RESUMEN
The correlation between immune responses and protection from SARS-CoV-2 infections and its duration remains unclear. We performed a sanitary surveillance at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan over a 17 months period. Pre-vaccination, in 1,493 participants, we scored 266 infections (17.8%) and 8 possible reinfections (3%). Post-vaccination, we identified 30 infections in 2,029 vaccinated individuals (1.5%). We report that the probability of infection post-vaccination is i) significantly lower compared to natural infection, ii) associated with a significantly shorter median duration of infection than that of first infection and reinfection, iii) anticorrelated with circulating antibody levels.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Sacral chordoma (SC) is a neoplasm arising from residual notochordal cells degeneration. SC is difficult to manage mainly because of anatomic location and tendency to extensive spread. Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is highly precise to selectively deliver high biological effective dose to the tumor target sparing the anatomical structure on its path even if when SC is contiguous to the intestine, and a surgical spacer might be an advantageous tool to create a distance around the target volume allowing radical curative dose delivery with a safe dose gradient to the surrounding organs. This paper describes a double approach-open and hand-assisted laparoscopic-for a silicon spacer placement in patients affected by sacral chordoma undergoing carbon ion radiotherapy. METHODS: Six consecutive patients have been enrolled for surgical spacer placement-open (three) or hand-assisted (three)-prior carbon ion radiotherapy treatment in order to increase efficacy of carbon ion radiotherapy minimizing its side effects. RESULTS: Results showed that silicon spacer placement for SC treatment is feasible both via laparoscopic and laparotomic approach. CONCLUSIONS: Its use might improve CIRT safety and thus efficacy for SC treatment.
