Serum Type I Interferon Score predicts clinically meaningful disease progression in limited cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis.

Objective: To assess the value of serum Type I Interferon (IFN) score in predicting clinically meaningful progression in limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) using a novel composite endpoint adopted from the MINIMISE clinical trial.

Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal lcSSc cohort was identified within a national, multicentre observational cohort. The MINIMISE combined Morbi-mortality endpoint was used as clinical outcome for a time to clinical worsening (TTCW) design.

Biological hallmarks of systemic sclerosis are present in the skin and serum of patients with Very Early Diagnosis of SSc (VEDOSS).

Objective: The Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (VEDOSS) EUSTAR study showed that, despite not showing any clinical sign of disease, patients with Raynaud's and antinuclear antibodies and/or capillaroscopy abnormalities often progress to systemic sclerosis (SSc) within 5 years. We aimed to determine whether VEDOSS biosamples show biological SSc activity pre-clinically.

Methods: Skin biopsies were histologically analysed.

A Trifecta-Based Evaluation of Patients Treated with Percutaneous Thermal Ablation of Small Renal Masses.

Scoring metrics are important to compare outcomes of different percutaneous treatments for small renal masses (RMs). The concept of trifecta (no complications, kidney function preservation, and absence of local recurrence) has been recently introduced in percutaneous thermal ablation of RM. In this context, previous studies have shown that cryoablation (CA) and microwave ablation (MWA) have similar outcomes.

Long-term retention rate, adverse event temporal patterns and rescue treatment strategies of mycophenolate mofetil in systemic sclerosis: insights from real-life.

Background: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a mainstay for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The occurrence and implications of MMF-related adverse events on drug retention rates in real life remain poorly defined. We aimed to determine the MMF retention rate and to investigate the causes and patterns of discontinuation, adverse events (AEs) and treatment options used after discontinuation.

Inpatient palliative care in metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma: a retrospective analysis using the National Inpatient Sample database.

Background: The use of inpatient palliative care (IPC) in advanced cancer patients represents a well-established guideline recommendation. This study examines the utilization rates and patterns of IPC among patients with metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma (mACC).

Methods: Relying on the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2007-2019), we tabulated IPC rates in mACC patients.

The 2024 British Society for Rheumatology guideline for management of systemic sclerosis.

This guideline was developed according to the British Society for Rheumatology Guidelines Protocol by a Guideline Development Group comprising healthcare professionals with expertise in SSc and people with lived experience, as well as patient organization representatives. It is an update of the previous 2015 SSc guideline. The recommendations were developed and agreed by the group and are underpinned by published evidence, assessed by systematic literature review and reinforced by collective expert opinion of the group.

The 2024 British Society for Rheumatology guideline for management of systemic sclerosis-executive summary.

This guideline was developed according to the British Society for Rheumatology Guidelines Protocol by a Guideline Development Group comprising healthcare professionals with expertise in SSc and people with lived experience, as well as patient organization representatives. It is an update of the previous 2015 SSc guideline. The recommendations were developed and agreed by the group and are underpinned by published evidence, assessed by systematic literature review and reinforced by collective expert opinion of the group.

Consensus statement addressing controversies and guidelines on pediatric urolithiasis.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate controversial pediatric urolithiasis issues systematically, integrating expert consensus and comprehensive guidelines reviews.

Methods: Two semi-structured online focus group meetings were conducted to discuss the study's need and content, review current literature, and prepare the initial survey. Data were collected through surveys and focus group discussions.

Concordance and Prognostic Relevance of Different Definitions of Systemic Sclerosis Interstitial Lung Disease Progression.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a common complication that has a varied progression rate and prognosis. Different progression definitions are available, including minimal clinically important worsening of FVC, EUSTAR (European Scleroderma Trials and Research Group) progression, OMERACT (Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials) progression, and Erice ILD working group progression. Pulmonary function and symptom changes may act as specific confounding factors when applying these definitions in SSc.

Rituximab retention rate in systemic sclerosis: a long term real-life multicenter study.

Objectives: to report real-life data on rituximab retention-rate as indicator of safety and efficacy in a multicentric national cohort of systemic sclerosis patients.

Methods: SSc patients treated with rituximab and followed for at least 36 months were included, clinically characterized, and longitudinally monitored. A competing risk analysis with sub-Hazard Ratio(sHR) definition was performed to explore the clinical variables linked to specific cause of rituximab discontinuation.

Assessment of Effectiveness and Safety of Aspiration-Assisted Nephrostomic Access Sheaths in PCNL and Intrarenal Pressures Evaluation: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Different suction-assisted nephrostomic sheaths have been developed for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). (1) To examine PCNL techniques performed with different aspiration-assisted sheaths (Clear Petra sheath, Superperc, SuperminiPCNL, and a miniPCNL patented sheath), with specific regard to effectiveness and safety outcomes in adult and paediatric patients; (2) to extrapolate intrarenal pressure (IRP) data during these procedures. A systematic literature search was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Oral preparation of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, N-acetylglucosamine, and vitamin C improves sexual and urinary symptoms in participants with recurrent urinary tract infections: a randomized crossover trial.

