Pneumococcal carriage in a large Sicilian sample population: impact on the current epidemiological scenario and implications for future vaccination strategies.

Introduction: is a prevalent and virulent global pathogen, with colonization being considered a precondition for pneumococcal disease. Understanding colonization is critical for gaining insights into transmission dynamics and developing effective interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nasopharyngeal colonization and serotype distribution in the Sicilian population.

Insights into Genetic and Antigenic Characteristics of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Viruses Circulating in Sicily During the Surveillance Season 2023-2024: The Potential Effect on the Seasonal Vaccine Effectiveness.

After disruption in the influenza circulation due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the intensity of seasonal outbreaks has returned to the pre-pandemic levels. This study aimed to evaluate the evolution and variability of whole-genome sequences of A(H1N1)pdm09, the predominant influenza virus in Sicily (Italy) during the season 2023-2024. The potential vaccine efficacy was calculated using the model based on amino acid changes in the dominant epitope of hemagglutinin.

Treatment and Staging Intensification Strategies Associated with Radical Prostatectomy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Efficacy Evaluation and Exploration of Novel Approaches.

The management of high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) presents a significant clinical challenge, often necessitating treatment intensification due to the potential presence of micrometastases. While radical prostatectomy (RP) constitutes one of the primary treatment modalities, the integration of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies suggests a paradigm shift towards more aggressive treatment strategies, also guided by new imaging modalities like positron emission tomography using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA-PET). Despite the benefits, treatment intensification raises concerns regarding increased side effects.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Genetic Diversity of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Patients with Influenza-like Illness in Sicily (Italy) from 2017 to 2023.

Monitoring the genetic variability of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is of paramount importance, especially for the potential implication of key antigenic mutations on the emergence of immune escape variants. Thus, to describe the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of hRSV circulating in Sicily (Italy), a total of 153 hRSV whole-genome sequences collected from 770 hRSV-positive subjects between 2017 and 2023, before the introduction of expanded immunization programs into the population, were investigated. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the genotypes GA.

Potential Applications of New Headsets for Virtual and Augmented Reality in Urology.

Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies hold great promise in various medical fields. The release of a new generation of headsets for medical enhanced VR/AR (MER) opens new possibilities for applications in medicine, particularly in urology, to improve accessibility to everyone. These innovative headsets offer deep immersion without requiring a controller, which represents a novel approach to VR/AR engagement.

Anatomical and Functional Effects of an Oral Supplementation of Bromelain and Curcugreen in Patients with Focal Diabetic Macular Edema.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most severe diabetes-related complications, and macular edema stands as the primary contributor to the loss of central vision in individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomical and functional effects of the oral administration of bromelain and curcugreen in patients controlled by therapy with non-proliferative DR presenting focal edema. Patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: group A (n = 18) received two tablets a day of bromelain and curcugreen (Retinil Forte) orally, and group B (n = 15) underwent observation.

Urology: a trip into metaverse.

Purpose: Metaverse is becoming an alternative world in which technology and virtual experiences are mixed with real life, and it holds the promise of changing our way of living. Healthcare is already changing thanks to Metaverse and its numerous applications. In particular, Urology and urologic patients can benefit in many ways from Metaverse.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor for patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder following radical cystectomy.

Introduction: The pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with adverse pathology or survival in a variety of malignancies, including urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) treated with radical cystectomy (RC). Whether the prognostic value of NLR is retained, or even increased, when measured postoperatively remains to be studied. In this study, we evaluated the association of preoperative and postoperative NLR with oncological outcomes following RC.

Effect of intralenticular dexamethasone implant: A case report.

Introduction: Intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant is indicated for the treatment of macular oedema due to diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and uveitis. The most common complications are cataract and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Accidental injection of DEX implant into the lens is a rare complication and only few papers presented it.

Abbreviated Versus Multiparametric Prostate MRI in Active Surveillance for Prostate-Cancer Patients: Comparison of Accuracy and Clinical Utility as a Decisional Tool.

(1) Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy between full multiparametric contrast-enhanced prostate MRI (mpMRI) and abbreviated dual-sequence prostate MRI (dsMRI) in men with clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) who were candidates for active surveillance. (2) Materials and Methods: Fifty-four patients with a diagnosis of low-risk PCa in the previous 6 months had a mpMRI scan prior to a saturation biopsy and a subsequent MRI cognitive transperineal targeted biopsy (for PI-RADS ≥ 3 lesions). The dsMRI images were obtained from the mpMRI protocol.

Acquisition of optical coherence tomography angiography metrics during hemodialysis procedures: A pilot study.

Background And Aims: The observation of optical microcirculation gives us an extraordinary way to directly assess the responses of human circulation to stress stimuli. We run a pilot study to analyze optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) metrics at determined time-points during a hemodialysis (HD) session to understand how these metrics gradually change and to evaluate possible correlations with patients' characteristics.

Methods: After the eligibility screening, 15 patients (23 eyes) were included in the study.

