Metastable CoCuO Nanocrystals from Combustion-Aerosols for Molecular Sensing and Catalysis.

Metastable nanostructures are kinetically trapped in local energy minima featuring intriguing surface and material properties. To unleash their potential, there is a need for non-equilibrium processes capable of stabilizing a large range of crystal phases outside thermodynamic equilibrium conditions by closely and flexibly controlling atomic reactant composition, spatial temperature distribution and residence time. Here, the capture of metastable pseudo-binary metal oxides at room temperature is demonstrated with scalable combustion-aerosol processes.

Comparison of different frailty instruments for prediction of functional decline in older hypertensive outpatients (HYPER-FRAIL pilot study 2).

Background And Aims: Few studies have evaluated frailty in older hypertensive individuals and the most appropriate tools to identify frailty in this population have yet to be identified. This study compared the performance of six frailty instruments in the prediction of 1-year functional decline in older hypertensive outpatients.

Methods: The HYPERtension and FRAILty in Older Adults (HYPER-FRAIL) longitudinal pilot study involved hypertensive participants ≥75 years from two geriatric outpatient clinics at Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy, undergoing identification of frailty with four frailty scales (Fried Frailty Phenotype, Frailty Index [FI], Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS], Frailty Postal Score) and two physical performance tests (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB] and gait speed).

Tolerability of Antihypertensive Medications: The Influence of Age.

Introduction: Despite high prevalence of hypertension, few studies have analysed the adverse effects (AEs) of antihypertensive medications, especially in older patients.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of antihypertensive-related AEs, focusing on the influence of age on treatment tolerability.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated antihypertensive-related AEs in patients evaluated at the Hypertension Clinic of Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy, between January 2017 and July 2020.

Prevalence and correlates of frailty in older hypertensive outpatients according to different tools: the HYPER-FRAIL pilot study.

Objectives: To date, few studies have investigated frailty in hypertensive individuals. This study aimed at identifying the prevalence of frailty in a sample of hypertensive older outpatients using six different identification tools. Clinical correlates of frailty and agreement between different frailty definitions were also investigated.

Gut microbiota metabolites mediate the interplay between childhood maltreatment and psychopathology in patients with eating disorders.

Eating disorders (EDs) are syndromes with a multifactorial etiopathogenesis, involving childhood traumatic experiences, as well as biological factors. Human microbiome has been hypothesised to play a fundamental role, impacting on emotion regulation, as well as with eating behaviours through its metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The present study investigated the interactions between psychopathology of EDs, the gut microbiome and SCFAs resulting from bacterial community metabolic activities in a population of 47 patients with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder and in healthy controls (HCs).

Screening for cognitive impairment in older adults with hypertension: the HYPER-COG study.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for dementia. Yet, the most suitable cognitive screening test for hypertensive patients has yet to be identified. This study investigated cognitive impairment in hypertensive older adults and compared the discriminative ability of the most widely used cognitive screening tests.

Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Homozygous for the Mutation and Advanced Lung Disease: A 48-Week Observational Study.

Background: Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) is the newest cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator () modulator drug approved for the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) aged ≥6 years with at least one copy of the mutation () in the gene or another mutation that is responsive to treatment with ETI. This study determined the effectiveness and safety of ETI in a cohort of severely affected pwCF with an genotype.

Methods: Retrospective observational study in pwCF treated for 48 weeks, enrolled in an ETI managed access program available to subjects with advanced lung disease (ppFEV < 40).

Effectiveness and safety of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor in patients with cystic fibrosis and advanced lung disease with the Phe508del/minimal function genotype.

Background: Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (E/T/I) is a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) triple combination therapy used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients aged ≥12 years who have at least one copy of the Phe508del mutation (F) in the CFTR gene or another mutation that is responsive to treatment with E/T/I. This study determined the effectiveness and safety of E/T/I treatment in a cohort of CF patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study collected data from the first 6 months of treatment of patients with CF, compound heterozygotes for the F and a minimal function (MF) mutations, enrolled in an E/T/I compassionate use program only available to patients having ppFEV<40 or who are considered for lung transplantation.

Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor as rescue therapy in a patient with the cystic fibrosis genotype /.

// (ETI) is a cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane regulator (CFTR) modulator. It is known to be efficacious in stable patients with severe pneumopathy, but there are few data concerning its effectiveness during acute exacerbations. We here describe its use in a woman with CF and respiratory failure.

Effectiveness of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Therapy in Three Subjects with the Cystic Fibrosis Genotype Phe508del/Unknown and Advanced Lung Disease.

We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) in three subjects carrying the /unknown CFTR genotype. An ex vivo analysis on nasal epithelial cells (NEC) indicated a significant improvement of CFTR gating activity after the treatment. Three patients were enrolled in an ELX/TEZ/IVA managed-access program, including subjects with the highest percent predicted Forced Expiratory Volume in the 1st second (ppFEV) < 40 in the preceding 3 months.

Comparison of an expiratory flow accelerator device versus positive expiratory pressure for tracheobronchial airway clearance after lung cancer lobectomy: a preliminary study.

Objective: A new type of device has recently been introduced in chest physiotherapy as an aid to tracheo-bronchial airway clearance: expiratory flow accelerator (EFA). It promotes mucus clearance without generating any pressure gradient, allowing patients to breathe at tidal volume against no resistance.

Design: Pilot randomized controlled study.

