Drug-Coated Balloons in Autologous Vein Peripheral-Distal Bypass Graft Maintenance: Advancements and Potential Impact.

Introduction: Initial surgical revascularization has a recognized primary role in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia with a high-quality great saphenous vein for conduit. However, approximately one-third of lower extremity vein grafts develop lesions threatening graft patency. Traditional treatments have limitations, highlighting the need for innovative solutions.

Self-Perceived Competencies and Attitudes on Palliative Care in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Multicenter Descriptive Study.

Caring for the dying can generate anxiety and emotional distress, particularly in nursing students, and perceived competence could play a crucial role in enabling nurses to perform their duties with greater confidence. Unfortunately, few studies describe the relationship between students' nursing attitudes and perceived self-efficacy in palliative care (PC). To overcome this gap, this survey aimed to assess the attitudes towards dying patients and the perceived competence of nursing students in palliative care at different universities in the south of Italy.

MI2AMI-CS: A meta-analysis comparing Impella and IABP outcomes in Acute Myocardial Infarction-related Cardiogenic Shock.

Background: Cardiogenic Shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) poses a significant mortality risk, suggesting the opportunity to implement effective mechanical circulatory support strategies. The comparative efficacy of Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) and Impella in managing CS-AMI remains a subject of investigation.

Objective: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of Impella and IABP in managing CS-AMI, exploring mortality and adverse events.

Liquid L-T4 therapy in hypothyroid patients with gastric diseases, an observational study.

Introduction: This is an observational and retrospective study, in which we have analyzed data from patients affected by gastric diseases (p) who have been treated with liquid L-T4 (L-LT4;84 p), or tablet L-T4 (T-LT4;120 p), for the replacement therapy of hypothyroidism. The aim of the study is to compare the stability of TSH [normal range, 0.3-3.

Lactose intolerance and levothyroxine malabsorption: a review of the literature and report of a series of patients treated with liquid L-T4 without lactose.

In hypothyroid patients needing large doses of levothyroxine (L-T4) (>1.7-2 μg/kg/day) to reach euthyroidism, lactose intolerance (LI) needs to be excluded, owing to the high prevalence in the population. If LI is present, a lactose-free diet decreases the rate of L-T4 malabsorption.

Ropeginterferon versus Standard Therapy for Low-Risk Patients with Polycythemia Vera.

BACKGROUND: Whether phlebotomy alone can adequately maintain target hematocrit in patients with low-risk polycythemia vera (PV) remains elusive. METHODS: In a phase 2 open-label randomized trial, we compared ropeginterferon alfa-2b (ropeg; 100 μg every 2 weeks) with phlebotomy only regarding maintenance of a median hematocrit level (≤45%) over 12 months in the absence of progressive disease (primary end point). In follow-up, crossover to the alternative treatment group was allowed if the primary end point was not met.

Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 3 (SERCA3) expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumours.

Accurate characterisation of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) is important for prognosis and the choice of targeted therapies. Histologically the diagnosis relies on positive immunostaining of tumours for KIT (CD117) and DOG1. Here we report that GISTs also abundantly express the type 3 Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase (SERCA3).

Ropeginterferon phase 2 randomized study in low-risk polycythemia vera: 5-year drug survival and efficacy outcomes.

In patients with low-risk polycythemia vera, exposure to low-dose Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (Ropeg) 100 µg every 2 weeks for 2 years was more effective than the standard treatment of therapeutic phlebotomy in maintaining target hematocrit (HCT) (< 45%) with a reduction in the need for phlebotomy without disease progression. In the present paper, we analyzed drug survival, defined as a surrogate measure of the efficacy, safety, adherence, and tolerability of Ropeg in patients followed up to 5 years. During the first 2 years, Ropeg and phlebotomy-only (Phl-O) were discontinued in 33% and 70% of patients, respectively, for lack of response (12 in the Ropeg arm vs.

Echocardiographic Patterns of Abnormal Septal Motion: Beyond Myocardial Ischemia.

Abnormal septal motion (ASM), which often is associated with myocardial ischemia, is also observed in other diseases. Owing to the position of the interventricular septum (IVS) in the heart, its movement not only relies on contractile properties but is also affected by the pressure gradient between the 2 ventricles and by the mode of electrical activation. Echocardiography allows the operator to focus on the motion of the IVS, analyzing its characteristics and thereby gaining information about the possible underlying pathophysiological mechanism.

Tolerability profile of paliperidone palmitate formulations: A pharmacovigilance analysis of the EUDRAVigilance database.

Introduction: Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) have proven to be effective in the maintenance treatment of patients suffering from schizophrenia, and their safety and tolerability profiles represent a key factor in their long-term use and choice in clinical practice. Paliperidone palmitate (PP) is the only second-generation LAI (SGA-LAI), available in both one- (PP1M) and 3-month (PP3M) formulations. However, real-world prospective studies on PP1M and PP3M are still few and mostly conducted on small samples.

Thyroid Metastasis from Primary Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC), the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, frequently metastasizes to the bone, lungs, brain and liver at advanced stages, whereas the thyroid gland represents a rare target site for secondary disease. We examined the most recent literature about thyroid metastasis (TM) from BC after we encountered a peculiar case of a 71-year-old woman who developed sudden dysphagia, severe hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism due to TM 18 years after the diagnosis of her primary cancer. Based on published data, the prevalence of TM in BC ranges from 3% to 34%, with a median onset time of 48.

