Association of binge alcohol use with functional outcomes among individuals with COVID-19 infection.

Aims: Alcohol consumption along with negative sequelae from excess alcohol intake increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the association between binge alcohol use and long-term functional outcomes among COVID-19-positive individuals.

Methods: Using a prospective, longitudinal, multisite cohort study design, we evaluated the association between binge alcohol use and mental and physical functional outcomes using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-29 scores three and six months postinfection.

Long-term results of laparoscopic Heller-Dor for esophageal-gastric junction outflow obstruction: a prospective comparative study.

Background: The aim of this prospective, controlled study was to assess the 5-year follow-up of Laparoscopic Heller-Dor (LHD) in patients with esophago-gastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO), compared with achalasia patients (ACH). The management of EGJOO reflects the experience gained with esophageal achalasia, for which LHD has been proven to be an effective long-term treatment. Prospective long-term results of LHD in EGJOO patients are still lacking.

Prognostic factors and impact of management strategies for status epilepticus: The STEPPER study in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy.

Objective: The STEPPER (Status Epilepticus in Emilia-Romagna) study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment approaches of status epilepticus (SE) in adults of the Emilia-Romagna region (ERR), Northern Italy.

Methods: STEPPER, an observational, prospective, multicentric cohort study, was conducted across neurology units, emergency departments, and intensive care units of the ERR over 24 months (October 2019-October 2021), encompassing incident cases of SE. Patients were followed up for 30 days.

A dataset of geotechnical parameters based on international literature to characterise lithotypes in Italy.

Geological and lithological maps provide essential spatial data for various environmental assessments and studies. However, these maps lack detailed quantitative information on the geotechnical characteristics of rocks and soils, which limits their use for modelling purposes. This study addresses this gap by compiling a comprehensive database of over 2300 geotechnical parameter records searching the international literature.

Delta-integrated relaxation pressures as a new high-resolution manometry metric to predict the positive outcome of laparoscopic Heller-Dor in patients with achalasia.

Background: There is no consensus on the definition of failure after treatment in patients with achalasia. The Eckardt score is used to define clinical outcomes. However, objective metrics are lacking.

Hypogammaglobulinemia and severe infections in Multiple Sclerosis patients on anti-CD20 agents: A multicentre study.

Background: Hypogammaglobulinemia (HG) is a known side effect of treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, and it is associated with the risk of infections.

Objectives: Aim of this retrospective multicentre study was to assess the frequency of HG in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder patients treated with Ocrelizumab or Rituximab and its association with the occurrence of severe infections (SI). Furthermore, predictors of HG and SI were sought.

One-Pot Stereospecific Synthesis of 1,4-Oligosaccharides by Glycal-Derived Vinyl Epoxides Assembly.

Recently, naturally occurring linear 1,4-glycans have attracted remarkable attention for their activity in cancer and neurodegenerative disease treatment. Classical chemical synthetic strategies for linear 1,4-oligosaccharides are considerably time-consuming due to orthogonal protection/deprotection, the introduction of leaving groups, and various forms of activation of the glycosylation reaction. Herein, we present a new one-pot microwave-activated reiterative assembly of glycal-derived vinyl epoxides in an uncatalyzed substrate-dependent stereospecific process for the preparation of both β-1,4-d-Gulo and α-1,4-d-Manno oligosaccharides.

Laparoscopic fundoplication improves esophageal motility in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a high-volume single-center controlled study in the era of high-resolution manometry and 24-hour pH impedance.

Background: Most existing literature studies reported that laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) is safe in the setting of ineffective or weak peristalsis. However, the effect of the wrap on esophageal motility is still debated. This study aimed to assess how a functioning and effective fundoplication could affect esophageal motility in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty for the Treatment of Obesity: A Single-Centre Experience and Literature Review.

Background:  In the world, obesity is constantly increasing, and so are the types of medical and surgical therapies. However, to cope with the increase in costs associated with surgical procedures and certain complications, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, the number of bariatric endoscopic (BE) procedures has been increasing in recent years. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is one of the most rapidly increasing BE procedures, given its benefits in terms of patient quality of life and reduced costs.

Exploring pharmaceutical powder behavior in commercial-scale bin blending: A DEM simulation study.

Bin blending is one of the main steps in pharmaceutical production processes. Commercial-scale production of expensive products typically does not allow to perform a large number of experiments in order to optimize the process. Alternatively, Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations can be used to evaluate the powder behavior (flow and blending pattern) during blending, identify the risks (e.

Theodor Billroth: The Pioneer Gastrectomy Surgeon and His Contributions to the Evolution of General Surgery.

Christian Albert Theodor Billroth, born in Rügen on April 26, 1829, is considered a pioneer of gastrectomy. Billroth entered the history of general surgery with his two famous methods of gastric resection. In his time, the diagnosis of stomach cancer was often extremely late because it was based exclusively on anamnesis and palpation and X-rays had not yet been discovered.

Our Experience With 200 Cases of Inguinal Hernia Repair Using the Dynamic Self-Adjusting Prosthesis: A Case Series and Literature Review.

