Real-world assessment of the patient-centredness of endometriosis care: European countries benchmarked by patients.

European patients cross the borders of their countries to receive more patient-centred healthcare. Benchmarking across European countries for the patient-centredness of endometriosis care had yet to be performed. This study proved the factorial structure and reliability of translation of the ENDOCARE questionnaire in nine different languages.

Treatment with THI, an inhibitor of sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase, modulates glycosphingolipid metabolism and results therapeutically effective in experimental models of Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with no effective cure currently available. Over the past few years our research has shown that alterations in sphingolipid metabolism represent a critical determinant in HD pathogenesis. In particular, aberrant metabolism of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been reported in multiple disease settings, including human postmortem brains from HD patients.

Fentanyl analog trends in Washington D.C. observed in needle-exchange syringes.

Fentanyl has played a significant role in the opioid crisis, proving to be a persistent problem due to its analgesic effects and addictive nature. Consequently, fentanyl analogs have been identified as a rising threat in the illicit drug market, contributing to thousands of both fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States. A profile of the fentanyl and fentanyl analogs present in Washington D.

Biocompatible, photo-responsive layer-by-layer polymer nanocapsules with an oil core: and study.

In cancer therapy, stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems are of particular interest for reducing side effects in healthy tissues and improving drug selectivity in the tumoral ones. Here, a strategy for the preparation of a photo-responsive cross-linked trilayer deposited onto an oil-in-water nanoemulsion via a layer-by-layer technique is reported. The system is made of completely biocompatible materials such as soybean oil, egg lecithin and glycol chitosan, with heparin as the polymeric shell.

An Cell Cultures Extract Endowed with Skin Anti-Ageing Activity Improves Cell Mechanical Properties.

Skin aging is a very well-known process setting a gradual worsening of skin mechanical features due to a decline in the production of the extra-cellular matrix machinery and to a concurrent change in the contraction process. To slow this progression, it is crucial to induce the expression of several proteins able to promote elastic fibers formation and tissue repair. Here, the cell culture aqueous extract has been investigated from a chemical point of view and then it was tested in vitro, in cell, and in ex vivo experiments as adjuvant in counteracting skin aging.

Sex Differences in Spatial Memory: Comparison of Three Tasks Using the Same Virtual Context.

Spatial memory has been studied through different instruments and tools with different modalities of administration. The cognitive load varies depending on the measure used and it should be taken into account to correctly interpret results. The aim of this research was to analyze how men and women perform three different spatial memory tasks with the same spatial context but with different cognitive demands.

Determinants of venous catheter hemodialysis onset and subsequent switch to arteriovenous fistula: An epidemiological study in Lazio region.

Background: The factors associated with the inability to start hemodialysis with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in chronic kidney disease patients are not fully understood.

Aim: Evaluating factors associated with type of vascular access at the first chronic hemodialysis and at 1 year after it.

Methods: The study cohort includes patients registered in the Regional Dialysis and Transplant Registry of Lazio undergoing first hemodialysis between 2008 and 2015.

Oil Core-PEG Shell Nanocarriers for In Vivo MRI Imaging.

Oil-in-water emulsions represent a promising carrier for in vivo imaging because of the possibility to convey poorly water-soluble species. To promote accumulation at the tumor site and prolong circulation time, reduction of carrier size and surface PEGylation plays a fundamental role. In this work a novel, simple method to design an oil-core/PEG-shell nanocarrier is reported.

Cardioprotective Effects of Nanoemulsions Loaded with Anti-Inflammatory Nutraceuticals against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

Doxorubicin is a highly active antineoplastic agent, but its clinical use is limited because of its cardiotoxicity. Although nutraceuticals endowed with anti-inflammatory properties exert cardioprotective activity, their bioavailability and stability are inconsistent. In an attempt to address this issue, we evaluated whether bioavailable nanoemulsions loaded with nutraceuticals (curcumin and fresh and dry tomato extracts rich in lycopene) protect cardiomyoblasts (H9C2 cells) from doxorubicin-induced toxicity.

Enhanced Drug Delivery into Cell Cytosol via Glycoprotein H-Derived Peptide Conjugated Nanoemulsions.

The key role of nanocarriers in improving the pharmacological properties of commonly used drugs is recognized worldwide. It is also known that in the development of new effective nanocarriers the use of targeting moieties integrated on their surface is essential. Herein, we propose a nanocarrier based on an oil in water nanoemulsion coated with a membranotropic peptide derived from the glycoprotein H of Herpes simplex virus 1, known as gH625, in order to reduce endolysosomal accumulation and to enhance cytosolic localization.

Ten years of HPV vaccines: State of art and controversies.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) represents one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and it has been related to cervical cancer. The HPV vaccines prevent infection with certain species of HPV associated with the development of cervical cancer or genital warts. We carried out a PubMed search up to 2015 evaluating all randomized studies published in literature.

Estimation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis load in raw bulk tank milk in Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) by qPCR.

Consumption of milk and dairy products is considered one of the main routes of human exposure to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Quantitative data on MAP load in raw cows' milk are essential starting point for exposure assessment.

