The Presence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Song Thrushes () Wintering in Apulia (Southern Italy)-Preliminary Results.

The term microplastics (MPs) describes a heterogeneous mixture of particles that can vary in size, color, and shape. Once released into the environment, MPs have various toxicological and physical effects on wildlife. The Song Thrush () is a migratory species, staying in Italy in late autumn and winter.

Community-acquired acute kidney injury in Southeast Brazil and independent risk predictors: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The prevalence and risk factors for community-acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) are unknown. This study aimed to explore the incidence of CA-AKI in a tertiary care center and to depict the main clinical characteristics related to this condition.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving patients admitted to the emergency department (Hospital de Clínicas, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil) between January 2019 and September 2021.

Renal osteodystrophy and clinical outcomes: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Renal osteodystrophy (ROD) refers to a group of bone morphological patterns that derive from distinct pathophysiological mechanisms. Whether the ROD subtypes influence long-term outcomes is unknown. Our objective was to explore the relationship between ROD and clinical outcomes.

Dapagliflozin cardiovascular effects on end-stage kidney disease (DARE-ESKD-2) trial: rationale and design.

Purpose: Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) remarkably reduced the incidence of hospitalization for heart failure and cardiovascular death of conservatively managed chronic kidney disease. We hypothesized that adding SGLT2i to standard treatment would yield cardiovascular benefits also in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) individuals on dialysis.

Methods: The DARE-ESKD-2 Trial (NCT05685394) is an ongoing, single-center, open-label, controlled trial aimed at assessing the cardiovascular effects of dapagliflozin in ESKD on dialysis.

Dietary Supplementation with Oregano and Linseed in Autochthonous "Facciuta Lucana" Goats: Effects on Meat Quality Traits in Suckling Kids.

Extruded linseed () in ruminant diets has been investigated as a strategy to improve the nutritional value and healthiness of meat fat; however, increased polyunsaturated fatty acids may limit the shelf-life of meat. Oregano () has a documented antioxidant activity. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with extruded linseed and oregano on goat milk quality and whether the characteristics of goat milk affect the physical and chemical features, fatty acid profile, meat lipid oxidation, and sensory properties of meat from suckling kids.

Overview of renal osteodystrophy in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The epidemiologic profile of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) is changing over time and cross-sectional studies provide essential information to improve care and health policies. The Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO) is a prospective, nationalmulticenter cohort that includes patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing bone biopsy. REBRABO aims to provide clinical information on ROD.

Effect of aluminum accumulation on bone and cardiovascular risk in the current era.

Background: The prevalence of aluminum (Al) intoxication has declined over the past 3 decades. However, different groups still report on the diagnosis of Al in bone. Prolonged and low-intensity exposures to Al may not be captured by serum Al measurements, preventing its proper diagnosis.

MEK Inhibition in a Newborn with -Associated Noonan Syndrome Ameliorates Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy but Is Insufficient to Revert Pulmonary Vascular Disease.

The :p.Ser257Leu variant is associated with severe Noonan syndrome (NS), progressive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and pulmonary hypertension. Trametinib, a MEK-inhibitor approved for treatment of RAS/MAPK-mutated cancers, is an emerging treatment option for HCM in NS.

Timely Birth Dose Vaccine to Prevent Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B: A Single Center Experience on the Road to the WHO Elimination Goals in Italy.

Italy was one of the first industrialized countries to implement a program of routine vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, currently, no HBV vaccine is administered at birth if the screened mother is HBsAg negative, whilst babies born to HBsAg positive mothers are given vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin, within 12-24 post-delivery hours. A single center retrospective analysis of policies and practices to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HBV was carried out, to evaluate their adherence to HBV care guidelines.

Effectiveness of 0.66% Povidone-Iodine Eye Drops on Ocular Surface Flora before Cataract Surgery: A Nationwide Microbiological Study.

A multicenter, nonrandomized, prospective, controlled study was conducted to evaluate, as perioperative prophylactic treatment, the anti-infective effectiveness of 0.66% povidone-iodine eye drops (IODIM) against the bacterial flora of the conjunctival surface of patients who undergo cataract surgery. Eye drops containing 0.

AGEs accumulation is related to muscle degeneration and vascular calcification in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are affected by dynapenia, sarcopenia, and vascular calcification. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may accumulate in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and favor sarcopenia via changes in collagen cross-linking, muscle protein breakdown, and the calcification of arterial smooth muscle cells via p38-MAPK activation. The aim of this study is to explore the relationships between AGEs, muscle degeneration, and coronary artery calcification.

