Sex Differences in X-ray-Induced Endothelial Damage: Effect of Taurine and N-Acetylcysteine.

Ionizing radiation (IR) can induce some associated pathological conditions due to numerous cell damages. The influence of sex is scarcely known, and even less known is whether the effect of antioxidants is sex-dependent. Given the increased use of IR, we investigated whether male human umbilical vein endothelial cells (MHUVECs) and female human umbilical vein endothelial cells (FHUVECs) respond differently to IR exposure and whether the antioxidants 10 mM taurine (TAU) and 5 mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can prevent IR-induced damage in a sex-dependent way.

Smoking and combined oral contraceptives should be considered as an independent variable in sex and gender-oriented studies.

The influence of sex combined with smoking and combined oral contraceptives (COC) use on atherogenic indexes is scarcely studied. Thus, traditional lipid parameters were measured, and non-traditional atherogenic indexes were calculated in a young and healthy population of men, COC-free women, and COC users. Total cholesterol (TChol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and HDL/LDL ratio were lower in men, while triglycerides (TG)/HDL ratio, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli's Risk Index I (CRII) and CRI-II, atherogenic coefficient (AC), creatinine, creatinine clearance, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were higher in men.

Utility and Feasibility of a Low-Cost System to Simulate Clipping Strategy for Cerebral Aneurysms Using Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography with Virtual Craniotomy.

Objective: To assess utility and feasibility of a low-cost system to simulate clipping strategy for cerebral aneurysms using patient-specific surgically oriented three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography angiography with virtual craniotomy.

Methods: From 2017 to 2021, 53 consecutive patients scheduled for aneurysm clipping underwent preoperative planning using 3D computed tomography angiography with virtual craniotomy. The model was oriented in the surgical position to observe the anatomy through surgical corridors.

Relationship between Biofilm-Formation, Phenotypic Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The formation of a protective biofilm by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is one of the hallmarks of their survival both in vivo and in harsh environmental conditions, thus, biofilm-eradication has relevance from therapeutic perspectives and for infection control. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible relationship between antibiotic resistance, biofilm-forming capacity and virulence factors in n = 166 PA isolates of environmental origin. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the phenotypic detection of resistance determinants were carried out using standard protocols.

Evaluating the impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting on daily functioning in patients receiving dexamethasone-sparing antiemetic regimens with NEPA (netupitant/palonosetron) in the cisplatin setting: results from a randomized phase 3 study.

Background: The non-inferiority of dexamethasone (DEX) on day 1, with or without low-dose DEX on days 2 and 3, combined with oral NEPA (netupitant/palonosetron), compared with the guideline-consistent use of DEX was demonstrated in cisplatin. Here, we complete the analysis by assessing the impact of emesis on daily lives of patients receiving DEX-sparing regimens using the Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE).

Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patients undergoing cisplatin (≥70 mg/m), were given NEPA and DEX (12 mg) on day 1 and randomized to receive either 1) no further DEX (DEX1), 2) oral DEX (4 mg daily) on days 2-3 (DEX3), or 3) DEX (4 mg twice daily) on days 2-4 (DEX4; control).

Potential feasibility of atezolizumab-bevacizumab therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors.

Background: The combination of atezolizumab-bevacizumab has been proven to be superior to sorafenib for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma not amenable to locoregional treatments, becoming the standard of care of systemic therapy.

Aim: This study aimed at assessing real-world feasibility of atezolizumab-bevacizumab in patients treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors.

Methods: Among 1447 patients treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors from January 2010 to December 2020, we assessed the percentage of those potentially eligible to atezolizumab-bevacizumab (according to IMbrave-150 trial criteria), and the overall survival of eligible and non-eligible patients.

Clinical Validation of a Deep-Learning Segmentation Software in Head and Neck: An Early Analysis in a Developing Radiation Oncology Center.

Background: Organs at risk (OARs) delineation is a crucial step of radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning workflow. Time-consuming and inter-observer variability are main issues in manual OAR delineation, mainly in the head and neck (H & N) district. Deep-learning based auto-segmentation is a promising strategy to improve OARs contouring in radiotherapy departments.

Gender Differences in Knowledge and Perception of Cardiovascular Disease among Italian Thalassemia Major Patients.

We evaluated gender differences in knowledge and perception of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Italian thalassemia major (TM) patients. An anonymous questionnaire was completed by 139 β-TM patients (87 (62.7%) females, 40.

Use of cangrelor in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Study design and interim analysis of the ARCANGELO study.

Background: The itAlian pRospective Study on CANGrELOr (ARCANGELO) was aimed to assess the safety of using cangrelor during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the daily practice.

Hypothesis: The safety of cangrelor after the transition to oral P2Y12 inhibitors was evaluated as the incidence of bleeding outcomes in the 30 days following PCI according to postauthorization safety study guidelines.

