The Effect of Autologous Serum Tears 50% on the Ocular Surface of Patients With Severe Dry Eye Disease due to Sjogren Syndrome: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled, Contralateral Eye Study.

Purpose: To assess the impact of autologous serum (AS) tears at a 50% concentration on the ocular surface of patients with refractory dry eye disease (DED) because of Sjogren syndrome.

Methods: Twenty eyes of ten patients with severe immune-mediated DED were contralaterally randomized to receive either AS tears 50% or artificial tears between June 2021 and May 2023. Changes in tear stability, ocular surface staining, and in the morphology of the corneal sub-basal nerves were evaluated before treatment and at 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment using objective tests for DED and confocal microscopy.

Clinical Significance of Germline Cancer Predisposing Variants in Unselected Patients with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Our aim was to determine the prevalence, prognostic and predictive role of germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (P/LPVs) in cancer predisposing genes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Germline testing of 62 cancer susceptibility genes was performed on unselected patients diagnosed from 02/2003 to 01/2020 with PDAC, treated at Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG)-affiliated Centers. The main endpoints were prevalence of P/LPVs and overall survival (OS).

Capecitabine, Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan, and Bevacizumab Combination Followed by Pazopanib Plus Capecitabine Maintenance for High-Grade Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Carcinomas.

Objectives: Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a lethal, uncommon, and understudied neoplasm. We present the efficacy and safety of first-line capecitabine (CP), oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and bevacizumab (CAPOXIRI-BEV) combination followed by pazopanib plus CP maintenance therapy in patients with advanced high-grade poorly differentiated gastrointestinal NEC.

Methods: This was a two-stage phase II study conducted at multiple institutions.

Genetic mapping of pancreatic cancer by targeted next-generation sequencing in a cohort of patients managed with nab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy or agents targeting the EGFR axis: a retrospective analysis of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG).

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal malignancies ranking fourth among the leading causes of cancer death with diagnosis at late stages carrying a dismal prognosis. The aim of our retrospective study was to describe the nature and the incidence of gene mutations and genomic instability in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinomas of a Greek patient population fully annotated with clinicopathological data. We used a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel encompassing genes commonly mutated in pancreatic tumours in a patient population managed with either nab-paclitaxel regimens or targeted compounds modulating the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/AKT/mTOR axis.

Are Drugs Always the Proper Solution to Therapeutic Dilemmas? Non-drug Approaches to the Post-traumatic Stress "Waking Corpse" Syndrome.

Jules Cotard (1840-1889), a Parisian neurologist, described a syndrome of delirium negations which was later named after him. Some physicians in antiquity and medieval times, especially in Asia, have noticed this syndrome and categorized it as a symptom of melancholy. They have presented it as a "walking corpse syndrome", inflicting most probably veteran soldiers after suffering during ferocious battles, presenting the first cases of a post war traumatic stress disorder.

Rectal seed bezoar due to sunflower seed: a case report and review of the literature.

Seed bezoars are a subcategory of phytobezoars, caused by consumption of indigestible vegetable or fruit seeds. We present the case of a 64-year-old male patient, who presented at the Emergency Department, complaining of constipation, tenesmus and rectal pain. History and digital examination revealed a rectal seed bezoar due to sunflower seeds, impacted in the lower rectum.

Association of Notch and Hedgehog Pathway Activation With Prognosis in Early-stage Colorectal Cancer.

Background/aim: Early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) carries a wide range of survival probabilities. Novel biomarkers in this setting are eagerly awaited. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered one of the reasons for treatment failure.

Gemcitabine Combined with the mTOR Inhibitor Temsirolimus in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer. A Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group Phase I/II Study.

Background: The prognosis of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is dismal, and there is a need for novel and effective treatments.

Objectives: Tο determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of a novel gemcitabine (G) and temsirolimus (T) combination (phase I) and estimate the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) in patients treated with the T + G combination (phase II).

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients with histologically confirmed inoperable or metastatic pancreatic carcinoma (MPC) were entered into the trial.

Prognostic significance of tumor genotypes and CD8+ infiltrates in stage I-III colorectal cancer.

Background: We explored the clinical significance of tumor genotypes and immunophenotypes in non-metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: In primary tumors (paraffin blocks) from 412 CRC patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, we examined pathogenic mutations (panel NGS; 347 informative); mismatch repair (MMR) immunophenotype (360 informative); and CD8+ lymphocyte density (high - low; 412 informative). The primary outcome measure was disease-free survival (DFS).

The combination of bevacizumab/temsirolimus after first-line anti-VEGF therapy in advanced renal-cell carcinoma: a clinical and biomarker study.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeting represents the standard first-line therapy for metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (mRCC), while blocking the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is effective in relapsed disease. Since continuing blockade of VEGF may be of value, we studied the combination of bevacizumab with temsirolimus in mRCC patients relapsing after first-line treatment.

Methods: A prospective, phase II study of the combination of bevacizumab (10 mg/kg, every 2 weeks) with temsirolimus (25 mg weekly) in patients with mRCC who failed first-line anti-VEGF treatment.

A multicenter, prospective, observational study of the long-term outcomes of Crohn's disease patients under routine care management in Greece.

Background: Real-world data on management patterns and long-term outcomes of patients with inadequately controlled Crohn's disease (CD) in Greece are scarce.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective observational study of 18-65-year-old CD patients whose physicians judged that their current therapy was inadequate to control their condition and therefore decided to switch treatment. Data were collected at enrollment (time of switch), and 30, 54 and 104 weeks post-enrollment.

HER Family Protein Expression in a Greek Population with Gastric Cancer. A Retrospective Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group Study.

Background: Gastric cancer is a relatively common malignancy. Recently, the presence of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) was identified as a molecular target in a proportion of patients who benefited from the addition of appropriate anti-HER2 treatments. Our study explored the clinical and prognostic role of known HER family members, human epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR or HER1), HER2, HER3 and HER4.

Microvessel Landscape Assessment in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Unclear Value of Targeting Endoglin (CD105) as Prognostic Factor of Clinical Outcome.

Objectives: Tumor angiogenesis based on microvessel density assessment has been associated with poor prognosis in several studies of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Expression of endoglin (CD105), a tumor-induced vascularization marker, has been found to represent a negative prognostic factor in many malignant tumors. The aim of our study was to assess the value of tumoral microvascularity both with pan-endothelial markers and endoglin as well, in correlation with the clinical outcome of patients with PDAC.

Brain natriuretic peptide increases in septic patients without severe sepsis or shock.

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) production increases in critically ill septic patients. We assessed the hypothesis that BNP is elevated in patients with community-acquired infections without severe sepsis or septic shock.

Methods: We studied 54 patients [20 males, median age 39 (interquartile range 23, 71)] without heart disease, persistent arrhythmias, or renal failure.