TCGA molecular subgroups and FIGO grade in endometrial endometrioid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grade is a crucial factor in the current system for the risk stratification of endometrial endometrioid carcinoma (EC). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) demonstrated four molecular prognostic subgroups for EC: POLE (good prognosis), microsatellite-instable (MSI, intermediate prognosis), copy-number-high (CNH, poor prognosis), and copy-number-low (CNL, variable prognosis). OBJECTIVE: To assess how the prevalence of the TCGA molecular subgroups changes from low-grade (G1-2) to high-grade (G3) EC, to understand how it may affect the current risk-assessment system. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out by searching seven electronic databases from January 2013 to September 2019 for studies assessing the TCGA classification G1-2 and G3 EC. Pooled prevalence of the TCGA subgroups was calculated in EC. The association of each subgroup with grade was assessed using odds ratio (OR), with a significant p value < 0.05. RESULTS: Nine studies with 3185 patients were included. G3 EC showed significantly higher prevalence of the POLE subgroup (12.1% vs 6.2%; OR = 2.13; p = 0.0001), of the MSI subgroup (39.7% vs 24.7%; OR = 2.15; p = 0.0003) and of the CNH subgroup (21.3% vs 4.7%; OR = 5.25; p < 0.00001), and significantly lower prevalence of the CNL subgroup (28% vs 63.5%; OR = 0.2; p < 0.00001) than G1-2 EC. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of the TCGA subgroups is not in accordance with the prognostic value of FIGO grade, indicating that the current risk stratification of EC will be heavily affected by molecular signature.

To Get the Most out of the Least: BRAF Molecular Evaluation in Melanoma Metastases on Cell Suspension from Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology Needle Rinses.

INTRODUCTION: Cytological samples from cutaneous melanoma (CM) metastases may be the only biomaterial available for diagnostic and predictive purpose in the clinical practice. BRAF evaluation from cytological samples actually implies the loss of one or more diagnostic smears, or the execution of one or more passes to obtain dedicated cytological samples. We tested BRAF molecular evaluation in CM metastases on cell suspension obtained from fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) needle rinses. METHODS: Forty-two patients with lymph node enlargements and a previous CM were enrolled. Patients were submitted to FNAC, and direct smears and cell-block were prepared for diagnostic purpose. The needle was carefully flushed in a vial containing 350 µL of nuclease-free water and a cell suspension was obtained for BRAF molecular evaluation. Molecular evaluation was also performed on histological samples for statistics. RESULTS: The series included 35 CM metastases and 7 reactive lymphadenopathies. Three cases resulted inadequate and adequacy was 92.9%. BRAF V600E/Ec mutations were found in 7 out of 32 (21.9%) CM metastases cases. BRAF mutations other than V600E/Ec were found in 2 out of 32 (6.25%) cases. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value resulted 100%. CONCLUSION: BRAF molecular evaluation in CM metastases on cell suspension obtained from FNAC needle rinses is a time-sparing and accurate technique allowing to spare biomaterial in the clinical setting.

Preparation and Characterization of Silver(I) Ethylcellulose Thin Films as Potential Food Packaging Materials.

Ag(I)-containing ethylcellulose (EC) films suitable as antbacterial packaging materials have been prepared and fully characterized. Different preparation methods, including the use of green casting solvents, are proposed. The Ag(I) acylpyrazolonato complexes, [Ag(Qpy,CF3 )(L)], L=benzylimidazole (Bzim) and L=ethylimidazole (EtimH), used as active additives, display different modes of interactions with EC, depending on their structural features. A thorough investigation of the EC liquid-crystalline lyotropic phase and its changes with the introduction of silver additives, has been conducted, revealing either the inclusion of complex molecules into the inner structure of the EC matrix or their dispersion on its surface. Moreover, the bactericidal activity of the prepared Ag(I) films seems to be related to the interaction between silver additives and the polymeric EC matrix. Indeed, the EC-2b films show a particularly good performance even with a low silver content, with a relative bacterial killing of about 100 %. Tests for Ag(I) migration have been performed by using three food stimulants under two assay conditions. Low values of silver release are recorded, particularly at low concentration of silver content, in the case of all new prepared Ag(I) films.

Niosomes vs microemulsions: new carriers for topical delivery of Capsaicin.

The development of advanced biomaterials and drug-delivery systems has had a significant impact on our ability to treat several diseases. A new study was performed on niosomal formulations obtained from a mixture of commercial surfactants (Tween 80 and Span 80) to be applied topically for the release of Capsaicin. Capsaicin is the pungent principle of red pepper and it has a variety of pharmacological actions on the cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems. Niosomal carriers were prepared using a particular ratio between surfactants, to obtain systems with a specific HLB (10,12,14) and characterized in terms of dimension, morphology and their drug entrapment efficiency. Niosomes were compared to microemulsions prepared from the same surfactants in the same ratio, to evaluate their possible use in transdermal drug delivery. As regards the in vitro percutaneous permeation of Capsaicin from both microemulsions and niosomal formulations, it was carried out using diffusion Franz cells. The results indicate that niosomes could better promote the transdermal delivery of Capsaicin, with respect to microemulsions, even if both carriers could be an effective vehicle for topical delivery of this drug.