Avascular necrosis in pediatric rheumatic diseases: an Italian retrospective multicentre study.

Background: Atraumatic avascular necrosis (AVN) is a severe condition that may complicate the course of rheumatic diseases and contribute to long-term damage. However, there is a lack of evidence on this rare event in pediatric rheumatology. The aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of avascular necrosis in the context of rheumatologic diseases in Italy and to describe the main demographic and clinical features of AVN patients, with a particular focus on treatment background.

Design and maintenance of medical oxygen concentrators in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

Background: Oxygen therapy is critical and vital treatment for hypoxemia and respiratory distress, however, access to reliable oxygen systems remains limited in SSA. Despite WHO initiatives that distributed over 30,000 OC oxygen concentrators worldwide, SSA faces significant challenges related to their maintenance and use, due to harsh environmental conditions, technical skill shortages and inadequate infrastructure. This review aims to systematically identify and assess the literature on OC design adaptations, maintenance challenges, and knowledge gaps in SSA, providing actionable recommendations to inform innovative and context-sensitive solutions to improve healthcare delivery in the region.

Neuromuscular monitoring and incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade: a prospective observational study.

Background: Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are routinely used in anesthesia practice. An undetected, incomplete recovery of neuromuscular function at the end of surgery potentially exposes patients to clinical deterioration in the postoperative period. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade (RNMB) in a cohort of patients receiving NMBAs.

Levilactobacillus brevis CD2 as a multifaceted probiotic to preserve oral health: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in healthy adults.

Background: A growing number of in vitro and in vivo studies suggest the application of probiotics as a natural approach to maintaining oral health. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Levilactobacillus brevis CD2 (CNCM I-5566), a multifunctional probiotic frequently used in oral medicine, in preserving or improving several recognized oral health indicators.

Methods: Thirty consenting healthy adults were randomized to receive four lozenges per day of L.

Oxygenation improvement and duration of prone positioning are associated with ICU mortality in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients.

Background: Prone position has been diffusely applied in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. Our aim is ascertaining the association between the physiologic response and the length of the first cycle of prone position and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality.

Methods: International registry including COVID-19 adult patients who underwent prone positioning.

Screening for sickle cell disease by point-of-care tests in Italy: pilot study on 1000 at risk children.

Unlabelled: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a global health problem causing premature deaths and preventable severe chronic complications. A priority goal to improve outcomes both in the short and long term is the screening for early diagnosis and access to specialized care. In Italy, as in other countries, no systematic national screening program is available.

Raynaud Syndrome Associated with Medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Background: Raynaud syndrome (RS) is a peripheral vasculopathy characterised be impaired acral perfusion typically manifesting as skin discolouration with pallor, cyanosis and/or erythema, and increased sensitivity to cold. RS may be primary or secondary to systemic disease, lifestyle and environmental factors or medication. RS has been reported with medication to treat ADHD, but we found no recent comprehensive overview of the literature.

F-FDG PET/CT radiomic analysis and artificial intelligence to predict pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Purpose: Build machine learning (ML) models able to predict pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer (BC) patients based on conventional and radiomic signatures extracted from baseline [F]FDG PET/CT.

Material And Methods: Primary tumor and the most significant lymph node metastasis were manually segmented in baseline [F]FDG PET/CT of 52 newly diagnosed BC patients. Clinical parameters, NAC and conventional semiquantitative PET parameters were collected.

Structural basis for human NKCC1 inhibition by loop diuretic drugs.

Na-K-Cl cotransporters functions as an anion importers, regulating trans-epithelial chloride secretion, cell volume, and renal salt reabsorption. Loop diuretics, including furosemide, bumetanide, and torsemide, antagonize both NKCC1 and NKCC2, and are first-line medicines for the treatment of edema and hypertension. NKCC1 activation by the molecular crowding sensing WNK kinases is critical if cells are to combat shrinkage during hypertonic stress; however, how phosphorylation accelerates NKCC1 ion transport remains unclear.

Comparison between perineal and abdominal approaches for the surgical treatment of recurrent external rectal prolapse: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Although surgery is the most effective treatment for rectal prolapse, a risk of recurrence reported in literature is 6-27%. The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the abdominal and perineal approach for surgical treatment of recurrent external rectal prolapse.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Embase was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.

Pediatric eosinophilic fasciitis: similarities and differences with adult forms.

The purpose of this study was to identify pediatric eosinophilic fasciitis, which is an extremely rare condition, in order to describe their clinical, paraclinical, and therapeutic characteristics. We made a call for observations via societies for pediatric rheumatology in France and surrounding countries and collected clinical and paraclinical data of the cases fulfilling the diagnostic criteria. Eight patients under 18 years of age with confirmed eosinophilic fasciitis followed between April 2004 and July 2022 in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain were included.

Childhood BMI trajectories and sociodemographic factors in an Italian pediatric population.

Childhood obesity is a growing global concern due to its long-term health consequences. Yet, more research relying on multiple time-point BMI measurements is warranted to gain further insight into obesity's temporal trends. We aimed to identify BMI trajectories in children aged 2-10 years and evaluate their association with sociodemographic factors.

Biomarkers associated with anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy: a systematic review.

