Current state of education in venous diseases within vascular surgery training programs in Italy: A national web-based survey among residents.

Background: To analyze the perception of vascular surgery trainees from Italian schools of Vascular Surgery regarding the level of practical and theoretical education in venous diseases.

Methods: An anonymous electronic survey was sent to Italian vascular surgery residents affiliated with 19 universities, asking about their training and experience in the management of venous diseases. The survey gathered information on the residents' personal and demographic details, their university's teaching program, operative experience in phlebology, as well as their confidence levels in performing various venous procedures, with the goal of analyzing the training and learning programs provided by Italian vascular surgery schools.

Left ventricular volumes and function in successful and failed His-BundLe Pacing. A comparative prospective study.

Introduction: Initial data suggest that His Bundle Pacing (HBP) could preserve long-term cardiac structure and function better than Right Ventricular Pacing (RVP), but evidence is limited.

Methods: We studied consecutive patients with baseline ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50% who underwent HBP attempt, either successful (HBP group) or failed (RVP group). Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography were carried out at baseline and after 6 months of ventricular pacing burden > 20%.

Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Immunohistochemical Expression in Advanced Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma: An Updated Review with Clinical and Pathological Implications.

The management of advanced bladder carcinoma involves a multidisciplinary approach, but the prognosis remains poor for many patients. The immune system plays a crucial role in this disease, influencing both tumor development and response to treatment, and exploiting the immune system against the tumor can be a valuable strategy to destroy neoplastic cells. This is the biological principle underlying Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) use and, more recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), like PD-1 (programmed death-1)/PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) inhibitors.

Autophagic-Related Proteins in Brain Gliomas: Role, Mechanisms, and Targeting Agents.

The present review focuses on the phenomenon of autophagy, a catabolic cellular process, which allows for the recycling of damaged organelles, macromolecules, and misfolded proteins. The different steps able to activate autophagy start with the formation of the autophagosome, mainly controlled by the action of several autophagy-related proteins. It is remarkable that autophagy may exert a double role as a tumour promoter and a tumour suppressor.

Inadvertent Lead Malposition in the Left Heart during Implantation of Cardiac Electric Devices: A Systematic Review.

Background: The inadvertent lead malposition in the left heart (ILMLH) is an under-recognized event, which may complicate the implantation of cardiac electronic devices (CIEDs).

Methods: We investigated the clinical conditions associated with ILMLH and the treatment strategies in these patients. We made a systematic review of the literature and identified 132 studies which reported 157 patients with ILMLH.

Immunoexpression of p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 in human primary and recurrent IDH1/2 wild-type glioblastoma: A pilot study.

p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 is an autophagic protein that serves a crucial role in cellular metabolism, proliferation and malignant growth. Notably, autophagy may influence the development and resistance to therapy of numerous types of human cancer. In the present pilot study, the immunohistochemical pattern of p62 was analyzed in a cohort of patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1/2 wild-type glioblastoma (GBM), in primary and recurrent samples, in order to verify the concordance or discordance between the primary and recurrent tumors.

Autophagy-related Prognostic Signature in HER2 Positive Gastric Carcinomas.

Background: The immunohistochemical analysis of autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) has been recently applied in human pathology to study differentiation and cancer progression. The aim of the present study is to analyze a cohort of gastric carcinomas (GC) by five ATG antisera (Beclin-1, LC3A/B, p62, ULK-1 and AMBRA-1), also evaluating their possible relationship with clinicopathological parameters, HER2 status and final outcome of patients.

Methods: A cohort of 123 GCs has been studied by ATG antisera utilizing Masuda's criteria that define positive cases in which at least two out of five protein expressions were documented.

Microsatellite and RAS/RAF Mutational Status as Prognostic Factors in Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) leads to prolonged survival for selected patients with colorectal (CRC) peritoneal metastases (PM). This study aimed to analyze the prognostic role of micro-satellite (MS) status and RAS/RAF mutations for patients treated with CRS.

Methods: Data were collected from 13 Italian centers with PM expertise within a collaborative group of the Italian Society of Surgical Oncology.

Predictors of long-term mortality in left-sided infective endocarditis: an historical cohort study in 414 patients.

Introduction: Very limited data are available on the long-term outcome of infective endocarditis (IE) and its determinants. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of long-term mortality in patients affected by left sided IE (LSIE).

Methods: This was an historical retrospective observational study on prospectively collected data from patients with LSIE hospitalized in our Unit (January 2000-December 2017).

BRAFV600E mutation is associated with increased prevalence of contralateral lymph-node metastases in low and low-to-intermediate risk papillary thyroid cancer.

Objective: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy. Despite good prognosis being generally associated with PTC, persistent/recurrent disease can be observed in a not negligible number of patients. Accurate postoperative management can lead to a significant improvement of risk stratification/staging of PTC patients identifying those at higher risk of a more aggressive clinical course.

Choroidal involvement in Rosai-Dorfman disease successfully treated with cobimetinib.

Rosai- Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare systemic pseudo-lymphomatous disorder with unknown etiology. No guidelines exist regarding its management and treatment when the disease is progressing. Choroidal involvement in RDD has rarely been reported and has often been misdiagnosed.

BRAF Status in Papillary Microcarcinomas of the Thyroid Gland: a Brief Review.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is defined by the World Health Organization as papillary cancer measuring 10 mm or less in diameter. Generally, PTMC shows an indolent clinical behavior with a good prognosis, although a minority of PTMC is characterized by an aggressive course. However, efforts to identify this aggressive subset of PTMC after surgery remain inconclusive.