Distribution of OGTT-Related Variables in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis from Puberty to Adulthood: An Italian Multicenter Study.

Background: Insulin secretion and glucose tolerance is annually assessed in patients with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) as a screening measure for cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. We aimed to describe the distribution and provide reference quartiles of OGTT-related variables in the Italian cystic fibrosis population.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of PwCF receiving care in three Italian cystic fibrosis centers of excellence, from 2016 to 2020.

Data on a novel approach examining the role of the cerebellum in gait performance improvement in patients with Parkinson disease receiving neurologic music therapy.

Individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) benefit from Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) concerning gait impairment recovery. In PD, RAS may help eliciting rhythmic and automatized motor responses, including gait, by bypassing the deteriorated internal "clock" within basal ganglia for automatic and rhythmic motricity. We aimed at exploring the contribution of the cerebellum to this "bypass effect" in response to RAS.

Preconception Thyrotropin Levels and Thyroid Function at Early Gestation in Women With Hashimoto Thyroiditis.

Context: Preconception optimization of thyroid function in women with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is highly recommended to prevent/reduce the risk of thyroid insufficiency at early gestation.

Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the prevalence of first-trimester thyroid insufficiency in HT women with preconception thyrotropin (T0-TSH) values consistently less than or equal to 2.5 mIU/L with or without levothyroxine (LT4) treatment, and to calculate T0-TSH cutoffs that best preconceptionally identified HT women requiring first-trimester LT4 adjustment/prescription.

Molecular features of aggressive thyroid cancer.

Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) have a worse prognosis with respect to well differentiated TC, and the loss of the capability of up-taking I is one of the main features characterizing aggressive TC. The knowledge of the genomic landscape of TC can help clinicians to discover the responsible alterations underlying more advance diseases and to address more tailored therapy. In fact, to date, the antiangiogenic multi-targeted kinase inhibitor (aaMKIs) sorafenib, lenvatinib, and cabozantinib, have been approved for the therapy of aggressive radioiodine (RAI)-resistant papillary TC (PTC) or follicular TC (FTC).

Rescue by elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor of the G1244E cystic fibrosis mutation's stability and gating defects are dependent on cell background.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations impairing expression, trafficking, stability and/or activity of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel. The G1244E mutation causes a severe gating defect that it is not completely rescued by ivacaftor but requires the use of a second compound (a co-potentiator). Recently, it has been proposed that the corrector elexacaftor may act also as a co-potentiator.

Lipomatous Hypertrophy of the Interatrial Septum: A Case Report and Insights from the Literature.

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum (LHIS) is a histologically benign cardiac lesion that is defined by excessive fat accumulation in the area of the interatrial septum (IAS) that does not include the fossa ovalis. Another unusual illness is lipomatosis, which is defined as a broad overgrowth of mature adipose tissue that involves a large portion of an extremity or trunk. We describe a rare case with significant LHIS accompanied by subcutaneous lipomatosis.

Xeroderma Pigmentosum: A Genetic Condition Skin Cancer Correlated-A Systematic Review.

Background: Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of UV radiation-induced damage repair that is characterized by photosensitivity and a propensity for developing, among many others, skin cancers at an early age. This systematic review focused on the correlation between the clinical, pathological, and genetic aspects of XP and skin cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted through a literature search of online databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and Google Scholar.

Molecular Fingerprinting of the Omicron Variant Genome of SARS-CoV-2 by SERS Spectroscopy.

The continuing accumulation of mutations in the RNA genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus generates an endless succession of highly contagious variants that cause concern around the world due to their antibody resistance and the failure of current diagnostic techniques to detect them in a timely manner. Raman spectroscopy represents a promising alternative to variants detection and recognition techniques, thanks to its ability to provide a characteristic spectral fingerprint of the biological samples examined under all circumstances. In this work we exploit the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties of a silver dendrite layer to explore, for the first time to our knowledge, the distinctive features of the Omicron variant genome.

Assessment of Intra and Extra-Hospital Outcome after Takotsubo Syndrome in a Single-Center Population.

Objectives: To evaluate short- and long-term outcome in a single prospective cohort of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients, trying to early identify those with better prognosis and to assess the prevalence of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery over time.

Methods: Forty-nine patients prospectively enrolled underwent to assessment of demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic characteristics, and later were followed to identify the outcomes during a mean follow-up (FU) of 93 months. At the end of the FU phase, a subgroup of patients underwent to a clinical and echocardiographic re-evaluation.

High Mobility Group Box 1: Biological Functions and Relevance in Oxidative Stress Related Chronic Diseases.

In the early 1970s, a group of non-histone nuclear proteins with high electrophoretic mobility was discovered and named high-mobility group (HMG) proteins. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is the most studied HMG protein that detects and coordinates cellular stress response. The biological function of HMGB1 depends on its subcellular localization and expression.

What about the role of the cerebellum in music-associated functional recovery? A secondary EEG analysis of a randomized clinical trial in patients with Parkinson disease.

Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) has been shown to be of help in an effective gait training of people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). The cerebellum may play an important role in RAS aftereffects by compensating the detrimental internal clock for automatic and rhythmic motricity. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying RAS aftereffects are still poorly understood.