Real-world clinical experience with secukinumab in psoriatic arthritis: an observational study and a literature review.

Objective: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be treated with biological drugs targeting IL-17A, such as secukinumab, with good responses and long-term positive outcomes in clinical studies.

Methods: An observational study was conducted on adult subjects with PsA and comorbidities, treated with secukinumab after prior therapy with conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or biological agents that were discontinued due to lack of efficacy or adverse drug reactions. Patients were followed up with clinical visits at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months and evaluated for disease activity, pain, and quality of life, with respect to values recorded at baseline.

Human head and neck cancer cell lines response to cold atmospheric plasma activated media is affected by the chemistry of culture media.

Survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) patients are still to date very poor, and the application of innovative clinical approaches are urgently needed. Cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs) are partially ionized gases that have shown anti-tumor effectiveness over a wide range of cancer types with potential application into clinics. However, the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying indirect CAP effects plays a key role for the prediction of treatment outcomes.

The association between adolescents' knowledge and perception of HPV vaccination and parents' characteristics: A cross-sectional study.

Background: In Italy, the anti-Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign began in 2008. To date, despite the effectiveness and safety of HPV vaccines, coverage among Italian adolescents is still suboptimal. Evidence suggests that different factors could influence parents' choices regarding their children's vaccination uptake.

Intratumoral in Pancreatic Cancer: Current and Future Perspectives.

The intratumoral microbiome plays a significant role in many cancers, such as lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies and is often diagnosed at advanced stages. , an anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium primarily residing in the oral cavity, has garnered significant attention for its emerging role in several extra-oral human diseases and, lately, in pancreatic cancer progression and prognosis.

Early Surgical Resection in Pediatric Patients with Localized Ileo-Cecal Crohn's Disease: Results of a Retrospective Multicenter Study.

: Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that also affects pediatric patients. It frequently presents as a localized disease, affecting the ileocecal area, ileum, or colon. It requires targeted therapy to achieve a good quality of life and long-term control of disease activity.

Tracheostomy Practice in the Italian Intensive Care Units: A Point-Prevalence Survey.

: A tracheostomy is a frequently performed surgical intervention in intensive care units (ICUs) for patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. This procedure can offer significant benefits, including reduced sedation requirements, improved patient comfort, and enhanced airway management. However, it is also associated with various risks, and the absence of standardized clinical guidelines complicates its implementation.

An Updated Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of First-Line Triplet vs. Doublet Therapies for Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer.

: The addition of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), with or without docetaxel (Doc), is currently recommended for metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Recently, the ARANOTE trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of Darolutamide + ADT in this setting. We aimed to update a network meta-analysis (NMA) of these combination therapies.

Enlightening Nursing Care: A Protocol for a Multicenter Observational Study Measuring Nursing Work in Hospital Settings.

: Rising costs and demands for improved quality of care present complex challenges for existing healthcare systems. The strain on healthcare resources is exacerbated by the increasing complexity of patient conditions. The Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system classifies inpatients according to clinical and treatment criteria, controls healthcare expenditures, and ensures the sustainability of procedures.

Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Recent Advances and Insights.

Focal therapy has emerged as a balanced middle ground aiming to reduce overtreatment and the risk of progression, as well as patients' distress and anxiety. Focal therapy and partial gland ablation prioritize the precise elimination of the index lesion and a surrounding safety margin to optimize treatment outcomes and lower the risk of residual disease. The paradigm of whole-gland ablation has shifted towards more targeted approaches.

Validation of the Italian Sense of Agency Scale and Its Relevance to Well-Being: An Iterative Bootstrap Approach.

The Sense of Agency (SoA) refers to the subjective experience of controlling one's actions and the external events resulting from those actions. This study aimed to critically evaluate the construct validity, robustness, and clinical utility of the Sense of Agency Scale (SoAS) in an Italian-speaking population, using a data-driven approach to explore potential factor structures. A sample of 992 adults completed the SoAS alongside other validated psychological measures, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the scale's psychometric properties.

Biomechanical Analysis of Truncated Cone Implants for Maxillary Sinus Lift: An In Vitro Study on Polyurethane Laminas.

This study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical performance of two truncated cone implant designs in maxillary sinus lift (MSL) procedures using polyurethane laminas. A total of 128 implants were used. Polyurethane laminas were divided into two groups based on thickness (1 and 3 mm) and two subgroups based on density (20 and 30 pounds per cubic foot, PCF).

Incidence and Outcomes of Secondary Bladder Cancer Following Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: There is an established association between secondary bladder cancers (SBCs) and radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PC), which remains a significant concern. Our aim was to update the evidence on SBC incidence across different RT modalities and to compare oncological outcomes for patients diagnosed with SBC to those diagnosed with primary bladder cancer (PBC).

