Understanding Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Implications.

Vascular calcification (VC) is a biological phenomenon characterized by an accumulation of calcium and phosphate deposits within the walls of blood vessels causing the loss of elasticity of the arterial walls. VC plays a crucial role in the incidence and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to a significant increase in cardiovascular mortality in these patients. Different conditions such as age, sex, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension are the main risk factors in patients affected by chronic kidney disease.

The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c May Refine Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Introduction: Uremic patients exhibit remarkably increased rates of mortality and cardiovascular (CV) events, but risk prediction in this setting remains difficult. Systemic mitochondrial dysfunction is pervasive in end-stage kidney disease and may contribute to CV complications. We tested the clinical significance of circulating MOTS-c, a small mitochondrial-derived peptide, as a biomarker for improving mortality and CV risk prediction in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Unbalanced circulating Humanin levels and cardiovascular risk in chronic hemodialysis patients: a pilot, prospective study.

Background: Mortality and cardiovascular (CV) risk prediction in individuals with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on chronic hemodialysis (HD) remains challenging due to the multitude of implicated factors. In a multicenter ESKD-HD cohort, we tested the prognostic yield of the assessment of circulating Humanin, a small mitochondrial-derived peptide involved in CV protection, on CV events and mortality.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational, pilot study on 94 prevalent HD patients.

Perioperative Marinobufagenin (MBG) Measurement May Improve Acute Kidney Injury Risk Assessment in Patients Undergoing Major Cardiac Surgery: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a significant complication following major cardiac surgery. Marinobufagenin (MBG), a cardiotonic steroid involved in sodium balance and blood pressure regulation, has been linked to organ damage after ischemia-reperfusion events. This pilot, prospective study investigates the utility of circulating MBG to improve AKI risk assessment in cardiac surgery patients as a stand-alone biomarker and after inclusion in a validated risk model (STS-AKI score).

Selenoprotein-P1 (SEPP1) Expression in Human Proximal Tubule Cells after Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: An In Vitro Model.

: Selenium deficiency represents a risk factor for the occurrence of severe diseases, such as acute kidney injury (AKI). Recently, selenoprotein-p1 (SEPP1), a selenium transporter, mainly released by the liver, has emerged as a promising plasmatic biomarker of AKI as a consequence of cardio-surgery operations. The aim of the present study was to investigate, on an in vitro model of hypoxia induced in renal tubular cells, HK-2, the effects of sodium selenite (NaSeO) and to evaluate the expression of SEPP1 as a marker of injury.

Urinary Post-Translationally Modified Fetuin-A (uPTM-FetA) in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with and without Diabetic Kidney Disease.

A novel post-translational modification (PTM) fragment derived from the cleavage of Fetuin-A (PTM-FetA) has recently emerged as a sensitive biomarker for kidney damage in diabetic patients, but evidence in other chronic renal diseases is lacking. In this pilot study, we aimed at evaluating the clinical significance of urinary PTM-FetA (uPTM-FetA) in a mixed cohort of patients with non-advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) secondary to diabetic kidney disease (DKD) or other causes. We enrolled 47 adult patients with CKD (mean CKD-Epi 40.

Spice Up Your Kidney: A Review on the Effects of Capsaicin in Renal Physiology and Disease.

Capsaicin, the organic compound which attributes the spicy flavor and taste of red peppers and chili peppers, has been extensively studied for centuries as a potential natural remedy for the treatment of several illnesses. Indeed, this compound exerts well-known systemic pleiotropic effects and may thus bring important benefits against various pathological conditions like neuropathic pain, rhinitis, itching, or chronic inflammation. Yet, little is known about the possible biological activity of capsaicin at the kidney level, as this aspect has only been addressed by sparse experimental investigations.

Evaluation of arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis with a new generation digital stethoscope: a pilot study.

