An update on promising and emerging protein kinase B/AKT inhibitors for breast cancer.

Introduction: . The PI3K pathway is crucial in breast cancer (BC), influencing cell survival, growth, and metabolism, with AKT playing a central role in treatment resistance. This pathway's involvement in breast carcinogenesis and its link to treatment resistance underscores the significance of targeting it in BC therapy.

Advancing treatment choices: CDK4/6 inhibitor switching in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) use has revolutionized the treatment of hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer. The choice of a specific CDK4/6i may be influenced by adverse events (AEs). Recently, the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) approved the possibility of switching between CDK4/6i for unacceptable toxicity.

Oral selective estrogen receptor degraders for breast cancer treatment: focus on pharmacological differences.

Purpose: The management of hormone receptor-positive (HR +) breast cancer (BC) relies on endocrine therapy (ET), with a primary focus on disrupting estrogen receptor (ER) signaling due to its critical role in BC tumorigenesis and progression. While effective for both early-stage and advanced breast cancers, ET frequently encounters resistance mechanisms, including both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent trajectories, ultimately leading to disease progression.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus databases to review the current evidence on the use of novel oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) for the treatment of HR+ BC.

Prognostic value of residual disease (RD) biology and gene expression changes during the neoadjuvant treatment in patients with HER2+ early breast cancer (EBC).

Background: In HER2+ early breast cancer (EBC), we investigated tumor and immune changes during neoadjuvant treatment and their impact on residual disease (RD) biology and prognostic implications across 4 neoadjuvant studies of trastuzumab with or without lapatinib, and with or without chemotherapy: CALGB 40601, PAMELA, NeoALTTO and NSABP B-41.

Patients And Methods: We compared tumor and immune gene expression changes during neoadjuvant treatment and their association with with event-free survival (EFS) by uni- and multivariable Cox regression models in different cohorts and timepoints: 452 RD samples at baseline including 169 with a paired RD, and biomarker changes during neoadjuvant therapy, evaluating model performance via the c-index.

Results: Analysis of 169 paired tumor samples revealed a shift in intrinsic subtype proportions from HER2-Enriched at baseline (50.

Spectral CT for non-invasive evaluation of bladder cancer grade.

Objective: To investigate the potential role of dual-energy spectral computer tomography (CT) quantitative parameters in the definition of bladder cancer (BCa) pathological grading.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the use of spectral CT imaging features for BCa. From 2021 to 2023, 63 patients with histologically-confirmed BCa diagnosis were examined at our Institution.

Female genital cosmetic procedures from the perspective of health practitioners: a systematic review of knowledge, attitude and practice studies.

Background: Currently, the popularity of female genital cosmetic procedures is on the rise worldwide. Despite the multiple roles of healthcare practitioners at different stages of women's decision-making for these procedures, limited studies have been conducted in this area. This systematic review aimed to summarize the available qualitative and quantitative data from observational studies that investigated healthcare practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding female genital cosmetic procedures.

Molecular tumor board in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: Comprehensive genomic profiling is becoming increasingly important in the management of patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Real-world clinical outcomes from applying molecular tumor boards (MTBs) recommendations in this context remain limited. Accordingly, we conducted a retrospective, single-institution analysis to evaluate the clinical impact of discussing patients affected by mBC at the MTB.

Genomic and clinical landscape of metastatic hormone receptors-positive breast cancers carrying ESR1 alterations.

Background: Somatic genetic alterations of the estrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1) are enriched in endocrine therapy-resistant, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Herein, we investigated and compared the clinical and genomic landscape of ESR1-mutant (ESR1) and ESR1 wild type (ESR1) ER+/ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)- mBCs.

Methods: Clinical and genomic data were retrieved from cBioPortal using the publicly-available MSK MetTropism dataset.

Inflammation promotes stomach epithelial defense by stimulating the secretion of antimicrobial peptides in the mucus.

The mucus serves as a protective barrier in the gastrointestinal tract against microbial attacks. While its role extends beyond merely being a physical barrier, the extent of its active bactericidal properties remains unclear, and the mechanisms regulating these properties are not yet understood. We propose that inflammation induces epithelial cells to secrete antimicrobial peptides, transforming mucus into an active bactericidal agent.

Cell-based glycoengineering of extracellular vesicles through precise genome editing.

Engineering of extracellular vesicles (EVs) towards more efficient targeting and uptake to specific cells has large potentials for their application as therapeutics. Carbohydrates play key roles in various biological interactions and are essential for EV biology. The extent to which glycan modification of EVs can be achieved through genetic glycoengineering of their parental cells has not been explored yet.

Cyber social proof and hazard: Investigating the impact of social media on pediatric burn incidents - Analysis and comprehensive literature review.

