Baseline Association between Healthy Eating Index-2015 and Health-Related Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients Enrolled in a Randomized Trial.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) represents one of the most concerning aspects for cancer patients. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is an a priori diet quality index directly associated with health outcomes and HRQoL in cancer survivors in North American populations. We evaluated, in a Mediterranean population, the baseline associations between HEI-2015 and HRQoL in 492 women with breast cancer recruited in a DEDiCa lifestyle trial.

Pedicle stabilization with fibrin sealant in DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

Microsurgical procedures are nowadays routinely performed worldwide in reconstructive surgery. The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap has become the gold standard in breast reconstruction due to its excellent outcomes and lower donor site morbidity. However, complications, including flap failure, still occur in DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

A before and after evaluation of patient reported outcomes assessed by Breast Q following LICAP turnover flap in breast conservative therapy.

Chest-wall perforator-based techniques to replace volume for breast conservative therapy allow excision of large breast areas with minimal sequalae, such as the nipple-areolar complex displacement, parenchymal indentation or contour deformity. Furthermore, chest wall perforator flaps facilitate the maintenance of breast symmetry, hence decreasing the need for contralateral surgery. Lateral intercostal flap was described in numerous variants among which the most famous are the propeller flap and the turnover version.

The multicenter experience in the multidisciplinary Italian breast units: a review and update.

A breast unit is a multidisciplinary center specialized in the management of women with breast diseases, including breast cancer (BC). It represents a care path, passing from screening activities to diagnostic investigations, from surgery to the definition of the therapeutic strategy, from psychophysical rehabilitation to long-term checks (follow-up), and up to genetic counseling. Since 2006, following a resolution issued by the European Parliament to urge member states to activate multidisciplinary breast centers by 2016, work has been underway throughout Italy to improve the management of women with BC.

Correction: Mediterranean diet and quality of life in women treated for breast cancer: A baseline analysis of DEDiCa multicentre trial.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Quality of Life in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer after a 12-Month Treatment of Lifestyle Modifications.

Healthy lifestyles are associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL), favorable prognosis and lower mortality in breast cancer (BC) survivors. We investigated changes in HRQoL after a 12-month lifestyle modification program in 227 BC survivors participating in DEDiCa trial (Mediterranean diet, exercise, vitamin D). HRQoL was evaluated through validated questionnaires: EQ-5D-3L, EORTC-QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23.

Dietary iron intake and anemia: food frequency questionnaire in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Background: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a multisystemic inherited vascular disease characterized by a heterogeneous clinical presentation and prognosis. Dietary evaluation is relevant in HHT patients to provide adequate iron and nutrient intake. Additionally, different dietary items have been reported to precipitate epistaxis in this setting.

Mediterranean diet and quality of life in women treated for breast cancer: A baseline analysis of DEDiCa multicentre trial.

Evidence suggests a beneficial role of the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in healthy subjects. HRQoL is relevant in cancer therapy and disease outcomes, therefore we investigated the association between adherence to the MedDiet and HRQoL in breast cancer survivors participating in the multicentre trial DEDiCa. Diet and HRQoL were assessed at baseline in a subgroup of 309 women enrolled within 12 months of breast cancer diagnosis without metastasis (stages I-III, mean age 52±1 yrs, BMI 27±7 kg/m2).

The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Capsular Tissue around the Breast Implants.

Background: One of the most common complications of the use of foreign material, in both reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery, is capsular contracture. Historically, research on capsular contracture has focused mainly on reducing bacterial contamination through antibiotic solutions. Only secondary studies have focused on pharmacological control of the inflammation process, with particular attention paid to the main inflammation pathway, the arachidonic acid cascade.

The Effects of Diet and Dietary Interventions on the Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Analysis and a Systematic Review of Experimental Studies.

There is an ongoing need for solid evidence about the effects of healthy behaviors, and particularly diet, on the quality of life (QoL) among breast cancer survivors. We first conducted a cross-sectional study on 68 Italian stage I-III breast cancer survivors, to investigate the association of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), physical activity and weight status with QoL. Adherence to MD and physical activity was assessed using structured questionnaires.

The effect of management models on thromboembolic and bleeding rates in anticoagulated patients: an ecological study.

