Comment on "Shiatsu as an Adjuvant Therapy for Depression in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease: A Pilot Study".

Recently, there has been increasing interest toward nonpharmacological approaches for dementia and associated clinical manifestations, such as depression, with the common goal to improve health and quality of life of both patients and caregivers. In this scenario, the role of Shiatsu is of clinical and research interest, although to date a definitive recommendation on a systematic use in clinical practice cannot be made. To overcome the heterogeneity of the previous studies, we tested Shiatsu as an add-on treatment for late-life depression in a dedicated community of patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

EpiMethEx: a tool for large-scale integrated analysis in methylation hotspots linked to genetic regulation.

Background: DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism of genomic regulation involved in the maintenance of homeostatic balance. Dysregulation of DNA methylation status is one of the driver alterations occurring in neoplastic transformation and cancer progression. The identification of methylation hotspots associated to gene dysregulation may contribute to discover new prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers, as well as, new therapeutic targets.

Identification of a novel parvovirus in domestic cats.

A novel protoparvovirus species was identified in domestic cats. The virus was distantly related to the well-known feline (feline panleukopenia virus) and canine (canine parvovirus type 2) parvoviruses, sharing low nucleotide identities in the capsid protein 2 (less than 43%). The virus was genetically similar (100% at the nucleotide level) to a newly identified canine protoparvovirus, genetically related to human bufaviruses.

B-ALL Relapses After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Associated With a Shift from e1a2 to e14a2 Transcripts: A Case Report.

Background/aim: The Philadelphia chromosome is found in 30% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, a distinct ALL subgroup where the BCR-ABL fusion gene is associated with poor prognosis. Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) often induces complete remission and these patients subsequently undergo an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). However, 20% of subjects experience a relapse associated with the selection of point-mutations in the BCR-ABL kinase domain.

Real-life feasibility of salvage allogeneic transplantation in peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

Relapsed/refractory Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas are characterized by a poor prognosis, especially for patients who are not candidates for allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 73 consecutive patients affected by relapsed/refractory T-Cell lymphomas who were considered eligible for allogeneic transplant. All patients were referred at our center from 2001 to 2017.

Effect of Combined Epigenetic Treatments and Ectopic NIS Expression on Undifferentiated Thyroid Cancer Cells.

Background: Poorly differentiated (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid (ATC) cancer cells are characterized by the acquisition of epigenetic abnormalities, leading to the silencing of both the sodium iodide co-transporter and the Coxsackie adenovirus receptor. As aberrant histone acetylation and DNA methylation represent epigenetic mechanisms involved in neoplastic transformation, our study investigated the anticancer properties of epigenetic modifiers in thyroid carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: The cytotoxicity and gene expression modulation of histone deacetylase and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors were evaluated in both PDTC and ATC.

Bone Marrow Fibrosis and Early Hematological Response as Predictors of Poor Outcome in Azacitidine Treated High Risk-Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndromes or Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Azacitidine (AZA) treatment is effective treatment for patients with myeloid disorders, and factors predictive of treatment outcome are under investigation. Little is known about the effect of bone marrow fibrosis on response to AZA therapy. We, retrospectively, evaluated clinical predictors of overall survival (OS) and overall response rate (ORR) for patients treated with AZA in a real-life cohort.

Computational modeling reveals MAP3K8 as mediator of resistance to vemurafenib in thyroid cancer stem cells.

Motivation: Val600Glu (V600E) mutation is the most common BRAF mutation detected in thyroid cancer. Hence, recent research efforts have been performed trying to explore several inhibitors of the V600E mutation-containing BRAF kinase as potential therapeutic options in thyroid cancer refractory to standard interventions. Among them, vemurafenib is a selective BRAF inhibitor approved by Food and Drug Administration for clinical practice.

Eagle's syndrome: a case report and CT pictorial review.

Eagle's syndrome (ES) refers to symptomatic elongation of the ossified styloid process. A styloid process greater than 2.5 cm in length should be considered abnormal; however, an elongated styloid process is not sufficient for a diagnosis of ES; only an abnormal styloid process in association with symptoms can confirm the syndrome.

Italian expert panel consensus statement on the optimal use of PD-1 blockade therapy in classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Programmed death 1 (PD-1) blocking antibodies now represent a major advance in the treatment of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and pre- and/or post-ASCT brentuximab vedotin or after at least three lines of therapy. However, uncertainties still remain on the optimal use of these agents in refractory Hodgkin disease. A panel of experts was convened to produce a consensus document aimed at providing practice recommendations for the optimal use of PD-1 blocking antibodies in cHL, especially on pretreatment selection and evaluation of cHL patients' response and treatment length, management of PD-1 blockade therapy-treated patients, evaluation and management of toxicity.

Cognitive Impairment and Celiac Disease: Is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation a between Gut and Brain?

Celiac disease is a systemic disorder with multifactorial pathogenesis and multifaceted symptomatology. In response to gluten exposure, a significant part of the general population produces antibodies that have been hypothesized to be deleterious to the brain. Among the well-known neurological manifestations, adult celiac patients often complain cognitive symptoms, ranging from the so-called "brain fog" till an overt dementia.

Impaired Cerebral Haemodynamics in Vascular Depression: Insights From Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography.

Late-life depression is a well-known risk factor for future dementia. Increasing evidences also show a link between cerebral hypoperfusion and neurodegeneration, although data on Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD)-derived measures in patients with "Vascular Depression" (VD) are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess and correlate TCD parameters with cognitive function and severity of subcortical ischemic vascular disease in a sample of VD patients.

