Repeatability of Pentacam HR in Keratoconus According to Two Different Scan Protocols: 25-3D Scan and 50-Cornea Fine.

This study aims to evaluate the repeatability of the Pentacam HR, comparing two different measurement modes (50-cornea fine and 25-3D scan) in patients affected by keratoconus. Multicenter retrospective study, conducted at Eye Clinic of the ASST-Spedali Civili-University of Brescia, Italy, and St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, United Kingdom.

Supra-Normal Ejection Fraction at Hospital Admission Stratifies Mortality Risk in HFpEF Patients Aged ≥ 70 Years.

During the last few years, significant pathophysiological differences between heart failure (HF) patients with "normal" ejection fraction (EF) (50% to 64%) and those with supra-normal EF (≥65%) have been highlighted. However, these distinct EF phenotypes have been poorly investigated in elderly patients aged ≥70 y. Accordingly, the present study aimed at assessing the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of a retrospective cohort of elderly HFpEF patients (aged ≥ 70 y), categorized on the basis of "normal" EF (50 to 64%) or "supra-normal" EF (≥65%).

Frey's Syndrome Surgical Treatment After Parotidectomy: A Scoping Review.

Frey's syndrome surgical treatment may be either prophylactic or therapeutic. The aim of this study is to summarize the state of the art in Frey's syndrome surgical treatment after parotidectomy and review indications, advantages, and disadvantages of different surgical options. The study was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews; to fulfill the research enquiries, four different electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science) were searched using the PICO protocol and key words in Frey's syndrome surgical treatment.

Restoration of Genuine Sensation and Proprioception of Individual Fingers Following Transradial Amputation with Targeted Sensory Reinnervation as a Mechanoneural Interface.

: Tactile gnosis derives from the interplay between the hand's tactile input and the memory systems of the brain. It is the prerequisite for complex hand functions. Impaired sensation leads to profound disability.

Classifying Low Back Pain Through Pain Mechanisms: A Scoping Review for Physiotherapy Practice.

Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, often driven by distinct pain mechanisms: nociceptive, neuropathic, and central sensitization. Accurate classification of these mechanisms is critical for guiding effective, targeted treatments. A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Impact of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in a Cohort of COVID-19 Critically Ill Patients: Data from a Prospective Observational Study Conducted in a High-Antimicrobial-Resistance-Prevalence Center.

: Bacterial superinfections are common complications during viral infections, but the impact of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens in critically ill patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still debated. : This is an observational, monocentric, and prospective study designed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of MDR bacterial superinfections in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). : A high incidence of superinfections (66%, 159/241) was observed: ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (65%, 104/159) and bloodstream infection (BSI, 32%, 51/159) were the most common.

The Role of Stress Hyperglycemia on Delirium Onset.

Delirium is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome that recognizes one or more underlying causal medical conditions. Stress hyperglycemia usually refers to transient hyperglycemia associated with stress conditions such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and major surgery. Both delirium and stress hyperglycemia share common pathways, such as activation of inflammation.

Early Surgical Resection in Pediatric Patients with Localized Ileo-Cecal Crohn's Disease: Results of a Retrospective Multicenter Study.

: Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that also affects pediatric patients. It frequently presents as a localized disease, affecting the ileocecal area, ileum, or colon. It requires targeted therapy to achieve a good quality of life and long-term control of disease activity.

PD-1 and PD-L1 Expression in Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Cancer immunotherapy through the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have shown significant promise in endometrial carcinoma (EC), particularly in tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI) or mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), present in approximately 30% of cases. This review evaluated PD-L1 and PD-1 expression as potential biomarkers for immunotherapy response in EC, focusing on their relationship with MSI status. A systematic review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, analyzed studies from MEDLINE and Embase until February 2023 on PD-1/PD-L1 expression in EC stratified by MSI status, including diverse study designs but excluding conference abstracts, with independent screening, data extraction, and additional reference checks to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Improve Functional Recovery and Predict Outcome After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Narrative Review.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a leading cause of stroke-related mortality and long-term disability, with initial ICH volume, age, location of the hemorrhage, and clinical severity being key predictors of outcome. While clinical scores incorporating these elements are validated and exhibit good inter-rater reliability, their accuracy in predicting long-term recovery remains suboptimal. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has emerged as a potential adjunct for improving both prognostication and functional recovery in ICH survivors.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy Enhances Stem Cells Profile and May Contribute to Survival of Chronic Myeloid Leukemiastem Cells.

: Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has revolutionized disease management and has transformed CML from a life-threatening disease to a chronic condition for many patients. However, overcoming resistance, particularly related to leukemic stem cells (LSC) that can persist even when the bulk of the leukemic cells are eliminated, remains a significant challenge. : K562 and KU812 cell lines were treated in vitro with the TKI Imatinib (IM).

Diagnostic Approach to Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Hosts.

In immunocompromised patients, pneumonia presents a diagnostic challenge due to diverse etiologies, nonspecific symptoms, overlapping radiological presentation, frequent co-infections, and the potential for rapid progression to severe disease. Thus, timely and accurate diagnosis of all pathogens is crucial. This narrative review explores the latest advancements in microbiological diagnostic techniques for pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.

Lower Airway Diseases in the Paediatric Population: A Two-Year, Single-Centre, Retrospective Study.

: Lower airway diseases in children are one of the major causes of hospitalisation. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of children admitted to a tertiary pediatric hospital diagnosed with lower airway disease and to identify differences between age groups and the two years of the study. : In this single-centre retrospective observational study, demographic and clinical information about children hospitalised in the emergency pediatric ward and diagnosed with lower respiratory disease from 1 June 2021 to 30 June 2023 were retrospectively reviewed.

