Stereotactic Re-irradiation in Recurrent Prostate Cancer after Previous Postoperative or Definitive Radiotherapy: Long-term Results after a Median Follow-up of 4 Years.

AIMS: In 2018, we published early results from a cohort of patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) after previous radiotherapy with definitive or postoperative intent. We sought to provide extended follow-up of this cohort to confirm the safety and efficacy of this approach in a real-world scenario. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients affected by local relapse after previous definitive or postoperative radiotherapy were treated with SBRT. Treatment provided a total dose of 30 Gy in five fractions. Data about biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS), together with adverse events, were analysed. Toxicity was reported according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) score v.4.03. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 48.2 months, the median BRFS was 43 months. A Gleason score >7 and concomitant androgen deprivation therapy were shown to be predictors of the worst BRFS (hazard ratio 2.42, 95% confidence interval 1.09-5.41, P = 0.02; hazard ratio 2.83, 95% confidence interval 1.17-6.8, P = 0.02, respectively). The median MFS was not reached; concomitant androgen deprivation therapy was confirmed to be predictive of the worst MFS (hazard ratio 4.75, 95% confidence interval 1.52-14.8, P = 0.007). Late grade 1 and 2 rectal and bladder toxicity occurred in three (6%) and 13 (26%) patients, respectively. One patient experienced both grade 3 acute and chronic bladder toxicity. CONCLUSION: Salvage SBRT re-irradiation after previous postoperative or definitive radiotherapy for local prostate cancer recurrence confirmed promising results in terms of oncological outcomes and the safety of this approach.

Estimating bacteria diversity in different organs of nine species of mosquito by next generation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Symbiosis in insects is accumulating significant amount of studies: the description of a wide array of mutualistic associations across the evolutionary history of insects suggests that resident microbiota acts as a driving force by affecting several aspects of hosts biology. Among arthropods, mosquito midgut microbiota has been largely investigated, providing crucial insights on the role and implications of host-symbiont relationships. However, limited amount of studies addressed their efforts on the investigation of microbiota colonizing salivary glands and reproductive tracts, crucial organs for pathogen invasion and vertical transmission of symbiotic microorganisms. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing-based approach, we analysed the microbiota of gut, salivary glands and reproductive tracts of several mosquito species, representing some of the main vectors of diseases, aiming at describing the dynamics of bacterial communities within the individual. RESULTS: We identified a shared core microbiota between different mosquito species, although interesting inter- and intra-species differences were detected. Additionally, our results showed deep divergences between genera, underlining microbiota specificity and adaptation to their host. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive landscape of the bacterial microbiota components may ultimately provide crucial insights and novel targets for possible application of symbionts in innovative strategies for the control of vector borne diseases, globally named Symbiotic Control (SC), and suggesting that the holobiont of different mosquito species may significantly vary. Moreover, mosquito species are characterized by distinctive microbiota in different organs, likely reflecting different functions and/or adaptation processes.

Detection and isolation of the α-proteobacterium Asaia in Culex mosquitoes.

Investigations of microbiota within mosquitoes continue to widen the spectrum of possible symbiont-based applications against vector-borne diseases. In this context, α-proteobacteria of the genus Asaia (Rhodospirillales: Acetobacteraceae) are emerging as possible endosymbiotic candidates, particularly in paratransgenic approaches aimed at interrupting pathogen transmission. Previous studies have shown that Asaia spp. distribution among Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes displayed positive rates of infection in isolated midguts, salivary glands and reproductive tissues. Similarly, Asaia has been detected in Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) and Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti) (Diptera: Culicidae) populations. Within the Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae), Asaia infection is still largely unexplored. Here, we summarize a preliminary survey of laboratory-reared Cx. pipiens complex and field-collected Culex quinquefasciatus for the presence of Asaia spp., and present the first identification of Asaia in some of the members of the Cx. pipiens complex and the first description in West African populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus.