Monitoring circulating tumor DNA liquid biopsy in stage III BRAF-mutant melanoma patients undergoing adjuvant treatment.

Background: The introduction of adjuvant therapies for patients with resected cutaneous melanoma (CM) has increased the need for sensitive biomarkers for risk stratification and disease monitoring. This study aims to investigate the utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assessment in predicting and reflecting disease status during adjuvant therapy.

Methods: We enrolled 32 patients with resected BRAF-mutated stage III CM receiving adjuvant targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

Advances in the pharmacological management of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Introduction: Current treatment guidelines for cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) advocate a stage-driven approach, considering clinical presentation, symptom burden, and patient comorbidities. Therapy selection hinges on factors like disease subtype, severity, and treatment availability. The primary goal is to enhance the quality of life by mitigating symptoms, as achieving lasting complete remission is infrequent.

Emerging prognostic biomarkers in advanced cutaneous melanoma: a literature update.

Introduction: Over the past two years, the scientific community has witnessed an exponential growth in research focused on identifying prognostic biomarkers for melanoma, both in pre-clinical and clinical settings. This surge in studies reflects the need of developing effective prognostic indicators in the field of melanoma.

Areas Covered: The aim of this work is to review the scientific literature on the most recent findings on the development or validation of prognostic biomarkers in melanoma, in the attempt of providing both clinicians and researchers with an updated broad synopsis of prognostic biomarkers in cutaneous melanoma.

Pathophysiology and Therapy of High-Altitude Sickness: Practical Approach in Emergency and Critical Care.

High altitude can be a hostile environment and a paradigm of how environmental factors can determine illness when human biological adaptability is exceeded. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of high-altitude sickness, including its epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatments. The first section of our work defines high altitude and considers the mechanisms of adaptation to it and the associated risk factors for low adaptability.

CD157 signaling promotes survival of acute myeloid leukemia cells and modulates sensitivity to cytarabine through regulation of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1.

CD157/BST-1 (a member of the ADP-ribosyl cyclase family) is expressed at variable levels in 97% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and is currently under investigation as a target for antibody-based immunotherapy. We used peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from patients with AML to analyse the impact of CD157-directed antibodies in AML survival and in response to cytarabine (AraC) ex vivo. The study was extended to the U937, THP1 and OCI-AML3 AML cell lines of which we engineered CD157-low versions by shRNA knockdown.

Powder Interlayer Bonding of Nickel-Based Superalloys with Dissimilar Chemistries.

Novel joining methods are crucial for the aerospace industry to repair components damaged in the high stress, high cycle environment of the jet turbine engine. Powder interlayer bonding (PIB) is a novel joining technique that is being explored for use in the aerospace industry. PIB involves the use of a powder interlayer between two faying surfaces alongside a localised temperature gradient and compressive force to produce one joined workpiece.

The Effect of Processing Variables on Powder Interlayer Bonding in Nickel-Based Superalloys.

Powder Interlayer Bonding (PIB) has been considered as a lower-energy joining technology for nickel-based superalloys compared to conventional methods; such as friction welding. Typically; nickel-based superalloys exhibit high energy requirements for joining due to their high operating temperatures. However; PIB utilizes a localized temperature gradient created by an induction current; reducing the energy requirements for the process.

Psychopathology, personality and theory of mind in a sample of university students.

Objective: To assess psychopathology, personality and theory of mind in a sample of university students, and to analyse their correlation with socio-demographic and academic factors.

Materials And Methods: Socio-demographic and academic data were collected from 228 students. They completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-R, Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-L) and Theory of Mind (ToM) test.

A cluster randomized trial to assess the effect of clinical pathways for patients with stroke: results of the clinical pathways for effective and appropriate care study.

Background: Clinical pathways (CPs) are used to improve the outcomes of acute stroke, but their use in stroke care is questionable, because the evidence on their effectiveness is still inconclusive. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether CPs improve the outcomes and the quality of care provided to patients after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: This was a multicentre cluster-randomized trial, in which 14 hospitals were randomized to the CP arm or to the non intervention/usual care (UC) arm.

Predicting the need for institutional care shortly after admission to rehabilitation: Rasch analysis and predictive validity of the BRASS Index.

Background: Effective discharge planning is increasingly recognised as a critical component of hospital-based Rehabilitation. The BRASS index is a risk screening tool for identification, shortly after hospital admission, of patients who are at risk of post-discharge problems.

Aim: To evaluate the internal construct validity and reliability of the Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) within the rehabilitation setting.

[Analysis of the active components of a complex intervention for the care management of stroke patients: impact on in-hospital mortality].

We conducted a cohort observational study in 29 Italian hospitals to identify which factors of the acute care management process of ischemic stroke patient can reduce in-hospital mortality. This complex intervention is based on some potential organizational and clinical active components, so data are collected both at organizational unit and individual patient level. We built the variables in relation to presence/absence of clinical-demographic, care-process and organizational characteristics.

Fate of antibacterial spiramycin in river waters.

