Classification and Personalized Prognostic Assessment on the Basis of Clinical and Genomic Features in Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

Purpose: Recurrently mutated genes and chromosomal abnormalities have been identified in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We aim to integrate these genomic features into disease classification and prognostication.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 2,043 patients.

Resistance analysis and treatment outcomes in hepatitis C virus genotype 3-infected patients within the Italian network VIRONET-C.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the role of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) to direct-acting-antivirals (DAAs) in HCV genotype 3 (GT3).

Methods: Within the Italian VIRONET-C network, a total of 539 GT3-infected patients (417 DAA-naïve and 135 DAA-failures, of them, 13 at both baseline and failure) were analysed. Sanger sequencing of NS3/NS5A/NS5B was performed following home-made protocols.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and the risk of de novo malignancies after liver transplantation - a multicenter cohort study.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are at high risk of second primary malignancies. As HCC has become the leading indication of liver transplant (LT), the aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of HCC before LT could influence the onset of de novo malignancies (DNM). A cohort study was conducted on 2653 LT recipients.

Treat-to-Target Approach for the Management of Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Consensus Recommendations.

Introduction: Treat-to-target strategies are used in several chronic diseases to improve outcomes. Treatment goals have also been suggested for psoriasis, but there is currently no consensus on targets, and guidance is needed to implement this strategy in clinical practice. The project 'Treat to Target Italia' was launched by a scientific board (SB) of 10 psoriasis experts to generate expert consensus recommendations.

Thoracic surgery in the COVID-19 era: an Italian university hospital experience.

Background: Aims of this study were to assess the results of anti-COVID19 measures applied to maintain thoracic surgery activity at an Italian University institution through a 12-month period and to assess the results as compared with an equivalent non-pandemic time span.

Methods: Data and results of 646 patients operated on at the department of Thoracic Surgery of the Tor Vergata University Policlinic in Rome between February 2019 and March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided in 2 groups: one operated on during the COVID-19 pandemic (pandemic group) and another during the previous non-pandemic 12 months (non-pandemic group).

Identification of a novel RUNX2 gene mutation and early diagnosis of CCD in a cleidocranial dysplasia suspected Iranian family.

This research resulted in the identification and submission of a novel RUNX2 gene mutation in the affected members of the studied pedigree. Mutation screening is an effective method for the early diagnosis of CCD in the affected individuals.

Evidence based recommendations on mesotherapy: an update from the Italian society of Mesotherapy.

Introduction: Mesotherapy, also known as local intradermal therapy, widely used all over the world, is a technique used to inject substances into the surface layer of the skin. There are no international guidelines for the correct use of this technique and in many countries, it is still applied empirically without valid patient consent. The Italian society of mesotherapy has planned a study to assess the rationale and clinical applications based on current evidence.

How Can the COVID-19 Pandemic Lead to Positive Changes in Urology Residency?

The COVID-19 outbreak, in a few weeks, overloaded Italian hospitals, and the majority of medical procedures were postponed. During the pandemic, with hospital reorganization, clinical and learning activities performed by residents suffered a forced remodulation. The objective of this study is to investigate how urology training in Italy has been affected during the COVID-19 era.

Complications of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: Incidence, risk factors, and clinical relevance in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in acute stroke.

Background: There are limited data concerning procedure-related complications of endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion strokes.

Aims: We evaluated the cumulative incidence, the clinical relevance in terms of increased disability and mortality, and risk factors for complications.

Methods: From January 2011 to December 2017, 4799 patients were enrolled by 36 centers in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Stroke Treatment.

Failure on voxilaprevir, velpatasvir, sofosbuvir and efficacy of rescue therapy.

Background & Aims: There are limited data on patients with chronic HCV infection in whom combination voxilaprevir (VOX), velpatasvir (VEL), sofosbuvir (SOF) retreatment fails. Thus, we aimed to assess treatment failure and rescue treatment options in these patients.

Methods: Samples from 40 patients with HCV genotypes (GT) 1-4 in whom VOX/VEL/SOF retreatment failed were collected within the European Resistance Study Group.

Rubella Immunity among Italian Female Healthcare Workers: A Serological Study.

Rubella, also known as German measles or three-day measles, is an infectious disease caused by virus of the genus Rubivirus, which may be prevented by vaccination. The infection is potentially dangerous for non immune subjects, although 20-50% of infected subjects are asymptomatic. Healthcare workers (HCWs) have an increased potential exposure to rubella in comparison to the general population, putting them and their patients at risk of infection and its complications.

