Piezoelectric Particulate Composite for Energy Harvesting from Mechanical Vibration.

Energy harvesting from mechanical vibration of buildings is usually realized by the use of devices, in which the main element is a prismatic beam with a rectangular cross-section. The beam has been the subject of scientific research; it is usually constructed with a carrying substrate that does not have piezoelectric characteristics and from piezoelectric material. In contrast, this investigation sought to create a beam structure with a piezoelectric composite only.

Multimodal Treatment of Advanced Mucosal Melanoma in the Era of Modern Immunotherapy.

Mucosal melanoma is a rare disease epidemiologically and molecularly distinct from cutaneous melanoma developing from melanocytes located in mucosal membranes. Little is known about its therapy. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the results of immunotherapy and radiotherapy in a group of patients with advanced mucosal melanoma, based on the experience of five high-volume centers in Poland and Italy.

Multimodal imaging of brain reorganization in hearing late learners of sign language.

The neural plasticity underlying language learning is a process rather than a single event. However, the dynamics of training-induced brain reorganization have rarely been examined, especially using a multimodal magnetic resonance imaging approach, which allows us to study the relationship between functional and structural changes. We focus on sign language acquisition in hearing adults who underwent an 8-month long course and five neuroimaging sessions.

Impact of COVID-19 on anxiety levels among patients with cancer actively treated with systemic therapy.

Background: Life-threatening diseases have a negative impact on emotional well-being and psychosocial functioning. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the level of anxiety caused by a neoplasm and the threat of coronavirus infection among patients with cancer actively treated with systemic therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we searched for clinical factors associated with a higher level of anxiety.

Lipoxin (LTX A4 5S, 6R, 15R) levels drastically decrease after 5 years of hemodialysis treatment.

The increased risk of atherosclerosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with the increased concentration of fatty acids from the omega-6 family. Products of arachidonic acid oxidation, including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, hydroxyleicosa-tetraenoic acids (HETES) and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODES) are involved in the pathogenesis of cancer and cardiovascular diseases due to increased oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to determine the relations resulting from the duration of CKD treatment.

Has the Outcome for Patients Who Undergo Resection of Primary Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Changed Over Time? A Study of Time Trends During the Past 15 years.

Background: This study aimed to investigate changes in treatment strategy and outcome for patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) undergoing resection at referral centers during a recent period.

Methods: The study enrolled consecutive adult patients with primary non-metastatic RPS who underwent resection with curative intent between 2002 and 2017 at 10 referral centers. The patients were grouped into three periods according to date of surgery: t1 (2002-2006), t2 (2007-2011), and t3 (2012-2017).

Denosumab Treatment for Giant Cell Tumor of the Spine Including the Sacrum.

Study Design: This was a subanalysis of an international, multicenter, open-label study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of denosumab in a subset of patients with giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB) of the spine including the sacrum from an international, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00680992).

Systemic Treatment for Advanced and Metastatic Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors-A Sarcoma Reference Center Experience.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare type of soft tissue sarcomas. The localized disease is usually treated with surgery along with perioperative chemo- or radiotherapy. However, up to 70% of patients can develop distant metastases.

The Long-Term Outcomes of Intensive Combined Therapy of Adult Patients with Localised Synovial Sarcoma.

Introduction: Synovial sarcoma (SaSy) is a high-grade, malignant soft tissue sarcoma (STS) accounting for 5-9% of STS. The aim of this study was to analyse outcomes of patients with localised SaSy treated in a single institution with a uniform neo- and adjuvant-combined therapy protocol.

Methods: 171 patients with stage II/III SaSy were treated between 1997 and 2014.

Five-Year Outcomes With Nivolumab in Patients With Wild-Type Advanced Melanoma.

Purpose: The CheckMate 066 trial investigated nivolumab monotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with previously untreated wild-type advanced melanoma. Five-year results are presented herein.

Patients And Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, phase III study, 418 patients with previously untreated, unresectable, stage III/IV, wild-type melanoma were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or dacarbazine 1,000 mg/m every 3 weeks.

Ultraviolet Lithography-Based Ceramic Manufacturing (UV-LCM) of the Aluminum Nitride (AlN)-Based Photocurable Dispersions.

In this work, three-dimensional (3D) shaping of aluminum nitride (AlN) UV-curable dispersions using CeraFab 7500 device equipped with the light engine emitting 365 nm wavelength (a UV-LCM device) is presented. The purpose of this study was the shaping of AlN pieces with microchannels for the future potential use as microchannel heat exchangers. The dispersions were characterized by the means of the particle size distribution, rheological measurements, and the cure depth evaluation.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors - Outcomes and prognostic factors based on the reference center experience.

Introduction: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) accounts for about 5% of soft tissue sarcomas. It can occur as sporadic diseases or can be associated with type 1 neurofibromatosis. MPNST is usually associated with poor prognosis, mostly due to their aggressive behavior, high metastatic potential, and resistance to chemotherapy.

Clinicopathological Features and Prognostic Factors of Primary Acral Melanomas in Caucasians.

Background: Cutaneous melanomas located on the acral part of extremities (hand and foot melanoma; HFM) comprise a rare group within all melanomas in Caucasians. HFM is associated with a poor prognosis. We aimed to evaluate clinicopathological features, long-term outcomes, and prognostic factors in primary HFM in Caucasians.

