Acute Infusion-Related Side Effects of Amphotericin B Lipid Complex (ABLC) in Oncohematological Patients: Real-World Data from Brazilian Reference Centers.

Introduction: Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) is an effective antifungal agent for treating invasive fungal infections (IFIs) even though its formulation is associated with potential adverse events, including those related to its infusion. This study aimed to analyze the incidence of acute infusion-related side effects (IRSE) associated with ABLC and their relationship with the profile of patients with oncohematological disease admitted in Brazilian reference tertiary hospitals.

Methods: This is an observational retrospective study that included clinical records of patients hospitalized, in a period of 6 years, diagnosed with probable or proved IFI and treated with at least two doses of ABLC.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a case series.

Objective: To describe a case series of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in a pediatric tertiary hospital.

Methods: Patients under the age of 18 years who met MIS-C criteria of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MH) and/or the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) were included. A retrospective analysis was carried out by reviewing medical records and complementary exams.

EXPOSURE OF PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY PATIENTS TO IMAGING EXAMS, NOWADAYS AND IN TIMES OF COVID-19: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW.

Objective: To analyze literature data about unnecessary exposure of pediatric emergency patients to ionizing agents from imaging examinations, nowadays and during times of COVID-19.

Data Sources: Between April and July 2020, articles were selected using the databases: Virtual Health Library, PubMed and Scientific Electronic Library Online. The following descriptors were used: [(pediatrics) AND (emergencies) AND (diagnostic imaging) AND (medical overuse)] and [(Coronavirus infections) OR (COVID-19) AND (pediatrics) AND (emergencies) AND (diagnostic imaging)].

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Neuropsychological Effects of Long-Term Use of Opioids in Patients With Chronic Noncancer Pain.

Background And Objective: Opioid treatments are often prolonged because of the pathology causing pain. We focused on the cognitive functions in patients with chronic pain treated with opioids. This topic is currently controversial, but in practice, the consequences are important in patients' daily lives, social interactions, working ability, and driving.

Influence of chemotherapeutic drug-related gene polymorphisms on toxicity and survival of early breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: We investigated whether GSTT1 ("null" allele), GSTM1 ("null"allele), GSTP1 (A313G), RFC1 (G80A), MTHFR (C677T), TS (2R/3R) polymorphisms were associated with toxicity and survival in patients with early breast cancer (EBC) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (CT).

Methods: This prospective trial included patients with stage I-III BC subjected to CT with CMF or FEC regimens. PCR-RFLP was performed for MTHFR, RFC1 and GSTP1, while PCR for TS, GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes.

Radiosurgery for intracranial meningiomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Radiosurgery(RS), both in single and multiple sessions, have been performed for intracranial meningiomas. Different aspects are still controversial on this field. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current literature on long-term efficacy and safety of RS for meningiomas.

Feasibility and outcome of interval debulking surgery (IDS) after carboplatin-paclitaxel-bevacizumab (CPB): A subgroup analysis of the MITO-16A-MaNGO OV2A phase 4 trial.

Background: Few data are available on the outcome of surgery after a bevacizumab-containing regimen. The MITO 16A- MaNGO OV2A phase 4 trial evaluates the outcomes of first-line CPB in a clinical-practice-like setting. Here we present the results of the subgroup of patients undergoing IDS after neoadjuvant treatment or suboptimal primary surgery.

Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Patients Pretreated for Ovarian Cancer Matched with Patients Treated with Parenteral Chemotherapy.

Background: Our aim was to analyze the impact of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC), administered with direct peritoneal puncture, on the survival of patients with pretreated ovarian cancer in a real-life setting.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective study comparing patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with IPC (N=33) and patients treated with standard intravenous (i.v.

Exploring the Prognostic Role of Microsatellite Instability in Patients With Stage II Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Many studies have disclosed the prognostic effect of microsatellite instability (MSI) and/or loss of mismatch repair proteins in colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, little evidence supports their role in the decision-making of adjuvant therapy for patients with stage II disease.

Materials And Methods: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the prognostic and/or predictive role of MSI status in patients with stage II colorectal cancer on disease-free survival and overall survival.

Long-term results of fertility-sparing treatment compared with standard radical surgery for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to identify patients treated for early-stage EOC and to compare the clinical outcomes of patients treated with FSS and radical surgery (RS).

Results: A total of 1031 patients were treated at two Institutions, 242 with FSS (group A) and 789 with RS (group B).

Quality of Life in Glaucoma: A Review of the Literature.

The ultimate goal of glaucoma management is the preservation of patients' visual function and quality of life (QoL). The disease itself as well as the medical or surgical treatment can have an enormous impact on a patient's QoL. Even the mere diagnosis of a chronic, irreversible, potentially blinding disorder can adversely affect the patient's sense of well-being and QoL by eliciting significant anxiety.

Impact on survival of timing and duration of adjuvant chemotherapy in radically resected gastric cancer.

Purpose: Adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival of patients with gastric cancer. Intergroup Trial of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach (ITACA-S) was a phase III study comparing sequential FOLFIRI followed by docetaxel/cisplatin versus 5-fluorouracil monotherapy. The intensive regimen was not superior in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Clinical presentation and in-hospital death in acute pulmonary embolism: does cancer matter?

Cancer is one of the most common risk factors for acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but only few studies report on the short-term outcome of patients with PE and a history of cancer. The aim of the study was to assess whether a cancer diagnosis affects the clinical presentation and short-term outcome in patients hospitalized for PE who were included in the Italian Pulmonary Embolism Registry. All-cause and PE-related in-hospital deaths were also analyzed.

