Childhood interstitial lung disease survivors in adulthood: a European collaborative study.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is rarer in children (chILD) than adults, but with increasing diagnostic awareness, more cases are being discovered. chILD prognosis is often poor, but increasing numbers are now surviving into adulthood.

Aim: To characterize chILD-survivors and identify their impact on adult-ILD centers.

Encapsulation of Leaf Polyphenols in Liposomes: A Study on Their Antimicrobial Activity to Turn a Byproduct into a Tool to Treat Bacterial Infection.

According to the innovative and sustainable perspective of the circular economy model, leaves, a solid byproduct generated every year in large amounts by the olive oil production chain, are considered a valuable source of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, with many potential applications. In particular, the following study aimed to valorize olive leaves in order to obtain products with potential antibacterial activity. In this study, olive leaf extracts, rich in polyphenols, were prepared by ultrasound-assisted extraction using green solvents, such as ethanol and water.

Clinical features in patients with severe Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency due to rare genotypes.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a co-dominant condition associated with an increased risk of lung and liver disease. Since it is commonly thought that 95% of severe cases of AATD have PI*ZZ genotype, most studies about AATD have been focused on the Z variant. Nevertheless, over 500 single nucleotide variations in the gene have been identified.

Point-of-care ultrasound for the diagnosis of distal forearm fractures in children and adolescents: a scoping review.

Distal forearm fractures are the most common pediatric fractures. Currently, the diagnostic reference standard is X-ray. However, there is growing evidence that point-of-care ultrasound can be used for the diagnosis of distal forearm fractures in children and adolescents with good accuracy.

Toxicity Adaptive Lists Design: A Practical Design for Phase I Drug Combination Trials in Oncology.

Purpose: We introduce a novel algorithmic approach to design phase I trials for oncology drug combinations.

Methods: Our proposed Toxicity Adaptive Lists Design (TALE) is straightforward to implement, requiring the prespecification of a small number of parameters that define rules governing dose escalation, de-escalation, or reassessment of previously explored dose levels. These rules effectively regulate dose exploration and control the number of toxicities.

Therapy of parapneumonic empyema in children: a protocol for a scoping review of the literature.

Background: Empyema (the presence of pus in the pleural space) is a severe complication of community-acquired pneumonia and significant cause of morbidity, but, fortunately, not mortality in children. Between 0.6 and 2% of pneumonias are complicated by empyema and the three main pathogens involved are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and group A Streptococcus 1,2,3,4.

Parapneumonic empyema in children: a scoping review of the literature.

Community-acquired pneumonia can lead to a serious complication called empyema, which refers to pus within the pleural space. While it poses a significant threat to morbidity, particularly in children, it is fortunately not associated with high mortality rates. However, determining the best course of management for children, including decisions regarding antibiotic selection, administration methods, and treatment duration, remains a topic of ongoing debate.

A rare case of symptomatic creatine kinase elevation in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with baricitinib.

The safety profile of baricitinib (BARI), a Janus kinase inhibitor broadly used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), includes asymptomatic laboratory abnormalities, such as an increase in creatine kinase (CK). Data from randomized controlled trials suggest that concomitant myalgia is rare in RA and does not lead to drug discontinuation. We describe the case of a 68-year-old Caucasian female with longstanding, multi-failure RA who started BARI and achieved disease remission.

Interaction between miR-142-3p and Val/Met Polymorphism Regulates Multiple Sclerosis Severity.

MiR-142-3p has recently emerged as key factor in tailoring personalized treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with heterogeneous pathophysiology and an unpredictable course. With its involvement in a detrimental regulatory axis with interleukin-1beta (IL1β), miR-142-3p orchestrates excitotoxic synaptic alterations that significantly impact both MS progression and therapeutic outcomes. In this study, we investigated for the first time the influence of individual genetic variability on the miR-142-3p excitotoxic effect in MS.

Interleukin-9 protects from microglia- and TNF-mediated synaptotoxicity in experimental multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation-driven synaptic abnormalities. Interleukin-9 (IL-9) is emerging as a pleiotropic cytokine involved in MS pathophysiology.

Methods: Through biochemical, immunohistochemical, and electrophysiological experiments, we investigated the effects of both peripheral and central administration of IL-9 on C57/BL6 female mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of MS.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Children With Long COVID: A Case-controlled Study.

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a noninvasive and nonexpensive diagnostic tool, that provides a comprehensive evaluation of the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and skeletal muscle systems' integrated reactions to exercise. CPET has been extensively used in adults with Long COVID (LC), while the evidence about its role in children with this condition is scarce.

Methods: Prospective, case-controlled observational study.

