Leonardo Di Gennaro

We investigated if children with Long COVID (n=14) have activated platelets compared with healthy controls (n=14). Platelet activation and secretion markers were investigated by flow cytometry using MoAbs directed against P-selectin, CD63, and PAC-1 in quiescent platelets and in platelets stimulated with 10-µM adenosine diphosphate and 25-µM protease activated receptor 1-activating peptide. Circulating platelets of patients with Long COVID had significantly increased expression of the activation marker cytometry using MoAbs directed against P-selectin (P = 0.019).

This systematic review and meta-analyses aimed to assess whether malnutrition may increase the incidence of oral cancer. Following the PRISMA statement, the research was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE via OVID without any time restrictions. The risk of bias was assessed, and the quality of evidence for each performed meta-analysis was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Sixty-one articles met the inclusion criteria and seven studies underwent quantitative evaluation. For our meta-analysis on hypovitaminosis B, three studies with a total of 90,011 patients were included. An odds ratio of 2.22 was found. Our meta-analysis on the correlation between vitamin C and oral cancer included one study with a total of 866 patients and the derived odds ratio was 1.06. Our meta-analysis on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of oral cancer included three studies with a total of 12,087 patients and the odds ratio was −2.58. The GRADE system showed a moderate strength of evidence due to the presence of studies with a high risk of bias and high indirectness of the data given. The present findings suggest that an inadequate intake of vitamins, particularly vitamin D, poses a risk for the onset of oral cancer.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) disease is the second leading cause of mortality in cancer patients. In the general population, the annual incidence of a thromboembolic event is about 117 cases per 100,000 persons, but cancer increases this risk about fourfold, while in patients receiving chemotherapy and surgical treatment, it is about sevenfold. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer and represents a multistep process in which environmental factors and genetic alterations are implicated. Thrombotic risk is considered empirically low in OSCC patients, although few data are available. Having limited information available may result in poor awareness of VTE prevention in OSCC, risking jeopardising the oncologic treatment and increasing the morbidity and mortality among these patients. In this paper, the topic of OSCC-associated thrombosis will be discussed.

Oncologists continue to prefer traditional low molecular weight heparins over direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) cancer-related. Recently published studies supporting the use DOACs in this patient setting confirm the safety and efficacy of the treatment, but this still does not seem to be enough. The major obstacles to their use are interaction with chemotherapeutic agents, fear of haemorrhage, poor habit of using DOACs for VTE prophylaxis. But what if the haemostasis and thrombosis laboratory reassured oncologists? In this short report we talk about this topic in order to stimulate a fruitful discussion between expert.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) and vitamin K antagonist drugs (VKA) are recommended for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and for treatment of venous thromboembolism. Undoubtedly, DOAC ha...