Pan-TRK immunohistochemistry in gynaecological mesenchymal tumours: diagnostic implications and pitfalls.

Aims: NTRK-rearranged sarcomas of the female genital tract mainly occur in the uterus (more commonly cervix than corpus) and are characterized by a "fibrosarcoma-like" morphology and NTRK gene rearrangements. These neoplasms may exhibit histological overlap with other entities and can present diagnostic difficulties without molecular confirmation. Pan-TRK immunohistochemistry was developed to identify tumours harbouring NTRK rearrangements.

Disseminated fungal infection in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia.

The case highlights the importance of actively obtaining informative samples at an early stage and of prompt initiation of combination therapy with antifungal drugs.

Assessment of the Safety and Therapeutic Benefits of Convalescent Plasma in COVID-19 Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), prompted a global health crisis, with no available specific treatments. Convalescent plasma (CP) with neutralizing antibodies could be a promising therapeutic approach to reduce mortality. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of CP for COVID-19 and to assess its safety and efficacy in reducing the patients' mortality.

Giant chondrosarcoma of the chest wall: a rare surgical challenge.

The chest wall chondrosarcoma (CWC) is a rare slowly growing primary tumor of the chest wall with an incidence of <0.5 per million person-years. We present the case of a giant CWC that caused a mass effect on the mediastinum, heart, and lung.

Management and Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Diseases: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

In patients with physical chronic diseases, the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is approximately 2- to 3-fold higher than in the general population, and it can reach up to 20-40%. The comorbidity of MDD with chronic medical diseases is associated with poorer quality of life, increased medical symptom burden, poor adherence to self-care regimens, increased risk of functional impairment, morbidity, and mortality, and also higher medical costs. Despite this evidence, in routine practice, psychological issues and concerns are frequently inadequately managed.

The influence of spirituality on decision-making in palliative care outpatients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Decision-making in palliative care can be complex due to the uncertain prognosis and general fear surrounding decisions. Decision-making in palliative care may be influenced by spiritual and cultural beliefs or values. Determinants of the decision-making process are not completely understood, and spirituality is essential for coping with illness.

Development of a benchmark tool for cancer centers; results from a pilot exercise.

Background: Differences in cancer survival exist between countries in Europe. Benchmarking of good practices can assist cancer centers to improve their services aiming for reduced inequalities. The aim of the BENCH-CAN project was to develop a cancer care benchmark tool, identify performance differences and yield good practice examples, contributing to improving the quality of interdisciplinary care.

A comparison of in-hospital acute myocardial infarction management between Portugal and the United States: 2000-2010.

Objective: To compare healthcare in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treatment between contrasting health systems using comparable representative data from Europe and USA.

Design: Repeated cross-sectional retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Acute care hospitals in Portugal and USA during 2000-2010.

The Atlantic divide in coronary heart disease: Epidemiology and patient care in the US and Portugal.

Introduction And Objectives: We aimed to compare access to new health technologies to treat coronary heart disease (CHD) in the health systems of Portugal and the US, characterizing the needs of the populations and the resources available.

Methods: We reviewed data for 2000 and 2010 on epidemiologic profiles of CHD and on health care available to patients. Thirty health technologies (16 medical devices and 14 drugs) introduced during the period 1980-2015 were identified by interventional cardiologists.

TERT, BRAF, and NRAS in Primary Thyroid Cancer and Metastatic Disease.

Context: Little is known about the frequency of key mutations in thyroid cancer metastases and its relationship with the primary tumor genotype.

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of TERT promoter (TERTp), BRAF, and NRAS mutations in metastatic thyroid carcinomas, analyzing primary thyroid tumors, lymph node metastases (LNMs), and distant metastases.

Design And Patients: Mutation analysis was performed in 437 tissue samples from 204 patients, mainly with papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs; n = 180), including 196 LNMs and 56 distant metastases.

Health technology assessment and value: the cancer value label (CAVALA) methodology.

In modern health care systems, the soaring prices of drugs pose at least three major challenges: the growing economic burden of diseases, the uncertainty regarding innovation in health care, and the use of generic drugs and new indications. In this context, the assessment of health care technology is not just about drugs, it is about ensuring that the system's resources, namely financial, yield maximum health benefits. So, the assessment is about relating inputs with outputs; and also, resources with health-related outcomes.

Mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and Hodgkin lymphoma.

A solid body of knowledge indicates that overweight and obese subjects are prone to develop cancer, aggressive disease, and death more than their lean counterparts. While obesity has been causally associated with various cancers, only a limited number of studies beheld the link with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Contemporary meta-analysis and prospective studies confirmed the association of body mass index with HL.

Epistatic Interaction of CYP1A1 and COMT Polymorphisms in Cervical Cancer.

