The RNA-binding properties of Annexins.

Annexins are a family of calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins involved in crucial cellular processes such as cell division, calcium signaling, vesicle trafficking, membrane repair, and apoptosis. In addition to these properties, Annexins have also been shown to bind RNA, although this function is not universally recognized. In the attempt to clarify this important issue, we employed an integrated combination of experimental and computational approaches.

The 2023 Dengue Outbreak in Lombardy, Italy: A One-Health Perspective.

Introduction: Here we reported the virological, entomological and epidemiological characteristics of the large autochthonous outbreak of dengue (DENV) occurred in a small village of the Lombardy region (Northern Italy) during summer 2023.

Methods: After the diagnosis of the first autochthonous case on 18 August 2023, public health measures, including epidemiological investigation and vector control measures, were carried out. A serological screening for DENV antibodies detection was offered to the population.

Fabrication of novel multifunctional copper-functionalized hemp fibers to remove anionic dye and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from wastewaters.

This research aims to design a novel selective and multifunctional adsorbent based on Al/Cu modified hemp fibres as a novel and multifunctional adsorbent for removing different classes of pollutants. The adsorbent, which was widely characterized, was shown to be more effective in removing anionic dyes compared to cationic ones. Among the tested dye, methyl orange was selected to understand how different parameters, such as temperature (20-80°C), contact time, pH (2-12), initial dye concentration (50-300 ppm), salinity and adsorbent dosage (1-10 g/L) affect the removal capacity.

Cholesterol metabolites modulate ionotropic P2X4 and P2X7 receptor current in microglia cells.

The central nervous system is a well-known steroidogenic tissue producing, among others, cholesterol metabolites such as neuroactive steroids, oxysterols and steroid hormones. It is well known that these endogenous molecules affect several receptor classes, including ionotropic GABAergic and NMDA glutamatergic receptors in neurons. It has been shown that also ionotropic purinergic (P2X) receptors are cholesterol metabolites' targets.

Linzagolix rapidly reduces heavy menstrual bleeding in women with uterine fibroids: An analysis of the PRIMROSE 1 & 2 trials.

Objective: To study the timing of the effect of linzagolix, an oral GnRH antagonist, on significant reduction in heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in women with uterine fibroids.

Design: The study used pooled data from PRIMROSE1 and PRIMROSE2, two double-blind, similar placebo-controlled trials of linzagolix in US and Europe, respectively. Eligible participants were randomized equally across four treatment arms (linzagolix 100mg and 200mg, with and without concomitant hormonal add-back therapy [ABT] consisting of 1 mg estradiol and 0.

Antipsychotic use during pregnancy and outcomes in pregnant individuals and newborns.

Background: Despite the increasing use of antipsychotics during pregnancy, comprehensive evaluations of their individual safety profiles using global data remain limited. This study aimed to assess the safety of various antipsychotics during pregnancy by comparing them to quetiapine, which has a relatively large body of safety data.

Method: Utilizing the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database (1967-2023; n = 131,255,418 reports), we identified 11,406 reports of antipsychotic exposure during pregnancy.

Multi-generational exposure of Daphnia magna to pharmaceuticals: Effects on colonization, reproduction, and habitat selection behavior.

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is increasing due to their growing use for human health. Although most studies are based on short exposures to these contaminants, the present study has emerged from the need to study pharmaceuticals in aquatic organisms over a long-term exposure to understand any multi-generational chronic effects and alterations regarding habitat selection. Therefore, this study shows: (1) the ability of Daphnia magna to colonize environments contaminated with caffeine, ibuprofen and fluoxetine, and (2) the effect of these pharmaceuticals on reproduction and habitat selection (under two scenarios: with and without food) after a long-term exposure period of three generations.

Mast cell proteases and metastasis.

Mast cells exert multiple roles beyond their classical role in IgE-mediated allergic reactions. These cells secrete pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory agents and change from protective immune cells to pro-inflammatory cells, capable of influencing the progression of different pathological conditions, including tumors, in which they exert anti-tumorigenic and pro-tumorigenic roles. In this context, this article analyzes the potential role played by mast cell-derived proteases in tumor progression and more specifically in driving metastatic process and the potential therapeutic approaches that inhibiting the activation of these cells could help faith cancer spreading.

