The GLP-1R agonist semaglutide reshapes pancreatic cancer associated fibroblasts reducing collagen proline hydroxylation and favoring T lymphocyte infiltration.

Background: Metabolic syndrome represents a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) risk factor. Metabolic alterations favor PDAC onset, which occurs early upon dysmetabolism. Pancreatic neoplastic lesions evolve within a dense desmoplastic stroma, consisting in abundant extracellular matrix settled by cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs).

[Factors influencing pain during intrauterine device insertion].

Objectives: Fear of pain during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion remains a barrier to its adoption. In the absence of consensus on an optimal pharmacological strategy, it is crucial to determine the factors influencing this pain to reassure and improve the patient experience.

Methods: It was a prospective study conducted in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur between August 2023 and 2024, interviewing adult patients and healthcare professionals during consultations for IUD insertion.

Efficacy of myo-inositol and zinc on insulin resistance in a paediatric population with obesity.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of the combined administration of myo-inositol and zinc, a mineral involved in the insulin pathway, in paediatric obesity with insulin resistance on HOMA-IR, glucose-insulin metabolism, and lipid profile.

Materials And Methods: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted in North Italy. Fifty-six patients (10-18 years, Tanner stage ≥3) with obesity and insulin resistance were randomized to myo-inositol (2000 mg), zinc gluconate (5 mg), and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) from plant-based origin (1000 mg) (TRT) or placebo (PLC) containing only GOS from plant-based origin (1000 mg).

Antibody-based delivery of interleukin-2 modulates the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and achieves cure in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma syngeneic mice.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and deadly type of cancer, with an extremely low five-year overall survival rate. To date, current treatment options primarily involve various chemotherapies, which often prove ineffective and are associated with substantial toxicity. Furthermore, immunotherapies utilizing checkpoint inhibitors have shown limited efficacy in this context, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies.

Reliability of an electronic uterine diagram to standardize intrauterine adhesion scoring.

Study Objective: To study the inter-rater reliability of an electronic complementary uterine diagram (eAFS) in comparison to the conventional American Fertility Society intrauterine adhesions (IUA) scoring system (cAFS). As a secondary aim we wanted to assess the intra-rater reliability of these tools.

Design: This was an observational cross over study with a nested test re-test design.

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis reveals key stromal prognostic markers in pancreatic cancer.

In recent years, it has been shown that stroma compartment can favor tumor proliferation and aggressiveness. Although extensive research with network analyses such as Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) has been conducted on pancreatic cancer and its stromal components, WGCNA has not previously been applied to isolate and identify genes associated with the abundance of stroma and survival outcome from bulk RNA data. We investigated the gene expression profile and clinical information of 140 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients from TCGA.

Paediatric Personalized Research Network Switzerland (SwissPedHealth): a joint paediatric national data stream.

Introduction: Children represent a large and vulnerable patient group. However, the evidence base for most paediatric diagnostic and therapeutic procedures remains limited or is often inferred from adults. There is an urgency to improve paediatric healthcare provision based on real-world evidence generation.

Colorectal cancer patients-derived immunity-organoid platform unveils cancer-specific tissue markers associated with immunotherapy resistance.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a devastating disease, ranking as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as promising treatments; however, their efficacy is largely restricted to a subgroup of microsatellite instable (MSI) CRCs. In contrast, microsatellite stable (MSS) CRCs, which account for the majority of cases, exhibit variable and generally weaker response to ICIs, with only a subset demonstrating exceptional responsiveness.

Local ablation disrupts immune evasion in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterised by late diagnosis, tumour heterogeneity, and a peculiar immunosuppressive microenvironment, leading to poor clinical outcomes. Local ablative techniques have been proposed to treat unresectable PC patients, although their impact on activating the host immune system and overcoming resistance to immunotherapy remains elusive.

Methods: We dissected the immune-modulatory abilities triggered by local ablation in mouse and human PC models and human specimens, integrating phenotypic and molecular technologies with functional assays.

The Adaptative Modulation of the Phosphinito-Phosphinous Acid Ligand: Computational Illustration Through Palladium-Catalyzed Alcohol Oxidation.

The phosphinito-phosphinous acid ligand (PAP) is a singular bidentate-like self-assembled ligand exhibiting dissymmetric but interchangeable electronic properties. This unusual structure has been used for the generation of active palladium hydride through alcohol oxidation. In this paper, we report the first theoretical highlight of the adaptative modulation ability of this ligand within a direct H-abstraction path for Pd and Pt catalyzed alcohol oxidation.

Italian versions of the optimal screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome Yellow Flag (OSPRO-YF) and the Örebro Musculoskeletal pain screening questionnaire (ÖMPQ-21) and their short forms, in patients with low back pain: Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Early detection of prognostic factors using the Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome Yellow Flag (OSPRO-YF) or the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPQ-21) can predict improvement in pain and disability for patients with nonspecific LBP.

