Diagnostic Performance of PIVKA-II in Italian Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background And Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Six-month imaging along with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) serum levels detection are the current gold standard to exclude HCC. Protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA-II) has been proposed as a potential screening biomarker for HCC.

Efficacy and Safety of Sirolimus-Coated Balloon Angioplasty in De Novo Lesions in Large Coronary Vessels: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Background: Evidence regarding drug-coated balloon (DCB)-only angioplasty in de novo lesions of large vessels is still limited and mainly focused on paclitaxel-coated balloon. We aimed to analyze the safety and efficacy of sirolimus-coated balloon (SCB)-only angioplasty in de novo lesions in large vessels compared to drug-eluting stent (DES).

Methods: In this retrospective, dual-center, case-control study, we enrolled all consecutive patients treated between January 2022 and January 2024 with SCB-only angioplasty in de novo lesion in large vessel (> 2.

Expanded and independent validation of the NoMoFA scale for Parkinson's disease: the Italian version.

Introduction: Non-motor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) can fluctuate daily, impacting patient quality of life. The Non-Motor Fluctuation Assessment (NoMoFA) Questionnaire, a recently validated tool, quantifies NMS fluctuations during ON- and OFF-medication states. Our study aimed to validate the Italian version of NoMoFA, comparing its results to the original validation and further exploring its clinimetric properties.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Dynamic Stress Myocardial CT Perfusion Compared with Invasive Physiology in Patients with Stents: The Advantage 2 Study.

Background The detection of in-stent restenosis (ISR) with coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is challenging, but CT perfusion (CTP) has demonstrated improved diagnostic accuracy over CCTA in patients with stents. However, there are limited data on the performance of dynamic CTP, which allows noninvasive adjudication of regional myocardial blood flow. Purpose To compare the diagnostic performance of regadenoson-stress dynamic CTP with that of CCTA, using fractional flow reserve (FFR) and the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) as reference standards for epicardial coronary circulation and coronary microcirculation, respectively.

Baseline epitope-specific IgE profiles are predictive of sustained unresponsiveness or high threshold 1-year post oral immunotherapy in the POISED trial.

Background: Results from the POISED trial suggest that discontinuation of peanut oral immunotherapy can increase the risk of regaining clinical reactivity to peanut.

Objective: We sought to determine whether patients who achieved sustained unresponsiveness (SU) or sustained high threshold (SHT) have different baseline sequential epitope-specific IgE profiles than patients who achieved transient desensitization.

Methods: Subjects in the POISED trial (NCT02103270) were randomized to peanut (n = 95) or placebo (n = 25) for 24 months.

Remarks on Selected Morphological Aspects of Cancer Neuroscience: A Microscopic Photo Review.

Background: This short review and pictorial essay presents a morphological insight into cancer neuroscience, which is a complex and dynamic area of the pathobiology of tumors.

Methods: We discuss the different methods and issues connected with structural research on tumor innervation, interactions between neoplastic cells and the nervous system, and dysregulated neural influence on cancer phenotypes.

Results: Perineural invasion (PNI), the most-visible cancer-nerve relation, is briefly presented, focusing on its pathophysiology and structural diversity as well as its clinical significance.

Exploring the gap between notified and diagnosed cases of Food-borne Diseases: evidence from a time-trend analysis in Italy.

Background: Foodborne diseases are a major global public health concern, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread effects on various aspects of life, including the food supply chain, potentially impacting the incidence of foodborne diseases. This study aims to analyze the differences between notified and diagnosed cases and investigate the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on foodborne diseases in the metropolitan area of Bologna, Italy.

Role of allergen immunotherapy and biologics in allergic diseases.

The rise in the prevalence of allergic diseases has become a global health burden. Allergic diseases are a group of immune-mediated disorders characterized by IgE-mediated conditions resulting from a type 2 helper T cell (Th2)-skewed immune response. This review aims to comprehensively summarize recent research on the roles of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and biologics in allergic diseases.