Phenotypes and Serum Biomarkers in Sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease, which is diagnosed on a compatible clinical presentation, non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation in one or more tissue samples, and exclusion of alternative causes of granulomatous disease. Considering its heterogeneity, numerous aspects of the disease remain to be elucidated. In this context, the identification and integration of biomarkers may hold significance in clinical practice, aiding in appropriate selection of patients for targeted clinical trials.

Histological assessment of microtia cartilage, a potential source of autograft tissue in ear reconstruction.

Cartilage is a strong and flexible connective tissue that has many forms and functions in our body. While cartilage exhibits some forms of limited repair, for the most part, it is not particularly regenerative. Thus, in situations where patients require cartilage reconstruction, surgeons may use autografts to replace missing or damaged tissue.

Pharmacological blockade of 2-AG degradation ameliorates clinical, neuroinflammatory and synaptic alterations in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is critically involved in the pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Over the past decade, researchers have extensively studied the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of the ECS. Inhibiting the degradation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate brain damage in MS.

Procalcitonin and Presepsin as Markers of Infectious Respiratory Diseases in Children: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Procalcitonin and presepsin have been suggested to be able to discriminate bacterial and viral infections, also in children. This scoping review aims to better explore the available evidence around the potential role of these biomarkers in the subgroup of children with respiratory infectious diseases.

Methods: We performed a systematic scoping review of studies published until March 2023 in the following bibliographic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and SCOPUS.

Criminal behaviors: A theory of mind problem?

Theory of mind (ToM) has been addressed in relation to functional alterations of certain brain regions and their connections. The objective is to evaluate ToM in imprisoned criminal offenders and to analyze their relationship with the functions linked to the prefrontal cortex according to their expression in neuropsychological tests. The sample was composed of 52 subjects.

Utility of Rapid Nasopharyngeal Swab for Respiratory Pathogens in the Diagnosis of Viral Infections in Children Hospitalized with Fever: A Prospective Validation Study to Improve Antibiotic Use.

Fever is among the most common reason for medical assessment and antibiotic prescription in practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate positive and negative predictive values of rapid nasopharyngeal swabs for respiratory pathogens to discriminate viral from bacterial infections. We prospectively tested children with signs and/or symptoms of infections (e.

Characterization of the cryptic interspecific hybrid Lemna×mediterranea by an integrated approach provides new insights into duckweed diversity.

Lemnaceae taxonomy is challenged by the particular morphology of these tiny free-floating angiosperms. Although molecular taxonomy has helped clarify the phylogenetic history of this family, some inconsistency with morphological data leads to frequent misclassifications in the genus Lemna. Recently, the finding that Lemna japonica is an interspecific hybrid between Lemna minor and Lemna turionifera provided a clear explanation for one such taxonomic question.

Demonstrating Agreement between Radio and Fluorescence Measurements of the Depth of Maximum of Extensive Air Showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory.

We show, for the first time, radio measurements of the depth of shower maximum (X_{max}) of air showers induced by cosmic rays that are compared to measurements of the established fluorescence method at the same location. Using measurements at the Pierre Auger Observatory we show full compatibility between our radio and the previously published fluorescence dataset, and between a subset of air showers observed simultaneously with both radio and fluorescence techniques, a measurement setup unique to the Pierre Auger Observatory. Furthermore, we show radio X_{max} resolution as a function of energy and demonstrate the ability to make competitive high-resolution X_{max} measurements with even a sparse radio array.

Persisting Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children with SARS-CoV-2: Temporal Evolution over 18 Months and Possible Role of Lactoferrin.

Background And Aim: Persisting gastrointestinal symptoms are reported to be relatively common in children with long COVID; however, their detailed characterization and long-term outcomes have not yet been described.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study aiming to investigate the temporal evolution of gastrointestinal symptoms in children with SARS-CoV-2, from acute infection to 18-months follow-up. To further investigate possible therapeutic strategies, we evaluated the role of lactoferrin in improving gastrointestinal symptoms in these children, compared with those not treated.

A systematic literature review of randomised controlled trials evaluating colchicine for cardiovascular prevention: There is an elephant in the room.

Objectives: To review randomised controlled trials (RCT) investigating colchicine (COL) for cardiovascular (CV) prevention in patients at high to very high CV risk aiming to extract data that could be useful in rheumatology practice.

Methods: A systematic search of multiple databases according to the PICO framework was performed from inception to April 3, 2023. Three researchers independently screened abstracts/titles and reviewed full texts reviewed.

Resveratrol and Resveratrol-Loaded Galactosylated Liposomes: Anti-Adherence and Cell Wall Damage Effects on and MRSA.

Antibiotic resistance due to bacterial biofilm formation is a major global health concern that makes the search for new therapeutic approaches an urgent need. In this context,, -resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenolic natural substance, seems to be a good candidate for preventing and eradicating biofilm-associated infections but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. In addition, RSV suffers from low bioavailability and chemical instability in the biological media that make its encapsulation in delivery systems necessary.