Objectives: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the OSPRO-YF and the ÖMPQ-21 with their short versions into the Italian language and to test their measurement properties in patients with LBP.

Eustigmatophyte model of red-shifted chlorophyll a absorption in light-harvesting complexes.

Photosynthetic organisms harvest light for energy. Some eukaryotic algae have specialized in harvesting far-red light by tuning chlorophyll a absorption through a mechanism still to be elucidated. Here, we combined optically detected magnetic resonance and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance measurements on red-adapted light-harvesting complexes, rVCP, isolated from the freshwater eustigmatophyte alga Trachydiscus minutus to identify the location of the pigments responsible for this remarkable adaptation.

Risk factors and influence of surgical technique on the risk of caesarean scar defect formation: A systematic review of the literature.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with an increased risk of cesarean scar defect formation.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed up to July 2022 in PubMed databases following the PRISMA recommendations. All available English-language clinical studies presenting one or more factors that may affect the risk of cesarean scar defect were included.

An unusual triplet population pathway in the Reaction Centre of the Chlorophyll-d binding Photosystem I of A. marina, as revealed by a combination of TR-EPR and ODMR spectroscopies.

Photo-induced Chlorophyll (Chl) triplet states in the isolated Photosystem I (PSI) of Acaryochloris marina, that harbours Chl d as its main pigment, were investigated by Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance (ODMR) and Time-Resolved Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (TR-EPR), and as a function of pre-illumination of the sample under reducing redox poising. Fluorescence Detected Magnetic Resonance (FDMR) allowed resolving four Chl d triplet (Chl d) populations (T-T) both in untreated and illuminated samples in the presence of ascorbate and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD). The FDMR signals increased following the pre-illumination treatment, particularly for the T and T populations, which are therefore sensitive to the redox state of PSI cofactors.

Integrated environmental and clinical surveillance for the prevention of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in indoor environments and vulnerable communities (Stell-ARI): Protocol.

The epidemiological relevance of viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs) has been dramatically highlighted by COVID-19. However, other viruses cannot be neglected, such as influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, human adenovirus. These viruses thrive in closed spaces, influenced by human and environmental factors.

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of the peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) complex from Heterocapsa pygmaea (HPPCP).

Light harvesting proteins are optimized to efficiently collect and transfer light energy for photosynthesis. In eukaryotic dinoflagellates these complexes utilize chlorophylls and a special carotenoid, peridinin, and arrange them for efficient excitation energy transfer. At the same time, the carotenoids protect the system by quenching harmful chlorophyll triplet states.

Hepatitis C epidemiology and treatment outcomes in Italy: Impact of the DAA era and the COVID-19 pandemic.

HCV infection poses a global health threat, with significant morbidity and mortality. This study examines HCV trends in a large Italian region from 2015 to 2022, considering demographic changes, evolving clinical profiles, treatment regimens and outcomes, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This multicentre retrospective study analysed demographics, clinical histories and risk factors in 6882 HCV patients.

Surviving adversity: Exploring the presence of Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum. on metal-polluted mining waste.

The tailings dump of Barraxiutta (Sardinia, Italy) contains considerable concentrations of heavy metals and, consequently, is scarcely colonized by plants. However, wild populations of the liverwort Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum.

Association between hospital procedure volume, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and adverse events related to surgical abortion: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: Limited evidence exists on the influence of hospital procedure volume, socioeconomic status, and comorbidities on surgical abortion outcomes.

Objective: Our study aimed to assess the association between hospital procedure volume, individual and neighborhood deprivation, comorbidities, and abortion-related adverse events.

Study Design: A nationwide population-based cohort study of all women hospitalized for surgical abortion was conducted from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 in France.

Microwave ablation followed by cTACE in 5-cm HCC lesions: does a single-session approach affect liver function?

Purpose: Microwave ablation (MWA) and conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) are locoregional treatments commonly performed in very early, early and intermediate stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite combined locoregional approaches have shown encouraging results in obtaining complete tumor necrosis, their application in a single session is poorly described. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of single-session MWA and cTACE treatment in 5-cm HCCs and its influence on liver function.

Techno-economic evaluation of GHG emissions mitigation of biomethane upgrading technologies.

The current trend in the European biogas industry is to shift away from electricity production towards the production of biomethane for the need to replace natural gas. The upgrading of biogas to biomethane is normally performed by separating the biogas in a stream containing natural gas grid quality methane and a stream containing mostly CO. The CO stream is normally released into the atmosphere; however, part of the methane may still remain in it, and, if not oxidized, even a small fraction of methane released may jeopardise all the GHG emissions savings from producing the biomethane, being methane a powerful climate forcer.

Cellular collusion: cracking the code of immunosuppression and chemo resistance in PDAC.

Despite the efforts, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still highly lethal. Therapeutic challenges reside in late diagnosis and establishment of peculiar tumor microenvironment (TME) supporting tumor outgrowth. This stromal landscape is highly heterogeneous between patients and even in the same patient.