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Heredity (Edinb) 2022 Apr 25;128(4):261-270. Epub 2022 Feb 25.

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.

The Galapagos Archipelago is recognized as a natural laboratory for studying evolutionary processes. San Cristóbal was one of the first islands colonized by tortoises, which radiated from there across the archipelago to inhabit 10 islands. Here, we sequenced the mitochondrial control region from six historical giant tortoises from San Cristóbal (five long deceased individuals found in a cave and one found alive during an expedition in 1906) and discovered that the five from the cave are from a clade that is distinct among known Galapagos giant tortoises but closely related to the species from Española and Pinta Islands. Read More

World J Clin Oncol 2021 Dec;12(12):1089-1100

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona 08029, Spain.

Complete resection continues to be the gold standard for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. The landmark Lung Cancer Study Group trial in 1995 established lobectomy as the minimum intervention necessary for the management of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, as it was associated with lower recurrence and metastasis rates than sublobar resection and lower postoperative morbidity and mortality than pneumonectomy. There is a growing tendency to perform sublobar resection in selected cases, as, depending on factors such as tumor size, histologic subtype, lymph node involvement, and resection margins, it can produce similar oncological results to lobectomy. Read More

Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2021 Dec 16. Epub 2021 Dec 16.

Radiation Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Alcalá University, 28034 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Radiomics is changing the world of medicine and more specifically the world of oncology. Early diagnosis and treatment improve the prognosis of patients with cancer. After treatment, the evaluation of the response will determine future treatments. Read More

Anatol J Cardiol 2021 Dec;25(12):858-862

Department of Internal Medicine, Ramón y Cajal Hospital; Madrid-Spain.

Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) allows the administration of ablative doses of radiation in a focused form with a low probability of side effects and is widely used for cancer treatment. However, in the recent years its usefulness in benign cardiac pathology is being studied. In this study, we aimed to guide the cardiologist in SABR and its applications in treatment of refractory ventricular tachycardia. Read More

J Cancer Educ 2022 02 18;37(1):238-240. Epub 2021 Nov 18.

Emeritus Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 7652 Ashworth Street, Columbus, OH, 43235, USA.

In 2018, my wife, Susan, died from an aggressive form of neuroendocrine cancer nine months after receiving her diagnosis. In this article, I share some of what I learned about living and dying from Susan with the hope that other caregivers and medical professionals providing end-of-life support might benefit from my experience. This included viewing dying in ways that I had not expected; grieving the many "small deaths" during her illness that helped prepare for the final loss; learning the important values in life; needing to find meaning and purpose in life after caregiving; experiencing guilt on different levels; and deciding on readiness to move forward with my life. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 Nov 5;13(21). Epub 2021 Nov 5.

Medical Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Alcalá University, 28034 Madrid, Spain.

Radiomics is a developing new discipline that analyzes conventional medical images to extract quantifiable data that can be mined for new biomarkers that show the biology of pathological processes at microscopic levels. These data can be converted into image-based signatures to improve diagnostic, prognostic and predictive accuracy in cancer patients. The combination of radiomics and molecular data, called radiogenomics, has clear implications for cancer patients' management. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020 Oct 21. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Chirurgia Senologica Ospedale San Giovanni Addolorata, Roma.

Purpose: We report long-term outcomes of phase II trial on patients with invasive breast cancer treated with accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using TomoTherapy after breast conservative surgery (BCS).

Methods And Materials: From December 2010 to December 2018, we treated 338 women with APBI-Tomotherapy: 38.5 Gy in 10 once-daily fractions. Read More

Environ Res 2022 05 8;207:112164. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Marine Science Department, University of Hawaii Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St. Hilo, HI, 96720, USA.

Invasive species can precede far-reaching environmental and economic consequences. In the Hawai'ian Archipelago Cephalopholis argus (family Serranidae) is an established invasive species, now recognized as the dominant local reef predator, negatively impacting the native ecosystem and local fishery. In this region, no official C. Read More

OMICS 2021 09 26;25(9):537-544. Epub 2021 Aug 26.

Radiation Oncology Department, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.

Radiology and radiotherapy are currently undergoing radical transformation with use of biomarkers and digital technologies such as artificial intelligence. These current and upcoming changes in radiology speak of an overarching new vision for personalized medicine. This is particularly evident in the case of radiotherapy of cancers, and of liver cancer in particular. Read More

Colorectal Dis 2021 07 15;23(7):1824-1836. Epub 2021 May 15.

Centre of Geriatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.

