Surgical Management of Complications after Dexamethasone Implant.

Purpose: To report surgical management of ocular complications occurred after dexamethasone (DEX) implant (Ozurdex®) injection.

Methods: Retrospective interventional case series.

Results: Different surgical procedures including viscoexpression to manage the migration of the implant into the anterior chamber, "phaco-rolling" technique for the intralenticular injection, and vitrectomy with implant removal for an acute endophthalmitis were performed.

Microperimetric Biofeedback Training after Successful Inverted Flap Technique for Large Macular Hole.

Despite the high closure rate of large macular hole (LMH) after surgery, visual recovery is often worse than expected. Microperimetric biofeedback can improve visual function in macular pathologies. We evaluated the efficacy of biofeedback on macular function after successful inverted flap technique for LMH.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces mortality in patients with Fournier's Gangrene. Results from a multi-institutional observational study.

Background: Evidence about the clinical benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in patients with Fournier's Gangrene (FG) is controversial and inconclusive. We aimed to compare the mortality related to FG between patients undergoing surgical debridement and/or standard antibiotic therapy alone or in combination with HBOT.

Methods: We performed a retrospective multi-institutional observational case-control study.

Beyond PSA: The Role of Prostate Health Index (phi).

Background: Widespread use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in screening procedures allowed early identification of an increasing number of prostate cancers (PCas), mainly including indolent cancer. Availability of different therapeutic strategies which have a very different impact on the patient's quality of life suggested a strong need for tools able to identify clinically significant cancer at diagnosis. Multi-parametric magnetic resonance showed very good performance in pre-biopsy diagnosis.

The optional approach of oncogene-addicted non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases in the new generation targeted therapies era.

In recent years, the study of the molecular characteristics of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has highlighted a specific role of some genes that represent important therapeutic targets, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS-1) and v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF). Patients with oncogene-addicted cancer benefit more from therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) than from chemotherapy. The brain is a preferred site for tumor spread in these patients.

Design and rationale of the Impact of MultiPoint pacing in CRT patients with reduced RV-to-LV delay (IMAGE-CRT) study.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment in patients with heart failure and prolonged QRS duration. A biventricular device is implanted to achieve faster activation and more synchronous contraction of the ventricles. Despite the convincing effect of CRT, 30-40% of patients do not respond.

Pharmacodynamics of current and emerging PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

: As of today, one of the cornerstones of NSCLC treatment is represented by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) treatment in the form of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies. However, apart from currently approved, recommended and employed agents (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab), several new agents are currently under development and investigation both in monotherapy and in combinational settings.: This paper aims to discuss both the current state of the art and the most interesting emerging PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors and their present and future role in metastatic NSCLC treatment.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

: Angiogenesis is the process by which the tumor develops its potential for growth and distant metastasis. The main proangiogenic switch is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which, along with its receptor VEGFR, is a target for biological drugs such as multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors used for many neoplasms, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).: The fact that angiokinase inhibitors act on several signaling molecules simultaneously means that the use of alternative transmission pathways, which nullifies the effect of drugs directed against a single target, is avoided.

Inferior vena cava agenesis in patients with lower limb deep vein thrombosis in the RIETE registry. When and why to suspect.

Background: Limited data exist about the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients with inferior vena cava agenesis (IVCA) who develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Methods: We used the RIETE (Registro Informatizado Enfermedad Trombo Embólica) registry to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with lower limb DVT, according to the presence or absence of IVCA. Major outcomes included recurrent DVT, major bleeding and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS).

Biomarkers of Prognosis and Efficacy of Anti-angiogenic Therapy in Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cancer.

In the last decades, the prognosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has remarkably improved following the advent of the "targeted therapy" era. The expanding knowledge on the prominent role played by angiogenesis in RCC pathogenesis has led to approval of multiple anti-angiogenic agents such as sunitinib, pazopanib, axitinib, cabozantinib, sorafenib, and bevacizumab. These agents can induce radiological responses and delay cancer progression for months or years before onset of resistance, with a clinically meaningful activity.

New immunotherapy in the treatment of advanced renal cancer.

: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in recent years has been one of the diseases in the oncology that has experienced the greatest development of targeted therapies.: On one hand, more and more refined acquisitions of molecular biology are allowing a better sub-classification of this tumor, identifying new and peculiar biological profiles of patients with metastatic renal cancer that will soon be destined for increasingly tailored treatments. On the other hand, immunotherapy has, in a short time, redesigned the perimeter of our knowledge, entering clinical practice in an overpowering and convincing way.

Inverted internal limiting membrane-flap technique to treat a full-thickness macular hole complicating idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2.

Background/purpose: Full-thickness macular hole is a complication of idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 with a low surgical closure rate and a poor functional recovery. We analyze morphologic and functional outcomes after an inverted internal limiting membrane-flap technique for full-thickness macular hole complicating idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 using optical coherence tomography and microperimetry.

