"Intrableb pigmentation following XEN implantation: A case series".

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and to describe the characteristics of the intrableb pigmentation (IBP) following XEN63 implantation.

Methods: Retrospective case series of three eyes presenting a pigment dispersion in the filtering bleb after a XEN63 implantation for uncontrolled IOP. Demographic, clinical and imaging data were obtained from medical records.

Italian XEN-Glaucoma Treatment Registry (XEN-GTR): Effectiveness and Safety at 36 Months of XEN45 Implant.

: We evaluated the 3-year effectiveness and safety of XEN45, combined or not with phacoemulsification, in patients from the Italian XEN-Glaucoma Treatment Registry. : Data from glaucoma patients who underwent XEN45 alone or combined with phacoemulsification were analyzed. Changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of ocular hypotensive medications (OHMs) were tested with repeated measures ANOVA in last observation carried forward (LOCF) and per-protocol (PP) analyses.

Convolutional neural networks for automatic MR classification of myocardial iron overload in thalassemia major patients.

Objectives: To develop a deep-learning model for supervised classification of myocardial iron overload (MIO) from magnitude T2* multi-echo MR images.

Materials And Methods: Eight hundred twenty-three cardiac magnitude T2* multi-slice, multi-echo MR images from 496 thalassemia major patients (285 females, 57%), labeled for MIO level (normal: T2* > 20 ms, moderate: 10 ≤ T2* ≤ 20 ms, severe: T2* < 10 ms), were retrospectively studied. Two 2D convolutional neural networks (CNN) developed for multi-slice (MS-HippoNet) and single-slice (SS-HippoNet) analysis were trained using 5-fold cross-validation.

Minimally invasive ultrasound-assisted evacuation of Spontaneous Supratentorial Intracerebral hemorrhages: Retrospective observational single-cohort study.

Objective: To assess safety and efficacy of minimally invasive evacuation of Spontaneous Supratentorial Intracerebral Hemorrhage (SSICH) by means of tailored minicraniotomies and intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) assistance.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 55 patients who underwent microsurgical evacuation of SSICH using minicraniotomy and iUS assistance, between January 2015 and January 2022. Surgical complications, mortality rate, recurrent bleeding, percentage of hematoma evacuation and reliability of iUS were collected and investigated.

Audiological and Vestibular Follow-Up for Children with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: From Current Limitations to Future Directions.

Currently, the guidelines for audiological and vestibular follow-up in children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) are not well-defined. The general recommendation is to evaluate hearing in all children with congenital CMV at the same intervals: once every 3-6 months up to 1 year of age, once every 6 months from 1 to 3 years of age, and once a year from 3 to 6 years of age. Additionally, there are no universally accepted protocols for the vestibular follow-up of children with congenital CMV, although video head impulse test (v-HIT) and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) are sometimes used.

CTA-based 3D virtual model for preoperative simulation and intraoperative neuronavigation in the surgical treatment of distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms.

Objective: This study aims to assess the efficacy and limitations of Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA)-based 3D virtual models for preoperative simulation and intraoperative neuronavigation in the surgical treatment of Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery (DACA) Aneurysms.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted, analyzing patients who underwent surgical clipping of DACA aneurysms via an interhemispheric approach from 2016 to 2022. Outcomes measured included qualitative analyses of 3D reconstructions against actual intraoperative anatomy, neuronavigator accuracy, 6-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS), complete exclusion rates, and surgical complications.

Comparison of 2D Shear Wave Elastography and Transient Elastography in Non-Invasive Evaluation of Liver Fibrosis in Hepatitis C Virus-Related Chronic Liver Disease.

Transient Elastography (TE) is widely regarded as the most reliable non-invasive method for evaluating liver fibrosis. Recently, new techniques such as 2D Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) have been developed. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between TE and 2D-SWE in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and to redefine the cut-off values of 2D-SWE for predicting different stages of fibrosis based on our results.

Posner-Schlossman Syndrome European Study Group: study protocol and baseline patients characteristics of a multicentre study.

Background: The aim of the Posner-Schlossman Syndrome European Study Group (PSS-ESG) is to acquire a comprehensive dataset of European patients with PSS. Here, we present the first report on the study protocol and the clinical findings of the patients at baseline.

Methods: The PSS-ESG is a retrospective, multicentre study designed to evaluate patients with PSS.

Ocular Tics and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS).

Little is known about ocular tics in Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS). In this retrospective study, we examined the clinical records of children with motor tics referred to the Ophthalmology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Sassari, Italy, in 2010-2019. The presence of ocular tics was investigated.

The Genetic Landscape of Systemic Rheumatic Diseases: A Comprehensive Multigene-Panel Study Identifying Key Gene Polymorphisms.