Aim: Identification of the risks of postoperative complications may be challenging in older patients with heterogeneous physical and cognitive status. The aim of this multicentre, observational study was to identify variables that affect the outcomes of colon cancer surgery and, especially, to find tools to quantify the risks related to surgery.

Method: Patients aged ≥80 years with electively operated Stage I-III colon cancer were recruited. Read More

BJS Open 2021 03;5(2)

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Background: In retrospective series, mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation (MOABP) has been reported to reduce surgical-site infections (SSIs) after colectomy compared with no bowel preparation (NBP).

Method: This was a subgroup analysis of a multicentre randomized trial that included patients scheduled for elective colectomy. The MOABP group underwent mechanical bowel preparation, and took 2 g neomycin and 2 g metronidazole orally during the day before surgery. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021 12;61(1):337-344

Rheumatology Department, Pitié Salpêtrière hospital, Sorbonne Université - Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.

Objective: The Flare Assessment in RA (FLARE-RA) self-administered questionnaire aims to identify patients who had flare in the interval between two consultations. This study aimed to establish a threshold for FLARE-RA score to identify RA flare.

Methods: The Tocilizumab SubCutAneous study evaluated the efficacy and safety of s. Read More

World J Clin Oncol 2021 Mar;12(3):115-143

Department of Radiation Oncology, Thoracic Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona 08036, Spain.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 20% of all lung cancers. The main treatment is chemotherapy (Ch). However, the addition of radiotherapy significantly improves overall survival (OS) in patients with non-metastatic SCLC and in those with metastatic SCLC who respond to Ch. Read More

Clin Breast Cancer 2021 06 14;21(3):162-169. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Breast Center, Department of Surgery, San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital Rome, Rome, Italy.

Background: Mastectomy represents a deep burden for women with breast cancer. Very little is known about the psychological consequences over time and the quality of life (QoL) of women so treated, with or without breast reconstruction (BR).

Patients And Methods: A total of 709 patients underwent mastectomy with or without BR between 2002 and 2012 at one institution. Read More

Pain Ther 2021 Jun 17;10(1):605-617. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

University of Florence, Pain and Palliative Care Clinic, Careggi Hospital, 50139, Florence, Italy.

Introduction: A previous Delphi survey from the Rational Use of Analgesics (RUA) project involving Italian palliative care specialists revealed some discrepancies between current guidelines and clinical practice with a lack of consensus on items regarding the use of strong opioids in treating cancer pain. Those results represented the basis for a new Delphi study addressing a better approach to pain treatment in patients with cancer.

Methods: The study consisted of a two-round multidisciplinary Delphi study. Read More

J Clin Transl Res 2020 Oct 2;6(4):127-134. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Department of Medical Physics, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Radiomics has revolutionized the world of medical imaging. The aim of this review is to guide oncologists in radiomics and its applications in diagnosis, prediction of response and damage, prediction of survival, and prognosis in lung cancer. In this review, we analyzed published literature on PubMed and MEDLINE with papers published in the last 10 years. Read More

JAMA 2021 01;325(4):353-362

Division of Digestive Surgery and Urology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.

Importance: Antibiotics are an effective and safe alternative to appendectomy for managing uncomplicated acute appendicitis, but the optimal antibiotic regimen is not known.

Objective: To compare oral antibiotics with combined intravenous followed by oral antibiotics in the management of computed tomography-confirmed uncomplicated acute appendicitis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Appendicitis Acuta (APPAC) II multicenter, open-label, noninferiority randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 2017 until November 2018 in 9 Finnish hospitals. Read More

Med Oncol 2020 Nov 21;37(12):119. Epub 2020 Nov 21.

Radiation Oncology, Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) is a technique for delivering high doses of radiation to tumors while preserving the normal tissues located around this area. Bone metastases are frequent in cancer patients. They can be distressingly painful or may cause pathological fractures. Read More

J Infect Dis 2021 02;223(2):353

GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

JAMA Surg 2021 02;156(2):129-136

Gastroenterological Surgery, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Importance: Diverticulitis has a tendency to recur and affect quality of life.

Objective: To assess whether sigmoid resection is superior to conservative treatment in improving quality of life of patients with recurrent, complicated, or persistent painful diverticulitis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This open-label randomized clinical trial assessed for eligibility 128 patients with recurrent, complicated, or persistent painful diverticulitis in 6 Finnish hospitals from September 29, 2014, to October 10, 2018. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2021 Jan 5;60(1):e19-e21. Epub 2020 Nov 5.

Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021 03 21;109(3):678-687. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Chirurgia Senologica Ospedale San Giovanni Addolorata, Rome, Italy.

