Brain fingerprint and subjective mood state across the menstrual cycle.

Background: Brain connectome fingerprinting represents a recent and valid approach in assessing individual identifiability on the basis of the subject-specific brain functional connectome. Although this methodology has been tested and validated in several neurological diseases, its performance, reliability and reproducibility in healthy individuals has been poorly investigated. In particular, the impact of the changes in brain connectivity, induced by the different phases of the menstrual cycle (MC), on the reliability of this approach remains unexplored.

Increased breadth and neutralization of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants after infection and vaccination: A serosurveillance study in pediatric patients of Southern Switzerland.

Little information is available about the nature of the immune response in children after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or vaccination. The aim of this study is to define the seroprevalence and the features of the antibody response in children of Southern Switzerland during the different waves of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. By analyzing 756 sera collected from children aged 0 to 16 years admitted to the Institute of Pediatrics of Southern Switzerland during the prepandemic period (before March 2020) and the first four pandemic waves (between March 2020 and June 2022), we investigated binding titers, cross-reactivity, and neutralizing properties of the serum antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

A realistic computational model for the formation of a Place Cell.

Hippocampal Place Cells (PCs) are pyramidal neurons showing spatially localized firing when an animal gets into a specific area within an environment. Because of their obvious and clear relation with specific cognitive functions, Place Cells operations and modulations are intensely studied experimentally. However, although a lot of data have been gathered since their discovery, the cellular processes that interplay to turn a hippocampal pyramidal neuron into a Place Cell are still not completely understood.

Repeated Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Local Brain Metastases Failure or Distant Brain Recurrent: A Retrospective Study of 184 Patients.

Background: The main advantages of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) are to delay whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and to deliver ablative doses. Despite this efficacy, the risk of distant brain metastases (BM) one year after SRT ranges from 26% to 77% and 20 to 40% of patients required salvage treatment. The role and consequences of reirradiation remain unclear, particularly in terms of survival.

Neurological complications of rotavirus infection in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To systematically review the clinical features and outcomes of paediatric patients developing neurological complications associated with a rotavirus infection.

Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed, including articles published from 1984 to 2020. Neurological complications were classified into four groups: encephalitis, cerebellitis, encephalo-cerebellitis and benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG).

177Lu-DOTA-0-Tyr3-octreotate infusion modeling for real-time detection and characterization of extravasation during PRRT.

Purpose: Given the recent and rapid development of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), increasing emphasis should be placed on the early identification and quantification of therapeutic radiopharmaceutical (thRPM) extravasation during intravenous administration. Herein, we provide an analytical model of Lu-DOTA0-Tyr3-octreotate (Lutathera) infusion for real-time detection and characterization of thRPM extravasation.

Methods: For 33 Lutathera-based PRRT procedures using the gravity infusion method, equivalent dose rates (EDRs) were monitored at the patient's arm.

Screening for cervical cancer in Africa: A proposal of a different combination of VIA test and cervical smear in Uganda.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) screening combined with a cervical smear in Uganda.

Methods: Nine screening campaigns were held in Uganda between January 2011 and October 2019. In the last three campaigns, a new approach was used: the cervical smear was performed before the VIA test and, in case of a positive VIA test, the slide was sent for examination.

Radiation-induced lung toxicity predictors: Retrospective analysis of 90 patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy for stage I non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

Background: The main complication after hypofractionated radiotherapy for lung carcinoma is radiation-induced lung toxicity, which can be divided into radiation pneumonitis (acute toxicity, occurring within 6 months) and lung fibrosis (late toxicity, occurring after 6 months). The literature describes several predictive factors related to the patient, to the tumor (volume, central location), to the dosimetry and to biological factors.

Materials And Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of 90 patients treated with stereotactic body irradiation for stage I non-small-cell lung carcinoma between December 2010 and May 2015.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer in Young Women.

Despite the increase of breast cancer incidence with age, approximately 7 to 10% ofwomen diagnosed with breast cancer are younger than the age 40. This subgroup ofpatients has different risk factors, tumour biology, clinical outcomes, and specific psy- chosocial issues, such as fertility preservation, family planning, and job reintegration. However, age alone should not be the main consideration when choosing the aggressive- ness of the treatment, as other factors must be considered, including the biologic aggressiveness of the tumour, potential long-term toxicities, and the preferences of the patient.

Correlation between PSA kinetics and PSMA-PET in prostate cancer restaging: A meta-analysis.

