Evaluation of the Digital Ventilated Cage® system for circadian phenotyping.

The study of circadian rhythms has been critically dependent upon analysing mouse home cage activity, typically employing wheel running activity under different lighting conditions. Here we assess a novel method, the Digital Ventilated Cage (DVC, Tecniplast SpA, Italy), for circadian phenotyping. Based upon capacitive sensors mounted under black individually ventilated cages with inbuilt LED lighting, each cage becomes an independent light-controlled chamber.

Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss.

Mitigating loss of genetic diversity is a major global biodiversity challenge. To meet recent international commitments to maintain genetic diversity within species, we need to understand relationships between threats, conservation management and genetic diversity change. Here we conduct a global analysis of genetic diversity change via meta-analysis of all available temporal measures of genetic diversity from more than three decades of research.

fragSMILES as a chemical string notation for advanced fragment and chirality representation.

Generative models have revolutionized de novo drug design, allowing to produce molecules on-demand with desired physicochemical and pharmacological properties. String based molecular representations, such as SMILES (Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System) and SELFIES (Self-Referencing Embedded Strings), have played a pivotal role in the success of generative approaches, thanks to their capacity to encode atom- and bond- information and ease-of-generation. However, such 'atom-level' string representations could have certain limitations, in terms of capturing information on chirality, and synthetic accessibility of the corresponding designs.

Sucrose-preferring gut microbes prevent host obesity by producing exopolysaccharides.

Commensal bacteria affect host health by producing various metabolites from dietary carbohydrates via bacterial glycometabolism; however, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we identified Streptococcus salivarius as a unique anti-obesity commensal bacterium. We found that S.

Prediction of mortality in heart failure by machine learning. Comparison with statistical modeling.

Background: Assessing the relative performance of machine learning (ML) methods and conventional statistical methods in predicting prognosis in heart failure (HF) still remains a challenging research field.

Methods: The primary outcome was three-year mortality. The following 5 machine learning approaches were used for modeling: Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Support Vector Machine, and Multilayer perceptron.

Recurrence after surgery for clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma: Head-to head comparison of validated risk scores.

Introduction: The American Urology Association (AUA) recently introduced in their guidelines a subtype-agnostic, 4-tiered risk classification score to assess oncologic outcomes after surgery in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We provide a head-to-head comparison of the AUA score with 3, internationally validated and EAU recommended, histological-specific models.

Materials And Methods: We retrieved from a prospectively-maintained database 2,560 surgically-treated patients with localized RCC in a single high-volume European center (1987-2023).

Comparative effectiveness, safety and persistence of ocrelizumab versus natalizumab in multiple sclerosis: A real-world, multi-center, propensity score-matched study.

Ocrelizumab (OCR) and Natalizumab (NTZ) are highly effective treatments widely used in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, long-term, real-world comparative data on clinical effectiveness, safety and treatment persistence are limited. This retrospective analysis included relapsing and progressive MS patients initiating treatment at two Italian Universities ("La Sapienza" and "Federico II").

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Clinical Impact of Prophylactic Quinolones with Adjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Instillation for Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background And Objective: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) reduces disease recurrence and progression in intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). BCG-associated adverse events during instillations are common, leading to treatment cessation. Prophylactic use of quinolones in conjunction with BCG instillations is one approach for reducing BCG-associated adverse events.

Advances in systematic conservation planning to meet global biodiversity goals.

Systematic conservation planning (SCP) involves the cost-effective placement and application of management actions to achieve biodiversity conservation objectives. Given the political momentum for greater global nature protection, restoration, and improved management of natural resources articulated in the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework, assessing the state-of-the-art of SCP is timely. Recent advances in SCP include faster and more exact algorithms and software, inclusion of ecosystem services and multiple facets of biodiversity (e.

New Artisse intrasaccular device for intracranial aneurysm treatment: short term clinical and angiographic result from the prospective registry INSPIRE-A.

