Purpose: The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl has recently been identified as a critical element in the invasive properties of glioma cell lines. However, the effect of Axl and its ligand growth arrestŝ pecific gene 6 (Gas6) in human gliomas is still unknown. Experimental Design: Axl and Gas6 expression was studied in 42 fresh-frozen and 79 paraffinembedded glioma specimens by means of reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The prognostic value of Axl and Gas6 expression was evaluated using a population-based tissue microarray derived from a cohort of 55 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients.Results: Axl and Gas6 were detectable in gliomas of malignancy gradesWHO 2 to 4. Moderate to high Axl mRNA expression was found in 61%, Axl protein in 55%, Gas6 mRNA in 81%, and Gas6 proteinin 74% of GBMsamples, respectively. GBM patients withhigh Axl expression and Axl/Gas6 coexpression showed a significantly shorter time to tumor progression and an association with poorer overall survival. Comparative immunohistochemical studies showed that Axl staining was most pronounced in glioma cells of pseudopalisades and reactive astrocytes. Additionally, Axl/ Gas6 coexpression was observed in glioma cells and tumor vessels. In contrast, Axl staining was not detectable in nonneoplastic brain tissue and Gas6 was strongly expressed in neurons.Conclusions: In human gliomas, Axl and Gas6 are frequently overexpressed in both glioma and vascular cells and predict poor prognosis in GBM patients. Our results indicate that specific targeting of the Axl/Gas6 signaling pathway may represent a potential new approach for glioma treatment.

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Ep-CAM overexpression was detectable in the majority of cases with pancreatic and ampullary cancer. Therefore, Ep-CAM represents an attractive target for immune-based therapeutic interventions in these tumour entities. However, the prognostic value of Ep-CAM overexpression remains undetermined.

Abstract:The aim of this pilot study was to test the prognostic value of serial measurements of peripheral endothelial function, assessed by brachial artery flowmediated dilation (FMD), in patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease. In 68 patients, FMD was measured on the day after coronary angiography and again after a mean of 14 Ϯ 12 months. Patients were divided into two groups: absolute improvement in FMD Ն 3% (FMD-improver ϭ FMD-i) and Ͻ3% (FMDnon-improver ϭ FMD-ni). After a mean follow-up of 44 Ϯ 12 months, cardiovascular events were recorded. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except the number of risk factors which was smaller in FMD-i (1.6 Ϯ 0.7 vs 2.1 Ϯ 0.9, p Ͻ 0.02). Cardiovascular events were more frequent in FMD-ni (9 vs 1 event; p Ͻ 0.05). In Kaplan-Meier analysis, a trend towards a better outcome in patients with improved FMD was found using the log-rank test (p ϭ 0.08). The single baseline FMD showed no relationship with late cardiovascular events. Thus, 'delta-FMD' may be more closely related to prognosis than a single FMD measurement.

Background: Methodological heterogeneity of studies and geographical variation limit conclusions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of youth. This study aimed to explore the health-related quality of life and mental health of children and adolescents in the second year of the pandemic in South Tyrol, Italy. Methods: An online survey representative for the age and gender of the children and adolescents in South Tyrol was conducted among 5159 families with children and adolescents aged 7–19 years, between 28 May and 16 June 2021. The survey collecting parental ratings and self-rated questionnaires from children and adolescents aged 11–19 years included instruments to measure health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10), mental health problems (SDQ), anxiety (SCARED), and depression (CES-DC). The results were compared with data from corresponding studies conducted in Germany. Results: Decreased health-related quality of life and increased conduct problems, peer-related mental health problems, anxiety, and depressive and psychosomatic symptoms in children and adolescents observed in the second year of the pandemic in Germany were confirmed in the second year in South Tyrol. Children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status, a migration background, and limited living space were significantly affected. Female sex and older age were associated with increased psychosocial problems and a positive family climate supported the mental health of children and adolescents during the pandemic. Conclusions: Confirmation of findings of decreased health-related quality of life and increased emotional problems after the first year of the pandemic supports the ongoing call for low-threshold health promotion, prevention, and early intervention programs to support children and adolescents who have been severely affected by the pandemic.

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Background: German is a minority language in Italy and is spoken by the majority of the inhabitants of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, South Tyrol. Linguistic group membership in South Tyrol is an established determinant of health information-seeking behavior. Because the COVID-19 incidence and vaccination coverage in the second year of the pandemic in Italy was the worst in South Tyrol, we investigated whether linguistic group membership is related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a probability-based sample of 1425 citizens from South Tyrol in March 2021. The questionnaire collected information on socio-demographics, including linguistic group membership, comorbidities, COVID-19-related experiences, conspiracy thinking, well-being, altruism, and likelihood of accepting the national vaccination plan. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy. Results: Overall, 15.6 percent of the sample reported vaccine hesitancy, which was significantly higher among German speakers than among other linguistic groups. Increased hesitancy was mostly observed in young age, the absence of chronic disease, rural residence, a worsened economic situation, mistrust in institutions, and conspiracy thinking. In the multiple logistic regression analyses, linguistic group membership was not an independent predictor of vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: Although German is a minority language in Italy and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was higher in the German native language group than in the Italian, linguistic group membership was not an independent predictor of hesitancy in the autonomous province. Known predictors of vaccine hesitancy are distributed unevenly across language groups. Whether language group-specific intervention strategies to promote vaccine hesitancy are useful requires further study.