The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on access to medical services and its consequences on emergency surgery.

Background: On March 9, 2020, the Italian Prime Minister announced the lockdown, which was officially closed on May 4. This extraordinary measure was necessary to contain the COVID-19 pandemic spread in Italy. During this phase, a significant decrease in patients' access to Emergency Department (ED) was observed.

Validation of the Padova Prognostic Score for Colitis in Predicting Long-Term Outcome After Restorative Proctocolectomy.

Background: In 10%-20% of cases it is impossible to make a differential diagnosis between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis. A 50% failure rate of J pouch ilea-anal anastomosis is observed in Crohn's colitis. In 2009, we created the Padua Prognostic Score for Colitis (PPSC) to predict the long-term clinical and functional outcome and quality of life of patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy with J pouch.

Crohn's Disease-Related Stoma Complications and Their Impact on Postsurgical Course.

Introduction: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The diversion through a colostomy or an ileostomy is sometimes required for disease control. In these patients, common stoma-related complications sum up with CD-related complications and often require revisional surgery.

Colorectal cancer development is affected by the ECM molecule EMILIN-2 hinging on macrophage polarization via the TLR-4/MyD88 pathway.

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent and deadly tumors. Among the key regulators of CRC growth and progression, the microenvironment has emerged as a crucial player and as a possible route for the development of new therapeutic opportunities. More specifically, the extracellular matrix acts directly on cancer cells and indirectly affecting the behavior of stromal and inflammatory cells, as well as the bioavailability of growth factors.

MLH1 Deficiency Down-Regulates TLR4 Expression in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer.

Patients with mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient colorectal cancer (CRC) have a more favorable prognosis than patients with tumors with intact MMR. In order to obtain further insights on the reasons for this different outcome, we investigated the interplay between MMR genes and TLR4/MyD88 signaling. The cancer genome atlas (TCGA) databases were selected to predict the differential expression of TLR4 in colon cancer and its correlation with MMR genes.

Moderately differentiated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has a poor prognosis after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) plus surgery is the standard treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, further analysis is needed to detail the histopathological characteristics of ESCC and their clinical significance after NCRT. This study aimed to present the pathological characteristics of ESCC and their association with prognosis after NCRT.

Methods: All patients with ESCC who underwent NCRT followed by surgical resection at Sichuan Cancer Hospital (China) from January 2018 to December 2019 were included.

CD80 expression is upregulated by TP53 activation in human cancer epithelial cells.

CD80 is recognized as one of the most potent costimulatory molecules by which immune cells limit cancer progression; however, the current understanding of the regulation of its expression on human tumor cells is limited. The TP53 tumor suppressor plays a critical role in cancer and its significant role in the control of immune responses is emerging. Here, we evaluated the role of TP53 as a regulator of CD80 expression in human cancer cells.

T2-weighted, apparent diffusion coefficient and F-FDG PET histogram analysis of rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation among T2-weighted (T2w) images, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) images, histogram analysis and the pathological response in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (pCRT).

Methods: Patients with LARC were prospectively enrolled between February 2015 and August 2018 and underwent PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI included T2w and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-sequences.

Robotic Resection of Giant Duodenal Hamartoma After Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FDG PET-MRI).

Brunner's gland hamartoma is a rare duodenal lesion. Resection for benign neoplasms of the duodenum should be considered in case of malignant potential or in case of symptomatic lesions. An accurate preoperative staging is mandatory in order to allow minimally invasive surgical approach, and to avoid under- or overtreatment.

Definition and management of colorectal polyposis not associated with APC/MUTYH germline pathogenic variants: AIFEG consensus statement.

An expert consensus panel convened by the Italian Association for Inherited and Familial Gastrointestinal Tumors (Associazione Italiana per lo Studio della Familiarità ed Ereditarietà dei Tumori Gastrointestinali, AIFEG) reviewed the literature and agreed on a number of position statements regarding the definition and management of polyposis coli without an identified pathogenic mutation on the APC or MUTYH genes, defined in the document as NAMP (non-APC/MUTYH polyposis).

Analysis of morbidity and mortality, quality of life and bowel function after total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis versus right and left hemicolectomy: A study to optimise the treatment of lynch syndrome and attenuated polyposis coli.

Background: The optimal surgical treatment for colonic colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in Lynch Syndrome (LS) and attenuated polyposis coli (A-FAP phenotype) patients is still debated, since there is a high risk of metachronous colonic adenomas and carcinoma after primary surgery. The aim of this study was to compare surgical outcome, functional data, and Quality of Life (QoL) after total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (TC-IRA) compared to right (RH) or left hemicolectomy/sigmoidectomy (LH/SI).

