Intestinal occlusion by gynecological cancers treated by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and lanreotide: an Aviano National Cancer Institute experience.

The Commentary reports on our experience in Centro di Riferimento Oncologico IRCCS Aviano about the integrated and combined treatment with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and lanreotide in patients with bowel obstructions by ovarian cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis. We treated patients with gynecological cancers and bowel obstruction with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and, when patients were partially responsive, with lanreotide. We registered a constant overall benefit for the quality of life and for the control of symptoms, which is very important especially during the home care follow-up of terminal patients.

Live-cell micromanipulation of a genomic locus reveals interphase chromatin mechanics.

Our understanding of the physical principles organizing the genome in the nucleus is limited by the lack of tools to directly exert and measure forces on interphase chromosomes in vivo and probe their material nature. Here, we introduce an approach to actively manipulate a genomic locus using controlled magnetic forces inside the nucleus of a living human cell. We observed viscoelastic displacements over micrometers within minutes in response to near-piconewton forces, which are consistent with a Rouse polymer model. Our results highlight the fluidity of chromatin, with a moderate contribution of the surrounding material, revealing minor roles for cross-links and topological effects and challenging the view that interphase chromatin is a gel-like material. Our technology opens avenues for future research in areas from chromosome mechanics to genome functions.

Unexpected Echinococcus multilocularis infections in shepherd dogs and wolves in south-western Italian Alps: A new endemic area?

The European distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis has been reported to be expanding east and north, whereas its southern limits are deemed stable. During a study on Echinococcus granulosus s.l. infections in wolves and dogs in the Italian Maritime Alps, we unexpectedly detected the presence of E. multilocularis eggs in four fecal samples from at least two shepherd dogs, and in five wolf fecal samples. This finding, in an area about 130 km south of the southernmost E. multilocularis report in the Alps, may suggest a rapid expansion southward. While infections in foxes are currently being investigated, these data seem to indicate the potential for a new E. multilocularis endemic area. If this will be confirmed, the implementation of surveillance programs in wild and domestic canids and preventative measures will become a priority.