Pulmonary fibrosis as the sole manifestation of anti-Ku antibody positivity in the absence of myositis: A case report.

Background: Anti-Ku antibodies are autoantibodies directed against the Ku protein complex involved in DNA repair. They are typically associated with overlap syndromes featuring polymyositis and systemic sclerosis. Isolated pulmonary involvement without myositis is exceedingly rare.

Unilateral Versus Bilateral Cochlear Implants in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study Across Multiple Hearing Domains.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the subjective experiences of adults with different cochlear implant (CI) configurations-unilateral cochlear implant (UCI), bilateral cochlear implant (BCI), and bimodal stimulation (BM)-focusing on their perception of speech in quiet and noisy environments, music, environmental sounds, people's voices and tinnitus.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 130 adults who had undergone UCI, BCI, or BM was conducted. Participants completed a six-item online questionnaire, assessing difficulty levels and psychological impact across auditory domains, with responses measured on a 10-point scale.

Early-Onset Chondrocalcinosis With Erosive Progression Following Trauma: A Case Report.

Chondrocalcinosis, commonly associated with aging, is characterized by the deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in cartilage and periarticular tissues. Early-onset cases are rare and not well-documented. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman with a probable onset of CPP deposition (CPPD) disease during adolescence, presenting with inflammatory flare-ups and erosive progression following minor trauma.

Multifactorial Induction of a "Scleroderma-Like Pattern" Without Underlying Connective Tissue Disease: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications.

A 60-year-old man with a significant 20-year history of smoking, averaging approximately 20 cigarettes per day, presented with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. Over the preceding three months, the patient reported recurrent episodes of acrocyanosis and erythema of the hands that were primarily induced by cold exposure. A capillaroscopy conducted in November 2024 revealed a "scleroderma-like pattern" that was characterized by enlarged capillaries, megacapillaries, and a capillary density of fewer than eight capillaries per millimeter.

Alterations on Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy in Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Onychomycosis in a Female Smoker: Microvascular Dysfunction Without Connective Tissue Disease.

A 58-year-old female smoker diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) presented with Raynaud's phenomenon and a "scleroderma-like" pattern on nailfold capillaroscopy. The capillaroscopic abnormalities were observed across all fingers, including those without clinical manifestations of onychomycosis. Over a two-year follow-up, there was no evidence of clinical or serological progression toward a connective tissue disease, particularly systemic sclerosis.

Abnormalities of Oocyte Maturation: Mechanisms and Implications.

The elucidation of oocyte maturation mechanisms is paramount for advancing embryo development within the scope of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Both cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation represent intricate processes governed by tightly regulated cellular pathways, which are essential for ensuring the oocyte's competence for fertilization and subsequent embryogenesis. A comprehensive grasp of these mechanisms is vital, as the maturation stage of the oocyte significantly influences chromosomal integrity, spindle formation, and its ability to support the initial stages of embryonic development.

Progesterone peak influences embryonic developmental morphokinetics on trigger day? A retrospective study.

Objective: Premature Progesterone Rise (PPR) is characterized by elevated serum progesterone concentrations either towards the end of the follicular phase or on the trigger day, surpassing a pre-defined threshold value. Aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of PPR exceeding 1.5 ng/ml at the time of hCG-trigger on embryo morphokinetic parameters and to identify predictive biomarkers of in IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) cycles outcomes.

Four-year effectiveness, safety and drug retention rate of secukinumab in psoriatic arthritis: a real-life Italian multicenter cohort.

Objectives: to evaluate over a 48-month follow-up period the: 1) long-term effectiveness and safety; 2) drug retention rate (DRR); 3) impact of comorbidities and bDMARDs line on MDA and DAPSA remission/low disease activity (LDA) of secukinumab in a multicenter Italian cohort of PsA patients.

Methods: Consecutive PsA patients receiving secukinumab were followed prospectively in Italian centers between 2016 and 2023. Disease characteristics, previous/ongoing treatments, comorbidities and follow-up duration were recorded.

AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Dystocia Algorithm) in Prolonged Dystocic Labor: Focus on Asynclitism Degree.

Asynclitism, a misalignment of the fetal head with respect to the plane of passage through the birth canal, represents a significant obstetric challenge. High degrees of asynclitism are associated with labor dystocia, difficult operative delivery, and cesarean delivery. Despite its clinical relevance, the diagnosis of asynclitism and its influence on the outcome of labor remain matters of debate.