Case Report: A 77-year-old man presented us complaining visual impairment in the left eye (20/40) due to a full-thickness macular hole complicating idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2.

Prevalence and development of chronic critical illness in acute patients admitted to a respiratory intensive care setting.

Introduction: Chronic Critical Illness (chronic CI) is a condition associated to patients surviving an episode of acute respiratory failure (ARF). The prevalence and the factors associated with the development of chronic CI in the population admitted to a Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU) have not yet been clarified.

Methods: An observational prospective cohort study was undertaken at the RICU of the University Hospital of Modena (Italy).

Knee septic arthritis caused by α-hemolytic Streptococcus in a patient with a recent history of knee arthroscopy: a case report.

Background: Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is a common procedure in orthopedic practice. Infections are uncommon complications of this procedure with an incidence rate of 0,01% - 3,4%. Staphylococcus spp are the predominant causative agents in such cases.

Inverted internal limiting membrane-flap technique for large macular hole: a microperimetric study.

Background: Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane (ILM)-flap technique would seem to lead to higher closure rate and better visual acuity than traditional procedure with ILM peeling for the treatment of large macular hole (LMH). Visual acuity recovery does not reveal many other functional changes related to surgical approach. Our purpose was to evaluate macular function and morphology over a 1-year follow-up after inverted ILM-flap technique for LMH by using microperimetry in order to predict visual prognosis.

Oral anticancer therapy project: Clinical utility of a specific home care nursing programme on behalf of Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM).

Aims And Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a specific home care nursing programme in addition to standard care in patients (pts) receiving oral anticancer treatments.

Background: Oral anticancer therapy present challenges for pts since treatment is a home-based therapy. This study evaluates the potentiality of a home care nursing programme in decreasing hospital accesses for not severe toxicity.

The New Immunotherapy Combinations in the Treatment of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Reality and Perspectives.

Background: In the recent years, immunotherapeutics and specifically immunecheckpoints inhibitors have marked a significant shift in the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), allowing us to use immunotherapeutics alone or combined with chemotherapy for a great subset of patients. However, new interesting approaches are being presently investigated, markedly immunotherapy combinations, that is, the use of two or more immunotherapeutics combined.

Methods: In particular, the combination of anti-PD-1 nivolumab and anti-CTLA-4 ipilimumab has already provided groundbreaking positive results in the advanced NSCLC and other combinations are currently under investigation.

Final results of the SENECA (SEcond line NintEdanib in non-small cell lung CAncer) trial.

Objectives: Despite the scant docetaxel's tolerability, second-line association with nintedanib still represents a standard-of-care for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsNSCLC), giving to rapidly-progressing patients the greatest survival advantage. The SENECA trial is a phase IIb, open-label, study evaluating whether nintedanib/docetaxel can be equally effective and safe regardless docetaxel schedule.

Materials And Methods: Recurrent nsNSCLC patients were stratified into cohort 1 and 2, according to relapse-time (within or over 3 months) from end of first-line chemotherapy.

Morphologic and functional outcomes of different optical coherence tomography patterns of myopic foveoschisis after vitrectomy and inner limiting membrane peeling.

Objective: To evaluate the morphologic and functional outcomes of different optical coherence tomography (OCT) patterns of myopic foveoschisis after vitrectomy with Inner Limiting Membrane (ILM) peeling.

Methods: In this prospective non-randomised study, 62 consecutive eyes with Myopic Foveoschisis were categorised into three groups according to OCT pattern: retinoschisis type (Rt) Group (23/62), foveal detachment type (FDt) Group (20/62) and macular hole type (MHt) Group (19/62). All patients underwent 25-Gauge vitrectomy and ILM peeling.

The role of combination chemo-immunotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

: Even with the currently recommended chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic treatment, the five year survival rate for advanced nonsquamous and squamous NSCLC without oncogenic drivers remains poor. However, several different chemo-immunotherapy combinations are presently being investigated - with favorable results- in order to increase the PFS and OS rates of these patients. : Therefore, this paper aims to discuss the most promising trials investigating chemo-immunotherapy combinations and their present and future impact on advanced NSCLC treatment paradigms.

One-year outcomes of 27-gauge versus 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair.

Background: 27-gauge (27G) and 25-gauge (25G) transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) were considered equal about safety, effectiveness and vitrectomy time for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), although larger and long-term comparative studies are needed to confirm previous knowledge. Furthermore, a combined comparison of time duration of surgery and vitreous removal was never performed. Our purpose was to compare the safety and efficacy of 27G versus 25G TSV for the treatment of uncomplicated RRD over a 1-year follow-up.

Combining immunotherapies to treat non-small cell lung cancer.

: In recent years, immunotherapy has become an integral part of the treatment of many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Precious therapeutic weapons impacting survival are monoclonal antibodies directed against the programmed death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint. : Unfortunately, not all patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors have durable clinical responses.