EGFR mutant allelic-specific imbalance assessment in routine samples of non-small cell lung cancer.

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene may undergo both mutations and copy number gains. EGFR mutant allele-specific imbalance (MASI) occurs when the ratio of mutant-to-wild-type alleles increases significantly. In this study, by using a previously validated microfluidic-chip-based technology, EGFR-MASI occurred in 25/67 mutant cases (37%), being more frequently associated with EGFR exon 19 deletions (p=0.

Magnetic resonance comparison of left-right heart volumetric and functional parameters in thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia patients.

Objectives: To evaluate a population of asymptomatic thalassemia major (TM) and thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). We supposed that TI group could be differentiated from the TM group based on T2(∗) and that the TI group could demonstrate higher cardiac output.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 242 patients with TM and TI was performed (132 males, 110 females; mean age 39.

Myoxinol (Hydrolyzed Hibiscus esculentus Extract) in the Cure of Chronic Anal Fissure: Early Clinical and Functional Outcomes.

Objective. This study was designed to evaluate the early results of the topical application of Hydrolyzed Hibiscus esculentus Extract 3% ointment (Myoxinol 3%), a novel local product with Botox-like activity, in the conservative treatment of chronic anal fissure (CAF). Methods.

Long progression-free survival with afatinib in a patient with EGFR-unknown lung adenocarcinoma after erlotinib failure: a case report.

Important therapeutic advances for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have recently occurred, and the development of targeted therapy has revolutionized the treatment of these patients. We report the case of an NSCLC patient with unknown EGFR mutation status who developed resistance to erlotinib and was treated with afatinib. After 19 months of therapy with afatinib, the patient is still in treatment and maintains stable disease.

Surgical repair of chronic patellar tendon rupture in total knee replacement with ipsilateral hamstring tendons.

Purpose: Patellar tendon rupture is a serious complication of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Its reconstruction in patients with chronic ruptures is technically demanding. This article reports the results of surgical reconstruction of neglected patellar tendon rupture in TKA using autologous hamstring tendons.

Laser ablation for small hepatocellular carcinoma: State of the art and future perspectives.

During the last two decades, various local thermal ablative techniques for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been developed. According to internationally endorsed guidelines, percutaneous thermal ablation is the mainstay of treatment in patients with small HCC who are not candidates for surgical resection or transplantation. Laser ablation (LA) represents one of currently available loco-ablative techniques.

Real-world study of everolimus in advanced progressive neuroendocrine tumors.

Everolimus is a valid therapeutic option for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs); however, data in a real-world setting outside regulatory trials are sparse. The aim of this study was to determine everolimus tolerability and efficacy, in relation to previous treatments, in a compassionate use program. A total of 169 patients with advanced progressive NETs treated with everolimus were enrolled, including 85 with pancreatic NETs (pNETs) and 84 with nonpancreatic NETs (non-pNETs).

Zoledronic acid affects the cytotoxic effects of Chlamydia pneumoniae and the modulation of cytokine production in human osteosarcoma cells.

Chlamydia pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium that causes persistent infections with a tendency to chronicize, which might motivate the resistance of chlamydiae to some commonly used antibiotics. The bisphosphonates are an emerging class of drugs mostly used in the palliative care of cancer patients to inhibit proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells but their role in modulating immune responses remains unknown. We investigated the in vitro activity of a highly potent bisphosphonate, zoledronic acid, on the cytotoxic effects of C.

CD90 expression in atypical meningiomas and meningioma metastasis.

Objectives: Meningiomas are slow-growing intracranial/intraspinal tumors, with a wide range of histopathologic variants. The more aggressive atypical and malignant types can disseminate via the venous system, lymphatic, system, or cerebrospinal fluid, with the lung and pleura being the most common sites of extracranial metastases. A case of metastatic meningioma with high expression of CD90 was spotted during a review of flow cytometry data for lung malignancies.

Genomics DNA profiling in elite professional soccer players: a pilot study.

Functional variants in exonic regions have been associated with development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Athletic performance can be considered a multi-factorial complex phenotype. Genomic DNA was extracted from buccal swabs of seven soccer players from the Fulham football team.

Fatty infiltration of the shoulder: diagnosis and reversibility.

Fatty degeneration is a degenerative condition of the tendon-muscle unit of rotator cuff muscles, characterized by atrophy of muscle fibers, fibrosis, and fatty accumulation within and around the muscles. Many classification may be useful to stage this pathology, especially on Computed Tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (Mari) findings. Stem cell-based therapies for repair and regeneration of tendons and muscles may be used to promote healing and to make this condition reversible.

ISMuLT Guidelines for muscle injuries.

Muscle injuries are frequent in high demand sports. No guidelines are available in the scientific literature. ISMuLT, the "Italian Society of Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons", in line with its multidisciplinary mission, is proud to cover this gap.

A very rare case of duodenal hemolymphangioma presenting with iron deficiency anemia.

Introduction: Intraabdominal lymphangiomas account for less than 5% of all lymphangiomas and small intestinal hemolymphangioma is a very rare benign tumor.

Presentation Of Case: Here we describe the first case of primary ulcerated duodenal hemolymphangioma in a 24-year-old woman, causing occult bleeding from gastrointestinal tract. She presented with an unexplained refractory iron-deficiency anemia and gastroduodenoscopy revealed an ulcerated and polypoid lesion of the second portion of the duodenum.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: unexpected cause of shoulder pain. A systematic review of the literature.

The non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most common shoulder neoplasms, especially the diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We report a rare case of shoulder pain in a 80-year-old man presenting with a six-month history of continuous severe pain to the right shoulder. Routine laboratory studies were normal.

Biliverdin protects against liver ischemia reperfusion injury in swine.

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in organ transplantation remains a serious and unsolved problem. Organs that undergo significant damage during IRI, function less well immediately after reperfusion and tend to have more problems at later times when rejection can occur. Biliverdin has emerged as an agent that potently suppress IRI in rodent models.

Surgical strategy for the treatment of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma: our experience.

Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare disease which accounts for approximately 5-9% of all thyroid cancers and originates from the calcitonin-screening parafollicular C cells. MTC can be divided into two subgroups: sporadic (75%) or inherited (25%). The majority of patients with invasive MTC have metastasis to regional lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis, as evidenced by the frequent finding of persistently elevated calcitonin levels after thyroidectomy and the high rates of recurrence in the cervical lymph nodes reported in retrospective studies.

Electrochemotherapy for non-melanoma head and neck cancers: clinical outcomes in 25 patients.

Objective: To evaluate and confirm the efficacy and safety of electrochemotherapy (ECT) using bleomicyn in a large series of non-melanoma head and neck cancers.

Background: ECT combines chemotherapy and electroporation to increase drug uptake into cancer cells. ECT has proven to be effective in the treatment of tumor nodules of cutaneous and subcutaneous localization.

Anaphylactic shock during hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

A case of a 38-year-old woman is reported who was treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy to cure a dehiscent wound. She suffered from "oral-allergy syndrome" (OAS) while eating certain fruits, and from itching when wearing latex gloves to handle hair dyes. Fifteen minutes after the start of compression, malaise, anxiety, dyspnoea, tachycardia, cold sweating and laryngeal stridor occurred.

Lipoprotein(a) concentration does not differ between sexes in healthy offspring of patients with premature myocardial infarction.

Aims: Although a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) is an established factor influencing lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels, the effect of sex on Lp(a) concentration remains unclear. A potential cause of the conflicting findings regarding the effect of sex on this novel CAD risk factor is the limited ability of the studies, to date, to adequately control for the potential confounding effect of CAD familial predisposition. Our purpose was to evaluate the influence of sex on Lp(a) concentration in healthy young individuals by controlling for family history of CAD.

Sex hormones and lipoprotein(a) concentration.

Introduction: increased level of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) constitutes an emerging, independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. Recently, it has been recommended to lower increased (> 50 mg/dl) Lp(a) concentration. Most lipid lowering agents - except niacin - have little or no effect whereas sex hormones significantly reduce Lp(a) level.

QT interval and QT dispersion during the induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation: a comparison of remifentanil and fentanyl.

Background: The aim of this paper was to determine if there were any significant differences between the effects of fentanyl delivered as a bolus or remifentanil delivered as a continuous infusion on the QT interval and QT dispersion (QTD) during the induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized and single blind study. A total of 50 ASA I-II patients scheduled to undergo elective minor abdominal surgery were divided into two groups.

The effects of pneumoperitoneum and head-up position on heart rate variability and QT interval dispersion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of pneumoperitoneum and head-up position on autonomic cardiac function changes during inhalational or total intravenous anesthesia by using the analysis of QT dispersion and heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: In this prospective, single-blind study, 30 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided in two groups: a sevoflurane-based inhalational anesthesia group (N=15) and an intravenous anesthesia group with propofol (N=15). Propofol 2.