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Biodiversity and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are considerably impacted by invasive alien plants (IAPs). Increasing plant invasions in SSA threaten agricultural productivity, biodiversity conservation, and other socioeconomic activities, which in turn put the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in peril. In order to effectively combat IAPs, understanding their functional traits (morphological, physiological, and phenological traits) and integrating them into remote sensing (RS) is vital. While functional traits influence IAPs’ fitness to invade and establish in a new geographical range, RS aids in studying them remotely, delineating and mapping them, and predicting their potential invasions. The information on this study topic was gathered by reviewing various existing studies published between 2000 and 2024. Based on this review, it was deduced that the majority of IAPs are fast-growing (or acquisitive), with a shorter leaf lifespan, bigger leaves, and higher plant height, ultimately resulting in a higher resource acquisition ability. We established further that in SSA, there are limited studies on IAP functional traits and their integration in RS. Many studies conducted in the region focus mostly on IAP distribution. Evidence from prior studies revealed that functional trait remote sensing (FTRS)-based research not only improves detection and mapping but also predicts whether a certain alien plant can become invasive or expand its distribution range. Thus, using the FTRS approach could help IAP management in SSA, ultimately achieving the SDGs. Our review discusses IAP implications in SSA (e.g., Angola, Tanzania, Benin, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, etc.) and for the achievement of SDGs; functional traits and their impact on alien invasions; and the importance of incorporating functional traits into RS.

Background The optimal treatment for acute minor ischemic stroke is still undefined. and options include dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT), intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), or their combination. We aimed to investigate benefits and risks of combining IVT and DAPT versus DAPT alone in patients with MIS. Methods and Results This is a prespecified propensity score‐matched analysis from a prospective multicentric real‐world study (READAPT [Real‐Life Study on Short‐Term Dual Antiplatelet Treatment in Patients With Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack]). We included patients with MIS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission ≤5), without prestroke disability (modified Rankin scale [mRS] score ≤2). The primary outcomes were 90‐day mRS score of 0 to 2 and ordinal mRS distribution. The secondary outcomes included 90‐day risk of stroke and other vascular events and 24‐hour early neurological improvement or deterioration (≥2‐point National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score decrease or increase from the baseline, respectively). From 1373 patients with MIS, 240 patients treated with IVT plus DAPT were matched with 427 patients treated with DAPT alone. At 90 days, IVT plus DAPT versus DAPT alone showed similar frequency of mRS 0 to 2 (risk difference, 2.3% [95% CI −2.0% to 6.7%]; P=0.295; risk ratio, 1.03 [95% CI 0.98–1.08]; P=0.312) but more favorable ordinal mRS scores distribution (odds ratio, 0.57 [95% CI 0.41–0.79]; P

Abstract Background About 15%–20% of breast cancer (BC) cases is classified as Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor type 2 (HER2) positive. The Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was initially introduced for locally advanced and inflammatory BC patients to allow a less extensive surgical resection, whereas now it represents the current standard for early‐stage and operable BC. However, only 20%–40% of patients achieve pathologic complete response (pCR). According to the results of practice‐changing clinical trials, the addition of trastuzumab to NAC brings improvements to pCR, and recently, the use of pertuzumab plus trastuzumab has registered further statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in terms of pCR. The goal of our work is to propose a machine learning model to predict the pCR to NAC in HER2‐positive patients based on a subset of clinical features. Method First, we evaluated the significant association of clinical features with pCR on the retrospectively collected data referred to 67 patients afferent to Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II.” Then, we performed a feature selection procedure to identify a subset of features to be used for training a machine learning‐based classification algorithm. As a result, pCR to NAC was associated with ER status, Pgr status, and HER2 score. Results The machine learning model trained on a subgroup of essential features reached an AUC of 73.27% (72.44%–73.66%) and an accuracy of 71.67% (71.64%–73.13%). According to our results, the clinical features alone are not enough to define a support system useful for clinical pathway. Conclusion Our results seem worthy of further investigation in large validation studies and this work could be the basis of future study that will also involve radiomics analysis of biomedical images.