Long-term obstetric, perinatal, and surgical complications in singleton pregnancies following previous cesarean myomectomy: a retrospective multicentric study.

Objectives: The safety of cesarean myomectomy has been proven by previous studies. Our study aimed to reveal the long-term perinatal, obstetric, and surgical outcomes of cesarean myomectomy (CM) by comparing different CM techniques.

Material And Methods: This retrospective multicentric case-control study involved 7 hospitals and included 226 singleton pregnancies that underwent repeated cesarean section (CS) between 2015 and 2020.

Four-year real-world experience of secukinumab in a large Italian cohort of axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate in a real-life Italian multicenter cohort of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) (1) the 4-year effectiveness and safety of secukinumab, (2) the drug retention rate (DRR), and (3) the impact of the line of bDMARDs treatment, subtype of axSpA, and sex on achieving low disease activity (LDA) and very low disease activity (VLDA).

Methods: Consecutive axSpA patients receiving secukinumab between 2016 and 2023 were prospectively evaluated. Data on disease characteristics, previous/ongoing treatments, comorbidities, and follow-up duration were collected.

Tailoring the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases by a better stratification and characterization of the clinical patient heterogeneity. Findings from a systematic literature review and experts' consensus.

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases are different pathologic conditions associated with a deregulated immune response, codified along a spectrum of disorders, with autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases as two-end phenotypes of this continuum. Despite pathogenic differences, inflammatory rheumatic diseases are commonly managed with a limited number of immunosuppressive drugs, sometimes with partial evidence or transferring physicians' knowledge in different patients. In addition, several randomized clinical trials, enrolling these patients, did not meet the primary pre-established outcomes and these findings could be linked to the underlying molecular diversities along the spectrum of inflammatory rheumatic disorders.

A New Nomenclature for the Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD): Very Low-Energy Ketogenic Therapy (VLEKT). Ketodiets and Nutraceuticals Expert Panels: "KetoNut", Italian Society of Nutraceuticals (SINut) and the Italian Association of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition (ADI).

Purpose Of Review: In an attempt to clarify the most appropriate nomenclature for the very low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD), we propose to change the nomenclature and acronym of this medical nutrition therapy. The new definition and acronym proposed by the "KetoNut" panel of experts of the Italian Society of Nutraceuticals (SINut) and the Italian Association of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition (ADI) is Very Low-Energy Ketogenic Therapy (VLEKT).

Recent Findings: In the last few years, different authors have focused on the issue of confusion in the nomenclature of ketogenic diets.

Localization of Catecholaminergic Neurofibers in Pregnant Cervix as a Possible Myometrial Pacemaker.

In eutocic labor, the autonomic nervous system is dominated by the parasympathetic system, which ensures optimal blood flow to the uterus and placenta. This study is focused on the detection of the quantitative presence of catecholamine (C) neurofibers in the internal uterine orifice (IUO) and in the lower uterine segment (LUS) of the pregnant uterus, which could play a role in labor and delivery. A total of 102 women were enrolled before their submission to a scheduled cesarean section (CS); patients showed a singleton fetus in a cephalic presentation outside labor.

Electro-Metabolic Coupling of Cumulus-Oocyte Complex.

Oocyte-cumulus cell interaction is essential for oocyte maturation and competence. The bidirectional crosstalk network mediated by gap junctions is fundamental for the metabolic cooperation between these cells. As cumulus cells exhibit a more glycolytic phenotype, they can provide metabolic substrates that the oocyte can use to produce ATP via oxidative phosphorylation.

Artificial Intelligence, Intrapartum Ultrasound and Dystocic Delivery: AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Dystocia Algorithm), a Promising Helping Decision Support System.

The position of the fetal head during engagement and progression in the birth canal is the primary cause of dystocic labor and arrest of progression, often due to malposition and malrotation. The authors performed an investigation on pregnant women in labor, who all underwent vaginal digital examination by obstetricians and midwives as well as intrapartum ultrasonography to collect four "geometric parameters", measured in all the women. All parameters were measured using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, called AIDA (artificial intelligence dystocia algorithm), which incorporates a human-in-the-loop approach, that is, to use AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms that prioritize the physician's decision and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI).