Cryogenic Media in Biomedical Applications: Current Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

This paper explores the crucial role of cryogenic mediums in driving breakthroughs within the biomedical sector. The objective was to investigate, critically discuss, and present the current knowledge and state-of-the-art practices, along with the challenges and perspectives of the most common applications. Through an extensive literature review, this work aims to supplement existing research, offering a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the subject. Biomedical research involving cryogenic mediums is advancing on multiple fronts, including the development of advanced medical technologies, clinical treatments for life-threatening conditions, high-quality biospecimen preservation, and antimicrobial interventions in industrial food processing. These advances open new horizons and present cutting-edge opportunities for research and the medical community. While the current body of evidence showcases the impressive impact of cryogenic mediums, such as nitrogen, helium, argon, and oxygen, on revolutionary developments, reaching definitive conclusions on their efficiency and safety remains challenging due to process complexity and research scarcity with a moderate certainty of evidence. Knowledge gaps further underline the need for additional studies to facilitate cryogenic research in developing innovative technological processes in biomedicine. These advancements have the potential to reshape the modern world and significantly enhance the quality of life for people worldwide.

The Evolving Role of Cryosurgery in Breast Cancer Management: A Comprehensive Review.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer, accounting for approximately one in eight cancer diagnoses worldwide. In 2020, there were approximately 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer globally, resulting in around 685,000 deaths. Consequently, there is an ongoing need to develop innovative therapeutic approaches that can improve both clinical outcomes and patient quality of life. The use of ultra-low cryogenic temperatures, facilitated by cryogenic media such as liquid nitrogen, has revolutionized the biomedical field and opened up new possibilities for advanced clinical treatments, including cryosurgery. Cryosurgery has demonstrated its feasibility as a minimally invasive technique for destroying breast tumors and eliciting a significant antitumor immune response in the host. This feature sets cryosurgery apart from other ablative techniques. It has been shown to be well tolerated and effective, offering several advantages such as simplicity, the avoidance of general anesthesia, minimal pain, low morbidity, short recovery time, cost-effectiveness, and notably, improved aesthetic outcomes. The reviewed studies indicate that cryosurgery holds promise in the management of early-stage breast cancer and metastatic disease, especially in triple-negative and Her2-positive molecular subtypes in conjunction with checkpoint inhibitors and anti-Her2 antibodies, respectively. Furthermore, the effectiveness of cryosurgery in the management of ductal carcinoma in situ should be investigated as an alternative modality to surgery or surveillance. The minimally invasive nature of cryosurgery has the potential to significantly enhance the quality of life for patients.

Does the Use of Hair Dyes Increase the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer? A Meta-analysis and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hair dye may contain mutagenic compounds which could be associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer in women who use it. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the personal use of hair dyes and the risk of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a literature review of epidemiological studies reporting breast cancer-specific risks among hair dye users versus non-users. The data for the incidence of breast cancer following the 'ever' use of hair dye in studies which met the inclusion criteria was analysed using a meta-analysis. The relative risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined. RESULTS: A total of eight case-control studies published between 1980 and 2017 met the selection criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to non-users, using a random effects model and the Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill procedure to adjust for publication bias in the presence of between studies heterogeneity, the adjusted RR for women using hair dyes was 1.1885 (95% CI=1.03228-1.36835). This indicates an 18.8% increased risk of future development of breast cancer among hair dye users. CONCLUSION: Although further work is required to confirm our results and clarify potential mechanisms, our findings suggest that exposure to hair dyes may contribute to an increased breast cancer risk.

Skin-sparing mastectomy and radiotherapy: an update.

Despite the lack of randomised controlled trials and paucity of the published data, the current evidence suggests that the post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) does not represent a contraindication to skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) in the multidisciplinary setting. Although PMRT is associated with a higher incidence of complications, a satisfactory cosmetic outcome can be achieved in most patients. Radiation has a deleterious effect on autologous flap reconstruction that relies on fat for volume replacement such as the deep inferior epi-gastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction and this method of reconstruction should be delayed until RT is completed. Until better methods of RT delivery are developed to minimise complications, women at high risk of requiring PMRT, can be safely offered SSM and IBR with a sub-pectoral saline-filled tissue expander and this can be replaced with a permanent prosthesis or converted into an autologous flap reconstruction after the completion of RT. Any capsule formation can be surgically treated at this stage. This new concept, known as immediate-delayed reconstruction, can avoid the cosmetic and RT delivery problems that can occur after IBR.Furthermore, prior RT does not represent a contra-indication to SSM and IBR, however it increases the incidence of complications.

Adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer in the era of aromatase inhibitors: an update.

There is overwhelming evidence that optimal adjuvant endocrine therapy for hormone sensitive breast cancer in postmenopausal women should include a third generation aromatase inhibitor (AI). On current evidence, adjuvant anstrozole or letrozole should be used upfront in such patients especially in those with high risk disease (node positive and/or tumours > 2 cm). The sequential approach of tamoxifen for 2-3 years followed by exemestane or anastrozole for 2-3 years is a reasonable alternative to 5 years of AI monotherapy in patients with low risk disease (node negative and tumour smaller than 2 cm) especially if the tumour is positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors.Node-positive patients completing 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen should be offered letrozole for up 48 months. Further research is required to establish the long-term cardiovascular safety of AIs especially that of letrozole and exmestane, the optimal AI to use, duration of AI therapy and whether monotherapy with an AI for 5 years is superior to sequencing an AI after 2-3 years of tamoxifen. The bone mineral density (BMD) should be measured at baseline and monitored during therapy in women being treated with AIs. Anti-osteoporosis agents should such as bisphosphonates should be considered in patients at high risk of bone fractures.

Is it safe to preserve the nipple areola complex during skin-sparing mastectomy for breast cancer?

Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) with nipple areola complex (NAC) preservation appears to be oncologically safe, provided the tumor is not close to the nipple and a frozen section protocol for the retroareolar tissue is followed.

The current management of gynecomastia: an update.

Gynecomastia is a common condition characterized by a benign proliferation of the glandular component of the male breast. It is thought to be due to an increase in the ratio of estrogen to androgen activity. The present article reviews the pathogenesis, clinical features, and contemporary treatment of gynecomastia.