Towards a Learning Health System for Symptom Management in Hospice Care.

The reuse of real-world symptom monitoring data is essential in improving the quality of hospice care. A framework for achieving this is a Learning Health System, in which the development of a well-defined dataset is essential. This paper discusses the challenges in the design of a comprehensive dataset, focusing on variations in two electronic health record systems and divergent care processes.

Development and Implementation of Clinical Decision Algorithms for Oncology.

Decision-making in healthcare often relies on narrative guidelines; however, these instruments are poorly accessible for supporting clinical decision-making. This study explores the application of rule-based decision logic in algorithmic modeling, emphasizing its great potential in clinical decision support and research. Integrating rule-based algorithms with existing information systems and real-world data poses a serious challenge.

Profiling severe asthma: Any relevance for age? An analysis from Severe Asthma Network Italy (SANI) cohort.

Background: Aging implies changes in terms of lung function, immune system, and respiratory and extra-respiratory comorbidities. Few studies have specifically addressed the relevance of age on severe asthma burden and control. We aimed to evaluate whether age acts as an independent determinant of asthma severity, in terms of clinical, functional, and inflammatory profile, and to explore potential cofactors that contribute to a more difficult disease control in different age groups.

Attitudes and knowledge of mental health practitioners towards LGBTQ+ patients: A mixed-method systematic review.

LGBTQ+ patients exhibit higher rates of mental disorder relative to the general population. This is particularly concerning since deficiencies in mental health practitioners' skills and knowledge, along with negative attitudes and behaviors, are associated with a decreased likelihood of LGBTQ+ patients seeking mental healthcare services and an increased likelihood of reporting unmet mental healthcare needs. To address these concerns, a mixed-method systematic review was conducted to evaluate mental health practitioners' attitudes towards and knowledge of LGBTQ+ patients and the impact of these factors on service utilization.

Promoting theory of mind and emotion understanding in preschool settings: an exploratory training study.

Introduction: This new exploratory study is part of a larger ongoing follow-up project. Its specific aim was to verify whether an innovative European Program, primarily designed to enhance children's social and emotional learning, led to gains in theory of mind and emotion understanding when implemented in preschool settings.

Methods: Thirty-four children (mean age: 56.

Is Low-Dose Lung Radiotherapy for Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia a Therapeutic Alternative?

Low-dose radiotherapy (LD-RT) has historically been used to treat severe bacterial and viral pneumonia due to its immunomodulatory properties. However, this technique has been delayed since the advent of antibiotics and the carcinogenic risk associated with radiation therapy. Currently, it represents an alternative therapeutic in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic which leads sometimes to fatal pneumonia, especially given the limited availability of effective treatments for severe forms of pneumonia.

Asthma severity: the patient's point of view.

Objective: Initiated by the Severe Asthma Network Italy (SANI), this study aims to explore asthma patients' perceptions of disease severity, differentiating between mild and severe asthma. The objective is to identify factors influencing tailored treatment strategies for varying disease severities and to provide insights into asthma care in Italy.

Methods: Conducted between November 2020 and January 2021, a survey using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) collected data from 308 Italian adults, representing the population.

Three-dimensional printed models as an effective tool for the management of complex congenital heart disease.

Introduction: Three-dimensional printed models are widely used in the medical field for surgical and interventional planning. In the context of complex cardiovascular defects such as pediatric congenital heart diseases (CHDs), the adoption of 3D printed models could be an effective tool to improve decision-making. In this paper, an investigation was conducted into the characteristics of 3D printed models and their added value in understanding and managing complex pediatric congenital heart disease, also considering the associated cost.

Penile hemangiosarcoma as a cause of stranguria in a dog: clinical presentation, imaging findings, treatment and outcome.

Background: Penile tumors are rare in dogs and only single case reports or small case series have been reported.

Case Description: An 11-year-old, cross-breed dog was presented for a two-week history of stranguria. At physical examination, a subcutaneous swelling of the penis was detected.

Increased Parenchymal Macrophages are associated with decreased Tyrosine Hydroxylase mRNA levels in the Substantia Nigra of people with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder.

Increased activation of inflammatory macrophages and altered expression of dopamine markers are found in the midbrains of people with schizophrenia (SZ). The relationship of midbrain macrophages to dopamine neurons has not been explored, nor is it known if changes in midbrain macrophages are also present in bipolar disorder (BD) or major depressive disorder (MDD). Herein, we determined whether there were differences in CD163+ cell density in the Substantia Nigra (SN), and cerebral peduncles (CP) of SZ, BD, and MDD compared to controls (CTRL).

Experiences of women sexual assault survivors with police in the early aftermath of assault: Results from a large-scale prospective study.

Over 100,000 women present for emergency care after sexual assault (SA) annually in the United States. To our knowledge, no large prospective studies have assessed SA survivor experiences with police. Women SA survivors enrolled at 13 sites ( = 706), and 630 survivors reported on their police interactions.