Background: Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) may predict the risk of positive positron emission tomography/computed tomography with radiolabelled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA-PET/CT) in patients with biochemical recurrent prostate cancer (BRPCa). However, to date, there are no clear data regarding the correlation between PSA kinetics and PSMA-PET findings. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide evidence-based data in this setting.

Short-term benefit of smoking cessation along with glycopirronium on lung function and respiratory symptoms in mild COPD patients: a retrospective study.

Introduction: Tobacco smoke is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking cessation can change the natural history of COPD, as we know from the GOLD guidelines. Little is known about the short-term clinical and functional effects of smoking cessation treatment combined with anti-muscarinic bronchodilators.

Survey on deep learning for radiotherapy.

More than 50% of cancer patients are treated with radiotherapy, either exclusively or in combination with other methods. The planning and delivery of radiotherapy treatment is a complex process, but can now be greatly facilitated by artificial intelligence technology. Deep learning is the fastest-growing field in artificial intelligence and has been successfully used in recent years in many domains, including medicine.

Megavoltage 2D topographic imaging: An attractive alternative to megavoltage CT for the localization of breast cancer patients treated with TomoDirect.

Purpose: To show the usefulness of topographic 2D megavoltage images (MV2D) for the localization of breast cancer patients treated with TomoDirect (TD), a radiotherapy treatment technique with fixed-angle beams performed on a TomoTherapy system.

Methods: A method was developed to quickly localize breast cancer patients treated with TD by registering the MV2D images produced before a TD treatment with reference images reconstructed from a kilovoltage CT simulation scanner and by using the projection of the beam-eye-view TD treatment field. Dose and image quality measurements were performed to determine the optimal parameters for acquiring MV2D images.

Impact of smoking on lung cancer treatment effectiveness: a review.

Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 detectable substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nicotine, carbon monoxide and heavy metals, which are considered powerful enzymatic inducers that have notable influence on the efficacy and tolerability of many medications through complex pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions. As a result, adjustments of drug dosages are required in smokers, both if they continue to smoke or if they quit after smoking cessation treatment. The purpose of this review is to examine the main drug interactions with tobacco smoke clinically relevant, with a closer look on patients developing oncologic diseases.

Natural history of malignant bone disease in renal cancer: final results of an Italian bone metastasis survey.

Background: Bone metastasis represents an increasing clinical problem in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as disease-related survival improves. There are few data on the natural history of bone disease in RCC.

Patients And Methods: Data on clinicopathology, survival, skeletal-related events (SREs), and bone-directed therapies for 398 deceased RCC patients (286 male, 112 female) with evidence of bone metastasis were statistically analyzed.

Natural history of bone metastasis in colorectal cancer: final results of a large Italian bone metastases study.

Background: Data are limited regarding bone metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). The objective of this study was to survey the natural history of bone metastasis in CRC.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study of 264 patients with CRC involving bone examined cancer treatments, bone metastases characteristics, skeletal-related event (SRE) type and frequency, zoledronic acid therapy, and disease outcomes.

Neonatal respiratory distress: sequela of bilateral nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Neonatal respiratory distress is a commonly seen entity whose causes are legion. Nasal obstruction secondary to intranasal masses is significant because neonates are obligate nasal breathers. Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) causing respiratory distress is an extremely rare event since most cases of NLDO do not compromise the nasal airway.

Clinical predictors of 1-year outcome in schizophrenia.

To assess clinical predictors of 1-year outcome in schizophrenia, 63 patients were studied prospectively. Persistent negative and total symptoms after 4 weeks of neuroleptic treatment accounted for 62% of the variance of 1-year outcome, whereas baseline measures showed no relationship to outcome. Thus, 1-year outcome in schizophrenia can be reasonably predicted on the basis of symptoms persisting after 4 weeks of treatment.

Dexamethasone suppression test in schizophrenia: relationship to symptomatology, ventricular enlargement, and outcome.

To relieve confusion about the clinical correlates and prognostic implications of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in schizophrenia, we conducted a DST in 44 schizophrenic inpatients at drug-free baseline and approximately 4 weeks after neuroleptic treatment. Patients were rated on positive, negative, and depressive symptoms at both times. A head computed tomography (CT) scan was performed and measures of ventricle-brain ratio (VBR) obtained.

Post-ECT Dyskinesia.

Three depressed individuals who developed a transient dyskinesia after right unilateral, nondominant electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are described. The patients responded well to ECT in terms of their affective disorders, and were discharged free of permanent ECT-induced movement disorder symptoms. Risk factors and possible neurochemical changes underlying this phenomenon are discussed.