JCV-specific T-cells producing IFN-gamma are differently associated with PmL occurrence in HIV patients and liver transplant recipients.

Aim of this work was to investigate a possible correlation between the frequency of JCV-specific T-cells and PML occurrence in HIV-infected subjects and in liver transplant recipients. A significant decrease of JCV-specific T-cells was observed in HIV-PML subjects, highlighting a close relation between JCV-specific T-cell immune impairment and PML occurrence in HIV-subjects. Interestingly, liver-transplant recipients (LTR) showed a low frequency of JCV-specific T-cells, similar to HIV-PML subjects. Nevertheless, none of the enrolled LTR developed PML, suggesting the existence of different immunological mechanisms involved in the maintenance of a protective immune response in LTR.

Analysis of variables predictive of severity in biliary peritonitis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical and laboratory findings in order to find variables predictive of severity of Biliary Peritonitis (BP). METHODS: Physical findings, course of illness, imaging and laboratory data were evaluated in 22 patients with BP, and statistically analysed to assess their prognostic significance. RESULTS: Serious illness and worse outcome were associated with: age > 60 years (P= 0.034), long time between onset of symptoms and treatment (P= 0.025), fever > 38°C (P= 0.009), WBC count > 17.000 cell/mm3 (P=0.043), diffuse abdominal pain (P= 0.034), and infected bile (P= 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients become severely ill due to supervening infection, while early bile drainage avoids serious complications. In addition, abdominal pain, fever and WBC count are also predictive of severity of BP.

High ligation of sapheno-femoral junction and thermal ablation for lower limb primary varicosity in day hospital setting.

AIM: The traditional surgical treatment for lower limb primary varicosity has been for a long time high ligation of sapheno-femoral junction and stripping of great saphenous vein. Surgery, however, has been frustrated by postoperative pains and discomfort and recurrences so that it has been challenged by minimally invasive endovenous techniques such as laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation. The aim of the article is to assess the feasibility, in a day hospital setting, of a combined approach to greater saphenous vein reflux: high ligation of sapheno-femoral junction and thermal treatment of the great sapenous vein. METHODS: A retrospective analysis on 95 patients treated with high ligation and thermal ablation at our institution from January 2009 to July 2017 was performed, assessing duration of surgery, post-operative pain and analgesics requirements, early complications and resumption of activities. RESULTS: Two patients (2.74%), in the laser group experienced skin burns in the course of the GSV. Moderate ecchymosis, by laser fibre-induced perforation of the vein wall, were observed in another two patients (2.74%). Four limbs (5.48%) in the EVLT group developed transient paraesthesias. Analgesic requirement on POD 3 was nil for RFA group; conversely half of the EVLT patients did take analgesics, either 2 or 3 tabs were required. On POD 7, the patients of RFA group continued to not ask for any analgesics, but the same half of the patients in EVLT group still needed 1-2 tabs to carry out their normal activities smoothly. On POD 15, no patient did require analgesics. Resumption of routine activities was earlier for RFA group patients than for those in the EVLT group. The RFA group resumed their activities within 3 days, whereas EVLT group in 8-9 days. High ligation of the SFJ didn't add too much time or morbidities. CONCLUSION: Catheter delivery of thermal energies for saphenous ablation, even when combined with high ligation of saphenous femoral arc, demonstrated to be minimally invasive, easy to learn and easy to perform in day hospital setting, with early return to normal activity. EVLT achieved similar results to RFA and both techniques were considered equally effective and safe; the results we obtained were not statistically significant but RFA showed less pain, ecchymosis and haematomas, as well as provided better short-term quality of life. KEY WORDS: Day Hospital setting, Endovenous laser treatment, High ligation ablation of the saphenous vein, Radiofrequency ablation.

Low-serum testosterone and high-chromogranin A rare case associated with high-grade prostate cancer and higher pathological stages of the disease.

INTRODUCTION: CgA and testosterone are two serum markers that may be involved in prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of testosterone and CgA to grades and stages of prostate cancer, particularly whether low-serum testosterone and high-serum CgA are associated with more aggressive grades, and higher pathological stages of the disease. METHODS: This perspective study included 121 men (Caucasian only) presenting with -newly-diagnosed, untreated prostate cancer. All the patients underwent radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: We subdivided the sample into two homogeneous groups, Group A with Gleason score ≤7 (3+4), and Group B with Gleason score ≥7 (4+3). Low testosterone (< 3 ng/ml) was most common among the members of Group B 80 % versus 12.6 % of Group A (p = 0.001). At the same time, elevated CgA (> 80 ng/ml) was present for a rate of 72 % in Group B, 28.1% in the Group A ( p = 0.001). The multivariate analysis we used revealed that low-serum testosterone and high-serum CgA are associated with higher pathological stages of the disease (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The principal findings of this investigation were that low testosterone is correlated with elevated CgA levels, and these two parameters are associated with more aggressive grades and higher pathological stages of prostatic adenocarcinoma. KEY WORDS: Chromogranin A, Prostate cancer, Risk factor for prostate cancer, Testosterone.