Purpose: We report long-term outcomes of phase 2 trial on patients with invasive breast cancer treated with accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) using tomotherapy after breast conservative surgery.

Methods And Materials: From December 2010 to December 2018, we treated 338 women with APBI-tomotherapy: 38.5 Gy in 10 once-daily fractions. Read More

J Med Internet Res 2020 10 28;22(10):e21801. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Many factors involved in the onset and clinical course of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are still unknown. Although big data analytics and artificial intelligence are widely used in the realms of health and medicine, researchers are only beginning to use these tools to explore the clinical characteristics and predictive factors of patients with COVID-19.

Objective: Our primary objectives are to describe the clinical characteristics and determine the factors that predict intensive care unit (ICU) admission of patients with COVID-19. Read More

Breast 2020 Dec 29;54:127-132. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Breast Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni-Addolorata, Via Dell'Amba Aradam 8, Rome, Italy.

Background: Capsular contracture (CC) is the most common complication following Immediate Breast Reconstruction (IBR) with breast implants. Different implant surfaces were developed aiming to reduce the incidence of CC. We evaluated the incidence and degree of CC after Direct-to-Implant (DTI) IBR with insertion of textured (TE) or polyurethane (PU) covered implants. Read More

J Clin Transl Res 2020 Jul 8;6(1):6-13. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Radiosurgery is employed for the treatment of brain metastases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of single-dose radiosurgery (SRS) compared to hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hFSRT).

Materials And Methods: Between 2004 and 2018, we analyzed treatments of 97 patients with 135 brain metastases. Read More

J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2020 12;89(6):1136-1142

From the Department of Abdominal Surgery, Abdominal Center (S.R., P.M., A.L.), Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki; Division of Digestive Surgery and Urology, Department of Surgery (P.S., T.S.), Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Department of Surgery, Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori; Department of Abdominal Surgery (V.K.), Oulu University Hospital, Oulo; Department of Gastroenterology and Alimentary Tract Surgery (M.H., L-M.M.), Tampere University Hospital, Tampere; Department of Surgery (T.P.), Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki; Department of Surgery (J.H.), Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori; Department of Surgery (J.R.), Lapland Central Hospital, Rovaniemi; and Department of Surgery (T.R.), Kuopio University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Eastern Finland, Finland.

Background: Open abdomen (OA) is a useful option for treatment strategy in many acute abdominal catastrophes. A number of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) methods are used with limited number of comparative studies. The present study was done to examine risk factors for failed delayed primary fascial closure (DPFC) and risk factors for mortality in patients treated with OA. Read More

Neural Netw 2020 Jun 26;126:178-190. Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Tiberiu Popoviciu Institute of Numerical Analysis Romanian Academy, Cluj-Napoca, RO-400320, Romania; Department of Mathematics Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, RO-400084, Romania. Electronic address:

In the following paper we present a new type of optimization algorithms adapted for neural network training. These algorithms are based upon sequential operator splitting technique for some associated dynamical systems. Furthermore, we investigate through numerical simulations the empirical rate of convergence of these iterative schemes toward a local minimum of the loss function, with some suitable choices of the underlying hyper-parameters. Read More

Tech Coloproctol 2020 03 21;24(3):215-220. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.

Background: The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in chronic pelvic pain (CPP) patients in the Finnish national cohort.

Methods: This was a register-based retrospective study, involving all the centers that provide SNM treatment in Finland. The data of all patients treated with SNM for CPP were gathered from Oulu-, Turku-, Tampere- and Helsinki University Hospitals, as well as Jyväskylä and Seinäjoki Central Hospitals. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2020 05 19;171 Suppl 70:5-41. Epub 2020 Jan 19.

School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.

Syphilis was perceived to be a new disease in Europe in the late 15th century, igniting a debate about its origin that continues today in anthropological, historical, and medical circles. We move beyond this age-old debate using an interdisciplinary approach that tackles broader questions to advance the understanding of treponemal infection (syphilis, yaws, bejel, and pinta). How did the causative organism(s) and humans co-evolve? How did the related diseases caused by Treponema pallidum emerge in different parts of the world and affect people across both time and space? How are T. Read More

BMC Genomics 2020 Jan 10;21(1):33. Epub 2020 Jan 10.

Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.

Background: Spirochetal organisms of the Treponema genus are responsible for causing Treponematoses. Pathogenic treponemes is a Gram-negative, motile, spirochete pathogen that causes syphilis in human. Treponema pallidum subsp. Read More