Can a Shorter Dwell Time Reduce Infective Complications Associated with the Use of Umbilical Catheters?

Background: Umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) are the standard of care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to administer fluids, parenteral nutrition and medications, although complications may occur, including central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs). However, the dwell time to reduce CLABSI risk remains an open issue.

Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective study of newborns hospitalized in the Modena NICU with at least one UVC inserted over a 6-year period (period 1: January 2011-December 2013; period 2: January 2019-December 2021).

Cadmium exposure and risk of hypertension: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

Background: Exposure to environmental toxic metals represents a significant global public health concern. Many studies have reported that cadmium (Cd) exposure increases the risk of hypertension. Since the shape of such relation has not been well characterized, we assessed it by performing a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of human studies.

Basosquamous carcinoma: Comprehensive epidemiological, clinical, dermoscopic, and confocal features from a single center institution.

Background: Basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) is a rare and aggressive nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) that exhibits features of both BCC and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The gold standard for diagnosis is histopathological examination. BSC is often challenging to diagnose and manage due to its mixed histological features and potential for aggressive behavior AIM: To identify specific features aiding clinicians in differentiating BSCs using non-invasive diagnostic techniques.

Patent ductus arteriosus (also non-hemodynamically significant) correlates with poor outcomes in very low birth weight infants. A multicenter cohort study.

Objectives: To standardize the diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and report its association with adverse neonatal outcomes in very low birth weight infants (VLBW, birth weight < 1500 g).

Study Design: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted in Emilia Romagna from March 2018 to October 2019. The association between ultrasound grading of PDA and adverse neonatal outcomes was evaluated after correction for gestational age.

Challenges of enzyme therapy: Why two players are better than one.

Enzyme-based therapy has garnered significant attention for its current applications in various diseases. Despite the notable advantages associated with the use of enzymes as therapeutic agents, that could have high selectivity, affinity, and specificity for the target, their application faces challenges linked to physico-chemical and pharmacological properties. These limitations can be addressed through the encapsulation of enzymes in nanoplatforms as a comprehensive solution to mitigate their degradation, loss of activity, off-target accumulation, and immunogenicity, thus enhancing bioavailability, therapeutic efficacy, and circulation time, thereby reducing the number of administrations, and ameliorating patient compliance.

The preclinical discovery and development of atogepant for migraine prophylaxis.

Introduction: Atogepant is a selective calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist that is utilized in adults for the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine. Cumulative findings support the involvement of CGRP in migraine pathophysiology, and atogepant functions by competitively antagonizing CGRP receptors, which results in the inhibition of trigeminovascular nociception. The mechanism of action addresses the cause of migraine pain, providing an effective preventive treatment option.

Reflectance confocal microscopy as noninvasive tool for monitoring tirbanibulin efficacy in actinic keratosis.

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common precancerous condition found on sun-damaged skin. Tirbanibulin 1 % ointment has been approved for the topical treatment of non-hyperkeratotic facial and scalp Olsen grade I AKs over a contiguous area of 25 cm with a daily application for 5 consecutive days. Our aim was to investigate the use of in vivo RCM in the assessment of the response of AKs treated with tirbanibulin, as it has never been described in the published Literature.

Blood pressure monitoring in elderly migraineurs starting an anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody: a real-world prospective study.

Background: While monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the CGRP pathway have revolutionized migraine management due to their improved tolerance and adherence, concerns remain about their potential impact on blood pressure (BP), especially in older patients, due to CGRP-mediated vasodilation blockade. Given the growing use of these therapies in older populations, assessing their cardiovascular (CV) safety is of paramount importance.

Methods: This multicentric observational prospective study focused on migraine sufferers aged ≥ 60 who began erenumab, galcanezumab, or fremanezumab for prevention.

Ultrasound-Guided Centrally Inserted Central Catheter (CICC) Placement in Newborns: A Safe Clinical Training Program in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Centrally inserted central catheters (CICCs) are increasingly used in neonatal care. CICCs have garnered attention and adoption owing to their advantageous features. Therefore, achieving clinical competence in ultrasound-guided CICC insertion in term and preterm infants is of paramount importance for neonatologists.

Folliculotropism in Actinic Keratoses in Patients not Responding to Treatments: A Pilot Study.

Dear Editor, Actinic keratoses (AK) have a high prevalence in the general population, with greater rates in Caucasian patients after the fourth and fifth decades of life (37.5-60.0%) (1,2).

Long-Term Treatment Over 52 Weeks with Monthly Fremanezumab in Drug-Resistant Migraine: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Real-world studies on fremanezumab, an anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibody for migraine prevention, are few and with limited follow-up.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the long-term (up to 52 weeks) effectiveness and tolerability of fremanezumab in high-frequency episodic migraine and chronic migraine.

Methods: This s an independent, prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolling outpatients in 17 Italian Headache Centers with high-frequency episodic migraine or chronic migraine and multiple preventive treatment failures.

Evaluation of the risk of hypertension in patients treated with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in a real-life study.

Objective: To explore the rate of hypertension incoming in patients treated with monoclonal antibodies against the calcitonin gene-related peptide.

Background: The monoclonal antibodies blocking the calcitonin gene-related peptide are unquestionable effective in the prevention of migraine. Despite this, the development of hypertension has been detected in some patients.