Ocular disorders in multiple myeloma patients: cross-sectional study of prevalence and association with treatment.

Multiple myeloma (MM) therapy is evolving, and several new drugs are now available, extending patients' life and exposure to different compounds and toxicities. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study enrolling 93 consecutive patients on active treatment for MM, aiming to assess their ocular complications. All the patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation.

Understanding the relationship between Sentinel Events and Sources of Work Related Stress for prevention programmes. An Italian survey.

Objectives: According to Legislative Decree n. 81/08 and Ministerial Circular of 18/11/2010, this paper proposes to verify the relationship between the sources of risk of stress, sentinel events and gender.

Methods: Sentinel events and their variations are mapped for three years.

Shiatsu as an adjuvant therapy for depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease: A pilot study.

Objectives: Among the complementary and alternative medicine, Shiatsu might represent a feasible option for depression in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We evaluated Shiatsu on mood, cognition, and functional independence in patients undergoing physical activity.

Design: Single-blind randomized controlled study.

Motor and Perceptual Recovery in Adult Patients with Mild Intellectual Disability.

Introduction: The relationship between intellectual disability (ID) and hand motor coordination and speed-accuracy, as well as the effect of aging on fine motor performance in patients with ID, has been previously investigated. However, only a few data are available on the impact of the nonpharmacological interventions in adult patients with long-term hand motor deficit.

Methods: Fifty adults with mild ID were enrolled.

Impaired short-term plasticity in restless legs syndrome: a pilot rTMS study.

Background: Previous studies showed an impairment of the LTP-like plasticity to TMS in restless legs syndrome (RLS). Clinically, repetitive TMS (rTMS) was effective in alleviating the sensory-motor complaints of patients, although the effects induced by low-frequency (inhibitory) rTMS have not yet been investigated. An impaired LTD-like mechanism of cortical plasticity has been hypothesized, which we have directly assessed in this pilot study.

CD3+ graft cell count influence on chronic GVHD in haploidentical allogeneic transplantation using post-transplant cyclophosphamide.

The effects of graft or donor characteristics in haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) are largely unknown. In this multicenter retrospective study we analyzed the correlations between graft cell composition (CD34+, CD3+) and donor features on transplant outcomes in 234 patients who underwent HCT between 2010 and 2016. On multivariate analysis, the use of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) was associated with an increased incidence of grade 2-4 acute GVHD [HR 1.

Is it Time to Perform Only Magnetic Resonance Imaging Targeted Cores? Our Experience with 1,032 Men Who Underwent Prostate Biopsy.

Purpose: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose clinically significant prostate cancer and compared it with the diagnostic accuracy of transperineal saturation prostate biopsy.

Materials And Methods: From January 2011 to February 2018 repeat saturation prostate biopsy (the reference test) was done due to suspicion of cancer in 1,032 men with a median age of 63 years in whom median prostate specific antigen was 8.6 ng/ml.

Cost-effectiveness of Multiparametric MRI in 800 Men Submitted to Repeat Prostate Biopsy: Results of a Public Health Model.

Background/aim: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of multiparametric magnetic imaging resonance (mpMRI) in men submitted to repeat saturation prostate biopsy (SPBx).

Materials And Methods: From January 2011 to June 2017, 800 men underwent repeat SPBx; the cost-effectiveness of mpMRI if used as a 'triage test' to avoid unnecessary repeat prostate biopsy was retrospectively calculated using the Italian Public National Health System Day Service.

Results: SPBx vs.

Clinical evaluation of outdoor cats exposed to ectoparasites and associated risk for vector-borne infections in southern Italy.

Background: Cats can be carriers of infected arthropods and be infected with several vector-borne pathogens (VBP) but there is limited knowledge about their pathogenic role in cats.

Results: A cross-sectional controlled study investigated the clinical status and antibody (Bartonella henselae, Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti and Leishmania infantum) and/or blood PCR (Mycoplasma spp., Bartonella spp.

Resveratrol in Patients with Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Background: Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy (MHE) is characterized by an impairment of social interaction, emotional behavior, sleep disorders, physical and mental symptoms, and diminished Quality of Life (QoL). The aim of our study is evaluating the potential liver health promoting a perspective of Resveratrol (RV) activities and evaluate whether RV treatment may improve health related quality of life (HRQL) and reduce depression and anxiety in patients with MHE.

Methods: e evaluated depression using the Beck Depression Inventory test, anxiety with State-trait anxiety inventory test, quality of life through SF-36 test, and ammonia serum levels in 70 MHE patients that were randomized into two groups.

Clinical and electrophysiological impact of repetitive low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation on the sensory-motor network in patients with restless legs syndrome.

Background: Based on the hyperexcitability and disinhibition observed in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) following transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we conducted a study with low-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) over the primary motor (M1) and somatosensory cortical areas (S1) in patients with RLS.

Methods: A total of 13 right-handed patients and 10 age-matched controls were studied using clinical scales and TMS. Measurements included resting motor threshold (rMT), motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), cortical silent period (CSP), and central motor conduction time (CMCT).

Haemoplasmosis in cats: European guidelines from the ABCD on prevention and management.

Overview: Haemoplasmas are haemotropic bacteria that can induce anaemia in a wide range of mammalian species. Infection in cats: Mycoplasma haemofelis is the most pathogenic of the three main feline haemoplasma species known to infect cats. ' Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and ' Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' are less pathogenic but can result in disease in immunocompromised cats.