Spiramycin, a widely used veterinary macrolide antibiotic, was found at traceable levels (nanograms per litre range) in Po River water (N-Italy). The aqueous environmental fate of this antibiotic compound was studied through drug decomposition, the identification of the main and secondary transformation products (TPs), assessment of mineralisation and the investigation of drug TPs toxicity. Initially, laboratory experiments were performed, with the aim of stimulating the antibacterial transformation processes followed in aquatic systems.

Reduced in-hospital mortality for heart failure with clinical pathways: the results of a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Hospital treatment of heart failure (HF) frequently does not follow published guidelines, potentially contributing to HF high morbidity, mortality and economic cost. The Experimental Prospective Study on the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the Implementation of Clinical Pathways was undertaken to determine how clinical pathways (CP) for hospital treatment of HF affected care variability, guidelines adherence, in-hospital mortality and outcomes at discharge. Methods/

Design: Two-arm, cluster-randomised trial.

Effects of clinical pathways in the joint replacement: a meta-analysis.

Background: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the use of clinical pathways for hip and knee joint replacements when compared with standard medical care. The impact of clinical pathways was evaluated assessing the major outcomes of in-hospital hip and knee joint replacement processes: postoperative complications, number of patients discharged at home, length of in-hospital stay and direct costs.

Methods: Medline, Cinahl, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched.

Effect of introducing a care pathway to standardize treatment and nursing of schizophrenia.

Care pathways can help to implement evidence-based clinical practice. The introduction of care pathways is difficult for psychiatric disorders. This study examined whether the organization and the effectiveness of care provided to schizophrenic patients can be improved by care pathways.

Role of MT1-MMP in the osteogenic differentiation.

Metalloproteinase MT1-MMP is induced and Pro-MMP-2 up modulated early in rat preosteoblasts (ROB) set to differentiate. We here show that the induction of MMPs, accompanied by activation of Pro-MMP-2, occurs by 6 h of adhesion on endogenous extracellular matrix (ECM), Fibronectin (FN) and Collagen type I (CI). These events do not occur after adhesion on Collagen III (CIII), Vitronectin (VN) or BSA.

A cluster randomized trial to assess the impact of clinical pathways for patients with stroke: rationale and design of the Clinical Pathways for Effective and Appropriate Care Study [NCT00673491].

Background: Patients with stroke should have access to a continuum of care from organized stroke units in the acute phase, to appropriate rehabilitation and secondary prevention measures. Moreover to improve the outcomes for acute stroke patients from an organizational perspective, the use of multidisciplinary teams and the delivery of continuous stroke education both to the professionals and to the public, and the implementation of evidence-based stroke care are recommended. Clinical pathways are complex interventions that can be used for this purpose.

[Evaluation of the work environment in a local healthcare organisation in Italy: practical aspects and public health relevance].

The aim of this study was to evaluate a model of analysis of the work environment in a healthcare setting in Italy and its potential utility as tool for improving the quality of care and safeguarding the health of users. The experimental model was generated in a publicly funded hospital and in a healthcare district of a local healthcare organisation. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the work environment and its constituents.

[The results of the experimental prospective study on the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of clinical pathways].

Our study was undertaken to determine how the use of care pathways in hospital affected the quality of the care of the patients. We performed a cluster-randomized trial. The use of diagnostic procedures and of medical treatments was more appropriate in the care pathways group, as well as the discharge process.

Procollagen I COOH-terminal fragment induces VEGF-A and CXCR4 expression in breast carcinoma cells.

The COOH-terminal fragment of procollagen type I (C3) is produced in tissues with high synthesis of collagen I, such as in breast cancer stroma and in bone. We previously demonstrated that C3 is chemoattractant for breast carcinoma and endothelial cells, and that in tumor cells it induces expression and activation of metalloproteinases (MMP) -2 and -9. Here we demonstrate that C3 induces expression of vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and of CXCR4, the receptor of the CXCL12/SDF-1 chemokine, in MDA MB 231 breast cancer cells.

[Quality of central venous catheter management protocols in Oncology centres of an Italian region].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of central venous catheter (Port-a-cath, Groshong and Hohn) management protocols in Oncology centres in an Italian region. A retrospective study was performed in 25 hospitals, only 10 of which provided evidence that they utilized a central venous catheter management protocol. The submitted protocols were evaluated in terms of completeness and of adherence to manufacturers' indications and to recommendations of the Centre for Diseases Control.

A cluster randomized controlled trial of a clinical pathway for hospital treatment of heart failure: study design and population.

Background: The hospital treatment of heart failure frequently does not follow published guidelines, potentially contributing to the high morbidity, mortality and economic cost of this disorder. Consequently the development of clinical pathways has the potential to reduce the current variability in care, enhance guideline adherence, and improve outcomes for patients. Despite enthusiasm and diffusion, the widespread acceptance of clinical pathways remain questionable because very little prospective controlled data demonstrated their effectiveness.

Care pathways in obstetrics: the effectiveness in reducing the incidence of episiotomy in childbirth.

Aim: To develop a care pathway for childbirth.

Background: Care pathways are emerging as an effective tool to improve clinical and organizational performance.

Methods: A pre- and postimplementation analysis model was used to evaluate the effect of introducing a care pathway for childbirth.