Ceramide-based risk score CERT-1 improves risk prediction for overall mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with and without cardiovascular disease: A prospective cohort study.

Aims: Whether the plasma-based ceramide-based risk score CERT1 improves risk prediction for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is uncertain.

Materials And Methods: Baseline and follow-up data were combined from two cohorts, 334 patients with established/suspected CVD and 196 patients with type 2 diabetes followed for a median of 74 months (interquartile range 54-79 months). For the calculation of CERT1 risk score, we measured four specific plasma ceramides [Cer(d18:1/16:0), Cer(d18:1/18:0) and Cer(d18:1/24:1)] and their ratios to Cer(d18:1/24:0).

Autotaxin Secretion Is a Stromal Mechanism of Adaptive Resistance to TGFβ Inhibition in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Unlabelled: The TGFβ receptor inhibitor galunisertib demonstrated efficacy in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the randomized phase II H9H-MC-JBAJ study, which compared galunisertib plus the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine with gemcitabine alone. However, additional stromal paracrine signals might confer adaptive resistance that limits the efficacy of this therapeutic strategy. Here, we found that autotaxin, a secreted enzyme that promotes inflammation and fibrosis by generating lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), mediates adaptive resistance to TGFβ receptor inhibition.

A predictive model of polymetastatic disease from a multicenter large retrospectIve database on colorectal lung metastases treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy: The RED LaIT-SABR study.

Aim: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) showed increasing survival in oligometastatic patients. Few studies actually depicted oligometastatic disease (OMD) evolution and which patient will remain disease-free and which will rapidly develop a polymetastatic disease (PMD) after SABR. Therefore, apart from the number of active metastases, there are no clues on which proven factor should be considered for prescribing local treatment in OMD.

The Endoscopic Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy (eDCR) in the Immunocompromised Patient.

We present the clinical case of a 51-year-old male patient, affected by common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). In his history recurrent orbital cellulitis, exacerbation of chronic right dacryocystitis, lacrimal sac empyema with periodic episodes of dacryocutaneous fistolization. The coexistence of these particular immunological defects and the lack of literature about similar cases required an accurate evaluation of each step of the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

The predictive and prognostic role of metabolic and volume-based parameters of positron emission tomography/computed tomography as non-invasive dynamic biological markers in early breast cancer treated with preoperative systemic therapy.

Introduction: The role of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in early breast cancer treated with preoperative systemic therapy (PST) is not yet established in clinical practice. PET parameters have aroused great interest in the recent years, as non-invasive dynamic biological markers for predicting response to PST.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 141 patients with stage II-III breast cancer who underwent surgery after PST.

Non-contrast MR dacryocystography for the evaluation of epiphora and recurrent dacryocystitis: A preliminary study.

Introduction: Obstruction of the lacrimal drainage represents a common ophthalmologic issue. The blockage may interest any level of the lacrimal drainage pathway, and it is important to find the site of obstruction to plan the most appropriate treatment. In this study, findings from magnetic resonance (MR) dacryocystography were compared with findings from endoscopic and surgical procedures to evaluate the accuracy of MR dacryocystography in localizing the site of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Using design science research to propose an IT governance model for higher education institutions.

The increasing use of, and dependence on, Information Technology (IT) to support operational teaching, research, and management activities in Higher Education Institutions (HEI)-mainly due to their multi-unit organizational structure-have evidenced the need of encouraging managers to focus more on IT Governance (ITG) effectiveness, which has been an issue for many of these institutions. In this sense, we aim to develop a specific ITG model for Higher Education Institutions, by following the methodological principles of Design Science Research (DSR). The model was developed based on a robust theoretical basis that took into account different approaches substantiated by both the alignment of good practices and ITG focus areas as well as addressing the current ITG context of the Brazilian higher education institutions.

Association between KLF6 rs3750861 polymorphism and plasma ceramide concentrations in post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

Background And Aim: Based on the emerging role of Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) in lipid metabolism, we examined whether there is a relationship between the KLF6 rs3750861 genetic variant and plasma ceramide levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods And Result: We measured six previously identified plasma ceramides, which have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk [Cer(d18:1/16:0), Cer(d18:1/18:0), Cer(d18:1/20:0), Cer(d18:1/22:0), Cer(d18:1/24:0) and Cer(d18:1/24:1)] amongst 101 Caucasian post-menopausal women with T2DM, who consecutively attended our diabetes outpatient service during a 3-month period. Plasma ceramides were measured by targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay.

High-dose ivermectin for early treatment of COVID-19 (COVER study): a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, phase II, dose-finding, proof-of-concept clinical trial.

High concentrations of ivermectin demonstrated antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of high-dose ivermectin in reducing viral load in individuals with early SARS-CoV-2 infection. This was a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, phase II, dose-finding, proof-of-concept clinical trial.

A multicenter LArge retrospectIve daTabase on the personalization of stereotactic ABlative radiotherapy use in lung metastases from colon-rectal cancer: The LaIT-SABR study.