OBJECTIVE Our study aims to extend the previous research and compare two diagnostic methods performed on the ulnar nerve to validate the use of the ulnar goniometer in electromyographic diagnostic practice. Comparing the electroneurographic method, obtained through conduction velocity (CV) studies with ultrasound of the ulnar nerve in the area above the elbow and at the wrist, we aim to quantify the reliability of the ulnar goniometer compared to the diagnostic method ultrasound of the nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS The operator examined with the use of the Ulnar Goniometer, detecting the wrist-below-elbow motor conduction speed and the above-elbow speed (AE), below-elbow speed (BE) and subsequently performed an ultrasound examination of the ulnar nerve in the forearm and elbow. We calculated the degree of homogeneity between measurements. RESULTS Evaluating 30 participants of both genders with typical paresthetic symptoms of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow, 100% of the measurements show that a decrease in Motor Conduction Velocity (MCV) below 50 m/s is associated with an increase in Cross-Sectional Area (CSA). Additionally, in 89% of cases, a reduction in MCV wBE and BEAE by more than 10 m/s is correlated with an increase in CSA. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The measurement of the angle below the elbow (BE) and above the elbow (AE) using the Ulnar Goniometer provides us with a slowed Motor Conduction Velocity (MCV) that is by ultrasound data showing an increase in the Cross-Sectional Area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve in that segment, as observed in Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

Obbiettivo Il nostro studio mira a estendere la ricerca precedente e confrontare due metodi diagnostici eseguiti sul nervo ulnare per convalidare l'uso del goniometro ulnare nella pratica elettromiografica come strumento ausiliario diagnostico. Confrontando il metodo elettro-neurografico, ottenuto attraverso studi sulla velocità di conduzione (VC), con l'ecografia del nervo ulnare al canale cubitale e in corrispondenza del terzo medio dell’avambraccio, miriamo a quantificare l'affidabilità del goniometro ulnare rispetto al metodo diagnostico dell'ecografia del nervo. Materiali E Metodi l'operatore ha eseguito l'esame con l'uso del Goniometro Ulnare, rilevando la velocità di conduzione motoria dal polso al gomito e la velocità sopra il gomito (AE), sotto il gomito (BE) e successivamente ha eseguito l'ecografia del nervo ulnare nell'avambraccio e nel gomito. Abbiamo calcolato il grado di omogeneità tra le misurazioni. Risultati Valutando 30 partecipanti di entrambi i sessi con sintomi parestesici tipici di compressione del nervo ulnare al gomito, Il 100% delle misurazioni mostra che una diminuzione di MCV al di sotto di 50 m/s è associata a un aumento di CSA. Inoltre, nell'89% dei casi, una riduzione di MCV wBE e BEAE di più di 10 m/s è correlata a un aumento di CSA. Discussione e Conclusioni La misurazione dell'angolo sotto il gomito (BE) e sopra il gomito (AE) utilizzando il Goniometro Ulnare ci fornisce una Velocità di Conduzione Motoria (MCV) rallentata che è in accordo con i dati ecografici che mostrano un aumento della cosiddetta Cross Sectional Area (CSA) ossia la sezione trasversale misurata in mm2 del nervo ulnare in quel segmento, come accade nella Sindrome del Tunnel Cubitale (CTS).

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), granting patients a life expectancy close to that of the normal population and, in a subset of patients, the possibility to discontinue therapy. Nonetheless, for a not negligible minority of patients, TKIs are not able to control CML. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has long been a pivotal therapy for CML. At present, allogeneic HCT is considered an option in CML patients diagnosed or progressing to blast phase (BP), for those in chronic phase (CP) resistant to multiple lines of TKI therapy or for those experiencing severe toxicity, mostly hematologic, under TKIs. Moving from real-world cases, we reviewed the results of allogeneic HCT in the setting of advanced-phase CML or failure of TKIs, with a focus on the progresses in transplant technology that has extended transplant options in elderly CML patients and in those lacking a sibling donor, and on the post-HCT strategies for prevention and treatment of disease relapse.

