Obesity may not be related to pathologic response in locally advanced rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and body fat composition (measured with radiological fat parameters (RFP)) and pathological response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer patients. The secondary aim of the study was to assess the role of BMI and RFP on major surgical complications, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

Methods: All patients who underwent surgical resection following nCRT between 2005 and 2017 for mid-low rectal cancer were retrospectively collected.

Could the Pittsburgh Severity Score guide the treatment of esophageal perforation? Experience of a single referral center.

Background: Esophageal perforation (EP) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. The Pittsburgh Severity Score (PSS) is a scoring system based on clinical factors at the time of EP presentation, intended to guide treatment. The aim of the study is to verify PSS usefulness in stratifying EP severity and in guiding clinical decisions.

Simple mucinous cyst: another potential cancer precursor in the pancreas? Case report with molecular characterization and systematic review of the literature.

Cystic lesions of the pancreas may range from benign to precursors of pancreatic cancer. Simple mucinous cyst (SMC) is larger than 1 cm, has a gastric-type flat mucinous lining, and minimal atypia without ovarian-type stroma. We report a new case of pancreatic SMC, coupling a systematic review of the English literature mainly focused on their clinic-pathological features.

Burn Unit admission and management protocol during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The actual epidemic outbreak is the third time in the last two decades in which a coronavirus results in a major global spread with serious consequences in terms of vastity of affected patients, life losses, health system organization efforts and socio-economic implications. Lacking effective therapies and vaccinations, during viral outbreak the major and most incisive mean for viral spread control is spread prevention, especially for the fragile burn-injured patients we are called to care for in Burn Units.

Methods: We developed an admission and inpatient management protocol to preserve burn patients from SARS-CoV-2 contagion, in order to avoid additional morbidity and mortality in patients with already compromised health conditions.