Not too much, not too little. Titrating flow rate to minimise inspiratory effort during helmet CPAP: A bench study.

Background: Non-invasive helmet respiratory support is suitable for several clinical conditions. Continuous-flow helmet CPAP systems equipped with HEPA filters have become popular during the recent Coronavirus pandemic. However, HEPA filters generate an overpressure above the set PEEP.

Effects of asymmetric nasal high-flow cannula on carbon dioxide in hypercapnic patients: A randomised crossover physiological pilot study.

Nasal high flow (NHF) therapy is an established form of non invasive respiratory support used in acute and chronic care. Recently, a new high flow nasal cannula with asymmetric prongs was approved for clinical use. The clinical benefits of the new cannula have not yet been defined and no evidence are available on the use of asymmetric NHF support in patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Knee kinematics during gait in patients with discoid lateral meniscus: a systematic review.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference between symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) and healthy knees in terms of gait analysis.

Evidence Acquisition: A systematic review was conducted from the electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus. The review was performed on studies that reported data on kinematics, gait analysis, biomechanics in discoid lateral meniscus, before and after surgery.

"Nobody Seemed to Notice My Work": The Lived Experiences of Home Care Workers Assisting People With Chronic Diseases: A Phenomenological Study.

Introduction: Home care workers (HCWs) are paid caregivers who provide support to patients with chronic conditions and functional limitations. Additionally, they provide emotional support to patients and familial support. Although several qualitative studies have been conducted on HCWs, they focused more on studying prevalently the lived experiences about the workplace violence, the end of life, stressor and resilience, during the COVID-19 pandemic or focused more in dementia and heart failure, but not on feelings and working conditions.

Adjuvant Atezolizumab for Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: The ALEXANDRA/IMpassion030 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive subtype with a high incidence in young patients, a high incidence in non-Hispanic Black women, and a high risk of progression to metastatic cancer, a devastating sequela with a 12- to 18-month life expectancy. Until recently, one strategy for treating early-stage triple-negative breast cancer was chemotherapy after surgery. However, it was not known whether the addition of immune therapy to postsurgery chemotherapy would be beneficial.

Relaxin in pregnancy: a narrative review of a pleiotropic molecule.

Introduction: Relaxin is a hormone primarily produced by the corpus luteum during pregnancy, and it plays a critical role in various physiological processes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Evidence Acquisition: Studies have suggested a possible link between relaxin levels and preterm birth. Relaxin's effects on the cervix and pelvic ligaments suggest it could influence the mode of delivery.

Pathophysiology and diagnostic criteria of PCOS.

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine-metabolic syndrome mainly characterized by ovarian dysfunction, which is only one manifestation of a more complex syndrome with a significant systemic impact.

Evidence Acquisition: We review scientific literature on the pathophysiology and diagnosis of PCOS evaluating the most relevant data from original articles, reviews and meta-analyses published until June 2024.

Evidence Synthesis: From a pathophysiological point of view, the concurrence of both metabolic aspects, such as insulin resistance and obesity, and hormonal alterations, such as hyperandrogenemia, might produce the most relevant clinical signs and/symptoms of this syndrome, for instance menstrual irregularities, hair loss, acne and hirsutism.

"Minimal-Advice" on Salt Intake: Results of a Multicentre Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial on Hypertensive Patients.

Introduction: A strong and well-known association exists between salt consumption, potassium intake, and cardiovascular diseases. MINISAL-SIIA results showed high salt and low potassium consumption in Italian hypertensive patients. In addition, a recent Italian survey showed that the degree of knowledge and behaviour about salt was directly interrelated, suggesting a key role of the educational approach.

Reversibility of acrocyanosis and improvement of capillaroscopic pattern in a patient with polycythemia vera treated with ruxolitinib: a case report.

This case report describes the clinical course of a 78-year-old patient diagnosed with polycythemia vera (PV), who presented with pronounced acrocyanosis of the hands in 2021. The patient was treated with hydroxyurea (oncocarbide), and nailfold capillaroscopy revealed an "abnormal pattern" characterized by pronounced architectural disarray and capillary tortuosity, which is uncommon in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). In 2023, owing to suboptimal symptom management and hematological side effects, the treatment was switched to ruxolitinib, which led to significant clinical improvements by 2024, including near-complete resolution of acrocyanosis and substantial improvement in capillaroscopic abnormalities, with only residual capillary tortuosity noted.

Clinical presentation, outcomes and risk of relapses of lupus podocytopathy in a multicentre Italian cohort.

Background: In an Italian cohort of lupus podocytopathy patients, we aimed to characterize the presenting features, therapy, and outcomes, and explore differences between relapsing and non-relapsing patients.

Methods: We identified 29 patients with lupus podocytopathy from 1994 to 2023 in 11 Italian Nephrology/Rheumatology Units, and divided them into two groups: relapsing and non-relapsing. Given the limited sample size, a p-value ≤ 0.

The impact of a secondary, rare, non-pathogenic PKD1 variant on disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused primarily by pathogenic variants in the PKD1 and PKD2 genes. Although the type of ADPKD variant can influence disease severity, rare, hypomorphic PKD1 variants have also been reported to modify disease severity or cause biallelic ADPKD. This study examines whether rare, additional, potentially protein-altering, non-pathogenic PKD1 variants contribute to ADPKD phenotypic outcomes.

