Clinical Comparison of Decentration and Tilt Effects in Iris-Claw and Trans-scleral Plug Lenses: Wavefront Analysis With a Pyramidal Sensor Aberrometer.

Purpose: To compare the aberrometric profile of the Artisan Aphakia lens (Opthec BV) and transscleral plug FIL-SSF lens (Soleko) and to assess the impact of tilt and decentration on their optical performance.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy, with a consecutive cohort of aphakic eyes undergoing secondary lens implantation with an Artisan or FIL-SSF lens. Wavefront analysis was performed using a pyramidal wavefront-based aberrometer (Osiris-T; CSO).

SARS-CoV-2 in semen: a multicenter prospective study and literature review.

Background: Despite numerous efforts to demonstrate the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in semen of affected males, no clear evidence exists. We conducted a multicenter prospective study on adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 including patients with active infection (Active Group) and with a history of COVID-19 disease at least of 6 months (Recovered Group). An RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 and a semen analysis were performed on the semen of the enrolled patients.

LEGO-Based Therapy in School Settings for Social Behavior Stimulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Comparing Peer-Mediated and Expert Intervention.

Background: LEGO-based therapy is a social development protocol that uses LEGO activities to support the development of a wide range of interaction skills, enhancing prosocial behaviors and mitigating the challenges associated with mental health difficulties and behavioral issues commonly observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of LEGO-based therapy on the social behavior and mental health of children with ASD, comparing stimulation mediated by expert and stimulation mediated by non-autistic peers. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee at Mackenzie Presbyterian University, ensuring adherence to ethical standards throughout the research process.

Case-time series study on the short-term impact of meteorological factors on West Nile Virus incidence in Italy at the local administrative unit level, 2012 to 2021.

Introduction: West Nile Virus (WNV) is a significant public health concern in southern Europe, with meteorological, climatic, and environmental factors playing a critical role in its transmission dynamics. This study aims to assess the short-term effects of meteorological variables on the incidence of WNV in five Italian regions in Northern Italy from 2012 to 2021.

Methods: Linking epidemiological data from the national surveillance system and local meteorological data, we conducted a Case-Time Series analysis to examine the association between WNV incident cases and temperature, humidity, and precipitation recorded up to ten weeks before case occurrence at the local administrative unit level.

Evaluation of nonpolar lipid extract antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.

This study assessed the diagnostic potential of nonpolar lipid extracts in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for tuberculosis (TB) serodiagnosis. Nonpolar lipid extracts were harvested from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) knockout in mce1 operon (∆mce1) and its parental wild type (WT) strains. IgM and IgG anti-nonpolar lipid serum levels were measured in TB patients (n=45), healthy individuals with positive (n=22) and negative (n=44) interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) results, and symptomatic respiratory (SR) patients with negative TB tests (n=9).

Perspectives on AI use in medicine: views of the Italian Society of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.

The first annual meeting of the Italian Society for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (Società Italiana Intelligenza Artificiale in Medicina, SIIAM) on December 7, 2023, marked a significant milestone in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into Italy's healthcare framework. This paper reports on the collaborative workshop conducted during this event, highlighting the collective efforts of 51 professionals from diverse fields including medicine, engineering, data science, and law. The interdisciplinary background of the participants played a crucial role in generating ideas for innovative AI solutions tailored to healthcare challenges.

Impact of the 2023/24 autumn-winter COVID-19 seasonal booster campaign in preventing severe COVID-19 cases in Italy (October 2023-March 2024).

We assessed the impact of the 2023/2024 COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Italy by estimating the number of averted COVID-19 severe cases (i.e. COVID-19 associated hospitalisations or deaths) between October 2023 and March 2024, in those aged ≥60 years.

Investigating Physical, Social, Emotional, and Health Frailties of Cancer Survivors after Cancer Treatment: The Urgent Call for Tailored Multidisciplinary Survivorship Plans in Italy.

Background: Understanding the specific needs of cancer survivors is essential for healthcare policy. In Italy, dedicated studies are lacking, so we aimed to investigate the physical, mental, social, and health difficulties encountered by these patients.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on breast or colorectal cancer survivors (people 5+ years free from it and its treatments) using an ad hoc survey including validated questionnaires (Grauer-Palombi, SF-36, PREDIMED).

WTAP and mA-modified circRNAs modulation during stress response in acute myeloid leukemia progenitor cells.

