The Minimal Clinically Important Difference Changes Greatly Based on the Different Calculation Methods.

Background: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) expresses both the extent of the improvement and the value that patients place on it. MCID use is becoming increasingly widespread to understand the clinical efficacy of a given treatment, define guidelines for clinical practice, and properly interpret trial results. However, there is still large heterogeneity in the different calculation methods.

Geographic tracing of cereals from South Tyrol (Italy) and neighboring regions via Sr/Sr isotope analysis.

The protection and promotion of agricultural niche products can be supported by the application of analytical techniques able to link food to its territory. This study aimed at exploring the possibility to discriminate between cereal samples from South Tyrol (Italy) and the neighboring regions (Trentino, East Tyrol, and North Tyrol) by their Sr/Sr ratios. Soil and grain (different species) samples were collected from around 100 fields in two sampling campaigns.

Multi-chemical analysis combined with chemometrics to characterize PDO and PGI Italian apples.

Background: The use of PDO (protected designation of origin) and PGI (protected geographical indication) labels allows to protect and promote agricultural products characterized by unique features related to the place of origin and traditional know-how. However, the presence of non-authentic products in the market represents a fraud that can be tackled applying analytical techniques combined with chemometric analysis. In this study, we applied multi-element and multi-isotope analysis to characterize PDO and PGI apples cultivated in northern Italy, comparing them with Italian apples without labels of geographical indications.

Sr isotope composition of Golden Delicious apples in Northern Italy reflects the soil Sr/ Sr ratio of the cultivation area.

Background: Apples have a leading role in the Italian fruit sector, and high-quality apples, including the Golden Delicious variety, are cultivated mainly in the Northern mountain districts. In the present study, Golden Delicious apples from PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) cultivation districts were characterized according to their Sr isotope composition and compared with apples from other Northern Italian districts.

Results: Apples collected in two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) confirmed the low annual variability of the Sr/ Sr ratio.

Nightmare disorder and REM sleep behavior disorder in inflammatory arthritis: Possibility beyond neurodegeneration.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) to ascertain if RBD could be an internal red flag signaling a fluctuating state of inflammation based on the theory of "protoconsciousness".

Materials & Methods: One hundred and three patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IA were consecutively recruited. The patients underwent general (IA activity, functional status, laboratory tests) and neurological evaluations.

Sediment quality assessment in a coastal lagoon (Ravenna, NE Italy) based on SEM-AVS and sequential extraction procedure.

Sediments from the Pialassa Piomboni coastal lagoon (NE Italy) were studied to assess the degree of contamination and ecological risk related to trace metals by combining a geochemical characterization of bulk sediments with the assessment of the bioavailable forms of trace metals. With this purpose, sediment contamination (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was assessed by Enrichment Factors (EFs), and potential bioavailability by the Simultaneously Extracted Metals and Acid Volatile Sulfides (SEM-AVS) approach (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and by Sequential Extraction Procedure (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). On average, Cr and Ni exhibited no contamination (EF ≤1.

Can adipokines serum levels be used as biomarkers of hand osteoarthritis?

Purpose: To evaluate serum levels of visfatin, resistin and adiponectin in patients with erosive (E) and non-erosive (NE) osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand (HOA) compared to normal controls (NC).

Methods: 94 outpatients with E HOA and NE HOA and 21 NC were enrolled. The radiological assessment of both hands was performed according to the Kellgren-Lawrence and Kallman score.

Occurrence and distribution of six selected endocrine disrupting compounds in surface- and groundwaters of the Romagna area (North Italy).

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are a wide group of contaminants of emerging concern known to be harmful for organisms. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence and distribution of six EDCs (estrone-E1, ß-estradiol-E2, 17α-ethinylestradiol-EE2, bisphenol A-BPA, perfluooctanoic acid-PFOA, perfluorooctane sulfonate-PFOS) in the Apenninic rivers and groundwaters of the Romagna area (North of Italy). Groundwaters were unaffected by EDC contamination, while all classes of compounds were detected at concentrations above the method quantification limit (MQL) in the majority of the river bodies.

Seasonal variations in the occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances in water, sediment and fish samples from Ebro Delta (Catalonia, Spain).

The main objective of this study was to assess the concentration levels and the seasonal variations of 13 poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in different compartments (water, sediments and fish) of the Ebro Delta (NE Spain) and surrounding coastal areas. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the most frequently detected compound in waters and sediments. Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were the compounds found at the highest concentrations in water samples.

Interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor are elevated in large-vessel vasculitis: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Objectives: To investigate serum levels of IL- 6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) in patients with large-vessel vasculitis and their relationship with disease activity.

Methods: Sera were obtained from 33 Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) patients and 14 giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients, and from 60 age-matched normal controls (NCs). Disease activity was assessed using 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinical indices including NIH/Kerr criteria and ITAS.

A comprehensive evaluation of the environmental quality of a coastal lagoon (Ravenna, Italy): Integrating chemical and physiological analyses in mussels as a biomonitoring strategy.