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies on SBC following PC.

Assessment of Attenuation in Pericarotid Fat among Patients with Carotid Plaque and Spontaneous Carotid Dissection.

Background And Purpose: Changes in perivascular fat density (PFD) and its association with inflammation have been topics of interest in both atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic vasculopathies. The objective of this study was to assess the PFD in patients with spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (SICAD) or carotid atherosclerotic plaque, with and without intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH).

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective bicentric analysis of 130 patients (30 with SICAD and 100 with carotid atherosclerotic plaque) who underwent CT angiography was performed.

Changes in adrenomedullin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with chorioamnionitis in a sheep-based model.

Background: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent angiogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory peptide protecting the developing lung from injury due to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) of the preterm infant. At this stage, no data on the potential effects of chorioamnionitis (CA) occurrence and glucocorticoids (GC) administration on AM in developing lungs are still lacking.

Objective: to investigate, in a sheep-based model, the positive/side-effects of combined exposure to CA and GC on AM concentrations measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).

Myocardial microvascular function assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance first-pass perfusion in patients with Takotsubo syndrome.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore microvascular function impairment using first-pass cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TS). Moreover, we explored myocardial microcirculation in patients with TS and related this to demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, clinical parameters, cardiac biomarkers, and cardiac function.

Methods: This retrospective study performed CMR first-pass perfusion scans in 42 consecutive patients with TS (37 females, 70.

Development and Validation of the Family and Community Nursing Advanced Practice Scale.

Aim: To develop and test a Family and Community Nursing-Advanced Practice Scale.

Design: A cross-sectional and methodological scale validation design, following classical test theory.

Methods: Three phases, the first of which involved scale development, including item generation.

Billing models for measuring nursing care in inpatient and outpatient settings: a scoping review.

Background: The rising cost of healthcare is a concerning issue for healthcare systems. The Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) system lacks direct consideration for costs related to nursing care. Therefore, to date there is no clear picture of billing models that consider also nursing activity when evaluating healthcare service costs or what factors related to nursing care affect the costs of healthcare services and would therefore need to be considered in billing models.

Unfolded protein response: An essential element of intestinal homeostasis and a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.

Different physiological and pathological situations can produce alterations in the cell's endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to a condition known as ER stress, which can trigger an intricate intracellular signal transduction system known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR is primarily tailored to restore proteostasis and ER equilibrium; otherwise, if ER stress persists, it can cause programmed cell death as a cytoprotective mechanism and drive inflammatory processes. Therefore, since intestinal cells strongly rely on UPR for their biological functions and unbalanced UPR has been linked to inflammatory, metabolic, and immune disorders, here we discussed the role of the UPR within the intestinal tract, focusing on the UPR contribution to inflammatory bowel disease development.

ECG Patterns of Occlusion Myocardial Infarction: A Narrative Review.

The traditional management of acute coronary syndrome has relied on the identification of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as a proxy of acute coronary occlusion. This conflation of STEMI with acute coronary occlusion has historically overshadowed non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), despite evidence suggesting 25% to 34% of NSTEMI cases may also include acute coronary occlusion. Current limitations in the STEMI/NSTEMI binary framework underscore the need for a revised approach to chest pain and acute coronary syndrome management.

Vaginal delivery of the second twin: simulation to improve trainee knowledge and comfort.

Background: Vaginal delivery in twins is feasible but challenging. Successful vaginal delivery of a non-vertex second twin depends on knowledge of specific obstetrical maneuvers. Skill acquisition at the patient's bedside is difficult, making simulation training an integral part of obstetrics and gynecology residency programs.

Proteolysis-targeting influenza vaccine strains induce broad-spectrum immunity and in vivo protection.

Generating effective live vaccines from intact viruses remains challenging owing to considerations of safety and immunogenicity. Approaches that can be applied in a systematic manner are needed. Here we created a library of live attenuated influenza vaccines by using diverse cellular E3 ubiquitin ligases to generate proteolysis-targeting (PROTAR) influenza A viruses.

PROTAR Vaccine 2.0 generates influenza vaccines by degrading multiple viral proteins.

Manipulating viral protein stability using the cellular ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) represents a promising approach for developing live-attenuated vaccines. The first-generation proteolysis-targeting (PROTAR) vaccine had limitations, as it incorporates proteasome-targeting degrons (PTDs) at only the terminal ends of viral proteins, potentially restricting its broad application. Here we developed the next-generation PROTAR vaccine approach, referred to as PROTAR 2.