Gastrointestinal Seed Bezoars: A Systematic Review of Case Reports and Case Series.

Seed bezoars are a distinct subcategory of phytobezoars, caused by indigestible vegetable or fruit seeds. The aim of our study was to present a comprehensive review on seed bezoars, focusing on epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment options. A systematic review of the English literature (1980-2018) was conducted, using PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar databases.

Nivolumab in patients with rare head and neck carcinomas: A single center's experience.

Immunotherapy (IO) with anti-PD1 inhibitors is available for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHD) since 2016. Both nivolumab and pembrolizumab were tested in phase 3 randomized trials in adults progressing on or after platinum-based therapy and were found to confer an overall survival benefit compared to investigator's choice. However, very limited data exist concerning IO use in rare subtypes of head and neck carcinoma, like salivary gland carcinoma.

Implementation of tunneled versus not tunneled peripherally inserted central catheters.

Tunneled peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) offer several advantages such as an exit site at the green zone no matter where the puncture point is and a long subcutaneous route, which is considered a shield against infections and provides comfort to the patient. Clinicians could choose the proper exact exit site so as to avoid blood leakage from the exit point. The aim of the study was to assess the value of the tunneled PICCs versus normal PICCs with no long subcutaneous route.

Peripherally inserted central catheter ports: A vascular access specialist's systematic approach.

Implanted ports are an important vascular access device for patients with malignancies requiring long-term chemotherapy. Peripherally placed ports are increasing in use as they are a safe, cost-effective alternative to chest-placed ports. Most peripheral ports can be placed bedside by specialist nurses in designated clinical areas rather than costly operating rooms or interventional radiology suites.

Primary peripheral neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the adrenal gland: a rare entity.

Purpose: Ewing Sarcoma/Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (ES/PNET) is a malignant small round cell tumor belonging to the Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors. It occurs more commonly in children and young adults. Its localization in the adrenal gland is extremely rare.

Natural killer cell cytotoxicity is a predictor of outcome for patients with high risk myelodysplastic syndrome and oligoblastic acute myeloid leukemia treated with azacytidine.

The aim of the present study was to identify biomarkers predictive of the outcome of patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and oligoblastic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with 5-azacytidine (AZA). We prospectively examined the association between NK-cytotoxic activity, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and T-regulatory cells (Tregs) on the overall survival (OS) of patients. Patients with NK-cytotoxicity above a critical threshold had a longer duration of response and survived longer than patients with severe impairment of NK-cytotoxicity.

The Role of Muscle Relaxants – Spasmolytic (Thiocochlicoside) in Postoperative Pain Management after Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction.

Purpose: Post-operative pain after breast cancer surgery is a major problem and women undergoing mastectomy and breast reconstruction experience post-operative pain syndromes in approximately one-half of all cases. Patients who have undergone breast reconstruction after mastectomy can suffer from acute postoperative pain with moderate or strong tension. In some cases, chronic neuropathic pain syndromes may occur after surgery.

Estrogen receptor beta increases sensitivity to enzalutamide in androgen receptor-positive triple-negative breast cancer.

Purpose: Androgen receptor (AR) is playing an important role in the progression of a subset of TNBC. We evaluated the impact of ERβ expression along with anti-AR drugs in AR-positive TNBC.

Methods: ERβ expression was examined in AR-positive TNBC cell line using MTT assay, scratch and Annexin V-FITC assay in the presence or absence of anti-androgens.

Uncovering the clinical impact of kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5) mRNA expression in the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

Background Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) are a subgroup of serine proteases located on chromosome 19q13.3. Most KLKs have been extensively studied as potential biomarkers for several carcinomas and other diseases.

Kidney Carcinoma Ovarian Metastasis: Review of the Literature.

Ovarian metastasis is common with secondary tumors representing up to 15% of ovarian neoplasms. The malignancies most commonly involving the ovaries are carcinomas of the stomach, colon, breast, endocervix, endometrium, and lymphoma. Secondary ovarian involvement by kidney carcinoma occurs very rarely and is usually associated with widespread dissemination.

Outcomes of European Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills (EBLUS) Examinations: Results from European School of Urology (ESU) and EAU Section of Uro-Technology (ESUT) over 6 Years (2013-2018).

Background: The European School of Urology (ESU) and EAU Section of Uro-Technology (ESUT) started hands-on-training (HOT) sessions in 2007 along with structured European Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills (EBLUS) examinations in 2013. EBLUS includes an online theoretical course, HOT by expert tutors on a set of dry-lab exercises, and finally a standardised examination for skill assessment and certification.

Objective: To analyse the results and predictors of success from the EBLUS examinations that were conducted during the European Urology Residents Education Programme (EUREP) and other international and national dedicated ESU events.

Placenta and Umbilical Cord Cause in Antepartum Deaths.

