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Simple Summary: We explored whether specific factors, like inflammation indicators in the blood, could help predict treatment outcomes for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). LACC is generally treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. We wanted to see if these factors could help physicians personalize treatments for better results. Our study involved looking at various aspects, including inflammation indices in the blood and various clinical treatment details, in LACC patients. While some factors, such as age and hemoglobin levels, seemed to predict outcomes, there was no clear connection between inflammation indicators in the blood and results. These findings challenge previous ideas and highlight the importance of considering multiple factors to predict the prognoses of LACC patients. Locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) is treated with concurrent chemoradiation (CRT). Predictive models could improve the outcome through treatment personalization. Several factors influence prognosis in LACC, but the role of systemic inflammation indices (IIs) is unclear. This study aims to assess the correlation between IIs and prognosis in a large patient cohort considering several clinical data. We retrospectively analyzed pretreatment IIs (NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, LLR, COP-NLR, APRI, ALRI, SIRI, and ANRI) in 173 LACC patients. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were also considered. Univariate and multivariate Cox's regressions were conducted to assess associations between IIs and clinical factors with local control (LC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Univariate analysis showed significant correlations between age, HB levels, tumor stage, FIGO stage, and CRT dose with survival outcomes. Specific pretreatment IIs (NLR, PLR, APRI, ANRI, and COP-NLR) demonstrated associations only with LC. The multivariate analysis confirmed Hb levels, CRT dose, and age as significant predictors of OS, while no II was correlated with any clinical outcome. The study findings contradict some prior research on IIs in LACC, emphasizing the need for comprehensive assessments of potential confounding variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To describe intravitreal anti-VEGF drug and dexamethasone use in four Italian regions. Methods. Four regional claims databases were used to measure drug prevalence, compare dosing intervals to those recommended in the summary of product characteristics (SPC), and identify switchers. Bilateral treatment and diabetic macular edema (DME) coding algorithms were validated, linking claims with a sample of prospectively collected ophthalmological data. Results. Overall, 41,836 patients received ≥1 study drug in 2010–2016 (4.8 per 10,000 persons). In 2016, anti-VEGF drug use ranged from 0.8 (Basilicata) to 5.7 (Lombardy) per 10,000 persons while intravitreal dexamethasone use ranged from 0.2 (Basilicata) to 1.4 (Lombardy) per 10,000 persons. Overall, 40,815 persons were incident users of study drugs. Among incident users with ≥1 year of follow-up (N = 30,745), 16.0% (N = 4,890) had only one pharmacy claim, especially for ranibizumab (60.9%). Switching occurred in 8.0% of users with ≥2 pharmacy claims (N = 33,637). The algorithms had an accuracy of 83.8 (95% CI: 79.7–87.3) concerning bilateral treatment and 72.3% (95% CI: 67.5–76.8) for DME. Conclusion. Study drug use increased over time in Lombardy, Basilicata, Calabria, and Sicily, despite a large heterogeneity in prevalence of use across regions. Drug treatment appeared to be partly in line with SPC, suggesting that improvement in clinical practice may be needed to maximize drug benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Far Infrared Waves (FIW) with frequency range among few hundreds gigahertz (GHz) and few terahertz (THz) display some positive effects on neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. Aims and Objectives: Our retrospective observational study describes the benefits observed by the administration of an infrared-trapping and focusing plaster (FIT-PATCH) in patients affected by different musculoskeletal and neurological symptoms. Materials and Methods: 100 patients were retrospectively reviewed through the Second Opinion Medical Network. Each patient sticked a FIT-PATCH every 5 days for 1 month upon the skin in the painful/inflamed area. Quality of life (QOL) assessment was evaluated by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire before starting the treatment and after the fourth week and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) completed the pre-post treatment subjective pain record. Results: SF-36 showed significantly improvement of the pre-post treatment scores (P < 0.03), pain score (P < 0.02), general health score (P < 0.03) and in the emotional component scores (P < 0.03). The VAS pain score was either improved (P < 0.02) after plaster administration. No side effects or allergenic skin reactions were reported along the study. Conclusions: The FIT patches improved the symptoms probably through a mechanism involving the sebaceous/sweat glands system spreading the fit irradiating infrared THz waves energy, to the surrounding tissues with both a thermal and electromagnetic putative effect. The occlusive mechanism of the patch on the skin surface increasing the local thermic gradient cannot be adequately supposed to be therapeutically effective, because the FIT patch locally applied induces haemodynamic microvascular modification, not only locally but also remote. Thus, the intrinsic chemical properties of the FIT formulation absorbs and concentrates the endogenous infrared waves amplifying and reverberating them into the underlying tissues near and far, through low-Qfactor helical antennas of the sweat glands spreading the energy all over the body. Hence, the claim is that fit basically absorbs and concentrates the endogenous infrared waves into the affected districts and accelerates symptoms recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the incidence of back pain after photodynamic therapy, which suggests methods for prevention that are related to its pathogenesis.Design: Retrospective case series.Methods: We retrospectively observed 548 patients who had undergone photodynamic therapy with verteporfin.Results: Of 548 patients at the first treatment, 14 patients (2.6%) experienced pain during the infusion. Eleven patients were being treated for age-related macular degeneration; their mean age was 81 years, which significantly differed from the mean age of the overall age-related macular degeneration group (P = .003). The pain was mild in eight patients, moderate in four patients, and severe in two patients, with dyspnea and precordial pain. Five of the 14 patients had further courses of photodynamic therapy. After being treated prophylactically 60 minutes before photodynamic therapy, only one patient reported further mild pain.Conclusions: The biologic mechanisms of back pain may involve a high level of circulating thromboxanes that are induced by the liposomal composition of verteporfin. Prevention may include hydration, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and halving the infusion rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]