The role of imaging in penile fracture Our experience.

INTRODUCTION: Fracture of the penis is a urological casualty resulting from a tear in the tunica albuginea of the penis. The diagnosis of suspicion is based fundamentally on the data obtained by means of clinical presentation and physical examination. Penile ultrasound is a useful, quick and innocuous test for suspected cavernous body ruptures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We observed 22 patients with suspected asymptomatic penile trauma. All of them underwent a Colour Doppler US examination, 5 of them an MRI scan. A functional US with stimulation was not carried out immediately, neither was a retrograde urethrography performed. RESULTS: No lesions were found in six patients and only one patient underwent partial penectomy. The other patients received conservative treatments, such as cold compressive bandaging of the penis and the administration of fibrinolysis. CONCLUSION: Penile fracture is underestimated because the traumas are often kept silent. Early diagnostic imaging management permits evaluation of the best procedure to adopt and whether surgery is necessary or not. KEY WORDS: Colour Doppler US, Penectomy, Penile fracture.

Groin hernia containing bladder diverticula Report of two cases and review of the literature.

We report two cases of groin herniation of bladder diverticula with different clinical presentation and evolution; bladder diverticula are rarely involved in the pathogenesis of groin hernias. A differential diagnosis is to be made mainly with a common groin hernia. A correct anamnesis, a careful physical examination and a correct diagnostic pattern, including cystography, CT and US scans, are needed. Surgery is recommended when specific symptoms appear, or if an urothelial cancer grows within a diverticulum. KEY WORDS: Diverticulum, Groin hernia, Uretheral cancer.

New prognostic factors in gastric cancer: the role of lympho-plasmacytic infiltrate.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer triggers an immune response, manifested by immunocompetent cells infiltrating the tumor, such as macrophages, NK cells, neutrophils, T and B-lymphocytes, and plasma cells. METHODS: Were viewed 300 patients who received surgery for gastric cancer, with removal of at least 15 regional lymph nodes, from January 1998 through December 2008, at the Policlinico "Umberto I", Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni", "Sapienza" University of Rome, and at "Santa Maria Goretti" Hospital of Latina, Italy. We selected a subset of 46 patients identified according to the following selection criteria: presence of gastric cancer (both intestinal-type and diffuse-type), early-stage (T1 and T2), absence of nodal metastases (N0), or involvement of less than 8 lymph nodes (N1), absence of distant metastases (M0), stage I and II. The sample included 28 males and 18 females. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a high number of tumour-associated macrophages (TAM) along the margins of the tumour is related to a worse outcome, and an increased secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines by TAM may also indirectly affect the action of cytotoxic T cells. Our study also shows a statistically non significant trend of tumour-associated macrophages in promoting the expression of ß-catenin, which is a subunit of the cadherin protein complex. KEY WORDS: Gastric cancer, Infiltrate, Lymphoplasmacellular, Prognostic factors, TNM.

Cancers of the appendix. Case report and literatures review.

Cancers of appendix are very uncommon. As reported in the case of 85 years old man, that underwent right emicolectomy with restoration of bowel continuity, the appendix was found to be gangrenous and perforated during the surgery. The hystology that comes out was adenocarcinoma of appendix that after 1 yars of follow up ramanins asymptomatic. At last the emicolectomy rappresent the best surgical treatment for all appendix neoplasm, that could be recognised from the surgeon when possible wiht intraoperavite histological examination. KEY WORDS: Appendix, Cancer, Incidental diagnosis, Right emicolectomy.

Clinical predictive factors of pathologic complete response in locally advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Predictive factors of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) are still not identified. The purpose of this study was to define them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from consecutive LARC patients treated between January 2008 and June 2014 at our Institution were included in the analysis. All patients were treated with a long course of nCRT. Demographics, initial diagnosis and tumor extension details, as well as treatment modalities characteristics were included in the univariate and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In total 99 patients received nCRT, of whom 23 patients (23.2%) achieved pCR. Patients with and without pCR were similar in term of age, sex, comobidities, BMI and tumor characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that pre-treatment tumor size ≤ 5 cm was a significant predictor for pCR (p = 0.035), whereas clinical N stage only showed a positive trend (p = 0.084). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor size at diagnosis could be used to predict pCR, and thus to individualize therapy in LARC patients management. Validation in other studies is needed.

