Hypoparathyroidism in adults with iron overload diseases (IOD): evidence of a subclinical phenotype.

Purpose: To explore the prevalence of hypoparathyroidism (HPT), overt and subclinical, in a cohort of adults with Iron Overload Diseases (IOD). Secondary aim was to test the calcium (Ca)-to-phosphorus (P) ratio performance in identifying HPT.

Methods: Single-center, prospective, case-control study.

"Management of andrological disorders from childhood and adolescence to transition age: guidelines from the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) in collaboration with the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (SIEDP)-Part-1".

Purpose: Andrological pathologies in the adulthood are often the results of conditions that originate during childhood and adolescence and sometimes even during gestation and neonatal period. Unfortunately, the reports in the literature concerning pediatric andrological diseases are scares and mainly concerning single issues. Furthermore, no shared position statement are so far available.

Evaluation of ChatGPT as a Counselling Tool for Italian-Speaking MASLD Patients: Assessment of Accuracy, Completeness and Comprehensibility.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots have shown promise in providing counseling to patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). While ChatGPT3.5 has demonstrated the ability to comprehensively answer MASLD-related questions in English, its accuracy remains suboptimal.

The mechanics of the collateral ligaments in the metacarpophalangeal joints: A scoping review.

Background: The metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint's collateral ligaments have been extensively debated, with no clear consensus on their mechanics. Understanding their function is crucial for comprehending joint movement and stability.

Methods: A thorough search was conducted across databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library and grey literature.

Effectiveness of patients' involvement in a medical and nursing pain education programme: a protocol for an open-label randomised controlled trial including qualitative data.

Introduction: Pain is a multidimensional experience that varies among individuals and has a significant impact on their health. A biopsychosocial approach is recommended for effective pain management; however, health professionals' education is weak on this issue. Patient involvement is a promising didactic methodology in developing a more holistic perspective, however there is a lack of reliable evidence on this topic.

A Population-Based and Clinical Cohort Validation of the Novel Consensus Definition of Metabolic Hyperferritinemia.

Context: There is limited data on the clinical significance of metabolic hyperferritinemia (MHF) based on the most recent consensus.

Objective: We aimed to validate the clinical outcomes of MHF in the general population and patients with biopsy-proven metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

Methods: The NHANES database and PERSONS cohort were included.

Haemochromatosis in children: A national retrospective cohort promoted by the A.I.E.O.P. (Associazione Italiana Emato-Oncologia Pediatrica) study group.

Haemochromatosis (HC) encompasses a range of genetic disorders. HFE-HC is by far the most common in adults, while non-HFE types are rare due to mutations of HJV, HAMP, TFR2 and gain-of-function mutations of SLC40A1. HC is often unknown to paediatricians as it is usually asymptomatic in childhood.

Application of calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca/P) ratio in the diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism: another piece in the puzzle of diagnosis of Ca-P metabolism disorders.

Objective: The serum calcium (Ca)-to-phosphorus (P) ratio has been proposed to identify patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and chronic hypoparathyroidism (HPT), but it has never been tested in pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP). The aim of this study was to test the performance of Ca/P ratio in PHP diagnosis compared with that in healthy subjects and patients with HPT for differential diagnosis.

Design: A retrospective, cross-sectional, and observational study was carried out.

Survival advantage of treosulfan plus fludarabine (FT14) compared to busulfan plus fludarabine (FB4) in active acute myeloid leukemia post allogeneic transplantation: an analysis from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Acute Leukemia Working Party (ALWP).

We compared FT14 (fludarabine 150-160 mg/m, treosulfan 42 g/m) versus FB4 (fludarabine 150-160 mg/m, busulfan 12.8 mg/kg) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transplanted at primary refractory/relapsed disease. We retrospectively studied: (a) adults diagnosed with AML, (b) recipients of first allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from unrelated/sibling donor (2010-2020), (c) HSCT with primary refractory/relapsed disease, (d) conditioning regimen with FT14 or FB4.

Age at diagnosis influences the clinical phenotype, treatment strategies and outcomes in patients with giant cell arteritis: results from the observational GCAGE study on a large cohort of 1004 patients.