Stillbirth is a sudden and painful event for parents and obstetrical specialists as well. It is, therefore, of greatest importance to be able to give answers for the cause in order to plan a subsequent pregnancy. The aim of this retrospective study is to estimate the placental and umbilical cord cause of intrauterine death in relation to different gestational ages.

A well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the jejunum with peritoneal carcinomatosis: A case report.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), belong to a group of neoplasms that arise from neuroendocrine cells and express markers such as synaptophysin and chromogranin A. The digestive system (DS) is the most common site of NET development. The World Health Organization classification divides NETs into low grade (G1-G2) tumors (NETs) and high grade carcinomas [neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs)], based on mitotic index and histological criteria.

Molecular Effects of Treatment of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells with Natural and Classical Chemotherapeutic Drugs: Alterations in the Expression of Apoptosis-related BCL2 Family Members, Including BCL2L12.

Background: Current chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) include oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and fluorouracil along with leucovorin. Cytotoxicity involves the induction of programmed cell death.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the molecular effects of doxorubicin (a 14-OH derivative of the natural product daunorubicin) and common chemotherapeutic drugs (used in the clinical practice to treat CRC) on the expression of the most prominent members of the BCL2 family, namely BCL2, BAX, BCLX, and MCL1.

Synchronous Colonic Adenocarcinoma and Metastatic Lobular Carcinoma in a Colectomy Specimen: A Rare Finding.

Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second-most-common subtype of invasive breast carcinoma. Its metastatic pattern is different compared to invasive carcinoma-no special type. It metastasizes more often to the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, pleura, and ovaries.

Subcutaneous Trastuzumab Combined with Pertuzumab and Docetaxel as First-line Treatment of Advanced HER2-positive Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: Subcutaneous (s.c.) trastuzumab was introduced in the (neo)adjuvant setting, based on the non-inferiority results and patient preference.

Loss of GAS5 tumour suppressor lncRNA: an independent molecular cancer biomarker for short-term relapse and progression in bladder cancer patients.

Background: Bladder cancer (BlCa) heterogeneity and the lack of personalised prognosis lead to patients' highly variable treatment outcomes. Here, we have analysed the utility of the GAS5 tumour-suppressor lncRNA in improving BlCa prognosis.

Methods: GAS5 was quantified in a screening cohort of 176 patients.

Vascular endothelial growth factor for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis: An experimental study in canines.

Aim: To evaluate the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) with the use of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Methods: In 30 mature beagles (6 groups of 5 beagles) ONFH was induced cryosurgically and one of the following solutions was administered locally in the femoral head (FH) in each group: Single injection of 500 μg VEGF (t-VEGFμ group); single injection of 500 ng VEGF (t-VEGFn group); continuous delivery of 500 μg VEGF through osmotic micropump (t-VEGFpump-μ group); continuous delivery of 500 ng VEGF through osmotic micropump (t-VEGFpump-n group); single injection of 0.9% sodium chloride (t-NS group), while one group that served as control group did not receive any local solution (No-t group).

A comprehensive clinicopathological evaluation of the differential expression of microRNA-331 in breast tumors and its diagnostic significance.

Objective: MicroRNA-331 (miR-331) has shown regulatory activity against several genes whose expression has been claimed to be deregulated in breast tumors, including that of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Herein, the clinical value of miR-331 expression was investigated by analyzing its levels in breast benign and malignant tumors.

Methods: The expression levels of miR-331 were quantified via real-time PCR in 130 malignant and 66 benign breast tissue specimens collected after surgical resection of primary tumors.

HPV infection and breast cancer. Results of a microarray approach.

Objectives: Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been implicated in several types of epithelial cancer. The role of HPV in breast carcinogenesis has been a matter of debate fueled by conflicting reports in recent years. The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of breast and cervical HPV infection in cancer patients by using a modern microarray approach.

Human kallikrein-related peptidase 12 (KLK12) splice variants discriminate benign from cancerous breast tumors.

Objectives: As kallikrein-related peptidase 12 (KLK12) has been implicated in the cancer progression and alternative splicing plays significant role in this disease, the aim of this study was to examine the expression profile and the clinical impact of the KLK12 splice variants in breast cancer.

Design And Methods: Total RNA was isolated and reverse transcripted from 141 tissues. Afterwards, quantitative real-time PCR were conducted, followed by the performance of the comparative CT (2-ΔΔCT) method for relative quantification, whilst their correlation with the clinicopathological features of breast malignancies were assessed by statistical analysis.

Biweekly Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel as First-line Treatment for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

Background/aim: During recent years, a survival advantage was reported for first-line treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer with two new regimens, FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, over gemcitabine monotherapy. Gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel administration on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 4-week cycle is associated with some practical disadvantages. We adopted a biweekly regimen with the same dose density.