Liver Elastography for Liver Fibrosis Stratification: A Comparison of Three Techniques in a Biopsy-Controlled MASLD Cohort.

The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy in fibrosis staging of a novel shear wave elastography (SWE) device (S-Shearwave Imaging by Samsung) and a previously validated 2D-SWE by Supersonic Imagine (SSI) in patients with biopsy proven metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This prospective study included 75 consecutive patients with MASLD who underwent liver biopsy for suspected MASH. All patients underwent S-Shearwave Imaging by Samsung and 2D-SWE with SSI on the same day of liver biopsy.

Avolition Characterizes the Chronic Fatigue Experienced in Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Avolition is a symptom responsible for a high burden in patients suffering from psychiatric diseases. It refers to a motivation loss for initiating and maintaining goal-directed activities, often called fatigue by patients. Fatigue is a widespread complaint of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), significantly impacting patients' well-being, even during the quiescent stage of the disease.

MicroRNAs Expression Profile in MN1-Altered Astroblastoma.

Background/objectives: Astroblastoma is a rare glial neoplasm more frequent in young female patients, with unclear clinical behaviors and outcomes. The diagnostic molecular alteration is a rearrangement of the Meningioma 1 () gene. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene expression regulators with strong implications in biological processes.

Non-Invasive Detection of Tumors by Volatile Organic Compounds in Urine.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death, and as it becomes more malignant, it becomes an intractable disease that is difficult to cure completely. Therefore, early detection is important to increase the survival rate. For this reason, testing with blood biomarkers is currently common.

Unraveling the Genetic Heartbeat: Decoding Cardiac Involvement in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Cardiomyopathy represents the most important life-limiting condition of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients after the age of 20. Genetic alterations in the DMD gene result in the absence of functional dystrophin protein, leading to skeletal/cardiac muscle impairment. The DMD incidence is one in 5000 live male births.

A Pilot Study of Exosome Proteomic Profiling Reveals Dysregulated Metabolic Pathways in Endometrial Cancer.

: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the second most frequent gynecological malignant tumor in postmenopausal women. Pathogenic mechanisms related to the onset and development of the disease are still unknown. To identify dysregulated proteins associated with EC we exploited a combined in vitro/in silico approach analyzing the proteome of exosomes with advanced MS techniques and annotating their results by using Chymeris1 AI tools.

Overview of Novel Antipsychotic Drugs: State of the Art, New Mechanisms, and Clinical Aspects of Promising Compounds.

Antipsychotic medications are a vast class of drugs used for the treatment of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Although numerous compounds have been developed since their introduction in the 1950s, several patients do not adequately respond to current treatments, or they develop adverse reactions that cause treatment discontinuation. Moreover, in the past few decades, discoveries in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders have opened the way for experimenting with novel compounds that have alternative mechanisms of action, with some of them showing promising results in early trials.

Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy Utilizing 808 nm and 660 nm Alone and in Combination for Treatment of Paresthesia in Rats.

: This study assessed the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) by 808 nm and 660 nm alone and in combination for the treatment of paresthesia in rats. : This animal study was conducted on 36 adult male Wistar rats. After general anesthesia, the facial nerve of the right side of the face of rats was surgically exposed and pinched, returned in place, and sutured.

Reference Intervals (RIs) of the Bone Turnover Markers (BTMs) in Children and Adolescents: A Proposal for Effective Use.

Background/objectives: Bone turnover markers (BTMs) can provide information on the bone growth of apparently healthy children and adolescents or useful results in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease condition, comparing them with appropriate reference intervals (RIs). The aim of this study was to establish the RI for the BTM [specific bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), carboxy-terminal cross-linked collagen type I telopeptide (CTX), N-terminal propeptide pro-collagen type I (PINP), osteocalcin (OC), resistant to acid tartrate phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAcP-5b)] on serum samples from children and adolescents.

Method: 202 samples from children and adolescents (ages 1-18 years) (51.

Epicardial Ablation for Arrhythmogenic Disorders in Patients with Brugada Syndrome.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmogenic disorder characterized by distinct electrocardiographic patterns and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias. Effective management of BrS is essential, particularly for high-risk patients with recurrent arrhythmias. While implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is effective in terminating life-threatening arrhythmias, it does not prevent arrhythmia onset and can lead to complications such as inappropriate shocks.

D1S-Neuro Program: Frequency and Risk Factors for the Development of Diabetic Neuropathy in Pediatric Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, a Single Center Study.

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common long-term complication of diabetes mellitus, widely studied in the adult population, but its prevalence in children and adolescents has not yet been clearly defined. Diabetic patients over 11 years old and with at least 5 years of diabetes were subjected to specific tests for the screening of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and for the diagnosis of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). Additionally, all data related to the patients' average hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels over the last year and the past 5 years and the monitoring and insulin delivery technology used were collected.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Family and the Immune System: Activators or Inhibitors?

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family includes key mediators of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. VEGFs are secreted by various cells of epithelial and mesenchymal origin and by some immune cells in response to physiological and pathological stimuli. In addition, immune cells express VEGF receptors and/or co-receptors and can respond to VEGFs in an autocrine or paracrine manner.

Prospective Associations Between Preschool Exposure to Violent Televiewing and Externalizing Behavior in Middle Adolescent Boys and Girls.

Objective: Early childhood exposure to violent media content represents an actionable target for preventive intervention. The associated risks for later aggressive behavior have been established in childhood, but few studies have explored widespread long-term associations with antisocial behavior. We investigate prospective associations between exposure to violent television content in early childhood and subsequent antisocial behavior in mid-adolescence.

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Translation Tools in Intensive Care Units for Enhancing Communication and Research.