This study aimed at evaluating the environmental quality of a coastal lagoon (Pialassa Piomboni, NW-Adriatic, Italy) by combining analyses of biomarkers of environmental stress and bioaccumulation of contaminants in marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) transplanted for 28days to six selected sites. Assessed biomarkers encompassed lysosomal endpoints, oxidative stress and detoxification parameters, specific responses to metals, neuro- and genotoxic substances; chemical analyses focused on PAHs, metals, pesticide and pharmaceuticals. Results showed up to a 67-fold bioaccumulation of 4- to 6-ring PAHs, including pyrene, fluoranthene, chrysene and benzo(ghi)perylene in transplanted mussels compared to reference conditions (T0).

Radiographic involvement of metacarpophalangeal and radiocarpal joints in hand osteoarthritis.

To evaluate, by means of a longitudinal study, radiographic involvement of metacarpophalangeal and radio-carpal joints in hand osteoarthritis, its relationship with erosive disease and its progression, 368 patients with hand osteoarthritis were enrolled. All patients underwent hand X-rays. On the basis of the presence of central erosions in interphalangeal joints, patients were divided into three groups: 0-no central erosions, 1-one joint with central erosion, and 2-two or more joints with central erosions.

Ultrasound detected inflammation is associated with the development of new bone erosions in hand osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study over 3.9 years.

Objective: To evaluate the association between ultrasound (US) detected inflammation at baseline and the subsequent development of new bone erosions at follow-up in patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

Method: 32 of the 35 (10 controls, 12 patients with non erosive HOA (non-EHOA), 13 with EHOA subjects originally studied were re-evaluated 3.9 years after the initial study, by means of standard radiography and US examination.

Combined circulating epigenetic markers to improve mesothelin performance in the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.

Objectives: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive tumor with poor prognosis. A major challenge is the development and application of early and highly reliable diagnostic marker(s). Serum biomarkers, such as 'soluble mesothelin-related proteins' (SMRPs), is the most studied and frequently used in MM.

Cognitive impairment is a negative short-term and long-term prognostic factor in elderly patients with hip fracture.

Background: Subjects with severe cognitive impairment (CI) have a high-risk of hip fractures with increased rate of adverse postoperative functional outcomes and mortality.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of different degrees of CI on functional recovery and mortality after hip fracture.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Rehabilitation Complexity Scale: Italian translation and transcultural validation.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was translation, cultural adaption and validation of the extended version 12 of the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale (RCS-E) in a sample of patients with stroke and total hip replacement.

Method: The cross-cultural validation required RCS-E forward-backward translation, revision by an expert committee and its application in an Intensive Rehabilitation setting through a retrospective collection of data from clinical records. The evaluation of the psychometric properties was carried out by analyzing the correlations between RCS-E score and other measures (Functional Independence Measure, Braden, Morse, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale) and the assessment of reliability in terms of reproducibility (inter-observer agreement) and repeatability (intra-observer agreement).

Measuring functional performance at discharge from hospital after total joint arthroplasty as a pre-requisite for planning early rehabilitation: a prognostic study.

Background: The autonomy achieved by discharge after total knee and hip arthroplasty is important for planning early rehabilitation.

Purpose: Describe functional performance using the Iowa Level of Assistance (ILOA) scale and investigate possible prognostic factors.

Methods: A prospective cohort study design was used.

Prognostic role of nuclear factor/IB and bone remodeling proteins in metastatic giant cell tumor of bone: A retrospective study.

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTb) represents 5% of bone tumors, and although considered benign, 5% metastasize to the lung. The expression of proteins directly or indirectly associated with osteolysis and tumor growth was studied on 163 samples of GCTb. Of these, 33 patients developed lung metastasis during follow-up.

The usefulness of volume NT software in measuring the fetal nasal bone at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the reproducibility of 3D ultrasound to measure the fetal nasal bone (NB) at first trimester.

Methods: A group of singleton viable pregnancies attending the 11 to 13 + 6 weeks aneuploidy screening at the University of Bologna were prospectively selected. For each patient, fetal NB was measured by 2D ultrasound.

Ultrasonographic predictors for the development of joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a single joint prospective study.

Objectives: This paper aims to evaluate if any ultrasonographic aspect of metacarpo-phalangeal (MCP) joint can be predictors for the development of new joint damage, at single joint level, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Two hundred and forty MCP joints of 24 patients with RA were prospectively evaluated both clinically and by ultrasound (US) at time 0, at six months and 12 months, in order to collect the following variables: presence of synovial hypertrophy and power-Doppler (PD) vascularisation both graded on a semiquantitative (0-3) scale, and the number and dimension of bone erosions. X-ray examinations were carried out at time 0 and at 12 months and lesions were graded using the Sharp/van der Heijde (S/vdH) method at single joint level.

[Effectiveness of the transparent sterile dressing vs standard to fix the peripheral venous catheter (PVC) on the incidence of phlebitis. A randomized controlled trial].

Unlabelled: Effectiveness of the transparent sterile dressing vs standard to fix the peripheral venous catheter (PVC), on the incidence of phlebitis. A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The type of dressing could contribute to the incidence of phlebitis, infiltration and accidental removals but the results of the studies are contrasting and samples are limited.