Methods: Patients who underwent TC-IRA (ileorectal anastomosis from 8 to 15 cm from the anal verge) for CRC and/or polyposis at our Surgical Department between 2001 and 2017 were included in the study group, and were matched one-to-one by baseline and clinical characteristics with a control group of RH and LH/SI.

Isoperistaltic Jejunal Loop Interposition after Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer in Patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

Gastric cancer is a rare condition affecting patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The mainstay of treatment is total gastrectomy. Since duodenal cancer is the most common cause of death after total colectomy in FAP, endoscopic surveillance for duodenal cancer is mandatory.

MRI T2-weighted sequences-based texture analysis (TA) as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Purpose: To determine whether MRI T2-weighted sequences-based texture analysis (TA) can predict histopathological tumor regression grade (TRG) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (nCRT).

Methods: Data on patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for LARC were collected. Patients with a complete pathological response, or TRG1 according to Mandard's system were classified as responders, while patients with TRG ≥ 2 were classified as non-responders.

18F-FDG PET/MRI for Rectal Cancer TNM Restaging After Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy: Initial Experience.

Objective: F-FDG-PET/MRI is a novel hybrid techinque that has been recently introduced in oncological imaging, showing promising results. The aim of this study is to assess the value of whole-body F-FDG-PET/MRI for predicting the pathological stage of locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Design: This was a prospective observational study.

Rectal advancement flap plus adipose lipofilling (RAFAL) for the treatment of rectourethral fistulas after radical prostatectomy.

Background: Rectourethral fistula (RUF) is a rare but significant complication after radical prostatectomy. Many different approaches have been used, but none of them has become the standard of care.

Methods: We present our series of seven patients treated with a transanal rectal advancement flap plus the injection of mesenchymal stem cells, to facilitate the healing of the fistula.

miRNA deregulation targets specific pathways in leiomyosarcoma development: an in silico analysis.

Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) mediate post-transcriptional gene repression and are involved in a variety of human diseases, including cancer. Soft tissue sarcomas are rare malignancies with a variety of histological subtypes which may occur virtually anywhere in the human body. Leiomyosarcoma is one of the most common subtypes, shows a smooth muscle phenotype and its cancerogenesis is still unclear.

Associations of clock genes polymorphisms with soft tissue sarcoma susceptibility and prognosis.

Background: Dysfunction of the circadian clock and polymorphisms of some circadian genes have been linked to cancer development and progression. We investigated the relationship between circadian genes germline variation and susceptibility or prognosis of patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

Patients And Methods: We considered the 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 6 core circadian genes that have a minor allele frequency > 5% and that are known to be associated with cancer risk or prognosis.

Another Chapter of the : Is Primary Tumor Location a Prognostic Feature in Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer?

Background: The prognostic value of primary tumor location (PTL) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) was reported by recent analyses in wild-type patients. Here, we investigated the prognostic value of PTL in mutated mCRC patients.

Materials And Methods: PTL was defined as left or right if distal or proximal to the splenic flexure.

Genetic susceptibility to bone and soft tissue sarcomas: a field synopsis and meta-analysis.

Background: The genetic architecture of bone and soft tissue sarcomas susceptibility is yet to be elucidated. We aimed to comprehensively collect and meta-analyze the current knowledge on genetic susceptibility in these rare tumors.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence on the association between DNA variation and risk of developing sarcomas through searching PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science databases.

Rectal sparing approach after preoperative radio- and/or chemotherapy (RESARCH) in patients with rectal cancer: a multicentre observational study.

Background: Rectum-sparing approaches appear to be appropriate in rectal cancer patients with a major (mCR) or complete clinical response (cCR) after neoadjuvant therapy. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of rectum-sparing approaches at 2 years after the completion of neoadjuvant treatment.

Study Design: Patients with rectal adenocarcinoma eligible to receive neoadjuvant therapy will be prospectively enrolled.

PD-L1 overexpression in ampulla of Vater carcinoma and its pre-invasive lesions.

Aims: PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint immunotherapy has been proposed recently as a promising treatment in relapsed/refractory disease, used eventually in combination with traditional chemotherapy in different cancer settings. To date, no data are available concerning PD-L1 expression in ampulla of Vater carcinoma and its pre-invasive lesions.

Methods And Results: We assessed the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in a series of 26 ampullary adenocarcinomas, 50 ampullary dysplastic lesions and 10 normal duodenal mucosa samples.

Genetic variation of clock genes and cancer risk: a field synopsis and meta-analysis.

Background: The number of studies on the association between clock genes' polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility has increased over the last years but the results are often conflicting and no comprehensive overview and quantitative summary of the evidence in this field is available.

Results: Literature search identified 27 eligible studies comprising 96756 subjects (cases: 38231) and investigating 687 polymorphisms involving 14 clock genes. Overall, 1025 primary and subgroup meta-analyses on 366 gene variants were performed.