Impact of postharvest processing on the health benefits of durian-derived products.

Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is a seasonal fruit with a short harvesting period, requiring postharvest processing such as cutting, peeling, freeze-drying, cooking, and frying to enhance its shelf life and nutritional quality. In this study, fresh Monthong durian (MTD), MTD Sticks, MTD Cake, and MTD Chips were analyzed for polyphenols, phenolic acids, tannins, flavonoids and thermal stability.

Generation of the human iPSC line ESi132-A from a patient with retinitis pigmentosa caused by a mutation in the PRPF31 gene.

Mutations in the PRPF31 gene are a well-known cause of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most prevalent genetic form of blindness in adults, affecting 1 in 4,000 individuals globally. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient carrying a heterozygous mutation in PRPF31 were reprogrammed to generate the human iPSC line ESi132-A. This cell line was thoroughly characterized for self-renewal and pluripotency.

From infection to immortality: The role of HPV and telomerase in head and neck cancer.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies with multifactorial aetiologies. High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infections, particularly HPV16, and the dysregulation of telomerase activity, specifically through its catalytic subunit, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) are among the key contributors to HNSCC development and progression. HPV promotes oncogenesis via the E6 and E7 oncoproteins, which inactivate tumour suppressors TP53 and RB1, leading to unchecked cellular proliferation.

Drug-drug interactions between palbociclib and proton pump inhibitors in early breast cancer: an exploratory analysis of PALLAS (ABCSG-42/AFT-05/BIG-14-13/PrE0109).

Background: Concomitant intake of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may create drug-drug interactions, potentially impacting efficacy of anticancer agents. In the phase III PALLAS trial, the addition of palbociclib capsules to standard adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early breast cancer did not improve invasive disease-free survival (iDFS). We explored whether concomitant use of PPIs affected survival outcomes in patients treated with palbociclib in PALLAS.

Unraveling the complexity of HRD assessment in ovarian cancer by combining genomic and functional approaches: translational analyses of MITO16-MaNGO-OV-2 trial.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OvC) constitutes significant management challenges primarily due to its late-stage diagnosis and the development of resistance to chemotherapy. The standard treatment regimen typically includes carboplatin and paclitaxel, with the addition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors for patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) harboring BRCA1/2 mutations. However, the variability in treatment responses suggests the need to investigate factors beyond BRCA1/2 mutations, such as DNA repair mechanisms and epigenetic alterations.

Survival analysis of the non-metastatic cohort of the Italian Association for Medical Oncology (AIOM) Guideline Application in Real world: multi-Institutional Based survey of Adjuvant and first-Line pancreatic Ductal adenocarcinoma treatment in Italy (GARIBALDI).

Background: Non-metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents a challenging scenario: the rarity of the disease, the limited number of completed prospective trials, and the shortcomings of comparability across series produce several controversial topics and unanswered questions. Guideline recommendations usually include all the different therapeutic options, de facto transferring to the multidisciplinary team the responsibility on the final decision. This secondary analysis of the GARIBALDI study was aimed to explore the correlation of center type, self-declared volume, and commitment with the overall survival (OS) in patients with non-metastatic PDAC.

Comparative overall survival of CDK4/6 inhibitors plus an aromatase inhibitor in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer in the US real-world setting.

Background: Randomized controlled trials have shown inconsistent overall survival (OS) benefit among the three cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) as first-line (1L) treatment of patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Several real-world studies compared CDK4/6i effectiveness, with inconsistent findings. This study compared overall survival (OS) of patients with HR+/HER2- mBC receiving 1L palbociclib, ribociclib, or abemaciclib, in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (AI), in US clinical practice.

Ten-year update of HOBOE phase III trial comparing triptorelin plus either tamoxifen or letrozole or zoledronic acid + letrozole in premenopausal hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer patients.