Inertial focusing-based Lab-on-Chip systems represent a promising technology for cell sorting in various applications, thanks to their alignment with the ASSURED criteria recommended by the World Health Organization: Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and Robust, Equipment-free, and Delivered. Inertial focusing techniques using spiral microchannels offer a rapid, portable, and easy-to-prototype solution for cell sorting. Various microfluidic devices have been investigated in the literature to understand how hydrodynamic forces influence particle focusing in spiral microchannels. This is crucial for the effective prototyping of devices that allow for high-throughput and efficient filtration of particles of different sizes. However, a clear, comprehensive, and organized overview of current research in this area is lacking. This review aims to fill this gap by offering a thorough summary of the existing literature, thereby guiding future experimentation and facilitating the selection of spiral geometries and materials for cell sorting in microchannels. To this end, we begin with a detailed theoretical introduction to the physical mechanisms underlying particle separation in spiral microfluidic channels. We also dedicate a section to the materials and prototyping techniques most commonly used for spiral microchannels, highlighting and discussing their respective advantages and disadvantages. Subsequently, we provide a critical examination of the key details of inertial focusing across various cross-sections (rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, hybrid) in spiral devices as reported in the literature.

This article presents a case study featuring a novel modification of the A-T flap, termed the "Sorting Hat" flap, employed in dermatologic surgery for facial reconstruction. In the treatment of an 89-year-old male's squamous cell carcinoma lesion on the forehead, the "Sorting Hat" flap, introduced as an innovative alternative, eliminates the need for Burrow triangles and relies on flap shape for inconspicuous scarring and favorable cosmetic outcomes.

The plant species Erechtites hieraciifolius (Asteraceae) is here reported for the first time in Italy as a naturalized neophyte in the Classical Karst. The species was observed in 2023 in post-fire forest areas burnt by wildfires in the summer 2022. The features of findings suggest for a naturalization of the species with putative invasive character. This novel occurrence highlights the need for additional research to better understand its colonization and expansion, suggesting the need of early eradication actions.

The nose is a vital organ and an important aesthetic unit, being placed in the middle of the face. It is also one of the most frequently site involved by skin cancer, and surgical reconstruction can be sometimes challenging. We present two cases of full thickness nasal ala defect, managed with turnover flap with and without earlobe cartilage graft.

This project aims to produce a microfluidic device capable of separating 6 μm and 20 μm diameters particles by inertial sorting. This Lab-on-Chip (LoC) was designed with a trapezoidal cross-section for better fluid control and effective particle manipulation at the microscopic level, as demonstrated by COMSOL simulations. The device was manufactured on a substrate of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) by femtosecond laser technology and then assembled using an innovative geometry-preserving Isopropyl alcohol-based procedure. The LoC was test with spherical plastic microparticles of two diameters (6 μm and 20 μm) suspended in distilled water. The separation efficiencies were (98.2 ± 1.6) % for 20 μm diameter particles and (70.0 ± 1.8) % for 6 μm diameter particles in good agreement with the simulation results. Finally, after a microfluidic channels’ acetone vapors treatment, the device demonstrated a good ability to separate biological particles (Red Blood Cells) at different concentrations (20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) in a PBS buffer.

Abstract Background and aims In order to systematically review the latest evidence on anesthesia, intraoperative neurologic monitoring, postoperative heparin reversal, and postoperative blood pressure management for carotid endarterectomy. The present review is based on a single chapter of the Italian Health Institute Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of extracranial carotid stenosis and stroke prevention. Methods and results A systematic article review focused on the previously cited topics published between January 2016 and October 2020 has been performed; we looked for both primary and secondary studies in the extensive archive of Medline/PubMed and Cochrane library databases. We selected 14 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, 13 randomized controlled trials, 8 observational studies, and 1 narrative review. Based on this analysis, syntheses of the available evidence were shared and recommendations were indicated complying with the GRADE-SIGN version methodology. Conclusions From this up-to-date analysis, it has emerged that any type of anesthesia and neurological monitoring method is related to a better outcome after carotid endarterectomy. In addition, insufficient evidence was found to justify reversal or no-reversal of heparin at the end of surgery. Furthermore, despite a low evidence level, a suggestion for blood pressure monitoring in the postoperative period was formulated.

