Case Report: 18F-FDG PET/CT for FUO Due to Whipple Disease Infection.

We present the case of a 60-year-old man admitted to the hospital presenting with high FUO (fever of unknown origin), strong headache, face erythematous-desquamative cutaneous lesions, long history of abdominal pain, and diffuse myalgia. He was also previously treated with immunosuppressants and currently managed with corticosteroids for a seronegative rheumatic disease. Given the immunocompromised state, an infective etiology was suspected.

Impact of attaining an aggressive PK/PD target with continuous infusion beta-lactams on the clinical efficacy of targeted therapy of early post-transplant Gram-negative infections in critically ill OLT recipients. An interim analysis of a 3-year prospective, observational, study.

Background: To assess the impact of attaining aggressive beta-lactam pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) targets on clinical efficacy in critical orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients with documented early Gram-negative infections.

Methods: OLT recipients admitted to the post-transplant ICU between June 2021 and May 2024 having documented Gram-negative infections treated with targeted therapy continuous infusion (CI) beta-lactams, and undergoing therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-guided beta-lactam dosing adjustment in the first 72 hours were prospectively enrolled. Free steady-state concentrations (fCss) of beta-lactams (BL) and/or of beta-lactamase inhibitors (BLI) were calculated, and aggressive PK/PD target attainment was measured.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake in PDGFRA-Mutant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.

Importance: The D842V platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRA) mutation identifies a molecular subgroup of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), primarily resistant to standard tyrosine kinase inhibitors and with an overall more indolent behavior. Although functional imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-labeled positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG-PET) plays a proven role in GISTs, especially in early assessment of tumor response, less is known about [18F]FDG uptake according to the GIST molecular subtypes.

Objective: To evaluate the degree of [18F]FDG uptake in PDGFRA-mutant GISTs and better define the role of functional imaging in this rare and peculiar subset of GISTs.

Capecitabine and temozolomide or temozolomide alone in patients with atypical carcinoids.

Background: Lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) represent about 20% of all lung cancers. Few therapeutic options are available for atypical carcinoids (ACs). Single-agent temozolomide (TEM) is active in lung NENs, but whether the addition of capecitabine (CAPTEM) is associated with improved outcomes, is unknown.

Evaluating [Ga]-Ga PSMA PET/CT for Detecting Prostate Cancer Recurrence Post-High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Brachytherapy: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Focal therapy offers a promising approach for treating localized prostate cancer (PC) with minimal invasiveness and potential cost benefits. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and brachytherapy (BT) are among these options but lack long-term efficacy data. Patient follow-ups typically use biopsies and multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), which often miss recurrences.

Computational Nuclear Oncology Toward Precision Radiopharmaceutical Therapies: Ethical, Regulatory, and Socioeconomic Dimensions of Theranostic Digital Twins.

Computational nuclear oncology for precision radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) is a new frontier for theranostic treatment personalization. A key strategy relies on the possibility to incorporate clinical, biomarker, image-based, and dosimetric information in theranostic digital twins (TDTs) of patients to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. The TDT framework enables treatment optimization by real-time monitoring of the real-world system, simulation of different treatment scenarios, and prediction of resulting treatment outcomes, as well as facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among health care professionals adopting a harmonized TDT.

Painful diabetic neuropathy is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging.

About one out of two diabetic patients develop diabetic neuropathy (DN), of these 20% experience neuropathic pain (NP) leading to individual, social, and health-economic burden. Risk factors for NP are largely unknown; however, premature aging was recently associated with several chronic pain disorders. DNA methylation-based biological age (DNAm) is associated with disease risk, morbidity, and mortality in different clinical settings.

CiThroModel Improves Prediction of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients With Cirrhosis Without Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a recognized complication of acutely ill patients, but its incidence and risk factors in those with cirrhosis are uncertain.

Methods: We retrospectively studied a consecutive cohort of cirrhosis patients non-electively admitted to our medical unit to determine the rates of symptomatic VTE during hospitalization. Firstly, we explored associations with baseline, clinical and laboratory characteristics using logistic regression.

Lymph Node Staging and Treatment in Pediatric Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Consensus Opinion from the Children's Oncology Group, European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group, and the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe.

Accurate staging of nodal involvement in pediatric sarcoma patients is important to determine correct systemic and local therapy, with the goal to reduce subsequent recurrences. However, differences in lymph node staging strategies, definitions, and treatment protocols between the Children's Oncology Group (COG), European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG), and the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe (CWS) complicate comparisons. In this article, we aim to establish internationally recognized recommendations for lymph node assessment and treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS) according to the Consensus Conference Standard Operating Procedure methodology.

Integrating BRCA testing into routine prostate cancer care: a multidisciplinary approach by SIUrO and other Italian Scientific Societies.

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks among the most prevalent malignancies in men, with notable associations to Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC) and Lynch Syndrome, both linked to germline likely pathogenetic variant/pathogenetic variant (LPV/PV) in genes involved in DNA repair. Among these genes, BRCA2 in PCa patients is the most frequently altered. Despite progresses, challenges in BRCA carriers detection persist, with a quarter of PCa cases lacking family history.

Is core decompression and bone marrow concentrate with demineralized bone matrix and platelet-rich fibrin suitable for treating femoral head osteonecrosis?

