Extracellular vesicles-derived miR-21 as a biomarker for early diagnosis and tumor activity in breast cancer subtypes.

Emerging evidence highlights the key role of microRNA (miR)-21 in cell-to-cell communication and tumorigenesis. However, limited knowledge exists on the levels and clinical meaning of miR-21 in extracellular vesicles (EVs) of patients with breast cancer (BC). We assessed EV-derived miR-21 levels in one hundred women: 30 with early BC (EBC), 30 with metastatic BC on treatment progression (MBC), 30 cancer survivors on follow-up (FU) and 10 healthy donors (HD) as age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls.

Tregs levels and phenotype modifications during Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis course.

Introduction: T regulatory cells (Tregs) inversely correlate with disease progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and fast-progressing ALS patients have been reported to exhibit dysfunctional, as well as reduced, levels of Tregs. This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal changes in Tregs among ALS patients, considering potential clinical and biological modifiers of their percentages and concentrations. Additionally, we explored whether measures of ALS progression, such as the decline over time in the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-r) or forced vital capacity (FVC) correlated Treg levels and whether Treg phenotype varied during the course of ALS.

The molecular features of lung cancer stem cells in dedifferentiation process-driven epigenetic alterations.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) may be dedifferentiated somatic cells following oncogenic processes, representing a subpopulation of cells able to promote tumor growth with their capacities for proliferation and self-renewal, inducing lineage heterogeneity, which may be a main cause of resistance to therapies. It has been shown that the "less differentiated process" may have an impact on tumor plasticity, particularly when non-CSCs may dedifferentiate and become CSC-like. Bidirectional interconversion between CSCs and non-CSCs has been reported in other solid tumors, where the inflammatory stroma promotes cell reprogramming by enhancing Wnt signaling through nuclear factor kappa B activation in association with intracellular signaling, which may induce cells' pluripotency, the oncogenic transformation can be considered another important aspect in the acquisition of "new" development programs with oncogenic features.

Nature-based interventions for individuals with rare skeletal disorders: evaluation of a 5-day sailing program on health-related quality of life.

Individuals with rare skeletal disorders like Multiple Osteochondromas and Ollier Disease often experience physical and psychological burdens. Adventure therapy, with activities like sailing in outdoor settings, promotes personal growth and psychological well-being, potentially improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a sailing program on health-related quality of life and participant satisfaction in individuals with Multiple Osteochondromas and Ollier Disease.

Combining gemcitabine and MSC delivering soluble TRAIL to target pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its stroma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) still has a poor response to therapies, partly due to their cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Here, we investigate the synergistic impact of a combinatory approach between a known chemotherapy agent, such as gemcitabine (GEM), and gene-modified human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) secreting the pro-apoptotic soluble (s)TRAIL (sTRAIL MSCs) on both PDAC cells and CAFs. The combo significantly impacts on PDAC survival in 2D and 3D models.

Cognitive, behavioral and socio-communication skills as predictors of response to Early Start Denver Model: a prospective study in 32 young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Introduction: The effectiveness of early interventions in young autistic children is well established, but there is great interindividual variability in treatment response. Predictors of response to naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBI), like the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), are needed.

Methods: We conducted an exploratory study to prospectively seek predictors of response in 32 young children treated with ESDM after receiving an ASD diagnosis.

Detectable Virological Load and Associated Factors among People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Treatment: A Retrospective Study.

The complete and prolonged suppression of viral load is the primary objective of HAART in people living with HIV. Some people may experience therapeutic failure, while others may achieve virological suppression but are unable to maintain it, developing persistent or single detection of low-level viremia. This study aims to evaluate the determinants of a detectable viral load among patients on HAART to identify and address them promptly.

Osteogenesis imperfecta: a cross-sectional study of skeletal and extraskeletal features in a large cohort of Italian patients.

Introduction: The present study aims to describe a large cohort of Italian patients affected by osteogenesis imperfecta, providing a picture of the clinical bony and non-bony features and the molecular background to improve knowledge of the disease to inform appropriate management in clinical practice.

Methods: A total of 568 subjects (from 446 unrelated Italian families) affected by osteogenesis imperfecta who received outpatient care at Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli from 2006 to 2021 were considered in the present study.

Results: Skeletal and extraskeletal features were analyzed showing a lower height (mean z-scores equal to -1.

Physical activity practiced at a young age is associated with a less severe subsequent clinical presentation in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Background: In facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), it is not known whether physical activity (PA) practiced at young age is associated with the clinical presentation of disease. To assess this issue, we performed a retrospective cohort study concerning the previous practice of sports and, among them, those with medium-high cardiovascular commitment in clinically categorized carriers of a D4Z4 reduced allele (DRA).

Methods: People aged between 18 and 60 were recruited as being DRA carriers.