Background: Immune and vascular ageing are proposed risk factors for giant cell arteritis (GCA). Data on the impact of age at diagnosis of GCA on the clinical presentation and course of the disease are scarce.

Methods: Patients with GCA followed at referral centres within the Italian Society of Rheumatology Vasculitis Study Group were enrolled up to November 2021.

Consensus Statement on the definition and classification of metabolic hyperferritinaemia.

Hyperferritinaemia is a common laboratory finding that is often associated with metabolic dysfunction and fatty liver. Metabolic hyperferritinaemia reflects alterations in iron metabolism that facilitate iron accumulation in the body and is associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic and liver diseases. Genetic variants that modulate iron homeostasis and tissue levels of iron are the main determinants of serum levels of ferritin in individuals with metabolic dysfunction, raising the hypothesis that iron accumulation might be implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and the related organ damage.

Labile plasma iron and echocardiographic parameters are associated with cardiac events in β-thalassemic patients.

Background And Aim: Notwithstanding the improvement in therapies, patients affected by thalassemia major (TM) and intermedia (TI) are still at high risk of cardiac complications. This study aimed at evaluating the incidence and predictive factors for developing cardiac events in adult β-TM and TI patients.

Population And Methods: Data on diagnosis and clinical history were collected retrospectively; prospective data on new-onset cardiac failure and arrhythmias, echocardiographic parameters, biochemical variables including non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) and labile plasma iron (LPI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* measurement of hepatic and cardiac iron deposits, and iron chelation therapy were recorded during a 6-year follow-up.

Iron in Porphyrias: Friend or Foe?

Iron is a trace element that is important for many vital processes, including oxygen transport, oxidative metabolism, cellular proliferation, and catalytic reactions. Iron supports these functions mainly as part of the heme molecule. Heme synthesis is an eight-step process which, when defective at the level of one of the eight enzymes involved, can cause the development of a group of diseases, either inherited or acquired, called porphyrias.

Is the use of fully covered metal stents effective in the treatment of difficult lithiasis of the common bile duct?

Background: The management of difficult lithiasis of common bile duct (CBD) often requires a multimodal approach. Fully Covered Metal Stents (FCSEMS) could fragment the stones, dilate strictures of the CBD and progressively enlarge the papillary orifice. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of FCSEMS in the treatment of difficult lithiasis of CBD.

Ceruloplasmin gene variants are associated with hyperferritinemia and increased liver iron in patients with NAFLD.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifactorial disorder resulting from genetic and environmental factors. Hyperferritinemia has been associated with increased hepatic iron stores and worse outcomes in patients with NAFLD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of variants of iron-related genes and their association with hyperferritinemia, hepatic iron stores and liver disease severity in patients with NAFLD.

Combinations in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic renal cell cancer: regulatory aspects.

The therapeutic landscape in the treatment of advanced/metastatic renal cell cancer has evolved over the last 2 years with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In 2018 and 2019, marketing authorisations valid throughout the European Union were issued for nivolumab and ipilimumab dual checkpoint inhibition and pembrolizumab or avelumab in combination with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor axitinib. These applications presented numerous regulatory challenges.

Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy: an expert consensus.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful biomarker of bacterial infection and its use is associated to reduced duration of antibiotic therapy in the setting of intensive care medicine. To address the need of practical guidance for the use of PCT in various clinical settings, a group of experts was invited to participate at a consensus process with the aims of defining the rationale for appropriate use of PCT and for improving the management of critically ill patients with sepsis.

Methods: A group of 14 experts from anesthesiology and critical care, infectious diseases, internal medicine, pulmonology, clinical microbiology, laboratory medicine, clinical pharmacology and methodology provided expert opinion through a modified Delphi process, after a comprehensive literature review.

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with bimanual technique: learning curve for an experienced cataract surgeon.

Purpose: To describe the intraoperative complications and the learning curve of microincision cataract surgery assisted by femtosecond laser (FLACS) with bimanual technique performed by an experienced surgeon.

Methods: It is a prospective, observational, comparative case series. A total of 120 eyes which underwent bimanual FLACS by the same experienced surgeon during his first experience were included in the study; we considered the first 60 cases as Group A and the second 60 cases as Group B.