Right-Sided versus Left-Sided Colectomies for Cancer: Surgical Outcomes and Novel Considerations.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare short-term outcomes of right versus left colectomies performed as a form of cancer treatment.

Materials And Methods: This study includes 305 consecutive patients with adenocarcinoma treated by laparoscopic or open colectomy. Right colectomy has been compared with left colectomy.

Nonlinear optical spectrum of diamond at femtosecond regime.

Although diamond photonics has driven considerable interest and useful applications, as shown in frequency generation devices and single photon emitters, fundamental studies on the third-order optical nonlinearities of diamond are still scarce, stalling the development of an integrated platform for nonlinear and quantum optics. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to those studies by measuring the spectra of two-photon absorption coefficient (β) and the nonlinear index of refraction (n) of diamond using femtosecond laser pulses, in a wide spectral range. These measurements show the magnitude of β increasing from 0.

Early Versus Delayed Source Control in Open Abdomen Management for Severe Intra-abdominal Infections: A Retrospective Analysis on 111 Cases.

Background: Time to source control plays a determinant prognostic role in patients having severe intra-abdominal infections (IAIs). Open abdomen (OA) management became an effective treatment option for peritonitis. Aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between time to source control and outcome in patients presenting with abdominal sepsis and treated by OA.

Tetracarboxy-phthalocyanines: From excited state dynamics to photodynamic inactivation against Bovine herpesvirus type 1.

Herein we present the excited state dynamic of zinc and aluminum tetracarboxy-phthalocyanines (ZnPc and AlPc) and its application in the photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) in vitro. The excited state dynamic provides valuable data to describe the excited state properties of potential optical limiters and/or photosensitizers (PSs), such as: the excited state cross-sections, fluorescence lifetime and triplet state quantum yield. The excited state characterization was performed using three different Z-scan techniques: Single Pulse, White Light Continuum and Pulse Train.

Low threshold Rhodamine-doped whispering gallery mode microlasers fabricated by direct laser writing.

The combination of the outstanding properties of whispering gallery modes with both the flexibility and ease of processing of polymers is particularly attractive for photonics applications. However, the versatile fabrication of polymeric nano/microdevices with the desired photonic performance has proven challenging. Here, we report on lasing in Rhodamine B doped whispering gallery mode microcavities fabricated by direct laser writing via two-photon polymerization.

Femtosecond Two-Photon Absorption Spectroscopy of Poly(fluorene) Derivatives Containing Benzoselenadiazole and Benzothiadiazole.

We have investigated the molecular structure and two-photon absorption (2PA) properties relationship of two push-pull poly(fluorene) derivatives containing benzoselenadiazole and benzothiadiazole units. For that, we have used the femtosecond wavelength-tunable Z-scan technique with a low repetition rate (1 kHz) and an energy per pulse on the order of nJ. Our results show that both 2PA spectra present a strong 2PA (around 600 GM (1 GM = 1 × 10 cm⁴·s·photon)) band at around 720 nm (transition energy 3.

Observation of Distinct Two-Photon Transition Channels in CdTe Quantum Dots in a Regime of Very Strong Confinement.

We report here on the direct observation of distinct two-photon transition channels in glutathione-capped (GSH) CdTe quantum dots (QDs) in a very strong confinement regime. CdTe-GSH QDs with different average diameters (2.5, 3.

Mapping the nursing competences in neonatology: a qualitative research.

Background And Aim: There are several studies that support the importance of advanced expertise and specialization of the neonatal pediatric nurse. However, proceeding with a analysis of the scientific literature regarding the nursing advanced competence in neonatology, very few studies specify and define these competences. The aim of the study is investigate and analyze skills, tasks and responsibilities of the neonatal pediatric nurse, to map a "neonatal nurse competence profile", offered from the points of view of the Neonatology Units professionals.

Hagfish slime exudate stabilization and its effect on slime formation and functionality.

Hagfish produce vast amounts of slime when under attack. The slime is the most dilute hydrogel known to date, and is a highly interesting material for biomaterial research. It forms from a glandular secrete, called exudate, which deploys upon contact with seawater.

TRIBE-2: a phase III, randomized, open-label, strategy trial in unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients by the GONO group.

Background: Chemotherapy plus bevacizumab is a standard first-line treatment for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Different chemotherapy backbones may be chosen, including one to three drugs, based on patients' general conditions and comorbidities, treatments' objectives, and disease characteristics. TRIBE trial demonstrated a significant advantage in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival for FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as compared with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab.

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy: preliminary experience in Italy.

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) is a feasible novel surgical procedure that does not need visible incisions. We describe our initial experience with TOETVA. We recruited 15 patients who were willing to undergo TOETVA.

Effects of surfactant treatment in late preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate surfactant effectiveness for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in late preterm infants.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of infants born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation admitted for respiratory failure in seven perinatal centers from January 2010 to December 2014. We evaluated changes of FiO, PaO and a/APO in surfactant-treated patients, and the need and duration of MV, the duration of noninvasive respiratory support, stay in NICU and in hospital in surfactant-treated and untreated late preterm infants with RDS alone.

Subperceptional Burst Versus Perceptional Tonic Spinal Cord Stimulation Waveforms for Drug-resistant Orthostatic Tremor: Comparative Data of 2 Cases.

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and deep-brain stimulation reportedly improve refractory orthostatic tremor (OT). No comparative data exist assessing subperceptional versus perceptional SCS with sham stimulation in patients with OT.

Methods: Two patients who had refractory OT were assessed at baseline and 3 months after SCS implantation using 3 different SCS modes: paraesthesia-free burst SCS (40 Hz), sham SCS, and paraesthesia-evoking tonic SCS (100-130 Hz).

