Background and Objectives: The objective of this review is to evaluate the current evidence regarding hormone treatments for both premenopausal and postmenopausal women with early-stage hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer. Materials and Methods: An in-depth exploration of the existing literature was conducted, with landmark clinical trials such as TEXT, SOFT, ATLAS, and aTTom serving as primary references. Results: Through an extensive review of the literature, our findings indicate that for premenopausal women with HR-positive, HER2-negative BC with a low risk of recurrence, standard 5-year monotherapy with tamoxifen represents the optimal therapeutic management, given its favorable clinical outcomes and lower associated toxicity. In contrast, for premenopausal women with an intermediate to high risk of recurrence with the same tumor characteristics, the most effective approach stated in the literature is a combination of ovarian suppression therapy (chemical/surgical) and an aromatase inhibitor/selective estrogen receptor modulator (tamoxifen), with a possible extension of the standard therapeutic period. In postmenopausal patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a low recurrence risk, the first line of treatment is usually a standard 5-year period of treatment with aromatase inhibitors (AIs)(letrozole, anastrozole, or exemestane). On the other hand, in postmenopausal women with an intermediate to high risk, combination therapy might be needed, as well as an extension of the standard therapeutic time. Conclusions: Treatment consensus depends on pre- vs. postmenopausal status and recurrence risk.

(1) Background: In recent years, several studies have described various and heterogenous methods to sensitize nanoparticles (NPs) to pH changes; therefore, in this current scoping review, we aimed to map current protocols for pH functionalization of NPs and analyze the outcomes of drug-loaded pH-functionalized NPs (pH-NPs) when delivered in vivo in tumoral tissue. (2) Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed database was performed for all published studies relating to in vivo models of anti-tumor drug delivery via pH-responsive NPs. Data on the type of NPs, the pH sensitization method, the in vivo model, the tumor cell line, the type and name of drug for targeted therapy, the type of in vivo imaging, and the method of delivery and outcomes were extracted in a separate database. (3) Results: One hundred and twenty eligible manuscripts were included. Interestingly, 45.8% of studies (n = 55) used polymers to construct nanoparticles, while others used other types, i.e., mesoporous silica (n = 15), metal (n = 8), lipids (n = 12), etc. The mean acidic pH value used in the current literature is 5.7. When exposed to in vitro acidic environment, without exception, pH-NPs released drugs inversely proportional to the pH value. pH-NPs showed an increase in tumor regression compared to controls, suggesting better targeted drug release. (4) Conclusions: pH-NPs were shown to improve drug delivery and enhance antitumoral effects in various experimental malignant cell lines.

Background/Objectives: The improved long-term survival of rectal cancer patients has led to a major increase in the prevalence of functional complications. Understanding which patients are prone to develop major LARS is important for their preoperative counselling and follow-up. Herein, we aimed to assess the risk factors for LARS. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on rectal cancer patients. All patient and tumour variables, management plan, type of neoadjuvant therapy, radiation dose to anal sphincter, and perioperative outcomes were collected from the hospital electronic databases. We quantified LARS and compared the score before and after surgery (mean follow-up of 42.2 ± 32 months). Results: A total of 182 patients were included for the final analysis. LARS was present in 43.4% (n = 79) of patients, with 14.8% (n = 27) having minor LARS and 28.5% (n = 52) having major LARS. Age (p = 0.03), male gender (p < 0.00001), smoking (p = 0.04), neoadjuvant radiotherapy (p = 0.02), rectal stump length (p = 0.008), end-to-end anastomosis (p = 0.008), and ileostomy (p = 0.002) were found to significantly increase the rate of LARS. A logistic regression model based on the above variables was able to predict major LARS with good predictive value (AUC 0.700). Conclusions: LARS is highly common after sphincter-preserving surgery, and it is significantly more common in young, male patients with a history of smoking, having mid-lower rectal cancers with neoadjuvant radiotherapy, and undergoing TME surgery with end-to-end low anastomosis and ileostomy.

(1) Background: Collagen is the main component of the connective tissue, playing an important role in the histological architecture and function of living organisms. Targeted therapy and improved imaging diagnosis can be obtained through collagen-binding nanoparticles that concentrate in the extracellular matrix. (2) Methods: We performed a scoping review of studies that analyzed the binding capacity of collagen-targeting nanoparticles. The search algorithm and inclusion criteria were based on PRISMA and ARRIVE guidelines. (3) Results: Fourteen studies matched all the inclusion criteria. All studies analyzed the distribution of nanoparticles in the collagen matrix, either by using collagen-targeting nanoparticles or by using unmodified ones. Most studies used collagen-binding nanoparticles for vascular research to target sites of endothelial injury, atherosclerotic plaques, or myocardial infarction. Two studies targeted the exposed collagen in models of liver fibrosis. (4) Conclusions: Our review summarizes the current literature on the methods and outcomes of using nanoparticles to target collagen. The studies reveal that there is high applicability for collagen-binding nanoparticles in cardiac or hepatic pathology and they could prove useful for targeted therapy of neoplastic lesions, which show an abundance of stromal collagen.

Micronutrient deficiencies can arise in various conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and diagnosing these deficiencies can be challenging in the absence of specific clinical signs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of various trace elements hair concentration in IBD patients compared to a healthy control group and to identify potential correlations between the micronutrient status and relevant parameters related to disease activity. The concentrations of iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and sulfur in the hair of 37 IBD patients with prior diagnosed IBD (12 Crohn’s disease and 25 ulcerative colitis) and 31 healthy controls were evaluated by Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX). Significant differences in hair concentration profile of studied trace elements were identified for IBD patients compared to healthy controls. A significantly decreased hair concentration of iron, magnesium, calcium and selenium and a significantly increased sulfur hair concentration were observed in IBD patients at the time of evaluation. A decreased hair calcium concentration (r = −0.772, p = 0.003) and an increased sulfur concentration (r = 0.585, p = 0.046) were significantly correlated with disease activity. Conclusion: Hair mineral and trace elements evaluation may contribute to a proper evaluation of their status in IBD patients and improving the management of nutritional status of IBD patients.

Background: The rate of morbidity after liver surgery is estimated at 30% and can be even higher when considering higher-risk subgroups of patients. Frailty is believed to better predict surgical outcomes by showcasing the patient’s ability to withstand major surgical stress and selecting frail ones. Methods: This is a single-centre, observational case–control study on patients diagnosed with liver malignancies who underwent liver resections between 2013 and 2024. The five-item modified Frailty Index (mFI-5) was used to split patients into frail and non-frail. The two groups were compared in terms of preoperative, operative and postoperative outcomes using a chi-squared and logistic regression model. Results: A total of 230 patients were included and split into two groups: non-frail, NF, n = 90, and frail patients, F, n = 140. Overall, F patients had a higher rate of morbidity (p = 0.04) but with similar mortality and length of stay. When considering only major liver resections, F patients had a higher probability of posthepatectomy liver failure (LR 6.793, p = 0.009), postoperative bleeding (LR 9.541, p = 0.002) and longer ICU stay (LR 8.666, p = 0.003), with similar rates of bile leak, surgical site infections, length of stay and mortality. Conclusions: Frailty seems to be a solid predictor of posthepatectomy liver failure in patients undergoing major liver resections and is associated with a longer ICU stay. However, mortality and surgical morbidity seem to be comparable between frail and non-frail patients.