Hypertension management in frail older adults: a gap in evidence.

Hypertension management is challenging in frail older adults. The balance between treatment risks and benefits may be difficult to achieve due to an increased vulnerability to treatment-related adverse events, and limited evidence is available to support clinical decisions. The effects of frailty on blood pressure are unclear, as well as its impact on antihypertensive treatment benefits.

Carotid Thrombosis in a Crack Cocaine Smoker Woman.

Introduction: We report a case of stroke in a crack smoker with occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and a large thrombus in the carotid artery. . A 34-year-old female presented with left upper arm weakness, associated with paresthesia with onset of symptoms more than 24 hours before.

[Ictus dopo una seduta dal parrucchiere.].

Riassunto. Le dissecazioni delle arterie cervicali (DAC) sono una causa inusuale di ictus ma il loro tasso di prevalenza cresce fino al 20% nella fascia di età giovane-adulta. In molti casi le dissecazioni si associano a rare malattie connettivali come la sindrome di Ehlers-Danlos, di Marfan, la fibrodisplasia.

Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 with Chlamydia or Mycoplasma pneumoniae: a case series and review of the literature.

Introduction: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has spread all over the world causing a global pandemic and representing a great medical challenge. Nowadays, there is limited knowledge on the rate of co-infections with other respiratory pathogens, with viral co-infection being the most representative agents. Co-infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been described both in adults and pediatrics whereas only two cases of Chlamydia pneumoniae have been reported in a large US study so far.

The CHADS-VASc score and Geriatric Multidimensional Assessment tools in elderly patients with persistent atrial fibrillation undergoing electrical cardioversion. A link with arrhythmia relapse?

Introduction: The CHADS-VASc score is widely used for stroke risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Our endpoints were to evaluate in an old population undergoing electrical cardioversion (ECV) of persistent AF if the CHADS-VASc was associated with some of the Geriatric Multidimensional Assessment tools and with the presence of sinus rhythm at the follow-up.

Methods: We enrolled all the consecutive patients admitted in a day-hospital setting aged ≥60 years.

CASE (CemiplimAb-rwlc Survivorship and Epidemiology) study in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

In 2018, cemiplimab-rwlc became the first systemic treatment approved by the US FDA for patients with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) or locally advanced CSCC who are not candidates for curative surgery or curative radiation. In 2019, conditional approvals were granted by Health Canada and the European Commission for the same indications. Limited data exist pertaining to the clinical characteristics, disease progression and survivorship of patients with advanced CSCC in real-world clinical practice.

Airway Clearance with Expiratory Flow Accelerator Technology: Effectiveness of the "Free Aspire" Device in Patients with Severe COPD.

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a higher risk of pulmonary infections. This risk not only negatively affects patients' quality of life but also increases social and health costs. Hence, there is a need for an effective rehabilitative treatment including airway clearance.

A real-world study evaluating adeQUacy of Existing Systemic Treatments for patients with moderate-to-severe Atopic Dermatitis (QUEST-AD): Baseline treatment patterns and unmet needs assessment.

Background: Systemic therapies are commonly used for patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and impaired quality of life (QoL). However, real-world treatment patterns and unmet needs of adults with moderate-to-severe AD receiving systemic therapies are poorly quantified.

Objective: To evaluate unmet needs in patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with systemic therapies.

Minimum Clinically Important Difference in 30-s Sit-to-Stand Test After Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Subjects With COPD.

Background: The sit-to-stand (STS) test is a feasible tool for measuring peripheral muscle strength of the lower limbs. There is evidence of increasing use of STS tests in patients with COPD. We sought to evaluate in subjects with COPD the minimum clinically important difference in 30-s STS test after pulmonary rehabilitation.

Aflibercept Plus FOLFIRI vs. Placebo Plus FOLFIRI in Second-Line Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: a Post Hoc Analysis of Survival from the Phase III VELOUR Study Subsequent to Exclusion of Patients who had Recurrence During or Within 6 Months of Completing Adjuvant Oxaliplatin-Based Therapy.

The aim of this post hoc analysis of the VELOUR study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00561470) was to investigate the treatment effect of adding aflibercept to second-line infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who had failed any prior oxaliplatin-containing regimen. Adjuvant rapid relapsers (ARR), who were enrolled directly following relapse during or within 6 months of completion of oxaliplatin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy (N = 124, including 17 patients who also received bevacizumab as part of their adjuvant therapy), were excluded from the original VELOUR intention-to-treat (ITT) population (N = 1226).

Nonlinear optical properties of Ni(Me(6)pzS(2))MX (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; X = Me(2)timdt, mnt).

In this work we investigate the second-order response of complexes of formula Ni(Me(6)pzS(2))MX (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; X = Me(2)timdt (monoanion of N,N'-disubstituted imidazolidine-2,4,5-trithione), mnt (maleonitriledithiolate)): by binding the porphyrazine to the metal-dithiolene, the electron asymmetry and pi-conjugation of the latter is increased, and its second-order response can result enhanced. By performing ab initio calculations of the ground-state and response properties of these compounds, we predict the molecular first hyperpolarizability, we elucidate its electronic origin, and we illustrate its dependence on the metal and the dithiolene ligand. Our study indicates that these complexes show a very high second-order response, comparable to that of organic "push-pull" materials, and that the appropriate metal-dithiolene combination can significantly enhance it.