The association between vulvodynia and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: A systematic review.

Background: Vulvodynia (VVD) is a debilitating chronic vulvar pain significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic and complex illness characterized by an unpleasant sensation related to the filling of the bladder and it strongly impacts patients' lives. The exact mechanisms of the two syndromes remain unknown, but there is an overlap between suspected pathophysiologies.

Could the contraceptive counselling improve contraceptive choice after abortion? A multicentric study to evaluate patients' perception.

Introduction: 24 % of abortion in Italy are repeated procedure. The cause of repeated abortion can be traced back to the inadequacy of the contraceptive counseling during the previous admission or to the adoption of an ineffective contraception method. This study aims to evaluate the Italian situation on the perceived quality of contraceptive counselling by patients undergoing abortion.

Prognostic Factors across Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Pooled Analysis.

Introduction: Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are characterized by aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. No reliable prognostic markers have been validated to date; thus, the definition of a specific NEC prognostic algorithm represents a clinical need. This study aimed to analyze a large NEC case series to validate the specific prognostic factors identified in previous studies on gastro-entero-pancreatic and lung NECs and to assess if further prognostic parameters can be isolated.

Myeloid and T-Cell Microenvironment Immune Features Identify Two Prognostic Sub-Groups in High-Grade Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

High-grade Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine neoplasms (H-NENs) comprehend well-differentiated tumors (NET G3) and poorly differentiated carcinomas (NEC) with proliferative activity indexes as mitotic count (MC) >20 mitoses/10 HPF and Ki-67 >20%. At present, no specific therapy for H-NENs exists and the several evidences of microenvironment involvement in their pathogenesis pave the way for tailored therapies. Forty-five consecutive cases, with available information about T-cell, immune, and non-immune markers, from surgical pathology and clinical databases of 2 Italian institutions were immunostained for Arginase, CD33, CD163 and CD66 myeloid markers.

Ki-67 Index of 55% Distinguishes Two Groups of Bronchopulmonary Pure and Composite Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinomas with Distinct Prognosis.

Background: Little information is available concerning prognostic factors for bronchopulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (BP-LCNECs) and even less is known about combined LCNECs (Co-LCNECs). We investigated whether an integrated morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular approach could be used for their prognostic evaluation.

Methods: Morphological (including combined features), proliferative (mitotic count/Ki-67 index), immunohistochemical (napsin A, p40, TTF-1, CD44, OTP, SSTR2A, SSTR5, mASH1, p53, RB1, and MDM2), and genomic (TP53, RB1, ATM, JAK2, KRAS, and STK11) findings were analyzed in BP-LCNECs from 5 Italian centers, and correlated with overall survival (OS).

Gastroblastoma in Adulthood-A Rarity among Rare Cancers-A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Gastroblastoma (GB) is a rare gastric epithelial-mesenchymal neoplasm, first described by Miettinen et al. So far, all reported cases described the tumor in children or young adults, and similarities with other childhood blastomas have been postulated. We report a case of GB in a 43-year-old patient with long follow up and no recurrence up to 100 months after surgery.

Gastroenteropancreatic High-Grade Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Histology and Molecular Analysis, Two Sides of the Same Coin.

Background: In gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms (H-NENs), Ki-67 threshold of 55% defines three prognosis subclasses: neuroendocrine tumor (NET) G3, neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) <55%, and NEC ≥55%. We investigated whether the molecular profiling of H-NENs differs among these subcategories and evaluated potential therapeutic targets, including PD-L1.

Methods: In GEP-NEN patients, we evaluated: (i) 55% threshold for Ki-67 labeling index for further stratifying NEC and (ii) immunoreactivity and gene mutations by immunohistochemistry and targeted next-generation sequencing (T-NGS).

Texture features of colorectal liver metastases on pretreatment contrast-enhanced CT may predict response and prognosis in patients treated with bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy: a pilot study including comparison with standard chemotherapy.

Purpose: Bevacizumab added to chemotherapy can improve survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, but no predictive factors of efficacy are available in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to assess the predictive and prognostic value of texture analysis on pretreatment contrast-enhanced CT in patients affected by colorectal liver metastases.

Materials And Methods: Forty-three patients with colorectal liver metastases were retrospectively included in the study: 23 treated with bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy (group A), and 20 with standard chemotherapy (group B).