Preoperative staging of resectability of colon cancer using virtual colonoscopy: correlation with surgical results. Our experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of preoperative computed tomography colonography (CTC) in locoregional staging in patients with abdominal pain secondary toocclusive colorectal cancer (CRC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 80 patients with abdominal pain underwent CTC initially without contrast and after diagnosis with contrast. 47 patients had distal CRC and 33 had proximal CRC. CTimages were analyzed independently by two radiologists, using MPR reconstruction and VR images. Depending on the anatomical depth of wall invasion primary tumor (T) was classified ≤ T2, T3 and T4. The definition of node disease (N) was based on the number of involved regional lymph nodes. Metastases (M) were characterized by the presence and location of distant disease. Pre treatment stage (cT cN) was compared with pathologic stage (pT pN). Accuracy of CTC was also evaluated. RESULTS: The overall accuracy values for T staging of reviewer 1, reviewer 2 and consensus reading were 91.6%, 86.2% and 92.8% respectively; 92.2%, 79.8% and 92.5% for T2; 88.1%, 85.5%, and 89.7% for T3; and 94.5%, 93.5% and 96.2% for T4. The accuracy values for N staging and M staging were 81,.8%, 94.0% for reviewer 1; 78.2% and 88.1% for reviewer 2; 81.8% and 94.0% for consensus reading, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our experience CTC is not only useful in the evaluation of the proximal bowel, but can also provide surgeons with accurate information about staging and tumor localization. CTC is recommended for better evaluation of preoperative staging. KEY WORDS: CT colonography, Colorectal cancer, Extracolonic findings, Staging.

The role of radiotherapy in the carotid stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical radiation for head and neck cancer has been associated with an increased incidence of carotid arterial stenosis. Modern radiation therapy delivers higher doses with increasing long-term survival. In our study 50 patients with head and neck malignancies treated with radiotherapy are analized with colour Doppler ultrasonographic scanning of the carotid arteries. These patients were compared with a population of asymptomatic historical controls (40) These findings suggest that radiation has an adverse effect on large vessels. Colour Doppler follow-up may be indicated for patients receiving head and neck radiation therapy. METHODS: 50-70 Gy is the local dose that all patients received. during a period of about 8 weeks. The ecodoppler scan of carotid arteries was performed in all patients with estimation of Common and internal carotid artery's intimal medial thickness (IMT). Stenosis grade were divided into low (0-30%), moderate (31-49 %) and severe (= >50%). In add we considered ematochimics and flogosys parameters. Patients recruited from a hospital Radiation-oncology-surgery department from April 2007 to September 2011, 90 consecutive head and neck cancer patients were enrolled in this study. 50 of these patients had previously undergone RT (RT group) and 40 had no RT (control group). All patients were screened with bilateral carotid arterial duplex ultrasonography. We defined disease as "normal or mild" if the carotid stenosis was <50%, and "significant" if >50%. The relationship between standard demographic risk factors and screening outcomes was then analyzed. RESULTS: We found that severe carotid stenosis (= >50% ) was higher (41%) in patients who underwent to radiotherapy than in control group. The Eco Doppler examination demonstrated that the most affected site was Internal Carotid Arthery 's fork . There were no differences in age or gender between the two groups. The RT group had a significantly higher plaque score than the non-irradiated group. Bilateral plaque score was significantly correlated with age, hyperlipidemia, and RT. This analysis showed that in RT patients > 50 years old, age was inversely correlated with plaque score; however, in RT patients

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment tolerance and clinical outcomes in patients aged 70 and older with locally advanced rectal carcinoma treated with multimodality approach. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analysed 20 consecutive elderly patients, with histologically proven rectal adenocarcinoma, staged T3-4, and/or node-positive tumour, who received chemoradiotherapy and proceeded to surgical approach. Performance status score and adult comorbidity evaluation-27 score were calculated, and their influence on treatment tolerance and clinical outcomes was analysed. RESULTS: All patients completed programmed chemoradiotherapy treatment. Gastrointestinal toxicity was the most common acute side effects: proctitis in 70% of patients and diarrhoea in 55%, classified as Grade 3 in 3 patients only. Radiation dermatitis was reported in 7 patients (35%) and it was graded G3 in one patient. There was no haematological toxicity. Eighteen patients out of 20 underwent surgery. Sphincter preservation was assured in 13 patients. Comorbidity index was related to higher severe acute toxicity (P = 0.015) but no influenced treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: Treatment tolerance with combined modality is good in elderly patients. Due to age, no dose reduction for radiation therapy and chemotherapy should be considered.

Synchronous primary lung cancer. Critical review of diagnostic criteria.

QUESTION OF THE STUDY: Synchronous primary lung cancers (SPLCs) may pose a radiologic-pathologic and therapeutic dilemma in according to recent WHO classification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two cases of surgically treated SPLCs are reported. RESULTS: In the first case two nodules were detected by Computed Tomography (CT) in the upper right lobe. The patient underwent lobectomy and histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The second patient presented at CT one nodule in the upper left lobe and another nodule in the upper right lobe. Sternotomic access was chosen for bilateral removal of the lesions. The diagnosis was sarcomatoid carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine adenocarcinoma. DISCUSSION: The criteria of Martini and Melamed are inadequate for the diagnosis of SPLCs. The use of TTF-1 (thyroid transcription factor-1) is necessary to establish the diagnosis of SPLC in patients with adenocarcinoma of other sites. Bronchioloalveolar carcinomas must be excluded because of their multicentricity. When histology of two tumors found in the same lobe is identical and histotype is adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma or sarcomatoid carcinoma, the diagnosis of SPLCs must be excluded and those lesions must be considered as metastatic disease. The prognosis and treatment of SPLCs are discussed after critical review of the literature.