Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) as adjuvant and therapeutic options for patients with advanced gastric cancer at high risk of recurrence or established peritoneal metastases: a single-centre experience.

Peritoneal metastases from gastric cancer (PM-GC) have a detrimental prognostic impact on survival and there is a lack of consensus regarding treatment. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may offer a chance for prolonged survival as compared to standard chemotherapy. This study aims to present our experience in the management of GC with CRS and HIPEC.

Assessing the antiproliferative effect of biogenic silver chloride nanoparticles on glioblastoma cell lines by quantitative image-based analysis.

Glioblastoma is the most life-threatening tumour of the central nervous system. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first-choice oral drug for the treatment of glioblastoma, although it shows low efficacy. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been shown to exhibit biocidal activity in a variety of microorganisms, including some pathogenic microorganisms.

Laparoscopic Witzel jejunostomy.

The placement of a feeding jejunostomy can be indicated in malnourished patients with gastric and oesophagogastric junction cancer to allow for enteral nutritional support. In these patients, the jejunostomy tube can be suitably placed at the time of staging laparoscopy. Several techniques of laparoscopic jejunostomy (LJ) have been described, yet the Witzel approach remains neglected, due to the perceived difficulty of suturing the bowel around the tube and securing them to the abdominal wall.

and Characterization of the Anti-Zika Virus Activity of ProTides of 2'-C-β-Methylguanosine.

The ProTide approach has emerged as a powerful tool to improve the intracellular delivery of nucleotide analogs with antiviral and anticancer activity. Here, we characterized the anti-ZIKV (ZIKV, Zika virus) activity of two ProTides of 2'-C-β-methylguanosine. ProTide is a 2'-C-β-methylguanosine tryptamine phosphoramidate monoester, and ProTide is a 2-(methylthio)-ethyl-2'-C-β-methylguanosine tryptamine phosphoramidate diester.

Laminin and Environmental Cues Act in the Inhibition of the Neuronal Differentiation of Enteric Glia .

The enteric glia, a neural crest-derived cell type that composes the Enteric Nervous System, is involved in controlling gut functions, including motility, gut permeability, and neuronal communication. Moreover this glial cell could to give rise to new neurons. It is believed that enteric neurons are generated up to 21 days postnatally; however, adult gut cells with glial characteristics can give rise to new enteric neurons under certain conditions.

MicroRNAs 145 and 148a Are Upregulated During Congenital Zika Virus Infection.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) member of the Flaviviridae family, which has been associated with the development of the congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). RNA viruses, such as flaviviruses, have been reported to exert a profound impact on host microRNAs (miRNAs). Cellular miRNAs modulated by ZIKV may help identify cellular pathways of relevance to pathogenesis.

Emergency Presentation of Gastric Ectopic Pancreas.

Ectopic pancreas is a rare embryological abnormality apparently not in association with others. Stomach and duodenum are the most common organs involved. Symptoms are nonspecific.

Silver/silver chloride nanoparticles inhibit the proliferation of human glioblastoma cells.

Glioblastomas (GBM) are aggressive brain tumors with very poor prognosis. While silver nanoparticles represent a potential new strategy for anticancer therapy, the silver/silver chloride nanoparticles (Ag/AgCl-NPs) have microbicidal activity, but had not been tested against tumor cells. Here, we analyzed the effect of biogenically produced Ag/AgCl-NPs (from yeast cultures) on the proliferation of GBM02 glioblastoma cells (and of human astrocytes) by automated, image-based high-content analysis (HCA).

A standardised and simplified technique for laparoscopic resection of the splenic flexure.

The splenic flexure is an uncommon location of colorectal cancer, being involved in 2%-3% of cases. The low chance of being engaged in resecting cancer of the splenic flexure can make it difficult for surgeons to build their learning curve and to achieve a reliable experience. As the majority of colectomies are still performed by low-volume surgeons, there is growing agreement that providing local services with adequate surgical education and training could be an effective strategy to improve outcomes and global health.

Zika Virus Infects, Activates, and Crosses Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells, without Barrier Disruption.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has been associated to central nervous system (CNS) harm, and virus was detected in the brain and cerebrospinal fluids of microcephaly and meningoencephalitis cases. However, the mechanism by which the virus reaches the CNS is unclear. Here, we addressed the effects of ZIKV replication in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), as an model of blood brain barrier (BBB), and evaluated virus extravasation and BBB integrity in an mouse experimental model.

Sofosbuvir protects Zika virus-infected mice from mortality, preventing short- and long-term sequelae.

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes significant public health concerns because of its association with congenital malformations, neurological disorders in adults, and, more recently, death. Considering the necessity to mitigate ZIKV-associated diseases, antiviral interventions are an urgent necessity. Sofosbuvir, a drug in clinical use against hepatitis C virus (HCV), is among the FDA-approved substances endowed with anti-ZIKV activity.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy versus modified Barker Vacuum Pack as temporary abdominal closure technique for Open Abdomen management: a four-year experience.