Longer Follow-Up Confirms Recurrence-Free Survival Benefit of Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in High-Risk Stage III Melanoma: Updated Results From the EORTC 1325-MG/KEYNOTE-054 Trial.

Purpose: We conducted the phase III double-blind European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 1325/KEYNOTE-054 trial to evaluate pembrolizumab versus placebo in patients with resected high-risk stage III melanoma. On the basis of 351 recurrence-free survival (RFS) events at a 1.25-year median follow-up, pembrolizumab prolonged RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.

Water Interactions in Hybrid Polyacrylate-Silicate Hydrogel Systems.

Hybrid polyacrylate-silicate hydrogels were obtained in the presence of ,'-methylenebisacrylamide (NNMBA) as the cross-linking monomer and sodium thiosulphate/potassium persulphate (NTS/KPS) as the redox initiators. The results of the tests allowed us to conclude that a hybrid structure with a polyacrylate scaffolding and a silicate matrix had been obtained. The results of the rheological analysis revealed that the hydrogel sample with a 1:7 mass ratio of sodium water glass to the sodium polyacrylate is characterized by the highest complex viscosity.

Preoperative radiotherapy plus surgery versus surgery alone for patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma (EORTC-62092: STRASS): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial.

Background: Unlike for extremity sarcomas, the efficacy of radiotherapy for retroperitoneal sarcoma is not established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative radiotherapy plus surgery versus surgery alone on abdominal recurrence-free survival.

Methods: EORTC-62092 is an open-label, randomised, phase 3 study done in 31 research institutions, hospitals, and cancer centres in 13 countries in Europe and North America.

Diagnosis and management of tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) fusion sarcomas: expert recommendations from the World Sarcoma Network.

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of malignancies with mesenchymal lineage differentiation. The discovery of neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions as tissue-agnostic oncogenic drivers has led to new personalized therapies for a subset of patients with sarcoma in the form of tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors. NTRK gene rearrangements and fusion transcripts can be detected with different molecular pathology techniques, while TRK protein expression can be demonstrated with immunohistochemistry.

Ash dieback, soil and deer browsing influence natural regeneration of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.).

European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) dieback affects both overstory trees and natural regeneration. The decline of ash caused by severe crown defoliation and branch mortality has a high impact on ash natural regeneration.

Evaluation of the use and efficacy of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy in angiosarcoma: a multicentre study.

Introduction: Angiosarcomas constitute approximately 2% to 3% of all soft tissue sarcomas, are characterised by an aggressive clinical behaviour and poor outcome. Optimal management of localised angiosarcomas consists of complete surgical resection with or without radiation. However, due to the infiltrating nature of this disease, complete resection is often not possible.

The analysis of 3-year adjuvant therapy with imatinib in patients with high-risk molecular profiled gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) treated in routine practice.

Introduction: The real-world data on adjuvant imatinib therapy in high-risk primary GIST are scarce.

Methods: We have analysed the data of 107 consecutive patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) after resection treated with adjuvant imatinib (for planned 3 years with initial dose 400 mg daily, started not later than 4 months after operation) in 6 oncological centres in 2013-2018. All patients were required to have high risk of recurrence (at least 50% according to NCCN/AFIP criteria), known mutational status to exclude PDGFRA D842V mutants and KIT/PDGFRA-wild type cases from therapy without any further selection.

Patterns of recurrence and survival probability after second recurrence of retroperitoneal sarcoma: A study from TARPSWG.

Background: In this series from the Transatlantic Australasian Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Working Group (TARPSWG), the authors examined longitudinal outcomes of patients with a second recurrence of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) after complete resection of a first local recurrence (LR).

Methods: Data from patients undergoing resection of a first LR from January 2002 to December 2011were collected from 22 sarcoma centers. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) after second recurrence.

SOX10 is as specific as S100 protein in detecting metastases of melanoma in lymph nodes and is recommended for sentinel lymph node assessment.

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy remains crucial for melanoma staging. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Melanoma Group recommends performing immunohistochemical stainings for reproducible identification of melanoma metastases. S100 protein (pS100) is a commonly used melanocytic antigen because of its high sensitivity in spite of relatively low specificity.

ESMO consensus conference recommendations on the management of metastatic melanoma: under the auspices of the ESMO Guidelines Committee.

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) held a consensus conference on melanoma on 5-7 September 2019 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The conference included a multidisciplinary panel of 32 leading experts in the management of melanoma. The aim of the conference was to develop recommendations on topics that are not covered in detail in the current ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline and where available evidence is either limited or conflicting.

ESMO consensus conference recommendations on the management of locoregional melanoma: under the auspices of the ESMO Guidelines Committee.

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) held a consensus conference on melanoma on 5-7 September 2019 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The conference included a multidisciplinary panel of 32 leading experts in the management of melanoma. The aim of the conference was to develop recommendations on topics that are not covered in detail in the current ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline and where available evidence is either limited or conflicting.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Myxoid Liposarcomas of Extremities or Trunk Wall: Results of a Single-Arm Prospective Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) has been reported to be more radiosensitive compared with other soft tissue sarcomas. The main objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) in the preoperative setting in patients with locally advanced primary MLPS.

Methods: Single-arm prospective exploratory clinical trial enrolled MLPS patients for preoperative 5 × 5 Gy RT with delayed surgery.