Isotope Exchange Raman Spectroscopy (IERS): A Novel Technique to Probe Physicochemical Processes In Situ.

A novel in situ methodology for the direct study of mass-transport properties in oxides with spatial and unprecedented time resolution, based on Raman spectroscopy coupled to isothermal isotope exchanges, is developed. Changes in the isotope concentration, resulting in a Raman frequency shift, can be followed in real time, which is not accessible by conventional methods, enabling complementary insights for the study of ion-transport properties of electrode and electrolyte materials for advanced solid-state electrochemical devices. The proof of concept and strengths of isotope exchange Raman spectroscopy (IERS) is demonstrated by studying the oxygen isotope back-exchange in gadolinium-doped ceria (CGO) thin films.

Quality of Life with Vulvar Carcinoma Treated with Palliative Electrochemotherapy: The ELECHTRA (ELEctroCHemoTherapy vulvaR cAncer) Study.

The ELECHTRA (ELEctroChemoTherapy vulvaR cAncer) project was conceived to collect data on palliative electrochemotherapy (ECT) in vulvar cancer (VC) assessing patients' outcomes (response and survival) and impact on quality of life (QoL). After reporting outcome data in 2019, here, we present the results on QoL. A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted on patients with VC refractory or not amenable to standard therapies undergoing palliative ECT as per clinical practice.

Palliative Electrochemotherapy in Vulvar Carcinoma: Preliminary Results of the ELECHTRA (Electrochemotherapy Vulvar Cancer) Multicenter Study.

Vulvar cancer (VC) is a rare disease of which recurrence poses management problems due to patients' advanced age and comorbidities, and to the localization of the disease. Palliative treatments, allowing local disease control in patients previously treated with multimodal therapies or with comorbidities, are lacking. In this study we tested electrochemotherapy (ECT) on recurrent VC refractory to standard therapies to assess the tumor response and to define the selection criteria for patient's candidate to ECT.

Unilateral twin tubal pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Unilateral twin tubal pregnancy is an extremely rare condition, occurring in 1/20.000-250.000 pregnancies and represents a major health risk for reproductive-aged women, leading to even life-threatening complications.

Comparison of Robotic and laparoscopic Radical type-B and C hysterectomy for cervical cancer: Long term-outcomes.

Study Objective: To compare the clinical and oncologic outcomes of Robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) vs Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH) in patients with cervical carcinoma.

Design: Long term follow-up in a prospective study between March 2010 to March 2016.

Setting: Oncological referral center, department of gynecology and obstetrics of Alessandro Manzoni Hospital, department of gynecology, University of San Gerardo Monza, Milan.

Cost analysis of minimally invasive radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer performed by a single surgeon in an Italian center: an update in gynecologic oncological field.

The objective of this study is to perform an economic analysis and examine the influence of procedural volume of our hospital, evaluating the accounting systems of Robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) vs Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH) in patients with cervical carcinoma, due to the costs widely variable and lack in literature. Costs were collected prospectively, from March 2010 to March 2016. Direct costs were determined by examining the overall medical pathway for each type of intervention.

Cost analysis of minimally invasive hysterectomy vs open approach performed by a single surgeon in an Italian center.

Despite the rapid uptake of robotic surgery, the effectiveness of robotically assisted hysterectomy (RAH) remains uncertain, due to the costs widely variable. Observed the different related costs of robotic procedures, in different countries, we performed a detailed economic analysis of the cost of RAH compared with total laparoscopic (TLH) and open hysterectomy (OH). The three surgical routes were matched according to age, BMI, and comorbidities.

Determination of total arsenic using a novel Zn-ferrite binding gel for DGT techniques: Application to the redox speciation of arsenic in river sediments.

A new laboratory-made Zn-ferrite (ZnFe2O4) binding gel is fully tested using Diffusive Gradient in Thin films (DGT) probes to measure total As [including inorganic As(III) and As(V), as well as MonoMethyl Arsenic Acid (MMAA(V)) and DiMethyl Arsenic Acid (DMAA(V))] in river waters and sediment pore waters. The synthesis of the binding gel is easy, cheap and its insertion into the acrylamide gel is not problematic. An important series of triplicate tests have been carried out to validate the use of the Zn-ferrite binding gel in routine for several environmental matrixes studies, in order to test: (i) the effect of pH on the accumulation efficiency of inorganic As species; (ii) the reproducibility of the results; (iii) the accumulation efficiency of As species; (iv) the effects of the ionic strength and possible competitive anions; and (v) the uptake and the elution efficiency of As species after accumulation in the binding gel.

Experimental investigation of silicon photomultipliers as compact light readout systems for gamma-ray spectroscopy applications in fusion plasmas.

A matrix of Silicon Photo Multipliers has been developed for light readout from a large area 1 in. × 1 in. LaBr3 crystal.

Oxide diffusion in innovative SOFC cathode materials.