Microenvironment and tumor inflammatory features improve prognostic prediction in gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Microenvironment-related immune and inflammatory markers, when combined with established Ki-67 and morphology parameters, can improve prognostic prediction in gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs). Therefore, we evaluated the prognostic value of microenvironment and tumor inflammatory features (MoTIFs) in GEP-NENs. For this purpose, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 350 patients were profiled by immunohistochemistry for immune, inflammatory, angiogenesis, proliferation, NEN-, and fibroblast-related markers.

Cardiovascular characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) commonly exhibit orthostatic intolerance. Abnormal sympathetic predominance in the autonomic cardiovascular response to gravitational stimuli was previously described in numerous studies. The aim of the current study was to describe cardiological and clinical characteristics of Italian patients with CFS.

Genetic evaluation of AMPD1, CPT2, and PGYM metabolic enzymes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disease that can seriously impair one's quality of life; patients complain of excessive fatigue and myalgia following physical exertion. This disease may be associated with abnormalities in genes affecting exercise tolerance and physical performance. Adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD1), carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT2), and the muscle isoform of glycogen phosphorylase (PYGM) genes provide instructions for producing enzymes that play major roles in energy production during work.

Effect of external PEEP in patients under controlled mechanical ventilation with an auto-PEEP of 5 cmH2O or higher.

Background: In some patients with auto-positive end-expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP), application of PEEP lower than auto-PEEP maintains a constant total PEEP, therefore reducing the inspiratory threshold load without detrimental cardiovascular or respiratory effects. We refer to these patients as "complete PEEP-absorbers." Conversely, adverse effects of PEEP application could occur in patients with auto-PEEP when the total PEEP rises as a consequence.

Jean Comandon Neuroscientist.

The microbiologist Jean Comandon is famous for his studies on the movement of the syphilis bacteria as differentiated in various forms by ultramicroscope. He was also a pioneer on the technical application of the microcinematography in laboratory research. His collaboration with clinicians and surgeons in the study of various pathological disorders is little known.

Vincenzo Neri and His Legacy in Paris and Bologna.

Italian neurologist Vincenzo Neri was able to discover cinematography at the beginning of his career, when in 1908 he went to Paris to learn and improve his clinical background by following neurological cases at La Pitié with Joseph Babinski, who became his teacher and friend. While in Paris, Neri photographed and filmed several patients of famous neurologists, such as Babinski and Pierre Marie. His stills were published in several important French neurological journals and medical texts.

Assessment of Factors Related to Auto-PEEP.

Background: Previous physiological studies have identified factors that are involved in auto-PEEP generation. In our study, we examined how much auto-PEEP is generated from factors that are involved in its development.

Methods: One hundred eighty-six subjects undergoing controlled mechanical ventilation with persistent expiratory flow at the beginning of each inspiration were enrolled in the study.

Asymptomatic Congenital Absence of Lateral Pedal Rays.

Complete absence of 1 or more pedal rays is a rare condition. In the present report, the case of an adult male with complete congenital absence of his right fourth and fifth pedal rays is described. The condition had been asymptomatic until he had sustained an acute third metatarsal fracture and was satisfactorily treated with cast immobilization.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: Features of a population of patients from northern Italy.

In this study we analyzed the clinical features of a population of Italian patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) diagnosed according to the CDC-1994 criteria. The aim was to investigate CFS patients and their relatives, in order to search for events related to the onset of the disease and to identify correlations with other diseases. The analysis was carried out by examining medical records belonging to 82 patients suffering from the syndrome.

Narratives, memorable cases and metaphors of night nursing: findings from an interpretative phenomenological study.

The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of night nurses. An interpretative phenomenological study was undertaken, and 35 nurses working in Italian medical, surgical and intensive care units were purposely recruited. Data were gathered in 2010 by semi-structured interviews, collecting nurses' narratives, memorable cases and metaphors, aimed at summarising the essence of work as a nurse during the night.

Opera and neuroscience.

Opera is the most complete form of theatrical representation, characterized by musical accompaniment, both instrumental and vocal. It has played an important role in sociocultural spheres, affecting the various social strata and reflecting customs and ideas in different centuries. Composers have created pieces that have also shown the development of medicine.

Watch out for luxatio erecta of the shoulder.

Traumatic inferior dislocation of the shoulder (also termed "luxatio erecta") is a very rare injury. The correct diagnosis may be overlooked and results after reduction can often result in significant morbidity of the affected joint. It is described in a clinical case in which a male adult reported a luxatio erecta that was correctly diagnosed and reduced with uneventful recovery.