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Gynaecological cancers (GCs) comprise a group of cancers that originate in the female reproductive organs. Each GC is unique, with different signs and symptoms, risk factors and therapeutic strategies. Worldwide, the majority of GCs are still associated with high mortality rates, especially ovarian, due to difficulty in early detection. Despite numerous studies on the underlying pathophysiology, research in the field of GCs poses unique scientific and technological challenges. These challenges require a concerted multi- and inter-disciplinary effort by the clinical, scientific and research communities to accelerate the advancement of prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches. Sarcopenia is a multifactorial disease which leads to the systemic loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. It can be caused by malignancies, as well as due to malnutrition, physical inactivity, ageing and neuromuscular, inflammatory, and/or endocrine diseases. Anorexia and systemic inflammation can shift the metabolic balance of patients with cancer cachexia towards catabolism of skeletal muscle, and hence sarcopenia. Therefore, sarcopenia is considered as an indicator of poor general health status, as well as the possible indicator of advanced cancer. There is a growing body of evidence showing the prognostic significance of sarcopenia in various cancers, including GCs. This review will outline the clinical importance of sarcopenia in patients with GCs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (© 2024 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ∼ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) represents the main tool for prevention of sudden cardiac death. Different kinds of postimplant complications have been described; however, little is known about shoulder functional impairment and its impact on quality of life., Methods: Patients with standard indications for elective prepectoral subcutaneous ICD insertion were enrolled during a 1-year period. The impact of ICD implantation on shoulder motility, pain, general disability, and quality of life was evaluated prospectively at baseline, and after 2 weeks, 3 months, 1 year, and 5 years using the Constant score, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scale, and the Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire., Results: A total of 50 patients underwent insertion of single, dual chamber, or biventricular ICDs. Two weeks after implantation, functional impairment and mild pain were observed in ipsilateral shoulder movements, with a reduction in the Short Form-36 Health Survey score. Shoulder functional impairment improved at the third-month evaluations, with almost normalization at 1-year and 5-year assessments, as well as pain and quality of life., Conclusions: Prepectoral subcutaneous ICD implantation may be associated with ipsilateral shoulder functional impairment that regresses partially after 3 months and completely at 1-year and 5-year assessments. The less invasive implantation technique and the relatively small size of modern ICDs, independently from types and volumes, may be relevant to the degree of postimplantation shoulder functional impairment and recovery time. Shoulder function should be assessed at routine checks, especially soon after ICD implantation because of potential functional impairment and subsequent impact on quality of life., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Subcutaneous almost substituted subpectoral approach of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation as a less invasive surgical technique. However, the impact of this change in placement site on procedure-related shoulder impairment is poorly understood., Methods: Candidates for ICD implantation were prospectively evaluated at baseline, 2-weeks and 3-months after the procedure. Assessment of shoulder function included: Constant Score, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scoring method. The Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire was adopted for quality of life., Results: Fifty consecutive patients were enrolled (21 single-chamber, 5 dual-chamber and 24 biventricular ICD). Significant changes in the short term were observed: physical component summary (regarding SF-36) decreased from 44.5 ± 9.1 to 41.8 ± 11.4 (p=0.016), patients with NRS >1 increased from 14% to 44% (p<0.001), DASH score increased from 1.29 [interquartile range 0.00-10.34] to 30.60 [interquartile range 12.93-46.34] (p<0.001). Notably, only the shoulder ipsilateral to implantation site presented a decrease in Constant Score (76.00 [interquartile range 61.37-86.87] vs. 95.75 [interquartile range 91.37-98.00]; p<0.001). After three months most of the parameters seemed to have recovered, except for range of motion. Procedure-related increase in pain (i.e. NRS increase ≥ 1 point) was the most important independent predictor of shoulder impairment, in terms of Constant Score modification (r=0.570; p<0.001)., Conclusions: ICD implantation is frequently associated with ipsilateral shoulder impairment which tends to recover within 3-months. These data positively compare with the subpectoral approach and should be considered for future research regarding impact of ICD implant on physical well-being and quality of life., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)