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).

PAS or Not PAS? The Sonographic Assessment of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders and the Clinical Validation of a New Diagnostic and Prognostic Scoring System.

This study aimed to evaluate our center's experience in diagnosing and managing placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in a high-risk population, focusing on prenatal ultrasound features associated with PAS severity and maternal outcomes. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 102 high-risk patients with confirmed placenta previa who delivered at our center between 2018 and 2023. Patients underwent transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound scans, assessing typical sonographic features.

Personalized Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy and Central Nervous System Development: Reflections on the Gold Standard of Fetomaternal Therapy.

Background: The term "fetal programming" refers to the effects of endogenous and exogenous corticosteroids, whether received from the mother or the fetus, on brain development and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reset. The authors of this narrative review examine the WHO's guidelines for prenatal corticosteroids in pregnant women who are at high risk of premature delivery. These guidelines are regarded as the best available for preventing late-life problems resulting from preterm.

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Crohn's Disease: Results from a Large Real-Life Cohort Study.

Ustekinumab (UST) is an interleukin-12/interleukin-23 receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Only limited real-life data on the long-term outcomes of CD patients treated with UST are available. This study assessed UST's long-term effectiveness and safety in a large population-based cohort of moderate to severe CD patients.

Predictions of live birth in IVF programs of patients with recurrent implantation failure.

Background: When a high-quality embryo is implanted into the uterus, but the pregnancy is not established as shown by the ultrasound visualization of an intrauterine gestational sac, this is known as "implantation failure." Cases when more than two times implantation failure occurred was defined as recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Additional testing is done at this stage of infertility treatment to avoid a repeat of the same result with a future in vitro fertilization (IVF) effort.

The assessment, interpretation and implementation of lung ultrasound examinations in Heart Failure: Current evidence and gaps in knowledge.

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a simple, fast and non-invasive tool for pulmonary congestion assessment with higher accuracy for the detection of acute heart failure (HF) compared to clinical examination and chest radiography. The integrated assessment with other ultrasound and echocardiographic parameters can lead to a better systemic and pulmonary congestion characterization. Additionally, the combination of echocardiographic and pulmonary features can identify patients at higher risk for adverse outcomes, potentially facilitating both acute and chronic HF management and prognostic stratification.

Mastering nonobstetric surgery in pregnancy: Insights, guidelines evaluation, and point-by-point discussion.

For surgeons and clinicians, nonobstetric surgery during pregnancy has certain difficulties and considerations. In order to aid in decision-making in these situations, this manuscript offers a thorough review of the guidelines currently in place from renowned obstetric and surgical societies, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, and others. Using AGREE II-S methodology, a comprehensive analysis of guidelines reveals differences in recommendations for anesthetics, surgical procedures, imaging modalities, and thromboembolic prophylaxis.

AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Dystocia Algorithm) in Prolonged Dystocic Labor: Focus on Asynclitism Degree.

Asynclitism, a misalignment of the fetal head with respect to the plane of passage through the birth canal, represents a significant obstetric challenge. High degrees of asynclitism are associated with labor dystocia, difficult operative delivery, and cesarean delivery. Despite its clinical relevance, the diagnosis of asynclitism and its influence on the outcome of labor remain matters of debate.

Long-term obstetric, perinatal, and surgical complications in singleton pregnancies following previous cesarean myomectomy: a retrospective multicentric study.

Objectives: The safety of cesarean myomectomy has been proven by previous studies. Our study aimed to reveal the long-term perinatal, obstetric, and surgical outcomes of cesarean myomectomy (CM) by comparing different CM techniques.

Material And Methods: This retrospective multicentric case-control study involved 7 hospitals and included 226 singleton pregnancies that underwent repeated cesarean section (CS) between 2015 and 2020.

Localization of Catecholaminergic Neurofibers in Pregnant Cervix as a Possible Myometrial Pacemaker.

In eutocic labor, the autonomic nervous system is dominated by the parasympathetic system, which ensures optimal blood flow to the uterus and placenta. This study is focused on the detection of the quantitative presence of catecholamine (C) neurofibers in the internal uterine orifice (IUO) and in the lower uterine segment (LUS) of the pregnant uterus, which could play a role in labor and delivery. A total of 102 women were enrolled before their submission to a scheduled cesarean section (CS); patients showed a singleton fetus in a cephalic presentation outside labor.

Electro-Metabolic Coupling of Cumulus-Oocyte Complex.

Oocyte-cumulus cell interaction is essential for oocyte maturation and competence. The bidirectional crosstalk network mediated by gap junctions is fundamental for the metabolic cooperation between these cells. As cumulus cells exhibit a more glycolytic phenotype, they can provide metabolic substrates that the oocyte can use to produce ATP via oxidative phosphorylation.

Artificial Intelligence, Intrapartum Ultrasound and Dystocic Delivery: AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Dystocia Algorithm), a Promising Helping Decision Support System.

The position of the fetal head during engagement and progression in the birth canal is the primary cause of dystocic labor and arrest of progression, often due to malposition and malrotation. The authors performed an investigation on pregnant women in labor, who all underwent vaginal digital examination by obstetricians and midwives as well as intrapartum ultrasonography to collect four "geometric parameters", measured in all the women. All parameters were measured using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, called AIDA (artificial intelligence dystocia algorithm), which incorporates a human-in-the-loop approach, that is, to use AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms that prioritize the physician's decision and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI).

Effects of Long COVID on Psycho-Physical Conditions in the Italian Population: A Statistical and Large Language Model Combined Description.

Background: Long COVID refers to the persistence or development of signs and symptoms well after the acute phase of COVID-19.

Objective Of The Study: To investigate the long-term outcomes of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in terms of psychological, social, and relational consequences within the Italian population.

Materials And Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, and multicenter study using an online questionnaire distributed to a sample of the Italian population.

Cesarean Myomectomy: Reflections on Clinical and Surgical Controversies between a New Trans-Decidual Technique vs. Traditional Method.

Up to 70-80% of women of reproductive age may be affected with the most common uterine tumors, known as fibroids or myomas. These benign tumors are the second most prevalent cause of surgery among premenopausal women. Predictions show that the occurrence of myomas in pregnancy will increase, and that the risk of having myomas during pregnancy increases with advanced maternal age.

Reflections on Postpartum Hysterectomy as a Possible Complication of Cesarean Myomectomy: A Long Debate.

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors found in fertile women. Numerous obstetrical issues, such as dystocia during labor, fetal hypotrophy, a ruptured amniotic sac, early labor, low-birth-weight newborns, etc., are associated with fibrous pregnant uteri.

Isthmocele and Infertility.

Isthmocele is a gynecological condition characterized by a disruption in the uterine scar, often associated with prior cesarean sections. This anatomical anomaly can be attributed to inadequate or insufficient healing of the uterine wall following a cesarean incision. It appears that isthmocele may impact a woman's quality of life as well as her reproductive capacity.