Standard length of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an established treatment for achalasia, yet there is still a lack of technical standardization. No clear definition of 'long', 'standard', or 'short' POEM exists to date. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to analyze current POEM length standards.

Drug Prices and Value of Oncology Drugs in Italy.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential role of efficacy data and other information available at the time of price and reimbursement (P&R) decision-making process within the definition of oncology treatment costs in Italy.

Methods: The study included all P&R dossiers submitted to the Italian Medicines Agency between July 2015 and December 2017. It prospectively collected the data of the P&R process starting from dossier submission up to the Italian Health Service reimbursement decision.

Effects of different sucrose concentrations on vitrified porcine preantral follicles: Qualitative and quantitative analysis.

The aim of the present study was to perform a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the effect of different sucrose concentrations combined with ethylene glycol in the preservation of vitrified porcine preantral follicles. Fragments of ovarian cortex were vitrified in cryotubes containing 200 μl of the vitrification solution (30% Ethylene Glycol; 20% Fetal Bovine Serum; 0 M-0.25 M - 0.

The effect of free and carrier-bound cortisol on equine neutrophil function.

Cortisol is a key anti-inflammatory hormone that increases in bacterial sepsis and circulates predominantly bound to cortisol binding globulin (CBG). Only unbound cortisol was believed to be biologically active, but recent evidence suggests that CBG-bound cortisol also regulates inflammation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of free and CBG-bound cortisol on equine neutrophil function ex vivo.