Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidases and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by lipid accumulation in the liver due to an excess in their supplies or an impairment in their management. While some patients remain stable for years, a proportion of them progress up to steatohepatitis (MASH). MASLD links with systemic pathways being associated with metabolic and non-metabolic diseases.

High Field MRI in Parotid Gland Tumors: A Diagnostic Algorithm.

Imaging of parotid tumors is crucial for surgery planning, but it cannot distinguish malignant from benign lesions with absolute reliability. The aim of the study was to establish a diagnostic MRI algorithm to differentiate parotid tumors. A retrospective study was conducted including all patients with parotid tumors, who underwent 3T-MRI and surgery.

Wolbachia-Based Approaches to Controlling Mosquito-Borne Viral Threats: Innovations, AI Integration, and Future Directions in the Context of Climate Change.

Wolbachia-based mosquito control strategies have gained significant attention as a sustainable approach to reduce the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. These endosymbiotic bacteria can limit the ability of mosquitoes to transmit pathogens, offering a promising alternative to traditional chemical-based interventions. With the growing impact of climate change on mosquito population dynamics and disease transmission, Wolbachia interventions represent an adaptable and resilient strategy for mitigating the public health burden of vector-borne diseases.

Gut TLRs and IFN pathways mRNA expression and frequencies of CD4T cell expressing CD38 or HLA-DR go in parallel during HIV immunopathogenesis.

While much is known about the expression of interferon (IFN) pathways in the blood of people living with HIV (PLWH), their role in the intesinal tract has only recently been appreciated. The aim of this study was to evaluate gut mRNA expression levels of innate immune genes involved in the HIV-host interaction and their association with CD4T cell immune activation in long-term HAART-experienced PLWH. PLWH had increased intestinal levels of TLR4, type I IFN (IFN-α2, IFN-α14, IFN-β) and IFNAR1 mRNAs, as well as increased frequencies of CD4T lymphocytes expressing CD38 or HLA-DR compared to the healthy donors.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in women: A forgotten cardiovascular risk factor.

Sleep-disordered breathing is a highly prevalent disorder with negative impact on healthcare systems worldwide. This condition has detrimental effects on cardiovascular health and quality of life, and is frequently associated with a variety of comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, heart failure, diabetes and atrial fibrillation. Nevertheless, it remains frequently undiagnosed and undertreated, especially in specific populations.

National survey on the prevalence of single-gene aetiologies for genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathies in Italy.

Background: We aimed to estimate real-world evidence of the prevalence rate of genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) in the Italian population over a 11-year period.

Methods: Fifteen paediatric and adult tertiary Italian epilepsy centres participated in a survey related to 98 genes included in the molecular diagnostic workflows of most centres. We included patients with a clinical diagnosis of DEE, caused by a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in one of the selected genes, with a molecular diagnosis established between 2012 and 2022.

Symptom profile, case and symptom clustering, clinical and demographic characteristics of a multicentre cohort of 1297 patients evaluated for Long-COVID.

Background: Long-COVID symptoms remain incompletely defined due to a large heterogeneity in the populations studied, case definitions, and settings of care. The aim of this study was to assess, in patients accessing care for Long-COVID, the profile of symptoms reported, the possible clustering of symptoms and cases, the functional status compared to pre-infection, and the impact on working activity.

Methods: Multicentre cohort study with a collection of both retrospective and prospective data.

Efficacy of fosfomycin-containing regimens in treating severe infections caused by KPC-producing klebsiella pneumoniae and carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumannii in critically ill patients.

Background: Fosfomycin (FOS) is gaining increasing importance as part of combination therapy for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp), thanks to its in vitro synergism with several antibiotics, high tissue distribution and good tolerability. We analyzed the effect on 30-day survival of FOS-containing regimens compared to non-FOS-containing regimens in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit with CRAB or KPC-Kp infections. Secondary objectives were to evaluate clinical cure and microbiologic eradication in the FOS vs.

Reassessing the Risk of Severe Parvovirus B19 Infection in the Immunocompetent Population: A Call for Vigilance in the Wake of Resurgence.

Despite Parvovirus B19 (B19V) generally causing mild or asymptomatic infections, and only certain high-risk groups such as hematological or immunocompromised patients and pregnant women tending to develop complications, several factors challenge the assumption of a "benign" clinical course in immunocompetent adults and adolescents. A significant proportion of the population may harbor undiagnosed health conditions or genetic predispositions that could render them more susceptible to severe B19V complications. These could include mild hematological disorders, immune dysregulation not resulting in overt immunodeficiency, or underlying cardiac conditions.

