Genotyping-by-sequencing-based high-resolution mapping reveals a single candidate gene for the grapevine veraison locus Ver1.

Veraison marks the transition from berry growth to berry ripening and is a crucial phenological stage in grapevine (Vitis vinifera): the berries become soft and begin to accumulate sugars, aromatic substances, and, in red cultivars, anthocyanins for pigmentation, while the organic acid levels begin to decrease. These changes determine the potential quality of wine. However, rising global temperatures lead to earlier flowering and ripening, which strongly influence wine quality. Here, we combined genotyping-by-sequencing with a bioinformatics pipeline on ∼150 F1 genotypes derived from a cross between the early ripening variety 'Calardis Musqué' and the late-ripening variety 'Villard Blanc'. Starting from 20,410 haplotype-based markers, we generated a high-density genetic map and performed a quantitative trait locus analysis based on phenotypic datasets evaluated over 20 years. Through locus-specific-marker-enrichment and recombinant screening of ∼1000 additional genotypes, we refined the originally postulated 5 Mb veraison locus, Ver1, on chromosome 16 to only 112 kb, allowing us to pinpoint the ethylene response factor (ERF) VviERF027 (VCost.v3 gene ID: Vitvi16g00942, CRIBIv1 gene ID: VIT_16s0100g00400) as veraison candidate gene. Furthermore, the early veraison allele could be traced back to a clonal 'Pinot' variant first mentioned in the 17th century. 'Pinot Precoce Noir' passed this allele over 'Madeleine Royale' to the maternal grandparent 'Bacchus Weiss' and, ultimately, to the maternal parent 'Calardis Musqué'. Our findings are crucial for ripening time control, thereby improving wine quality, and for breeding grapevines adjusted to climate change scenarios that have a major impact on agro-ecosystems in altering crop plant phenology.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) for Early-Stage Head and Neck Squamous-Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue: Twenty Years of Experience at I.N.T. "G.Pascale".

Oral tongue squamous-cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is the most prevalent malignancy in the head and neck region. Lymphatic spread, particularly to cervical lymph nodes, significantly impacts 5-year survival rates, emphasizing the criticality of precise staging. Metastatic cervical lymph nodes can decrease survival rates by 50%. Yet, elective neck dissection (END) in T1-2 cN0 patients proves to be an overtreatment in around 80% of cases. To address this, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was introduced, aiming to minimize postoperative morbidity. This study, conducted at the ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery department of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Naples, explores SLNB's efficacy in early-stage oral tongue squamous-cell carcinoma (OTSCC). From January 2020 to January 2022, 122 T1/T2 cN0 HNSCC patients were enrolled. Radioactive tracers and lymphoscintigraphy identified sentinel lymph nodes, aided by a gamma probe during surgery. Results revealed 24.6% SLN biopsy positivity, with 169 SLNs resected and a 21.9% positivity ratio. The study suggests SLNB's reliability for T1-2 cN0 OTSCC patient staging and early micrometastasis detection.

Early-Stage Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma and a Positive Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Description of a Prognostic Correlation between Pre-Treatment Inflammatory Biomarkers, the Depth of Invasion and the Worst Pattern of Invasion.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between pre-treatment inflammatory biomarkers and the post-operative depth of invasion (DOI) and worst pattern of invasion (WPOI) in early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) by means of positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). A retrospective analysis of patients affected by cN0 T1-T2 OTSCC who had undergone an SLNB at the National Cancer Institute of Naples was performed. The patients were studied using an evaluation of the pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), and a histopathological analysis of the DOI and WPOI. The statistical analysis showed that among the prognostic biomarkers, the NLR was a significant predictor of high WPOI values (p = 0.002). The cut-off NLR value was 2.52 with a probability of developing a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) of 30.3%. In contrast, the DOI value was 5.20 with a probability of developing a positive SLNB of 31.82%. Regarding the WPOI, increasing the WPOI class increased the likelihood of a positive SLNB occurrence, and a positive significant correlation was found between the WPOI and SLNB (Csp = 0.342; p < 0.001). Pre-treatment NLR, together with post-surgical DOI and WPOI, can be a reliable predictor of occult neck metastasis in patients affected by early-stage OTSCC with a clinically negative neck. Further prospective studies with a larger series will be needed to confirm the results obtained and to better define the NLR, WPOI and DOI cut-off values in order for elective neck dissection to be recommended in relation to a clinically negative neck.

