Circulating vitamin D level before initiating chemotherapy impacts on the time-to-outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vitamin D (VD) is implicated in various health conditions, including colorectal cancer (CRC). To investigate potential relationships between pre-chemotherapy VD levels and the time-to-outcome in metastatic CRC patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we performed thorough searches in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus/ELSEVIER databases (covering the years 2002 to 2022).

Insect Biodiversity in a Prealpine Suburban Hilly Area in Italy.

Human activities and habitat fragmentation are known to greatly influence biodiversity. The aim of this study was to update an entomological checklist of a prealpine area in Italy, and also to evaluate the influence of different habitats and the proximity to cities on the entomological fauna. This study included different areas of a local park in Northern Italy, covering about 4000 ha, and situated at altitudes between 190 and 960 m asl.

Circulating Vitamin D Level and Its Impact on Mortality and Recurrence in Stage III Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Vitamin D (VD) has been implicated in several diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to determine whether there is an association between VD levels and time-to-outcome in stage III CRC patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: The study adhered to the PRISMA 2020 statement.

Endoscopic treatment of solitary fibrous tumor of the trachea: a case report.

Background: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm, generally arising in the visceral pleura. It rarely originates from other sites such as trachea, orbital cavities, nasal cavities, peritoneum, paranasal sinuses, meninges, salivary glands, thyroid gland, diaphragm, liver, pancreas, lung kidney, adrenal gland, mediastinum, spermatid cord, pericardium, urinary bladder, prostate, uterine cervix, testis, spinal cord, periosteum, skin, soft tissue and bone.

Case Description: We present a surgical case of a rare primary tracheal tumor.

Clinical activity of regorafenib in elderly patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most frequent and aggressive primary tumors in the central nervous system, representing >60% of all brain tumors in adults. Despite treatment, prognosis remains poor with most if not all patients experiencing disease recurrence and a 2-year survival rate of 27%. At present, no confirmed standard treatment exists for recurrent glioblastoma.

Intraoperative ultrasound: "Alternative eye" in lymph nodal dissection in non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: Staging of the mediastinum lymph nodes involvement in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an important prognostic factor determining the most appropriate multimodality treatment plan. The objective of this study is to assess ultrasound characteristics of mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis and effectiveness of intraoperative ultrasound-guided mediastinal nodal dissection in patients with resected NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: All patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy and pulmonary lymphadenectomy from November 2020 to March 2022 at the thoracic surgery department of the Vanvitelli University of Naples underwent intraoperative ultrasound-guided mediastinal lymph nodal dissection.

Regorafenib beyond the Second Line in Relapsed Glioblastoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most frequent and aggressive primary tumors in the central nervous system, representing more than 60% of all brain tumors in adults. Primary GBM remains incurable with a poor prognosis both for limited therapeutic alternatives and for a high risk of progression or recurrence. In fact, at recurrence, the few treatment options available, and often characterized by limited effectiveness, have always been an Achilles' heel.

Beyond N staging in colorectal cancer: Current approaches and future perspectives.

Traditionally, lymph node metastases (LNM) evaluation is essential to the staging of colon cancer patients according to the TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) system. However, in recent years evidence has accumulated regarding the role of emerging pathological features, which could significantly impact the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Lymph Node Ratio (LNR) and Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes (LODDS) have been shown to predict patients' prognosis more accurately than traditional nodal staging and it has been suggested that their implementation in existing classification could help stratify further patients with overlapping TNM stage.

The Multiple Effects of Vitamin D against Chronic Diseases: From Reduction of Lipid Peroxidation to Updated Evidence from Clinical Studies.

Background: Vitamin D exerts multiple beneficial effects in humans, including neuronal, immune, and bone homeostasis and the regulation of cardiovascular functions. Recent studies correlate vitamin D with cancer cell growth and survival, but meta-analyses on this topic are often not consistent.

Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed database and the Clinical Trial Register was performed to identify all potentially relevant English-language scientific papers containing original research articles on the effects of vitamin D on human health.

Sorafenib in Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Mutation on Liquid Biopsy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) includes papillary and follicular carcinomas and is the most common type of thyroid cancer. The incidence of this cancer has increased in the last few years, and even if its prognosis is generally good for a subset of patients that does not respond to radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, the prognosis is much worse: the median overall survival (OS) from discovery of metastasis is 3-5 years and the 10-year survival rate is only 10%. Several mutations, including RAS or RET, as well as BRAF signaling, are associated with thyroid cancer.

Prediction of preoperative intrathoracic adhesions for ipsilateral reoperations: sliding lung sign.

Introduction: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for ipsilateral reoperations is controversial, because after the first surgical intervention, pleural adhesions occur frequently in the thoracic cavity and/or chest wall. This study assessed the usefulness of preoperative ultrasonography to reduce the incidence of lung injury at the time of the initial port insertion during secondary ipsilateral VATS.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study.

