Pancreatic Volume in Thalassemia: Determinants and Association with Alterations of Glucose Metabolism.

This study aimed to compare the pancreatic volume between beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) and beta-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI) patients and between thalassemia patients and healthy subjects and to determine the predictors of pancreatic volume and its association with glucose metabolism in β-TM and β-TI patients. We considered 145 β-TM patients and 19 β-TI patients enrolled in the E-MIOT project and 20 healthy subjects. The pancreatic volume and pancreatic and hepatic iron levels were quantified by magnetic resonance imaging.

Controlled activation modulates T-cell expansion and phenotype in stirred-tank bioreactors.

Background Aims: Autologous cell therapies using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown significant clinical success in hematologic cancers. However, current production platforms face challenges in scaling up to produce sufficient numbers of cells to meet the demands of multi-dose regimens. Additionally, tight control over critical process parameters during the distinct stages of cell production is required to maximize key phenotypic characteristics of CAR T-cell products that correlate with improved clinical responses.

SIRT1: A likely key for future therapeutic strategies for pain management.

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a NAD+ -dependent histone deacetylase, plays a crucial role in mitigating oxidative stress, regulating inflammation, and maintaining mitochondrial function. Reduced SIRT1 activity has been linked to elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic pain, all of which are observed in long COVID pathology. Emerging evidence identifies mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress as central contributors to these symptoms.

Calcaneo-stop for paediatric idiopathic flexible flatfoot: High functional results and return to sport in 644 feet at mid-term follow-up.

Purpose: Idiopathic flexible flatfoot (IFF) is a frequent condition in children. Patients refractory to conservative treatments may benefit from surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and sport activity levels in a large cohort of paediatric patients treated with calcaneo-stop (CS) for the symptomatic IFF.

A new biochemical pathway in chlorophyll degradation in melon fruit.

All the fruits that are or were green accumulate phyllobilins, which are the terminal chlorophyll catabolites. Phyllobilins are part of our daily diet, however, only a few structures have been identified in edible species. To unravel the phyllobilin biosynthetic pathway in fruits, a robust database with 956 phyllobilins was built and taking advantage of our metabolomic approach, three new phyllobilins were identified in melon fruits.