Age-related changes in sleep spindle characteristics in individuals over 75 years of age: a retrospective and comparative study.

Background: Sleep and its architecture are affected and changing through the whole lifespan. We know main modifications of the macro-architecture with a shorter sleep, occurring earlier and being more fragmented. We have been studying sleep micro-architecture through its pathological modification in sleep, psychiatric or neurocognitive disorders whereas we are still unable to say if the sleep micro-architecture of an old and very old person is rather normal, under physiological changes, or a concern for a future disorder to appear.

Bone marrow niches for hematopoietic stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the cornerstone of the hematopoietic system. HSCs sustain the continuous generation of mature blood derivatives while self-renewing to preserve a relatively constant pool of progenitors throughout life. Yet, long-term maintenance of functional HSCs exclusively takes place in association with their native tissue microenvironment of the bone marrow (BM).

Elucidating allergic reaction mechanisms in response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in adults.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, novel nanoparticle-based mRNA vaccines were developed. A small number of individuals developed allergic reactions to these vaccines although the mechanisms remain undefined.

Methods: To understand COVID-19 vaccine-mediated allergic reactions, we enrolled 19 participants who developed allergic events within 2 h of vaccination and 13 controls, nonreactors.

Mast cell secretory granule fusion with amphisomes coordinates their homotypic fusion and release of exosomes.

Secretory granule (SG) fusion is an intermediate step in SG biogenesis. However, the precise mechanism of this process is not completely understood. We show that Golgi-derived mast cell (MC) SGs enlarge through a mechanism that is dependent on phosphoinositide (PI) remodeling and fusion with LC3 late endosomes (amphisomes), which serve as hubs for the fusion of multiple individual SGs.

Planar cell polarity proteins mediate ketamine-induced restoration of glutamatergic synapses in prefrontal cortical neurons in a mouse model for chronic stress.

Single administration of low-dose ketamine has both acute and sustained anti-depressant effects. Sustained effect is associated with restoration of glutamatergic synapses in medial prefrontal cortic (mFPC) neurons. Ketamine induced profound changes in a number of molecular pathways in a mouse model for chronic stress.

Mast cell activation syndrome: Current understanding and research needs.

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a term applied to several clinical entities that have gained increased attention from patients and medical providers. Although several descriptive publications about MCAS exist, there are many gaps in knowledge, resulting in confusion about this clinical syndrome. Whether MCAS is a primary syndrome or exists as a constellation of symptoms in the context of known inflammatory, allergic, or clonal disorders associated with systemic mast cell activation is not well understood.

Aspartate β-Hydroxylase Is Upregulated in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Regulates Invasiveness in Cancer Cell Models.

Aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH) is a protein associated with malignancy in a wide range of tumors. We hypothesize that inhibition of ASPH activity could have anti-tumor properties in patients with head and neck cancer. In this study, we screened tumor tissues of 155 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients for the expression of ASPH using immunohistochemistry.

Genome-wide mapping of G-quadruplex DNA: a step-by-step guide to select the most effective method.

The development of methods that enabled genome-wide mapping of DNA G-quadruplex structures in chromatin has played a critical role in providing evidence to support the formation of these structures in living cells. Over the past decade, a variety of methods aimed at mapping G-quadruplexes have been reported in the literature. In this critical review, we have sought to provide a technical overview on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the genomics approaches currently available, offering step-by-step guidance to assessing experimental needs and selecting the most appropriate method to achieve effective genome-wide mapping of DNA G-quadruplexes.

Mast cells: a novel therapeutic avenue for cardiovascular diseases?

Mast cells are tissue-resident immune cells strategically located in different compartments of the normal human heart (the myocardium, pericardium, aortic valve, and close to nerves) as well as in atherosclerotic plaques. Cardiac mast cells produce a broad spectrum of vasoactive and proinflammatory mediators, which have potential roles in inflammation, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, tissue remodelling, and fibrosis. Mast cells release preformed mediators (e.