Long-Term Survival of Methotrexate as First-Line Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Undifferentiated Arthritis.

: In the era of biotechnological drugs, methotrexate (MTX) still represents the first-line treatment in chronic inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and undifferentiated arthritis (UA). The aim of our study was to evaluate the persistence of MTX as a first-line treatment in a group of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis. : We conducted a retrospective analysis of a database of outpatients diagnosed with RA, PsA, or UA who visited our Rheumatology Clinic from January 2014 to January 2022.

Lower pain, less itching, and faster healing after ultrasound scalpel-assisted hemorrhoidectomy using an intimate cleaner containing chlorhexidine, acid hyaluronic acid, and natural anti-inflammatories: a multicenter observational case-control study.

Purpose: Postoperative pain is a major concern for patients undergoing ultrasound scalpel-assisted hemorrhoidectomy, potentially exacerbated by delayed wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an intimate cleansing gel containing chlorhexidine, hyaluronic acid, and other anti-inflammatory agents (Antroclean Fisioderm) on postoperative pain, itching, and wound healing in patients who had undergone this procedure.

Methods: This multicenter observational case-control study involved a cohort of consecutive adult patients who underwent hemorrhoidectomy using an ultrasound device.

Endotyping Chronic Respiratory Diseases: T2 Inflammation in the United Airways Model.

Over the past 15 years, the paradigm of viewing the upper and lower airways as a unified system has progressively shifted the approach to chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). As the global prevalence of CRDs continues to increase, it becomes evident that acknowledging the presence of airway pathology as an integrated entity could profoundly impact healthcare resource allocation and guide the implementation of pharmacological and rehabilitation strategies. In the era of precision medicine, endotyping has emerged as another novel approach to CRDs, whereby pathologies are categorized into distinct subtypes based on specific molecular mechanisms.

Pulmonary rehabilitation and endothelial function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction, thereby leading to increased cardiovascular risk. In the present study, we evaluated the changes in endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in a cohort of severe COPD patients undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation.

Methods: Consecutive COPD patients referred to our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit were screened for inclusion.

Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Two Underutilized Approaches with Some Unexpected Benefits.

Although still underutilized [...

Poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) Tri-Block Copolymer as Quercetin Delivery System for Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells: Synthesis, Characterization and In Vitro Study.

Quercetin is a hydrophobic molecule with short blood circulation times and instability. The development of a nano-delivery system formulation of quercetin may increase its bioavailability, resulting in greater tumor suppressing effects. Triblock ABA type polycaprolactone-polyethylenglycol- polycaprolactone (PCL-PEG-PCL) copolymers have been synthetized using ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone from PEG diol.

Implementing Translational Research to Understand the Future of COVID-19 and Its Long-Term Consequences: A Degrowth Perspective or the Transformation of a Global Emergency?

It has now been three years since the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first gave rise to a global health crisis [...

Highly potent and selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibition by new, simple heteroaryl-substituted catechols for treatment of inflammation.

5-Lipoxygenase (LO) catalyzes the first steps in the formation of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes (LT) that are pivotal lipid mediators contributing to allergic reactions and inflammatory disorders. Based on its key role in LT biosynthesis, 5-LO is an attractive drug target, demanding for effective and selective inhibitors with efficacy in vivo, which however, are still rare. Encouraged by the recent identification of the catechol 4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)dibenzofuran 1 as 5-LO inhibitor, simple structural modifications were made to yield even more effective and selective catechol derivatives.

Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Short-Term Variability and Potential Clinical Implications.

Background: The use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) has been proposed for identifying and monitoring eosinophilic airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To explore the clinical utility of FeNO in COPD, we aimed to assess its short-term variability in a clinically stable COPD cohort.

Methods: Consecutive COPD patients, formerly smokers, underwent FeNO assessment at the baseline and six time-points through serial sampling spaced 3 days apart.

Is It All about Endothelial Dysfunction? Focusing on the Alteration in Endothelial Integrity as a Key Determinant of Different Pathological Mechanisms.

The endothelium is composed of a monolayer of endothelial cells (ECs) covering the inner side of arterial, venous and lymphatic vessels [...

Evidence for a genetic contribution to the ossification of spinal ligaments in Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament and Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: A narrative review.

