The Impact of Assessment of Nurses' Experiences in Thoracic Surgery in Onco-Hematological Patients.

Nowadays, Thoracic Surgery is technologically advanced; therefore, it also focuses its attention on nursing care. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of the assessment of a dedicated team of nurses (DTN) in all onco-hematological patients undergoing VATS lobectomy for lung cancer on the outcome of the patient, preventing pressure injuries, reducing perioperative stress, duration of operations, complications, and hospital stay times. We performed a single-center observational retrospective study, including 31 DTN and 760 onco-hematological patients who underwent thoracic surgery between 30 October 2018 and 30 June 2023 at "Vanvitelli" University of Naples.

Effectiveness of test-and-treat model with direct-acting antiviral for hepatitis C virus infection in migrants: a prospective interventional study in Italy.

Background: Migrants, mainly undocumented and low-income refugees, are at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but are a difficult-to-reach and to-treat population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a test and treat model with direct-acting antiviral for HCV infection in these migrants coming from low-income and living in southern Italy.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, collaborative study based on a four-phase-program (educational counseling, screening, linkage-to-care and treatment) was designed in southern Italy; the study started in June 2018, was stopped in February 2020 because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV2 infection in Italy and was resumed in February 2021 until November 2021.

Multidisciplinary Management of Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: Is Thoracoscopic Treatment Feasible?

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a life-threatening condition, generally caused by downward dissemination of oropharyngeal infections through cervical fascial planes. Mediastinal drainage is conventionally achieved by thoracotomy, but a Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) approach is gaining interest due to the reduced invasiveness of procedure. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of VATS treatment in patients with DNM.

Comparing cardiovascular adverse events in cancer patients: A meta-analysis of combination therapy with angiogenesis inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors versus angiogenesis inhibitors alone.

Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) agents were associated with increased risk of several cardiovascular events, while one meta-analysis did not show any significantly increased risk of cardiotoxicity associated with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) was designed to compare cardiovascular toxicity of anti-VEGF agents plus ICI vs anti-VEGF agents without ICIs. A systematic search of the literature was conducted to include all full papers reporting about phase II and III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in patients with solid malignancies randomized to an anti-VEGF agent plus an ICI vs.

Invasive cryptococcal disease in COVID-19: systematic review of the literature and analysis.

During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an increasing number of fungal infections associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported. Among them, cryptococcosis could be a life-threatening disease. We performed a Systematic Review (PRISMA Statement) of cryptococcosis and COVID-19 co-infection, case report/series were included: a total of 34 cases were found, then we added our case report.

Outcomes of Thoracoscopic Lobectomy after Recent COVID-19 Infection.

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak had a massive impact on lung cancer patients with the rise in the incidence and mortality of lung cancer.

Methods: We evaluated whether a recent COVID-19 infection affected the outcome of patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer using a retrospective observational mono-centric study conducted between January 2020 and August 2022. Postoperative complications and 90-day mortality were reported.

Multidisciplinary Approach to the Diagnosis and Therapy of Mycosis Fungoides.

Mycosis fungoides is the most common primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, characterized by skin-homing CD4+ T cells derivation, indolent course, and low-grade of malignancy. Mycosis fungoides's classic type typically onsets with cutaneous erythematous patches, plaque, and tumor. In WHO-EORTC classification, folliculotropic mycosis fungoides, pagetoid reticulosis, and granulomatous slack skin are recognized as distinct variants of mycosis fungoides, because of their clinical and histological features, behavior, and /or prognosis.

Hepatitis D virus infection in a large cohort of immigrants in southern Italy: a multicenter, prospective study.

Background: Since few data are available in the literature on the prevalence of anti-Delta-positive subjects in immigrant populations, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the demographic and virological characteristics of HDV infection in a large cohort of immigrants living in southern Italy.

Methods: Between January 2012 and February 2020 all immigrants attending one of the 5 first- level centers were enrolled and screened for HBsAg, the HBsAg-positive for anti-Delta and if positive, for HDV-RNA and HDV genotype.

Results: Of the 3521 immigrants observed in the study period, 3417 (97.

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of hepatitis B virus infection in Italy over the last 50 years.

A relevant gradual reduction of both the incidence rate of acute hepatitis B (AHB) and prevalence of chronic hepatitis B has occurred in Italy in the last 50 years, due to substantial epidemiological changes: Improvement in socioeconomic and hygienic conditions, reduction of the family unit, accurate screening of blood donations, abolition of re-usable glass syringes, hepatitis B virus (HBV)-universal vaccination started in 1991, use of effective well tolerated nucleo(t)side analogues able to suppress HBV replication available from 1998, and educational mediatic campaigns against human immunodeficiency virus infection focusing on the prevention of sexual and parenteral transmission of infections. As an example, AHB incidence has gradually decreased from 10/100000 inhabitants in 1985 to 0.21 in 2020.

COVID-19 as Another Trigger for HBV Reactivation: Clinical Case and Review of Literature.

Universal hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination has been applied for years in most countries, but HBV infection remains an unresolved public health problem worldwide, with over one-third of the world's population infected during their lifetime and approximately 248 million hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) chronic carriers. HBV infection may reactivate with symptomatic and sometimes life-threatening clinical manifestations due to a reduction in the immune response of various origins, due to chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy, treatments increasingly practiced worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 and its COVID-19 associated disease have introduced new chances for HBV reactivation due to the use of dexamethasone and tocilizumab to counteract the cytokine storm.

Dyslipidemia in Transplant Patients: Which Therapy?