Radioembolization of hepatic lesions from a radiobiology and dosimetric perspective.

Radioembolization (RE) of liver cancer with (90)Y-microspheres has been applied in the last two decades with notable responses and acceptable toxicity. Two types of microspheres are available, glass and resin, the main difference being the activity/sphere. Generally, administered activities are established by empirical methods and differ for the two types.

Long-term follow-up of 5262 breast cancer patients with negative sentinel node and no axillary dissection confirms low rate of axillary disease.

Aim: It is established that axillary dissection (AD) can be safely avoided in breast cancer patients with a negative sentinel node (SN). In the present study we assessed whether the rate of axillary disease was sufficiently low on long term follow-up to consolidate the policy of AD avoidance.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data on 5262 consecutive primary breast cancer patients with clinically negative axilla and negative SN, treated from 1996 to 2006, who did not receive AD.

Planning combined treatments of external beam radiation therapy and molecular radiotherapy.

Molecular radiotherapy (MRT) with radiolabeled molecules has being constantly evolving, leading to notable results in cancer treatment. In some cases, the absorbed doses delivered to tumors by MRT are sufficient to obtain complete responses; in other cases, instead, to be effective, MRT needs to be combined with other therapeutic approaches. Recently, several studies proposed the combination of MRT with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Evaluation of viable Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in milk using peptide-mediated separation and Propidium Monoazide qPCR.

The causative agent of paratuberculosis in ruminants, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), although still a matter of debate, has been linked with Crohn's and other human diseases. The availability of rapid methods for assessing the viability of MAP cells in food, in particular milk, could be of great use for risk management in food safety.

First outbreak of bovine mastitis caused by Prototheca blaschkeae.

The most important animal disease caused by yeast-like algae belonging to the genus Prototheca is bovine mastitis. Although the infection can be caused by both Prototheca zopfii genotype 2 and Prototheca blaschkeae, the bulk of prevalence of bovine protothecal mastitis has been so far attributed to the former, being P. blaschkeae only sporadically isolated.

3D dosimetry in patients with early breast cancer undergoing Intraoperative Avidination for Radionuclide Therapy (IART) combined with external beam radiation therapy.

Purpose: Intraoperative Avidination for Radionuclide Therapy (IART) is a novel targeted radionuclide therapy recently used in patients with early breast cancer. It is a radionuclide approach with (90)Y-biotin combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to release a boost of radiation in the tumour bed. Two previous clinical trials using dosimetry based on the calculation of mean absorbed dose values with the hypothesis of uniform activity distribution (MIRD 16 method) assessed the feasibility and safety of IART.

Is [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by the primary tumor a prognostic factor in breast cancer?

Background: We retrospectively investigated (18)F-FDG uptake by the primary breast tumor as a predictor for relapse and survival.

Patients And Methods: We studied 203 patients with cT1-T3N0 breast cancer. Standardized uptake value (SUVmax), was measured on the primary tumor.

Neuroendocrine differentiation in castration-resistant prostate cancer: a systematic diagnostic attempt.

Background: Assessing the neuroendocrine (NE) pattern in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) may prove useful in selecting potential responders to target therapies such as somatostatin analogues. The aim of this study was to define a panel of markers or examinations appropriate to characterize NE differentiation (NED).

Methods: Forty-seven patients with CRPC underwent a systematic diagnostic attempt to characterize the NE phenotype using a plasma blood test for chromogranin A (CgA) and immunohistochemical staining of needle biopsy-obtained specimens (CgA, somatostatin receptor 2 [SSTR2], Ki-67, and androgen receptors).

A switch from canonical to noncanonical Wnt signaling mediates drug resistance in colon cancer cells.

Butyrate, a fermentation product of fiber in the colon, acts as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) and induces apoptosis in colon cancer (CC) cells in vitro. We have reported that the apoptotic effects of butyrate are dependent upon the hyperactivation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. However, prolonged exposure of CC cells to increasing concentrations of butyrate results in the acquisition of resistance to the Wnt/beta-catenin- and apoptosis-inducing effects of this agent, as well as cross-resistance to structurally different HDACis.

The ENDOCARE questionnaire (ECQ): a valid and reliable instrument to measure the patient-centeredness of endometriosis care in Europe.

Background: Endometriosis is prevalent and women need high-quality care, which should be patient-centered. This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable patient-centeredness questionnaire, based on a defined concept of patient-centered endometriosis care (PCEC).

Methods: A literature review, focus groups (FGs) with patients and an expert panel defined PCEC with 10 dimensions.

Laparoscopic ureteral repair in gynaecological surgery.

Purpose Of Review: To review laparoscopic surgery in the treatment options for ureteral lesions in gynaecological surgery.

Recent Findings: Laparoscopic treatment of ureteral injuries has been increasingly reported over the past years. Treatment has progressively shifted from ureteroneocystostomy performed by laparotomy to less invasive treatment options such as ureteral stenting or dilatation in case of stricture, stenting under laparoscopic guidance and laparoscopic stitching of lacerations, laparoscopic ureteral reanastomosis or laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy for transections.