A Dramatic Response to Second-Line Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in BRAF-V600-Mutated Metastatic Melanoma.

Introduction: Current treatment options for BRAF V600-mutated unresectable stage III/IV melanoma include anti-PD-1 monotherapy or combination with anti-CTLA-4 or anti-LAG-3 agents, BRAF/MEK inhibitors, and clinical trials. The strategy of combination immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab has shown promising results, achieving higher response rates, longer duration of response, improved progression-free survival, and enhanced overall survival. The optimal sequence of treatments remains a topic of interest, with preliminary data suggesting a greater effectiveness of immunotherapy as the first-line approach.

Acute and complicated diverticulitis: are there significant differences between young and elderly patients?

Aim: The aim of our study was to assess if there were any differences in clinical presentation, management, and outcome, between younger and elderly patients with acute diverticulitis (AD).

Material Of Study: 279 patients with diagnosis of AD treated at the General Surgery Department of Trieste from January 2007 to December 2015 were retrospectively examined and then followed for a minimum of 4 years. We divided patients in two categories: young ≤ 50 years and elderly > 50.

Touch Imprinting Cytology may be useful in the intraoperative evaluation of the sentinel lymph node in melanoma.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess whether the reliability of Touch Imprinting Cytology (TIC) of Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in skin melanoma patients allows intraoperative decisions regarding simultaneous radical lymphadenectomy to be made. Previous experiences have shown that the limit of TIC in extemporaneous diagnosis was represented by the minimal deposits of the tumor. Many current data seem to show that in this situation radical lymphadenectomy is no longer necessary, so we wondered if TIC could regain importance in the intraoperative management of these patients.

Quality of life after laparoscopic sigmoid resection for uncomplicated diverticular disease.

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the QoL in patients who underwent elective surgery for uncomplicated diverticulitis using a recently developed diverticulitis quality of life questionnaire (DV-QoL).

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent surgery for uncomplicated diverticulitis or who were hospitalized and treated conservatively for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis episodes in three referral centers, in a 5-year period, were included in the study. The 36-Item Short Form Survey and the DV-QoL were administered to the patients to assess their QoL before and after treatment of diverticular disease.

Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for surgical site infection after colorectal surgery: a single-center experience.

Purpose: Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common complication of colorectal surgery, resulting in significant burden in terms of morbidity and length of hospital stay. The aims of this study were to establish the incidence of SSI in patients undergoing colorectal surgeries and to identify potentially modifiable risk factors to reduce overall SSI rates.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients who underwent colorectal resection at our Department.