Knee arthrodesis with intramedullary nail in end-stage periprosthetic joint infection with extensor mechanism failure: a retrospective outcome and reinfection rate analysis of a case series.

Background: Chronic periprosthetic knee infection is a highly debilitating complication. In case of failed R-TKA, with significant bone loss and extensor mechanism failure, re-revision procedures could not even be feasible. The most appropriate therapeutic strategy in these cases remains unclear.

Environmental ototoxicants: an update.

Approximately 5 years ago, we proposed the establishment of a new category of ototoxicants: environmental ototoxicants, in addition to the recognized categories of occupational and drug-related ototoxicants. Since the publication of our review, the scientific literature has confirmed the potential for hearing impairment (HI) caused by the general population's exposure to various chemicals. However, the extent of this exposure's contribution to the global incidence of hearing loss (HL) has yet to be estimated.

Naldemedine Use and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients treated with Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Results of a Real-world Study in the USA.

Introduction: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common side effect of chronic opioid therapy that significantly impacts quality of life and healthcare costs. Naldemedine, a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, has shown efficacy in treating OIC. However, real-world evidence on naldemedine use in the United States is limited, particularly in older adults.

Neuronavigation-guided Judet screw technique for C2 pedicle fractures: how I do it.

Background: Atypical Hangman's fractures may involve bilateral C2 pedicle fractures. Surgical fixation is often required to prevent instability and neurological impairment. The Judet technique, involving transpedicular screw fixation, offers a targeted approach to stabilize C2 pedicle fractures while preserving cervical motion.

Neuropsychological tests and machine learning: identifying predictors of MCI and dementia progression.

Background: Early prediction of progression in dementia is of major importance for providing patients with adequate clinical care, with considerable impact on the organization of the whole healthcare system.

Aims: The main task is tailoring robust and consolidated machine learning models to detect which neuropsychological tests are more effective in predicting a patient's mental status. In a translational medicine perspective, such identification tool should find its place in the clinician's toolbox as a support throughout his daily diagnostic routine.

The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horses.

In this study, we assessed the interspecific "social buffering effect" of humans on horses, exploring how human presence influences stress responses in horses in an unfamiliar environment using the "isolation paradigm." We examined nine Haflinger horses under two counterbalanced conditions: with a passive human stranger (social condition) or alone (isolation condition). Stress responses were assessed through cortisol measurements, heart rate monitoring, and behavioral observations.

Association of type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Introduction: An association between type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis has been postulated. The present umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigated possible bidirectional relationships between type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were accessed.

Integrating manual therapy into headache management: bridging the evidence gap.

Manual therapy remains an underutilized yet promising complementary intervention for headache management. Despite growing evidence supporting its efficacy, it is often overshadowed by pharmacological approaches and other non-pharmacological treatments such as acupuncture. This article highlights the potential role of manual therapy in reducing headache frequency and intensity, particularly in tension-type headaches and migraine.

A step-by-step protocol based on data mining to explore purinergic signaling in glioblastoma.

Over the past few years, transcriptomics has emerged as a pillar for modern scientific research, enabling the comprehensive profiling of gene expression. The availability of large-scale public datasets, such as NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus, International Cancer Genome Consortium, and The Cancer Genome Atlas, has significantly boosted many scientific discoveries. However, to analyze and interpret these vast datasets, sophisticated bioinformatic tools are often necessary.

Does helmet CPAP reduce carotid flow compared to oronasal mask CPAP? A randomized cross-over trial in healthy subjects.

This study aimed to assess whether delivering Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) through a Helmet interface (H-CPAP) reduces common carotid artery flow (CCAF), compared to breathing room air (RA) or using an oronasal mask (M-CPAP). This trial is an unblinded, randomized, controlled crossover trial. The primary outcome was CCAF, measured using Doppler ultrasound.

A global cross-sectional survey on neonatal analgosedation: unveiling global trends and challenges through latent class analysis.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze global prescribing patterns for analgosedation in neonates during four critical care scenarios. The research explores existing patterns, their association with geographic and sociodemographic index (SDI), and adherence to evidence-based practices.

Methods: Data from a 2024 global survey of 924 responses to 28 questions were analyzed, focusing on four items for their high variability: premedication in intubation (Q17), sedation in preterm (Q19) and full-term newborns (Q23), and perinatal asphyxia (Q26).

Quantitative evaluation of neuroradiological and morphometric alteration of inferior Fronto-Occipital Fascicle across different brain tumor histotype: an Italian multicentric study.

Background: Inferior Fronto-Occipital Fascicle (IFOF) is a multitasking connection bundle essential for communication and high level mentalization. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess its radiological-anatomical-morphometric modifications according to different brain tumor histotype.