Testing calpain inhibition in tumor endothelial cells: novel targetable biomarkers against glioblastoma malignancy.

Introduction: Glioblastoma -wildtype (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor in adults, with a poor prognosis of approximately 15 months after diagnosis. Most patients suffer from a recurrence in <1 year, and this renders GBM a life-threatening challenge. Among molecular mechanisms driving GBM aggressiveness, angiogenesis mediated by GBM endothelial cells (GECs) deserves consideration as a therapeutic turning point.

Short Course Antibiotic Therapy for Catheter-Related Septic Thrombosis: "Caveat Emptor!": Duration of Therapy Should Not Be Set .

There is a growing body of evidence showing no significant difference in clinical outcomes in patients with uncomplicated Gram-negative bloodstream infections (BSIs) receiving 7 or 14 days of therapy. However, the scenario may differ when complicated forms of BSI, such as catheter-related BSIs (CRBSIs) burdened by septic thrombosis (ST), are considered. A recent study showed that a short course of antimicrobial therapy (≤3 weeks) had similar outcomes to a prolonged course on CRBSI-ST.

Risk of venous thromboembolism and arterial events in patients with hypoalbuminemia: a comprehensive meta-analysis of more than 2 million patients.

Background: Albumin has antiplatelet and anticoagulant functions. Hypoalbuminemia, as defined by serum values of <3.5 g/dL, is associated with arterial thrombosis; its impact on venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unclear.

The diagnostic and prognostic role of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in glucose transporter 1 deficiency: a systematic review.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in the diagnostic work-up of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) deficiency. Reported here is a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines collecting clinical and biochemical data about all published patients who underwent CSF analysis. Clinical phenotypes were compared between groups defined by the levels of CSF glucose (≤ 2.

The influence of wakefulness fluctuations on brain networks involved in centrotemporal spike occurrence.

Objective: Drowsiness has been implicated in the modulation of centro-temporal spikes (CTS) in Self-limited epilepsy with Centro-Temporal Spikes (SeLECTS). Here, we explore this relationship and whether fluctuations in wakefulness influence the brain networks involved in CTS generation.

Methods: Functional MRI (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) was simultaneously acquired in 25 SeLECTS.

More early bleeds associated with high baseline direct oral anticoagulant levels in atrial fibrillation: the MAS study.

Treatment with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is effective and safe. However, bleeding complications still occur. Whether DOAC level measurement may further improve treatment efficacy and safety is still an open issue.

Impact of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and heat-not-burn/heated tobacco products (HnB/HTP) on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a viewpoint of the Italian Society of Internal Medicine.

The association of cigarette smoking with several severe and very severe diseases (oncological, cardiovascular, respiratory) which have dramatic epidemiological, medical, and financial impact, is a well-known public threat. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are highly prevalent diseases in Italy, posing significant public health challenges. Tobacco smoking, a primary risk factor for COPD and a common asthma trigger, remains a critical preventable public health issue.

MR-Neurography of the facial nerve in parotid tumors: intra-parotid nerve visualization and surgical correlation.

Purpose: One of the most severe complications in surgery of parotid tumors is facial palsy. Imaging of the intra-parotid facial nerve is challenging due to small dimensions. Our aim was to assess, in patients with parotid tumors, the ability of high-resolution 3D double-echo steady-state sequence with water excitation (DE3D-WE) (1) to visualize the extracranial facial nerve and its tracts, (2) to evaluate their relationship to the parotid lesion and (3) to compare MRI and surgical findings.

Hypoalbuminemia as predictor of thrombotic events in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Hypoalbuminemia complicates acute diseases and infections and is associated with a worst prognosis. The aim is to evaluate whether hypoalbuminemia is associated with higher incidence and risk of thrombotic events in community-acquired pneumonia.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from a prospective study investigating the incidence of thrombotic events in community-acquired pneumonia hospitalized patients from 2011 to 2016 at University-Hospital Policlinico Umberto I.

Thrombotic events associated with low baseline direct oral anticoagulant levels in atrial fibrillation: the MAS study.

Although effective and safe, treatment with direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) in atrial fibrillation (AF) is still associated with thrombotic complications. Whether the measurement of DOAC levels may improve treatment efficacy is an open issue. We carried out the observational, prospective, multicenter Measure and See (MAS) study.