Laser treatment of 13 benign oral vascular lesions by three different surgical techniques

Objectives: Benign Oral Vascular Lesions (BOVLs) are a group of vascular diseases characterized by congenital, inflammatory or neoplastic vascular dilations clinically evidenced as more or less wide masses of commonly dark bluish color. If traumatized BOVLs are characterized by a great risk of hemorrhage and their treatment usually requires great caution to prevent massive bleeding. In the last decades lasers have dramatically changed the way of treatment of BOVLs permitting the application of even peculiar techniques that gave interesting advantages in their management reducing hemorrhage risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capabilities and disadvantages of three laser assisted techniques in the management of BOVLs. Study design: In this study 13 BOVLs were treated by three different laser techniques: the traditional excisional biopsy (EB), and two less invasive techniques, the transmucosal thermocoagulation (TMT) and the intralesional photocoagulation (ILP). Two different laser devices were adopted in the study: a KTP laser (DEKA, Florence, Italy, 532nm) and a GaAlAs laser (Laser Innovation, Castelgandolfo, Italy, 808nm) selected since their great effectiveness on hemoglobin. Results: In each case, lasers permitted safe treatments of BOVLs without hemorrhages, both during the intervention and in the post-operative period. The minimally invasive techniques (TMT and ILP) permitted even the safe resolution of big lesions without tissue loss. Conclusions: Laser devices confirm to be the gold standard in BOVLs treatment, permitting even the introduction of minimal invasive surgery principles and reducing the risks of hemorrhage typical of these neoplasms. As usual in laser surgery, it is necessary a clear knowledge of the devices and of the laser-tissue interaction to optimize the results reducing risks and disadvantages

Evaluation of wound healing and postoperative pain after oral mucosa laser biopsy with the aid of compound with chlorhexidine and sodium hyaluronate: a randomized double blind clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate secondary intention healing process and postoperative pain of oral soft tissues after laser surgery with the use of a compound containing chlorhexidine and sodium hyaluronate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This double-blind, randomized clinical study included 56 patients affected by benign oral lesions and subjected to excisional biopsy with diode laser and randomly divided into three groups. Study group (SG) received 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate and 0.2% sodium hyaluronate treatment; control group (CG) received 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate; and placebo group (PG) followed the same protocol, taking a neutral solution having the same organoleptic characteristics. Wound healing was evaluated using percentage healing index (PHI). Numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to evaluate postoperative pain. RESULTS: PHI (T1 = 7 days) was 67.25% for SG, 58.67% for CG, and 54.55% for PG. PHI (T2 = 14 days) was 94.35% for SG, 77.79% for CG, and 78.98% for PG. A statistically significant difference was between the groups for PHI at T2 p = 0.001. No difference was detectable for pain index. CONCLUSIONS: A solution containing sodium hyaluronate and chlorhexidine is a good support to increase wound healing by secondary intention after laser biopsy, but no differences were in postoperative perception of pain. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of the tested solution can be recommended after laser oral biopsies, to achieve a healing without suture. About the postoperative pain, the compound has not showed the same results and did not have measurable effects

Lentiviral Vectors as Tools for the Study and Treatment of Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) has the worst prognosis among brain tumors, hence basic biology, preclinical, and clinical studies are necessary to design effective strategies to defeat this disease. Gene transfer vectors derived from the most-studied lentivirus-the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1-have wide application in dissecting GBM specific features to identify potential therapeutic targets. Last-generation lentiviruses (LV), highly improved in safety profile and gene transfer capacity, are also largely employed as delivery systems of therapeutic molecules to be employed in gene therapy (GT) approaches. LV were initially used in GT protocols aimed at the expression of suicide factors to induce GBM cell death. Subsequently, LV were adopted to either express small noncoding RNAs to affect different aspects of GBM biology or to overcome the resistance to both chemo- and radiotherapy that easily develop in this tumor after initial therapy. Newer frontiers include adoption of LV for engineering T cells to express chimeric antigen receptors recognizing specific GBM antigens, or for transducing specific cell types that, due to their biological properties, can function as carriers of therapeutic molecules to the cancer mass. Finally, LV allow the setting up of improved animal models crucial for the validation of GBM specific therapies

Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection increases human immunodeficiency virus type 1 entry into human primary macrophages

Epidemiological and clinical data indicate that genital ulcer disease (GUD) pathogens are associated with an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) acquisition and/or transmission. Among them, genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seems to play a relevant role. Indeed, the ability of HSV-2 to induce massive infiltration at the genital level of cells which are potential targets for HIV-1 infection may represent one of the mechanisms involved in this process. Here we show that infection of human primary macrophages (MDMs) by HSV-2 results in an increase of CCR5 expression levels on cell surface and allows higher efficiency of MDMs to support entry of R5 HIV-1 strains. This finding could strengthen, at the molecular level, the evidence linking HSV-2 infection to an increased susceptibility to HIV-1 acquisition

Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in corneas from asymptomatic donors

The detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in corneas from asymptomatic donors underscores the need for further research to better understand the role that corneal transplantation may play in viral transmission

Laser treatment of 13 benign oral vascular lesions by three different surgical techniques

Objectives: Benign Oral Vascular Lesions (BOVLs) are a group of vascular diseases characterized by congenital, inflammatory or neoplastic vascular dilations clinically evidenced as more or less wide masses of commonly dark bluish color. If traumatized BOVLs are characterized by a great risk of hemorrhage and their treatment usually requires great caution to prevent massive bleeding. In the last decades lasers have dramatically changed the way of treatment of BOVLs permitting the application of even peculiar techniques that gave interesting advantages in their management reducing hemorrhage risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capabilities and disadvantages of three laser assisted techniques in the management of BOVLs. Study design: In this study 13 BOVLs were treated by three different laser techniques: the traditional excisional biopsy (EB), and two less invasive techniques, the transmucosal thermocoagulation (TMT) and the intralesional photocoagulation (ILP). Two different laser devices were adopted in the study: a KTP laser (DEKA, Florence, Italy, 532nm) and a GaAlAs laser (Laser Innovation, Castelgandolfo, Italy, 808nm) selected since their great effectiveness on hemoglobin. Results: In each case, lasers permitted safe treatments of BOVLs without hemorrhages, both during the intervention and in the post-operative period. The minimally invasive techniques (TMT and ILP) permitted even the safe resolution of big lesions without tissue loss. Conclusions: Laser devices confirm to be the gold standard in BOVLs treatment, permitting even the introduction of minimal invasive surgery principles and reducing the risks of hemorrhage typical of these neoplasms. As usual in laser surgery, it is necessary a clear knowledge of the devices and of the laser-tissue interaction to optimize the results reducing risks and disadvantage

Memória jornalística e protagonismo feminino: a mulher na redação e gestão de um jornal regional

This article investigated the protagonism of female journalists during a period in the history of the Gazeta do Povo, a centennial newspaper from Paraná, which was the last in the state to hire women to work in the newsroom. The objective was to highlight, as a journalistic memory, the milestones that these women left in the newspaper. A previous research allowed the premise that, in a very gradual way, pioneer women journalists modified the structure of the newspaper, by introducing editorial innovations and achieving management positions in the newsroom. Next, statements were collected from ten women journalists who had leading roles in the newspaper to verify that they recognized themselves as part of these achievements. The qualitative research was conducted through bibliographic reviews and interviews with journalists, with the information collected  interpretively analyzed, from two categories: protagonism and gender inequalities. The results show women who caused important changes in the newspaper, but with difficulties in perceiving their protagonism. We also conclude that these journalists experienced some conditions of gender inequality in the work.Este trabalho investigou o protagonismo das jornalistas mulheres durante um período da história da Gazeta do Povo, jornal paranaense centenário, que foi o último do estado a contratar mulheres para trabalhar na redação. O objetivo foi salientar, como memória jornalística, os marcos que essas mulheres  deixaram no jornal. Uma pesquisa exploratória permitiu ter como premissa que, de forma muito gradativa, jornalistas pioneiras modificaram a estrutura do jornal, ao introduzir inovações editoriais e alcançar cargos de gestão na redação. A seguir foram coletados depoimentos de dez jornalistas que tiveram papeis protagonistas no jornal, para verificar se elas se reconheciam como parte desses feitos. A pesquisa, de caráter qualitativo, foi realizada por meio de revisões bibliográficas e entrevistas em profundidade com as jornalistas, com as informações recolhidas analisadas de forma interpretativa, a partir de duas categorias: protagonismo e desigualdades de gênero na redação. Os resultados mostram mulheres que provocaram mudanças importantes no jornal, mas com dificuldades em perceber seu protagonismo. Concluímos ainda que essas jornalistas vivenciaram algumas condições de desigualdade de gênero no trabalho