Partington-Rochelle modified procedure of pancreatotomy with short pancreaticojejunostomy for groove pancreatitis: a technical note.

Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a chronic segmental pancreatitis which leads to altered pancreatic secretions and pancreatitis. The exact pathogenesis of GP has not been clearly identified to date but heavy smoking and chronic alcohol consumption seem to be the main factors involved. The resulting chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a debilitating disease causing abdominal pain often refractory to medical therapy, so much that the main indication for surgical treatment is intractable abdominal pain.

Prevalence and predictive risk factors of hypertensive disorders in pregnant women at high risk for gestational diabetes. The PREeclampsia in DIabetiC gestaTION (PREDICTION) study.

Purpose: Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) have increased risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP). However, knowledge remains limited for women with high-risk metabolic profiles, regardless of GDM diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HDP among women at high risk for GDM, while simultaneously identifying potential predictive clinical risk factors of HDP.

European Survey on Adults with Type 1 Diabetes and their Caregivers: Insights into Personal Experience and Needs for Improving Diabetes Care.

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires constant self-management and substantially impacts daily life. We surveyed the experiences/burdens of people with T1D (PWD) and their caregivers.

Methods: An online survey of PWD/caregivers (aged ≥ 18 years) living in five European countries was conducted from July to August 2021.

Outbreak of autochthonous dengue in Fano, Pesaro-Urbino Province - Marche region, Italy, September 2024.

Dengue is the most common arboviral disease globally. It is caused by four distinct but closely related Dengue viruses (DENV-1, -2, -3, and - 4) transmitted through bites of infected Aedes species mosquito vectors. In the last 50 years, incidence has increased 30-fold with increasing geographic expansion to new countries.

Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate for MRAs optimization in HFrEF: lessons learned from the REALIZE-K trial.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are a cornerstone of guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), offering significant benefits in reducing mortality and hospitalizations. However, their use is often constrained by the risk of hyperkalemia, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease. Patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC), two novel potassium binders, have emerged as highly effective and safe tools for managing hyperkalemia and enabling the optimization of MRA therapy.

Human-biting behaviour of Leptoconops irritans (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in a touristic area of the Balearic Islands (Spain).

Biting midges of genus Leptoconops Skuse 1889 are small blood-feeding insects recognized as highly irritating diurnal pests in certain regions around the globe. In Europe, their presence is poorly documented, except in France and Italy. Following reports of human discomfort in a tourist area of Menorca, Balearic Islands (Spain), a small-scale study was conducted to identify the biting species and assess their preferred biting sites using a human-landing assay along a habitat gradient in a coastal dune area.

Incisional PSMA PET/CT-positive recurrences in prostate cancer- is there an implication on clinical care?

Oligorecurrent prostate cancer (PCa) can be treated with metastasis-directed therapy (MDT), which may be performed using radioguided surgery (RGS) as an experimental approach. These procedures have shown promising outcomes, largely due to the high lesion detection rate of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). We present a case series of patients who underwent RGS following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Utility of MRI in NMIBC and feasibility of avoiding Re-TURB in carefully selected patients: a systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review was conducted to synthesize current research on the role of repeated transurethral resection of the bladder (re-TURB) and the emerging use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in discerning patient suitability for safely foregoing this procedure.

Evidence Acquisition: Employing a methodical literature search, we consulted several bibliographic databases including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Embase. The review process adhered strictly to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines.

European central hypoventilation syndrome consortium description of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome neonatal onset.

Unlabelled: It is known that in most cases of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), apnoeas and hypoventilation occur at birth. Nevertheless, a detailed description of initial symptoms, including pregnancy events and diagnostic tests performed, is warranted in infants with neonatal onset of CCHS, that is, in the first month of life. The European Central Hypoventilation Syndrome Consortium created an online patient registry from which 97 infants (44 females) with CCHS of neonatal onset and PHOX2B mutation from 10 countries were selected.

Extracellular Vesicles Released by Glioblastoma Cancer Cells Drive Tumor Invasiveness via Connexin-43 Gap Junctions.

Background: Although invasiveness is one of the major determinants of the poor glioblastoma (GBM) outcome, the mechanisms of GBM invasion are only partially understood. Among the intrinsic and environmental processes promoting cell-to-cell interaction processes, eventually driving GBM invasion, we focused on the pro-invasive role played by Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), a heterogeneous group of cell-released membranous structures containing various bioactive cargoes, which can be transferred from donor to recipient cells.

Methods: EVs isolated from patient-derived GBM cell lines and surgical aspirates were assessed for their pro-migratory competence by spheroid migration assays, calcium imaging, and PYK-2/FAK phosphorylation.

Prophylaxis of HBV reinfection and disease in liver transplanted patients: 2024 update on the role of HBIG and cost-effectiveness evaluation.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health concern, with liver transplantation (LT) serving as a critical treatment for end-stage liver disease caused by HBV. However, the risk of HBV reinfection after LT remains significant, necessitating effective prophylaxis. Today, the combination of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and high-barrier nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) is the standard of care for preventing HBV recurrence post-LT but concerns about the cost of HBIG and access to high-barrier NUCs have led to a reduction in the use, dose, and duration of HBIG in recent years.