The primary study objective is to compare the outcomes of patients taking oral anticoagulant medications in two distinct populations treated according to different management models (comprehensive vs. usual care). (Design: regional prospective cohort study; setting: hospital admission data from two regions).

STAT6 expression in spindle cell lesions of the breast: An immunohistochemical study of 48 cases.

The diagnosis of spindle cell lesions of the breast parenchyma is challenging. Some of these lesions share the expression of CD34, posing differential diagnostic problems, especially in core biopsies. Recently, antibodies against the STAT6 C-terminal, are being used in paraffin-embedded tissues as a surrogate for identifying the NAB2-STA6 fusion gene which is considered a specific molecular marker for solitary fibrous tumor.

Breast Shape Analysis With Curvature Estimates and Principal Component Analysis for Cosmetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery.

Background: Breast shape is defined utilizing mainly qualitative assessment (full, flat, ptotic) or estimates, such as volume or distances between reference points, that cannot describe it reliably.

Objectives: The authors quantitatively described breast shape with two parameters derived from a statistical methodology denominated by principal component analysis (PCA).

Methods: The authors created a heterogeneous dataset of breast shapes acquired with a commercial infrared 3-dimensional scanner on which PCA was performed.

Low glycemic index diet, exercise and vitamin D to reduce breast cancer recurrence (DEDiCa): design of a clinical trial.

Background: Mechanisms influencing breast cancer (BC) development and recurrence include hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, high insulin-like growth factor-1, high circulating estrogen, inflammation and impaired cellular differentiation/apoptosis. A lifestyle program that targets all the above mechanisms may be warranted. Low glycemic index (GI) foods produce lower post-prandial glucose and insulin responses and have been associated with lower BC risk.

Current trends and outcomes of breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy: results from a national multicentric registry with 1006 cases over a 6-year period.

Background: Reconstruction options following nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) are diverse and not yet investigated with level IA evidence. The analysis of surgical and oncological outcomes of NSM from the Italian National Registry shows its safety and wide acceptance both for prophylactic and therapeutic cases. A further in-depth analysis of the reconstructive approaches with their trend over time and their failures is the aim of this study.

Formal analysis of the surgical pathway and development of a new software tool to assist surgeons in the decision making in primary breast surgery.

Background: The increased complexity of the decisional process in breast cancer surgery is well documented. With this study we aimed to create a software tool able to assist patients and surgeons in taking proper decisions.

Methodology: We hypothesized that the endpoints of breast cancer surgery could be addressed combining a set of decisional drivers.

Nipple sparing mastectomy: Surgical and oncological outcomes from a national multicentric registry with 913 patients (1006 cases) over a six year period.

Background: Nipple sparing mastectomy is deemed surgically and oncologically safe based on a long lasting literature data from reviews of single institution series. This study aims at evaluating surgical and oncological outcomes of NSM on a large multi-institutional scale, by means of the Italian National registry.

Methods: In July 2011 a panel of Italian specialists agreed upon and designed a National database of NSM.

Depression in older breast cancer survivors.

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women .

Correlation of the risk of breast cancer and disruption of the circadian rhythm (Review).

Breast cancer is the worldwide leading cause of cancer incidence among women. Night shift work exposure has been recently considered one of the significant breast cancer risk factors in industrialized countries. The mechanisms by which this work exposure may be responsible for cancer development is still discussed.

Giant recurrent fibromatosis of the breast: a case report. Clinical features and implications for treatment.

Fibromatosis of the breast is a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm, which has been described under various names including extra-abdominal desmoid tumour and aggressive fibromatosis. It is a rare condition, accounting for approximately 0.2% of all solid tumours of the breast.

[Polypoid lesions of the gallbladder: indications for surgical treatment].

Through the study of a population of 176 patients with polypoid lesions of the gallbladder, our aim was to demonstrate the advantages of ultrasonography in the identification of those cases in which surgical intervention is indicated. From among our patients, specific criteria were used to select 92 patients to submit to cholecystectomy. These criteria were based on a thorough evaluation of the clinical data (patient's age, familiarity, presence of symptoms), and on careful examination of the ultrasonographic images (number and size of lesions, presence of associated cholelithiasis, state of the gallbladder wall).