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT imaging work-flow in a single medical institution: comparison among the three Italian waves

Purpose: To compare the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT imaging work-flow during the three waves in a medical institution of southern of Italy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the numbers and results of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT studies acquired during the following three periods of the COVID-19 waves: 1) February 3-April 30, 2020; 2) October 15, 2020–January 15, 2021; and 3) January 18-April 16, 2021. Results: A total of 861 PET/CT studies in 725 patients (388 men, mean age 64 +/- 4 years) was acquired during the three waves of COVID-19 pandemic. The majority (94%) was performed for diagnosis/staging (n = 300) or follow-up (n = 512) of neoplastic diseases. The remaining 49 studies (6%) were acquired for non-oncological patients. The distribution of number and type of clinical indications for PET/CT studies in the three waves were comparable (p < 0.06). Conversely, the occurrence of patients positive for COVID-19 infection progressively increased (p < 0.0001) from the first to third wave; in particular, patients with COVID-19 had active infection before PET/CT study as confirmed by molecular oro/nasopharyngeal swab. Conclusion: Despite the restrictive medical measures for the emergency, the number of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT studies was unchanged during the three waves guaranteeing the diagnostic performance of PET/CT imaging for oncological patients

The role of autophagy in resistance to targeted therapies

Autophagy is a self-degradative cellular process, involved in stress response such as starvation, hypoxia, and oxidative stress. This mechanism balances macro-molecule recycling to regulate cell homeostasis. In cancer, autophagy play a role in the development and progression, while several studies describe it as one of the key processes in drug resistance. In the last years, in addition to standard anti-cancer treatments such as chemotherapies and irradiation, targeted therapy became one of the most adopted strategies in clinical practices, mainly due to high specificity and reduced side effects. However, similar to standard treatments, drug resistance is the main challenge in most patients. Here, we summarize recent studies that investigated the role of autophagy in drug resistance after targeted therapy in different types of cancers. We highlight positive results and limitations of pre-clinical and clinical studies in which autophagy inhibitors are used in combination with targeted therapies. Refereed/Peer-reviewe

A novel RAB39B mutation and concurrent de novo NF1 mutation in a boy with neurofibromatosis type 1, intellectual disability, and autism: a case report

Background Mutations in RAB39B at Xq28 causes a rare form of X-linked intellectual disability (ID) and Parkinson’s disease. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is caused by heterozygous mutations in NF1 occurring de novo in about 50% of cases, usually due to paternal gonadal mutations. This case report describes clinical and genetic findings in a boy with the occurrence of two distinct causative mutations in NF1 and RAB39B explaining the observed phenotype. Case presentation Here we report a 7-year-old boy with multiple café-au-lait macules (CALMs) and freckling, severe macrocephaly, peculiar facial gestalt, severe ID with absent speech, epilepsy, autistic traits, self-harming, and aggressiveness. Proband is an only child born to a father aged 47. Parents did not present signs of NF1, while a maternal uncle showed severe ID, epilepsy, and tremors.By RNA analysis of NF1, we identified a de novo splicing variant (NM_000267.3:c.6579+2T&gt;C) in proband, which explained NF1 clinical features but not the severe ID, behavioral problems, and aggressiveness. Family history suggested an X-linked condition and massively parallel sequencing of X-exome identified a novel RAB39B mutation (NM_171998.2:c.436_447del) in proband, his mother, and affected maternal uncle, subsequently validated by Sanger sequencing in these and other family members. Conclusions The case presented here highlights how concurrent genetic defects should be considered in NF1 patients when NF1 mutations cannot reasonably explain all the observed clinical features