Unlabelled: There is a need to improve communication for patients and relatives who belong to cultural minority communities in intensive care units (ICUs). As a matter of fact, language barriers negatively impact patient safety and family participation in the care of critically ill patients, as well as recruitment to clinical trials. Recent studies indicate that Google Translate and ChatGPT are not accurate enough for advanced medical terminology.

Biomonitoring of Hydroxylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolites in Workers at a Waste-to-Energy Incinerator, Turin, Italy.

This paper presents the results of the human biomonitoring of ten urinary OH-PAHs (hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) in a cohort of workers at an incinerator in Turin, Italy. Long-term exposure was assessed through repeated measurements at three time points: before the startup (T0), after 1 year (T1), and after 3 years (T2). Paired data were available for 26 subjects, seven administrative workers (AWs) and 19 plant workers (PWs).

Interpersonal Perfectionism and Perceived Control's Influence on the Continuity of Sports Practice in Adolescents.

Based on the theory of planned behavior, the objective was to test a theoretical model that explains the intention to continue practicing sports among adolescents currently involved in sports practice in Mexicali based on factors that generate perceived social pressure to be perfect (perceived descriptive norm) and that lead to internal factors of perceived control (perceived competence, general self-concept, and enjoyment). A battery of questionnaires that measured the study variables was applied to 195 adolescent athletes of both sexes. The causal model with observed variables rejected part of the hypothesis since the athletes' perception that their parents impose high performance expectations on them and that they criticize them when these expectations are not achieved was not associated with the athletes' perceived competence.

Microplastics in Agricultural Crops and Their Possible Impact on Farmers' Health: A Review.

The indiscriminate use of plastic products and their inappropriate management and disposal contribute to the increasing presence and accumulation of this material in all environmental zones. The chemical properties of plastics and their resistance to natural degradation lead over time to the production of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics, which are dispersed in soil, water, and air and can be absorbed by plants, including those grown for food. In agriculture, MPs can come from many sources (mulch film, tractor tires, compost, fertilizers, and pesticides).

Changes in Tendon Thickness After Chondrovita FIT Supplementation in Elite Skaters: Findings from a Quasi-Experimental Study.

The use of dietary supplements is widespread in sports and fitness, with many products containing multiple ingredients. Among supplements often consumed to support musculotendinous health, collagen hydrolysate (CH) has gained popularity for its potential in improving joint comfort and function. This single-blind quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of a three-month oral supplementation with a specific CH-based product, Chondrovita FIT (Bone Srl, Rome, Italy), on tendon structure in elite Italian skaters.

Socio-Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Substance Intoxication Receiving a Psychiatric Assessment in the Emergency Department of the Maggiore Della Carita Hospital, Novara, Italy.

Patients intoxicated with alcohol or other substances are often assessed and assisted in the context of the Emergency Department (ED) by emergency physicians, who usually require a psychiatric assessment. This study aims to analyse the characteristics of a sample of patients receiving a psychiatric consultation in the ED setting of the Maggiore della Carità University Hospital in Novara, Italy, in the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, to find out whether and how patients screening positive for alcohol/drugs differ from those screening negative. Socio-demographic and clinical history information and clinical data related to the ED psychiatric consultations were extracted from the PsNet database, a collection of data extracted from the application that serves as the electronic medical record for patients accessing the ED.

The Role of Extracts of Edible Parts and Production Wastes of Globe Artichoke ( L. var. (L.)) in Counteracting Oxidative Stress.

In addition to the immature edible flower heads, the cultivation of globe artichoke ( L. var. (L.

Molecular Insights in the Anticancer Activity of Natural Tocotrienols: Targeting Mitochondrial Metabolism and Cellular Redox Homeostasis.

The role of mitochondria as the electric engine of cells is well established. Over the past two decades, accumulating evidence has pointed out that, despite the presence of a highly active glycolytic pathway (Warburg effect), a functional and even upregulated mitochondrial respiration occurs in cancer cells to meet the need of high energy and the biosynthetic demand to sustain their anabolic growth. Mitochondria are also the primary source of intracellular ROS.

Oxidative Stress and the Central Nervous System.

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS; RNS) are natural bioproducts of cellular metabolism, particularly produced within the mitochondria during energy production [...

Treating Metabolic Dysregulation and Senescence by Caloric Restriction: Killing Two Birds with One Stone?

Cellular senescence is a state of permanent cell cycle arrest accompanied by metabolic activity and characteristic phenotypic changes. This process is crucial for developing age-related diseases, where excessive calorie intake accelerates metabolic dysfunction and aging. Overnutrition disturbs key metabolic pathways, including insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS), the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and AMP-activated protein kinase.

Hypoxia-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species: Their Role in Cancer Resistance and Emerging Therapies to Overcome It.

Normal tissues typically maintain partial oxygen pressure within a range of 3-10% oxygen, ensuring homeostasis through a well-regulated oxygen supply and responsive vascular network. However, in solid tumors, rapid growth often outpaces angiogenesis, creating a hypoxic microenvironment that fosters tumor progression, altered metabolism and resistance to therapy. Hypoxic tumor regions experience uneven oxygen distribution with severe hypoxia in the core due to poor vascularization and high metabolic oxygen consumption.

Neuroprotective Effects of Myrtle Berry By-Product Extracts on 6-OHDA-Induced Cytotoxicity in PC12 Cells.

The rising global focus on healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability has prompted interest in repurposing plant-based by-products for health benefits. With increasing life expectancy, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases-characterized by complex, multifactorial mechanisms such as abnormal protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation-continues to grow. Medicinal plants, with their diverse bioactive compounds, offer promising therapeutic avenues for such conditions.