Coping with modesty during radiotherapy for breast cancer: a multicentric study.

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed tumour, representing nearly 30% of all new cases in women. Radiotherapy (RT) plays a crucial role in the management of breast cancer. The objective of this study is to assess modesty in patients undergoing RT for breast cancer and take their suggestions and ideas into consideration to enhance the quality of treatment in this regard.

Loss of interleukin 1 signaling causes impairment of microglia- mediated synapse elimination and autistic-like behaviour in mice.

In the last years, the hypothesis that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental diseases has gained popularity. IL-1 is one of the main cytokines found to be elevated in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by defects in social communication and cognitive impairments. In this study, we demonstrate that mice lacking IL-1 signaling display autistic-like defects associated with an excessive number of synapses.

Voice quality after transoral CO laser microsurgery (TOLMS): systematic review of literature.

Purpose: Transoral laser microsurgery (TOLMS) with carbon dioxide is a safe approach for laryngeal carcinoma. In literature there are three main methods for evaluating speech outcomes: acoustic and aerodynamics analysis, perceptual evaluation and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature about the voice quality outcomes of TOLMS according to type of cordectomy.

Maxillary fungus ball in a diabetic patient. An odontogenic origin.

Introduction: Fungus ball (FB) represents a granulomatous mass due to a fungal colonization which may disseminate and potentially lead to a systemic infection. Maxillary fungus ball is considered to be a complication of dental treatment and, according to relevant literature, it often stems from improper endodontic therapies.

Material And Methods: The authors report the case of a 69-year-old caucasian woman with nasal respiratory distress and frequent sinusitis symptoms.

On-treatment serum albumin level can guide long-term treatment in patients with cirrhosis and uncomplicated ascites.

Background & Aims: The ANSWER study reported that long-term albumin administration in patients with cirrhosis and uncomplicated ascites improves survival. During treatment, serum albumin increased within a month and remained stable thereafter. In this post hoc analysis, we aimed to determine whether on-treatment serum albumin levels could guide therapy.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Lesson From Immunosuppressed Patients.

Chronic immunosuppression is associated with increased and more severe viral infections. However, little is known about the association between immunosuppression and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Our aim was to describe the clinical course of patients with immunosuppressed autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in Italy.

Intranasal delivery of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles exerts immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects in a 3xTg model of Alzheimer's disease.

The critical role of neuroinflammation in favoring and accelerating the pathogenic process in Alzheimer's disease (AD) increased the need to target the cerebral innate immune cells as a potential therapeutic strategy to slow down the disease progression. In this scenario, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have risen considerable interest thanks to their immunomodulatory properties, which have been largely ascribed to the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs), namely exosomes and microvesicles. Indeed, the beneficial effects of MSC-EVs in regulating the inflammatory response have been reported in different AD mouse models, upon chronic intravenous or intracerebroventricular administration.

Nissen fundoplication and dyspeptic symptoms: is the water load test useful?

Background: The water load test is a simple, cheap and standardized method to evaluate gastric distension and gastric motility responses. We have previously shown that in patients with mild erosive or non-erosive esophagitis this test is frequently abnormal, suggesting an altered gastric function. The aim was to evaluate the water load test score before and after Nissen fundoplication in reflux patients.

Intracerebral Injection of Extracellular Vesicles from Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exerts Reduced Aβ Plaque Burden in Early Stages of a Preclinical Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Bone marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BM-MSCs), due to their strong protective and anti-inflammatory abilities, have been widely investigated in the context of several diseases for their possible therapeutic role, based on the release of a highly proactive secretome composed of soluble factors and Extracellular Vesicles (EVs). BM-MSC-EVs, in particular, convey many of the beneficial features of parental cells, including direct and indirect β-amyloid degrading-activities, immunoregulatory and neurotrophic abilities. Therefore, EVs represent an extremely attractive tool for therapeutic purposes in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Minimally invasive flap compared to a trapezoidal flap in lateral approach maxillary sinus elevation procedures: Four-month post-loading results from a split-mouth randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: To test a minimally invasive flap in the lateral approach for maxillary sinus floor elevation when compared to a trapezoidal flap.

Materials And Methods: Each patient received a bilateral sinus elevation procedure based on two different randomly allocated surgical approaches according to a split-mouth design: in the test side, a horizontal incision at mucogingival line was realised; in the control side, a trapezoidal flap was elevated to prepare the lateral window. Each sinus was filled using deproteinised bovine bone and the window covered with a collagen membrane.

Extracellular Vesicles from Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exert Pleiotropic Effects on Amyloid-β, Inflammation, and Regeneration: A Spark of Hope for Alzheimer's Disease from Tiny Structures?

No cure yet exists for devastating Alzheimer's disease (AD), despite many years and humongous efforts to find efficacious pharmacological treatments. So far, neither designing drugs to disaggregate amyloid plaques nor tackling solely inflammation turned out to be decisive. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and, in particular, extracellular vesicles (EVs) originating from them could be proposed as an alternative, strategic approach to attack the pathology.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin for Assessment of Acute Kidney Injury in Cirrhosis: A Prospective Study.