Emotional Experience and Regulation in Juvenile Primary Headaches: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

A headache is the most common neurological symptom in children. Its subtypes are migraine (MH) and tension-type headache (TTH). Internalizing rather than externalizing symptoms are more frequent in children with headaches, but little is known about the reasons why.

Arterial Thrombotic Complications in COVID-19: A Case of Renal Infarction.

COVID-19 infection has been associated with thrombotic complications, especially venous thromboembolism. Although arterial thrombotic complications are rarely seen in these patients, we report the case of a 43-year-old patient who developed thrombosis of the main branch of the left renal artery, causing partial infarction of the left kidney associated with severe pain. He had no risk factors for thrombosis except for COVID-19 infection.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: New Challenges for Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance and Vaccination Strategy in Patients with ILI/SARI.

Several respiratory pathogens are responsible for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe respiratory infections (SARI), among which human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) represents one of the most common aetiologies. We analysed the hRSV prevalence among subjects with ILI or SARI during the five influenza seasons before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Sicily (Italy). Respiratory specimens from ILI outpatients and SARI inpatients were collected in the framework of the Italian Network for the Influenza Surveillance and molecularly tested for hRSV-A and hRSV-B.

Preparing Nurse Leaders for Value-Based Care: A Toolkit to Guide Practice Transformation.

Organizations across the country are redesigning care delivery to improve quality and outcomes, enhance the patient experience, reduce costs, and, ultimately, produce better population health. Leaders from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership engaged key stakeholders to discuss the role nursing can play and the toolkit that will be introduced this year to guide nurse leaders in striving for value.

Targeting Mitochondrial Oncometabolites: A New Approach to Overcome Drug Resistance in Cancer.

Drug resistance is the main obstacle for a successful cancer therapy. There are many mechanisms by which cancers avoid drug-mediated death, including alterations in cellular metabolism and apoptotic programs. Mitochondria represent the cell's powerhouse and the connection between carbohydrate, lipid and proteins metabolism, as well as crucial controllers of apoptosis, playing an important role not only in tumor growth and progression, but also in drug response.

Residual root fate after aortic surgery in bicuspid aortic valve with right-to-left fusion: A comparative risk analysis.

Background And Aim: Although bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) anatomy might influence aortic aneurysm development, BAV-related root involvement still lacks standardized surgical management. We aimed to evaluate late clinical outcomes and risk factors for root dilation after proximal aortic replacement in patients with BAV and right-left fusion (RL-BAV).

Methods: Clinical and echocardiographic data of all patients with intraoperative RL-BAV who underwent ascending aortic replacement with or without noncoronary sinus (NCS) replacement (Groups 1 and 2, respectively) between 1999 and 2017, were retrospectively revised.

OCT angiography metrics predict intradialytic hypotension episodes in chronic hemodialysis patients: a pilot, prospective study.

In chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients, intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a complication that increases mortality risk. We run a pilot study to analyzing possible relationships between optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) metrics and IDH with the aim of evaluating if OCT-A could represent a useful tool to stratify the hypotensive risk in dialysis patients. A total of 35 eyes (35 patients) were analyzed.

Retinal microcirculation abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis: an explorative optical coherence tomography angiography study.

Objectives: To investigate subclinical and clinical abnormalities in retinal and choroidal vascular plexuses in patients with SSc by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).

Methods: A total of 20 consecutive SSc patients were recruited and compared with 20 healthy subjects. Quantitative analysis of vessel density (VD), choriocapillaris plexus flow index (CCP-FI) and choroidal vascularity index were performed on OCT-A images in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and CCP for all patients.

Intravitreal injections during COVID-19 outbreak: Real-world experience from an Italian tertiary referral center.

We report our experience during COVID-19 outbreak for intravitreal injections in patients with maculopathy. We proposed a treatment priority levels and timings; the "High" priority level includes all monocular patients; the "Moderate" is assigned to all patients with an active macular neovascularization; the patients affected by diabetic macular edema or retinal vein occlusion belong to the "Low" class. This organization allowed us to treat the most urgent patients although the injections performed had a 91.

A validation study of the clinical diagnosis of Dup15q syndrome: Which symptoms matter most?

Purpose: Dup15q syndrome is a rare genetic disease with a fairly nonspecific phenotype, clinical heterogeneity, and a wide spectrum of severity. However, no formal characterization has been attempted to select clusters of symptoms, signs and instrumental tests, to be used in the differential diagnosis with other neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, our purpose was to identify symptoms, signs and instrumental findings, singly or in various combinations, favoring the early diagnosis of the Dup15q syndrome and the indication for genetic testing.

Steroid identification via deep learning retention time predictions and two-dimensional gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry.

Untargeted steroid identification represents a great analytical challenge even when using sophisticated technology such as two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (GC × GCHRMS) due to the chemical similarity of the analytes. Moreover, when analytical standards, mass spectral and retention index databases are not available, compound annotation is cumbersome. Hence, there is a need for the development of retention time prediction models in order to explore new annotation approaches.