Abstract In breast cancer patients, an accurate detection of the axillary lymph node metastasis status is essential for reducing distant metastasis occurrence probabilities. In case of patients resulted negative at both clinical and instrumental examination, the nodal status is commonly evaluated performing the sentinel lymph-node biopsy, that is a time-consuming and expensive intraoperative procedure for the sentinel lymph-node (SLN) status assessment. The aim of this study was to predict the nodal status of 142 clinically negative breast cancer patients by means of both clinical and radiomic features extracted from primary breast tumor ultrasound images acquired at diagnosis. First, different regions of interest (ROIs) were segmented and a radiomic analysis was performed on each ROI. Then, clinical and radiomic features were evaluated separately developing two different machine learning models based on an SVM classifier. Finally, their predictive power was estimated jointly implementing a soft voting technique. The experimental results showed that the model obtained by combining clinical and radiomic features provided the best performances, achieving an AUC value of 88.6%, an accuracy of 82.1%, a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 78.2%. The proposed model represents a promising non-invasive procedure for the SLN status prediction in clinically negative patients.

Background Acute stroke patients with comorbid cancer (CC) are more preferably addressed with endovascular treatment (EVT) than thrombolytic therapy, due to the presumed potential risk of hemorrhagic transformation and systemic bleeding. This study aims to evaluate clinical and procedural outcomes of acute stroke patients with CC receiving EVT. Methods Using the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke, we reviewed prospectively collected data of CC patients treated with EVT from 2011 to 2017. Outcome measures were modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate, and 3‐month modified Rankin scale. We also compared CC patients with a control group without cancer (non‐comorbid cancer) receiving EVT and matched the 2 populations with a 1:1 propensity score. Results Out of 4598 stroke patients treated with EVT, 165 (3.6%) had a CC. Modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b‐3 was obtained in 73.8% of CC and 74.5% of non‐comorbid cancer patients (P=0.84), whereas the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate was 8.2% and 6.9%, respectively. Three‐month all‐cause mortality was 33.3% in CC patients and 18.6% non‐comorbid cancer patients (P

Abstract. Human intestinal spirochetosis is a rare clinicopathological condition characterized by the presence of spirochetal microorganisms on the surface of the colorectal mucosa and, in some cases, by their invasion into the lamina propria. The most frequent cause of this infection is immunocompromised status. Our case report describes a patient with relevant symptoms and endoscopic alterations, but limited invasion by spirochetes, as shown by histological analysis of ileal and colonic specimens. After histological examination, metronidazole was initiated. This resulted in rapid and complete resolution of the symptoms, which demonstrated an infectious etiology. The peculiarity of our case is that the clinical and endoscopic appearances were typical of the aggressive behavior of the disease, but histological samples showed only superficial colonization of the colonic epithelium without clear invasion of deeper layers. This case report emphasizes that the virulence of spirochetes is not strictly related to intestinal mucosal invasion.

Online reviews have been found very useful in decision-making. It is important to design and implement accurate systems to analyze the reviews and, based on textual information, predict their ratings. Given the different sources, languages and evaluating systems, intelligent systems are needed to use textual and numerical reviews to better understand the evaluation of the tourist experience and derive useful information to improve the offer. This paper aims to present an eXplainable Artificial Intelligence framework that contributes to the discussion on numerical and textual evaluations of the hospitality experience. It combines sentiment analysis and machine learning to accurately model and explain the evaluation of the tourist experience. The main findings are that review ratings should be used with caution and accompanied by a sentiment evaluation and explainability plays a central role in identifying which are the key concepts of positive or negative ratings, providing invaluable intelligence about the tourist experience.