N-methyladenosine (mA) is one of the most prevalent and conserved RNA modifications. It controls several biological processes, including the biogenesis and function of circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are a class of covalently closed-single stranded RNAs. Several studies have revealed that proteotoxic stress response induction could be a relevant anticancer therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Risk of breakthrough infection and hospitalisation after COVID-19 primary vaccination by HIV status in four Italian regions during 2021.

Background: As of 2024, vaccination remains the main mitigation measure against COVID-19, but there are contradictory results on whether people living with HIV (PLWH) are less protected by vaccines than people living without HIV (PLWoH). In this study we compared the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalisation following full vaccination in PLWH and PLWoH.

Methods: We linked data from the vaccination registry, the COVID-19 surveillance system and from healthcare/pharmacological registries in four Italian regions.

Interlobar pulmonary sequestration with celiac aberrant artery in an elderly patient treated with combined endovascular and video-assisted thoracoscopic approach.

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital pulmonary anomaly where a portion of the lung parenchyma is supplied by an anomalous systemic artery, usually originating from the thoracic or abdominal aorta. Traditionally surgical resection and ligation of the aberrant feeding vessel are the gold standard treatments of this disease. Hybrid operations consisting in endovascular arterial embolization and surgical resection is a promising treatment option.

The impact of COVID-19 vaccination campaign on pediatric vaccine uptake based on parents' attitudes towards mandatory and recommended vaccination in Southern Italy.

Introduction: This study investigates the association between parental attitudes towards mandatory and recommended vaccines in the National Immunization Plan (NIP) of Italy and their acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5-11 years.

Methods: Using data from approximately 42,000 children in Southern Italy, parental attitudes towards previous vaccinations were examined. Mandatory and recommended vaccinations were considered for the analysis, with the first shot of each schedule being considered relevant, regardless of when it was administered or whether the recommended number of doses was administered.

RSV Disease Burden in Primary Care in Italy: A Multi-Region Pediatric Study, Winter Season 2022-2023.

Introduction: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most frequent causes of respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age, but its socioeconomic impact and burden in primary care settings is still little studied.

Methods: During the 2022/2023 winter season, 55 pediatricians from five Italian regions participated in our community-based study. They collected a nasal swab for RSV molecular test from 650 patients under the age of 5 with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and performed a baseline questionnaire.

Pre-COVID-19-pandemic RSV epidemiology and clinical burden in pediatric primary care in Italy: a comparative analysis across two regions for the 2019/2020 season.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children under 5 years have a significant clinical burden, also in primary care settings. This study investigates the epidemiology and burden of RSV in Italian children during the 2019/20 pre-pandemic winter season.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in two Italian regions.

The "cesium effect" magnified: exceptional chemoselectivity in cesium ion mediated nucleophilic reactions.

Chemodivergent construction of structurally distinct heterocycles from the same precursors by adjusting specific reaction parameters is an emergent area of organic synthesis; yet, understanding of the processes that underpin the reaction divergence is lacking, preventing the development of new synthetic methods by systematically harnessing key mechanistic effects. We describe herein cesium carbonate-promoted oxadiaza excision cross-coupling reactions of β-ketoesters with 1,2,3-triazine 1-oxides that form pyridones in good to high yields, instead of the sole formation of pyridines when the same reaction is performed in the presence of other alkali metal carbonates or organic bases. The reaction can be further extended to the construction of synthetically challenging pyridylpyridones.

A decalogue for personalized travel health assistance with AI-driven chatbots.

This article delves into the innovative integration of AI-driven chatbots in travel medicine, proposing a decalogue for creating effective, personalized health assistance tools with a practical example (a custom GPT, with OpenAI GPT-4).

Software defect prediction using learning to rank approach.

Software defect prediction (SDP) plays a significant role in detecting the most likely defective software modules and optimizing the allocation of testing resources. In practice, though, project managers must not only identify defective modules, but also rank them in a specific order to optimize the resource allocation and minimize testing costs, especially for projects with limited budgets. This vital task can be accomplished using Learning to Rank (LTR) algorithm.

The suprachoroidal space in patients affected by retinitis pigmentosa.

Background And Objective: The Suprachoroidal Space (SCS) is a theoretical structure which can be demonstrated between the inner border of the sclera and the outer boundary of the choroid. SCS is being studied for its potential uses as a route for drug delivery and innovative surgical techniques for the treatment of many retinal diseases. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited eye disorders characterized by a gradual loss of photoreceptors, resulting in vision impairment, which typically presents as night blindness and progressive visual field loss.