Background And Aims: The management of complications of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis, principally stenosis, remains a major challenge for clinicians with a substantial impact on health resources. Stenosis not infrequently preludes to thrombotic events with the loss of AVF functionality. A functioning AVF, when listened by a stethoscope, has a continuous systolic-diastolic low-frequency murmur, while with stenosis, the frequency of the murmur increases and the duration of diastolic component decreases, disappearing in severe stenosis.

Self-Reported Physical Inactivity and Mood Disturbances in End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) Patients on Chronic Dialysis Treatment.

Background: Physical inactivity and mood disturbances are key issues in individuals with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and may lead to poor clinical outcomes.

Methods: We performed a pilot, observational study to explore the possible relationships between the self-reported level of physical activity (IPAQ) and the severity of mood disturbances (BDI score) in a cohort of 58 ESKD patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD; = 30) or peritoneal dialysis (PD; = 28).

Results: Overall, ESKD patients were severely inactive (median METs: 590 [460-1850]) and the intensity of overall and walking physical activity was mostly low to moderate.

New Insights on the Role of Marinobufagenin from Bench to Bedside in Cardiovascular and Kidney Diseases.

Marinobufagenin (MBG) is a member of the bufadienolide family of compounds, which are natural cardiac glycosides found in a variety of animal species, including man, which have different physiological and biochemical functions but have a common action on the inhibition of the adenosine triphosphatase sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+-ATPase). MBG acts as an endogenous cardiotonic steroid, and in the last decade, its role as a pathogenic factor in various human diseases has emerged. In this paper, we have collated major evidence regarding the biological characteristics and functions of MBG and its implications in human pathology.

The Psychological Impact of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution in the Veneto Region, Italy: A Qualitative Study with Parents.

Little is known about the psychosocial impact on people who live in polluted areas, and its consequences for the parental role have been neglected. This study addresses this gap, proposing qualitative research referring to the case of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) water pollution in the Veneto Region of Italy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chronic exposure contamination (CEC) experience of parents.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis associated with abducens nerve palsy.

We present the case of a 61-year-old man who reported diplopia due to a right abducens nerve palsy. The patient complained of fever every night (37.5° C), paresthesia of the second and third hand fingers, and he showed an increased C-reactive protein, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and high eosinophilia.

Multimodal Imaging Findings and Treatment with Dexamethasone Implant in Three Cases of Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 1.

This is a report of 3 patients diagnosed with idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 1 (MacTel 1) at Medical Retina Center of the University of Eye Clinic of Genova and then prospectically followed for a mean time of 26 months between 2016 and 2019. It is the first report of patients affected by MacTel 1 treated with dexamethasone (DEX) implant as a first choice of treatment. Aim of our study is to better characterize the disease using a multimodal wide-field imaging and to determine efficacy of DEX implant on MacTel 1 in terms of central macular thickness (CMT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Gemelli decision tree Algorithm to Predict the need for home monitoring or hospitalization of confirmed and unconfirmed COVID-19 patients (GAP-Covid19): preliminary results from a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To develop a deep learning-based decision tree for the primary care setting, to stratify adult patients with confirmed and unconfirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to predict the need for hospitalization or home monitoring.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on data from patients admitted to a COVID hospital in Rome, Italy, between 5 March 2020 and 5 June 2020. A confirmed case was defined as a patient with a positive nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test result, while an unconfirmed case had negative results on repeated swabs.

Peribulbar anesthesia for strabismus surgery in adult patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of peribulbar anesthesia during strabismus surgery.

Methods: Medical records of patients undergoing strabismus surgery and peribulbar anesthesia were reviewed. The overall efficacy of peribulbar anesthesia was evaluated as requirement of supplemental peribulbar anesthesia, impossibility to perform eye muscles surgery due to inadequate efficacy of the block and peribulbar block complications that occurred up to 6 weeks postoperatively.

Efficacy of a Cycloplegic Agent Administered as a Spray in the Pediatric Population.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of cyclopentolate 1% administered as a spray in pediatric patients between 3 and 6 years old.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, parallel group study, healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive cyclopentolate 1% as a single drop or a single puff into closed eyes.

