Anorectal melanoma: systematic review of the current literature of an aggressive type of melanoma.

Anorectal melanoma (ARM) is a rare malignancy often associated with a poor prognosis due to its late diagnosis and aggressive biological behavior. This review aims to comprehensively investigate ARM's diagnosis, management, and treatment, emphasizing its clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and implications for patient prognosis. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from inception to 1 July 2024.

Understanding excess mortality in 2022: The dual impact of COVID-19 and heatwaves on the Italian elderly population.

In this study, we employ a comprehensive approach to model the concurrent effects of the COVID-19 epidemic and heatwaves on all-cause excess mortality. Our investigation uncovers distinct peaks in excess mortality, notably among individuals aged 80 years and older, revealing a strong positive correlation with excess temperatures (ET) during the summer of 2022 in Italy. Furthermore, we identify a notable role played by COVID-19 hospitalizations, exhibiting regional disparities, particularly during the winter months.

The association between mass media news about interethnic contact and relations between ethnic minorities and natives: The perspective of African immigrants in Italy.

Objectives: The present research investigated the role of a pervasive and often negative form of indirect contact, exposure to mass media news on interethnic contact. Specifically, we examined the associations between mass media exposure and both African immigrants' attitudes toward native Italians and their collective action intentions to achieve higher intergroup equality in the host country.

Method: We conducted two survey studies, one cross-sectional (Study 1, = 285) and the second longitudinal (Study 2, = 423) with African immigrants living in Italy.

Barcoding of Italian mosquitoes (BITMO): generation and validation of DNA barcoding reference libraries for native and alien species of Culicidae.

Background: Mosquitoes (Culicidae), as disease vectors, represent a risk for human health worldwide. Repeated introductions of alien mosquito species and the spread of invasive species have been recorded in different countries. Traditionally, identification of mosquitoes relies on morphological observation.

Methodological challenges for the investigation of the dual role of biofilms on outdoor heritage.

Biofilm deterioration and biofilm protection should be considered as different aspects of the complex interactions between microbes and the surfaces of outdoor heritage (e.g. stones, bricks, mortar and plaster).

International nursing students and clinical learning environments: A convergent mixed-methods study.

Aim: To acquire a comprehensive understanding of the international nursing students' clinical learning environments, comparing and contrasting qualitative and quantitative insights.

Background: The influx of international nursing students has increased in Italy and across Europe. These students, diverse in culture and language, encounter significant challenges to their education in clinical learning environments.

Prostate cancer diagnostic pathway in men with lower urinary tract symptoms or performing opportunistic screening: The Italian Society of Urology (SIU) position paper.

Background: Voluntary PCa screening frequently results in excessive use of unnecessary diagnostic tests and an increasing risk of detection of indolent PCa and unaffordable costs for the various national health systems. In this scenario, the Italian Society of Urology (Società Italiana di Urologia, SIU) proposes an organized flow chart guiding physicians to improve early diagnosis of significant PCa avoiding unnecessary diagnostic tests and prostate biopsy.

Methods: According to available evidence and international guidelines [i.

Organized prostate cancer screening program: a proposal from the Italian Society of Urology (SIU).

To contrast opportunistic PCa screening, the European Union Council suggested extending screening programs to PCa by recommending the implementation of a stepwise approach in the EU Countries to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an organized program based on PSA testing in combination with additional MRI as a follow-up test. The objective of this expert-based document is to propose an organized PCa screening program according to the EU Council recommendations. The Italian Society of Urology (SIU) developed a team of experts with the aim to report 1) the most recent epidemiologic data about incidence, prevalence, and mortality of PCa; 2) the most important risk factors to identify categories of men with an increased risk to eventually develop the disease; 3) the most relevant studies presenting data on population-based screening; and 4) the current recommendations of the leading International Guidelines.

Secukinumab in the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Narrative Review on Early Treatment and Real-World Evidence.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory skin disease, associated with multiple comorbidities and psychological and psychiatric disorders. The quality of life of patients with this disease is severely compromised, especially in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Secukinumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody, was the first anti-interleukin (IL)-17 biologic approved for treating psoriasis.

CMR native T1 and T2 mapping in Olympic athletes: the influence of sports discipline and sex.

Aims: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has a growing role in evaluating athletes' hearts. Mapping techniques provide added value for tissue characterization, but data on athletes and sports disciplines are lacking. To describe native mapping values in a cohort of Olympic athletes and evaluate the influence of sports discipline and sex.

Chest wall muscle area, ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity in systemic sclerosis.

To investigate the potential contribution of chest wall muscle area (CWMA) to the ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity in patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) without interstitial lung disease (ILD). Forty-four consecutive SSc patients [F = 37, median age 53.5 years (IQR 43.

European Quality Markers in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialty Training: Defining Standards.

According to the European Union (EU) Directive 2005/36, the medical specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) exists with two possible formats: dual degree OMFS called Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (DOMFS) - basic medical and basic dental training and single medical degree Maxillofacial Surgery (MFS). Within the EU and across all of Europe, differences in the nature and quality of OMFS training coexist. By implementing the highest possible standards of training, patient care can be improved.

Fibration symmetry-breaking supports functional transitions in a brain network engaged in language.

In his book 'A Beautiful Question', physicist Frank Wilczek argues that symmetry is 'nature's deep design,' governing the behavior of the universe, from the smallest particles to the largest structures. While symmetry is a cornerstone of physics, it has not yet been found widespread applicability to describe biological systems, particularly the human brain. In this context, we study the human brain network engaged in language and explore the relationship between the structural connectivity (connectome or structural network) and the emergent synchronization of the mesoscopic regions of interest (functional network).