Loss of structural specificity in 3D genome organization upon viral infection is predicted by polymer physics.

In the last years, it has been proved that some viruses are able to re-structure chromatin organization and alter the epigenomic landscape of the host genome. In addition, they are able to affect the physical mechanisms shaping chromatin 3D structure, with a consequent impact on gene activity. Here, we investigate with polymer physics genome re-organization of the host genome upon SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and how it can impact structural variability within the population of single-cell chromatin configurations.

Single-modality endocrine therapy versus radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in women aged 70 years and older with luminal A-like early breast cancer (EUROPA): a preplanned interim analysis of a phase 3, non-inferiority, randomised trial.

Background: Optimal therapy following breast-conserving surgery in older adults with low-risk, early-stage breast cancer remains uncertain. The EUROPA trial aims to compare the effects of radiotherapy and endocrine therapy as single-modality treatments on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) outcomes in this population.

Methods: This non-inferiority, phase 3, randomised study was conducted at 18 academic hospitals across Italy (17 centres) and Slovenia (one centre).

The role of radiation therapy in the multidisciplinary management of male breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis on behalf of the Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Group (COBCG).

Male breast cancer (MaBC) is an uncommon disease. It is generally assimilated to post-menopausal female breast cancer and treated accordingly. However, the real impact of radiation therapy, after both mastectomy and breast conservation, has yet to be established.

The Role of High-Sensitivity Troponin T Regarding Prognosis and Cardiovascular Outcome across Heart Failure Spectrum.

Cardiac troponin release is related to the cardiomyocyte loss occurring in heart failure (HF). The prognostic role of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) in several settings of HF is under investigation. The aim of the study is to assess the prognostic role of intrahospital hs-cTnT in patients admitted due to HF.

Prognostic Assessment of HLM Score in Heart Failure Due to Ischemic Heart Disease: A Pilot Study.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) represents the main cause of heart failure (HF). A prognostic stratification of HF patients with ischemic etiology, particularly those with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), may be challenging due the variability in clinical and hemodynamic status. The aim of this study is to assess the prognostic power of the HLM score in a population of patients with ischemic HF and in a subgroup who developed HF following ACS.

Rate of Change of Initial Intrinsicoid Deflection Predicts Endocardial Versus Epicardial Ventricular Tachycardia.

Background: Assessment of origin of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) arising from epicardial vs endocardial sites are largely challenged by the available criteria and etiology of cardiomyopathy. Current electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria based on 12-lead ECG have varying sensitivity and specificity based on site of origin and etiology of cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: This study sought to test the hypothesis that epicardial VT has a slower initial rate of depolarization than endocardial VT.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in Clinical Practice: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Approaches.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a cause of myocardial infarction without obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA). It is determined by a coronary artery wall layers separation, which occurs regardless of traumatic or iatrogenic injuries. Even if it is often a missed diagnosis, its incidence is growing along with the improvement of intracoronary imaging techniques that allow for better detection.

Left ventricular hemodynamics with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: There is considerable debate about the hemodynamic effects of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

Aims: To evaluate the changes in left ventricular (LV) function, volumes, and work in patients treated with VA-ECMO using invasive LV catheterization and three-dimensional echocardiographic volumes.

Methods: Patients on VA-ECMO underwent invasive hemodynamic evaluation due to concerns regarding candidacy for decannulation.

Exploring the Effects of Probiotic Treatment on Urinary and Serum Metabolic Profiles in Healthy Individuals.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts. They are used to promote gut health and alleviate various disorders. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the potential effects of probiotics on human physiology.

Quasi-Hyperbolically Symmetric -Metric.

We carry out a systematic study on the motion of test particles in the region inner to the naked singularity of a quasi-hyperbolically symmetric γ-metric. The geodesic equations are written and analyzed in detail. The obtained results are contrasted with the corresponding results obtained for the axially symmetric γ-metric and the hyperbolically symmetric black hole.

Premature Ventricular Complexes: Benign versus Malignant - How to approach?

Premature Ventricular Complexes (PVCs) refer to electrical activity arising from ventricles resulting in ventricular contraction independent of the native rhythm. PVCs by themselves are common in the general population but based on the origin of the PVCs, either related to anatomical or electrical substrate, the disease process has a widely varied presentation and prognosis. The clinical presentation of symptoms may vary from being extremely benign, or very severe (malignant).

Axillary Management in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Upfront Surgery: Results from a Nationwide Survey on Behalf of the Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Group (COBCG) and the Breast Cancer Study Group of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO).

Background: We assessed the current practice concerning the axillary management of breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing upfront surgery among radiation oncologists (ROs) practising in Italy.

Methods: An online survey via SurveyMonkey (including 21 questions) was distributed amongst ROs in Italy through personal contacts and the Italian Association for Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) network from August to September 2022. We particularly focused on the emerging omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the presence of 1-2 sentinel node-positive patients and the consequent change in the role of regional nodal irradiation (RNI).