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) and Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL) are common disorders characterized by the ossification of spinal ligaments. The cause for this ossification is currently unknown but a genetic contribution has been hypothesized. Over the last decade, many studies on the genetics of ectopic calcification disorders have been performed, mainly on OPLL.

A machine learning approach to characterize patients with asthma exacerbation attending an acute care setting.

Background: One of the main problems in poorly controlled asthma is the access to the Emergency Department (ED). Using a machine learning (ML) approach, the aim of our study was to identify the main predictors of severe asthma exacerbations requiring hospital admission.

Methods: Consecutive patients with asthma exacerbation were screened for inclusion within 48 hours of ED discharge.

Mechanisms and Clinical Implications of Endothelial Dysfunction in Arterial Hypertension.

The endothelium is composed of a monolayer of endothelial cells, lining the interior surface of blood and lymphatic vessels. Endothelial cells display important homeostatic functions, since they are able to respond to humoral and hemodynamic stimuli. Thus, endothelial dysfunction has been proposed as a key and early pathogenic mechanism in many clinical conditions.

Deconditioning in COVID-19 survivors with reduced exercise performance: A role for endothelial dysfunction?

Recent studies have reported an impaired exercise response at cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) during convalescence from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In detail, these previous reports suggest the presence of functional limitations in a consistent proportion of COVID-19 survivors, in the absence of relevant alterations of ventilatory and gas exchange parameters at CPET. Therefore, deconditioning has been proposed as the main mechanism of the reduced peak oxygen uptake in this clinical setting.

Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients Recovering from Severe COVID-19: A Case Series.

: Neurological manifestations have been reported in a significant proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and severity of peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement in a large group of convalescent COVID-19 patients undergoing in-hospital multidisciplinary rehabilitation. : Convalescent COVID-19 patients admitted to a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit were consecutively screened for inclusion within 48 h of discharge from an acute care setting.

Redox Homeostasis in Cardiovascular Disease: The Role of Mitochondrial Sirtuins.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite successful advances in both pharmacological and lifestyle strategies to fight well-established risk factors, the burden of CVD is still increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to further deepen our knowledge of the pathogenesis of the disease for developing novel therapies to limit even more its related morbidity and mortality.

A Machine Learning Approach to Predict the Rehabilitation Outcome in Convalescent COVID-19 Patients.

Background: After the acute disease, convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients may experience several persistent manifestations that require multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). By using a machine learning (ML) approach, we aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics predicting the effectiveness of PR, expressed by an improved performance at the 6-min walking test (6MWT).

Methods: Convalescent COVID-19 patients referring to a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit were consecutively screened.

Cognitive Impairment in Convalescent COVID-19 Patients Undergoing Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation: The Association with the Clinical and Functional Status.

Background: Cognitive impairment has been reported in the aftermath of severe acute respiratory syndrome due to coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We investigated the possible association between cognitive impairment and the main clinical and functional status variables in a cohort of convalescent COVID-19 patients without premorbid diseases potentially affecting cognition.

Methods: We consecutively screened for inclusion of convalescent COVID-19 patients referring to a post-acute care facility for pulmonary rehabilitation.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Performance and Endothelial Function in Convalescent COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction has been proposed as the common pathogenic background of most manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Among these, some authors also reported an impaired exercise response during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). We aimed to explore the potential association between endothelial dysfunction and the reduced CPET performance in COVID-19 survivors.

Metabolomics of COPD Pulmonary Rehabilitation Outcomes via Exhaled Breath Condensate.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by different phenotypes and clinical presentations. Therefore, a single strategy of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) does not always yield the expected clinical outcomes as some individuals respond excellently, others discreetly, or do not respond at all. Fifty consecutive COPD patients were enrolled.

Endothelial Dysfunction: From a Pathophysiological Mechanism to a Potential Therapeutic Target.

The endothelium is considered the largest organ of the body, composed of a monolayer of endothelial cells (ECs) lining the interior surface of blood and lymphatic vessels [...

COVID-19 and Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome: From Pathophysiology to Novel Translational Applications.

In late 2019, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) gave rise to a public health emergency, culminating in the declaration of a pandemic in March 2020 [...