Sesterterpenoids: sources, structural diversity, biological activity, and data management.

Reviewing the literature published up to October 2024.Sesterterpenoids are one of the most chemically diverse and biologically promising subgroup of terpenoids, the largest family of secondary metabolites. The present review article summarizes more than seven decades of studies on isolation and characterization of more than 1600 structurally novel sesterterpenoids, supplemented by biological, pharmacological, ecological, and geographic distribution data.

Impact of calreticulin mutations on treatment and survival outcomes in myelofibrosis during ruxolitinib therapy.

Calreticulin (CALR) mutations are detected in around 20% of patients with primary and post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis (MF). Regardless of driver mutations, patients with splenomegaly and symptoms are generally treated with JAK2-inhibitors, most commonly ruxolitinib. Recently, new therapies specifically targeting the CALR mutant clone have entered clinical investigation.

Delphi consensus on the diagnostic criteria of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Purpose: To gather the current opinion among Italian gynecologists and endocrinologists regarding the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Method: A Delphi survey consisting of 26 statements was designed by a nine-member panel (consisting of members from the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE) and the Experts Group AQon Inositol in Basic and Clinical Research and on PCOS (EGOI-PCOS)) and distributed to 102 experts in PCOS across the fields of gynecology and endocrinology. Consensus was defined as an agreement between at least 70% of responders.

Advanced paranasal sinuses osteomas: a retrospective multicentric analysis on surgical management outcomes and intra- and postsurgical complications.

Background: This study examines the management and outcomes of large paranasal sinus osteomas (PSO), especially those abutting or encasing critical structures of the skull base and orbit.

Methodology: A multicentric retrospective analysis was conducted between June 2007 and September 2023. The study included surgically treated (regardless the type of approach chosen) PSO, exceeding 3 cm in diameter and/or located in critical anatomical areas.

Protein-surface interactions in nano-scale biosensors for IL-6 detection using functional monolayers.

A multiscale approach is employed to investigate the interaction dynamics between interleukin-6, a key cancer biomarker, and alkyl-functionalized surfaces, with the ultimate goal of guiding biosensor design. The study integrates classical molecular dynamics, Brownian dynamics simulations, and binding experiments to explore the adsorption dynamics and energetics of IL-6 on surfaces modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The comparative analysis reveals a dramatic effect on the interaction strength of IL-6 with a SAMs comprising a mix of charged and hydrophobic ligands.

Efficient estimation of the marginal mean of recurrent events in randomized controlled trials.

Recurrent events data are often encountered in biomedical settings, where individuals may also experience a terminal event such as death. A useful estimand to summarize such data is the marginal mean of the cumulative number of recurrent events up to a specific time horizon, allowing also for the possible presence of a terminal event. Recently, it was found that augmented estimators can estimate this quantity efficiently, providing improved inference.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: Revising the surgical approach in light of the concept of multiparametric therapeutic hierarchy.

The clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is strongly influenced by several prognostic factors, mainly tumor stage, patient's health, liver function and specific characteristics of each intervention. The interplay between these factors should be carefully evaluated by a multidisciplinary tumor board. To support this, the novel "multiparametric therapeutic hierarchy" (MTH) concept has been recently proposed.

An online group behavioral activation therapy for major depressive disorder: Adaptation, effectiveness, and trajectories of change in a lower-middle income country.

Background And Objective: Depressive disorders are common mental illnesses associated with high burden of disease. In this study, the effects of an online group behavioral activation on depressive symptoms and rumination were evaluated, and trajectories of change in patients with major depressive disorder adapted for a lower-middle income context investigated.

Methods: This study was an online single-group non-randomized trial.

A machine learning framework for short-term prediction of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations using personal air quality monitors and lifestyle data.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease with a variety of symptoms including, persistent coughing and mucus production, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. As the disease advances, exacerbations, i.e.

Self-perceived impact of COVID-19 and risk behaviors among adolescents: Results from the HBSC 2021/22 study in 21 European countries.

Aims: To investigate adolescents' perception of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on several aspects of their lives (mental health, well-being, family situation, peers, school, dieting, and physical activity) in relation to risk behaviors such as smoking, alcohol use, drunkenness, and cannabis use.

Methods: Data were used from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2021/2022, comprising 106,221 adolescents aged 11-15 (50.9% females) from 21 European countries.

DNA strand breaks in the crab Carcinus aestuarii exposed to three BPA analogues and their mixture.

In this study, the genotoxic effects of three different bisphenols (BPAF, BPF and BPS) and their mixture were assessed in the crab Carcinus aestuarii. Crabs were exposed for 7 and 14 days to 300 ng/L of BPA analogues, alone or as a mixture (100 ng/L for each compound). After 7- and 14-day exposure, gills and hepatopancreas were sampled from crabs to evaluate damage to DNA by quantifying the levels of DNA single- and double-strand breaks.