Background: We reviewed our experience with patients presenting with trauma and peritonitis who underwent an open abdomen (OA) procedure, and compared outcomes between Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) and a modified Barker Vacuum Pack (mBVP) technique.

Methods: In this descriptive study, we retrospectively analyzed data regarding all patients who underwent OA for intra-abdominal sepsis or abdominal trauma at our Centre from January 2012 to December 2015. Demographic data, co-morbidities, indications to surgery, intra-operative details and Björck classification grade were considered.

Chloroquine, an Endocytosis Blocking Agent, Inhibits Zika Virus Infection in Different Cell Models.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in utero might lead to microcephaly and other congenital defects. Since no specific therapy is available thus far, there is an urgent need for the discovery of agents capable of inhibiting its viral replication and deleterious effects. Chloroquine is widely used as an antimalarial drug, anti-inflammatory agent, and it also shows antiviral activity against several viruses.

The Onset of Intra-Abdominal Adhesions During Closed-Abdomen Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Introduction: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is delivered after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) in selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. The closed-abdomen technique, preferred by many centers, prevents heat loss and drug spillage, but does not warrant homogeneous distribution of the perfusion fluid (PF). The hypothesized formation of intra-abdominal adhesions during the closed-abdomen perfusion period has never been described.

Congenital Zika Virus Infection: Beyond Neonatal Microcephaly.

Importance: Recent studies have reported an increase in the number of fetuses and neonates with microcephaly whose mothers were infected with the Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy. To our knowledge, most reports to date have focused on select aspects of the maternal or fetal infection and fetal effects.

Objective: To describe the prenatal evolution and perinatal outcomes of 11 neonates who had developmental abnormalities and neurological damage associated with ZIKV infection in Brazil.

The availability of the embryonic TGF-β protein Nodal is dynamically regulated during glioblastoma multiforme tumorigenesis.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor presenting self-renewing cancer stem cells. The role of these cells on the development of the tumors has been proposed to recapitulate programs from embryogenesis. Recently, the embryonic transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) protein Nodal has been shown to be reactivated upon tumor development; however, its availability in GBM cells has not been addressed so far.

Laparoscopic right colectomy: Miles away or just around the corner?

Background: Despite the drive toward centralization of surgery in high-volume centers, the majority of colectomies are still performed by low- or medium-volume surgeons.

Materials And Methods: A modification of the technique of laparoscopic right colectomy (LRC) originally described by Young-Fadok and Nelson was developed. The key points of that technique were maintained, but a different port-site layout and a counterclockwise approach were adopted, to warrant better trocar triangulation, to reduce the need of right colon manipulation and to avoid dissection along false planes.

One year experience of swine dermal non-crosslinked collagen prostheses for abdominal wall repairs in elective and emergency surgery.

Introduction: The approach to the abdominal wall surgical repair is dramatically changed in the last years. This study evaluates our institutional outcomes about the usage of biological meshes for abdominal wall repair in different setting: in elective surgery, in emergency surgery and in abdominal wall repair following open abdomen (OA) procedure.

Methods: A database was prospectively conducted (January-December 2014) and data were reviewed for patients who underwent to an abdominal wall reconstruction with swine dermal non-cross linked collagens prostheses either in elective or emergency setting, and following OA/laparostomy procedure.

Gliomas and the vascular fragility of the blood brain barrier.

Astrocytes, members of the glial family, interact through the exchange of soluble factors or by directly contacting neurons and other brain cells, such as microglia and endothelial cells. Astrocytic projections interact with vessels and act as additional elements of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). By mechanisms not fully understood, astrocytes can undergo oncogenic transformation and give rise to gliomas.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel in advanced ovarian cancer: a multicenter prospective observational study.

Objective: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been recently reported with favorable oncological outcomes as treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of CRS+HIPEC with cisplatin and paclitaxel for the treatment of advanced EOC.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study of 54 patients, from April 2007 to October 2013, with primary or recurrent peritoneal carcinomatosis due to EOC.

Management of hemodynamically unstable pelvic trauma: results of the first Italian consensus conference (cooperative guidelines of the Italian Society of Surgery, the Italian Association of Hospital Surgeons, the Multi-specialist Italian Society of Young Surgeons, the Italian Society of Emergency Surgery and Trauma, the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, the Italian Society of Medical Radiology -Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology- and the World Society of Emergency Surgery).

Hemodynamically Unstable Pelvic Trauma is a major problem in blunt traumatic injury. No cosensus has been reached in literature on the optimal treatment of this condition. We present the results of the First Italian Consensus Conference on Pelvic Trauma which took place in Bergamo on April 13 2013.

Retinoblastoma protein regulates the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis, and favors glioblastoma resistance to etoposide.

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are devastating tumors of the central nervous system, with a poor prognosis of 1-year survival. This results from a high resistance of GBM tumor cells to current therapeutic options, including etoposide (VP-16). Understanding resistance mechanisms may thus open new therapeutic avenues.