Methods: A retrospective multicentric Italian study was conducted.

Contribution of fatigue experienced by Parkinson's Disease patients on caregiver burden.

Background: Fatigue is a common non-motor symptom (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD), affecting up to 50% of patients. It is suggested that PD-related fatigue may contribute to the burden perceived by caregivers.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of PD-related fatigue on caregiver burden.

Adjuvant treatment with Capecitabine in patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation with incidental diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Implications on DPYD polymorphisms assessment: report of two cases and review of the literature.

In recent years, assessing dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity has become crucial for cancer patients undergoing 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy due to the life-threatening toxicity associated with reduced DPD function. The methods for evaluating DPD activity have evolved, with the analysis of DPYD polymorphisms in blood samples becoming the preferred approach. As the indications for liver transplantation are increasing-particularly due to a rise in cases of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and non-resectable colorectal liver metastasis-more cancer patients with a history of liver transplantation may experience disease relapse.

Mucosal advancement flap versus ligation of the inter-sphincteric fistula tract for management of trans-sphincteric perianal fistulas in the elderly: a retrospective study.

Purpose: There is no consensus on the standard approach for trans-sphincteric perianal fistulas (TPAF) in the elderly population. The most commonly used sphincter-saving procedures are ligation of the inter-sphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) and mucosal advancement flap (MAF). We aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for recurrence and incontinence in elderly patients with TPAF using both approaches.

IMproving Preclinical Assessment of Cardioprotective Therapies (IMPACT): a small animal acute myocardial infarction randomized-controlled multicenter study on the effect of ischemic preconditioning.

Although many cardioprotective interventions have been shown to limit infarct size (IS), in preclinical animal studies of acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), their clinical translation to patient benefit has been largely disappointing. A major factor is the lack of rigor and reproducibility in the preclinical studies. To address this, we have established the IMproving Preclinical Assessment of Cardioprotective Therapies (IMPACT) small animal multisite acute myocardial infarction (AMI) network, with centralized randomization and blinded core laboratory IS analysis, and have validated the network using ischemic preconditioning (IPC).

Structural Features of the Thymol-Carvacrol Equimolar Mixture: X-Ray Scattering and Molecular Dynamics.

We present a structural characterization of a low-transition-temperature mixture (LTTM), consisting of thymol and carvacrol, at an equimolar ratio. Carvacrol and thymol are natural regioisomers of terpenes. When combined at an equimolar ratio, they form a liquid mixture at room temperature, with supercooling capability and glass transition at ca.

Long-term safety and effectiveness of fenfluramine in children and adults with Dravet syndrome.

Objective: We analyzed the long-term safety and effectiveness of fenfluramine (FFA) in patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) in an open-label extension (OLE) study after participating in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or commencing FFA de novo as adults.

Methods: Patients with DS who participated in one of three RCTs or were 19 to 35 years of age and started FFA de novo were included. Key endpoints were: incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in the safety population, and median percentage change in monthly convulsive seizure frequency (MCSF) from the RCT baseline to end of study (EOS) in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population.

Survey of the impact of BOLT-trial data on oncologists' and dermatologists' decision-making in treating patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumor in white populations. Multiple studies demonstrated that the aberrant activation of Hedgehog signaling is a driver of BCC development, and its blockade represents a potential therapeutic target. In Italy, clinicians can prescribe Hedgehog inhibitors (HhIs) vismodegib and sonidegib.

Breaking the cycle: Addressing the drucebo effect in lymphedema care.

The drucebo effect, a lesser-known counterpart to the nocebo effect, arises from negative perceptions specifically related to medical interventions and healthcare settings. This phenomenon can significantly influence the management of lymphedema, a chronic and often debilitating condition characterized by fluid retention and tissue swelling. The drucebo effect not only exacerbates symptom perception but also negatively impacts adherence to therapy and overall patient prognosis.

Expectancy Effects, Failure of Blinding Integrity, and Placebo Response in Trials of Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Importance: Expectancy effects are significant confounding factors in psychiatric randomized clinical trials (RCTs), potentially affecting the interpretation of study results. This narrative review is the first, to our knowledge, to explore the relationship between expectancy effects, compromised blinding integrity, and the effects of active treatment/placebo in psychiatric RCTs. Additionally, we present statistical and experimental approaches that may help mitigate the confounding impact of expectancy effects.

Management of high-surgical risk patients with acute cholecystitis following percutaneous cholecystostomy. results of an international Delphi consensus study.

Background: The management of high-surgical risk patients with moderate to severe acute cholecystitis is challenging in clinical practice. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the gold standard for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment. However, for those unfit for surgery due to high-surgical risk, alternative treatment options such as percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) are available.