Unraveling the protein kinase C/NDRG1 signaling network in breast cancer.

N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is a member of the NDRG family of intracellular proteins and plays a central role in a wide range of biological processes including stress response, differentiation, and metabolism. The overexpression of NDRG1 is an indicator of poor prognosis in various types of cancer. Here, we found that NDRG1 is an independent prognostic marker of poor outcome in breast cancer (BC).

Applications of basophil activation test in paediatric allergic diseases.

Basophilic granulocytes, containing and releasing histamine after a specific allergy stimulation, are directly involved in IgE-mediated allergic reactions. CD63 is a transmembrane protein of secretory lysosomes of basophils and its upregulation is related with the release of histamine to the extracellular space during IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Basophil activation test (BAT) measures the activation of circulating basophils upon the stimulation of living blood cells with specific allergens.

Enlightening Hidden Nursing Care in Nurse-Led Clinics and See & Treat: An Observational Multicenter Protocol Study in Italy.

The limited and inconsistent adoption and regulation of nurse-led clinics (NLCs) and "See & Treat" (S&T) services in Italy needs to be explored considering their value towards patients' outcomes acknowledged in the literature. This study aims to explore the phenomenon of hidden nursing activities (HNAs) in these settings, hypothesizing that features and activities performed in these settings are heterogeneous across the country and widely underreported or attributed to other professionals than nurses. HNAs are hypothesized to be associated with a poor work environment climate and nurses' low job satisfaction.

A pilot study of transcriptomic preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-T): towards a new step in embryo selection?

Study Question: Is it possible to predict an euploid chromosomal constitution and identify a transcriptomic profile compatible with extended embryonic development from RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data?

Summary Answer: It has been possible to obtain a karyotype comparable to preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), in addition to a transcriptomic signature of embryos which might be suggestive of improved implantation capacity.

What Is Known Already: Conventional assessment of embryo competence, based on morphology and morphokinetic, lacks knowledge of molecular aspects and faces controversy in predicting ploidy status. Understanding the embryonic transcriptome is crucial, as gene expression influences development and implantation.

Brain fingerprint and subjective mood state across the menstrual cycle.

Background: Brain connectome fingerprinting represents a recent and valid approach in assessing individual identifiability on the basis of the subject-specific brain functional connectome. Although this methodology has been tested and validated in several neurological diseases, its performance, reliability and reproducibility in healthy individuals has been poorly investigated. In particular, the impact of the changes in brain connectivity, induced by the different phases of the menstrual cycle (MC), on the reliability of this approach remains unexplored.

Neurological management of ischemic stroke in sickle cell disease- a case report with an updated review of the literature.

Background: In children and adults with sickle-cell disease (SCD), acute ischemic stroke (AIS) associated with a vaso-occlusive crisis is a leading cause of physical and cognitive disability and death. However, neurological guidelines for acute management of AIS fail to directly address this issue. We here report a case of a man with severe cerebrovascular complications and illustrate the current evidence on the management of SCD-related AIS.

State of the art CRISPR-based strategies for cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology is a groundbreaking and dynamic molecular tool for DNA and RNA "surgery". CRISPR/Cas9 is the most widely applied system in oncology research. It is a major advancement in genome manipulation due to its precision, efficiency, scalability and versatility compared to previous gene editing methods.

Effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone deficiency in mice beyond growth.

This paper provides a critical overview on GHRH and its deficiency, discussing its multiple roles in both central and peripheral tissues. Genetically engineered mice have been instrumental in elucidating the multifaceted roles of GHRH and GH, each offering unique insights into the physiological and pathological roles of these hormones, although in many of these models dissecting the direct effect of GHRH from the effect of GH is not possible. Key findings highlight the effects of GHRH deficiency on emotional behavior, including anxiety and depression, its impact on memory and learning capabilities, as well as on adipose tissue, immune system, inflammation and pain.

Disinfection of dental root canals by cold atmospheric plasma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of dental biofilm.

Aim: The intricate structure of the tooth root canals has a role in the colonization and biofilm formation in hidden areas that are hardly reached by standard endodontic treatments. This review aims at summarizing data from and studies for a better understanding of the application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) for the disinfection of dental root canals.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were screened.

Biomechanical Finite Element Analysis of Two Types of Short-Angled Implants Across Various Bone Classifications.

The aim of this finite element analysis (FEA) was to investigate the distribution of von Mises stress within dental implant components, as well as trabecular and cortical bone. The study considered various bone qualities that influence cortical thickness in contact with the implant, specifically examining cortical thicknesses of 0.5, 1.