Radiomics Metrics Combined with Clinical Data in the Surgical Management of Early-Stage (cT1-T2 N0) Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinomas: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: To predict the risk of metastatic lymph nodes and the tumor grading related to oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) through the combination of clinical data with radiomics metrics by computed tomography, and to develop a supportive approach in the management of the lymphatic cervical areas, with particular attention to the early stages (T1−T2). Between March 2016 and February 2020, patients with histologically confirmed OTSCC, treated by partial glossectomy and ipsilateral laterocervical lymphadenectomy and subjected to computed tomography (CT) before surgery, were identified by two centers: 81 patients (49 female and 32 male) with 58 years as the median age (range 19−86 years). Univariate analysis with non-parametric tests and multivariate analysis with machine learning approaches were used. Clinical, hematological parameters and radiological features extracted by CT were considered individually and in combination. All clinical parameters showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) for the Kruskal−Wallis test when discriminating both the tumor grading and the metastatic lymph nodes. DOI, PLR, SII, and SIRI showed an accuracy of 0.70 (ROC analysis) when identifying the tumor grading, while an accuracy ≥ 0.78 was shown by DOI, NLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI when discriminating metastatic lymph nodes. In the context of the analysis of radiomics metrics, the original_glszm_HighGrayLevelZoneEmphasis feature was selected for identifying the tumor grading (accuracy of 0.70), while the wavelet_HHH_glrlm_LowGrayLevelRunEmphasis predictor was selected for determining metastatic lymph nodes (accuracy of 0.96). Remarkable findings were also obtained when classifying patients with a machine learning approach. Radiomics features alone can predict tumor grading with an accuracy of 0.76 using a logistic regression model, while an accuracy of 0.82 can be obtained by running a CART algorithm through a combination of three clinical parameters (SIRI, DOI, and PLR) with a radiomics feature (wavelet_LLL_glszm_SizeZoneNonUniformityNormalized). In the context of predicting metastatic lymph nodes, an accuracy of 0.94 was obtained using 15 radiomics features in a logistic regression model, while both CART and CIDT achieved an asymptotic accuracy value of 1.00 using only one radiomics feature. Radiomics features and clinical parameters have an important role in identifying tumor grading and metastatic lymph nodes. Machine learning approaches can be used as an easy-to-use tool to stratify patients with early-stage OTSCC, based on the identification of metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes.

Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery: 14 Cases of Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Parapharyngeal Space.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study has been to describe our experience with pleomorphic adenomas of the parapharyngeal space (PPS) treated with trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS). Tumors arising from the PPS comprise less than 0.5% of all head and neck tumors. Salivary gland tumors account for 40% to 50% of PPS lesions with pleomorphic adenomas representing the most common salivary tumors (80%-90%). Parapharyngeal space tumors cause nonspecific symptoms and may be difficult to diagnose. METHODS: In our study a preoperative diagnosis was conducted by fine needle aspiration biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging and the results were used to plan the correct surgical approach. RESULTS: In all cases we were able to employ TORS, a minimally invasive procedure that allows us to operate in narrow and anatomically complex spaces that we can only reach thanks to the use of well-articulated hand pieces. CONCLUSIONS: This report indicates that TORS is a safe surgical procedure for the excision of benign tumors of the PPS in selected cases.

Emergencies in oncology: an overview and practical suggestions.

Oncologic emergencies are clinical situations that can lead to death in a short time (24-48 hours) if not quickly faced. In the clinical practice of the medical oncologist, such situations do not infrequently occur. The onset of oncologic emergencies may depend on the presence of cancer itself, the therapies carried out to counteract cancer, or the patient's predisposition to develop such events. Mediastinal syndrome, spinal cord compression, endocranial hypertension, pancytopenia, metabolic syndromes, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary thromboembolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation and the massive pericardial effusion are the main medical emergencies in oncology occurring in clinical practice. It is essential to recognize the aforementioned situations early in order to treat them promptly, thus avoiding serious consequences. This paper is aimed at presenting an overview on the topic, offering practical suggestions useful in daily clinical practice.

A Newly Designed Water Soluble Uranyl-Salophen Complex for Anion Recognition.