Methods: Adults with ACS who were treated with cangrelor in one of the 28 centers involved in the study.

Atypical and aggressive diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor in a young adult: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: DLGNT is a rare tumor, commonly diagnosed in pediatric age; in most cases, the pathology presents a slow and indolent evolution. We present a case report of a young adult affected by DLGNT characterized by aggressive and atypical behavior.

Case Description: A 21-year-old male presented with mild paraparesis and hypoesthesia with a D2 level.

Metaproteomic Profile of the Colonic Luminal Microbiota From Patients With Colon Cancer.

Recent studies have provided evidence of interactions among the gut microbiota (GM), local host immune cells, and intestinal tissues in colon carcinogenesis. However, little is known regarding the functions exerted by the GM in colon cancer (CC), particularly with respect to tumor clinical classification and lymphocyte infiltration. In addition, stool, usually employed as a proxy of the GM, cannot fully represent the original complexity of CC microenvironment.

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial and Antivirulent Potential of Essential Oils Isolated from L. ssp. Aerial Parts.

As a consequence of the worsening situation with multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens and a disparity in the commercialization of novel antimicrobial agents, scientists have been prompted to seek out new compounds with antimicrobial activity from a wide range of sources, including medicinal plants. In the present study, the antibacterial, antifungal, anti-virulence, and resistance-modulating properties of the essential oil from the Sardinian endemic L. ssp.

No Correlation between Biofilm-Forming Capacity and Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental spp.: In Vitro Results.

The production of biofilms is a critical factor in facilitating the survival of Staphylococcus spp. in vivo and in protecting against various environmental noxa. The possible relationship between the antibiotic-resistant phenotype and biofilm-forming capacity has raised considerable interest.

Clinical-Genetic Features Influencing Disability in Spastic Paraplegia Type 4: A Cross-sectional Study by the Italian DAISY Network.

Background And Objectives: Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of inherited rare neurologic disorders characterized by length-dependent degeneration of the corticospinal tracts and dorsal columns, whose prominent clinical feature is represented by spastic gait. Spastic paraplegia type 4 (SPG4, SPAST-HSP) is the most common form. We present both clinical and molecular findings of a large cohort of patients, with the aim of (1) defining the clinical spectrum of SPAST-HSP in Italy; (2) describing their molecular features; and (3) assessing genotype-phenotype correlations to identify features associated with worse disability.

Characteristics and survival of patients with primary biliary cholangitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Comprehensive and contemporary data pertaining large populations of patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are missing.

Aim: To describe main characteristics and outcome of PBC patients with HCC diagnosed in the new millennium.

Methods: Analysing the Italian Liver Cancer registry we identified 80 PBC patients with HCC diagnosed after the year 2000, and described their clinical characteristics, access to treatment and survival.

[Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (SICI-GISE) Position paper: Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation].

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide. Thromboembolism from the left atrial appendage (LAA) is the most feared complication in patients with AF. The cornerstone for the management of AF is oral anticoagulation to reduce the incidence of cardioembolic stroke.

It is time to define an organizational model for the prevention and management of infections along the surgical pathway: a worldwide cross-sectional survey.

Background: The objectives of the study were to investigate the organizational characteristics of acute care facilities worldwide in preventing and managing infections in surgery; assess participants' perception regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, antibiotic prescribing practices, and source control; describe awareness about the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and IPC measures; and determine the role of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic on said awareness.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted contacting 1432 health care workers (HCWs) belonging to a mailing list provided by the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery. The self-administered questionnaire was developed by a multidisciplinary team.

Prevalence of HPV Infection and p16 Overexpression in Surgically Treated Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The mucosal high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with oropharyngeal carcinogenesis. Aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of HR-HPV infection in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) from different subsites, and the clinico-biological meaning of p16 overexpression. Ninety-seven LSCCs submitted to primary surgery ( = 75) or to post-irradiation salvage laryngectomy ( = 22) were evaluated for HR-HPV DNA and RNA using Luminex-based assays.

Clinical spectrum time course in non-Asian patients positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies.

Objectives: To define the clinical spectrum time-course and prognosis of non-Asian patients positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre, international, retrospective cohort study.

Results: 149 anti-MDA5 positive patients (median onset age 53 years, median disease duration 18 months), mainly females (100, 67%), were included.

Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Clinical Practice: Temporal Trends and Survival Outcomes of an Iterative Treatment.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one of the most frequently applied treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. In this study, we aimed at evaluating whether and how TACE application and repetition, as well as the related outcome, have changed over the last three decades in Italy.

Methods: Data of 7,184 patients with HCC were retrieved from the Italian Liver Cancer (ITA.