Publications by authors named "Germani S"

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of perineal access cannulas tethered to a biplanar ultrasound probe in cognitive transperineal prostate biopsies of targets identified by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) by comparing the results of the PrecisionPoint (PP) Transperineal Access System with the double-freehand (DFH) technique.

Patients And Methods: All patients who underwent cognitive transperineal prostate biopsy of mpMRI targets using the PP or DFH technique between November 2020 and September 2023 were enrolled. All data related to mpMRI target biopsies were stratified by technique, visibility in transrectal ultrasound and analysed by comparing PP versus DFH.

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The mutational drift of SARS-CoV-2 and the appearance of multiple variants, including the latest Omicron variant and its sub-lineages, has significantly reduced (and in some cases abolished) the protective efficacy of Wuhan spike-antigen-based vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. One of the most functionally constrained and thus largely invariable regions of the spike protein is the one involved in the interaction with the ACE2 receptor mediating the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. Engineered ACE2, both as a full-length protein or as an engineered polypeptide fragment, has been shown to be capable of preventing the host-cell binding of all viral variants and to be endowed with potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralization activity both in vitro and in vivo.

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Perineal seeding is an extremely rare complication after prostate biopsy. We found a perineal localization of prostatic adenocarcinoma 5 years after the transperineal biopsy in a patient with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. The tumor was identified by aF-Fluorocholin positron emission tomography-computed tomography (F-FCH PET-CT) performed after a sudden rise of PSA levels during androgen deprivation therapy and after a negative CT scan.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Obstructive nephropathy (ON) is a reversible condition that can cause acute kidney injury, resulting from blockage in the urinary tracts; it may not always present with hydronephrosis, leading to a form called non-dilated obstructive uropathy (NDOU).
  • - NDOU typically occurs in older males and can present symptoms like low urine output, abdominal pain, and high serum creatinine levels; it often stems from external ureter compression due to conditions like retroperitoneal fibrosis or tumors.
  • - Effective treatments include minimally invasive methods like ureteric stenting or nephrostomy, and timely diagnosis is crucial for managing the obstruction and potentially reversing kidney damage.
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  • * ERO1A depletion in SEPN1 knockout cells enhances ER redox balance, improves mitochondrial function, and combats diaphragmatic weakness in mice, while ERO1A knockout shows beneficial effects on ER stress and MAM functionality.
  • * ERO1A overexpression is observed in muscle biopsies from SEPN1-RM patients, and the ER stress inhibitor tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) improves bio
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Imiquimod (IMQ) has been successfully formulated to date mainly as semi-solid lipophilic formulations for topical application. In this study, we investigated the solubility of IMQ in solvents suitable for developing innovative formulations in the form of powder obtained, for instance, by spray drying; thus, water, ethanol, methanol, acetone, acetonitrile, and dimethyl sulfoxide were tested at different temperatures. Temperature variations, stirring intensity, and the contact time between IMQ and the solvent greatly affected the evaluation of IMQ equilibrium solubility.

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Background: Phimosis is the inability to completely retract the foreskin and expose the glans. The treatment of phimosis varies depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the disease; a great number of conservative or surgical treatments are currently available.

Aim: To provide the first review summarizing the available options for the treatment of adult phimosis.

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The rapid evolution of new SARS-CoV-2 variants poses a continuing threat to human health. Vaccination has become the primary therapeutic intervention. The goal of the current work was the construction of immunogenic virus-like particles (VLPs).

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Article Synopsis
  • A study investigated new training methods for retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using 3D printed models of the upper urinary tract and stones, introduced in 2021.
  • Twenty urologists with varying expertise participated in a simulation event to assess the models' effectiveness in developing surgical skills, with their performance evaluated using the OSATS scale.
  • Results showed that novice surgeons improved their skills through repeated simulations, evidenced by shorter operative times and higher OSATS scores, confirming the models' validity and suggesting their use in training programs.
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RYR1 is the gene encoding the ryanodine receptor 1, a calcium release channel of the endo/sarcoplasmic reticulum. I4898T in RYR1 is one of the most common mutations that give rise to central core disease (CCD), with a variable phenotype ranging from mild to severe myopathy to lethal early-onset core-rod myopathy. Mice with the corresponding I4895T mutation in Ryr1 present mild myopathy when the mutation is heterozygous while I4895T homozygous is perinatal-lethal.

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Fournier's gangrene (FG) is an infectious necrotising fasciitis of the perineum and genital regions with a high mortality rate. We report the case of a man in his 70s with FG who presented with bladder trigone and prostate colliquation. Bulbar and penile urethra were also injured with multiple fenestrations.

