In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the reliability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect variants ≤10% allelic frequency (low-VAF) is debated. We tested the ability to detect 23 such variants in 41 different laboratories using their NGS method of choice. The sensitivity was 85.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia represent global health issues, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum. The present paper aims to summarize the appropriate management of these conditions in order to try to improve how clinicians perceive, diagnose and treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.
Methods: An expert panel of Italian obstetricians of Lazio region was convened to evaluate the available literature on iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy and the post-partum in order to try to define a flow chart on the appropriate management of such conditions; aspects related to the patient blood management have also been investigated.
Background: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a serious obstetric condition that can be life-threatening, with various risk factors contributing to its development. In particular, in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques may lead to an increased rate EP. Additionally, also endometriosis seems to be related to this particular obstetrical condition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfertility is increasing worldwide, as well as in Italy, and fallopian tube pathology represents one of the most impacting causes of infertility for multiple women. Indeed, tubal patency assessment is a crucial step in medical evaluation for women attending an in vitro fertilization (IVF) center. Currently, different methods for tubal investigation are available, such as chromosalpingoscopy, hysterosalpingography (HSG), and hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of bulking agents and single-incision slings in the treatment of urinary incontinence in 159 patients during a 29-month follow-up period.
Material And Methods: Of the 159 patients suffering from stress urinary incontinence, 64 were treated with bulking agents (PAHG Bulkamid) and 75 with a single-incision sling (Altis). The ICIQ-UI-SF (Incontinence Questionnaire-Urine Incontinence-Short Form), PISQ-12 (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaires short form), FSFI (Female Sexual Function Index), FSDS (Female Sexual Distress Scale), and PGI-I (Patient Global Improvement Index) were used to assess efficiency and quality of life.
The scarcity of malignant Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells hampers tissue-based comprehensive genomic profiling of classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). By contrast, liquid biopsies show promise for molecular profiling of cHL due to relatively high circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) levels. Here we show that the plasma representation of mutations exceeds the bulk tumour representation in most cases, making cHL particularly amenable to noninvasive profiling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Upper limb (UL) motor impairment following stroke is a leading cause of functional limitations in activities of daily living. Robot-assisted therapy supports rehabilitation, but how its efficacy and the underlying neural mechanisms depend on the time after stroke is yet to be assessed.
Aim: We investigated the response to an intensive protocol of robot-assisted rehabilitation in sub-acute and chronic stroke patients, by analyzing the underlying changes in clinical scores, electroencephalography (EEG) and end-effector kinematics.
Adequate iodine intake is of crucial importance in pregnancy to meet the thyroid hormone needs of both mother and fetus. In the present study, undertaken as a part of the surveillance actions following the introduction in Italy of a national salt iodination program in 2005, the iodine intake was investigated in 123 pregnant women and 49 control women living in the same area of central Italy. All the participants were screened for urinary iodine concentration (UIC), serum level of thyrotropin, free-thyroxine, free-triiodothyronine, and thyroid volume.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pharmacovigilance agencies did not collect data regarding menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccination even if many women experienced it. Our aim was to evaluate whether COVID-19 vaccination is associated with secondary changes in menstrual cycle and to assess both quality of life (QoL) and sexual function (SF).
Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis referred to our Department from January 2021 to December 2021.
Background: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of vaginal native tissue repair (VNTR) combined with tension-free transobturator tape (TVT-O) or pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in terms of quality of life (QoL) and sexual function (SF) in women affected by anterior defect and occult stress urinary incontinence (OSUI).
Methods: One hundred forty-seven patients with symptomatic anterior defect with OSUI underwent VNTR. In 71 patients TVT-O was inserted and 76 underwent PFMT after surgery.
Objectives: The aim of the study is to demonstrate the best stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgical technique for women with a Body mass index higher than 30. The results of Transvaginal Tension Free Vaginal Tape-Obturator and Mini-sling surgery were analyzed and compared through both clinical examination and standardized questionnaires at 36 months of follow-up.
Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter study over 159 women with SUI who underwent surgery.
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of breast cancer on the ovarian response and on oocyte quality following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).
Methods: This retrospective case-control study evaluated the effects of breast cancer on the ovarian response and on the oocyte quality. Oncological patients with breast cancer undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation cycles for fertility preservation, and age- and date-matched controls undergoing COH for in vitro fertilization (IVF) for male or tubal factor infertility were included in the study.
Background: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the implementation of remote medical care in the management of patients suffering from specific urogynecological diseases can be a valid alternative to outpatient visits leading to a huge saving of resources which can be used for real emergencies. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to demonstrate that patients treated with telehealth had the same improvement in symptoms and Quality of Life as those treated with outpatient visits.
Methods: Observational analysis on women with urogynecological diseases was performed during restrictive measures period.
Background: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the efficacy of sequential combined treatment with transobturator tape (TOT) followed by posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in patients with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI); quality of life and patients' satisfaction was also assessed.
Methods: Retrospective analysis on women affected by MUI with prevalent Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) component. Women, divided in 2 groups, underwent different treatments, TOT vs.
Studies conducted in healthy subjects have clearly shown that different hypnotic susceptibility, which is measured by scales, is associated with different functional equivalence between imagery and perception/action (FE), cortical excitability, and information processing. Of note, physiological differences among individuals with high (highs), medium (mediums), and low hypnotizability scores (lows) have been observed in the ordinary state of consciousness, thus independently from the induction of the hypnotic state, and in the absence of specific suggestions. The potential role of hypnotic assessment and its relevance to neurological diseases have not been fully explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new member of the Betacoronaviridae family, responsible for the recent pandemic outbreak of COVID-19. To start exploring the molecular events that follow host cell infection, we queried VirusCircBase and identified a circular RNA (circRNA) predicted to be synthesized by SARS-CoV-2, circ_3205, which we used to probe: (i) a training cohort comprised of two pools of cells from three nasopharyngeal swabs of SARS-CoV-2 infected (positive) or uninfected (negative, UCs) individuals; (ii) a validation cohort made up of 12 positive and 3 negative samples. The expression of circRNAs, miRNAs and miRNA targets was assayed through real-time PCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain lesions caused by cerebral ischemia lead to network disturbances in both hemispheres, causing a subsequent reorganization of functional connectivity both locally and remotely with respect to the injury. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) methods have long been used for exploring brain electrical activity and functional connectivity modifications after stroke. However, results obtained so far are not univocal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The incidence of median nerve injuries in pediatric elbow dislocations is approximately 3% and avulsion of the open medial epicondylar epiphysis in the pediatric population is one predisposing factor that may explain this age predilection. These lesions can be difficult to diagnose in the acute phase because symptoms tend to be mild or delayed, consequently their management can be challenging and functional outcome poorer.
Methods: We present the case of an unrecognized median nerve entrapment in a 16-year-old boy with posterior dislocation of the elbow and a medial epicondyle fracture, treated initially with close reduction and open stabilization with a cannulated screw.