Prostate Cancer Treatment-Related Toxicity: Comparison between 3D-Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) Techniques.

Objective: This paper illustrates the results of a mono-institutional registry trial, aimed to test whether gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity rates were lower in localized prostate cancer patients treated with image-guided volumetric modulated arc therapy (IG-VMAT) compared to those treated with IG-3D conformal radiation therapy (IG-3DCRT). Materials and Methods: Histologically proven prostate cancer patients with organ-confined disease, treated between October 2008 and September 2014 with moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy, were reviewed. Fiducial markers were placed in the prostate gland by transrectal ultrasound guide.

Assessment of shelf-life and metabolic viability of a multi-strain synbiotic using standard and innovative enumeration technologies.

The number of live bacterial cells is the most used parameter to assess the quality of finished probiotic products. Plate counting (PC) is the standard method in industry to enumerate cells. Application of PC implies critical aspects related to the selection of optimal nutrient media and growth conditions and underestimation of viable but not cultivable (VBNC) cells.

evaluation of adenoviral COVID-19 vaccination protocols: Assessment of immunological memory up to 6 months after the third dose.

Background: The immune response to adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines is affected by the interval between doses. The optimal interval is unknown.

Aim: We aim to explore in-silico the effect of the interval between vaccine administrations on immunogenicity and to analyze the contribution of pre-existing levels of antibodies, plasma cells, and memory B and T lymphocytes.

AIRO Breast Cancer Group .

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women and represents the leading cause of cancer death. Radiation therapy plays a key-role in the treatment of all breast cancer stages. Therefore, the adoption of evidence-based treatments is warranted, to ensure equity of access and standardization of care in clinical practice.

Orally administered Odoribacter laneus improves glucose control and inflammatory profile in obese mice by depleting circulating succinate.

Background: Succinate is produced by both human cells and by gut bacteria and couples metabolism to inflammation as an extracellular signaling transducer. Circulating succinate is elevated in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes and is linked to numerous complications, yet no studies have specifically addressed the contribution of gut microbiota to systemic succinate or explored the consequences of reducing intestinal succinate levels in this setting.

Results: Using germ-free and microbiota-depleted mouse models, we show that the gut microbiota is a significant source of circulating succinate, which is elevated in obesity.

The native aortic valve reduces paravalvular leak in TAVR patients.

Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a frequent TAVR complication. Prospective identification of patients who are likely to develop PVL after TAVR would likely lead to improved outcomes. Prior studies have used geometric characteristics to predict the likelihood of PVL development, but prediction and quantification has not been done.

Risk factors for discontinuing oral immunotherapy in children with persistent cow milk allergy.

Background: There are no universally accepted criteria for discontinuing milk oral immunotherapy (MOIT) in patients with persistent cow milk allergy (CMA) and little data are available on predictive risk factors for dropping out from oral immunotherapy (OIT), due to allergic reactions or other reasons.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of patients with persistent severe CMA undergoing MOIT in a tertiary care center hospital to investigate risk factors associated with discontinuation of OIT. Persistent and severe allergy was defined as the history of systemic reactions and any milk protein-specific IgE level >85 kU/ml.

The Physics of DNA Folding: Polymer Models and Phase-Separation.

Within cell nuclei, several biophysical processes occur in order to allow the correct activities of the genome such as transcription and gene regulation. To quantitatively investigate such processes, polymer physics models have been developed to unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying genome functions. Among these, phase-separation plays a key role since it controls gene activity and shapes chromatin spatial structure.

The dosimetric impact of axillary nodes contouring variability in breast cancer radiotherapy: An AIRO multi-institutional study.

Aim: To quantify the dosimetric impact of contouring variability of axillary lymph nodes (L2, L3, L4) in breast cancer (BC) locoregional radiotherapy (RT).

Materials And Methods: 18 RT centres were asked to plan a locoregional treatment on their own planning target volume (single centre, SC-PTV) which was created by applying their institutional margins to the clinical target volume of the axillary nodes of three BC patients (P1, P2, P3) previously delineated (SC-CTV). The gold standard CTVs (GS-CTVs) of P1, P2 and P3 were developed by BC experts' consensus and validated with STAPLE algorithm.

Intermittent Fasting Enhances Right Ventricular Function in Preclinical Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background Intermittent fasting (IF) confers pleiotropic cardiovascular benefits including restructuring of the gut microbiome and augmentation of cellular metabolism. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and lethal disease characterized by right ventricular (RV) mitochondrial dysfunction and resultant lipotoxicity and microbiome dysbiosis. However, the effects of IF on RV function in PAH are unexplored.

Hyperbolically Symmetric Versions of Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi Spacetimes.

We study fluid distributions endowed with hyperbolic symmetry, which share many common features with Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) solutions (e.g., they are geodesic, shearing, and nonconformally flat, and the energy density is inhomogeneous).