Background: Intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid (HA) has been associated with reduced sexual dysfunction in participants with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs), but the efficacy of an oral treatment has never been investigated.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of an oral preparation of HA, chondroitin sulfate, N-acetylglucosamine, and vitamin C in improving sexual and urinary symptoms in a cohort of reproductive-age participants with rUTI.

Methods: In a monocentric randomized crossover pilot trial, participants with rUTI who were referred to our institute between March 2022 and April 2023 were randomized 1:1 in 2 groups: intervention vs control.

Serum CCL24 as a Biomarker of Fibrotic and Vascular Disease Severity in Systemic Sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous disease, characterized by variable tissue and vascular fibrosis in the context of autoimmune activation. CCL24 (or Eotaxin2) has been shown to promote microangiopathic, proinflammatory, and profibrotic processes in preclinical models of SSc. Here, we study serum CCL24 levels in a real-life cohort of patients with SSc, to determine its distribution across disease features and its value in predicting disease progression and related mortality.

The β-Secretase BACE1 Drives Fibroblast Activation in Systemic Sclerosis through the APP/β-Catenin/Notch Signaling Axis.

BACE1 is well-known for its role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Recent publications, including our own, have demonstrated a role for this enzyme in other chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of BACE1 in the autoimmune disease systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Vacuum-assisted mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy is associated with lower rates of infectious complications compared to vacuum-cleaner procedure in patients at high risk for infections: a single-center experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of vacuum-assisted mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (vamPCNL) vs. vacuum-cleaner mPCNL (vcmPCNL) on the rate of postoperative infectious complications in a cohort of patients with high risk factors for infections.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 145 patients who underwent mPCNL between 01/2016 and 12/2022.

Extended pelvic lymph node dissection during robotic prostatectomy: antegrade versus retrograde technique.

Background: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with extended lymphadenectomy (ePLND) is the gold standard for surgical treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). Recently, the en-bloc ePLND has been proposed but no studies reported on the standardization of the technique. The aim of the study is to describe different standardized en-bloc ePLND, the antegrade and the retrograde ePLND, and to compare their surgical and oncological outcomes.

Transient ureteral obstruction after mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy is associated with stone volume and location: results from a single-center, real-life study.

Purpose: To evaluate the rate of and predictors of ureteral obstruction after mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL) for kidney stones.

Methods: We analyzed data from 263 consecutive patients who underwent mPCNL at a single tertiary referral academic between 01/2016 and 11/2022. Patient's demographics, stone characteristics, and operative data were collected.

Alveolar epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in scleroderma interstitial lung disease: Technical challenges, available evidence and therapeutic perspectives.

The alveolar epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is the process of transformation of differentiated epithelial cells into mesenchymal-like cells through functional and morphological changes. A partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process can indirectly contribute to lung fibrosis through a paracrine stimulation of the surrounding cells, while a finalized process could also directly enhance the pool of pulmonary fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix deposition. The direct demonstration of alveolar epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease is challenging due to technical pitfalls and the limited availability of lung tissue samples.

MRI Digital Artery Volume Index (DAVIX) as a surrogate outcome measure of digital ulcer disease in patients with systemic sclerosis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Vascular fibrosis is a key manifestation of systemic sclerosis that leads to the narrowing of small and medium arteries, causing vascular clinical manifestations including digital ulcers and pulmonary arterial hypertension. We investigated the potential of the MRI-based Digital Artery Volume Index (DAVIX) as a surrogate outcome measure of vascular fibrosis by using it to quantify and predict the burden of digital ulcer disease in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Methods: Two independent cohorts of patients participating in the prospective observational study STRIKE were consecutively enrolled from the Scleroderma Clinic of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK.

Clinical trajectories of hand function impairment in systemic sclerosis: an unmet clinical need across disease subsets.

Background: Hand involvement is an early manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc), culprit of diagnosis and classification, and recognised major driver of disability. Impairment of hand function burdens both limited and diffuse cutaneous subsets and therefore could be targeted as 'basket' endpoint in SSc. Nevertheless, its natural history in current standard of care is not well characterised, limiting the design of targeted trials.

Perioperative and Survival Outcomes of Patients Treated With Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy and Percutaneous Microwave Ablation for Small Renal Masses: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Robot assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and microwave ablation (MWA) are 2 of the most advanced techniques for the management of localized small renal masses.

Purpose: To compare the perioperative, functional and oncological results of RAPN and MWA.

Materials And Methods: Data from 171 consecutive patients undergoing either RAPN or MWA for a localized small renal mass at a single academic center was retrospectively collected.