The incidence and risk factors of selected drug prescriptions and outpatient care after SARS-CoV-2 infection in low-risk subjects: a multicenter population-based cohort study.

Background: Knowledge about the dynamics of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical aspects of COVID-19 has steadily increased over time, although evidence of the determinants of disease severity and duration is still limited and mainly focused on older adult and fragile populations.

Methods: The present study was conceived and carried out in the Emilia-Romagna (E-R) and Veneto Regions, Italy, within the context of the EU's Horizon 2020 research project called ORCHESTRA (Connecting European Cohorts to increase common and effective response to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic) (www.orchestra-cohort.

Weight loss trend after bariatric surgery in a population of obese patients.

Background And Aims: Bariatric Surgery (BS) is a therapeutic option in patients with severe obesity whose non-surgical techniques have failed. No work has previously explored trajectories of weight loss and how long this was maintained. Aim of study is to describe effect of BS and nutritional intervention on body weight trend in patients with obesity.

Factors Associated with Pneumonia in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 and the Role of Vaccination.

Patients with COVID-19 can develop different forms of the illness with more or less severe symptoms. A 2-year retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with the development of pneumonia in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 2020 to February 2022. A total of 385 patients (59.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of rapamycin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

In preclinical studies rapamycin was found to target neuroinflammation, by expanding regulatory T cells, and affecting autophagy, two pillars of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. Herein we report a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial, in 63 ALS patients who were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive rapamycin 2 mg/m/day,1 mg/m/day or placebo (EUDRACT 2016-002399-28; NCT03359538). The primary outcome, the number of patients exhibiting an increase >30% in regulatory T cells from baseline to treatment end, was not attained.

Association between ABO blood groups and SARS-CoV-2 infection in blood donors of Puglia region.

This is an observational multicentric cross-sectional study aiming at assessing the association between ABO blood groups and SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among the blood donors in Puglia region. Data on ABO and Rh blood groups and demographic characteristics were obtained from Blood Bank Information System. All donors were screened for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies.

Prognosticating Mortality of Primary Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Extracorporeal Life Support: The RESCUE Score.

We aimed to identify prognostic laboratory markers during extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in patients with primary refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS) and to create a preliminary specific mortality score. All 208 consecutive subjects admitted for primary RCS and treated with ECLS between January-2009 and December-2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate regression analysis on laboratory markers during the first nine days of ECLS was used to develop a "Refractory End-stage Shock CUred with Ecls" (RESCUE) score.

Efficacy of a multiple-component and multifactorial personalized fall prevention program in a mixed population of community-dwelling older adults with stroke, Parkinson's Disease, or frailty compared to usual care: The PRE.C.I.S.A. randomized controlled trial.

Background: Fall risk in the elderly is a major public health issue due to the injury-related consequences and the risk of associated long-term disability. However, delivering preventive interventions in usual clinical practice still represents a challenge.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a multiple-component combined with a multifactorial personalized intervention in reducing fall rates in a mixed population of community-dwelling elderly compared to usual care.

The Role of ABO Blood Type in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection has caused over 422 million contagions and 5.8 million deaths resulting in a global health crisis. Several studies have investigated the risk factors predisposing to the infection and reported that the host susceptibility can be linked to the ABO blood group, but the current evidence is controversial.

Preanalytical DNA assessment for downstream applications: How to optimize the management of human biospecimens to support molecular diagnosis-An experimental study.

Background: The development of next-generation sequencing approaches has accelerated the diagnostic process, although at present, there is a lack of a clear consensus on efficient management of human samples for downstream applications. This study aims to investigate timeframe (in terms of short preservation), temperature, and additional preservation procedures (i.e.

The Influence of Cancer Stem Cells on the Risk of Relapse in Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Lung cancer relapse may be associated with the presence of a small population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) with unlimited proliferative potential. Our study assessed the relationship between CSCs and the relapse rate in patients harboring adenocarcinoma (ADL) and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL).

Experimental Design: This is an observational prospective cohort study (NCT04634630) assessing the influence of CSC frequency on relapse rate after major lung resection in 35 patients harboring early (I-II) (n = 21) and locally advanced (IIIA) (n = 14) ADL and SCCL.

First-trimester prediction model for placental vascular disorders: An observational prospective study.

This study aims to develop a multivariable predictive model for the risk of placental vascular complications (PVC), by using biochemical, biophysical, anamnestic and clinical maternal features available at the first trimester. PVC include gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, placenta abruption, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and stillbirth. Prospective study that included all singleton pregnancies attending the first-trimester aneuploidy screening (11 +0-12 +6 weeks) at Obstetrics Unit of the University Hospital of Modena, in Northern Italy, between June 2018 and December 2019.