with a nonconservative missense mutation in the ferroportin gene. This missense mutation, converting alanine to aspartic acid at residue 77 (A77D), was not seen in samples from 100 unaffected control individuals. We propose that partial loss of ferroportin function leads to an imbalance in iron distribution and a consequent increase in tissue iron accumulation.

Prognostic value of pathologic complete response after primary chemotherapy in relation to hormone receptor status and other factors

Abstract: Purpose To evaluate whether hormonal receptor (HR) status can influence the prognostic significance of pathologic complete response (pCR). Patients and Methods This retrospective analysis included 1,731 patients with stage I to III noninflammatory breast cancer treated between 1988 and 2005 with primary chemotherapy (PC). Ninety-one percent of patients received anthracycline-based PC, and 66% received additional taxane therapy. pCR was defined as no evidence of invasive tumor in the breast and axillary lymph nodes. Results Median age was 49 years (range, 19 to 83 years). Sixty-seven percent of patients (n = 1,163) had HR-positive tumors. A pCR was observed in 225 (13%) of 1,731 patients; pCR rates were 24% in HR-negative tumors and 8% in HR-positive tumors (P < .001). A significant survival benefit for patients who achieved pCR compared with no pCR was observed regardless of HR status. In the HR-positive group, 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 96.4% v 84.5% (P = .04) and 5-year progression-free sur...