Molecular and Clinical Features of Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Institution Case Series.

Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) accounts for about 1% of pancreatic cancers. The molecular and clinical features of ACC are less characterized than those of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. : We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and molecular features of ACC patients who underwent germline and/or somatic molecular testing at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2008 to 2022 and two cases from 2023-2024 who underwent RNA and TME analysis by Boston Gene.

Assessing SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell reactivity in late convalescents and vaccinees: Comparison and combination of QuantiFERON and activation-induced marker assays, and relation with antibody status.

Objectives: Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 spread and vaccination strategies have relied on antibody (Ab) status as a correlate of protection. We used QuantiFERON™ (QFN) and Activation-Induced Marker (AIM) assays to measure memory T-cell reactivity in unvaccinated individuals with prior documented symptomatic infection (late convalescents) and fully vaccinated asymptomatic donors (vaccinees).

Methods: Twenty-two convalescents and 13 vaccinees were enrolled.

Progesterone exerts a neuroprotective action in a Parkinson's disease human cell model through membrane progesterone receptor α (mPRα/PAQR7).

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, and current treatment options are unsatisfactory on the long term. Several studies suggest a potential neuroprotective action by female hormones, especially estrogens. The potential role of progestogens, however, is less defined, and no studies have investigated the potential involvement of membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs).

A new digital health tool for the telemonitoring of patients with scleroderma during iloprost administration: a feasibility and acceptability study.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of a new device for telemonitoring vital parameters during iloprost infusion.

Materials And Methods: In a pilot study, patients with systemic sclerosis received iloprost infusion while being telemonitored with Umana T1 Heart Monitor, within the hospital, under the supervision of family/community nurses and rheumatologists. Patients were administered a questionnaire to obtain information on satisfaction, practicability, and compliance with the new monitoring device.

Management of mixed cryoglobulinemia with rituximab: evidence and consensus-based recommendations from the Italian Study Group of Cryoglobulinemia (GISC).

Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) or mixed cryoglobulinemic syndrome (MCS) is a systemic small-vessel vasculitis characterized by the proliferation of B-cell clones producing pathogenic immune complexes, called cryoglobulins. It is often secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV), autoimmune diseases, and hematological malignancies. CV usually has a mild benign clinical course, but severe organ damage and life-threatening manifestations can occur.

Functions of Membrane Progesterone Receptors (mPRs, PAQRs) in Nonreproductive Tissues.

Gender differences in a wide variety of physiological parameters have implicated the ovarian hormones, estrogens and progesterone, in the regulation of numerous nonreproductive tissue functions. Rapid, nongenomic (nonclassical) progesterone actions mediated by membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs), which belong to the progestin and adipoQ receptor family, have been extensively investigated in reproductive and nonreproductive tissues since their discovery in fish ovaries 20 years ago. The 5 mPR subtypes (α, β, γ, δ, ε) are widely distributed in vertebrate tissues and are often expressed in the same cells as the nuclear progesterone receptor (PR) and progesterone receptor membrane component 1, thereby complicating investigations of mPR-specific functions.

Membrane Progesterone Receptor α (mPRα/PAQR7) Promotes Survival and Neurite Outgrowth of Human Neuronal Cells by a Direct Action and Through Schwann Cell-like Stem Cells.

We recently showed that membrane progesterone receptor α (mPRα/PAQR7) promotes pro-regenerative effects in Schwann cell-like adipose stem cells (SCL-ASC), an alternative model to Schwann cells for the promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration. In this study, we investigated how mPRα activation with the mPR-specific agonist Org OD 02-0 in SCL-ASC affected regenerative parameters in two neuronal cell lines, IMR-32 and SH-SY-5Y. In a series of conditioned medium experiments, we found that mPR activation of SCL-ASC led to increased neurite outgrowth, protection from cell death and increased expression of peripheral nerve regeneration markers (CREB3, ATF3, GAP43) in neuronal cell lines.

COVID-19 vaccination rate and safety profile in a multicentre Italian population affected by mixed cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.

Objectives: Mixed cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (MCV) is an immune-complex-mediated systemic vasculitis characterised by heterogeneous clinical manifestations mainly involving lymphatic system, skin, kidney and peripheral nervous system. Although MCV patients have been included in priority programs for vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in Italy, limited information is available for these patients. The aims of this multicentre Italian study were to investigate SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rate in MCV patients and its safety profile.

Immunotherapy of COVID-19: Inside and Beyond IL-6 Signalling.

Acting on the cytokine cascade is key to preventing disease progression and death in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Among anti-cytokine therapies, interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitors have been the most used and studied since the beginning of the pandemic. Going through previous observational studies, subsequent randomised controlled trials, and meta-analyses, we focused on the baseline characteristics of the patients recruited, identifying the most favourable features in the light of positive or negative study outcomes; taking into account the biological significance and predictivity of IL-6 and other biomarkers according to specific thresholds, we ultimately attempted to delineate precise windows for therapeutic intervention.