Cardiovascular disease is the most important cause of death worldwide in recent years; an increasing trend is also shown in organ transplant patients subjected to immunosuppressive therapies, in which cardiovascular diseases represent one of the most frequent causes of long-term mortality. This is also linked to immunosuppressant-induced dyslipidemia, which occurs in 27 to 71% of organ transplant recipients. The aim of this review is to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying dyslipidemia in patients treated with immunosuppressants to identify immunosuppressive therapies which do not cause dyslipidemia or therapeutic pathways effective in reducing hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or both, without further adverse events.

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes in Patients with Previous or Synchronous Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review of Published Evidence.

The management of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and previous or synchronous colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a challenging issue. A systematic review was performed in May 2022 to summarize available evidence about the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of these patients. Twenty-seven studies involving 252 patients were identified.

Alveolar-Arterial Gradient Is an Early Marker to Predict Severe Pneumonia in COVID-19 Patients.

Background: One of the main challenges in the management of COVID-19 patients is to early assess and stratify them according to their risk of developing severe pneumonia. The alveolar−arterial oxygen gradient (D(A-a)O2) is defined as the difference between the alveolar and arteriolar concentration of oxygen, an accurate index of the ventilatory function. The aim of this study is to evaluate D(A-a)O2 as a marker for predicting severe pneumonia in COVID-19 patients, in comparison to the PaO2/FiO2.

Prevention of HBV Reactivation in Hemato-Oncologic Setting during COVID-19.

Onco-hematologic patients are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and, once infected, frequently develop COVID-19 due to the immunosuppression caused by tumor growth, chemotherapy and immunosuppressive therapy. In addition, COVID-19 has also been recognized as a further cause of HBV reactivation, since its treatment includes the administration of corticosteroids and some immunosuppressive drugs. Consequently, onco-hematologic patients should undergo SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and comply with the rules imposed by lockdowns or other forms of social distancing.

Metastasis-Directed Radiation Therapy with Consolidative Intent for Oligometastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The management of patients with oligometastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) represents an evolving field in uro-oncology, and the role of metastasis-directed therapies, including metastasectomy and metastasis-directed radiation therapy (MDRT), is gaining increasing attention. Herein, we summarize available evidence about the role of MDRT with consolidative intent in oligometastatic UC patients. A systematic review was performed in December 2021.

Application of ERAS Protocol after VATS Surgery for Chronic Empyema in Immunocompromised Patients.

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols have shown improved clinical outcomes after lung resection surgery, but their application after empyema surgery is still limited. We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of an adapted enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for immunocompromised patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) surgery for chronic empyema between December 2013 and December 2021. The patients were divided into an ERAS group and a conventional treatment group.

Epithelioid Hemangioma of the Nose: A Challenging Diagnosis.

Epithelioid hemangioma is a rare reactive vasoproliferative disease presenting with painless vascular nodules in the dermal and subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult as, in most cases, the only symptom is a progressively tender swelling next to a vessel course. Thus far, few cases of epithelioid hemangioma localized to the nose have been described in the literature.

Phylogeography and genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy and Europe with newly characterized Italian genomes between February-June 2020.

The aims of this study were to characterize new SARS-CoV-2 genomes sampled all over Italy and to reconstruct the origin and the evolutionary dynamics in Italy and Europe between February and June 2020. The cluster analysis showed only small clusters including < 80 Italian isolates, while most of the Italian strains were intermixed in the whole tree. Pure Italian clusters were observed mainly after the lockdown and distancing measures were adopted.

The Impact of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Prophylaxis for Thromboembolism in Thrombophilic Patients Undergoing Abdominoplastic Surgery.

Congenital or acquired thrombophilia is observed in 10-15% of the general population; therefore, careful screening is carried out in patients at higher risk of venous thrombo-embolism (VTE). High risk of VTE is a contraindication in patients undergoing abdominoplasty. We evaluated rivaroxaban, an oral Xa inhibitor, with enoxaparin, a subcutaneously low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), in 48 female patients with documented thrombophilia, undergoing thrombo-prophylaxis after abdominoplasty.

SARS-CoV-2 infection: a hurricane that does not ignore chronic hepatitis.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly compromised screening, laboratory controls, clinical surveillance and treatment of chronic hepatitis patients and worsened their outcome, as evidenced by its significant correlation with advanced cirrhosis, liver decompensation and mortality.

Results: This pandemic significantly impaired also the sector of liver transplantation, whose wards, operating rooms, outpatients' facilities, and healthcare personnel have been dedicated to patients with COVID-19. In addition, screening and treatment for HBV infection have been delayed or suspended in in most countries, with an increased risk of viral reactivation.

Hepatitis B virus/hepatitis D virus epidemiology: Changes over time and possible future influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective liver-tropic virus that needs the helper function of hepatitis B virus (HBV) to infect humans and replicate. HDV is transmitted sexually or by a parenteral route, in co-infection with HBV or by super-infection in HBV chronic carriers. HDV infection causes acute hepatitis that may progress to a fulminant form (7%-14% by super-infection and 2%-3% by HBV/HDV co-infection) or to chronic hepatitis (90% by HDV super-infection and 2%-5% by HBV/HDV co-infection), frequently and rapidly progressing to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2: The Neglected Threat.

West Africa has the highest prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-2 infection in the world, but a high number of cases has been recognized in Europe, India, and the United States. The virus is less transmissible than HIV-1, with sexual contacts being the most frequent route of acquisition. In the absence of specific antiretroviral therapy, most HIV-2 carriers will develop AIDS.