Introduction: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has been shown to increase survival in oligometastatic disease, but local control of colorectal metastases remains poor. We aimed to identify potential predictive factors of SBRT response through a multicenter large retrospective database and to investigate the progression to the polymetastatic disease (PMD).

Material And Methods: The study involved 23 centers, and was approved by the Ethical Committee (Prot.

A Seroprevalence Study of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy.

Studies have shown a lower prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including amongst those receiving biological therapy. Aims were to determine the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in IBD patients and to assess any association between seropositivity and IBD characteristics. Serum from adult IBD patients was prospectively collected between December 2020 and January 2021 and analyzed for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Impact of PD-L1 and PD-1 Expression on the Prognostic Significance of CD8 Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

The immune infiltrate within tumors has proved to be very powerful in the prognostic stratification of patients and much attention is also being paid towards its predictive value. In this work we therefore aimed at clarifying the significance and impact of PD-L1 and PD-1 expression on the prognostic value of CD8 tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in a cohort of consecutive patients with primary resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tissue microarrays (TMA) were built using one representative formalin fixed paraffin embedded block for every case, with 5 cores for each block.

Role of Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) versus Mayo Endoscopic Subscore (MES) in Predicting Patients' Response to Biological Therapy and the Need for Colectomy.

Background: The main goal in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) is to achieve mucosal healing. Despite being unvalidated, the most widely used scoring system is the Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES). However, the recently established and validated Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) represents an interesting alternative method in assessing endoscopic disease activity.

Relation between plasma ceramides and cardiovascular death in chronic heart failure: A subset analysis of the GISSI-HF trial.

Aims: Ceramides exert several biological activities that may contribute to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and heart failure (HF). The association between plasma levels of distinct ceramides (that have been previously associated with increased cardiovascular risk) and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic HF has received little attention.

Methods And Results: In a post hoc ancillary analysis of the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nella Insufficienza Cardiaca-Heart Failure (GISSI-HF; NCT00336336) trial, we randomly selected a sample of 200 ambulatory patients with chronic HF who died due to cardiovascular causes and 200 patients who were alive at the end of the trial (after a median follow-up period of 3.

Association between increased plasma ceramides and chronic kidney disease in patients with and without ischemic heart disease.

Aim: Plasma levels of certain ceramides are increased in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Many risk factors for IHD are also risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but it is currently uncertain whether plasma ceramide levels are increased in patients with CKD.

Methods: We measured six previously identified high-risk plasma ceramide concentrations [Cer(d18:1/16:0), Cer(d18:1/18:0), Cer(d18:1/20:0), Cer(d18:1/22:0), Cer(d18:1/24:0) and Cer(d18:1/24:1)] in 415 middle-aged individuals who attended our clinical Cardiology and Diabetes services over a period of 9 months.

Cochlear implantation in adults with auditory deprivation: What do we know about it?

Introduction: In the ENT community, auditory deprivation is frequently considered as a negative prognostic factor for a good hearing outcome of cochlear implantation (CI), even if a growing literature suggests that this is not completely true. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of CI in patients with hearing deprivation, to compare them to results from non-deprived patients and then estimate how time of deprivation impacts on CI outcome and how a bilateral deprivation can affect the outcome compared to a unilateral deprivation.

Methods: Seventy-eight adults with severe to profound post-verbal hearing loss, with and without auditory deprivation history, received CI; audiological results obtained at 3-6-12-24 months follow up post CI were analyzed.

Repeated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using a non-coplanar mono-isocenter (HyperArc™) technique versus upfront whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT): a matched-pair analysis.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective treatment option for multiple brain metastases (BMs). Modern mono-isocentric techniques allow the delivery of multiple stereotactic courses, in the event of intracranial failure. Nevertheless, limited data on effectiveness and toxicity have been reported in comparison to WBRT.

Ivermectin concentration in breastmilk of a woman with Strongyloides stercoralis and human T-lymphotropic virus-I co-infection.

Ivermectin is a widely used drug for the treatment of various neglected tropical diseases, such as lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and strongyloidiasis among others. Despite its excellent safety profile, there are few published studies of the use of ivermectin in children, pregnant and nursing women. In the present study, we report clinical data on ivermectin concentrations in breastmilk of a woman with Strongyloides stercoralis and HTLV-I coinfection.

Prospective randomized controlled trial for patch augmentation in rotator cuff repair: 24-month outcomes.

Background: To evaluate the anatomic integrity of rotator cuff repair performed by medialized single row and augmented by a porcine dermal patch, in comparison with a nonaugmented group.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The sample size was predefined, and patients were divided into a study group and a control group, assessed preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months.

Oral anticancer therapy project: Clinical utility of a specific home care nursing programme on behalf of Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM).

Aims And Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a specific home care nursing programme in addition to standard care in patients (pts) receiving oral anticancer treatments.

Background: Oral anticancer therapy present challenges for pts since treatment is a home-based therapy. This study evaluates the potentiality of a home care nursing programme in decreasing hospital accesses for not severe toxicity.