BRCA testing in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: successes and troubles in a real world setting. An Italian Multicentric study.

Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men worldwide. BRCA1/2 genes are reported altered in approximately 1% and 8% of PCa cases, respectively. To date, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues have a consolidate use in the clinical practice, but with a significant drawback related to DNA/RNA degradation during the pre-analytical process.

Posterolateral Knee Ligament Reconstruction Using the Arciero Technique Provides Greater Rotational Stability Than the Modified Larson Technique: A Biomechanical Study.

Background: It is still unknown if the double-femoral tunnel technique (Arciero [ARC]) provides better stability as compared with the single-femoral tunnel technique (modified Larson [LAR]) in posterolateral corner reconstruction. The ideal angle of fixation of the popliteofibular strand in ARC is also unknown.

Hypotheses: The ARC provides greater external rotation (ER) stability than the LAR (hypothesis 1); there is no difference in varus rotation (VR) stability between LAR and ARC (hypothesis 2); and femoral fixation of the popliteofibular strand at 60° during the ARC leads to greater ER stability than fixation at 30° or 90° of knee flexion (hypothesis 3).

Next generation sequencing-based MSI scoring predict benefit in mismatch repair deficient tumors treated with nivolumab: follow-up on NCI-MATCH arm Z1D.

Purpose: Mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) tumors have demonstrated favorable responses to immune checkpoint inhibition targeting PD-1. However, more in-depth identification of predictors of response could further refine patient selection for immunotherapy treatment.

Experimental Design: We undertook integrated evaluation performed on samples collected from 28 of 42 patients enrolled on the NCI-MATCH arm Z1D trial that evaluated PD-1 inhibition treatment with nivolumab in patients with non-colorectal dMMR tumors.

Use of the Knutson's paste for the treatment of perineal wound dehiscence after vaginal delivery: a single-center clinical experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the Knutson's paste, a solution composed of saccharose and povidone-iodine, in the management of perineal dehiscence following repair of post-partum laceration or episiotomy.

Methods: Thirty-seven women with post-partum perineal dehiscence were included in the study, conducted between September 2020 and December 2022. Patients self-applied the Knutson's paste three times per day for 14-21 days.

Corrigendum: The molecular tumor board as a step in cancer patient management: a southern Italian experience.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.

The impact of new onset diabetes on cardiovascular risks in orthotopic liver transplant recipients: findings from the COLT study.

Background: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has greatly improved short-term survival for end-stage liver disease. However, cardiovascular events (CVE) still pose a significant threat to long-term post-transplant health. Aim of this study is to assess the occurrence of long-term cardiovascular events and whether it relates to new-onset diabetes after liver transplantation (NODALT).

Utility of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in community-acquired pneumonia in children: a narrative review.

The purpose of this narrative review is to analyze the most recent studies about the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), two of the main biomarkers of infection, in distinguishing viral from bacterial etiology, in predicting the severity of infection and in guiding antibiotic stewardship in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The studies examined reveal that both CRP and PCT play a valuable role in diagnosing pediatric CAP, though each has limitations. CRP has moderate accuracy in distinguishing bacterial from viral infections, but its elevated levels are not exclusive to bacterial infections; PCT, however, shows higher specificity for bacterial CAP, with studies confirming its ability to differentiate bacterial causes, especially in severe cases.

i-PHAOS: An Overview with an Open-Source Collaborative Database on Miniaturized Integrated Spectrometers.

On-chip spectrometers are increasingly becoming tools that might help in everyday life needs. The possibility offered by several available integration technologies and materials to be used to miniaturize spectrometers has led to a plethora of very different devices, that in principle can be compared according to their metrics. Having access to a reference database can help in selecting the best-performing on-chip spectrometers and being up to date in terms of standards and developments.

The molecular tumor board as a step in cancer patient management: a southern Italian experience.

Introduction: The management of cancer patients follows a Diagnostic Therapeutic and Care Pathway (PDTA) approach, aimed at achieving the optimal balance between care and quality of life. To support this process, precision medicine and innovative technologies [e.g.

Overconstraint Associated With a Modified Lemaire Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis Is Decreased by Using an Anterior Femoral Insertion Point in a Cadaveric Model.

Purpose: To investigate tibiofemoral knee kinematics when shifting the femoral insertion point of the modified Lemaire lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) anterior to the lateral epicondyle.

Methods: Six fresh-frozen human knee joints were tested on a test bench in the following states: (1) native, (2) anterolateral insufficient, (3) original Lemaire (oLET; insertion point: 4 mm posterior and 8 mm proximal to the epicondyle), (4) anterior Lemaire (aLET; insertion point: 5 mm anterior and 5 mm proximal to the epicondyle). Internal tibial rotation was statically investigated under an internal tibial torque of 5 Nm in 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90° of flexion.

Disease activity assessment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis in transitional care.

Objective: The indices to measure disease activity of chronic arthritis in adulthood and childhood are different. Therefore, assessing the status of the disease in young patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can be tricky, especially when the transition to adult care is ongoing. The aim of our study was to assess the level of correlation between adult and juvenile scores in the measurement of disease activity in JIA patients during transitional care.