Kidney biomarkers appear to be useful in differential diagnosis between acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and other types of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhosis, particularly hepatorenal syndrome (HRS-AKI). Distinction is important because treatment is different. However, kidney biomarkers are still not used in clinical practice.

Long-term albumin administration in decompensated cirrhosis (ANSWER): an open-label randomised trial.

Background: Evidence is scarce on the efficacy of long-term human albumin (HA) administration in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The human Albumin for the treatmeNt of aScites in patients With hEpatic ciRrhosis (ANSWER) study was designed to clarify this issue.

Methods: We did an investigator-initiated multicentre randomised, parallel, open-label, pragmatic trial in 33 academic and non-academic Italian hospitals.

Characteristics and management of pyogenic liver abscess: A European experience.

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) are space-occupying lesions in the liver associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to review an Italian hospital experience in epidemiological, clinical patterns, and management of PLA.We performed a retrospective, descriptive case series at a single center assessing demographic characteristics, presentation patterns, etiological factors, microbiological etiology, and management for patients treated for PLA between 2000 and 2016.

Adipocyte Fatty-Acid Binding Protein is Overexpressed in Cirrhosis and Correlates with Clinical Outcomes.

Fatty-acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are small intracellular proteins that coordinate lipid-mediated processes by targeting metabolic and immune response pathways. The aim of the study was to investigate plasma FABPs levels and their relationship with clinical outcomes in cirrhosis. Plasma levels of L-FABP1(liver and kidney), I-FABP2(intestine), and A-FABP4(adipocyte and macrophages) were measured in 274 patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Peri-implant Soft Tissue Stability After Single Implant Restorations Using Either Guided Bone Regeneration or a Connective Tissue Graft: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The purpose of the present study was to compare two different surgical procedures, connective tissue graft and guided bone regeneration, when applied in conjunction with implant placement. Probing pocket depth and the recession depth were recorded at the implant site after crown placement (T₁) and at the 1-year follow-up (T₂), while the keratinized tissue height and the buccal mucosa thickness were recorded at three different time points: at the time of implant surgery (T₀), after crown placement, and at the 1-year follow-up. No statistically significant differences in peri-implant mucosa thickness, recession, or other periodontal parameters were recorded at adjacent teeth.

Effects of alfapump™ system on kidney and circulatory function in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

The alfapump system has been proposed as a new treatment for the management of refractory ascites. The system removes ascites from the peritoneal cavity to urinary bladder, producing a continuous low-volume paracentesis. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of treatment with the alfapump™ system on kidney and circulatory function in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

Evaluation of Clensia, a new low-volume PEG bowel preparation in colonoscopy: Multicentre randomized controlled trial versus 4L PEG.

Background: Success of colonoscopy is linked to the adequacy of bowel cleansing. Polyethylene glycol 4L (PEG 4L) solutions are widely used for colonic cleansing but with limitations concerning tolerability and acceptability.

Aim: To demonstrate the equivalence of a new low-volume PEG containing citrates and simeticone (Clensia) versus a standard PEG 4L.

Validation of a Staging System for Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Cirrhosis and Association With Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Background & Aims: In patients with cirrhosis of the liver, acute kidney injury (AKI) is classified into 3 stages. Recent studies indicate that there are 2 subgroups of stage 1 disease, associated with different outcomes and serum levels of creatinine (SCr): stage 1A (SCr <1.5 mg/dL) and stage 1B (SCr ≥1.

Lateral approach for sinus floor elevation: large versus small bone window - a split-mouth randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To test whether a reduction of bone window dimension, in a split-mouth randomized study design, focused on lateral sinus floor elevations, can achieve better results than a wider window in terms of augmented bone height and a reduction of patient discomfort and surgical complications.

Materials And Methods: Of the sixteen subjects enrolled in the study, each underwent a bilateral sinus lift procedure based on two different access flaps to maxillary sinus. Test side: small access window (6 × 6 mm) + bone filling using a special device.

Esthetic Outcomes of Single-Tooth Implant-Supported Restorations Using Metal-Ceramic Restorations with Zirconia or Titanium Abutments: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study.

The aim of this study was to test whether zirconia abutments exhibit the same clinical and esthetic outcomes as titanium abutments in single-tooth implant restorations in the esthetic area. The 24 treated patients were randomly assigned to a test (zirconia abutment) or control (titanium abutment) group. Objective evaluations were carried out using the Implant Crown Aesthetic Index (ICAI) and the Papilla Index (PI) at the 1-month and 12-month follow-up examinations after crown cementation.

Treatment of type 2 hepatorenal syndrome in patients awaiting transplantation: Effects on kidney function and transplantation outcomes.

There is little information on the effects of treatment with vasoconstrictors plus albumin in patients with type 2 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), particularly those awaiting liver transplantation (LT). This study reports the effects of treatment of type 2 HRS in patients on the waiting list for LT. We included 56 patients with type 2 HRS who were awaiting LT.

Analysis of a urinary biomarker panel for clinical outcomes assessment in cirrhosis.

Background: Biomarkers are potentially useful in assessment of outcomes in patients with cirrhosis, but information is very limited. Given the large number of biomarkers, adequate choice of which biomarker(s) to investigate first is important.

Aim: Analysis of potential usefulness of a panel of urinary biomarkers in outcome assessment in cirrhosis.