Are strong opioids equally effective and safe in the treatment of chronic cancer pain? A multicenter randomized phase IV 'real life' trial on the variability of response to opioids.

Background: Guidelines tend to consider morphine and morphine-like opioids comparable and interchangeable in the treatment of chronic cancer pain, but individual responses can vary. This study compared the analgesic efficacy, changes of therapy and safety profile over time of four strong opioids given for cancer pain.

Patient And Methods: In this four-arm multicenter, randomized, comparative, of superiority, phase IV trial, oncological patients with moderate to severe pain requiring WHO step III opioids were randomly assigned to receive oral morphine or oxycodone or transdermal fentanyl or buprenorphine for 28 days.

Role of patient and tumor characteristics in sentinel lymph node metastasis in patients with luminal early breast cancer: an observational study.

Predicting the risk of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis is important for clinical decision-making in the setting of early breast cancer (EBC). This study is aimed to identify tumor and patient characteristics that influenced the SLN metastatic involvement, with a focus on luminal subtypes. An observational study including women treated for EBC from 2005 to 2013 was conducted.

Differential Protein Expression Profiles in Glaucomatous Trabecular Meshwork: An Evaluation Study on a Small Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Population.

Introduction: Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by impaired aqueous outflow and extensive remodeling in the trabecular meshwork (TM). The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the expression patterns of selected proteins belonging to the tissue remodeling, inflammation and growth factor pathways in ex vivo glaucomatous and post-mortem TMs using protein-array analysis.

Methods: TM specimens were collected from 63 white subjects, including 40 patients with glaucoma and 23 controls.

Needle Revision With 5-fluorouracil for the Treatment of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Filtering Blebs: 5-Fluoruracil Needling Revision can be a Useful and Safe Tool in the Management of Failing Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Filtering Blebs.

Purpose: To determine the outcome of needling with adjunctive 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with a failing Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implant, and to identify predictors of long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) control.

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed on consecutive patients with medically uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with AGV encapsulation or fibrosis and inadequate IOP control. Bleb needling with 5-FU injection (0.

Health-related quality of life in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. An Italian multicentre observational study.

Purpose: As a progressive condition, glaucoma may impair health-related quality of life (HRQoL), due to vision loss and other factors. This study evaluated HRQoL in a cohort of patients treated for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and assessed its association with clinical features.

Methods: This was an Italian, multicentre, cross-sectional, observational study with the subgroup of newly diagnosed patients with POAG prospectively followed up for one year.

ACROSCORE: a new and simple tool for the diagnosis of acromegaly, a rare and underdiagnosed disease.

Objective: Acromegaly, a disease caused by GH/IGF-I hypersecretion, is associated with a high mortality rate; early recognition is therefore necessary to ensure successful treatment and to avoid comorbidities. We have created a symptom/sign scoring tool (ACROSCORE) for physicians to use to identify acromegaly.

Design: To compare cases of acromegaly diagnosed between 1990 and 2014 against a control group affected by non-GH-secreting pituitary tumours to identify symptoms and signs that are most discriminative for acromegaly.

KRAS mutations affect prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with first-line platinum containing chemotherapy.

Unlabelled: KRAS mutations seem to indicate a poor outcome in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) but such evidence is still debated. The aim of this planned ancillary study within the TAILOR trial was to assess the prognostic value of KRAS mutations in advanced NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. Patients (N = 540), enrolled in the study in 52 Italian hospitals, were centrally genotyped twice in two independent laboratories for EGFR and KRAS mutational status.

Long-Term Clinical Benefits of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Women With Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: Validity of Pathological Response as Surrogate Endpoint of Survival.

Objective: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is a valid treatment option for women with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). This study aims to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, and NACT regimens on survival endpoints. The role of pathological response to NACT as a surrogate endpoint of survival was also assessed.

Estimating the risk of chemotherapy toxicity in older patients with cancer: The role of the Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13).

Objective: Some parameters of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) are predictive of chemotherapy toxicity. The Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13) is a short instrument that has been tested as a means of identifying patients who need a full CGA, but its ability to predict chemotherapy toxicity is still unclear. We performed a pooled analysis of four published clinical trials studying VES-13 as a means of diagnosing vulnerability, in order to evaluate its accuracy in predicting the risk of grade 3/4 toxicity in older patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Safety and efficacy of travoprost solution for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure.

Travoprost is a prostaglandin analogue widely used for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients affected with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. It exerts its ocular hypotensive effect through the prostaglandin FP receptors, located in the ciliary muscle and the trabecular meshwork. Several studies have shown that topical administration of travoprost induces a mean IOP reduction ranging from 25% to 32%, and sustained throughout the 24-hour cycle.

Osteopontin, E-cadherin, and β-catenin expression as prognostic biomarkers in patients with radically resected gastric cancer.

A correlation between osteopontin, E-cadherin, β-catenin, and cyclooxygenase 2 overexpression and poor clinicopathological features and prognosis has been previously suggested in gastric cancer. This translational study was aimed at assessing the correlation of these immunohistochemical biomarkers with outcome in patients with radically resected gastric cancer. We analyzed osteopontin, E-cadherin, β-catenin, and cyclooxygenase 2 expression by immunohistochemistry in 346 primary gastric tumor tissue samples from patients enrolled in the ITACA-S trial.