A novel water-soluble uranyl-salophen (salophen=N,N'-disalicylidene-o-phenylenediaminate) complex was obtained. Solubility was achieved in aqueous methyl-ß-cyclodextrin solutions, taking advantage of the host-guest interactions established with the adamantyl moieties present on the ligand skeleton. Such an approach facilitates the synthesis of the receptor and the purification processes and, in perspective, can be definitely applicable to other molecular scaffolds. UV/Vis titration experiments demonstrate that the capacity of the uranyl-salophen core to behave as a receptor for anions is retained in water and appears comparable with that previously reported for other water-soluble uranyl-salophen systems. Hence the presence of cyclodextrins does not interfere with molecular recognition processes.

Electrochemotherapy as a First Line Treatment in Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx PDL-1 Negative and/or with Evident Contraindication to Immunotherapy: A Randomized Multicenter Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have advanced-stage disease (stages III to IVB) that do not respond to therapy despite aggressive, site-specific multimodality therapy. A great number of them will develop disease recurrence, with up to 60% risk of local failure and up to 30% risk of distant failure. Therapy can be very demanding for the patient especially when important anatomical structures are involved. For these reasons, therapies that preserve organ functionality in combination with effective local tumor control, like electrochemotherapy (ECT), are of great interest. Until few months ago, systemic cetuximab + platinum-based therapy + 5-fluorouracil represented the standard treatment for HNSCC relapses with a median overall survival of 10.1 months and an objective response rate of 36%. Recently the results of KEYNOTE-048 study were published and a new combination of monoclonal antibody named pembrolizumab and chemotherapy emerged as standard first line therapy of recurrent or metastatic tumor that overexpress tissue PDL-1 (Programmed Death 1 ligand). Nevertheless, a variable percentage from 10 to 15% of patients with recurrent/metastatic disease have a tumor that does not overexpress tissue PDL-1, and therefore, according to the results of the KEYNOTE-048 study, does not benefit from replacement of cetuximab with pembrolizumab. These patients will be treated with the "gold standard": cetuximab, cisplatin/carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil. AIM: To verify whether electrochemotherapy performed with bleomycin of HNSCC relapses of the oral cavity and oropharynx (single relapse on T) is able to lead to an increase in the objective response rate in comparison with the systemic treatment with cetuximab + platinum-based therapy + 5-fluorouracil in patients with PDL-1 negative tumors. METHODS: The phase IIb study involves the enrolment of 96 patients who meet the inclusion criteria (48 in the control arm and 48 in the treatment arm). The control arm involves the treatment of HNSCC with systemic treatment (cetuximab + platinum-based therapy + 5-fluorouracil). The treatment arm involves the ECT with bleomycin. The primary objective is to verify the objective response rate of patients in the control arm compared to the treatment arm.

Bias-Polarity-Dependent Direct and Inverted Marcus Charge Transport Affecting Rectification in a Redox-Active Molecular Junction.

This paper describes the transition from the normal to inverted Marcus region in solid-state tunnel junctions consisting of self-assembled monolayers of benzotetrathiafulvalene (BTTF), and how this transition determines the performance of a molecular diode. Temperature-dependent normalized differential conductance analyses indicate the participation of the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) at large negative bias, which follows typical thermally activated hopping behavior associated with the normal Marcus regime. In contrast, hopping involving the HOMO dominates the mechanism of charge transport at positive bias, yet it is nearly activationless indicating the junction operates in the inverted Marcus region. Thus, within the same junction it is possible to switch between Marcus and inverted Marcus regimes by changing the bias polarity. Consequently, the current only decreases with decreasing temperature at negative bias when hopping is "frozen out," but not at positive bias resulting in a 30-fold increase in the molecular rectification efficiency. These results indicate that the charge transport in the inverted Marcus region is readily accessible in junctions with redox molecules in the weak coupling regime and control over different hopping regimes can be used to improve junction performance.

Surgical oncology of the head and neck district during COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: A new member of the Coronaviridae family caused a worldwide pandemic emergency called Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Health care workers who come into contact with the upper aero-digestive tract during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as otolaryngologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and head and neck surgeons, may undergo profound changes in their activities and are particularly at risk. We analysed the impact of COVID-19 on our oncological surgical activity. METHODS: To address the emergency and guarantee safety of patients referred to our Unit, reproducible guidelines were followed. Surgical activity data during COVID-19 were compared to previous years (2018 and 2019). RESULTS: From 21st February to 25th of May 113 surgical procedures were performed. The average of the two selected years (2018-2019) is 84.5, showing an increase of 34.5% of our activities (statistically significant, p = 0.0011). No patient showed perioperative or postoperative contagion. CONCLUSION: Due to the conversion of regular Hospitals into COVID Centers, Cancer Centers may encounter an increased demand for procedures. Following strict guidelines, it seems possible to face surgical activity on cancer patients and respect standard procedures aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 infection.