Structural Analysis of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) Viral Capsid Protein 1 (VP1) in HIV-1 Infected Individuals.

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) viral protein 1 (VP1) is the capsid protein that mediates virus attachment to host cell receptors and is the major immune target. Given the limited data on MCPyV VP1 mutations, the VP1 genetic variability was examined in 100 plasma and 100 urine samples from 100 HIV+ individuals. Sequencing of VP1 DNA in 17 urine and 17 plasma specimens, simultaneously MCPyV DNA positive, revealed that 27 samples displayed sequences identical to VP1 of MCC350 strain.

Activities related to inflammatory bowel disease management during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown in Italy: How to maintain standards of care.

Background And Aims: Restructuring activities have been necessary during the lockdown phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Few data are available on the post-lockdown phase in terms of health-care procedures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, and no data are available specifically from IBD units. We aimed to investigate how IBD management was restructured during the lockdown phase, the impact of the restructuring on standards of care and how Italian IBD units have managed post-lockdown activities.

Cellular retinol binding protein 1 transfection reduces proliferation and AKT-related gene expression in H460 non-small lung cancer cells.

In recent years, new treatments with novel action mechanisms have been explored for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Retinoids promote cancer cell differentiation and death and their trafficking and action is mediated from specific cytoplasmic and nuclear receptors, respectively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Cellular retinol binding protein-1 (CRBP-1) transfection in H460 human NSCLC cell line, normally not expressing CRBP-1.

An enormous Italian pedigree of Marfan syndrome with a novel mutation in the FBN1 gene.

We characterize a large Italian family presenting with Marfan syndrome (MFS), where the same NM_000138.4:c.6872-1G > T splice site mutation in the FBN1 gene was detected in 37 affected individuals with different pathological phenotypes.

Cladribine vs other drugs in MS: Merging randomized trial with real-life data.

Objective: Cladribine tablets were tested against placebo in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this study, the effectiveness of cladribine vs other approved drugs in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was compared by matching RCT to observational data.

Methods: Data from the pivotal trial assessing cladribine tablets vs placebo (CLARITY) were propensity score matched to data from the Italian multicenter database i-MuST.

Hyperconnectivity in Dementia Is Early and Focal and Wanes with Progression.

We investigated in a longitudinal multicenter cohort study functional cortical connectivity changes along the course of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) from the prodromal stage of the diseases. Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded in 18 FTD and 18 AD patients at the prodromal stage of dementia, at dementia onset, and 3 years after dementia onset. Twenty healthy controls (HC) underwent EEG recordings at the same time interval as the patients.

Prevalence of resistance-associated substitutions and retreatment of patients failing a glecaprevir/pibrentasvir regimen.

Objectives: To investigate resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) as well as retreatment efficacies in a large cohort of European patients with failure of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir.

Methods: Patients were identified from three European Resistance Reference centres in Spain, Italy and Germany. Sequencing of NS3, NS5A and NS5B was conducted and substitutions associated with resistance to direct antiviral agents were analysed.

Implications of TP53 allelic state for genome stability, clinical presentation and outcomes in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Tumor protein p53 (TP53) is the most frequently mutated gene in cancer. In patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), TP53 mutations are associated with high-risk disease, rapid transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), resistance to conventional therapies and dismal outcomes. Consistent with the tumor-suppressive role of TP53, patients harbor both mono- and biallelic mutations.

Evaluation of HIV Transmission Clusters among Natives and Foreigners Living in Italy.

We aimed at evaluating the characteristics of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters (MTCs) among natives and migrants living in Italy, diagnosed between 1998 and 2018. Phylogenetic analyses were performed on HIV-1 polymerase () sequences to characterise subtypes and identify MTCs, divided into small (SMTCs, 2-3 sequences), medium (MMTCs, 4-9 sequences) and large (LMTCs, ≥10 sequences). Among 3499 drug-naïve individuals enrolled in the Italian Cohort Naive Antiretroviral (ICONA) cohort (2804 natives; 695 migrants), 726 (20.

Is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effective for chronic low back pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to reduce pain in range of chronic pain states. The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of tDCS on pain reduction and related disability in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP). A computer-based systematic literature search was performed in five databases according to PRISMA guidelines.