Paper-based electrochemical device for early detection of integrin αvβ6 expressing tumors.

Despite progress in the prevention and diagnosis of cancer, current technologies for tumor detection present several limitations including invasiveness, toxicity, inaccuracy, lengthy testing duration and high cost. Therefore, innovative diagnostic techniques that integrate knowledge from biology, oncology, medicinal and analytical chemistry are now quickly emerging in the attempt to address these issues. Following this approach, here we developed a paper-based electrochemical device for detecting cancer-derived Small Extracellular Vesicles (S-EVs) in fluids.

Arrhythmic CArdiac DEath in MYotonic dystrophy type 1 patients (ACADEMY 1) study: the predictive role of programmed ventricular stimulation.

Aims: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) predisposes to the development of life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Our study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) in DM1 patients with conduction system disease.

Methods And Results: Arrhythmic CArdiac DEath in MYotonic dystrophy type 1 patients (ACADEMY 1) is a double-arm non-randomized interventional prospective study.

Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in southern Italy.

Background: The effects of lockdown on non-COVID patients are varied and unexpected. The aim is to evaluate the burden of cardiac arrhythmias during a lockdown period because of COVID-19 pandemics in a population implanted with cardiac defibrillators and followed by remote monitoring.

Methods: In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included 574 remotely monitored implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) recipients implanted before January 1, 2019, at seven hospitals in the Campania region, comparing the burden of arrhythmias occurred during the lockdown period because of COVID-19 epidemics (from March 9 to May 1, 2020) with the arrhythmias burden of the corresponding period in 2019 (reference period).

Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine prevents resistance to PI3K/AKT inhibitors and potentiates their antitumor effect in combination with paclitaxel in triple negative breast cancer models.

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease characterized by high risk of relapse and development of resistance to different chemotherapy agents. Several targeted therapies have been investigated in TNBC with modest results in clinical trials. Among these, PI3K/AKT inhibitors have been evaluated in addition to standard therapies, yielding conflicting results and making attempts on elucidating inherent mechanisms of resistance of great interest.

Comparison of results utilizing one-step and two-step triple innervation techniques.

A retrospective comparison between two groups of patients who underwent one-step or two-step triple innervation was performed to reveal the role of scar tissue in axonal regeneration. The surgical technique used was the same in all cases, but the first group underwent a one-time triple innervation procedure, while patients in the second group underwent delayed performance of neurorrhaphies between the distal ends of the cross-face grafts and the terminal branches of the injured facial nerve. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired groups showed a statistically significant improvement in both facial symmetry and voluntary movements in both groups of patients.

Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine levels in central disorders of hypersomnolence.

Study Objectives: Whether the cause of daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a direct consequence of the loss of orexin (ORX) neurons or whether low orexin reduces the efficacy of the monoaminergic systems to promote wakefulness is unclear. The neurobiology underlying sleepiness in other central hypersomnolence disorders, narcolepsy type 2 (NT2), and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), is currently unknown.

Methods: Eleven biogenic amines including the monoaminergic neurotransmitters and their metabolites and five trace amines were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 94 drug-free subjects evaluated at the French National Reference Center for Narcolepsy: 39 NT1(orexin-deficient) patients, 31 patients with objective sleepiness non orexin-deficient (NT2 and IH), and 24 patients without objective sleepiness.

Have There Been any Changes in the Epidemiology and Etiology of Maxillofacial Trauma During the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Italian Multicenter Study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a significant impact on people's behavior. The aim of this study has been to evaluate how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has impacted the incidence and the features of maxillofacial fractures presented at 6 Italian tertiary centers. Clinical records of all the patients diagnosed for facial fractures between February 23 and May 23, 2019 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

COVID-19 screening protocols for preoperative assessment of head and neck cancer patients candidate for elective surgery in the midst of the pandemic: A narrative review with comparison between two Italian institutions.

Background: Preoperative screening had a key role in planning elective surgical activity for head and neck cancer (HNC) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: All patients undergoing surgery for HNC at two Italian referral hospitals (University of Padua and National Cancer Institute [NCI]) during the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy were included. Accuracy of screening protocols was assessed.

Synergistic antitumor interaction of valproic acid and simvastatin sensitizes prostate cancer to docetaxel by targeting CSCs compartment via YAP inhibition.

Background: Despite the introduction of several novel therapeutic approaches that improved survival, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains an incurable disease. Herein we report the synergistic antitumor interaction between two well-known drugs used for years in clinical practice, the antiepileptic agent with histone deacetylase inhibitory activity valproic acid and the cholesterol lowering agent simvastatin, in mCRPC models.

Methods: Synergistic anti-tumor effect was assessed on PC3, 22Rv1, DU145, DU145R80, LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines and EPN normal prostate epithelial cells, by calculating combination index (CI), caspase 3/7 activation and colony formation assays as well as on tumor spheroids and microtissues scored with luminescence 3D-cell viability assay.

A Theoretical Iteration for Predicting the Feasibility for Immediate Functional Dental Implant Loading.

When planning an implant-supported restoration, the dentist is faced with surgical and prosthetic technical issues as well as the patient's expectations. Many patients wish an immediate solution to an edentulous condition. This may be especially true in the esthetic zone, and that zone is determined by the patient.

Valproic Acid Synergizes With Cisplatin and Cetuximab and in Head and Neck Cancer by Targeting the Mechanisms of Resistance.

Recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) is a devastating malignancy with a poor prognosis. The combination of cisplatin (CDDP) plus cetuximab (CX) is one of the standard first-line treatments in this disease. However, this therapeutic regimen is often associated with high toxicity and resistance, suggesting that new combinatorial strategies are needed to improve its therapeutic index.