Lymphadenectomy in elderly/high risk patients: should it be different?

The global aging of population will lead a greater number of elderly patients to undergo surgical procedure in a near future. Concerning gastric cancer, the impact of lymphadenectomy on survival has been demonstrated in RCTs, and extended lymphadenectomy is now considered as gold standard of treatment in non-early tumors. However, the role of age as a prognostic factor and the benefit of extended surgery in elderly/high-risk patients are not clearly defined yet.

N staging system: tumor-node-metastasis and future perspectives.

The correct staging of disease, with an exact definition of the extent of cancer at the diagnosis, is crucial in the planning of a specific treatment and in the assessment of real chances of cure. Cancer staging systems are expected to be accurate in the description of the severity of a patient's tumor on the basis of the extent of the primary neoplasm and of its spread, thus giving clinician tools to estimate prognosis and providing objective parameters to compare groups of patients in clinical studies. This last point is of wide importance in evaluating successful treatment strategies in oncology, and this is one of the issues that contributed to the development of stage-adapted therapies.

Screening for Frailty in Older Patients With Early-Stage Solid Tumors: A Prospective Longitudinal Evaluation of Three Different Geriatric Tools.

Background: Frailty increases the risk of adverse health outcomes and/or dying when exposed to a stressor, and routine frailty assessment is recommended to guide treatment decision. The Balducci frailty criteria (BFC) and Fried frailty criteria (FFC) are commonly used, but these are time consuming. Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13) score of ≥7, a simple and resource conserving function-based scoring system, may be used instead.

Usefulness of CBCT and guidance software for percutaneous embolization of a lymphatic leakage after thyroidectomy for cancer.

Lymphatic leakage can develop as an iatrogenic complication of thoracic, cardiac, and neck surgery. The management of this complication may be challenging and involves more specialists. Percutaneous, image-guided techniques may offer two advantages: mini-invasivity and ability to image and identify the anatomy and the site of the leakage.

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via vestibular approach: operative steps and video.

In this video we describe transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA). Inclusion criteria are (I) patients who had a ultrasonographically (US) estimated thyroid diameter not larger than 10 cm; (II) US estimated gland volume ≤45 mL; (III) nodule size ≤50 mm; (IV) a benign tumor, such as a thyroid cyst, single-nodular goiter, or multinodular goiter; (V) follicular neoplasm; (VI) papillary microcarcinoma without evidence of metastasis. The procedure is carried out through three-port technique placed at the oral vestibule, one 10-mm port for 30° endoscope and two additional 5-mm ports for dissecting and coagulating instruments.

Italian, Multicenter, Phase III, Randomized Study of Cisplatin Plus Etoposide With or Without Bevacizumab as First-Line Treatment in Extensive-Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer: The GOIRC-AIFA FARM6PMFJM Trial.

Purpose Considering promising results in phase II studies, a randomized phase III trial was designed to assess the efficacy of adding bevacizumab to first-line cisplatin plus etoposide for treatment of extensive-disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Patients and Methods Treatment-naive patients with ED-SCLC were randomly assigned to receive either cisplatin plus etoposide (arm A) or the same regimen with bevacizumab (arm B) for a maximum of six courses. In the absence of progression, patients in arm B continued bevacizumab alone until disease progression or for a maximum of 18 courses.

Serum LDH predicts benefit from bevacizumab beyond progression in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Different antiangiogenics are currently indicated in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), following a first-line bevacizumab-containing treatment. The magnitude of benefit is limited, but no predictors of benefit have been identified.

Methods: A total of 184 mCRC patients progressing to a first-line bevacizumab-containing treatment were randomised in the BEBYP study to continue or not the antiangiogenic in combination with a second-line chemotherapy.

Real-time Intraoperative Fluorescent Lymphography: A New Technique for Lymphatic Sparing Surgery.

Background: Many surgical procedures can produce persistent lymphorrhea, lymphoceles, and lymphedema after lymph node and lymph vessel damage. Appropriate visualization of the lymphatic system is challenging. Indocyanine green (ICG) is a well-known nontoxic dye for lymphatic flow evaluation.

Operative Treatment of Type 2 Endoleaks Involving the Inferior Mesenteric Artery.

Background: We report the results of the operative treatment for type 2 endoleak (T2E) involving the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) using the transarterial embolization (TAE) or the video laparoscopic ligation (VLS).

Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2015, we retrospectively analyzed 901 patients treated with endovascular aortic repair (EVAR): 883 (98%) had 1 valid postoperative radiologic evaluation, at least. All patients with operative repair for IMA-related T2E entered the final analysis.

Indocyanine green-enhanced fluorescence for assessing parathyroid perfusion during thyroidectomy.

Identification of the parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery may prevent their inadvertent surgical removal and thus provide a better postoperative quality of life. Nevertheless, the most common "technique" for intraoperative evaluation of perfusion of parathyroid gland tissues during thyroid surgery is visual inspection of the physical condition of tissues, e.g.

hERG1 positivity and Glut-1 negativity identifies high-risk TNM stage I and II colorectal cancer patients, regardless of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: The identification of early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) with high risk of progression is one major clinical challenge, mainly due to lack of validated biomarkers. The aims of the present study were to analyze the prognostic impact of three molecular markers belonging to the ion channels and transporters family: the (hERG1) and the KCa3.1 potassium channels, as well as the (Glut-1); and to define the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in conjunction with the abovementioned biomarkers, in a cohort of radically resected stage I-III CRC patients.