Abstract This paper reports on the evaluation of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) “twin-chain” polymer network (TC-PN) combined with an oil-in-water nanostructured fluid (NSF) for the removal of a polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) varnish. Small Angle X-ray Scattering, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy showed that the structure of the gel and the NSF are only minimally altered by loading the fluid into the gel. The NSF is partially free to diffuse through the network, but also interacts with the gel walls. During the cleaning, the dynamics of the fluid at the gel-substrate interface are controlled by the osmotic balance taking place among the interconnected pores. These features grant effective and controlled cleaning performances. The case study identified for this research is Pablo Picasso’s The Studio (L’Atelier, 1928), one of the masterpieces in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice (PGC). In 1969 the oil painting, originally unprotected, was wax-lined and then varnished using a PVAc varnish. Over the years, the white shades of the painting have been compromised by the yellowing of the varnish and soiling of deposits. On painting mock-ups, the NSF-loaded hydrogels allowed the swelling and softening of PVAc varnish and wax layers, which were then removed with gentle mechanical action. Effective varnish and wax removal at the micron scale, and the absence of residues from the cleaning system (gel and NSF), were confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) 2D imaging. The effective and safe removal of the aged PVAc varnish and wax layer from the surface of the painting was then carried out using the same cleaning protocol successfully tested on the mock-ups, setting the NSF-loaded PVA TC-PNs as robust and reliable tools for the cleaning of sensitive works of art.

OBIETTIVO L’utilizzo del Goniometro Ulnare ha l’obiettivo standardizzare il metodo di rilevazione della Velocità di Conduzione Motoria (VCM) del nervo Ulnare mantenendo il gomito flesso ad un’angolazione standardizzata, favorendo così una più agevole e precisa misurazione. MATERIALI E METODI Le stimolazioni sono state eseguite da due diversi operatori; ogni operatore ha eseguito l'esame senza e con l'uso del Goniometro Ulnare, rilevando la Velocità di conduzione motoria polso-sotto gomito e la velocità sovragomito (above-elbow AE) sottogomito (below-elbow, BE). Abbiamo calcolato il grado di omogeneità tra le misurazioni e il coefficiente di correlazione intraclasse. RISULTATI Valutando 30 partecipanti di ambo i sessi con sintomi parestetici degli arti superiori e 30 volontari sani e asintomatici, la ripetibilità delle misurazioni tra operatori è stata modesta senza l'uso del supporto (ICC = 0,152) mentre si è riscontrato un buon accordo quando gli operatori hanno utilizzato il supporto (ICC = 0,499).. CONCLUSIONI I risultati più evidenti dello studio sono stati la riduzione della differenza tra operatori utilizzando il goniometro Ulnare, l’aumento della riproducibilità della misurazione e della specificità del test.

OBJECTIVE The use of the Ulnar Goniometer standardizes the method of detecting the Motor Conduction Velocity (MCV) of the Ulnar nerve by keeping the elbow flexed at a fixed angle, thus enabling an easier and more precise measurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS The stimulations were performed by two independent operators. We evaluated 30 participants of both genders with paresthetic symptoms of the upper limbs and 30 healthy and asymptomatic volunteers. Each operator performed the examination without and with the use of the Ulnar Goniometer, detecting the velocity of motor conduction wrist-below elbow and the speed above-elbow (AE) below-elbow (BE). Agreement between the measurements was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS The repeatability of the measurements between operators was modest without the use of the support (ICC = 0.152) while a good agreement was found when the operators used the support (ICC = 0.499). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The most obvious results of the study were the reduction of the difference between operators using the Ulnar goniometer, the increase in the repeatability of the measurements and the specificity of the test.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often develop acute respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that requires intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization and invasive mechanical ventilation, associated with a high mortality rate. In addition, many patients fail early weaning attempts, further increasing ICU length of stay and mortality. COVID-19 related ARDS can be complicated by neurological involvement with mechanisms of direct central nervous system (CNS) infection and with overlapping para-infective mechanisms of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). We aimed to evaluate the possible involvement of the brainstem and PNS in patients with COVID-19 related ARDS and difficulty in weaning from mechanical ventilation. We evaluated electroencephalogram (EEG), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), electroneurography of the four limbs and the phrenic nerve in 10 patients with respiratory insufficiency due to SARS-CoV-2. All were admitted to intensive care unit and were facing prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation. All ten patients showed a mild diffuse non-specific slowing of brain electrical activity on the EEG. Four patients had an acute motor axonal neuropathy with absent or reduced amplitude phrenic nerve CMAP while four patients showed impairment of the BAEPs. A patient with peripheral nerve impairment suggestive of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) underwent an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) cycle that led to an improvement in the weaning process and progressive motor improvement. The inclusion of a comprehensive neurological evaluation in COVID-19 patients in ICU facilitated the early identification and effective management of Nervous System involvement.