Investigating the growing concern of pediatric burn injuries caused by social media challenges. Adolescents, seeking fame or succumbing to peer pressure, engage in risky behaviors, recording and sharing them online. The study presents two case reports detailing severe burn injuries resulting from such challenges, highlighting the physical and psychological toll on affected children and their families.

Potential of Polar Lipids Isolated from the Marine Sponge () against Melanoma.

Marine sponges represent a good source of natural metabolites for biotechnological applications in the pharmacological, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical fields. In the present work, we analyzed the biotechnological potential of the alien species () de Weerdt, de Kluijver & Gomez, 1999, previously collected in the Mediterranean Sea (Faro Lake, Sicily). The bioactivity and chemical content of this species has never been investigated, and information in the literature on its Caribbean counterpart is scarce.

Effect of age on safety and efficacy of novel cancer drugs investigated in early-phase clinical trials.

Background: Elderly patients are underrepresented in clinical trials, particularly in early-phase studies. Our study assessed the safety and efficacy of novel anti-cancer treatments investigated in early-phase clinical trials, comparing outcomes between younger and elderly patients.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from patients enrolled in phase I/II trials at our center between January 2014 and April 2021.

Invasive lobular breast cancer: Focus on prevention, genetics, diagnosis, and treatment.

Invasive lobular cancer (ILC) is the most common of the breast cancer special types, accounting for up to 15% of all breast malignancies. The distinctive biological features of ILC include the loss of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin, which drives the tumor's peculiar discohesive growth pattern, with cells arranged in single file and dispersed throughout the stroma. Typically, such tumors originate in the lobules, are more commonly bilateral compared to invasive ductal cancer (IDC) and require a more accurate diagnostic examination through imaging.

Australian Headache Epidemiology Data (AHEAD): a pilot study to assess sampling and engagement methodology for a nationwide population-based survey.

Background: There are no robust population-based Australian data on prevalence and attributed burden of migraine and medication-overuse headache (MOH) data. In this pilot cross-sectional study, we aimed to capture the participation rate, preferred response method, and acceptability of self-report questionnaires to inform the conduct of a future nationwide migraine/MOH epidemiological study.

Methods: We developed a self-report questionnaire, available in hard-copy and online, including modules from the Headache-Attributed Restriction, Disability, Social Handicap and Impaired Participation (HARDSHIP) questionnaire, the Eq.

Exploring the decision-making process of female genital cosmetic procedures in Iranian women and constructing and validating a results-based logic model for a healthy public policy: a study protocol.

Background: Female genital cosmetic procedures have grown rapidly in most parts of the world. Professional organizations have issued warnings about the complications and long-term consequences of these practices. To be able to adopt the right health policies, it is necessary to know why women decide to perform these procedures.

Interaction of Aromatic Amino Acids with Metal Complexes of Tetrakis-(4-Sulfonatophenyl)Porphyrin.

The interaction of a series of metal derivatives of 5, 10, 15, 20-(4-sulfonato-phenyl)porphyrin (MTPPS, M = Cu(II), Pt(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Co(II)), including the metal free porphyrin (TPPS), with the aromatic amino acids L-tryptophan (L-Trp), L-and D-phenylalanine (L-and D-Phe) and L-histidine (L-His) have been investigated through UV/Vis spectroscopy. The amino acid L-serine (L-Ser) has been included as reference compound. The spectroscopic changes induced by adding the amino acids have been exploited to evaluate the extent of interaction between the molecular components in the supramolecular adducts.

A Kinetic Investigation of the Supramolecular Chiral Self-Assembling Process of Cationic Organometallic (2,2':6',2″-terpyridine)methylplatinum(II) Complexes with Poly(L-glutamic Acid).

The cationic platinum(II) organometallic complex [Pt(terpy)Me] (terpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine) at mild acidic pH interacts with poly(L-glutamic acid) (L-PGA) in its α-helix conformation, affording chiral supramolecular adducts. Their kinetics of formation have been investigated in detail as a function of the concentrations of both reagents and changing pH, ionic strength, the length of the polymeric scaffold and temperature. After a very fast early stage, the kinetic traces have been analyzed as three consecutive steps, suggesting a mechanism based on the electrostatic fast formation of a not-organized aggregate that subsequently evolves through different rearrangements to form the eventual supramolecular adduct.

New Concepts in Cardio-Oncology.

Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the two major causes of morbidity and mortality in worldwide. Discovering new therapeutic agents for the management of breast cancer (BC) has increased the numbers of cancer survivors but with the risk of cardiovascular adverse events (CV-AEs). All drugs can potentially damage the cardiovascular system, with different types of clinical manifestations from ischemic myocardial disease to vasculitis, thrombosis or pericarditis.