Durable response to palbociclib and letrozole in ovarian cancer with CDKN2A loss.

Alterations of the Retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway are frequent in ovarian cancer, typically resulting from CDKN2A down-regulation, CCNE1 amplification, CCND1/2 amplification, and RB1 loss. However, bi-allelic CDKN2A mutation or homozygous deletion is a very rare event, concerning less than 5% of patients.Initial trials with palbociclib in serous ovarian cancer have shown very modest benefit in unselected patient populations, thus underlining the need for a biomarker predicting response. We report the case of a heavily pre-treated patient with a serous ovarian tumor harboring a homozygous deletion of the CDKN2A gene that derived significant, prolonged clinical benefit from palbociclib, a CDK4/6 oral inhibitor, with letrozole. Treatment with palbociclib and letrozole started on February 2018, with an ongoing response after 12 months.In conclusion, homozygous CDKN2A deletion is rare and could be used to predict response to CDK4/6 inhibitors in association with other genomic features. We encourage further trials in this direction

A BRAF new world

BRAF is a rare targetable mutation in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Emerging evidence underlines that, rather than a single point mutation, BRAF genes present with a wide array of mutations, essentially in lung adenocarcinoma. Different BRAF mutations have divergent clinical and therapeutic implications, with a particular distinction between V600E and non-V600E mutations. The latter are at least as frequent in NSCLC as V600E, but lack any proven targeted therapy. In this paper, we briefly review the current literature and provide an update of scientific knowledge about different types of BRAF mutations in NSCLC

Compliance, adherence, concordance, empowerment, and self-management: five words to manifest a relational maladjustment in diabetes

Salvatore Settineri,1 Fabio Frisone,2 Emanuele Maria Merlo,2 Daniele Geraci,3 Gabriella Martino31Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; 2Department of Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Educational and Cultural Studies (COSPECS), University of Messina, Messina, Italy; 3Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, ItalyBackground: The pathological reality of diabetes and the incidents in following the prescribed therapies have been considered and are still a serious and relevant problem in the health sector.Objective: This review aims at highlighting the importance of clinical psychological phenomena that underlie the notion of therapies.Methods: The review was conducted through search engines such as PubMed, Medline, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The articles related to compliance, adherence, concordance, empowerment and the self-management of diabetes were included, in order to highlight the possible similarities and differences that these terms bring with them in them management of diabetes.Results: Starting from 252 initial publications, 101 articles were selected that highlighted the practical implications that each term has compared to the others.Conclusion: The review can represent a bridge between the medical approach and clinical psychology, in which integration can suggest paths aiming at improving patients’ existential conditions and adaptation.Keywords: compliance, adherence, concordance, empowerment, self-management, diabete

Early psychological intervention in adult patients after hospitalization during COVID-19 pandemia. A single center observational study

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has represented an individual and collective trauma with an impact on mental health. COVID-19 survivors need to be screened for psychological distress regularly for timely intervention. After March 2020, an outpatients clinic for follow up of discharged COVID-19 patients was set up at Infectious Diseases Department of the Hospital of Lecco, Italy. Blood exams, specialistic visits were performed for each patients and IES-R and BDI scales were dispensed. 523 patients were referred to the clinic; 93 of them resulted positive at IES-R and/or BDI self-report and 58 agreed to have early interviews with psychologist specialist. Patients could receive only a short psychoeducation/psychological support intervention or in addition to the same, even a specific trauma-focused psychotherapeutic intervention with EMDR where clinically indicated. IES-R e BDI were administered pre- and post-intervention. The results show that the average of the post-traumatic stress scores detected at IES-R is above the clinical cut-off for the entire sample. There is an overall change in the decrease in mean scores on the IES and BDI scales before and after psychological intervention. Among the patients for whom psychopharmacological therapy was also necessary, those who had COVID-mourning in family improved the most at IES-R scale post- intervention. With respect to EMDR treatment, there is a significant improvement in depressive symptoms noticed at BDI for male patients who have received neither psychotropic drugs nor CPAP. Being hospitalized for coronavirus has a significant impact on the patient’s mental health and it is a priority to arrange early screening to intercept psychological distress and give it an early response

Chronic lip edema and pain secondary to lip augmentation procedure: histological, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis evaluation

BACKGROUND: In parallel with the increase in requests for filler injections, reported complications (immediate or delayed and transient or permanent) increased too. CASE REPORT: In the presented case report, a patient reported a delayed complication of filler injection. The complaints of the patient and the objective evaluation revealed the presence of multiple lip nodules, that were painful both spontaneously and at the touch, after 10 years from a lip filler injection. The surgical excision of the neoformations permitted the complete healing of the lesions. The histological analysis showed a not specific pattern, showing a material encapsulated by a tissue reaction, confirming that the possible cause of the multiple injuries could be attributable to the injection received years earlier. CONCLUSIONS: The professional who intends to perform filler injections needs a complete training process, both from a theoretical and practical point of view. Also, the patients must be informed of the possible risks associated with each product