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Objective: To present a new technique of double-j stent (DJ) placement during laparoscopic transperitoneal ureterolithotomy (LUL).

Patients And Methods: Following the extraction of the stone, a 6 French DJ open-end stent is prepared: two straight-tip hydrophilic guidewires are inserted into the appropriate lateral holes of the stent, as identified by the preoperative evaluation of the CT scan. Approximately 5 centimeters of each wire protrude from the proximal and distal ends of the stent to straighten its terminal curl, thus resembling the wings of a flying seagull.

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Background: This study aimed to investigate differences in adolescents' social relationships with classmates of diverse gender, socioeconomic status, immigrant background, and academic achievement.

Methods: A population of 10th-grade students (N = 406,783; males = 50.3%; = 15.

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Background: Circumcision as surgical treatment of adult phimosis is not devoid of complications. Efficacy of alternative non-surgical options is unclear. PhimoStop is a therapeutic protocol which involves the use of appropriately shaped silicone tuboids of increasing size to obtain a non-forced dilation of the prepuce.

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The T1 substaging of bladder cancer (BCa) potentially impacts disease progression. The objective of the study was to compare the prognostic accuracy of two substaging systems on the recurrence and progression of primary pathologic T1 (pT1) BCa and to test a nomogram based on pT1 substaging for predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The medical records of 204 patients affected by pT1 BCa were retrospectively reviewed.

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Purpose: Greenlight laser is a mini-invasive technique used to treat Benign Prostatic Obstruction (BPO). Some of the advantages of GreenLight photoselective vaporization (PVP) are shorter catheterization time and hospital stay compared to TURP. Post-operative acute urinary retention (pAUR) leads to patients' discomfort, prolonged hospital stay and increased health care costs.

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Purpose: Training in retrograde intrarenal surgery for the treatment of renal stone disease is a challenging task due to the unique complexity of the procedure. This study introduces a series of 3D printed models of upper urinary tract and stones designed to improve the training process.

Methods: Six different models of upper urinary tract were algorithmically isolated, digitally optimized and 3D printed from real-life cases.

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We report the final measurement of the neutrino oscillation parameters Δm_{32}^{2} and sin^{2}θ_{23} using all data from the MINOS and MINOS+ experiments. These data were collected using a total exposure of 23.76×10^{20} protons on target producing ν_{μ} and ν[over ¯]_{μ} beams and 60.

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Searches for electron antineutrino, muon neutrino, and muon antineutrino disappearance driven by sterile neutrino mixing have been carried out by the Daya Bay and MINOS+ collaborations. This Letter presents the combined results of these searches, along with exclusion results from the Bugey-3 reactor experiment, framed in a minimally extended four-neutrino scenario. Significantly improved constraints on the θ_{μe} mixing angle are derived that constitute the most constraining limits to date over five orders of magnitude in the mass-squared splitting Δm_{41}^{2}, excluding the 90% C.

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Background: Over the two past decades, GreenLight laser therapy has been considered a valid alternative for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic obstruction (BPH/BPO). However, the debate on the effectiveness of laser therapy compared to conventional techniques is still open. The aim of our study is to analyze and describe the use of GreenLight laser prostate surgery in Italy, with regard to the surgical techniques performed and the surgical and functional outcomes at mid-term follow-up.

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The NOvA experiment has seen a 4.4σ signal of ν[over ¯]_{e} appearance in a 2 GeV ν[over ¯]_{μ} beam at a distance of 810 km. Using 12.

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GreenLight laser vaporization of the prostate (photoselective vaporization of the prostate [PVP]) is a safe and effective procedure for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Long-term results and advantages of PVP in patients with large and symptomatic prostate are still under evaluation. In a multicenter experience, patients who underwent standard or anatomical PVP were retrospectively reviewed.

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A search for mixing between active neutrinos and light sterile neutrinos has been performed by looking for muon neutrino disappearance in two detectors at baselines of 1.04 and 735 km, using a combined MINOS and MINOS+ exposure of 16.36×10^{20} protons on target.

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Objective: To create, distribute, and evaluate the efficacy of a portable, cost-effective 3D-printed laparoscopic trainer for surgical skills development.

Methods: The UCI Trainer (UCiT) laparoscopic simulator was developed via computer-aided designs (CAD), which were used to 3D-print the UCiT. Once assembled, a tablet computer with a rear-facing camera was attached for video and optics.

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