Early downmodulation of tumor glycolysis predicts response to fasting-mimicking diet in triple-negative breast cancer patients.

In preclinical experiments, cyclic fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) showed broad anticancer effects in combination with chemotherapy. Among different tumor types, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is exquisitely sensitive to FMD. However, the antitumor activity and efficacy of cyclic FMD in TNBC patients remain unclear.

Raman spectroscopy on dried blood plasma allows diagnosis and monitoring of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains challenging to diagnose, necessitating the identification of a noninvasive biomarker that can differentiate it from other conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and diverticular disease (DD). Raman spectroscopy (RS) stands out as a promising technique for monitoring blood biochemical profiles, with the potential to identify distinct signatures identifying CRC subjects. We performed RS analysis on dried plasma from 120 subjects: 32 CRC patients, 37 IBD patients, 20 DD patients, and 31 healthy controls.

Manufacturing of Sustainable Composite Materials: The Challenge of Flax Fiber and Polypropylene.

The widespread use of synthetic composite materials has raised environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradability and energy-intensive production. This paper explores the potential of natural composites, specifically flax-polypropylene, as a sustainable alternative to traditional composites for semi-structural applications. In fact, the mechanical properties of flax-polypropylene composites are similar to synthetic ones (such as those made with E-glass fibers).

Effect of powered circular stapler in colorectal anastomosis after left-sided colic resection: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Anastomotic leak (AL) remains the most important complication after left-sided colic anastomoses and technical complications during anastomotic construction are responsible of higher leakage incidence. Powered circular stapler (PCS) in colorectal surgery has been introduced in order to reduce technical errors and post-operative complications due to the manual circular stapler (MCS).

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed.

Effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiation on anorectal function assessed with anorectal manometry: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Improvement in oncological survival for rectal cancer increases attention to anorectal dysfunction. Diagnostic questionnaires can evaluate quality of life but are subjective and dependent on patients' compliance. Anorectal manometry can objectively assess the continence mechanism and identify functional sphincter weakness and rectal compliance.

Outcomes of chemotherapy/chemoradiation vs. R2 surgical debulking vs. palliative care in nonresectable locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Locally recurrent rectal cancer is resected with clear margins in only 50% of cases, and these patients achieve a three-year survival rate of 50%. Outcomes and therapeutic strategies for nonresectable locally recurrent rectal cancer have been much less explored. The aim of the study was to assess the three-year progression-free survival and the three-year overall survival in locally recurrent rectal cancer patients treated by chemotherapy/chemoradiation only vs.

Extraperitoneal lateral pelvic sidewall excision: a novel rectal-sparing approach for lateral locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) involving the lateral pelvic sidewall requires a complex approach to maximize the likelihood of R0 resection, which is the only predictor of survival. The purpose of this report is to describe a novel technique to resect a localized lateral pelvic sidewall LRRC. A 63-year-old male patient was referred for a 15-mm LRRC near the right internal iliac vessels.

Point-Of-Care low-field MRI in acute Stroke (POCS): protocol for a multicentric prospective open-label study evaluating diagnostic accuracy.

Introduction: Fast and accurate diagnosis of acute stroke is crucial to timely initiate reperfusion therapies. Conventional high-field (HF) MRI yields the highest accuracy in discriminating early ischaemia from haemorrhages and mimics. Rapid access to HF-MRI is often limited by contraindications or unavailability.

Multimodal treatment of rectal cancer with resectable synchronous liver metastases: A systematic review.

Background: Specific studies on stage IV rectal cancer are lacking. The aim of this study is to describe the current status of rectum-first approach (RFA), liver-first approach (LFA) and simultaneous approach (SA) in these patients.

Methods: A systematic review was performed on PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane including studies published from January 2005 to January 2021.

An Innovative Method to Analyse the Geometrical Accuracy of Ti6Al4V Octet-Truss Lattice Structures.

Metal lattice structures manufactured utilising additive techniques are attracting increasing attention thanks to the high structural efficiency they can offer. Although many studies exist on the characterisation of massive parts in Ti6Al4V processed by Electron Beam Melting (EBM), several investigations are necessary to characterise the Ti6Al4V lattice structures made by the EBM process. The objective of this paper is to develop a measurement method to assess the dimensional accuracy of Ti6Al4V octet truss lattice structures manufactured by EBM technology.