There is a clear association between the excessive and cumulative exposure to estrogens and the development of cancer in hormone-sensitive tissues, such as the cervix. We studied the association of CYP1A1 M1 (rs4646903) and COMT (rs4680) polymorphisms in 130 cervical cancer cases (c-cancer) and 179 controls. The CYP1A1 TT genotype was associated with a lower risk for c-cancer (OR = 0.

Morphine glucuronidation increases its analgesic effect in guinea pigs.

Aims: Morphine is extensively metabolized to neurotoxic morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and opioid agonist morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G). Due to these different roles, interindividual variability and co-administration of drugs that interfere with metabolism may affect analgesia. The aim of the study was to investigate the repercussions of administration of an inducer (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, TCDD) and an inhibitor (ranitidine) of glucuronidation in morphine metabolism and consequent analgesia, using the Guinea pig as a suitable model.

Interleukin-1β genotype and circulating levels in cancer patients: metastatic status and pain perception.

Objectives: Proinflammatory cytokines released during inflammation can cause hyperexcitability in pain transmission neurons, leading to hyperalgesia and allodynia. Polymorphisms in interleukin 1 (IL-1) family of genes (IL1A, IL1B) and in IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra, coded by IL1RN) may therefore induce alterations in cytokine levels/effects and pain related response. Our purpose was to investigate the influence of polymorphisms in IL1A/B/RN on cytokine serum levels and its correlation with pain intensity, performance status, adverse effects, metastases and breakthrough pain in Caucasian cancer patients.

Circulating Ang-2 mRNA expression levels: looking ahead to a new prognostic factor for NSCLC [corrected].

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cancer and the leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. Antiangiogenic strategies directed towards tumor stroma are becoming gold standard in NSCLC treatment and researchers have been searching for biomarkers to identify patients for whom therapy with antiangiogenic inhibitors may be most beneficial and the importance of these as prognostic factors in NSCLC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of circulating Ang-2 mRNA levels prior to treatment in NSCLC patients.

Improvement of a predictive model of castration-resistant prostate cancer: functional genetic variants in TGFβ1 signaling pathway modulation.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. The acquisition of castration-resistant (CR) phenotype is associated with the activation of signaling pathways mediated by growth factors. The TGFβ1 and its receptors have an important role in tumor progression, being the pro-apoptotic function modulated by the expression of TGFBR2.

Influence of CYP3A4 genotypes in the outcome of serous ovarian cancer patients treated with first-line chemotherapy: implication of a CYP3A4 activity profile.

CYP3A4 is a key enzyme involved in the metabolism of numerous compounds, such as paclitaxel, and its activity shows an extensive inter-individual variation which can influence treatment response. The study's purpose was to investigate the potential predictive role of a CYP3A4 profile (CYP3A4*1B, rs2740574 and CYP3A4*22, rs35599367) in serous ovarian cancer patients treated with first-line chemotherapy (paclitaxel and cisplatin or carboplatin), after cytoreductive surgery. CYP3A4*1B and CYP3A4*22 genotypes were determined by Nested PCR-RFLP and Taqman® Allelic Discrimination, respectively.

Epidermal growth factor genetic variation associated with advanced cervical cancer in younger women.

Objectives: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates cell proliferation by binding to its receptor (epidermal growth factor receptor), and the overexpression of this receptor is associated with poorer prognosis. The EGF gene presents a polymorphism at position 61 (A/G), associated with higher EGF production. We examined the association between this polymorphism and cervical cancer through a case-control study.

Treatment of lung cancer in the elderly: Influence of comorbidity on toxicity and survival.

Background: More than 50% of new cases of lung cancer (LC) are diagnosed in elderly patients. It is necessary to know correct treatment of these patients but there is a lack of evidence-based data regarding this age group, leading to an undertreatment based on a supposed lack of tolerance to radical treatments.

Aim: To evaluate the results of radiotherapy (RT) treatment in elderly patients with LC in our institution and the relation between survival, toxicity and comorbidities.

Topotecan in second-line treatment of small-cell lung cancer--how it works in our daily clinical practice?

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and it causes more than 1 million deaths each year worldwide. Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 15 to 20% of all lung cancers and it is an extremely aggressive cancer, having a response rate of 60-80% with the standard first-line chemotherapy (CT). Topotecan is a topoisomerase I inhibitor currently approved for relapsed SCLC.

Epidermal growth factor genetic variation, breast cancer risk, and waiting time to onset of disease.

Growth factors are important mediators of proliferation. Deregulation in growth factor mechanisms as well as in its receptors will contribute to cancer development. One of the most important is the epidermal growth factor (EGF), which is encoded by EGF gene.