Background: Intrasaccular devices have broadened treatment options for wide necked aneurysms. This study presents the preliminary experience with the Artisse 2.0 device.

Scabies increasing incidence in Bologna from 2013 to 2024: a retrospective analysis.

Objectives: Scabies infestation, caused by the mite, has recently emerged as a public health concern in Western nations, with increased incidence worldwide. In Bologna, Italy, local health authorities report a rise in scabies diagnoses, although detailed data are limited. This study aimed to analyse the temporal trends of scabies cases diagnosed at S.

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Hemodialysis: An International, Multicentric Registry.

Background: The net benefit of oral anticoagulation in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis (HD) is uncertain. In recent years, left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) has emerged as an alternative to oral anticoagulation; however, there is scant evidence of LAAC in patients on HD.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of LAAC in patients on HD.

Quality of Life in Tourette Syndrome.

Research conducted since the turn of the millennium has shown that the quality of life in patients with Tourette syndrome is affected by various health-related factors. The condition's chronic nature, along with its social and emotional implications, can significantly diminish the overall quality of life. Both core symptoms-motor and vocal tics-and associated comorbidities can contribute to functional impairments and reduced well-being.

Expanding the chemical coverage of polar compounds in water analysis by coupling supercritical fluid with hydrophilic interaction chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Background: Persistent and mobile organic compounds (PMOC) are of great concern for water quality and human health. The recent improvement and availability of high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with liquid chromatography have widely expanded the potential of analytical workflows for their detection and quantitation in water. Given their high polarity, the detection of some PMOC requires alternative techniques to reversed-phase chromatography, such as hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC).

Prediction of long-term drug-free outcomes in ACPA-positive and ACPA-negative rheumatoid arthritis by combined clinical and ultrasound assessment of residual disease: a 5-year prospective study.

Objective: To delineate, within the framework of current clinical practice and criteria, the sustainability of first-line immuno-suppressive treatment discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the impact of residual disease in remission on long-term drug-free (DF) outcomes.

Methods: RA patients, referring to the Pavia early arthritis clinic (EAC) between 2009 and 2021 and achieving remission after Disease Activity Score-driven methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy, were recruited. Eligible patients underwent DF follow-up at 3-month intervals over 5 years after MTX discontinuation.

Radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules (RATED study) - analysis of a learning curve and predictors of success.

Context: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is used as treatment for symptomatic thyroid nodules. Factors influencing the volume reduction ratio (VRR) at 12 months are not yet fully understood.

Objective: The primary objective was evaluating the VRR at 12 months after RFA.

Antidepressants versus placebo for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

Background: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health condition characterised by excessive anxiety and worry about everyday events. GAD is a common disorder and generally affects women twice as often as men. Treatments include various psychological and pharmacological therapies.

Novel Automation, AI, and Biomimetic Engineering Advancements for Insect Studies and Management.

Entomology has seen remarkable advancements through the integration of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and biomimetic engineering. These technological innovations are revolutionizing how scientists study insect behavior, ecology, and management. Robotics and AI offer unprecedented precision and efficiency in monitoring and controlling insect populations.

Systematic review on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in breastmilk and neuro-behavioral development: insight into the early ages of life.

Breast milk (BM) is the main nutrition source for infants that plays a key role on growth and development. Human milk composition includes endogenous and exogenous substances, including endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs are man-made environmental chemicals present in everyday environment and food that can disrupt the programming of endocrine signalling pathways during development, resulting in adverse effects that may not be apparent until much later in life.

The inflammatory profiling in a cohort of older patients suffering from cognitive decline and dementia.

Background: During aging, there is a progressive impairment of immune cell function that triggers the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines causing the so-called "inflammaging". Frailty represents a condition of increased vulnerability to stresses and reduced homeostatic reserve reflecting not only health status but also biological age. In older subjects without dementia, we showed that markers of inflammaging were differently associated with chronological age than with frailty.