Usefulness of Hemodynamic Device-Based Optimization in Heterogeneous Patients Implanted with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator.

Optimization of the atrioventricular (AV) and interventricular (VV) timings of the CRT is the most supposed correctable variable to improve the rate of CRT responder. The aim of the present study has been to evaluate if there is a specific subgroup of patients who can actually benefit the most from a hemodynamic optimization of AV. This is a prospective, observational single-center study that enrolled consecutive patients with clinical indication for CRT; all patients were implanted with CRT-D devices with SonR technology, able to automatically adjust AV and VV delay on a weekly basis.

Lipofilling of the upper eyelid to treat paralytic lagophthalmos.

Lagophthalmos is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous conditions that affect patients with facial palsy. The lack of ocular protection leads to corneal problems (such as conjunctival infections, acute and chronic keratitis, corneal ulcerations, and blindness). A dynamic reanimation of blinking eyelids is the therapeutic gold standard.

Large extracellular vesicles: Size matters in tumor progression.

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) represent a heterogeneous population of particles naturally released from all cells, delimited by a lipid bilayer and able to horizontally transfer their cargos to recipient cells. These features imply the growing interest on EVs in cancer biology as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. In this review, we will highlight the specific process related to biogenesis and release of large EVs (L-EVs) derived from the plasma membrane (PM) compared to the small and well described exosomes, generated through the classical endosome-multivesicular body (MVB) pathway.

Large oncosomes overexpressing integrin alpha-V promote prostate cancer adhesion and invasion via AKT activation.

Background: Molecular markers for prostate cancer (PCa) are required to improve the early definition of patient outcomes. Atypically large extracellular vesicles (EVs), referred as "Large Oncosomes" (LO), have been identified in highly migratory and invasive PCa cells. We recently developed and characterized the DU145R80 subline, selected from parental DU145 cells as resistant to inhibitors of mevalonate pathway.

Highly complicated lead extraction procedure in patient with previous early orthotopic heart transplantation: A first case report.

We report a first case of a highly complicated lead extraction in a young man who previously underwent orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT).Lead extraction in transplanted patients may be a feasible and safe procedure in order to maintain a low infective risk and to preserve alternative vascular access sites.

The Crosstalk between Cancer Stem Cells and Microenvironment Is Critical for Solid Tumor Progression: The Significant Contribution of Extracellular Vesicles.

Several evidences nowadays demonstrated the critical role of the microenvironment in regulating cancer stem cells and their involvement in tumor progression. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered as one of the most effective vehicles of information among cells. Accordingly, a number of studies led to the recognition of stem cell-associated EVs as new complexes able to contribute to cell fate determination of either normal or tumor cells.

Optimal left ventricular lead placement for cardiac resynchronization therapy in postmyocardial infarction patients.

Aim: To evaluate at a 12-month follow-up, the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in postmyocardial infarction (MI) heart failure patients who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation.

Materials & Methods: A total of 100 patients received a CRT device, and the study population was divided into three groups, according to the site of MI and left ventricular (LV) lead placed downstream of the ischemic area, as evaluated by echocardiography.

Results: At the end of the 12-month follow-up, we reported a general improvement of LV ejection fraction from 28 ± 7% to 35 ± 9% (p < 0.

Interatrial block to predict atrial fibrillation in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation frequently occurs in Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) patients. Interatrial block is recognized as predictor of atrial arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of interatrial block in predicting the onset of atrial fibrillation during 2-year follow-up in DM1 patients who underwent pacemaker implantation for conduction system disorders.

Effect of dual-chamber minimal ventricular pacing on paroxysmal atrial fibrillation incidence in myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients: A prospective, randomized, single-blind, crossover study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common finding in the myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) population. Pacemakers (PMs) may facilitate the diagnosis and management of frequent subclinical asymptomatic AF episodes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of minimal ventricular pacing on paroxysmal AF incidence in DM1 patients during a 24-month follow-up period.

Efficacy of ultrasound-guided axillary/subclavian venous approaches for pacemaker and defibrillator lead implantation: a randomized study.

Purpose: Subclavian access is a reliable technique for lead insertion in pacemaker and defibrillator (ICD) implantation, but it is often accompanied by complications. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the ultrasound-guided axillary approach to the subclavian method.

Methods: This randomized comparative study was performed on 174 patients: as a first attempt, 116 patients underwent the ultrasound-guided axillary access and 58 patients underwent the subclavian approach.

Oxidative Stress Gene Expression Profile Correlates with Cancer Patient Poor Prognosis: Identification of Crucial Pathways Might Select Novel Therapeutic Approaches.

The role of altered redox status and high reactive oxygen species (ROS) is still controversial in cancer development and progression. Intracellular levels of ROS are elevated in cancer cells suggesting a role in cancer initiation and progression; on the contrary, ROS elevated levels may induce programmed cell death and have been associated with cancer suppression. Thus, it is crucial to consider the double-face of ROS, for novel therapeutic strategies targeting redox regulatory mechanisms.

Voltage-directed cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation using a novel ablation catheter mapping technology in a myotonic dystrophy type I patient.

A successful case of maximum voltage-directed cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation using a novel ablation catheter mapping technology in a myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1) patient is reported. The patient complained recurrent episodes of atrial flutter, revealed by the atrio-ventricular electrograms analysis during the routine pacemaker controls.

The role of the atrial electromechanical delay in predicting atrial fibrillation in beta-thalassemia major patients.

Background: Paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmias frequently occur in beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) in a large β-TM population with normal cardiac function and its relationship to atrial fibrillation (AF) onset.

Methods: Eighty β-TM patients (44 men, 36 women), with a mean age of 36.