Psycho-gastroenterological profile of an Italian population of children with disorders of gut-brain interaction: A case-control study.

Background: Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are common, but knowledge about their physiopathology is still poor, nor valid tools have been used to evaluate them in childhood.

Aim: To develop a psycho-gastroenterological questionnaire (PGQ) to assess the psycho-gastroenterological profile and social characteristics of a pediatric population with and without DGBI.

Methods: One hundred and nineteen Italian children (age 11-18) were included: 28 outpatient patients with DGBI (Rome IV criteria) and 91 healthy controls.

Effect of Race/Ethnicity on In-hospital Outcomes After Radical Cystectomy.

Objective: Previously, African American race/ethnicity predisposed to higher rate of adverse in-hospital outcomes after radical cystectomy (RC). We tested whether this association applies to contemporary RC patients.

Methods: Patients were identified within the National Inpatient Sample (NIS 2000-2019).

Hepatic abscess and hydatid liver cyst: European infectious disease point of view.

This manuscript is based on a recent study by Pillay that was published in recently. Liver abscesses can be caused by rare potentially life-threatening infections of either bacterial or parasitic origin. The incidence rate in Europe is lower than in developing countries, but it is a major complication with high morbidity, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

Comparative analysis of machine learning models for predicting pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: An MRI radiomics approach.

Purpose: The aim of this work is to compare different machine learning models for predicting pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer using radiomics features from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI).

Method: The study included 55 patients with breast cancer, among whom 18 achieved pCR and 37 did not respond completely to NAC (non-pCR). After some pre-processing steps, 1446 features were extracted and corrected for batch effects using ComBat.

Urinary Diversion Versus Adverse In-Hospital Outcomes After Radical Cystectomy.

Objective: This study aimed to compare adverse in-hospital outcomes in ileal conduit versus neobladder urinary diversion type after radical cystectomy (RC) in contemporary versus historical patients.

Methods: Patients were identified within the National Inpatient Sample (NIS 2000-2019). Propensity score matching (PSM; 1:2 ratio) and multivariable logistic regression models (LRMs) were used.

Mitigating Interobserver Variability in Radiomics with ComBat: A Feasibility Study.

This study investigates Intraobserver Features Variability (IFV) in radiomics studies and assesses the effectiveness of the ComBat harmonization method in mitigating these effects. This study utilizes data from the NSCLC-Radiomics-Interobserver1 dataset, comprising CT scans of 22 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients, with multiple Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) delineations performed by five radiation oncologists. Segmentation was completed manually ("vis") or by autosegmentation with manual editing ("auto").

Is it still necessary to perform measured based pre-treatment patient-specific QA for SRS HyperArc treatments?

Purpose: The Mobius3D system was validated as a modern secondary check dosimetry system. In particular, our objective has been to assess the suitability of the M3D as pre-treatment patient-specific Quality Assurance (QA) tool for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) HyperArc (HA) treatments. We aimed to determine whether Mobius3D could safely replace the measurements-based patient-specific QA for this type of treatment.

Organ dose in CT: Comparison between measurements and computational methods.

Purpose: This study aims to compare two methods for the organ dose evaluation in computed tomography (CT) in the head- and thorax regions: an experimental method, using radiochromic films, and a computational one, using a commercial software.

Methods: Gafchromic® XR-QA2 and EBT-3 were characterized in terms of energetic, angular, and irradiation configurations dependence. Two free-in-air irradiation calibration configurations were employed using a CT scanner: with the sensitive surface of the film orthogonal (OC) and parallel (PC) to the beam axis.

HyperArc Dosimetric Validation for Multiple Targets Using Ionization Chamber and RT-100 Polymer Gel.

Multiple brain metastases single-isocenter stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment is increasingly employed in radiotherapy department. Before its use in clinical routine, it is recommended to perform end-to-end tests. In this work, we report the results of five HyperArcTM treatment plans obtained by both ionization chamber (IC) and polymer gel.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders in individuals with RASopathies: May RAS/MAP/ERK pathway dysfunctions be a model of neuropathic pain and visceral hypersensitivity?

RASopathies are a group of neurodevelopmental syndromes caused by germline variants in genes of the Ras/MAP/ERK pathway. Growth failure, neurological involvement, and pain represent the main features of these conditions. ERK signaling cascade plays a crucial role in nociception and visceral pain and it is likely implicated in the genesis of neuropathic pain and maintenance of altered pain states.

