Can Pre-Treatment Inflammatory Parameters Predict the Probability of Sphincter-Preserving Surgery in Patients with Locally Advanced Low-Lying Rectal Cancer?

There is evidence suggesting that pre-treatment clinical parameters can predict the probability of sphincter-preserving surgery in rectal cancer; however, to date, data on the predictive role of inflammatory parameters on the sphincter-preservation rate are not available. The aim of the present cohort study was to investigate the association between inflammation-based parameters and the sphincter-preserving surgery rate in patients with low-lying locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). A total of 848 patients with LARC undergoing radiotherapy from 2004 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed in order to identify patients with rectal cancer localized ≤6 cm from the anal verge, treated with neo-adjuvant radiochemotherapy (nRCT) and subsequent surgery.

The decreased mean platelet volume is associated with poor prognosis in patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with radiotherapy.

Background: There is considerable evidence that platelets contribute to cancer growth and metastatic dissemination. In recent studies, altered mean platelet volume (MPV) has been associated with prognosis in different types of cancer. However, the prognostic role of the MPV in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is currently discussed controversially.

The Elevated Pre-Treatment C-Reactive Protein Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated with Neo-Adjuvant Radiochemotherapy.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the pre-treatment C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma level with survival outcomes in a cohort of 423 consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neo-adjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by surgical resection. To evaluate the prognostic value of the CRP level for clinical endpoints recurrence-free survival (RFS), local-regional control (LC), metastases-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS), uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied, and survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The median follow-up time was 73 months.

Incidence of Morphea following Adjuvant Irradiation of the Breast in 2,268 Patients.

Background: Morphea of the breast is an autoimmune reaction of the subcutaneous connective tissue which can be triggered by exposure to ionizing radiation. The literature suggests incidence rates of 1:500 to 1:3,000 which, however, do not seem to match the very small number of cases reported.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of morphea following irradiation of the breast in order to generate more evidence about the frequency of this serious and mutilating complication.

The Pre-Treatment C-Reactive Protein Represents a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer Treated with Radiotherapy.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the pre- treatment C-reactive protein (CRP) level in a cohort of 503 patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer treated at a tertiary academic center between 2000 and 2017. Cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS) and loco-regional control (LC) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. To evaluate the prognostic value of the CRP level for the clinical endpoints, univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied.

How much insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome? Comparison of HOMA-IR and insulin resistance (Belfiore) index models.

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the commonest endocrinopathy of women in reproductive age, is often accompanied by insulin resistance (IR), hirsutism and/or fertility problems. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of IR in women diagnosed with PCOS.

Material And Methods: The study involved 137 women diagnosed with PCOS, according to the Rotterdam consensus criteria (2003).

Rsp5 ubiquitin ligase is required for protein trafficking in Saccharomyces cerevisiae COPI mutants.

Retrograde trafficking from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) depends on the formation of vesicles coated with the multiprotein complex COPI. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae ubiquitinated derivatives of several COPI subunits have been identified. The importance of this modification of COPI proteins is unknown.