Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted through respiratory droplets and contact routes, hence the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has increased during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Among the most noticeable shortages was the lack of face shields. The urgent demand for PPE induced interdisciplinary cooperation to overcome the shortages, and additive manufacturing proved to be ideal for the crisis situation. To investigate the possibilities of implementing additive manufacturing technologies in the interventional fabrication of protective face shields for medical staff. An Ender 3 Pro 3D printer was used to print headbands and Cura 4.4 was chosen as the slicing software. Open source face shield designs were downloaded as standard tessellation language (STL) files and compared. Only models with scientific support were taken under consideration. The mean time for producing the headbands tested ranged from 59 min to almost 3 h, depending on the design. After setting up our low budget printer and choosing the Prusa RC 3 protective face shield as the main product, we were able to fabricate about 30 face shields per week at a cost of about €1 each. During 4 weeks, 126 face shields were produced and delivered to various hospital wards, which substantially eased the shortages. Additive manufacturing enables immediate responses to needs in emergency situations, and allows for mass production of personal protective equipment in a short time due the rapid exchange of data among printer users. Despite the unregulated legal situation and insufficient scientific evidence, such protective equipment has been approved by clinicians and is currently used by medical personnel around the world.

The existing clinical protocols of hepatoma treatment require improvement of drug efficacy that can be achieved by harnessing nanomedicine. Porphyrin-based, paddle-wheel framework (PPF) structures were obtained and tested as dual-kinetic Sorafenib (SOR) nanocarriers against hepatoma. We experimentally proved that sloughing of PPF structures combined with gradual dissolving are effective mechanisms for releasing the drug from the nanocarrier. By controlling the PPF degradation and size of adsorbed SOR deposits, we were able to augment SOR anticancer effects, both in vitro and in vivo, due to the dual kinetic behavior of SOR@PPF. Obtained drug delivery systems with slow and fast release of SOR influenced effectively, although in a different way, the cancer cells proliferation (reflected with EC50 and ERK 1/2 phosphorylation level). The in vivo studies proved that fast-released SOR@PPF reduces the tumor size considerably, while the slow-released SOR@PPF much better prevents from lymph nodes involvement and distant metastases.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can cure selected patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CPM). Real-world prognostic data, especially for the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and completeness of cytoreduction (CCR), are limited. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 75 consecutive patients treated with CRS + HIPEC at a tertiary centre (2014–2022), giving ≥36 months potential follow-up. Overall survival (OS) was assessed by Kaplan–Meier and Cox models. PCI was grouped 0–10, 11–20, >20; CCR was dichotomised (CCR-0 vs. CCR 1/2). Multivariable analysis included PCI, CCR, and resection extent; HIPEC drug was examined univariately. Results: The median follow-up was 41 months. Crude 3-year OS was 50.7% (38/75). Survival decreased with higher PCI: 69% for 0–10 (n = 42), 38% for 11–20 (n = 21), and 0% for > 20 (n = 4). Versus PCI 0–10, the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were 3.02 (95% CI 1.52–6.03) for PCI 11–20 and 7.29 (1.72–30.81) for > 20. CCR-0 improved OS univariately (HR 0.43) but was non-significant after adjustment (HR 0.89). Resection limited to the peritoneum (HR 0.99) and choice of intraperitoneal drug showed no independent effect. Conclusions: In this real-world cohort, PCI was the only independent predictor of 3-year survival after CRS + HIPEC for CPM; neither CCR status, surgical extent, nor HIPEC agent altered prognosis once PCI was considered. PCI should therefore remain the principal selection criterion while molecular and biological markers are integrated into future risk models.

DOI: 10.20452/pamw.16497, Published online: May 10, 2023, Authors: Jakub Skórniak, Jędrzej Wierzbicki, Marcin Ziętek, Artur Milnerowicz, Rafał Matkowski

Introduction: Peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs) are challenging to treat due to their locoregional nature and poor response to systemic therapies. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has emerged as a promising treatment for selected patients, though long-term, real-world data remain limited. Aim of the study: To analyze clinical outcomes, survival patterns, and prognostic factors in a large cohort of patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC over a 10-year period at a national referral center. Material and methods: This retrospective study included 292 adult patients who underwent 319 CRS-HIPEC procedures between 2015 and 2024. Primary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and postoperative outcomes. Data were stratified by tumor type, Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI), and Completeness of Cytoreduction (CC-score). Results: The most common indications were colorectal cancer (34.5%), ovarian cancer (27.0%), low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) (16.1%), primary peritoneal cancer (17.7%), and gastric cancer (3.7%). Complete cytoreduction (CC-0) was achieved in 69.9% of cases. Five-year survival rates were highest in LAMN (90.4%) and primary peritoneal cancer (80.7%), and lowest in gastric cancer (25.0%). Lower PCI (<20) and CC-0 resection were strongly associated with improved survival. Postoperative morbidity declined over time, with no in-hospital mortality since 2022. Conclusions: CRS-HIPEC offers substantial long-term survival benefits in selected patients with PSMs. Tumor biology, PCI, and completeness of cytoreduction are key prognostic factors. Our findings support expanding access to HIPEC in well-selected cases, particularly in tumors with peritoneal-confined dissemination.

Introduction: Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) is a rare appendiceal tumor with indolent histology but a clinically relevant risk of peritoneal dissemination and pseudomyxoma peritonei, creating uncertainty in surgical extent and follow-up.Aim: To synthesize evidence on surgical decision-making in LAMN, including indications for right hemicolectomy, TNM interpretation, perforation management, imaging limitations, Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) selection, and surveillance.Methods: A targeted narrative review was conducted using biomedical sources (2000–2026), supplemented by manual reference screening and citation tracking of key guidelines, consensus statements, and cohort studies. Evidence on pathology, staging, imaging, operative strategy, intraperitoneal treatment, and surveillance was narratively synthesized into clinical decision frameworks.Results: Contemporary evidence supports de-escalation for most localized LAMN. Routine right hemicolectomy is usually overtreatment in non-perforated pTis/pT3 disease after complete appendectomy and is not routinely indicated in selected perforated cases with acellular mucin. LAMN staging differs from adenocarcinoma, including absence of T1/T2 categories and prognostic distinction between M1a and M1b disease. Perforation increases recurrence risk and supports risk-adapted surveillance but does not alone mandate right hemicolectomy.Discussion: The evidence base remains predominantly retrospective and surveillance protocols are heterogeneous, limiting standardization.Conclusions: Risk-stratified, evidence-based algorithms can reduce overtreatment while preserving oncologic safety in LAMN.Significance of the study: This review integrates staging, operative strategy, and surveillance into a practical framework for standardized LAMN management and future multicenter research planning.