Intestinal Permeability in Children with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: The Effects of Diet.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are very common and life-impacting in children and young adults, covering 50% of pediatric gastroenterologist consultations. As it is known, FGIDs may be due to alterations in the gut-brain axis, dysbiosis and dysregulation of intestinal barrier, causing leaky gut. This may enhance increased antigen and bacterial passage through a damaged mucosa, worsening the impact of different medical conditions such as FGIDs.

SBRT/SRS patient-specific QA using GAFchromic EBT3 and FilmQA Pro software.

The aim of this work is to verify the potential use of GAFchromic EBT3 and FILMQA pro software for patient specific quality assurance (QA) for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatment plans in clinical routine use. In particular, encephalic, pulmonary and lymph node treatments plans were selected for this study. The agreement between the calculated and measured dose distributions were evaluated in terms of ɣ index with 3%3mm, 2%2mm, 1.

Anti-TNF-Related Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis in Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report.

Background: The development of drugs directed against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has dramatically modified the therapeutic approach to inflammatory bowel diseases: a larger use of such drugs has also led to a major knowledge about their adverse effects, especially on skin. The aim of this report was to describe a rare steroid-dependent form of leukocytoclastic vasculitis induced by an anti-TNF-α agent in a young woman with ulcerative colitis.

Case Presentation: A young girl with ulcerative colitis developed a form of leukocytoclastic vasculitis induced by an anti-TNF-α agent.

Safety Profile of the New Harmonic Focus: Different Emissivity and Temperature Behavior Between the Active and the Inactive Blade.

Ultrasonic devices disperse less energy in the tissues. The new Harmonic Focus+ (HF+) seems to be more efficient but thermal damages have been reported. This study examined the temperature and the emissivity profile of the active and passive blades of the HF+, on a pig tissue model at different power settings.

"Postural first" principle when balance is challenged in elderly people.

Human cognitive processing limits can lead to difficulties in performing two tasks simultaneously. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cognitive load on both simple and complex postural tasks. Postural control was evaluated in 128 noninstitutionalized elderly people (mean age = 73.

Biological determinants of postural disorders in elderly women.

Postural control impairments and dizziness, which are major health problems with high secondary morbidity and mortality, increase with aging. Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) level is an age-related metabolic disorder, known to be involved in cardiovascular, neurological, and multisensory dysfunctions. Elevated Hcy level might be involved in sensory balance control systems impairment and dizziness occurrence.

Safety and immunogenicity of a measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine given as a second dose in children up to six years of age.

Two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) are widely recommended and consideration is being given to a similar schedule for varicella vaccine. A combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (MMRV) could be considered for this second dose in children previously vaccinated separately with MMR and varicella vaccines. Healthy children (N=390) aged 15-75 months (median 54 months) previously immunized with MMR and varicella vaccines were randomly allocated to receive MMRV or separate injections of MMR and varicella vaccines.

Prevalence of dementia in mountainous village of Sicily.

The progressive and rapid aging of population is the demographic characteristic in the Western countries. This rapid process of aging is causing an increasing burden on the social and health-care services. In this context, the precise knowledge of the environmental, socio-economical and clinical characteristics of the elderly population is mandatory to find the correct strategies to achieve the successful aging.

Association of thyroid dysfunction with vitamin B12, folate and plasma homocysteine levels in the elderly: a population-based study in Sicily.

Background: Association of thyroid dysfunction with plasma homocysteine levels and vitamin B(12) has previously been reported. We evaluated these associations in the elderly in San Teodoro, a mountainous village of Sicily.

Methods: Subjects (n=279) aged 60-85 years (119 males and 160 females) were examined using self-reported signs, clinical examination and laboratory tests.

Association of vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine with functional and pathological characteristics of the elderly in a mountainous village in Sicily.

Background: Homocysteine is associated with age, folate and vitamin B(12). Our study investigated the functional and clinical characteristics of the elderly (aged 60-85 years) of San Teodoro, a village in Central Sicily, and evaluated associations with vitamin B(12), folate and homocysteine.

Methods: Subjects (n=280) were examined after door-to-door recruitment using interview, physician examination and laboratory tests.