The actual impact of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic on IVF activity: a survey across Italian ART centers

Purpose

Since the end of February 2020, SARS-CoV-2 dramatically spread in Italy. To ensure that most of National Health System (NHS) resources were employed to control the pandemic, non-urgent medical procedures (including IVF) were suspended in March 2020. Here, we aimed at assessing the impact of the restrictive measures on Italian IVF activity.

Methods

In May 2020, the Italian ART Register launched an online survey (multiple choices and open answers) across ART centers (89.0% response rate; N = 170/191) to investigate how they were facing the emergency and estimate the reduction in their activity. In February 2022, the official data of the whole 2020 were published and retrospectively analyzed. The ART cycles conducted in Italy in 2020 (67,928 by 57,423 patients) were then compared to those conducted in 2019 (82,476 by 67,633 patients). The estimates formulated through the survey were compared to the actual reduction.

Results

In 2020, 14,548 less IVF cycles were conducted with respect to 2019 (− 17.6% reduction). This led to 2539 fewer live births (− 19.8%) than 2019. If the reduction unveiled by the survey launched in May 2020 (i.e., − 35%) would have persisted throughout 2020, a significantly larger impact was expected (4200 less newborns). Instead, the activity was gradually recovered, and it compensated the months of greatest emergency, thus fulfilling the most optimistic scenario.

Conclusions

Italy suffers from the lowest birth rate in Europe, and COVID-19 impact on IVF-derived live births testified how key ART is for Italian demographics. The government should support access to these treatments with dedicated actions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10815-022-02600-2.

Interleukin-34 sustains pro-tumorigenic signals in colon cancer tissue

Interleukin-34 (IL-34), a cytokine produced by a wide range of cells, binds to the macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (M-CSFR-1) and receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase zeta (PTP-z) and controls myeloid cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. various types of cancers over-express IL-34 but the role of the cytokine in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. We here investigated the expression and functional role of IL-34 in CRC. A more pronounced expression of IL-34 was seen in CRC samples as compared to matched normal/benign colonic samples and this occurred at both RNA and protein level. Immunohistochemical analysis of CRC tissue samples showed that both cancer cells and lamina propria mononuclear cells over-expressed IL-34. Additionally, CRC cells expressed both M-CSFR-1 and PTP-z, thus suggesting that CRC cells can be responsive to IL-34. Indeed, stimulation of DLD-1 cancer cells with IL-34, but not with MSCF1, enhanced the cell proliferation and cell invasion without affecting cell survival. Analysis of intracellular signals underlying the mitogenic effect of IL-34 revealed that the cytokine enhanced activation of ERK1/2 and pharmacologic inhibition of ERK1/2 abrogated IL-34-driven cell proliferation. Consistently, IL-34 knockdown in HT-29 cells with a specific IL-34 antisense oligonucleotide reduced ERK1/2 activation, cell proliferation and enhanced the susceptibility of cells to Oxaliplatin-induced death. This is the first study showing up-regulation of IL-34 in CRC and suggesting a role for this cytokine in colon tumorigenesis.

Thoracoscopic approach to giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease)

We describe the case of a thoracoscopic approach to giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) located in the mediastinum. In our patient the initial diagnosis was substernal goiter, but at cervical exploration the mass was found not to be continuous with the thyroid. The mass was easily identified through a lateral thoracoscopic approach and carefully removed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home on the fifth postoperative day. Histopathology revealed the features of Castleman's disease, mixed type. The prevalence, location, and pathogenesis of giant lymph node hyperplasia are described, together with the histology and clinical signs. Our report is proposed as the first case of an endoscopic approach to giant lymph node hyperplasia, which could be the best surgical approach for a mediastinal location.

[Radiotherapy of cancer of the uterine cervix and successive appearance of new malignant growth in the irradiated field]

Among the late complications of high-dosage pelvic radiotherapy for cervical cancer, anorectal and bladder malignancies are sporadically reported in the literature. In this study the possible relationships of previous radiotherapy with late appearance of neoplasms are analyzed and in particular post-radiotherapy interval, dosage and type or irradiation to the cervical area. The mechanisms or neoplastic transformation or irradiated tissues are also studied. Three clinical cases or women irradiated in the past because or cervical cancer and recently treated at our surgical Division for the appearance or four new pelvic malignancies in the irradiated field (three rectal and one bladder cancer are presented. In conclusion, the possible cause-effect relationships between previous radiotherapy and subsequent appearance of neoplasms are analyzed as well as the potential therapeutical consequences or considering these women high-risk subjects. The usefulness or recruiting women with history or previous radiotherapy for cervical cancer in a strict follow-up program (ultrasonography, cytology and endoscopy) is suggested in order to make an early diagnosis of the new pelvic malignancy with a better possibility or treatment.