Publications by authors named "Andrea G"

Introduction: Perioperative steroids administration in total joint arthroplasty gained popularity for pain relief, reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and enhanced recovery. The purpose of this study is to systematically review and meta-analyze comparative results of prospective randomized trials focused on the effect of systemic steroid administration at different dosages in THA for hip osteoarthritis. The hypothesis is that perioperative systemic steroid administration has a positive impact on postoperative outcomes.

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Background: The association between cannabis and psychosis is established, but the role of underlying genetics is unclear. We used data from the EU-GEI case-control study and UK Biobank to examine the independent and combined effect of heavy cannabis use and schizophrenia polygenic risk score (PRS) on risk for psychosis.

Methods: Genome-wide association study summary statistics from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and the Genomic Psychiatry Cohort were used to calculate schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder (CUD) PRS for 1098 participants from the EU-GEI study and 143600 from the UK Biobank.

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Objectives: Pathways to Care (PtC) are useful indicators of how patients access mental healthcare, especially in the context of first-episode psychosis (FEP). We explored how PtC: source of referral, is associated with patients' characteristics and clinical presentation and assessed the cross-country differences of the PtC predictors between South London and Bologna.

Methods: This study included 427 FEP individuals in the context of the European Union Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study.

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Scabies, an old parasitic disease with a worldwide presence, has witnessed a recent resurgence in many parts of the world even in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a study on this resurgence in the Italian province of Messina, Sicily, evaluating the general features of affected people to better understand the possible modes of transmission. Specifically, we considered all the scabies notifications made in the period 2003-2022.

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  • * The procedure involves lifting the buccal fat pad and sinus mucosa under general anesthesia, then filling the resulting gap with a biomaterial that supports osseointegration.
  • * With sufficient surgical experience, this method is considered a reliable solution for successful dental implant placement in the maxillary posterior area.
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Background: In adults, the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is very rare. This tumor has radiological features similar to those of a vestibular schwannoma in the few cases reported in the literature.

Methods: In this study, we conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol and scrutinized all original studies pertaining to pontocerebellar angle PA in adult patients.

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  • - The study investigates the link between urban living conditions (urbanicity) and schizotypy, a potential precursor to psychosis, suggesting this relationship varies significantly between North-western and Southern Europe.
  • - Researchers assessed 1080 individuals across 14 sites in both regions, measuring urbanicity through local population density and controlling for factors like age and childhood experiences.
  • - Findings reveal that higher population density is strongly associated with increased schizotypy in North-western Europe, while the effect is notably weaker in Southern Europe, indicating that urbanization’s impact on mental health is not uniform across different contexts.
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  • The study investigates how current cannabis use and high-potency cannabis affect DNA methylation patterns in individuals experiencing first-episode psychosis (FEP), comparing them to non-users.
  • Researchers analyzed blood samples from 682 participants, identifying a significant CpG site associated with cannabis use that could influence mental health through epigenetic changes.
  • Findings suggest cannabis use affects genes related to immune and mitochondrial functions, with implications for understanding how cannabis may impact mental health, especially in those with psychosis.
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  • Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) using biventricular (BIV) pacing is aimed at heart failure patients but some don't respond; MultiPoint Pacing (MPP) might offer better results for these non-responders.
  • In a study with 3724 patients treated with BIV, 1639 were identified as non-responders and some were randomized to MPP or continued BIV pacing.
  • Results showed MPP led to better outcomes with a 33% success rate in reducing heart failure events compared to 23.5% in BIV, and MPP also resulted in fewer hospitalizations for heart failure.
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  • Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is a rare genetic condition linked to impaired gene expression due to mutations affecting chromatin proteins, leading to various developmental issues.
  • A study focused on a 10-year-old girl with signs of WSS utilized whole exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger resequencing to identify a new mutation in the KMT2A gene, which is considered likely pathogenic.
  • Computational modeling of the mutated protein indicated that this change could disrupt its functionality by altering its DNA binding capabilities, providing further insight into the genetic basis of WSS.
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Purpose: To provide a detailed examination of the arterial blood supply to the middle third of the nasal skin through cadaveric dissections, identifying the primary arterial sources and their precise locations.