Results: There were 61 patients included in the study; 31 received cyclopentolate 1% as drops and 30 received cyclopentolate 1% as spray.

Effect of Hematite Doping with Aliovalent Impurities on the Electrochemical Performance of α-FeO@rGO-Based Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries.

The effect of the type of dopant (titanium and manganese) and of the reduced graphene oxide content (rGO, 30 or 50 wt %) of the α-FeO@rGO nanocomposites on their microstructural properties and electrochemical performance was investigated. Nanostructured composites were synthesized by a simple one-step solvothermal method and evaluated as anode materials for sodium ion batteries. The doping does not influence the crystalline phase and morphology of the iron oxide nanoparticles, but remarkably increases stability and Coulombic efficiency with respect to the anode based on the composite α-FeO@rGO.

Management of Pediatric Ophthalmology Patients During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Experience From an Italian Tertiary Eye Center.

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which represents a public health threat and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The authors describe the treatment of pediatric patients with ophthalmological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in an Italian tertiary eye center. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus.

Motor skills in children affected by strabismus.

Objectives: To compare motor skills in patients with infantile strabismus and age and sex-matched control subjects aged 5-11 years.

Methods: Motor performances were assessed by the Italian version of Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ) in children with infantile strabismus and age and sex-matched control subjects. Patients affected by specific neurological, cognitive and behavioural disorders were excluded from the study.

Choroidal changes in intermediate age-related macular degeneration patients with drusen or pseudodrusen.

Reticular pseudodrusen are associated with a thinner choroid. The aim of our study was to determine the differences in central choroidal thickness and choriocapillaris vascular flow area between eyes with and without reticular pseudodrusen using swept-source optical coherence tomography and swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography. We conducted a retrospective case control study which included 27 eyes from 27 consecutive patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration and 17 eyes from 17 healthy participants.

Real-Life Data in the Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Results from the Imaculaweb Registry Evaluated in a Single Italian Medical Retina Center.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to assess and compare the long-term clinical efficacy of anti-VEGF drugs using the Imaculaweb registry.

Methods: In this observational study based on the Imaculaweb registry, outcome measures were the number of injections, the change in mean visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT), and the time between diagnosis and the first injection.

Results: In total, 126 eyes of 109 patients were included in the study.

Electroluminescence and current-voltage measurements of single-(In,Ga)N/GaN-nanowire light-emitting diodes in a nanowire ensemble.

We present the combined analysis of electroluminescence (EL) and current-voltage (-) behavior of single, freestanding (In,Ga)N/GaN nanowire (NW) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in an unprocessed, self-assembled ensemble grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The data were acquired in a scanning electron microscope equipped with a micromanipulator and a luminescence detection system. Single NW spectra consist of emission lines originating from different quantum wells, and the width of the spectra increases with decreasing peak emission energy.

Dialkyl Carbonates in the Green Synthesis of Heterocycles.

This review focuses on the use of dialkyl carbonates (DACs) as green reagents and solvents for the synthesis of several 5- and 6-membered heterocycles including: tetrahydrofuran and furan systems, pyrrolidines, indolines, isoindolines, 1,4-dioxanes, piperidines, and cyclic carbamates. Depending on the heterocycle investigated, the synthetic approach used was different. Tetrahydrofuran systems, pyrrolidines, indolines, isoindoline, and 1,4-dioxanes were synthesized using dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as sacrificial molecule (B2/B2 mechanism).

β-Aminocarbonates in Regioselective and Ring Expansion Reactions.

The reactivity of β-aminocarbonates as anisotropic electrophiles has been investigated with several phenols. Products distribution shows that the regioselectivity of the anchimerically driven alkylation reaction depends on the nucleophiles. The results suggest that in the presence of nucleophiles that are also good leaving groups, the reaction takes place under thermodynamic control favoring the attack on the most sterically hindered carbon of the cyclic aziridinium intermediate.