A Comparative Evaluation of Sustainable Binders for Environmentally Friendly Carbon-Based Supercapacitors.

Environmentally friendly energy storage devices have been fabricated by using functional materials obtained from completely renewable resources. Gelatin, chitosan, casein, guar gum and carboxymethyl cellulose have been investigated as sustainable and low-cost binders within the electrode active material of water-processable symmetric carbon-based supercapacitors. Such binders are selected from natural-derived materials and industrial by-products to obtain economic and environmental benefits. The electrochemical properties of the devices based on the different binders are compared by using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge curves and impedance spectroscopy. The fabricated supercapacitors exhibit series resistance lower than a few ohms and values of the specific capacitance ranged between 30 F/g and 80 F/g. The most performant device can deliver ca. 3.6 Wh/kg of energy at a high power density of 3925 W/kg. Gelatin, casein and carboxymethyl cellulose-based devices have shown device stability up to 1000 cycles. Detailed analysis on the charge storage mechanisms (e.g., involving faradaic and non-faradaic processes) at the electrode/electrolyte interface reveals a pseudocapacitance behavior within the supercapacitors. A clear correlation between the electrochemical performances (e.g., cycle stability, capacitance retention, series resistance value, coulombic efficiency) ageing phenomena and charge storage mechanisms within the porous carbon-based electrode have been discussed.

Reversal of the Direction of Rectification Induced by Fermi Level Pinning at Molecule-Electrode Interfaces in Redox-Active Tunneling Junctions.

Control over the energy level alignment in molecular junctions is notoriously difficult, making it challenging to control basic electronic functions such as the direction of rectification. Therefore, alternative approaches to control electronic functions in molecular junctions are needed. This paper describes switching of the direction of rectification by changing the bottom electrode material M = Ag, Au, or Pt in M-S(CH2)11S-BTTF//EGaIn junctions based on self-assembled monolayers incorporating benzotetrathiafulvalene (BTTF) with EGaIn (eutectic alloy of Ga and In) as the top electrode. The stability of the junctions is determined by the choice of the bottom electrode, which, in turn, determines the maximum applied bias window, and the mechanism of rectification is dominated by the energy levels centered on the BTTF units. The energy level alignments of the three junctions are similar because of Fermi level pinning induced by charge transfer at the metal-thiolate interface and by a varying degree of additional charge transfer between BTTF and the metal. Density functional theory calculations show that the amount of electron transfer from M to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of BTTF follows the order Ag > Au > Pt. Junctions with Ag electrodes are the least stable and can only withstand an applied bias of ±1.0 V. As a result, no molecular orbitals can fall in the applied bias window, and the junctions do not rectify. The junction stability increases for M = Au, and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) dominates charge transport at a positive bias resulting in a positive rectification ratio of 83 at ±1.5 V. The junctions are very stable for M = Pt, but now the LUMO dominates charge transport at a negative bias resulting in a negative rectification ratio of 912 at ±2.5 V. Thus, the limitations of Fermi level pinning can be bypassed by a judicious choice of the bottom electrode material, making it possible to access selectively HOMO- or LUMO-based charge transport and, as shown here, associated reversal of rectification.

Transoral robotic surgery in head and neck district: a retrospective study on 67 patients treated in a single center.