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In neoplastic conditions, autophagy may act as a tumor suppressor avoiding the accumulation of damaged proteins and organelles or as a mechanism of cell survival promoting the tumor growth. Although ultrastructural analysis has been considered the traditional method to identify autophagy, some proteins such as microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3A/B), Beclin-1 and activating molecule in Beclin-1-regulated autophagy protein-1 (AMBRA-1) may be considered as markers of autophagy-assisted cancerogenesis. Herein, we analyzed a cohort of advanced tubular gastric adenocarcinomas by the abovementioned immunohistochemical antisera; through immunohistochemistry, autophagy (A-IHC) is diagnosed when at least two out of the three proteins are positive in the samples.

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Status in Gastric Carcinomas with Distinctive Prevalent Cribriform Component.

Objectives: A cribriform architectural pattern has been reported in 9% of one unselected consecutively collected series of gastric carcinomas (GC) with unfavourable prognostic outcome. Taking into consideration the biological relevance of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, we have analyzed a cohort of GC with a cribriform component more than 40% (CGC) to evaluate the HER2 amplification rate as a potential target for therapy with trastuzumab.

Results: HER2 overexpression was encountered in 21 of 100 (21%) GC; a progressive increase in HER2 amplification was appreciated moving from non-CGC (20.

Clinical validation of REALQUALITY RQ-HPV Screen according to the international guidelines for human papillomavirus DNA test requirements for cervical screening.

Background: According to international guidelines, HPV DNA tests represent a valid alternative to Pap Test for primary cervical cancer screening, provided that they guarantee balanced clinical sensitivity and specificity for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more severe lesions. The aim of this study was to assess whether REALQUALITY RQ-HPV Screen, a new assay based on real time PCR that targets the E6-E7 region of 14 high-risk human papillomaviruses, meets the criteria for primary cervical cancer screening.

Methods: As required by guidelines, a non-inferiority test was conducted to compare the clinical performance of the test under evaluation with that of a clinically validated reference test (Hybrid Capture 2, HC2).

HER2 Analysis in Sporadic Thyroid Cancer of Follicular Cell Origin.

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receoptor (EGFR) family member human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in many human epithelial malignancies, representing a molecular target for specific anti-neoplastic drugs. Few data are available on HER2 status in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The present study was aimed to investigate HER2 status in sporadic cancers of follicular cell origin to better clarify the role of this receptor in the stratification of thyroid cancer.

Less frequently mutated genes in colorectal cancer: evidences from next-generation sequencing of 653 routine cases.

Aims: The incidence of RAS/RAF/PI3KA and TP53 gene mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) is well established. Less information, however, is available on other components of the CRC genomic landscape, which are potential CRC prognostic/predictive markers.

Methods: Following a previous validation study, ion-semiconductor next-generation sequencing (NGS) was employed to process 653 routine CRC samples by a multiplex PCR targeting 91 hotspot regions in 22 CRC significant genes.

HGF/c-met system targeting PI3K/AKT and STAT3/phosphorylated-STAT3 pathways in pituitary adenomas: an immunohistochemical characterization in view of targeted therapies.

The ligand/receptor hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-met signaling system promotes cellular growth and angiogenesis through PI3K/phosphor-Akt and STAT3/phosphor-STAT3 downstream effectors. In this study, we have evaluated the expression of molecules of the HGF/c-met pathway in pituitary adenomas (PA). The expression of HGF, c-met, PI3K (p85αsubunit) pAkt, STAT3, and pSTAT3 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in an archival series of 30 PA (12 non-functioning and 18 functioning; 25 macroadenomas and 5 microadenomas).

Human papillomavirus types distribution in eastern Sicilian females with cervical lesions. A correlation with colposcopic and histological findings.

To determine human papillomavirus (HPV) types distribution in cervical lesions in a Southern Italian female population in Messina and their relationship between HPV type and grade of colposcopic and histopathological abnormality, a total of 253 women aged 17-68 years, with previous cytological abnormalities, were included in this study. HPV-DNA testing, colposcopy and biopsy were performed. For each sample, cervical cells were collected by centrifugation and DNA was extracted, followed by a PCR-based HPV-DNA assay and reverse dot blot genotyping.

Fine needle cytology, infectious diseases and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The association between some infections and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) is well known. Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was the first oncogenic human retrovirus to be discovered and has been found to be associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has consistently been linked to both endemic and sporadic Burkitt lymphoma (BL), as well as to Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), post-transplantation proliferative disorders, extra-nodal NK-T-cell lymphoma (nasal type) and B-cell NHL arising in HIV patients; HCV infection is also associated to low-grade lymphoproliferative disorders that can progress to NHL.

Lymph node Fine Needle Cytology, Epstein Barr virus infection and Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a double-stranded DNA virus of the herpes family; it is one of the most common human viruses and it is associated with a wide spectrum of benign and malignant conditions. EBV is related to the development of several neoplasms, globally 1% of tumours, including lymphoproliferative, epithelial and mesenchymal neoplasm. Lymphoproliferative disorders include Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and B and T cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

HER2 status in unusual histological variants of gastric adenocarcinomas.

Aim: To investigate HER2 status in a cohort of 109 gastric adenocarcinomas also including unusual variants, such as 14 hepatoid (HAS) and 9 mitochondrion-rich (MRC), characterised by an opposing clinical behaviour.

Methods And Results: Using HercepTest (DAKO) and FISH test (pharmDx DAKO), HER2 overexpression/amplification was encountered in 23 of 109 (21.10%) of all gastric adenocarcinomas.