Inter-Rater Disagreements in Applying the Montreal Classification for Crohn's Disease: The Five-Nations Survey Study.

Background: The Montreal classification has been widely used in Crohn's disease since 2005 to categorize patients by the age of onset (A), disease location (L), behavior (B), and upper gastrointestinal tract and perianal involvement. With evolving management paradigms in Crohn's disease, we aimed to assess the performance of gastroenterologists in applying the Montreal classification.

Methods: An online survey was conducted among participants at an international educational conference on inflammatory bowel diseases.

No significant relationship found between spontaneous motor tempo, heartbeat, and individual alpha frequency: an analysis of internal tempos.

Many theories of time perception propose the existence of an internal pacemaker, and studies across behavioral, physiological, and neuroscience fields have explored this concept. Specifically, Spontaneous Motor Tempo (SMT), the most comfortable and natural tapping tempo for each individual, is thought to reflect this internal pacemaker's tempo. Changes in heart rate are also linked to time estimation, while Individual Alpha Frequency (IAF), the peak in the alpha range (8-13 Hz) observed in EEG, is reported to reflect the brain's temporal processing.

Intraoperative ultrasound-guided breast-conserving surgery: A performance analysis on the basis of novel cancer lesion classification and patients' cosmetic satisfaction.

Background: Intraoperative ultrasound-guided breast-conserving surgery guarantees real-time direct visualization of tumor and resection margins. We compared surgical, oncologic, and cosmetic outcomes between intraoperative ultrasound-guided breast-conserving surgery and traditional (palpation- or wire-guided) surgery across all breast cancer lesion types.

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at the Veneto Institute of Oncology between January 2021 and October 2022.

Neural plasticity in early potters: Shape analysis and TMS-EEG co-registration trace the rise of a new motor skill.

In this study, we explored the biocultural mechanisms underlying ancient craft behaviours. Archaeological methods were integrated with neuroscience techniques to explore the impact on neuroplasticity resulting from the introduction of early pottery techniques. The advent of ceramic marked a profound change in the economy and socio-cultural dynamics of past societies.

ECG-Gated Cardiac Multidetector CT Evaluation of the Normal Pulmonary Valve and Right Ventricular Outflow Tract in Dogs.

With the advancement in imaging technology, ECG-gated cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has emerged as a tool for the anatomic evaluation of the pulmonary valve and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in human medicine. Currently, the evaluation of the pulmonary valve relies primarily on echocardiographic examination. However, the bi-dimensional nature of this technique and the location/orientation of the pulmonary valve in the thoracic cavity can pose challenges.

Quality by Design-Steered Chromatographic Separation and Identification of the Geometric Isomers of Capsiate by Reversed-Phase HPLC and LC-MS.

An efficient reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method, based on the design of the experiment approach, was developed for the simultaneous determination of capsiate isomers. Critical method parameters, i.e.

Progranulin measurement with a new automated method: a step forward in the diagnostic approach to neurodegenerative disorders.

Objectives: Mutations in the gene encoded glycoprotein progranulin (PGRN), cause 5-10 % of all cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The aim of our study was to verify the analytical and clinical performance of an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay method for PGRN measurement recently developed (Chorus Evo, Diesse Diagnostica, Italy).

Methods: Five plasma pools and residual plasma samples (KEDTA) from 25 control subjects (11 males, 62-79 years; 14 females, 54-76 years) and 151 patients (70 males, 53-81 years; 81 females, 44-82 years) with different neurodegenerative disorders (NDs), were assayed.

Post-Docking Refinement of Peptide or Protein-RNA Complexes Using Thermal Titration Molecular Dynamics (TTMD): A Stability Insight.

RNA-protein interactions drive and regulate fundamental cellular processes like transcription and translation. Despite being still limited, the growing body of structural data significantly contributes to the characterization of these interactions. However, RNA complexes involving proteins or peptides are not always available due to the structural determination challenges that this biopolymer entails.

Investigating gender dynamics in forensic toxicology: The role of masculinity and femininity in alcohol and drug abuse.

The concept of "gender" refers to the socially constructed characteristics that define feminine or masculine behavior, which are constantly changing and can influence access to healthcare and patterns of help-seeking. These factors significantly impact forensic toxicology, a key area within the medicolegal landscape, forcing the adoption of a gender-sensitive approach to better understand the differing impacts of substances on men and women. Research indicates significant disparities in drug use between genders; men are more likely to abuse alcohol and illicit drugs, while women tend to use prescription medications.

Automated analysis for glaucoma screening of retinal videos acquired with smartphone-based ophthalmoscope.

Widespread screening is crucial for the early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness. The development of portable technologies, such as smartphone-based ophthalmoscopes, able to image the optical nerve head, represents a resource for large-scale glaucoma screening. Indeed, they consist of an optical device attached to a common smartphone, making the overall device cheap and easy to use.