BACKGROUND: The anatomical complexity of the oropharynx and the difficulty in reaching its distal portion have always conditioned the surgical accessibility.Robotic surgery represents an excellent alternative in the treatment of cervico-facial oncological diseases. METHODS: This series comprises all patients managed for head and neck cancer by Trans Oral Robotic Surgery TORS.The staging assessment, including neck ultrasound and total body PET/CT scan, was performed in each patient according to the TNM classification.All charts were recorded with the following data: name and surname, age, gender, date of surgery intra or post-operative hemorragia, tumor site, histology, TNM stage, robot set-up time, tumor resection time, whether or not tracheotomy was performed, whether or not neck dissection was performed, insertion of a nasogastric tube or gastrostomy, time to resumption of oral feeding, surgical margins, mean length of hospital stay, adjuvant treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: From February 2013 to February 2018, TORS was performed in 67 consecutive patients affected by head and neck tumours.We divided, our sample, in 3 subsites: supraglottic larynx, parapharyngeal space and oropharynx.Pathology reports confimed malignancy in 44 cases: 8 cases lymphomas, 36 cases of Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 5 cases of benign salivary glands tumors and 18 miscellaneous cases. Neck dissection was performed in 12 cases.Tracheotomy was perfomed in 3/67 cases for respiratory failures. A nasogastric tube was inserted at the end of the surgical procedure in 21 patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 10 days .Major complications included post-operative bleeding in 3 patients, 1 exitus for massive bleeding 20 days post-surgery and 1 respiratory failure treated with tracheotomy and monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery has been considered a valid alternative to traditional open treatment in many specializations with the advantages of an endoscopic procedure, with the same oncological and functional results and with fewer complications. The advantages of this type of surgical technique have been discussed, it is mandatory to focus on the indications and contraindications.

Eumelanin Precursor 2-Carboxy-5,6-Dihydroxyindole (DHICA) as Doping Factor in Ternary (PEDOT:PSS/Eumelanin) Thin Films for Conductivity Enhancement.

The integration of the pristine not-doped commercial poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) PH1000 with eumelanin, the brown to black kind of melanin pigment, was achieved by dissolving the melanogenic precursors 2-carboxy-5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHICA) in the PH1000 suspension. Solid state oxidative polymerization of the catecholic indole allowed obtaining the ternary blend PEDOT:PSS/eumelanin. The introduction of DHICA into PH1000 produced a noticeable increase in the conductivity of PEDOT thin films akin to that produced by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment, opening up novel strategies for the simultaneous integration of eumelanin polymer and conductivity enhancement of PEDOT containing coatings, as well as the long term goal of replacing PSS by DHICA eumelanin for PEDOT pairing.

Molecular Approach to Electrochemically Switchable Monolayer MoS2 Transistors.

As Moore's law is running to its physical limit, tomorrow's electronic systems can be leveraged to a higher value by integrating "More than Moore" technologies into CMOS digital circuits. The hybrid heterostructure composed of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors and molecular materials represents a powerful strategy to confer new properties to the former components, realize stimuli-responsive functional devices, and enable diversification in "More than Moore" technologies. Here, an ionic liquid (IL) gated 2D MoS2 field-effect transistor (FET) with molecular functionalization is fabricated. The suitably designed ferrocene-substituted alkanethiol molecules not only improve the FET performance, but also show reversible electrochemical switching on the surface of MoS2 . Field-effect mobility of monolayer MoS2 reaches values as high as ≈116 cm2 V-1 s-1 with Ion /Ioff ratio exceeding 105 . Molecules in their neutral or charged state impose distinct doping effect, efficiently tuning the electron density in monolayer MoS2 . It is noteworthy that the joint doping effect from IL and switchable molecules results in the steep subthreshold swing of MoS2 FET in the backward sweep. These results demonstrate that the device architecture represents an unprecedented and powerful strategy to fabricate switchable 2D FET with a chemically programmed electrochemical signal as a remote control, paving the road toward novel functional devices.

Luminescent cis-Iridium(III) Complex Based on a Bis(6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline) Platform Featuring an Unusual cis Orientation of the C∧N Ligands: From a Theoretical Approach to a Deep Red LEEC Device.