Oxide diffusion was studied in two innovative SOFC cathode materials, Ba(2)Co(9)O(14) and Ca(3)Co(4)O(9)+δ derivatives. Although oxygen diffusion was confirmed in the promising material Ba(2)Co(9)O(14), it was not possible to derive accurate transport parameters because of an oxidation process at the sample surface which has still to be clarified. In contrast, oxygen diffusion in the well-known Ca(3)Co(4)O(9)+δ thermoelectric material was improved when calcium was partly substituted with strontium, likely due to an increase of the volume of the rock salt layers in which the conduction process takes place.

Detection of nodal metastases by 18F-FDG PET/CT in apparent early stage ovarian cancer: a prospective study.

Background: The rate of nodal metastases in ovarian cancer macroscopically confined to the pelvis is about 15%-20%. Systematic pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy improves staging but it is associated with increased morbidity and costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the pre-operative nodal metastases detection in ovarian cancer grossly confined to the pelvis.

Tailoring systematic lymphadenectomy in high-risk clinical early stage endometrial cancer: the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of FDG PET/CT in the preoperative N-staging of high-risk clinical stage I endometrial cancer. The correlation between the metabolic characteristics of endometrial tumor uptake as predictors of a) lymph-node (LN) metastases and b) recurrence, was also evaluated.

Methods: Seventy-six high-risk (G2 with deep myometrial invasion, G3, serous/clear-cell carcinoma) clinical stage I endometrial cancer patients underwent preoperative PET/CT scan followed by total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and lymphadenectomy.

Surgical outcomes of robotic radical hysterectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer: comparison with early stage disease.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) with pelvic lymphadenectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods: Starting from 04/2009, consecutive patients with LACC were submitted to robotic surgical staging after NACT. Surgical outcomes were compared to those achieved by women undergoing robotic surgery for an early stage disease during the same temporal interval.

Better anatomical and cosmetic results using tunneled lotus petal flap for plastic reconstruction after demolitive surgery for vulvar malignancy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of tunneled lotus petal flap in terms of anatomical and cosmetic results in patients who underwent vulvoperineal reconstruction for vulvar malignancy.

Methods: Between March 2010 and July 2011, 22 women underwent vulvoperineal reconstruction using tunneled lotus petal flap for primary or recurrent disease at San Gerardo Hospital, Monza. In 16 cases, lotus flaps were bilateral, whereas in 6 cases, they were monolateral.

The use of TachoSil for the prevention of postoperative complications after groin dissection in cases of gynecologic malignancy.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of TachoSil in preventing postoperative complications after groin dissection performed for primary or recurrent gynecologic malignancy.

Methods: In a case-control analysis, the incidence of postoperative complications-including lymphocyst formation, wound breakdown and/or infection, and chronic lymphedema-was examined among 8 patients who received TachoSil and 16 controls (standard technique) treated for vulvar cancer or recurrent ovarian/breast cancer at San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy, from 2008 to 2011.

Results: Thirty-eight inguinal dissections were performed in the 24 patients.

Design and use of nanostructured single-site heterogeneous catalysts for the selective transformation of fine chemicals.

Nanostructured single-site heterogeneous catalysts possess the advantages of classical solid catalysts, in terms of easy recovery and recycling, together with a defined tailored chemical and steric environment around the catalytically active metal site. The use of inorganic oxide supports with selected shape and porosity at a nanometric level may have a relevant impact on the regio- and stereochemistry of the catalytic reaction. Analogously, by choosing the optimal preparation techniques to obtain spatially isolated and well-characterised active sites, it is possible to achieve performances that are comparable to (or, in the most favourable cases, better than) those obtained with homogeneous systems.

Elucidating the genesis of Bi2MoO6 catalyst by combination of synchrotron radiation experiments and Raman scattering.

Combination of in situ Raman scattering with high-resolution XRD and XAS techniques has proven to be a powerful tool to elucidate the crystal growth of gamma-Bi2MoO6 under hydrothermal conditions.

Synchronous early-stage endometrial and ovarian cancer.

Objective: To explore the clinicopathologic findings and oncological outcome of early-stage synchronous endometrial and ovarian malignancies.

Methods: A retrospective study of 93 women with synchronous stage I ovarian and stage I-II endometrial cancer treated between December 1981 and August 2005 in the gynecologic oncology department of San Gerardo Hospital, Italy.

Results: Fifty-one percent of the ovarian tumors were stage Ia and 71% of the endometrial cancers had minimal myometrial invasion.

Environmental light and suprachiasmatic nucleus interact in the regulation of body temperature.

The mammalian biological clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), is crucial for circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior. However, equivocal findings have been reported on its role in the circadian regulation of body temperature. The goal of the present studies was to investigate the interaction between the SCN and environmental light in the regulation of body temperature.

Dose intensification of platinum compounds with glutathione protection as induction chemotherapy for advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Based on previous clinical experience indicating the tolerability and efficacy of high-dose cisplatin with glutathione protection in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, this study was undertaken to explore the efficacy and feasibility of an alternative high-dose, platinum-based approach including a combination of high-dose cisplatin plus carboplatin as induction chemotherapy of advanced ovarian carcinoma and intervention surgery. Fifty consecutive eligible patients with untreated stage III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer received 40 mg/m(2) cisplatin daily on days 1-4 and 160 mg/m(2) carboplatin on day 5. The cycle was repeated after 28 days.