Purpose: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most important complications that occurs after upper gastrointestinal surgery, registering rates of 20-30% after esophagectomy. The role of systemic inflammatory biomarkers to predict anastomotic leaks is controversial and needs systematization.

Methods: A systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines criteria was performed.

Anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy: risk prediction, prevention and treatment.

Anthracyclines are the cornerstone of treatment for many malignancies. However, anthracycline cardiotoxicity is a considerable concern given that it can compromise the clinical effectiveness of the treatment and patient survival despite early discontinuation of therapy or dose reduction. Patients with cancer receiving anthracycline treatment can have a reduction in their quality of life and likelihood of survival due to cardiotoxicity, irrespective of their oncological prognosis.

Essential and risk elements in horses affect haematology, serum biochemistry and oxidative status parameters.

The abundance of chemical elements in the blood of horses can indicate the physiological balance, health of animal as well as can be taken as an indicator of environmental pollution. The aim of this work was to analyse haematological, biochemical parameters, TOS, FRAP, SOD, Gpx, TAS and their correlations with concentrations of essential and risk elements in blood of horses stabled in two different locations: The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky (n = 11; 11 stallions, consisting of the breeds 6 Lipizzan, 3 Slovak warmblood, 2 Holsteiner) and Experimental Centre at Institute of Animal Husbandry, SUA in Nitra (n = 10; 4 stallions, 5 geldings, 1 mare, 4 stallions, 5 geldings and 1 mare, consisting of the breeds 3 Slovak warmblood, 4 Czech warmblood, 3 Holsteiner). Blood samples were obtained from horses (n = 21) from two localities in the Slovak Republic during May.

Evaluation of ampicillin plus ceftobiprole combination therapy in treating Enterococcus faecalis infective endocarditis and bloodstream infection.

Enterococcus faecalis is responsible for numerous serious infections, and treatment options often include ampicillin combined with an aminoglycoside or dual beta-lactam therapy with ampicillin and a third-generation cephalosporin. The mechanism of dual beta-lactam therapy relies on the saturation of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Ceftobiprole exhibits high affinity binding to nearly all E.

Evaluation of the genotoxic and transformation potential induced by asbestos compared to cleavage fragments.

The World Health Organization has confirmed that asbestos fibres are carcinogenic, claiming that asbestos-related diseases should be eradicated worldwide. Actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and tremolite are regulated asbestiform mineral phases. However, in nature, asbestos minerals occur either in a fibrous and asbestiform (original morphology characterized by high length-to-width ratio and provided of high tensile strength and flexibility) or fibrous but not asbestiform appearance.

A catalogue of land-based adaptation and mitigation solutions to tackle climate change.

Informing and engaging all actors in the land sector, including land-owners and managers, researchers, policy-makers and citizens, on the most effective sustainable land-based solutions and behavioural changes is a key strategy for achieving climate change adaptation and mitigation targets at the global as well as at EU and local level. One requisite to support actors in the land sector is to provide them publicly available, reliable and ready-to-use information related to the implementation of Land-based Adaptation and Mitigation Solutions (LAMS). Here we introduce a LAMS catalogue, a collection of meaningful quantitative and qualitative information on 60 solutions characterised according to a set of specifications (e.

A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay.

Predicting disease trajectories in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) can allow designing personalized therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aimed to show that measuring patients' plasticity - that is the susceptibility to modify the mental state - identifies at baseline who will recover, anticipating the time to transition to wellbeing. We conducted a secondary analysis in two randomized clinical trials, STAR*D and CO-MED.

The E3-ligase Siah2 activates mitochondrial quality control in neurons to maintain energy metabolism during ischemic brain tolerance.

Mitochondrial quality control is crucial for the homeostasis of the mitochondrial network. The balance between mitophagy and biogenesis is needed to reduce cerebral ischemia-induced cell death. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) represents an adaptation mechanism of CNS that increases tolerance to lethal cerebral ischemia.

Gynecological cancers: Bridging the gap between research and cure.

Approximately 1.5 million women suffer from gynecological malignancies every year. Around 60 % of these cancers are classified as rare in the European population.

Ischemic ulcers do not significantly impact endoscopic recurrence score in Crohn's disease: A multicenter comparative study after right-side colectomy.

Background: Postoperative recurrence (POR) occurs in up to 70% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The Rutgeerts score (RS) system may overestimate the prevalence of "real" anastomotic recurrence. Hence, we aimed to compare the prevalence of anastomotic POR in CD and the presence of ulcers at anastomotic sites in patients with right-side resection for colonic cancer (CC).

The role of nutritional vitamin D in CKD-MBD in children and adults with CKD, on dialysis and after kidney transplantation - a European consensus statement.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associates with poor outcomes. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend supplementation with nutritional vitamin D as for the general population. However, recent large-scale, clinical trials in the general population failed to demonstrate a benefit of vitamin D supplementation on skeletal or non-skeletal outcomes, fueling a debate on the rationale for screening for and correcting vitamin D deficiency, both in non-CKD and CKD populations.

Enhancing patient safety and risk management through clinical pathways in oncology.

The increasing emphasis on risk management and quality assessment in hospital management necessitates strict adherence to government and international standards. Those standards are particularly important, and certification requirements further underscore this need. The objective of this paper is to outline the application of the INTegrated Audit Model in a Comprehensive Cancer Center.