A hepatocellular carcinoma model with and without parenchymal liver damage that integrates technical and pathophysiological advantages for therapy testing.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, with cirrhosis being its strongest risk factor. Interestingly, an increasing number of HCC cases is also observed without cirrhosis. We developed an HCC model via intrasplenic injection of highly tumorigenic HCC cells, which, due to cellular tropism, invade the liver and allow for a controllable disease progression.

Treatment of Capsular Contracture in Previously Irradiated Breasts Implants and Expanders with the Use of Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrices: Outcomes and Complications.

: Radiation therapy is a crucial component of breast cancer treatment. However, it is well known to increase the risk of unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes and higher complication rates. The aim of this study is to provide further insight into the use of acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) for the prevention of capsular contracture.

Bayesian analysis of 1D H-NMR spectra.

Extracting spin system parameters from 1D high resolution H-NMR spectra can be an intricate task requiring sophisticate methods. With a few exceptions methods to perform such a total line shape analysis commonly rely on local optimization techniques which for increasing complexity of the underlying spin system tend to reveal local solutions. In this work we propose a full Bayesian modeling approach based on a quantum mechanical model of the spin system.

Resection to restoration: Assessing the synergy of polypropylene mesh (Marlex®) combined with methyl-methacrylate and latissimus dorsi flap for primary chest wall sarcomas.

Background: Chest-wall sarcomas are treated with extensive resections and complex defect reconstruction to restore chest-wall integrity. It is a difficult surgical procedure that incorporates a multidisciplinary approach for the best outcome, preventing paradoxical chest movement issues and reducing complications.

Objective: We aimed to describe our experience of chest-wall reconstruction using polypropylene mesh (Marlex® Mesh) combined with methyl-methacrylate and soft-tissue coverage with a latissimus dorsi flap following sarcoma resection.

Rib Reduction Technique in Patients with Isolated Chondrocostal Chest Wall Prominence Undergoing Breast Augmentation.

Introduction: When planning for breast augmentation, it is important to consider not only implant choice, surgical technique and patient desires, but also the chest wall shape and deformities or irregularities, which remain often underestimated. They can be responsible for implant malposition and breast asymmetry after augmentation. Chondrocostal junction prominence is a minor but frequent chest wall deformity.

Reply to: A Two-Step Approach for Breast Augmentation with Chest Wall Deformity?

Patients asking for cosmetic breast surgery often appreciate that their breasts have an unpleasing appearance, but they often do not have a full appreciation of the degree of potential anatomic abnormalities of the chest wall and of the specific anatomical characteristics, which require a meticulous surgical planning and techniques in comparison with a standard breast cosmetic surgery. Failure to recognize this will predispose the patient to an unsatisfactory outcome and secondary deformities. To maximize surgical predictability and patients' satisfaction, the authors proposed a two-stage approach in the scenario of patients presenting with chest wall deformities and asking for breast augmentation.

Reply to Comment to: Tuberous Breast Associated with Chest Wall Deformity: A Challenging Planning for Breast Augmentation.

Even in cases of noticeable breasts asymmetry, such as in our case, it is advisable to use implants with the same volume and projection, in order to maintain a similar breast footprint and allow a similar aging behavior over time. This can be achieved by reducing the size of the larger breast, thereby addressing the volume discrepancy before the placement of the implants. However, in our case, the skeletal deformities resulted in a significant disparity in the projection of the right and left sides of the chest wall, hindering the use of breast implants with identical projection.

Atomic soliton transmission and induced collapse in scattering from a narrow barrier.

We report systematic numerical simulations of the collision of a bright matter-wave soliton made of Bose-condensed alkali-metal atoms through a narrow potential barrier by using the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation. In this way, we determine how the transmission coefficient depends on the soliton impact velocity and the barrier height. Quite remarkably, we also obtain the regions of parameters where there is the collapse of the bright soliton induced by the collision.

Post-operative KEloids iRradiation (POKER): does the surgery/high-dose interventional radiotherapy association make a winning hand?

Purpose: To report the results involving post-operative interventional radiotherapy (POIRT) in a homogenous cohort of patients affected by keloid and treated at a single institution with the same fractionation schedule.

Patients And Methods: Inclusion criteria were: surgery with a histopathological diagnosis of keloid, subsequent high-dose rate interventional radiotherapy (HDR-IRT)-12 Gy in 4 fractions (3 Gy/fr) twice a day-and follow-up period ≥ 24 months.

Results: One-hundred and two patients and a total of 135 keloids were eligible for the analyses.

Tuberous Breasts Associated with Chest Wall Deformity: A Challenging Planning for Breast Augmentation.

Tuberous breast deformity is characterized by a deficiency in the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the breast, as well as breast underdevelopment and asymmetry. Concomitant chest wall deformities are not uncommon and increase the difficulty when planning breast augmentation in such patients. We present a unique case of tuberous breasts and chest wall deformity successfully treated employing a novel technique that incorporated breast implants and fat grafting.

Postmastectomy dual-plane submuscular-subcutaneous implant-based reconstruction: a series of 100 consecutive patients.

