Immunoreactivity against fibroblast growth factor 8 in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma patients and its involvement in tumor aggressiveness.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive pediatric soft tissue sarcoma characterized by a very poor prognosis when relapses occur after front-line therapy. Therefore, a major challenge for patients' management remains the identification of markers associated with refractory and progressive disease. In this context, cancer autoantibodies are natural markers of disease onset and progression, useful to unveil novel therapeutic targets.

Lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B: an observational study on adefovir in monotherapy or in combination with lamivudine.

Background/aims: In lamivudine-resistant patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), we compared efficacy, predictive response factors and changes in viral mutants in two antiviral approaches with adefovir.

Methods: A prospective cohort study on therapy with adefovir alone (29 patients) or combined with ongoing lamivudine (23 patients) was performed.

Results: A virological response was achieved in 55% of patients treated with adefovir and in 83% of those treated with the combination (p>0.

Capsule enteroscopy vs. other diagnostic procedures in diagnosing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a cost-effectiveness study.

Background: Capsule enteroscopy is considered the gold standard for evaluating patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. The costs of capsule enteroscopy examination, however, make it uncertain whether the clinically relevant diagnostic gain is also associated with cost savings.

Aim: To evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of capsule enteroscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.