The aim of this article is to determine the safety and efficacy of core decompression (CD) combined with injection of autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC), demineralized bone matrix (DBM), and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) for treating femoral head osteonecrosis. Seventy-seven patients (53 males and 24 females) for a total of 87 hips were treated for hip osteonecrosis with CD combined with injection of autologous BMC, DBM, and PRF at Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute from September 2008 to December 2019. Patients were assessed at baseline, at 45 days, and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively.

Identification of PET/CT radiomic signature for classification of locally recurrent rectal cancer: A network-based feature selection approach.

Background: The modern approach to treating rectal cancer, which involves total mesorectal excision directed by imaging assessments, has significantly enhanced patient outcomes. However, locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) continues to be a significant clinical issue. Identifying LRRC through imaging is complex, due to the mismatch between fibrosis and inflammatory pelvic tissue.

Stage IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with synchronous liver metastasis: are there survival benefits in liver resection? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Metastatic PDAC has a very poor prognosis, and surgery has a limited role. The study aims to evaluate the OS of patients with PDAC and synchronous liver metastasis who undergo surgical therapy (ST) versus non-surgical therapies (NST).

Methods: We performed a random effects meta-analysis.

Contrast-enhanced US of High-Risk Indeterminate Focal Liver Observations Categorized as LR-4 or LR-M at CT/MRI.

Background Indeterminate focal liver observations in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may require invasive biopsy or follow-up, which could lead to delays in definitive categorization and to postponement of treatment. Purpose To examine clinical effect of contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) in participants with high-risk indeterminate liver observations categorized as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category LR-4 (probably HCC) or LI-RADS category LR-M (probably or definitely malignant but not HCC specific) at CT or MRI. Materials and Methods This was a secondary analysis of a prospective international multicenter validation study for CEUS LI-RADS (January 2018 to August 2021).

Efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in patients with CKD: real-world experience in 93 Italian renal clinics.

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are recommended for reducing the renal and cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on the positive results reported by clinical trials. However, real-world data on the efficacy and the safety of these drugs in CKD population followed in nephrology setting are lacking.

Methods: We report the effects of dapagliflozin in CKD patients by using data collected during a learning program in which 105 nephrologists added dapagliflozin (10 mg/day) to consecutive patients referred to their renal clinics.

The risk of failure of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy: from PRAETORIAN score to clinical practice.

Background: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is an alternative to traditional ICDs. The PRAETORIAN score, based on chest radiographs, has been validated to predict the probability of successful S-ICD defibrillation testing by assessing factors like fat thickness between the coil and sternum and generator placement.

Objective: This study evaluated the correlation between the PRAETORIAN score and clinical characteristics, as well as implantation variables.

Experience and role of Italian nurses working in genetic clinics: a descriptive phenomenological qualitative study.

Background: In several countries, the role of the genetic nurse has developed over decades, becoming well-recognized and integrated into healthcare systems. In contrast, in Italy, this role is still emerging, with no formal legal recognition and limited awareness among healthcare professionals and hospital administrators. Given this context, it is crucial to assess how the role and activities of nurses in genetic clinics in Italy are perceived.

Intensified Induction Therapy for Newly Diagnosed, Localized Skeletal Ewing Sarcoma (ISG/AIEOP EW-1): A Randomized, Open-Label, Phase 3, Non-Inferiority Trial.

Background: Several studies have shown that the intensity of treatment in Ewing sarcoma has an impact on outcome. The present trial tested the non-inferiority of intensive, shorter, induction chemotherapy (25 weeks total treatment time) compared to the standard treatment (37 weeks) in non-metastatic Ewing sarcoma (ES) at onset.

Procedure: This national, multicenter, parallel, randomized, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority, phase III trial was conducted in 14 specialized hospitals in Italy.

Impact of calreticulin mutations on treatment and survival outcomes in myelofibrosis during ruxolitinib therapy.

Calreticulin (CALR) mutations are detected in around 20% of patients with primary and post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis (MF). Regardless of driver mutations, patients with splenomegaly and symptoms are generally treated with JAK2-inhibitors, most commonly ruxolitinib. Recently, new therapies specifically targeting the CALR mutant clone have entered clinical investigation.

Delphi consensus on the diagnostic criteria of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Purpose: To gather the current opinion among Italian gynecologists and endocrinologists regarding the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Method: A Delphi survey consisting of 26 statements was designed by a nine-member panel (consisting of members from the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE) and the Experts Group AQon Inositol in Basic and Clinical Research and on PCOS (EGOI-PCOS)) and distributed to 102 experts in PCOS across the fields of gynecology and endocrinology. Consensus was defined as an agreement between at least 70% of responders.

Impact of Pre-Treatment Comorbidity Burden on Survival in Patients Receiving Venetoclax Plus Hypomethylating Agents.

Expectation of survival of patients receiving HMA + VEN is influenced by pre-treatment comorbidity burden.

Role of Hb to RDW ratio in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with first-line immunotherapy combinations.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic and predictive roles of Hb/RDW ratio in patients with mRCC treated with first-line immunotherapy combinations (TKI plus ICI or ICI plus ICI).

Materials And Methods: We performed a sub-analysis of a multicenter retrospective observational study (ARON-1 project) involving patients with mRCC treated with first-line immunotherapy combinations.

Results: Three hundred and twenty-nine patients were enrolled, 244 males and 85 females.