Background: Advances in cancer knowledge and surgical techniques over the last decades have enabled plastic surgeons to use muscle-sparing procedures and more conservative approaches for implant-based reconstructions. In this paper, the authors describe an innovative subpectoral/subcutaneous implant pocket that represents an evolution of the classical submuscular technique and they report on the first consecutive hundred patients undergoing this procedure.

Methods: Between April 2019 and May 2022, 100 consecutive patients underwent immediate postmastectomy implant-based reconstruction using the subpectoral/subcutaneous space, for a total of 122 procedures.

Consulting the Digital Doctor: Google Versus ChatGPT as Sources of Information on Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma and Breast Implant Illness.

Background: Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare complication associated with the use of breast implants. Breast implant illness (BII) is another potentially concerning issue related to breast implants. This study aims to assess the quality of ChatGPT as a potential source of patient education by comparing the answers to frequently asked questions on BIA-ALCL and BII provided by ChatGPT and Google.

Engineering Mesoscopic 3D Tumor Models with a Self-Organizing Vascularized Matrix.

Advanced in vitro systems such as multicellular spheroids and lab-on-a-chip devices have been developed, but often fall short in reproducing the tissue scale and self-organization of human diseases. A bioprinted artificial tumor model is introduced with endothelial and stromal cells self-organizing into perfusable and functional vascular structures. This model uses 3D hydrogel matrices to embed multicellular tumor spheroids, allowing them to grow to mesoscopic scales and to interact with endothelial cells.

One-step Glandular Reconstruction after Breast Implant Removal: Technical Refinements and Grafting of the Inferior Dermoglandular Flap.

The number of breast implant removal procedures are rising. Among the reasons why patients seek breast implant removal, the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA), also named breast implant illness, is increasingly common. ASIA is an entity that incorporates diverse autoimmune conditions induced by the exposure to various adjuvants, including silicone, and it is characterized by systemic symptoms reminiscent of autoimmune disorders.

Poly-l-glutamic acid modification modulates the bio-nano interface of a therapeutic anti-IGF-1R antibody in prostate cancer.

Modifying biological agents with polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) has demonstrated clinical benefits; however, post-market surveillance of PEGylated derivatives has revealed PEG-associated toxicity issues, prompting the search for alternatives. We explore how conjugating a poly-l-glutamic acid (PGA) to an anti-insulin growth factor 1 receptor antibody (AVE1642) modulates the bio-nano interface and anti-tumor activity in preclinical prostate cancer models. Native and PGA-modified AVE1642 display similar anti-tumor activity in vitro; however, AVE1642 prompts IGF-1R internalization while PGA conjugation prompts higher affinity IGF-1R binding, thereby inhibiting IGF-1R internalization and altering cell trafficking.

How Does ChatGPT Perform on the Italian Residency Admission National Exam Compared to 15,869 Medical Graduates?

Purpose: The study aims to assess ChatGPT performance on the Residency Admission National Exam to evaluate ChatGPT's level of medical knowledge compared to graduate medical doctors in Italy.

Methods: ChatGPT3 was used in June 2023 to undertake the 2022 Italian Residency Admission National Exam-a 140 multiple choice questions computer-based exam taken by all Italian medical graduates yearly, used to assess basic science and applied medical knowledge. The exam was scored using the same criteria defined by the national educational governing body.

BIA-ALCL in patients with genetic predisposition for breast cancer: our experience and a review of the literature.

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is an emerging non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that occurs exclusively in patients with breast implants. The estimated risk of developing BIA-ALCL from exposure to breast implants is largely based on approximations about patients at risk. There is a growing body of evidence regarding the presence of specific germline mutations in patients developing BIA-ALCL, rising interest regarding possible markers of genetic predisposition to this type of lymphoma.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on breast surgery in Italy: a multi-centric retrospective observational study.

COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on surgical activities. The aim of this multi-centric, retrospective study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast surgery. The patients who operated during the pre-pandemic year 2019 were compared to those operated in 2020.

Postmastectomy breast reconstruction for women with hereditary gastric and breast cancer syndrome.

Post mastectomy reconstruction is nowadays an integral part of breast cancer treatment, usually performed in the immediate setting. Among women with hereditary gastric and breast cancer syndromes, three different scenarios can be identified. First, healthy women seeking for prophylactic mastectomies.

Diagnostic performance of image-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy after neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer: prospective pilot study.

Background: Image-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) of the tumour bed, performed after neoadjuvant therapy, is increasingly being used to assess residual cancer and to potentially identify to identify pathological complete response (pCR). In this study, the accuracy of preoperative VABB specimens was assessed and compared with surgical specimens in patients with triple-negative or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive invasive ductal breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. As a secondary endpoint, the performance of contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast and PET-CT for response prediction was assessed.

Ten-year results of hypofractionated whole breast radiotherapy and intraoperative electron boost in premenopausal women.

Aim: To evaluate outcome of intraoperative electron boost (IOERT) and hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (HWBI) for breast cancer (BC) in young women.

Methods And Materials: Women aged ≤ 48 with pT1-2 N0-1 BC received 12 Gy IOERT boost during conservative surgery followed by 3-dimensional conformal HWBI in 13 fractions (2.85 Gy/die).