Background: The Hormonal Bone Effects (HOBOE) study tested whether adjuvant triptorelin plus either letrozole (L) or zoledronic acid (Z) plus L (ZL) was more effective than tamoxifen (T) in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) early breast cancer (BC). Here we report the long-term follow-up analysis.

Patients And Methods: HOBOE (ClinicalTrials.

Noise power properties of a cone-beam CT scanner with unconventional scanning geometry.

Purpose: This work aims at investigating, via in-silico evaluations, the noise properties of an innovative scanning geometry in cone-beam CT (CBCT): eCT. This scanning geometry substitutes each of the projections in CBCT with a series of collimated projections acquired over an oscillating scanning trajectory. The analysis focused on the impact of the number of the projections per period (PP) on the noise characteristics.

Bovine besnoitiosis: Assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of three different tests using a Bayesian latent class model approach and clinical characterization of the disease.

Bovine besnoitiosis, a disease caused by the tissue cyst-forming apicomplexan Besnoitia besnoiti, is re-emerging in Europe, leading to significant impairment of health and production, as well as economic losses. The early detection of the disease is of the utmost importance for the implementation of effective control measures, yet this is a challenge due to the lack of specific early clinical signs. The objectives of our study were 1) to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of three tests to detect B.

Impact of thrombus composition on virtual thrombectomy procedures using human clot analogues mechanical data.

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) aims at restoring blood flow in case of acute ischemic stroke by removing the thrombus occluding a large cerebral artery. During the procedure with stent-retriever, the thrombus is captured within the device, which is then retrieved, subjecting the thrombus to several forces, potentially leading to its fragmentation. In silico studies, along with mechanical characterisation of thrombi, can enhance our understanding of the EVT, helping the development of new devices and interventional strategies.

Associations between vaping during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite numerous studies linking prenatal vaping to adverse perinatal outcomes, a systematic assessment for critical comparison remains absent. To investigate these associations, we conducted a systematic search of studies assessing perinatal outcomes in mothers and/or neonates exposed to vaping during pregnancy compared to those in women without prenatal vaping exposure through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PROSPERO, and Google Scholar until July 5, 2024. We performed inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses for maternal and neonatal outcomes of 23 studies with a total of 924,376 participants with 7552 reporting vaping-only use during pregnancy.

Feasibility of AI as first reader in the 4-IN-THE-LUNG-RUN lung cancer screening trial: impact on negative-misclassifications and clinical referral rate.

Background: Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT (LDCT) reduces lung-cancer-related mortality in high-risk individuals. AI can potentially reduce radiologist workload as first-read-filter by ruling-out negative cases. The feasibility of AI as first reader was evaluated in the European 4-IN-THE-LUNG-RUN (4ITLR) trial, comparing its negative-misclassifications (NMs) to those of radiologists and the impact on referral rates.

A new approach on design and verification of integrated sustainable urban drainage systems for stormwater management in urban areas.

Stormwater runoff control is often a concern due to urbanization and extreme rainfall events. Sustainable urban drainage systems can support traditional hydraulic networks in rainwater management by providing local runoff disposal and reuse of collected stormwater. The objective of the study is based on an innovative analytical-probabilistic approach for evaluating the functioning of rainwater tanks in stormwater management with the potential for using collected water for non-potable purposes.

Recent Advances in Synthetic Strategies of Glycans and their Pharmaceutical Applications.

The understanding of glycans, the third life chain, is widely desired. Naturally, the glycoconjugates are found in heterogeneous forms due to the enzyme competition in the same process. As a result, the synthesis of homogeneous glycans has become one of the trending research topics.

European Guideline on Chronic Nausea and Vomiting-A UEG and ESNM Consensus for Clinical Management.

Introduction: Chronic nausea and vomiting are symptoms of a wide range of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal conditions. Diagnosis can be challenging and requires a systematic and well-structured approach. If the initial investigation for structural, toxic and metabolic disorders is negative, digestive motility and gut-brain interaction disorders should be assessed.