Jupiter-like planets might be common in a low-density environment.

Radial velocity surveys suggest that the Solar System may be unusual and that Jupiter-like planets have a frequency < 20% around solar-type stars. However, they may be much more common in one of the closest associations in the solar neighbourhood. Young moving stellar groups are the best targets for direct imaging of exoplanets and four massive Jupiter-like planets have been already discovered in the nearby young β Pic Moving Group (BPMG) via high-contrast imaging, and four others were suggested via high precision astrometry by the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite.

The Sweet Side of HIPK2.

HIPK2 is an evolutionary conserved protein kinase which modulates many molecular pathways involved in cellular functions such as apoptosis, DNA damage response, protein stability, and protein transcription. HIPK2 plays a key role in the cancer cell response to cytotoxic drugs as its deregulation impairs drug-induced cancer cell death. HIPK2 has also been involved in regulating fibrosis, angiogenesis, and neurological diseases.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules (THYCOVID): a retrospective, international, multicentre, cross-sectional study.

Background: Since its outbreak in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted resources from non-urgent and elective procedures, leading to diagnosis and treatment delays, with an increased number of neoplasms at advanced stages worldwide. The aims of this study were to quantify the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic; and to evaluate whether delays in surgery led to an increased occurrence of aggressive tumours.

Methods: In this retrospective, international, cross-sectional study, centres were invited to participate in June 22, 2022; each centre joining the study was asked to provide data from medical records on all surgical thyroidectomies consecutively performed from Jan 1, 2019, to Dec 31, 2021.

Insights on the Association between Thyroid Diseases and Colorectal Cancer.

Benign and malignant thyroid diseases (TDs) have been associated with the occurrence of extrathyroidal malignancies (EMs), including colorectal cancers (CRCs). Such associations have generated a major interest, as their characterization may provide useful clues regarding diseases' etiology and/or progression, with the possible identification of shared congenital and environmental elements. On the other hand, elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanism(s) could lead to an improved and tailored clinical management of these patients and stimulate an increased surveillance of TD patients at higher threat of developing EMs.

HIPK2 in Angiogenesis: A Promising Biomarker in Cancer Progression and in Angiogenic Diseases.

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood capillaries taking place from preexisting functional vessels, a process that allows cells to cope with shortage of nutrients and low oxygen availability. Angiogenesis may be activated in several pathological diseases, from tumor growth and metastases formation to ischemic and inflammatory diseases. New insights into the mechanisms that regulate angiogenesis have been discovered in the last years, leading to the discovery of new therapeutic opportunities.

Intraoperative Neuromonitoring and Optical Magnification in the Prevention of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries during Total Thyroidectomy.

Background and Objectives: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis is a fearful complication during thyroidectomy. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and optical magnification (OM) facilitate RLN identification and dissection. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the influence of the two techniques on the incidence of RLN paralysis and determine correlations regarding common outcomes in thyroid surgery.

Prokineticin 2/PROK2 and Male Infertility.

Male infertility represents about 50% of the causes of infertility in couples. The diagnosis process represents an important procedure for defining, when possible, the causes and approaching treatments (pharmacological, surgical) aimed at overcoming the problem. Several scientific studies have set out to discover early and indicative markers capable of providing information on the biological origin of infertility and increase current knowledge in the context of new potential therapeutic approaches.

The Impact of NRF2 Inhibition on Drug-Induced Colon Cancer Cell Death and p53 Activity: A Pilot Study.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2) p45-related factor 2 (NRF2) protein is the master regulator of oxidative stress, which is at the basis of various chronic diseases including cancer. Hyperactivation of NRF2 in already established cancers can promote cell proliferation and resistance to therapies, such as in colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the most lethal and prevalent malignancies in industrialized countries with limited patient overall survival due to its escape mechanisms in both chemo- and targeted therapies. In this study, we generated stable NRF2 knockout colon cancer cells (NRF2-Cas9) to investigate the cell response to chemotherapeutic drugs with regard to p53 oncosuppressor, whose inhibition we previously showed to correlate with NRF2 pathway activation.

A ruthenium(II)-curcumin compound modulates NRF2 expression balancing the cancer cell death/survival outcome according to p53 status.

Background: Tumor progression and tumor response to anticancer therapies may be affected by activation of oncogenic pathways such as the antioxidant one induced by NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) transcription factor and the pathways modified by deregulation of oncosuppressor p53. Often, oncogenic pathways may crosstalk between them increasing tumor progression and resistance to anticancer therapies. Therefore, understanding that interplay is critical to improve cancer cell response to therapies.

The Glucosamine-derivative NAPA Suppresses MAPK Activation and Restores Collagen Deposition in Human Diploid Fibroblasts Challenged with Environmental Levels of UVB.

The ultraviolet (UV) component of solar radiation is the driving force of life on earth, but it can cause photoaging and skin cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of the glucosamine-derivative 2-(N-Acetyl)-L-phenylalanylamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucose (NAPA) on human primary fibroblasts (FBs) stimulated in vitro with environmental levels of UVB radiation. FBs were irradiated with 0.

Reduced chemotherapeutic sensitivity in high glucose condition: implication of antioxidant response.