Methods: Cadaveric dissections were performed on 14 hemifaces from fresh specimens. The main feeding arteries and their branches were carefully dissected under magnification.

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Purpose: To explore the future of former anatomy tutors, their perception of the impact that the anatomy near-peer teaching (NPT) program have had on them, in terms of academic performance, professional development, personal growth, long-term anatomical knowledge, and views on body donor ethics. Additionally, we compared their academic performance with non-tutor peers in terms of ranking at the National Qualifying Examination (NQE).

Methods: A voluntary survey was emailed to all anatomy tutors from 2005 to 2024, using an online Google Forms questionnaire including closed and open-ended questions across four themes.

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High health care prices cause significant harm to individuals, businesses, communities, and society at large. These harms include reduced access to care, rising medical debt, lower wages, more inequity, and a growing burden on businesses and governments. Despite widespread recognition of the issue, there has been insufficient action to address it effectively.

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Cannabis use is associated with increased psychosis incidence alongside worse outcomes. The role of cannabis may be complex, vary across patients and over time. Yet, few have examined the longer-term trajectories of cannabis use, symptoms and functioning and their inter-relationships.

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  • Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) affects about 30% of people with Major Depressive Disorder, and a new nasal spray called Esketamine (ESK-NS) has been approved to help treat it when combined with certain medications.
  • Researchers wanted to see if combining Vortioxetine, another antidepressant, with ESK-NS was just as good or better than the usual treatment.
  • The results showed that the Vortioxetine and ESK-NS combo worked well to reduce depression and had fewer side effects, suggesting it could be a better option, but more research is needed to be sure.
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The coordinated action of transcriptional and post-transcriptional machineries shapes gene expression programs at steady state and determines their concerted response to perturbations. We have developed Nanodynamo, an experimental and computational workflow for quantifying the kinetic rates of nuclear and cytoplasmic steps of the RNA life cycle. Nanodynamo is based on mathematical modelling following sequencing of native RNA from cellular fractions and polysomes.

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  • Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with a low five-year survival rate of only 6.8%, and current treatment methods have not changed in over a decade despite advances in understanding its biology.
  • The hTERT promoter mutations, found in up to 80% of GBM cases, present a potential target for therapy through telomerase inhibition, which is essential for cancer cell proliferation.
  • This systematic review analyzed 777 articles to assess telomerase-targeted therapies, revealing that while some compounds show promise in preclinical stages, they often fail in clinical trials due to complex biological challenges and poor pharmacokinetics.
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: Spinal cord lymphomas represent a minority of extranodal lymphomas and often pose diagnostic challenges by imitating primary spinal tumors or inflammatory/infective lesions. This paper presents a unique case of primary cauda equina lymphoma (PCEL) and conducts a comprehensive review to delineate the clinical and radiological characteristics of this rare entity. : A 74-year-old male presented with progressive paresthesia, motor weakness, and symptoms indicative of cauda equina syndrome.

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We report the experience of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide for nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis in sexual assault cases. Between June 2021 and October 2023, 39 individuals completed the 28-day follow-up; 41% experienced some side effects, and 1 person discontinued the drug because of a rash. No individuals seroconverted to HIV during the follow-up period.

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Objective: To evaluate taste disorders after middle ear surgery, their modifying factors especially chorda tympani nerve injury or underlying otologic disease. We investigated consequences of taste disorders on quality of life.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

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  • Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) is a significant health issue that's hard to tackle due to its complex nature and varied symptoms, prompting the need for better treatment strategies.
  • The SelecTool Project is introduced as a computational tool that combines clinical data, EEG, and blood biomarkers using machine learning to personalize TRD treatments, specifically focusing on esketamine nasal spray and accelerated repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
  • The project involves two main phases: first, a study with 100 TRD subjects to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments, and then training the tool to assist in managing an additional 20 subjects, ultimately aiming to improve TRD treatment outcomes through advanced data analysis.
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