Stress dimensions, patterns of coping, and psychopathological risk among nurses: a person-centred approach.

Background: Nurses are increasingly demanded to achieve gold-standards of care with fewer resources. Dealing effectively with stress experienced in their daily-work-life is thus crucial. This study is based on the Demands-Resources-and-Individual-Effects (DRIVE) Nurses Model and applied the person-centred approach with a twofold objective: 1.

Infected Inclusion Cyst of a Conjunctival Nevus Treated with a Mini-Incision: A Case Report.

Introduction: Conjunctival cysts are usually asymptomatic but they can cause foreign body sensation and contribute to dry eye disease. The purpose of this case report is to describe the presentation and treatment of an infected inclusion cyst of a conjunctival nevus in a healthy 36-year-old patient.

Case Presentation: A healthy 36-year-old man presented to the emergency department for redness and pain in his left eye for 1 day.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of multitarget hybrid molecules containing NHC-Au(I) complexes and carbazole moieties.

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) represent suitable ligands for rapid and efficient drug design, because they offer the advantage of being easily chemically modified and can bind several substituents, including transition metals as, for instance, gold derivatives. Gold-NHC complexes possess various biological activities and were demonstrated good candidates as anticancer drugs. Besides, carbazole derivatives are characterized by various pharmacological properties, such as anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-psychotropic.

Gender differences in outcomes after left atrial appendage closure with Watchman FLX device: insights from the Italian-FLX registry.

Introduction: Recent studies have shown gender differences in cardiovascular outcomes after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC), highlighting different complication rates and adverse events, particularly in short-term assessments. As a result, there remains a significant knowledge gap on how these differences directly impact the efficacy and safety of LAAC procedures. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of LAAC in women and men using the Watchman FLX device.

Huge, invasive, and destructive endocarditis of the aortic valve and the aortic wall: a case report of an emergency but successful Ross-Konno operation in a child.

Background: forms Gram-positive cocci, is part of normal oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal flora, and is rarely involved in endocarditis in children population. Its special nutritional requirements and subacute clinical course may delay diagnosis and proper treatment, leading to life-threatening consequences.

Case Summary: We report a rare case of huge and destructive infective endocarditis (IE) of the aortic valve and the aortic wall in a 3-year-old child, in follow-up after surgical valvuloplasty for congenital aortic stenosis.

Severe Eosinophilic Asthma or Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: Potential Biomarkers for Novel Diagnostic Strategies.

Background: Severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) may be the prodromal phase of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Nevertheless, few studies have tried to recognize EGPA in the early stages of the disease.

Objective: To identify a panel of clinical and biological markers to detect which severe asthmatic patient might be considered in a prodromal phase of EGPA and crafting a strategy for diagnostic decision-making.

Blockade of LAG-3 and PD-1 leads to co-expression of cytotoxic and exhaustion gene modules in CD8 T cells to promote antitumor immunity.

Relatlimab (rela; anti-LAG-3) plus nivolumab (nivo; anti-PD-1) is safe and effective for treatment of advanced melanoma. We designed a trial (NCT03743766) where advanced melanoma patients received rela, nivo, or rela+nivo to interrogate the immunologic mechanisms of rela+nivo. Analysis of biospecimens from this ongoing trial demonstrated that rela+nivo led to enhanced capacity for CD8 T cell receptor signaling and altered CD8 T cell differentiation, leading to heightened cytotoxicity despite the retention of an exhaustion profile.

Combining Intravenous Thrombolysis and Dual Antiplatelet Treatment in Patients With Minor Ischemic Stroke: A Propensity Matched Analysis of the READAPT Study Cohort.

Background: The optimal treatment for acute minor ischemic stroke is still undefined. and options include dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT), intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), or their combination. We aimed to investigate benefits and risks of combining IVT and DAPT versus DAPT alone in patients with MIS.

Tuscany Normothermic Regional Perfusion Mobile Teams for Controlled Donation After Circulatory Death.

Introduction: To facilitate the implementation of controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) programs even in hospitals not equipped with a local extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team, some countries have launched a local cDCD network with an ECMO mobile team for normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). In the Tuscany region, in 2021, the Regional Transplant Authority launched a cDCD program to make the cDCD pathway feasible even in peripheral hospitals with NRP mobile teams, which were "converted" existing ECMO mobile teams, composed of highly skilled and experienced personnel.

Methods: We describe the Tuscany cDCD program, (2021-2023), for cDCD from peripheral hospitals with NRP mobile teams.

Reconfigurable Optical Sensor for Metal-Ion-Mediated Label-Free Recognition of Different Biomolecular Targets.

Reconfiguration of chemical sensors, intended as the capacity of the sensor to adapt to novel operational scenarios, e.g., new target analytes, is potentially game changing and would enable rapid and cost-effective reaction to dynamic changes occurring at healthcare, environmental, and industrial levels.