Renal osteodystrophy and clinical outcomes: data from the Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsies - REBRABO.

Introduction: Mineral and bone disorders (MBD) are major complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD)-related adverse outcomes. The Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO) is an electronic database that includes renal osteodystrophy (RO) data. We aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of RO in a sample of CKD-MBD Brazilian patients and understand its relationship with outcomes.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in a young woman with dual gene mutations of low-density lipoprotein receptor and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9.

A 28-year-old woman with a rare combination of homozygous LDLR and heterozygous PCSK9 mutations had a phenotype consistent with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. She reported a clinical history of coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis treated with 3 coronary stenting procedures, one coronary bypass, and aortic and mitral valve replacements. Because the patient refused lipoprotein apheresis, lipid-lowering therapy with statins, ezetimibe, and evolocumab was started.

Determination of a possible relationship between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of the gene and production and reproduction traits in the Agerolese cattle breed.

Sirtuins (sir2-like proteins) belong to the family of class III NAD -dependent histone deacetylases. Among them, SIRT1 is the most studied sirtuin. It plays a key role in many biological processes in the liver, adipose tissue, muscle, pancreas, testis, ovary and mammary gland.

Congenital analbuminemia in a patient affected by hypercholesterolemia: A case report.

Background: Congenital analbuminemia (CAA) is a very rare disorder. Our data describes the clinical features and laboratory results of a new case established by mutation analysis of the albumin gene in a 39-year-old woman presenting with hypercholesterolemia. Our findings contribute to shed light on the molecular genetics of the disorder and confirm that safe and well tolerated hypocholesterolemic treatment with atorvastatin may be administered in dislipidemic patient with CAA in order to reduce their cardiovascular risk.

Functional assessment of a new extended depth-of-focus intraocular lens.

Background/objective: This study aimed to investigate the visual performance of a new extended depth-of-focus intraocular lens (EDOF-IOL).

Subjects/methods: In this multicenter, prospective, observational study, we enrolled 97 patients who underwent cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange with implantation of the Mini Well EDOF-IOL (SIFI, Italy). Patients underwent postoperatively the following examinations between 4 and 8 weeks after surgery: corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), reading speed with Radner's chart, distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA), defocus curve, contrast sensitivity, and haloes quantitative assessment.

Factors Affecting Enjoyment of Virtual Reality Games: A Comparison Involving Consumer-Grade Virtual Reality Technology.

Objective: This study investigated psychological responses to playing videogames using a virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD). We also investigated how cybersickness impacts the sense of presence one feels in the virtual environment, as well as how cybersickness affects enjoyment.

Materials And Methods: Participants played randomly assigned VR games that varied in the level of sensory conflict they provided: "Lucky's Tale," "Elite: Dangerous," and "Minecraft.

The enigma of aluminum deposition in bone tissue from a patient with chronic kidney disease: a case report.

About four decades ago, the relationship between dialysis-dementia and aluminum (Al) began to be established. The restriction of drugs containing Al and improvements on water quality used for dialysis resulted in the clinical disappearance of Al intoxication. However, high prevalence of Al deposition in bone tissue from Brazilian dialysis patients is still being detected.

Parathyroidectomy in patients with chronic kidney disease: Impacts of different techniques on the biochemical and clinical evolution of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Parathyroidectomy (PTx) decreases the mortality rate of refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (rSHP) due to chronic kidney disease. A consensus regarding which techniques of PTx are associated with better outcomes is not available. The aims of this study are to evaluate the clinical and laboratory evolution of 49 hemodialysis patients with rSHP who underwent PTx using different techniques.

Variants Within TSC2 Exons 25 and 31 Are Very Unlikely to Cause Clinically Diagnosable Tuberous Sclerosis.

Inactivating mutations in TSC1 and TSC2 cause tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The 2012 international consensus meeting on TSC diagnosis and management agreed that the identification of a pathogenic TSC1 or TSC2 variant establishes a diagnosis of TSC, even in the absence of clinical signs. However, exons 25 and 31 of TSC2 are subject to alternative splicing.

Examining Enjoyment of Casual Videogames.

Objective: This study investigated the processes leading to enjoyment of casual videogames on both mobile devices and console systems. Building upon a foundation in mental models theory and the psychology of play, the study focuses on how performance and experience-based variables impact enjoyment of casual videogames played on mobile devices and console devices. The grounding assumption of this research is that playing videogames produces enjoyment that contributes to mental health in the form of a brief distraction from the stress of daily life, social connections with family and friends through casual gameplay, and, in some cases, a compelling reason to engage in physical activity.