Fertility preservation for patients with melanoma.

The advent of immunotherapy and targeted therapy has outstandingly improved the prognosis in subjects with melanoma. Their use is now advocated also in earlier stages as an adjuvant therapy, and some neoadjuvant clinical trials are ongoing. Consequently, survivors free of disease are increasing, as well as those exposed to these new agents.

Characterization and management of neurological adverse events during immune-checkpoint inhibitors treatment: an Italian multicentric experience.

Background: Neurological immune-related adverse events (nirAEs) are rare toxicities of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). With the increase of ICI oncological indications, their incidence is growing. Their recognition and management remain nevertheless challenging.

Liquid Biopsy and Radiological Response Predict Outcomes Following Discontinuation of Targeted Therapy in Patients with BRAF Mutated Melanoma.

Background: Outcomes of patients with metastatic melanoma discontinuing BRAF-targeted therapy for cumulative toxicity after sustained response are unknown.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective case series analysis conducted at a single Cancer Center in Italy included patients with BRAF mutated metastatic melanoma treated with a BRAF inhibitor as a single agent or in combination with a MEK inhibitor between June 1, 2011 and January 1, 2020 and interrupted treatment due to cumulative toxicity after achieving complete response (CR) or long-lasting partial response (PR; i.e.

Survival in Patients With Sentinel Node-Positive Melanoma With Extranodal Extension.

Background: Prognostic parameters in sentinel node (SN)-positive melanoma are important indicators to identify patients at high risk of recurrence who should be candidates for adjuvant therapy. We aimed to evaluate the presence of melanoma cells beyond the SN capsule-extranodal extension (ENE)-as a prognostic factor in patients with positive SNs.

Methods: Data from 1,047 patients with melanoma and positive SNs treated from 2001 to 2020 at the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milano, Italy, were retrospectively investigated.

The Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma Receiving First-Line Therapy.

Background: Since a non-negligible fraction of patients with metastatic melanoma does not experience long-term disease control, even with immunotherapy and targeted therapy, new biomarkers for patient stratification and treatment tailoring are needed in this setting.

Objective: We investigated the association of a novel immune-inflammatory blood-based biomarker, the Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value (PIV), with clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic melanoma receiving first-line therapy.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively included patients treated at the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan and having an available baseline complete blood cell count (CBC).

Acute pulmonary embolism in patients presenting pulmonary deterioration after hospitalisation for non-critical COVID-19.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests an association between COVID-19 and acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Aims: To assess the prevalence of APE in patients hospitalised for non-critical COVID-19 who presented clinical deterioration, and to investigate the association of clinical and biochemical variables with a confirmed diagnosis of APE in these subjects.

Methods: All consecutive patients admitted to the internal medicine department of a general hospital with a diagnosis of non-critical COVID-19, who performed a computer tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for respiratory deterioration in April 2020, were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Immune-related Bell's palsy in melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) exposed the oncology community to novel immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Here, we report on a retrospective analysis of patients with melanoma who developed an ICI-related, unilateral, acute and peripheral facial nerve paralysis (Bell's palsy).We retrospectively reviewed all the cases of ICI-related Bell's palsy in patients with melanoma treated at our institution from January 2015 to January 2020.

Predictors of medium- and long-term mortality in elderly patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: Data on medium- and long-term prognostic factors for death in elderly patients with acute Pulmonary Embolism (APE) are lacking. The present study aimed to assess sPESI score and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) as medium- and long-term predictors of mortality in elderly patients with haemodinamically stable APE.

Methods: All consecutive patients aged≥65 years old, evaluated at the emergency department (ED) of our hospital from 2010 through 2014, with a final diagnosis of APE, were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Efficacy and Safety of Antiplatelet Therapies in Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Clopidogrel monotherapy is guideline-recommended in symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD). The advent of new antithrombotic strategies prompts an updated analysis of available evidence on antiplatelet therapy for PAD.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL through January 2019 for randomised controlled trials and observational studies comparing antiplatelet therapies as monotherapy, dual therapy, or combination with anticoagulants.

The Role of Clopidogrel in 2020: A Reappraisal.

Antiplatelet therapy is the mainstay of treatment and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke, and peripheral artery disease (PAD). The P2Y inhibitors, of which clopidogrel was the first, play an integral role in antiplatelet therapy and therefore in the treatment and secondary prevention of CVD. This review discusses the available evidence concerning antiplatelet therapy in patients with CVD, with a focus on the role of clopidogrel.

Abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) predicts primary and secondary cardiovascular risk and cancer mortality.

Background: An abnormal ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) is a marker of the risk for increased total and cardiovascular (CV) mortality. However, it is not clear whether it is associated with an even worse prognosis in patients with previous CV events or with cancer mortality.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive subjects undergoing ABI assessment for suspected peripheral artery disease or for stratification of CV risk in ten centers in the Veneto Region (northeast Italy), between 2011 and 2014 were enrolled.

Padua prediction score and IMPROVE score do predict in-hospital mortality in Internal Medicine patients.

Padua prediction score (PPS) and IMPROVE bleeding score are validated tools for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment recommended by guidelines, albeit not frequently used. Some data suggest that a positive PPS and IMPROVE score may be were associated with early mortality in Internal Medicine patients. Aim of the study was to characterize the predictive ability on mortality of the two scores using two different populations, respectively, as derivation and validation cohort.

Effectiveness of a Hospital-Based Computerized Decision Support System on Clinician Recommendations and Patient Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Sophisticated evidence-based information resources can filter medical evidence from the literature, integrate it into electronic health records, and generate recommendations tailored to individual patients.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a computerized clinical decision support system (CDSS) that preappraises evidence and provides health professionals with actionable, patient-specific recommendations at the point of care.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Open-label, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial among internal medicine wards of a large Italian general hospital.

Short and long-term mortality in elderly patients with suspected not confirmed pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: Most patients evaluated for suspected pulmonary embolism(PE) conclude the Emergency Department(ED) work-up with a diagnosis of PE not confirmed(PE excluded;PE-E). We aimed to investigate the clinical features, short and long-term mortality, and prognostic factors for death in elderly with PE-E, and to compare these figures with those of patients with PE confirmed(PE-C).

Methods: Consecutive patients ≥65 years old evaluated in the ED for clinically suspected hemodynamically stable acute PE were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Investigating the role of immunotherapy in advanced/recurrent female genital tract melanoma: a preliminary experience.

Objective: immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has become one of the standard therapeutic modalities for patients with advanced melanoma. Melanoma of the female lower genital tract is a rare and aggressive disease, with poor long-term clinical outcomes. To date, no study evaluated the role of immunotherapy in metastatic melanoma of the lower genital tract.

Developing a score system to predict therapeutic outcomes to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in metastatic melanoma.

Background: Prognosis of patients with metastatic melanoma has improved due to the advent of antibodies targeting the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1). However, therapeutic outcomes from anti-PD-1 therapy widely differ among patients. Biomarkers for outcome are needed as these may influence patient selection and treatment decision.