Reduction of the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma over Time Using Direct-Acting Antivirals: A Propensity Score Analysis of a Real-Life Cohort (PITER HCV).

The treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) leads to high sustained virological response (SVR) rates, but hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk persists in people with advanced liver disease even after SVR. We weighted the HCC risk in people with cirrhosis achieving HCV eradication through DAA treatment and compared it with untreated participants in the multicenter prospective Italian Platform for the Study of Viral Hepatitis Therapies (PITER) cohort. Propensity matching with inverse probability weighting was used to compare DAA-treated and untreated HCV-infected participants with liver cirrhosis.

Osteoarthritis: Insights into Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, Therapeutic Avenues, and the Potential of Natural Extracts.

Osteoarthritis (OA) stands as a prevalent and progressively debilitating clinical condition globally, impacting joint structures and leading to their gradual deterioration through inflammatory mechanisms. While both non-modifiable and modifiable factors contribute to its onset, numerous aspects of OA pathophysiology remain elusive despite considerable research strides. Presently, diagnosis heavily relies on clinician expertise and meticulous differential diagnosis to exclude other joint-affecting conditions.

Impact of liver fibrosis on COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Southern Italy.

Background & Aims: SARS-Cov-2 infection manifests as a wide spectrum of clinical presentation and even now, despite the global spread of the vaccine, contagiousness is still elevated. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the impact of liver fibrosis assessed by FIB-4 and liver impairment, assessed by cytolysis indices, on intrahospital mortality in COVID-19 subjects.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study, which involved 23 COVID Hospital Units in Campania Region, Italy.

Dopamine- and Grape-Seed-Extract-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Interaction Studies between Particles and Differentiated SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cell Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, primarily associated with dopaminergic neuron depletion in the Substantia Nigra. Current treatment focuses on compensating for dopamine (DA) deficiency, but the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses challenges for effective drug delivery. Using differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, we investigated the co-administration of DA and the antioxidant Grape Seed Extract (GSE) to study the cytobiocompability, the cytoprotection against the neurotoxin Rotenone, and their antioxidant effects.

Role of triglyceride-glucose index in metabolic assessment of sarcoidosis patients.

Sarcoidosis is a rare granulomatous disease that can affect any organ. It leads to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, due to biochemical pathways involved in low-grade inflammation in both diseases. The aim of our retrospective case-control study was to evaluate the utility of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a surrogate of insulin resistance, for metabolic assessment of sarcoidosis patients.

Serological Evidence for Circulation of Influenza D Virus in the Ovine Population in Italy.

Influenza D virus (IDV) is a novel orthomyxovirus initially isolated from pigs exhibiting influenza-like disease in the USA. Since then, IDV has been detected worldwide in several host species, including livestock animals, whilst specific antibodies have been identified in humans, raising concerns about interspecies transmission and zoonotic risks. Few data regarding the seroprevalence of IDV in small ruminants have been available to date.

Energy Consumption and Substrate Utilization During Spinal Surgery.

Introduction: This study aims to measure surgeon physiologic stress and energy expenditure during adult spine surgery. Energy expenditures were assessed based on patient BMI, lead use, instrumentation/intraoperative navigation, primary/revision surgeries, tranexamic acid (TXA) use, and anatomic region involved.

Methods: The senior author wore a heart rate (HR) monitor and triaxial accelerometer during spinal surgeries, providing assessments of mean HR, maximum HR, calories consumed/minute, and calories as measured by a Polar device (P calories) and Fitbit device (F calories).

Vagueness as an implicit-encoding persuasive strategy: an experimental approach.

The paper provides novel theoretical and experimental perspectives on the functioning of linguistic vagueness as an implicit persuasive strategy. It presents an operative definition of pragmatically marked vagueness, referring to vague expressions whose interpretation is not retrievable by recipients. The phenomenon is illustrated via numerous examples of its use in predominantly persuasive texts (i.

Impact of Acute Kidney Injury on the COVID-19 In-Hospital Mortality in Octogenarian Patients: Insights from the COVOCA Study.

Background And Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of global public health, with some people suffering more adverse clinical outcomes than others. The aim of this study is to deepen our understanding of the specific impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) on the in-hospital mortality in octogenarian patients with COVID-19.

Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study, which involved 23 COVID-19 hospital units in the Campania Region, Italy.

Use of transcriptomics for diagnosis of infections and sepsis in children: A narrative review.

Aim: The aim of this review was to summarise the most recent evidence about the use of omics-based techniques as an instrument for a more rapid and accurate characterisation of respiratory tract infections, neurological infections and sepsis in paediatrics.

Methods: We performed a narrative review using PubMed and a set of inclusion criteria: English language articles, clinical trials, meta-analysis and reviews including only paediatric population inherited to this topic in the last 15 years.

Results: The examined studies suggest that host gene expression signatures are an effective method to characterise the different types of infections, to distinguish infection from colonisation and, in some cases, to assess the severity of the disease in children.