Peer review analysis in the field of radiation oncology: results from a web-based survey of the Young DEGRO working group

PURPOSE To evaluate the reviewing behaviour in the German-speaking countries in order to provide recommendations to increase the attractiveness of reviewing activity in the field of radiation oncology. METHODS In November 2019, a survey was conducted by the Young DEGRO working group (jDEGRO) using the online platform “eSurveyCreator”. The questionnaire consisted of 29 items examining a~broad range of factors that influence reviewing motivation and performance. RESULTS A total of 281 responses were received. Of these, 154 (55%) were completed and included in the evaluation. The most important factors for journal selection criteria and peer review performance in the field of radiation oncology are the scientific background of the manuscript (85%), reputation of the journal (59%) and a~high impact factor (IF; 40%). Reasons for declining an invitation to review include the scientific background of the article (60%), assumed effort (55%) and a low IF (27%). A~double-blind review process is preferred by 70% of respondents to a single-blind (16%) or an open review process (14%). If compensation was offered, 59% of participants would review articles more often. Only 12% of the participants have received compensation for their reviewing activities so far. As compensation for the effort of reviewing, 55% of the respondents would prefer free access to the journal's articles, 45% a discount for their own manuscripts, 40% reduced congress fees and 39% compensation for expenses. CONCLUSION The scientific content of the manuscript, reputation of the journal and a~high IF determine the attractiveness for peer reviewing in the field of radiation oncology. The majority of participants prefer a~double-blind peer review process and would conduct more reviews if compensation was available. Free access to journal articles, discounts for publication costs or congress fees, or an expense allowance were identified to increase attractiveness of the review process

New totally intracorporeal reconstructive approach after robotic total gastrectomy. Technical details and short-term outcomes

AIM: To show outcomes of our series of patients that underwent a total gastrectomy with a robotic approach and highlight the technical details of a proposed solution for the reconstruction phase. METHODS: Data of gastrectomies performed from May 2014 to October 2016, were extracted and analyzed. Basic characteristics of patients, surgical and clinical outcomes were reported. The technique for reconstruction (Parisi Technique) consists on a loop of bowel shifted up antecolic to directly perform the esophago-enteric anastomosis followed by a second loop, measured up to 40 cm starting from the esojejunostomy, fixed to the biliary limb to create an enteroenteric anastomosis. The continuity between the two anastomoses is interrupted just firing a linear stapler, so obtaining the Roux-en-Y by avoiding to interrupt the mesentery. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were considered in the present analysis. Estimated blood loss was 126.55 ± 73 mL, no conversions to open surgery occurred, R0 resections were obtained in all cases. Hospital stay was 5 (3-17) d, no anastomotic leakage occurred. Overall, a fast functional recovery was shown with a median of 3 (3-6) d in starting a solid diet. CONCLUSION: Robotic surgery and the adoption of a tailored reconstruction technique have increased the feasibility and safety of a minimally invasive approach for total gastrectomy. The present series of patients shows its implementation in a western center with satisfying short-term outcomes

A 35-Year Analysis Of Gender Trends In Radiology Authorship

Purpose: To describe trends in authorship among female radiologists, compared to their overall representation in radiology, and to investigate the tendency of female first authors to publish with female last authors. Material and Methods: We collected and analyzed data on gender of first and last authors for all original research and guest editorial articles from three main radiology journals - Radiology, American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), and Academic Radiology. We restricted our analysis to authors with M.D. (medical doctorate) degrees from academic institutions within the United States. Manuscript data were collected for years 1978, 1998, 2008, and 2013. We obtained data on female participation in academic medicine and radiology residencies from the American Association of Medical Colleges. We used a logistic regression model to identify significant trends over time and a chi-square test of independence to determine significant relationships between gender of first and last authors. Results: We determined gender for 4,214 (99.2%) authors of original research and editorials with M.D. degrees. The proportion of original research articles published by women as first authors increased from 8.3% in 1978 to 32.4% in 2013 (p \u3c .003), and the proportion of original research articles with women as last authors increased from 6.5% in 1978 to 21.9% in 2013 (p \u3c .004). In 1980, 19.2% of radiology residents were women and in 2013 26.9% of radiology residents were women. In 1978, women represented 11.5% of radiology faculty at academic institutions and in 2013 they represented 28.1%. Demonstrated by logistic regression model, there was a higher representation of women as both first and last authors over time (first author OR = 1.043, p \u3c .001; last author OR = 1.036, p \u3c .001). There was a statistically significant relationship between the gender of first and last authors of original research articles and guest editorials (p \u3c .001). Conclusion: Over the last 35 years, there has been a statistically significant upward linear trend of female M.D. participation in academic radiology literature authorship. However, the number of female last (senior) authors lags behind the participation of women in clinical and academic radiology. Women are more likely to publish with senior authors of the same gender. We propose that female radiology residents receive an increased level of support to stimulate their interest and participation in research. Such intervention would allow the field to benefit from the creativity of both genders

