Next-Generation Sequencing-Assisted DNA-Based Digital PCR for a Personalized Approach to the Detection and Quantification of Residual Disease in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

Recent studies indicate that 40% of chronic myeloid leukemia patients who achieve sustained undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts on tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy remain disease-free after drug discontinuation. In contrast, 60% experience return of detectable disease and have to restart treatment, thus highlighting the need for an improved method of identifying patients with the lowest likelihood of relapse. Here we describe the validation of a personalized DNA-based digital PCR (dPCR) approach for quantifying very low levels of residual disease, which involves the rapid identification of t(9;22) fusion junctions using targeted next-generation sequencing coupled with the use of a dPCR platform.

Laparoscopic Indocyanine Green Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Endometrial Cancer.

Background: In endometrial cancer (EMCA), indocyanine green (ICG) sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has been reported, mainly in conjunction with robotic surgery.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate detection rates, sensitivity, and false negative (FN) rate of laparoscopic ICG SLN mapping in EMCA, and to evaluate differences in surgical outcomes between patients subjected to SLN biopsy only versus lymphadenectomy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of EMCA patients undergoing ICG SLN mapping ± pelvic (PLND) and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PALND) was performed.

Analysis of dendritic cell subpopulations in follicular lymphoma with respect to the tumor immune microenvironment.

The immune cell composition of the follicular lymphoma (FL) tumor microenvironment is increasingly recognized as an important determinant for clinical outcome. Here, we explored frequency and distribution of dendritic cell (DC) subtypes in relation to regulatory T cells (Treg) by immunohistochemistry in lymph node biopsies from patients with de novo FL. We found that neoplastic follicles contained lower DC and higher Treg frequencies than hyperplastic follicles in control lymph nodes.

Cediranib in ovarian cancer: state of the art and future perspectives.

Despite the dramatic improvements achieved in cancer treatment through a better understanding of the tumor biology, ovarian cancer is still characterized by a poor prognosis: most patients diagnosed with this disease will ultimately die from it. In various clinical trials conducted over a time span of two decades, new combinations of conventional chemotherapy regimens have failed to achieve significant improvements in oncologic outcome in ovarian cancer patients. We have now entered an era of "personalized medicine" in which new medications are designed to specifically target molecular pathways involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression.

Kinase signalling pathways in endometriosis: potential targets for non-hormonal therapeutics.

Background: Endometriosis, the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, is associated with chronic pelvic pain, subfertility and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Current treatments include the surgical removal of the lesions or the induction of a hypoestrogenic state. However, a reappearance of the lesion after surgery is common and a hypoestrogenic state is less than optimal for women of reproductive age.

Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping After Previous Hysterectomy in Patients with Occult Cervical Cancer.

Background: In patients with a diagnosis of occult cervical cancer made on a hysterectomy specimen after surgery for a benign indication, lymph node assessment is crucial to determine treatment. We aimed to compare sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping between patients with postoperative diagnosis of occult cervical carcinoma and patients with cervical cancer and uterus in situ.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of cervical cancer patients International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA-IIA disease undergoing laparoscopic SLN mapping was performed.

Endoscopic vacuum therapy for esophageal perforations and leakages.

Background And Study Aims: Injuries to the esophageal wall, such as perforations and anastomotic leaks, are serious complications of surgical and endoscopic interventions. Since 2006, a new treatment has been introduced, in the form of endoscopically placed vacuum sponge therapy.

Patients And Methods: Between April 2012 and October 2014, 10 patients (5 men and 5 women) aged 57 to 94 years were treated at our institution using endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Muscle and Joint Factors Associated With Forefoot Deformity in the Diabetic Neuropathic Foot.

Background: Diabetic forefoot joint deformities are a known risk factor for skin breakdown and amputation, but the causes of deformity are not well understood. The purposes of this study were to determine the effects of intrinsic foot muscle deterioration and limited ankle joint mobility on the severity of metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) deformity, and determine the relationships between these potential contributing factors and indicators of diabetic complications (peripheral neuropathy and advanced glycation end products).

Methods: A total of 34 participants with diabetic neuropathy (average age, 59 years; range 41-73) were studied.

Hepatic resection during cytoreductive surgery for primary or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

Purpose: Surgical cytoreduction remains a cornerstone in the management of patients with advanced and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Parenchymal liver metastases determine stage VI disease and are commonly considered a major limit in the achievement of an optimal cytoreduction. The purpose of this manuscript was to discuss the rationale of liver resection and the morbidity related to this procedure in advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer.

Does dienogest influence the inflammatory response of endometriotic cells? A systematic review.

Objective And Design: A systematic review of all literature was done to assess the ability of the progestin dienogest (DNG) to influence the inflammatory response of endometriotic cells.

Main Outcome Measures: In vitro and in vivo studies report an influence of DNG on the inflammatory response in eutopic or ectopic endometrial tissue (animal or human).

Results: After strict inclusion criteria were satisfied, 15 studies were identified that reported a DNG influence on the inflammatory response in endometrial tissue.

Acquired midfoot deformity and function in individuals with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.

Background: Diabetes mellitus related medial column foot deformity is a major contributor to ulceration and amputation. However, little is known about the relationship between medial column alignment and function and the integrity of the soft tissues that support and move the medial column. The purposes of this study were to determine the predictors of medial column alignment and function in people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.

Reduction and retention of thoracolumbar fractures by minimally invasive stabilisation versus open posterior instrumentation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was in thoracolumbar fractures to assess the effectiveness of minimal invasive stabilisation compared to the open technique with regards to the change in kyphosis angle, the loss of reduction and length of hospital stay.

Methods: The retrospective study consisted of 104 patients who received minimally invasive stabilisation or open stabilisation. Patients were between 15 and 86 years of age, had a thoracolumbar fracture and no neurological deficits.