Remifentanil-Propofol-Ketamine- Based Total Intravenous Anesthesia with Spontaneous Breathing for Adult Rigid Bronchoscopy.

Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) is the gold standard for managing central airway obstruction (CAO), a life-threatening condition caused by both malignant and benign etiologies. Anesthetic management is challenging as it requires balancing deep sedation with maintaining spontaneous breathing to avoid airway collapse. There is no consensus on the optimal anesthetic approach, with options including general anesthesia with neuromuscular blockers or spontaneous assisted ventilation (SAV).

Efficacy and Risks of Posterior Vertebral Column Resection in the Treatment of Severe Pediatric Spinal Deformities: A Case Series.

: Surgery for adolescent idiopathic deformities is often aimed at improving aesthetic appearance, striving for the best possible correction. However, severe and rigid scoliotic curves not only present aesthetic issues but can also compromise cardiopulmonary health and cause early neurological impairment due to spinal cord compression, posing significant risks of morbidity and mortality if untreated. Conservative treatments are ineffective for severe curves, defined by scoliotic angles over 70° and flexibility below 30% on lateral bending X-rays.

Video Head Impulse Test in Children-A Systematic Review of Literature.

: The video head impulse test is a landmark in vestibular diagnostic methods to assess the high-frequency semicircular canal system. This test is well established in the adult population with immense research since its discovery. The usefulness and feasibility of the test in children is not very well defined, as research has been limited.

Partial Loss of NEMO Function in a Female Carrier with No Incontinentia Pigmenti.

: The nuclear factor (NF)-kB essential modulator (NEMO) has a crucial role in the NFκB pathway. Hypomorphic pathogenic variants cause ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (EDA-ID) in affected males. However, heterozygous amorphic variants could be responsible for Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP) in female carriers.

Physiology-Versus Angiography-Guided Complete Coronary Revascularization in STEMI Patients with Multivessel Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis.

: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD), complete revascularization (CR) is recommended over culprit-only PCI to reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the optimal strategy for CR, whether angiography (Angio)-guided or physiology-guided, remains uncertain. : This network meta-analysis included 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 11,568 patients to compare the efficacy of angio-guided CR, physiology-guided CR, and culprit-only PCI in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular (CV) death, and unplanned revascularization.

Evolution of Hospitalisation Due to Stroke in Italy Before and After the Outbreak of the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Population-Based Study Using Administrative Data.

: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, ranking as the second most common cause of death and the third in disability-adjusted life-years lost. Ischaemic stroke, which constitutes the majority of cases, poses significant public health and economic challenges. This study evaluates trends in ischaemic stroke hospitalisations in Italy from 2008 to 2022, focusing on differences before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

EnBloc Resection of a Chordoma of the Thoracic Spine by "L"-Shaped Osteotomy for Spinal Canal Preservation.

: EnBloc resections of bone tumors of the spine are very demanding as the target to achieve a tumor-free margin specimen (sometimes impossible due to the extracompartimental tumor extension) is sometimes conflicting with the integrity of neurological functions and spine stability. : The surgical treatment of a huge multi-level chordoma of the thoracic spine with unusual extension is reported. Anteriorly, the tumor widely invaded the mediastinum and displaced the aorta; on the left side, it expanded in the subpleuric region; posteriorly, it was uncommonly distant 13 mm from the posterior wall.

"Add More Arrows to Your Quiver": The Role of Adding Another Chemotherapy Drug to Fluoropyrimidine and Long Term Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Despite optimal local control obtained with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), data on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of local advanced rectal cancer patients are still equivocal. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pathological complete response (pCR), regression rate, DFS, and OS probabilities of rectal cancer patients treated with a second chemotherapy drug added to fluoropyrimidine and long-term radiotherapy. Computerized bibliographic searches of MEDLINE, PUBMED, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases (1970-2023) were supplemented with hand searches of reference lists.

A Pilot Case Series on the Use of a Large Mushroom-Shaped Corneal Graft for the Surgical Management of Post-Penetrating Keratoplasty Ectasia and Endothelial Failure.

: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a surgical technique for managing post-penetrating keratoplasty (PK) ectasia complicated by late endothelial failure (LEF). : A single-center pilot case series was conducted regarding consecutive patients affected by post-PK ectasia with late graft failure. Using a microkeratome, a single donor cornea was dissected to prepare a two-piece graft, comprising a larger anterior lamella made up of anterior stroma and a smaller posterior lamella made up of posterior stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium.

Managing Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Literature Review of Current Non-Surgical Approaches.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of inherited retinal diseases characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptor function, visual impairment, and, ultimately, blindness. While gene therapy has emerged as a promising therapy, it is currently available only for the RPE65 gene mutation, leaving many patients without targeted genetic treatments. Non-surgical interventions may help in managing the progression of RP and improving patients' quality of life.

Predictors of Compensatory Sweating and Satisfaction Following Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathetic Chain Clipping for Palmar/Axillary Hyperhidrosis.

: Endoscopic thoracic sympathetic chain clipping (ETSC) is a definitive treatment for primary palmar and/or axillary hyperhidrosis (PPAH); however, compensatory sweating (CS) remains a feared complication. The aims of this study were to investigate the factors associated with CS and satisfaction with the treatment and to evaluate the post-operative quality of life (QoL). : From January 2011 to August 2023, 180 patients who had undergone two-stage ETSC were prospectively asked to complete pre- and post-operative questionnaires on satisfaction, CS, and QoL in several daily activities.

Medical Digital Twin: A Review on Technical Principles and Clinical Applications.

The usage of digital twins (DTs) is growing across a wide range of businesses. The health sector is one area where DT use has recently increased. Ultimately, the concept of digital health twins holds the potential to enhance human existence by transforming disease prevention, health preservation, diagnosis, treatment, and management.