Resistance to chemotherapy represents a major obstacle to successful treatment. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been directly linked to the cytotoxic effects of several antitumor agents, including Adriamycin (ADR), and modulation of the oxidative balance has been implicated in the development and/or regulation of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. We recently showed that high glucose (HG) markedly diminished the cancer cell death induced by anticancer agents such as ADR.

May predictors of difficulty in thyroid surgery increase the incidence of complications? Prospective study with the proposal of a preoperative score.

Background: Although thyroidectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide, some permanent complications, despite the considerably reducing incidence, may affect dramatically the patients quality of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether factors identified preoperatively and expressed in a score could be predictors of major surgical difficulty during total thyroidectomy and influence the incidence of complications.

Methods: A total of 164 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were examined.

Advancement of thyroid surgery video recording: A comparison between two full HD head mounted video cameras.

Background: The aim of this study was to test two different video cameras and recording systems used in thyroid surgery in our Department. This is meant to be an attempt to record the real point of view of the magnified vision of surgeon, so as to make the viewer aware of the difference with the naked eye vision.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, we recorded and compared twenty thyroidectomies performed using loupes magnification and microsurgical technique: ten were recorded with GoPro 4 Session action cam (commercially available) and ten with our new prototype of head mounted video camera.

A mosaic pattern of INI1/SMARCB1 protein expression distinguishes Schwannomatosis and NF2-associated peripheral schwannomas from solitary peripheral schwannomas and NF2-associated vestibular schwannomas.

Background: The INI1/SMARCB1 gene protein product has been implicated in the direct pathogenesis of schwannomas from patients with one form of schwannomatosis [SWNTS1; MIM # 162091] showing a mosaic pattern of loss of protein expression by immunohistochemistry [93% in familial vs. 55% in sporadic cases].

Aim Of Study: To verify whether such INI1/SMARCB1 mosaic pattern could be extended to all schwannomas arising in the sporadic and familial schwannomatoses [i.

Plasma Cell Mastitis in Men: A Single-center Experience and Review of the Literature.

Plasma cell mastitis is an inflammatory disease of the breast parenchyma, rare in males. In the last 40 years, few cases have been described in literature. Our recent treatment of male patients affected by plasma cell mastitis raised a series of issues which led us to carry out a critical review of the literature.

Use of loupes magnification and microsurgical technique in thyroid surgery: ten years experience in a single center.

Aim: The use of microsurgical technique and loupes magnification as a support to traditional surgery can help surgical performance and prevent complications in thyroid surgery.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2014, 782 patients with thyroid diseases were operated by our team with microsurgical technique and loupes magnification 4.5x.

Oncoplastic central quadrantectomies.

Tumors localized in the central quadrant (centrally located breast tumors) have always represented a challenge for the surgeon because of the critical aesthetical matters related to the nipple-areola complex (NAC). Many years of experience with breast cancer patients treated by using various oncoplastic techniques, has allowed us to develop the modified hemibatwing for the treatment of central breast tumors, where the NAC is involved. Modified hemibatwing-along with the removal of the NAC-is a useful oncoplastic technique and it represents an ideal option for the treatment of central tumors because it assures oncological safety, a reduced surgical timetable and greater aesthetical results.

Wire-guided Localization in Non-palpable Breast Cancer: Results from Monocentric Experience.

Background: Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is considered the gold-standard treatment for early breast cancer. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy or stereotactic biopsy of a breast lesion allows preoperative histological diagnosis. Various techniques have been proposed for identifying non-palpable breast tumors, but the most popular method is the wire-guided localization (WGL) technique.

Nipple-sparing Mastectomy in Patients with Preoperative Diagnosis of Non-invasive Breast Carcinoma. A Single-center Experience.

Background: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is a recognized treatment for selected patients with breast cancer (BC). Our study aimed to analyze 7 years' experience in NSM and breast reconstruction for patients with preoperative diagnosis of non-invasive BC.

Patients And Methods: All NSMs with breast reconstruction, performed between January 2007 and December 2013 in patients with preoperative diagnosis of non-invasive BC, were considered.

Microsurgical approach for unusual and unexpected malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the forearm: A case report.

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare tumors with a dismal prognosis. Among the most common histological types of sarcomas of the extremities, malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is the one with the highest incidence. Surgery is considered to be the first choice of treatment for MFH.

Clinical problems in patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity undergoing total thyroidectomy.

Clinical practice sometimes brings to face with situations quite peculiar, potentially dangerous for the patient's life. In the great majority of cases, pathologies associated with each other (cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological), while in other cases we can treat rare diseases or syndromes. It's considered exceptional the simultaneous presence of "rare" pathologies in a single patient.

Peliosis hepatis: Personal experience and literature review.

Peliosis hepatis (PH) is a disease characterized by multiple and small, blood-filled cysts within the parenchymatous organs. PH is a very rare disease, more common in adults, and when it affects the liver, it comes to the surgeon's attention only in an extremely urgent situation after the lesion's rupture with the resulting hemoperitoneum. This report describes the case of a 29-year-old woman affected by recurring abdominal pain.