Impact of Microscopically Positive (≤1 mm) Distal Margins on Disease Recurrence in Rectal Cancer Treated by Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The adequate distal resection margin is still controversial in rectal cancer treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a distal margin of ≤1 mm on locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS).

Methods: Among 255 patients treated with nCRT and surgery at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, 83 (32.

RIFT Process Analysis for the Production of Green Composites in Flax Fibers and Bio-Based Epoxy Resin.

In this work, a dual objective is carried out on composite materials in flax fiber and bio-based epoxy resin: to determine the process parameters and to develop a numerical model for highlighting the potential of and the limits in the production of "green" laminates through a RIFT process (Resin Infusion under Flexible Tool). For these reasons, compressibility tests were performed in order to evaluate the behavior of commercial flax woven under the vacuum bag. Subsequently, permeability tests were performed in order to evaluate the permeability curves necessary for the numerical study of the infusion process.

Extensive Intraductal Component in Breast Cancer: What Role in Disease-Free Survival?

Introduction: Extensive intraductal component (EIC) associated to early breast cancer could increase the risk locoregional recurrence, but its impact on distant metastases is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of EIC on 5-year survival outcomes in patients affected by early breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery.

Methods: A total of 414 consecutive patients with a minimum follow-up of 60 mo were collected from January 2007 to December 2015.

Pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy/(re)chemoradiation for pelvic relapse of rectal cancer undergoing complex pelvic surgery: more frequent than expected?

Purpose: To estimate the rate of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy/(re)chemoradiation and its impact on survival in locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) and to identify predictors of pCR or differences between neoadjuvant treatments.

Methods: Among 394 LRRC patients treated at the National Cancer Institute of Milan (Italy), 74 (27.8%) were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without (re)chemoradiation before surgery.

Gut microbiota composition in colorectal cancer patients is genetically regulated.

The risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) depends on environmental and genetic factors. Among environmental factors, an imbalance in the gut microbiota can increase CRC risk. Also, microbiota is influenced by host genetics.

New Chemotypes for the Inhibition of (p)ppGpp Synthesis in the Quest for New Antimicrobial Compounds.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to our society from both the medical and economic point of view, while the antibiotic discovery pipeline has been dwindling over the last decades. Targeting non-essential bacterial pathways, such as those leading to antibiotic persistence, a bacterial bet-hedging strategy, will lead to new molecular entities displaying low selective pressure, thereby reducing the insurgence of AMR. Here, we describe a way to target (p)ppGpp (guanosine tetra- or penta-phosphate) signaling, a non-essential pathway involved in the formation of persisters, with a structure-based approach.

Influence of Laser Treatment on End Notched Flexure Bonded Joints in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer: Experimental and Numerical Results.

Surface pretreatment for bonding is one of the most important steps for the manufacturing of a reliable bonded joint. In this paper, the effectiveness of an innovative pretreatment by CO pulsed laser for bonding Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) was investigated. End Notched Flexure (ENF) specimens were made with different densities of laser treatment, and the respective fracture toughness was obtained through the Compliance-Based Beam Method (CBBM).

Low baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios predict increased overall survival in locally recurrent rectal cancer despite R1 margins.

Background: Prognostic features in locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC), beyond R0 surgery, are unknown.

Aims: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of peripheral immune estimators, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), on survival outcomes in LRRC patients.

Methods: 184 LRRC patients treated at the National Cancer Institute of Milan (Italy) were included.

Structure-based identification of a new IAP-targeting compound that induces cancer cell death inducing NF-κB pathway.

Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) are validated onco-targets, as their overexpression correlates with cancer onset, progression, diffusion and chemoresistance. IAPs regulate cell death survival pathways, inflammation, and immunity. Targeting IAPs, by impairing their protein-protein interaction surfaces, can affect events occurring at different stages of cancer development.

Fast quantification of extracellular vesicles levels in early breast cancer patients by Single Molecule Detection Array (SiMoA).

Purpose: Preliminary reports suggest that extracellular vesicles (EVs) might be a promising biomarker for breast cancer (BC). However, the quantification of plasmatic levels of EVs is a complex task. To overcome these limitations, we developed a new, fast, and easy to use assay for the quantification of EVs directly in plasma based on the use of Single-Molecule Array (SiMoA).