Systemic rheumatic diseases, including conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, represent a complex array of autoimmune disorders characterized by chronic inflammation and diverse clinical manifestations. This study focuses on unraveling the genetic underpinnings of these diseases by examining polymorphisms in key genes related to their pathology. Utilizing a comprehensive genetic analysis, we have documented the involvement of these genetic variations in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases.

Multidisciplinary Management of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Scalp: An Algorithm for Reconstruction and Treatment.

: Scalp-associated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) presents formidable treatment challenges, especially when it leads to full-thickness defects involving bone. Aggressive or recurring cases often demand a multidisciplinary approach. Leveraging our surgical experience and a literature review, we introduce a therapeutic algorithm to guide the selection of reconstruction methods, particularly for locally advanced lesions, furthermore showing the synergy between surgery and other therapies for comprehensive, multidisciplinary disease management.

Left atrial strain in patients with β-thalassemia major: a cross-sectional CMR study.

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association of left atrial (LA) strain parameters with demographics, clinical data, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) findings, and cardiac complications (heart failure and arrhythmias) in a cohort of patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM).

Materials And Methods: We considered 264 β-TM patients (133 females, 36.79 ± 11.

Stereotactic placement of dual lumen catheter system for continuous drainage, irrigation, and intraventricular antibiotic therapy for treatment of brain abscess with ventriculitis - A case report and literature review.

Background: Cerebral abscesses complicated by ventriculitis present significant treatment challenges, often associated with high morbidity and mortality. Traditional management approaches, including systemic antibiotic therapy and external ventricular drainage (EVD), face limitations due to the blood-brain barrier and risks of catheter-related complications. This report discusses a case where the dual-lumen catheter system, an innovative neurosurgical tool integrating continuous irrigation with drainage, was employed.

Characteristics and outcome of anti-hepatitis D virus positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) often leads to end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Comprehensive data pertaining to large populations with HDV and HCC are missing, therefore we sought to assess the characteristics, management, and outcome of these patients, comparing them to patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: We analysed the Italian Liver Cancer database focusing on patients with positivity for HBV surface antigen and anti-HDV antibodies (HBV/HDV, n = 107) and patients with HBV infection alone (n = 588).

p16 Expression in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Surrogate or Independent Prognostic Marker?

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignancy that, despite scientific advancements, has not seen an improvement in its prognosis in the last decades. Few promising predictive markers have been found and none are relevant in clinical practice. p16, an oncosuppressor protein involved in cell cycle arrest, with a prognostic impact on other cancers, has been widely used in the head and neck region as a surrogate marker of HPV infection.

Association between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and peripheral endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The identification of circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (ED), a precursor to atherosclerosis, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) would facilitate early risk stratification and prevention strategies. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has emerged as a potential biomarker of oxidative stress, ischemia, and ED. However, studies examining the relationship between IMA and ED in RA patients are lacking.

Enterobacterales carrying chromosomal AmpC β-lactamases in Europe (EuESCPM): Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance burden from a cohort of 27 hospitals, 2020-2022.

Introduction: The ESCPM group (Enterobacter species including Klebsiella aerogenes - formerly Enterobacter aerogenes, Serratia species, Citrobacter freundii complex, Providencia species and Morganella morganii) has not yet been incorporated into systematic surveillance programs.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational study analysing all ESCPM strains isolated from blood cultures in 27 European hospitals over a 3-year period (2020-2022). Diagnostic approach, epidemiology, and antimicrobial susceptibility were investigated.

Pedicled multifidus muscle flaps to treat dural tears due to penetrating spinal stab wounds: Two case reports and a literature review.

Background: Penetrating spinal injuries occasionally lead to dural tears (DT) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks that risk both infectious and neurological complications. Here, we reviewed two cases and the literature regarding the safety/efficacy and limitations of repairing traumatic DT utilizing pedicled multifidus muscle flaps.

Case Description: Two males, ages 73 and 50, presented with Brown-Sequard syndromes and DT/CSF fistulas attributed to knife-induced spinal injuries at the D3-D4 and D11-D12 levels.

Sorafenib and Metronomic Capecitabine in Child-Pugh B patients with advanced HCC: A real-life comparison with best supportive care.

Background And Aims: The efficacy of systemic therapy for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) has not been proven in patients with Child-Pugh (C-P) B cirrhosis. Nevertheless, in real-world these patients are treated both with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and with metronomic capecitabine (MC). This study aimed to compare sorafenib and MC outcomes versus best supportive care (BSC) in C-P B patients.

Remnant cholesterol as a new lipid-lowering target to reduce cardiovascular events.

Purpose Of Review: Remnant cholesterol has become increasingly recognized as a direct contributor to the development of atherosclerosis and as an additional marker of cardiovascular risk. This review aims to summarize the pathophysiological mechanisms, and the current evidence base from epidemiological investigations and genetic studies that support a causal link between remnant cholesterol and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Current and novel therapeutic approaches to target remnant cholesterol are discussed.