Presence of tumor deposits is a strong indicator of poor outcome in patients with stage III colorectal cancers undergoing radical surgery.

Background: Tumor deposits (TDs) are emerging as an adverse prognostic factor in colorectal cancers (CRCs). However, TDs are somewhat neglected in the current staging system. It has been proposed either to add the TD count to the number of metastatic lymph nodes or to consider TDs as distant metastases; however, the scientific basis for these proposals seems questionable.

Assessment of the DNA Mismatch Repair System Is Crucial in Colorectal Cancers Necessitating Adjuvant Treatment: A Propensity Score-Matched and Win Ratio Analysis.

A deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system is identified in a non-negligible part of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs), and its prognostic value remains controversial. High tumor mutational burden, along with a poor response to conventional chemotherapy and excellent results from immunotherapy, are the main features of this subset. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of DNA MMR system status for its best treatment.

Mallory-Weiss syndrome from giant gastric trichobezoar: A case report.

Background: Mallory-Weiss syndrome (MWS), representing a linear mucosal laceration at the gastroesophageal junction, is a quite frequent cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, usually induced by habitual vomiting. The subsequent cardiac ulceration in this condition is likely due to the concomitance of increased intragastric pressure and inappropriate closure of the gastroesophageal sphincter, collectively inducing ischemic mucosal damage. Usually, MWS is associated with all vomiting conditions, but it has also been described as a complication of prolonged endoscopic procedures or ingested foreign bodies.

Giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma treated with radical conservative surgery: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) is a rare malignant tumor of the connective tissue and usually grows to a large size, undetected. Diagnosis is currently based on collective findings from clinical examinations and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging, the latter of which show a fat density mass and possible surrounding organ involvement. Surgical resection is the main therapeutic strategy.

Prediction of SARS-CoV-2-Related Lung Inflammation Spreading by V:ERITAS (Vanvitelli Early Recognition of Inflamed Thoracic Areas Spreading).

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be complicated by interstitial pneumonia, possibly leading to severe acute respiratory failure and death. Because of variable evolution ranging from asymptomatic cases to the need for invasive ventilation, COVID-19 outcomes cannot be precisely predicted on admission. The aim of this study was to provide a simple tool able to predict the outcome of COVID-19 pneumonia on admission to a low-intensity ward in order to better plan management strategies for these patients.

Subcutaneous Quadrantectomy Is a Safe Procedure in Management of Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Background: A less-invasive surgery is often required today for many tumors, when oncologic radicality is strictly ensured, both to minimize hospital stay and health costs and to guarantee aesthetical results. Breast surgery for cancer has been radically changed in the last years since conservative interventions are widely performed everywhere.

Methods: The authors present 75 cases of early breast cancer, randomly treated with standard quadrantectomy and subcutaneous quadrantectomy; the totally subcutaneous surgical technique implies only a short periareolar skin incision and a complete quadrant resection with skin and subcutaneous layer preservation.

Naples Prognostic Score Predicts Tumor Regression Grade in Resectable Gastric Cancer Treated with Preoperative Chemotherapy.

Despite recent progresses, locally advanced gastric cancer remains a daunting challenge to embrace. Perioperative chemotherapy and D2-gastrectomy depict multimodal treatment of gastric cancer in Europe, shows better results than curative surgery alone in terms of downstaging, micrometastases elimination, and improved long-term survival. Unfortunately, preoperative chemotherapy is useless in about 50% of cases of non-responder patients, in which no effect is registered.

Preoperative Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio are Prognostic Factors in Gastric Cancers Undergoing Surgery.

Background: Cancer outcome is considered to result from the interplay of several factors, among which host inflammatory and immune status are deemed to play a significant role. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) have been profitably used as surrogate markers of host immunoinflammatory status and have also been shown to correlate with outcome in several human tumors. However, only a few studies on these biomarkers have been performed in gastric cancer patients, yielding conflicting results.

Atheroembolic renal disease with rapid progression and fatal outcome.

Atheroembolic renal disease is caused by foreign-body reaction to cholesterol crystals flushed from the atherosclerotic plaques into the small-vessel system of the kidneys. It is an underdiagnosed entity, mostly related to vascular procedures and/or anticoagulation, and prognosis is considered to be poor. Besides the benefit of aggressive medical prevention of further embolic events, use of steroid therapy has been associated with greater survival.

Cloning and functional characterization of BcatrA, a gene encoding an ABC transporter of the plant pathogenic fungus Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea).

BcatrA was cloned from the plant pathogenic fungus Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that BcatrA encodes a protein composed of 1562 amino acid residues displaying high similarity with various fungal ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters having the (NBF-TM(6))(2) topology. Expression of BcatrA is barely detectable during normal vegetative growth in liquid substrates.

Renal osteodystrophy: alpha-Heremans Schmid glycoprotein/fetuin-A, matrix GLA protein serum levels, and bone histomorphometry.

Background: Fetuin-A of hepatic origin circulates in large amounts in serum, but also is expressed in bone, where it is an inhibitor of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) proteins. Together with matrix GLA protein (MGP), fetuin-A is able to make up a complex with calcium and phosphate that is more soluble than calcium and phosphate alone, preventing its deposition in extraskeletal tissues. Experimental results suggested that this complex is made at bone tissue level.

Polymorphisms in nuclear rDNA and mtDNA reveal the polyphyletic nature of isolates of Phomopsis pathogenic to sunflower and a tight monophyletic clade of defined geographic origin.

The molecular diversity of Diaporthe helianthi (anamorph Phomopsis helianthi), the causal agent of sunflower stem canker, was studied in 16 isolates of different geographic origin using nuclear and mitochondrial markers. PCR products corresponding to the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene, and to the mitochondrial atp6 gene were sequenced. The ITS1 and ITS2 sequences were compared with those of Phomopsis spp.

The ABC transporter AtrB from Aspergillus nidulans mediates resistance to all major classes of fungicides and some natural toxic compounds.

This paper reports the functional characterization of AtrBp, an ABC transporter from Aspergillus nidulans. AtrBp is a multidrug transporter and has affinity to substrates belonging to all major classes of agricultural fungicides and some natural toxic compounds. The substrate profile of AtrBp was determined by assessing the sensitivity of deletion and overexpression mutants of atrB to several toxicants.