Synthesis and Characterization of Na-P1 (GIS) Zeolite Using Rice Husk.

This work deals with the synthesis of Na-P1 (GIS) zeolite using rice husk as the starting material, instead of the more expensive chemicals currently used in the industry (i.e., Na aluminates and Na silicates).

Metabolic and Regulatory Pathways Involved in the Anticancer Activity of Perillyl Alcohol: A Scoping Review of In Vitro Studies.

Background/objectives: Perillyl alcohol (POH), a plant-derived compound, has demonstrated anti-tumor activity across various human cancers. Understanding the regulatory pathways through which POH exerts its effects is crucial for identifying new therapeutic opportunities and exploring potential drug repositioning strategies. Therefore, this scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the metabolic and regulatory pathways involved in the anticancer effects of POH, based on in vitro evidence.

Survival of dental implants placed in a postgraduate educational setting: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Dental implant treatment can still fail due to various factors. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the influence of operator experience in a postgraduate educational setting, as well as patient, implant, and surgical risk factors on the incidence of the dental implant failure.

Methods: The dental records of 1049 implants with a mean follow-up of 794.

Diagnosis and management of dilated cardiomyopathy: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and recommendations.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is extensively discussed in numerous expert consensus documents and international guidelines, with differing recommendations. To support clinicians in daily practice and decision-making, we conducted a systematic review of key guidelines and recommendations concerning the diagnosis and clinical management of DCM. Our research encompassed MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for relevant articles published, as well as the websites of relevant scientific societies.

Generation, interrogation, and future applications of microglia-containing brain organoids.

Brain organoids encompass a large collection of in vitro stem cell-derived 3D culture systems that aim to recapitulate multiple aspects of in vivo brain development and function. First, this review provides a brief introduction to the current state-of-the-art for neuro-ectoderm brain organoid development, emphasizing their biggest advantages in comparison with classical two-dimensional cell cultures and animal models. However, despite their usefulness for developmental studies, a major limitation for most brain organoid models is the absence of contributing cell types from endodermal and mesodermal origin.

Value of PGT-A when only one or two blastocysts are obtained: propensity-score matching and cost-effectiveness study.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and cost of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with or without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) when only one or two blastocysts are obtained.

Methods: A dataset was gathered from 1829 patients including 368 non-PGT-A and 1461 PGT-A cycles with one or two blastocysts obtained, between April 2013 and July 2022. Patients were matched 1:1 by propensity-score matching for maternal age, number of metaphase-II oocytes inseminated and number of blastocysts obtained, achieving a database of 242 patients per group.

Accuracy of cell-free fetal DNA in detecting chromosomal anomalies in women experiencing miscarriage: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To report the diagnostic accuracy of cell-free fetal DNA (cfDNA) in detecting fetal chromosomal anomalies in women experiencing miscarriage.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to June 2024. The inclusion criteria were women experiencing miscarriage (defined as pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of gestation) who underwent cfDNA screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13, other autosomal aneuploidies, sex-chromosome aneuploidies and/or copy-number variants (CNVs).

Acute local and non-local morphological, sensory and fluid responses to stretching and foam rolling in young females.

Background: This study aimed to compare and examine the local and non-local effects of a foam rolling (FR) and static stretching (SS) intervention applied to the plantar flexor (PF).

Methods: Fourteen female participants were investigated. Each participant underwent three conditions in a random order at least 48h apart and at the same time of the day: Control (CC), SS, and FR.

From MASLD to PAD: Looking for Cardiovascular Disease Starting from Metabolic Status.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is still the least studied and evaluated form in clinical practice among atherosclerotic pathologies, despite the increased mortality and comorbidities related to it. The relationship between steatotic liver disease and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease has been extensively documented. The purpose of this work is to perform a review of the evidence linking NAFLD or MASLD to PAD, and examine possible clinical scenarios that arise from this new terminology.

Potent Antimicrobial Azoles: Synthesis, In Vitro and In Silico Study.

: The increase in fungal infections, both systemic and invasive, is a major source of morbidity and mortality, particularly among immunocompromised people such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients. Because of their strong therapeutic activity and excellent safety profiles, azole antifungals are currently the most extensively used systemic antifungal drugs. Antibacterial properties of various topical antifungals, such as oxiconazole, which features oxime ether functionality, were discovered, indicating an exciting prospect in antimicrobial chemotherapy.