Rare Cause of Recurrent Pneumonia in the Left Lower Lobe.

A 52-year-old male patient was hospitalized in our department with the diagnosis of recurrent pneumonia in the left lower lobe. The patient reported possible aspiration of plastic material about 10 years ago, although repeated bronchoscopies in an external hospital had not revealed any foreign body. A multiply folded 8-cm filing strip for a ring folder was detected and successfully removed together with granulation tissue by means of rigid bronchoscopy.

Can urethrolysis resolve outlet obstruction related symptoms after Burch colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence?

Objective: Bladder outlet obstruction may occur after any incontinence surgery and may present as OAB, hesitancy and or the feeling of incomplete emptying. Aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and urodynamical outcome after urethrolysis in patients presenting with various clinical symptoms after Burch colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence.

Study Design: Between January 2005 and December 2014, all patients who presented with symptoms and with bladder outlet obstruction were included.

Laparoscopic Indocyanine Green Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Pregnant Cervical Cancer Patients.

We present cases of 2 pregnant patients with early-stage cervical cancer who have undergone indocyanine green (ICG) sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping followed by laparoscopic SLN biopsy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and cervical conization. Eight milliliters of ICG were injected in the 4 quadrants of the cervix after having obtained an adequate pneumoperitoneum and having inspected the abdominal cavity. SLNs were identified in both hemipelvises in both patients.

Laparoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Repair of Uterine Scar Isthmocele Connected With the Extra-Amniotic Space in Early Pregnancy.

We present a video of an ultrasound-guided laparoscopic surgical management of a large uterine scar isthmocele connected with the extra-amniotic space in early pregnancy. A case of a pregnant patient who was diagnosed with a large isthmocele connected with the extra-amniotic space on routine ultrasound at 8 weeks of gestational age is presented. The uterine defect was successfully sutured laparoscopically under ultrasound guidance.

Comparison of ovarian cancer markers in endometriosis favours HE4 over CA125.

Endometriosis is a gynaecological condition with an associated chronic inflammatory response. The ectopic growth of 'lesions', consisting of endometrial cells outside the uterine cavity, stimulates an inflammatory response initiating the activation of macrophages, and resulting in increased cytokine and growth factor concentrations in the peritoneal fluid (PF). Endometriosis‑associated inflammation is chronic and long lasting.

Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging in the Surgical Management of an Iatrogenic Lymphatic Fistula: Description of a Surgical Technique.

We present a case of laparoscopic surgical management of an iatrogenic lymphorrhea using indocyanine green (ICG). A case of a patient who developed recurrent symptomatic lymphorrhea after laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy for an early stage cervical cancer is presented. Intraoperative bipedal interdigital subcutaneous injection of ICG exactly localized the disrupted lymphatic duct on fluorescence imaging performed with a near-infrared laparoscopic fluorescent optic device, thus allowing a successful surgical repair.

A Comparison of Radiocolloid and Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging, Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Cervical Cancer Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery.

Background And Purpose: (99)TC combined with blue-dye mapping is considered the best sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping technique in cervical cancer. Indocyanine green (ICG) with near infrared fluorescence imaging has been introduced as a new methodology for SLN mapping. The aim of this study was to compare these two techniques in the laparoscopic treatment of cervical cancer.

Truncating Homozygous Mutation of Carboxypeptidase E (CPE) in a Morbidly Obese Female with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Intellectual Disability and Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism.

Carboxypeptidase E is a peptide processing enzyme, involved in cleaving numerous peptide precursors, including neuropeptides and hormones involved in appetite control and glucose metabolism. Exome sequencing of a morbidly obese female from a consanguineous family revealed homozygosity for a truncating mutation of the CPE gene (c.76_98del; p.

The Rendez-vous technique for treatment of caesarean scar defects: a novel combined endoscopic approach.

Background: A caesarean scar defect is a late complication of caesarean birth with a wide range of prevalence between 56 and 84% depending on which diagnostic tool and which definition is used. The referred symptoms which include postmenstrual spotting and infertility are fortunately rare. Moreover, severe complications such as caesarean scar pregnancy and uterine rupture in the following pregnancy may occur.

H19 lncRNA alters stromal cell growth via IGF signaling in the endometrium of women with endometriosis.

Endometriosis affects approximately 15% of reproductive aged women and is associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility. However, the molecular mechanisms by which endometriosis impacts fertility are poorly understood. The developmentally regulated, imprinted H19 long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) functions to reduce the bioavailability of microRNA let-7 by acting as a molecular sponge.

The effect of identical word pairs on people's metamemory judgments: What are the contributions of processing fluency and beliefs about memory?

Judgments of learning (JOLs) are higher for identical pairs (dog-dog) than for related pairs (dog-cat). This identical effect may be mediated (a) by processing fluency (i.e.

Doppler Ultrasound Flow Evaluation of the Uterine Arteries Significantly Correlates with Tumor Size in Cervical Cancer Patients.

Purpose: The aim of this present study was to evaluate the sonographic correlation between Doppler flow characteristics of the uterine arteries and tumor size in patients with cervical cancer, in order to establish a new potential marker to monitor treatment response.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 25 patients who underwent a sonographic evaluation of Doppler flow characteristics of the uterine arteries before surgery or radiochemotherapy for early and locally advanced/advanced cervical cancer, respectively, was analyzed. The primary outcome was the correlation between Doppler flow characteristics of the uterine arteries and tumor size in patients with cervical cancer.

Standardized pelvic floor exercises improve stress urinary incontinence in women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency.

Objectives: Pelvic floor rehabilitation is the conservative therapy of choice for women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The success rate of surgical procedures in SUI patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) is low. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of a standardized physiotherapy on patients with SUI and normotonic urethra and ISD.