By pursuing the strategy of manipulating natural compounds to obtain functional materials, in this work, we report on the synthesis and characterization of a luminescent cationic iridium complex (cis-1), designed starting from the catecholic neurotransmitter dopamine, exhibiting the unusual cis arrangement of the C∧N ligands. Through an integrated experimental and theoretical approach, it was possible to delineate the optoelectronic properties of cis-1. In detail, (a) a series of absorption maxima in the range 300-400 nm was assigned to metal-to-ligand charge transfer and weak and broad absorption maxima at longer wavelengths (400-500 nm) were ascribable to spin-forbidden transitions with a mixed character; (b) there was an intense red phosphorescence with emission set in the range 580-710 nm; and (c) a highest occupied molecular orbital was mainly localized on the metal and the 2-phenylpiridine ligand and a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital was localized on the N∧N ligand, with a ΔH-L set at 2.20 eV. This investigation allowed the design of light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEEC) devices endowed with good performance. The poor literature reporting on the use of cis-iridium(III) complexes in LEECs prompted us to investigate the role played by the selected cathode and the thickness of the emitting layer, as well as the doping effect exerted by ionic liquids on the performance of the devices. All the devices exhibited a deep red emission, in some cases, quite near the pure color (devices #1, #4, and #8), expanding the panorama of the iridium-based red-to-near-infrared LEEC devices. The characteristics of the devices, such as the brightness reaching values of 162 cd/m2 for device #7, suggested that the performances of cis-1 are comparable to those of trans isomers, opening new perspective toward designing a new set of luminescent materials for optoelectronic devices.

Sustainable, Fluorine-Free, Low Cost and Easily Processable Materials for Hydrophobic Coatings on Flexible Plastic Substrates.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and stearic acid are herein used for the preparation of hydrophobic coatings with good moisture barrier property on flexible plastic substrates. Fast, high throughput, mild and easy-to-run processing techniques, like airbrushing and gravure printing, are applied for thin films deposition of these materials. The results of this study indicated that the best hydrophobic coating in terms of water contact angle (115°) is obtained through a two-steps printing deposition of a ZnONPs layer followed by a stearic acid layer. All the deposition procedures proved to be effective in terms of water vapor barrier properties, reaching values of 0.89 g/m2/day, with a 45% reduction with respect to the bare substrate. These preliminary data are very encouraging in the perspective of a low cost and green approach for the realization of functional coatings for packaging applications.

Evidence of Unprecedented High Electronic Conductivity in Mammalian Pigment Based Eumelanin Thin Films After Thermal Annealing in Vacuum.

Melanin denotes a variety of mammalian pigments, including the dark electrically conductive eumelanin and the reddish, sulfur-containing, pheomelanin. Organic (bio)electronics is showing increasing interests in eumelanin exploitation, e.g., for bio-interfaces, but the low conductivity of the material is limiting the development of eumelanin-based devices. Here, for the first time, we report an abrupt increase of the eumelanin electrical conductivity, revealing the highest value presented to date of 318 S/cm. This result, obtained via simple thermal annealing in vacuum of the material, designed on the base of the knowledge of the eumelanin chemical properties, also discloses the actual electronic nature of this material's conduction.

Electrochemotherapy as palliative treatment in patients with advanced head and neck tumours: Outcome analysis in 93 patients treated in a single institution.

PURPOSE: To describe outcomes of Electrochemotherapy as palliative treatment in patients with advanced head and neck (H&N) tumours. METHODS: Ninety-three patients (120 treatment sessions) with H&N recurrent and/or metastatic neoplasm were treated. Treatment response was assessed 4 weeks after ECT with clinical examination and two months after the first evaluation with a CT scan of the H&N for deep lesions evaluation. The grade of bleeding and pain before, at the end of treatment and one week after ECT were evaluated. RESULTS: Five percent of complete responses, 40% of partial responses were registered. Disease progression was seen in 20% of patients after the first ECT procedure, the remaining 34% of patients experienced stable disease. A good control of pain and bleeding was obtained, especially in patients with moderate symptoms before the treatment. No toxicities related to ECT were seen. CONCLUSIONS: ECT is an interesting antitumoral therapy in advanced chemo and radio-refractory H&N neoplasms. ECT is able to reduce frequent symptoms, such as pain and bleeding, improving quality of life without damage to healthy tissue and with limited side effects. Moreover, ECT reduces hospitalization time and may contribute to an overall reduction in healthcare costs associated with advanced H&N cancers care.

Electrochemically driven host-guest interactions on patterned donor/acceptor self-assembled monolayers.

Here, on ITO//Au patterned substrates SAMs of ferrocene (Fc) on the Au regions and of anthraquinone (AQ) on the ITO areas are prepared, exhibiting three stable redox states. Furthermore, by selectively oxidizing or reducing the Fc or AQ units, respectively, the surface properties are locally modified. As a proof-of-concept, such a confinement of the properties is exploited to locally form host-guest complexes with ß-cyclodextrin on specific surface regions depending on the applied voltage.