Surgical strategies for lymphocele prevention in minimally-invasive radical prostatectomy and lymph-node dissection: a systematic review

PURPOSE: Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is an important step during robotic radical prostatectomy (RARP). The collection of lymphatic fluid (lymphocele) is the most common complication with potentially severe impact; therefore different strategies have been proposed to reduce its incidence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this systematic review EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and NIH Registry of Clinical Trials were searched for papers including the following interventions: transperitoneal vs extraperitoneal approach, any reconfiguration of the peritoneum, the use of pelvic drains and the use of different sealing techniques and sealing agents. The outcome evaluated was the incidence of symptomatic lymphocele. Both randomized and non-randomized and/or retrospective studies. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included (including one ongoing RCT). Due to the heterogeneity of included studies no meta-analysis was performed. No significant impact was reported by different sealing techniques and agents or by surgical approach. Three retrospective, non-randomized studies showed a potential benefit of peritoneal reconfiguration in order to maximize the peritoneal surface of reabsorption. CONCLUSION: Lymphocele formation is a multi-step and multifactorial event, high quality literature analyzing risk factors and preventive measures is rather scarce. Peritoneal reconfiguration could represent a reasonable option that deserves further evaluation; no other preventive measure is supported by current evidence

Archaeology and virtual acoustics. A pan flute from ancient Egypt

This paper presents the early developments of a recently started research project, aimed at studying from a multidisciplinary perspective an exceptionally well preserved ancient pan flute. A brief discussion of the history and iconography of pan flutes is provided, with a focus on Classical Greece. Then a set of non-invasive analyses are presented, which are based on 3D scanning andmaterials chemistry, and are the starting point to inspect the geometry, construction, age and geographical origin of the instrument. Based on the available measurements, a preliminary analysis of the instrument tuning is provided, which is also informed with elements of theory of ancient Greek music. Finally, the paper presents current work aimed at realizing an interactive museum installation that recreates a virtual flute and allows intuitive access to all these research facets

Absorbing Heinrich Isaac

status: publishe

Il flauto di Pan del Museo di Scienze Archeologiche e il progetto EMAP

Si presentano i risultati di un progetto di ricerca interdisciplinare focalizzato su un antico flauto di pan, proveniente dalle ricerche archeologiche che Carlo Anti condusse in Egitto tra il 1928 e il 1936 e conservato presso il Museo di Scienze Archeologiche e d\u2019Arte dell\u2019Universita\u300 degli Studi di Padova. Grazie ad una serie di analisi non-invasive svolte per determinare geometria, modalita\u300 di costruzione, eta\u300 ed origine geografica dello strumento, e\u300 stato possibile ricavare l\u2019intonazione delle canne e quindi creare il modello virtuale del flauto. Per la valorizzazione dello strumento e\u300 stata realizzata un\u2019installazione interattiva che permette di \u2018suonare\u2019 il flauto virtuale utilizzando sia con comandi di tocco, sia con il \u2018soffio\u2019. Il progetto interagisce anche con una piu\u300 ampia realta\u300, che unisce ricerca scientifica e creativita\u300 artistica, antiche conoscenze e tecnologie moderne, musica e archeologia: l\u2019European Music Archaeology Project (EMAP). Uno dei risultati principali di EMAP e\u300 l\u2019allestimento una grande mostra itinerante, con caratteri- stiche multimediali, intitolata \uabARCH\uc6OMUSICA - Suoni e Musica dell\u2019Antica Europa\ubb

Robotic partial nephrectomy for complex kidney cyst in a 4-year old boy: Points of technique

: Complex kidney cysts are rarely observed in childhood. In adult patients, when radiological studies found a suspicious renal lesion, the gold standard is surgical asportation. The robotic surgery is well known as a secure procedure for treatment these patients, and is nowadays a real alternative also for pediatric patients. The challenges in children surgery are linked to anesthesiologic gestion, smaller operative fields, the need of specific instruments and more delicate tissue handling. We present a step-by-step video description of a robotic partial nephrectomy for a renal multicystic mass in a 4 year-old child

The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against a poorly immunogenic mammary adenocarcinoma is focused on a single immunodominant class I epitope derived from the gp70 Env product of an endogenous retrovirus

The TS/A mouse mammary adenocarcinoma is a poorly immunogenic tumor widely used in preclinical models of cancer immunotherapy. CTLs have often been indicated as important in TS/A tumor destruction, but their generation in this model has been rarely studied, nor have their precise target(s) been identified. We hypothesized that the gp70 Env product of an endogenous murine leukemia virus could be a target antigen for TS/A-specific CTLs and investigated this possibility in four different TS/A cell lines engineered with the genes that encode IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, interleukin-4, and B7.1, respectively. All tumor cell lines expressed gp70, albeit at different levels, as demonstrated by reverse transcription-PCR analysis. Transfected tumor cells exhibited a delayed growth in vivo, and partial tumor regression. Spleen cells from mice that displayed tumor regression had high percentages of CD8(+) T cells that were specifically stained with L(d) tetramers loaded with gp70(423-431), the antigenic epitope of gp70 protein. Mixed leukocyte-peptide and mixed leukocyte-tumor cultures, set up by stimulating splenocytes with the immunogenic peptide and with transfected TS/A tumor cells, respectively, resulted in similar large increases in tetramer-reactive CD8(+) T cells and showed high lytic activity specific for gp70(423-431). Finally, in a Cold Target Inhibition assay, lytic activity of a mixed leukocyte-tumor culture was inhibited in an overlapping fashion by both the TS/A line used for restimulation and 293L(d) cells loaded with gp70(423-431) peptide, but not by 293L(d) cells pulsed with an irrelevant H-2 L(d) epitope, thus demonstrating that all or most of the cytotoxic activity was directed exclusively against this antigenic epitope

Survivin in esophageal cancer: An accurate prognostic marker for squamous cell carcinoma but not adenocarcinoma

We quantified the expression of survivin, both as mRNA in real-time PCR and protein in immunohistochemistry, in tumor samples of 112 patients with esophageal cancer (56 squamous cell carcinomas and 56 adenocarcinomas). Overall survival of squamous cell carcinoma patients with high survivin mRNA levels was significantly less than that of patients with low survivin mRNA levels (p = 0.0033). Distribution pattern of survivin (nuclear vs. cytoplasmic or mixed) was not correlated to survival, while the extent of immunostaining was significantly correlated to survivin mRNA values (p = 0.016) and had prognostic relevance in univariate analysis (p = 0.0012). Cox's proportional-hazard regression model showed that tumor survivin expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was the most important prognostic factor, independent of tumor stage and other histopathological factors, both as mRNA relative value (p = 0.0259) and protein immunostaining (p = 0.0147). In esophageal adenocarcinoma, survivin expression and pattern of distribution had no prognostic relevance. Thus, quantifying survivin expression provides a prognostic marker only for esophageal squamous tumors