A 35-Year Analysis Of Gender Trends In Radiology Authorship

Purpose: To describe trends in authorship among female radiologists, compared to their overall representation in radiology, and to investigate the tendency of female first authors to publish with female last authors. Material and Methods: We collected and analyzed data on gender of first and last authors for all original research and guest editorial articles from three main radiology journals - Radiology, American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), and Academic Radiology. We restricted our analysis to authors with M.D. (medical doctorate) degrees from academic institutions within the United States. Manuscript data were collected for years 1978, 1998, 2008, and 2013. We obtained data on female participation in academic medicine and radiology residencies from the American Association of Medical Colleges. We used a logistic regression model to identify significant trends over time and a chi-square test of independence to determine significant relationships between gender of first and last authors. Results: We determined gender for 4,214 (99.2%) authors of original research and editorials with M.D. degrees. The proportion of original research articles published by women as first authors increased from 8.3% in 1978 to 32.4% in 2013 (p \u3c .003), and the proportion of original research articles with women as last authors increased from 6.5% in 1978 to 21.9% in 2013 (p \u3c .004). In 1980, 19.2% of radiology residents were women and in 2013 26.9% of radiology residents were women. In 1978, women represented 11.5% of radiology faculty at academic institutions and in 2013 they represented 28.1%. Demonstrated by logistic regression model, there was a higher representation of women as both first and last authors over time (first author OR = 1.043, p \u3c .001; last author OR = 1.036, p \u3c .001). There was a statistically significant relationship between the gender of first and last authors of original research articles and guest editorials (p \u3c .001). Conclusion: Over the last 35 years, there has been a statistically significant upward linear trend of female M.D. participation in academic radiology literature authorship. However, the number of female last (senior) authors lags behind the participation of women in clinical and academic radiology. Women are more likely to publish with senior authors of the same gender. We propose that female radiology residents receive an increased level of support to stimulate their interest and participation in research. Such intervention would allow the field to benefit from the creativity of both genders

Photobiomodulation in clinical practice

For the past few years, we have been witnessing a gradual, but rapid change in the management of skin wounds: the so-called 'advanced' dressings have been joined, and partly replaced, by interactive dressings, in which the dressing itself interacts with the wound bed and perilesional skin, modulating one or more aspects of the tissue repair mechanism through the interaction with cells, chemical mediators and factors hindering healing. The even more recent introduction of high-tech devices has definitively propelled Wound Care into the modern era of Tech Treatment, in which one or more technologies are employed in the management of the wound and the reparative process. In this field, Regenerative Medicine and Surgery represent the most recent frontier reached by this 'technological expansion', through the use of dermo/epidermal substitutes and material stimulating the healing process in its different phases. In the early 2000s, considerable interest was aroused by the attempt to apply 'phototherapy' to wound management: taking their cue from the results obtained some time ago in the treatment of certain lesions, cutaneous and otherwise, neoplastic and not, with the use of Photodynamic Therapy (by means of red light and 5 amino-levulinic acid), a Florentine research group (to which some of the Authors of this paper belonged) began to study its effects on venous ulcers, with extremely encouraging results in terms of resumption of the reparative process, with evidence of increased angiogenesis, fibroblast number and antigen-presenting cells, amongst other things. Over the years, other types of biophotonic treatment have been developed, with the introduction of monochromatic light sources (red, green, blue), capable of selectively interacting with the different tissue chromophores, and of triggering effects (so-called photobiomodulation) in the treated tissues, which differ according to the wavelength used and the chromophores stimulated each time. More recent is the application of exogenous fluorophores, which can absorb radiant light and convert it into light of different wavelengths through a phenomenon known as fluorescence. The enormous therapeutic possibilities offered by different treatments have led to exciting results from a tissue regeneration point of view. However, as it often happens when a technology is affected by such sudden changes and developments, clinical practice currently suffers from certain biases, mainly related to the presence of uncoordinated protocols of use, for each technology, in the absence, therefore, of algorithms of use that would make their clinical application homogeneous, establishing, for each type of light stimulation, its role and real potential, setting its limits and indications, also on the basis of clinical risk. We felt it was time to sit around a table, bringing together some of the top experts in each field of this discipline, trying to clarify all the aspects that characterise the interaction of light with tissues, in a dialogue that brought together physicists, chemists, clinicians and experts in statistics and literature (among the best in the country, and with proven experience in the field in question), in order to find a common language and try to provide information for the correct indications for the use of this method of tissue regeneration, free from corporate and institutional influences, without any sponsorship and, above all, dictated by real experience developed in the various sectors, supported by data from literature

Implement exercise in the oncological setting

Over the past 20 years, the understanding of the role of physical activity in cancer has been increased. Traditionally, patients were advised to rest, recovery, and save energy during and after anticancer treatments. Nevertheless, it is now clear that physical activity may help alleviate some side effects caused by therapies and a sedentary lifestyle; consequently, cancer patients should be encouraged to perform exercise. Epidemiological evidence shows that post-diagnosis physical activity is associated with enhancing patients \u2018survival, especially in breast, colon, and prostate cancer. In cancer patients, exercise acts by improving health-related skills, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, and body composition. Moreover, several trials demonstrated that a regular exercise program effectively relieves some cancer and treatments \u2018side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, thereby improving patients\u2019 quality of life. The last update of the American College of Sports Medicine\u2019 guidelines recommends that patients perform 90 minutes per week of aerobic exercise at moderate intensity, with strength activities twice a week. Despite these important benefits, in Italy, the spread of exercise-oncology programs and the research in the exercise oncology field are still poor, negatively impacting patients and producing a gap in the literature. The purpose of this thesis is trying to fill this gap, increasing the available literature, and proposing an exercise program based on patients\u2019 needs and the current guidelines. Chapter one is dedicated to a brief introduction about physical activity in cancer. In chapters two, three, four, and five, the experimental studies that led to the development of patient-centred exercise program are presented. Chapters six and seven report two other studies investigating exercise as part of the multimodal approach in counteracting cancer cachexia. The last chapter is dedicated to a summary of the main thesis results