The pressure chamber is the most used tool for plant water status monitoring. However, species/cultivar and seasonal effects on protocols for reliable water potential determination have not been properly tested. In four grapevine cultivars and two times of the season (early season, Es; late season, Ls, under moderate drought), we assessed the maximum sample storage time before leaf water potential (Ψleaf) measurements and the minimum equilibration time for stem water potential (Ψstem) determination, taking 24 h leaf cover as control. In ‘Pinot gris’, Ψleaf already decreased after 1 h leaf storage in both campaigns, dropping by 0.4/0.5 MPa after 3 h, while in ‘Refosk’, it decreased by 0.1 MPa after 1 and 2 h in Es and Ls, respectively. In ‘Merlot’ and ‘Merlot Kanthus’, even 3 h storage did not affect Ψleaf. In Es, the minimum Ψstem equilibration was 1 h for ‘Refošk’ and 10 min for ‘Pinot gris’ and ‘Merlot’. In Ls, ‘Merlot Kanthus’ required more than 2 h equilibration, while 1 h to 10 min was sufficient for the other cultivars. The observed cultivar and seasonal differences indicate that the proposed tests should be routinely performed prior to experiments to define ad hoc procedures for water status determination.

IntroductionEven if now we have available the weapon of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, the patients with cancer remains a very frail population in which frequently the immunologic response to vaccination may be impaired. In this setting, the SARS-CoV-2 infection screening retains a great value. However, there are still limited data on the feasibility and efficacy of combined screening procedures to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (including asymptomatic cases) in cancer outpatients undergoing antineoplastic therapy.Patients and resultsFrom May 1, 2020, to June 15, 2020, during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, 860 consecutive patients, undergoing active anticancer therapy, were evaluated and tested for SARS-CoV-2 with a combined screening procedure, including a self-report questionnaire, a molecular nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and a rapid serological immunoassay (for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM antibodies). The primary endpoint of the study was to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (including asymptomatic cases) in consecutive and unselected cancer outpatients by a combined screening modality. A total of 2955 SARS-CoV-2 NPS and 860 serological tests, in 475 patients with hematologic cancers and in 386 with solid tumors, were performed. A total of 112 (13%) patients self-reported symptoms potentially COVID-19 related. In 1/860 cases (< 1%) SARS-CoV-2 NPS was positive and in 14 cases (1.62%) the specific serological test was positive (overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection 1.62%). Of the 112 cases who declared symptoms potentially COVID-19-related, only 2.7% (3/112) were found SARS-CoV-2 positive.ConclusionsThis is the largest study reporting the feasibility of a combined screening procedure (including triage, NPS and serologic test) to evaluate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients receiving active therapy, during the first epidemic wave and under the restrictive lockdown measures, in one of the active areas of the SARS-CoV-2 circulation. Lacking specific recommendations for the detection of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cases, a combined diagnostic screening might be more effective to detect the exact prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in neoplastic patient population. The prevalence can obviously change according to the territorial context, the entity of the restrictive measures adopted and the phase of the epidemic curve. However, its exact and real-time knowledge could be important to balance risks/benefits of oncologic treatments, avoiding (if the prevalence is low) the reduction of dose intensity or the selection of less intensive (but also less effective) anti-cancer therapies.

Rapid prototyping methods for the fabrication of polymeric labs-on-a-chip (LoC) are on the rise, as they allow high degrees of precision and flexibility. In this contest, the flexibility of ultrafast laser technology enables the rapid prototyping and high-precision micromachining of 3D LoC devices with complex microfluidic channel networks. In this paper, we describe the realization process of a microfluidic tool for fully inertial particles sorting. The microfluidic network was realized in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), exploiting femtosecond laser technology. The multilayer device was assembled through a facile and low-cost solvent-assisted method. In particular, we studied the particle focusing in curved inertial microfluidic channel with trapezoidal cross section. A particles focusing along the walls of the device, sensitive to particle size and flow rate, was observed based on the principle of Dean-coupled inertial migration in spiral microchannel.