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Elderly Patients: Role of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) constitute the sixth most common malignancy worldwide, with approximately 25-40% of the diagnosed patients older than 70 years. HNSCC patients are often frail and frequently have multiple comorbidities due to their unhealthy lifestyle, and evidence suggests that older patients may receive less aggressive and suboptimal treatment than younger patients with the same disease status. The aim of this review is to depict and summarize the evidence regarding the different strategies that can be used in the clinical management of elderly HNSCC patients.

Chemotherapy-Induced Hepatotoxicity in HIV Patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects more than 37 million people globally, and in 2020, more than 680,000 people died from HIV-related causes. Recently, these numbers have decrease substantially and continue to reduce thanks to the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), thus making HIV a chronic disease state for those dependent on lifelong use of ART. However, patients with HIV have an increased risk of developing some type of cancer compared to patients without HIV.

The Role of Immunotherapy in a Tolerogenic Environment: Current and Future Perspectives for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

In contrast to several tumors whose prognoses are radically affected by novel immunotherapeutic approaches and/or targeted therapies, the outcomes of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poor. The underlying cirrhosis that is frequently associated with it complicates medical treatment and often determines survival. The landscape of HCC treatment had included sorafenib as the only drug available for ten years, until 2018, when lenvatinib was approved for treatment.

A risk-group classification model in patients with bladder cancer under neoadjuvant cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy.

The objective of the current research was to explore the potential prognostic value of readily available clinical and pathologic variables in bladder cancer. The novel association found between cholesterol levels and prognosis may provide the rationale for exploring novel treatments. Patients included had histologically confirmed urothelial bladder cancer and were treated with at least 3 cycles of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical cystectomy with lymphadenectomy.

Study of Ras Mutations' Prognostic Value in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: STORIA Analysis.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-specific death in both sexes in Western countries. KRAS mutations occur in about 50% of metastatic CRCs (mCRCs). The prognostic value of specific KRAS mutations still remains unexplored and unclear.

Predictors of efficacy of androgen-receptor-axis-targeted therapies in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Both docetaxel and androgen-receptor-axis-targeted (ARAT) agents are approved in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) patients. Predictive factors of therapy efficacy are lacking.

Methods: We included articles reporting data about randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) testing an ARAT agent plus ADT vs.

Physician Attitudes and Perceptions of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): A Multicentre Italian Study.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) interventions are widely used by patients with chronic disorders, including cancer, and may interact with cancer treatment. Physicians are often unaware of this, probably due to poor patient-physician communication on CAM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate physicians' knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns regarding CAM in a survey conducted in Italy.

The Primary Care-Video Intervention Therapy for Growth-Vulnerable Infants. A Case Study.

Perinatal growth vulnerability (e.g., Small for Gestational Age, SGA) poses the goal to not overlook subtle developmental susceptibilities and their impact on the parent-infant relationship.

Prognostic and Predictive Role of CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. About 30% of patients present with metastatic disease involving predominantly the liver and a similar percentage will develop distant metastases later after removal of the primary tumor. In metastatic CRC, chemotherapies and biological drugs have prolonged survival for up to 30 months.

Pharmacogenetic-Based Interactions between Nutraceuticals and Angiogenesis Inhibitors.

Angiogenesis inhibitors (AIs) have become established as an effective cancer treatment. Whereas their interactions with antineoplastic drugs have extensively been investigated, little is known of the effect of their co-administration with nutraceuticals/dietary supplements (N/DSs), which are often self-prescribed. N/DSs comprise a wide range of products such as herbs, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics.

Pediatricians, Well-Baby Visits, and Video Intervention Therapy: Feasibility of a Video-Feedback Infant Mental Health Support Intervention in a Pediatric Primary Health Care Setting.

This case series study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a behavioral/cognitive psychological intervention in a pediatric primary health care setting during standard well-baby visits. The aim of the intervention was to support caregivers' sensitivity and mentalization in order to promote infant mental health (IMH). Four neonates from birth to 8 months were consecutively enrolled to test a short video-feedback intervention (Primary Care - Video Intervention Therapy, an adaptation of George Downing's Video Intervention Therapy to primary care) conducted by a pediatrician.

Chemotherapy in the management of brain metastases: the emerging role of fotemustine for patients with melanoma and NSCLC.

Introduction: An estimated 20 - 40% of cancer patients will develop brain metastases that are the most common intracranial tumors in adults. Patients with cerebral metastases represent a variegate group where selection of the most appropriate treatment depends on many patient- and disease-related factors. The impact of therapeutic option on overall survival is lacking and it is important to consider quality of life (QOL) when treating patients with brain metastases.