Ferritin as prognostic marker in COVID-19: the FerVid study.

Background: In COVID-19 patients the progressive clinical deterioration seems secondary to the activation of a cytokine storm. Ferritin is considered a direct mediator of the immune system and some evidences suggested a shared physio-pathogenic basis between COVID-19 and 'Hyperferritinemic Syndromes.' The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic role of ferritin in COVID-19 patients.

Axonal GABA stabilizes excitability in unmyelinated sensory axons secondary to NKCC1 activity.

Key Points: GABA depolarized sural nerve axons and increased the electrical excitability of C-fibres via GABA receptor. Axonal excitability responses to GABA increased monotonically with the rate of action potential firing. Action potential activity in unmyelinated C-fibres is coupled to Na-K-Cl cotransporter type 1 (NKCC1) loading of axonal chloride.

Provisional recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.

People with cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CV) have an increased risk of infections, attributed to different causes: impairment of the immune system due to the disease itself, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore, these patients may be at high risk for a more severe course of COVID-19, including hospitalisation and death. Concerns about efficacy, immunogenicity and safety of vaccines, as well as doubts, not yet fully clarified in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases, represent other important factors for a low vaccination rate in people with (CV).

Membrane progesterone receptor α (mPRα/PAQR7) promotes migration, proliferation and BDNF release in human Schwann cell-like differentiated adipose stem cells.

Membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) were recently found to be present and active in Schwann cells, where they have a potentially pro-regenerative activity. In this study, we investigated the role of mPRs in human adipose stem cells (ASC) differentiated into Schwann cell-like cells (SCL-ASC), which represent a promising alternative to Schwann cells for peripheral nerve regeneration. Our findings show that mPRs are present both in undifferentiated and differentiated ASC, and that the differentiation protocol upregulates mPR expression.

Anti-IL6 treatment of serious COVID-19 disease: A monocentric retrospective experience.

COVID-19 is causing a high influx of patients suffering from serious respiratory complications leading the necessity to find effective therapies. These patients seem to present with cytokine perturbation and high levels of IL6. Tocilizumab and sarilumab could be effective in this condition.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANATOMICAL AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION TREATED WITH ANTIVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR.

Purpose: Assess the relationship between subretinal fluid (SRFL), intraretinal fluid, and visual outcomes of neovascular age-related degeneration in routine clinical practice.

Methods: Treatment-naive eyes enrolled in the Fight Retinal Blindness! registry after January 2017 were identified. Lesion activity was graded at each visit as inactive, active not SRFL only (A-NSRFL only), or active SRFL only (A-SRFL only).

Prevalence of COVID infections in a population of rheumatic patients from Lombardy and Marche treated with biological drugs or small molecules: A multicentre retrospective study.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about the management of systemic immunosuppressive treatments for rheumatic conditions. It is well known that rheumatic patients are at risk of developing infections because of their immunocompromised state. Moreover, drugs such as hydroxychloroquine or tocilizumab that are widely used to treat rheumatic diseases are now being used to treat COVID-19.

Schwann Cell Autocrine and Paracrine Regulatory Mechanisms, Mediated by Allopregnanolone and BDNF, Modulate PKCε in Peripheral Sensory Neurons.

Protein kinase type C-ε (PKCε) plays important roles in the sensitization of primary afferent nociceptors, such as ion channel phosphorylation, that in turn promotes mechanical hyperalgesia and pain chronification. In these neurons, PKCε is modulated through the local release of mediators by the surrounding Schwann cells (SCs). The progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone (ALLO) is endogenously synthesized by SCs, whereas it has proven to be a crucial mediator of neuron-glia interaction in peripheral nerve fibers.

Membrane Progesterone Receptors (mPRs/PAQRs) Differently Regulate Migration, Proliferation, and Differentiation in Rat Schwann Cells.

Several studies in the last decade demonstrated that progestogens play an important role in the biology of Schwann cells, the main neuroglial cells of the peripheral nervous system. Since a recent study showed that the S42 rat Schwann cell line expressed membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs), members of the PAQR family, in this study, we examined mPR expression in a more physiological model, primary rat Schwann cells. We demonstrated that primary rat Schwann cells show a different pattern of mPR expression compared to the previously studied model; mPRα (PAQR7) and β (PAQR8) isoforms were the major mPR members identified, with different sub-cellular localizations.

Good's syndrome, a rare form of acquired immunodeficiency associated with thymomas.

Good's syndrome (GS) or thymomaassociated immunodeficiency is a rare clinical entity that should be ruled out in patients with thymoma who develop severe, recurrent bacterial infections and opportunistic viral and fungal infections. There are no treatment protocols established, hence, early recognition is imperative to avoid complications. We report the case of a 42-year-old female, known for a previous thymectomy for giant thymoma who has suffered for a long time from recurrent pulmonary and urinary tract infections and cold sores.