Introduction Inguinal hernioplasty (IH) is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures globally. Today, a variety of surgical techniques and prosthesis types are available for this procedure. Methods At our center, we performed 200 inguinal hernioplasties using the dynamic self-adjusting prosthesis (protesi autoregolantesi dinamica PAD) from May 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023.

Glycoconjugate coumarins exploiting metabolism-enhanced fluorescence and preferential uptake: New optical tools for tumor cell staining.

The possibility to visually discriminate cells based on their metabolism and capability to uptake exogenous molecules is an important topic with exciting fallback on translational and precision medicine. To this end, probes that combine several complementary features are necessary. The ideal probe is selectively uptaken and activated in tumor cells compared with control ones and is not fluorescent in the extracellular medium.

Complementary pneumatic dilations are an effective and safe treatment when laparoscopic myotomy fails: A 30-year experience at a single tertiary center.

Background: In the last 3 decades, laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) has represented the treatment of choice for esophageal achalasia, solving symptoms in most patients. Little is known about the fate of patients relapsing after LHM or their treatment. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the results of complementary pneumatic dilations (CPDs) after ineffective LHM.

The use of a computer-based program focused on the syllabic method to support early literacy in children with cochlear implants.

Background: Children with cochlear implants (CIs) often lag behind children with normal hearing (NH) in early literacy skills. Furthermore, the development of language skills associated with their emergent literacy skills seems to depend on good auditory access. Supporting language acquisition and early literacy in children with CIs may prevent difficulties in primary school.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Importance: Chronic symptoms reported following an infection with SARS-CoV-2, such as cognitive problems, overlap with symptoms included in the definition of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of ME/CFS-like illness subsequent to acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, changes in ME/CFS symptoms through 12 months of follow-up, and the association of ME/CFS symptoms with SARS-CoV-2 test results at the acute infection-like index illness.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective, multisite, longitudinal cohort study (Innovative Support for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry [INSPIRE]) enrolled participants from December 11, 2020, to August 29, 2022.

Kappa index in the diagnostic work-up of autoimmune encephalitis.

Background: The presence of inflammatory changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), including immunoglobulin intrathecal synthesis (IS), can support the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) and allow prompt treatment. The main aim of our study was to calculate the Kappa index as a marker of IS, in patients with AE.

Methods: Charts of patients undergoing a diagnostic work-up for suspected AE between 2009 and 2023 were reviewed and the Graus criteria applied.

Narrative skills and language comprehension in preschool children with cochlear implants: A comparison with children with Developmental Language Disorder or typical development.

Introduction: The narrative skills of children with cochlear implants (CIs) are fragile, but the factors at play and whether these difficulties could be similar to those detected in language impairment are not clear. The present study aims to assess, at the microstructural level, narrative skills, comparing children with CIs with children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) or Typical Development (TD). Furthermore, the relationship between verbal (lexical and morphosyntactic) comprehension and narrative skills across groups is investigated.

Oral Drug Product Administration via Enteral Feeding Tubes: In Vitro Testing.

Medication administration via enteral feeding tubes (EFT) is a necessary practice for patients unable to swallow oral dosage forms due to a medical condition or treatment that affects the ability to swallow or the function of the gastrointestinal tract. Off-label administration of oral drug products via EFT raises concerns for pharmaceutical sponsors, regulators, and healthcare practitioners (HCPs) because of the potential risks this practice introduces to both the patient and the caregiver. These risks can be mitigated by generating data-supported instructions that patients and HCPs can use to ensure safe and accurate administration of oral drug products via EFT.

Manometric identikit of a functioning and effective fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease in the high-resolution manometry ERA.

Background: The pathophysiological and clinical value of performing High-Resolution Manometry (HRM) after laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is still unclear and debated.

Objective: We sought to establish the HRM parameters indicative of functioning fundoplications, and whether HRM could distinguish them from tight or defective ones.

Methods: The study involved patients with GERD who underwent laparoscopic Nissen (LN) or Toupet (LT) fundoplication between 2010 and 2022.

Downregulation of praja2 restrains endocytosis and boosts tyrosine kinase receptors in kidney cancer.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney cancer in the adult population. Late diagnosis, resistance to therapeutics and recurrence of metastatic lesions account for the highest mortality rate among kidney cancer patients. Identifying novel biomarkers for early cancer detection and elucidating the mechanisms underlying ccRCC will provide clues to treat this aggressive malignant tumor.

Ethnic and racial differences in self-reported symptoms, health status, activity level, and missed work at 3 and 6 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Introduction: Data on ethnic and racial differences in symptoms and health-related impacts following SARS-CoV-2 infection are limited. We aimed to estimate the ethnic and racial differences in symptoms and health-related impacts 3 and 6 months after the first SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: Participants included adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection enrolled in a prospective multicenter US study between 12/11/2020 and 7/4/2022 as the primary cohort of interest, as well as a SARS-CoV-2-negative cohort to account for non-SARS-CoV-2-infection impacts, who completed enrollment and 3-month surveys ( = 3,161; 2,402 SARS-CoV-2-positive, 759 SARS-CoV-2-negative).