Intron retention in PI-PLC γ1 mRNA as a key mechanism affecting MMP expression in human primary fibroblast-like synovial cells.

The intron retention (IR) is a phenomenon utilized by cells to allow diverse fates at the same mRNA, leading to a different pattern of synthesis of the same protein. In this study, we analyzed the modulation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) enzymes by Harpagophytum procumbens extract (HPE) in synoviocytes from joins of osteoarthritis (OA) patients. In some samples, the PI-PLC γ1 isoform mature mRNA showed the IR and, in these synoviocytes, the HPE treatment increased the phenomenon.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Testing on Reference Specimens: An Italian Multicenter Experience.

Introduction: Biomarker testing is mandatory for the clinical management of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Myriads of technical platforms are now available for biomarker analysis with differences in terms of multiplexing capability, analytical sensitivity, and turnaround time (TAT). We evaluated the technical performance of the diagnostic workflows of 24 representative Italian institutions performing molecular tests on a series of artificial reference specimens built to mimic routine diagnostic samples.

Xanthoma of rib: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Xanthomas are well-circumscribed benign proliferative lesions seen mainly in soft tissues. Usually, they are found in hyperlipidemia and familial hyperlipoproteinemia. Histologically, are characterized by macrophage-like mononuclear cells, multinucleated giant cells and abundant foam cells.

Evaluation of partial pressure CO change in the dialyzer blood inlet during hemodialysis as a measure of vascular access recirculation.

Introduction: Vascular access recirculation during hemodialysis is associated with reduced effectiveness and worse survival outcomes. To evaluate recirculation, an increase in pCO in the blood of the arterial line during hemodialysis (threshold of 4.5 mmHg) was proposed.

Association between Cognitive Impairment and Malnutrition in Hemodialysis Patients: Two Sides of the Same Coin.

Cognitive impairment and malnutrition are prevalent in patients on hemodialysis (HD), and they negatively affect the outcomes of HD patients. Evidence suggests that cognitive impairment and malnutrition may be associated, but clinical studies to assess this association in HD patients are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between cognitive impairment evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score and nutritional status evaluated by the malnutrition inflammation score (MIS) in HD patients.

MRI- and Histologic-Molecular-Based Radio-Genomics Nomogram for Preoperative Assessment of Risk Classes in Endometrial Cancer.

High- and low-risk endometrial carcinoma (EC) differ in whether or not a lymphadenectomy is performed. We aimed to develop MRI-based radio-genomic models able to preoperatively assess lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) and discriminate between low- and high-risk EC according to the ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO 2020 guidelines, which include molecular risk classification proposed by "ProMisE". This is a retrospective, multicentric study that included 64 women with EC who underwent 3T-MRI before a hysterectomy.

Extremely late-onset pulmonary metastasis from uterine PEComa.

A 79-year-old woman underwent surgical resection of a peripheral, solitary, pulmonary lesion that was diagnosed as malignant PEComa. Her clinical history was positive for uterine leiomyosarcoma, excised 20 years before. Re-evaluation of the primary uterine lesion led to the final diagnosis of lung metastasis from uterine PEComa.

Diastolic Pressure and ACR Are Modifiable Risk Factors of Arterial Stiffness in T2DM Without Cardiovascular Disease.

Aim: To evaluate early, before the onset of cardiovascular events and of chronic renal insufficiency, the association between chronic kidney disease (CKD)-mineral bone disorder (MBD) biomarkers and vascular stiffness [Cardio Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI)] in the course of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Method: We evaluated 174 T2DM patients [median age 56 years; male/female (M/F) 100/74] with diabetes duration < 10 years and without decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or macrovascular complications.

Role of radiomics in predicting lung cancer spread through air spaces in a heterogeneous dataset.

Background: Spread through air spaces (STAS) has been reported as a negative prognostic factor in patients with lung cancer undergoing sublobar resection. Radiomics has been recently proposed to predict STAS using preoperative computed tomography (CT). However, limitations of previous studies included the strict selection of imaging acquisition protocols, leading to results hardly applicable to daily clinical practice.

Root Extract Mediates Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Osteoarthritis Synoviocytes through CB2 Activation.

The endocannabinoid system is involved in the nociceptive and anti-inflammatory pathways, and a lowered expression of CB2 receptors has been associated with inflammatory conditions, such as osteoarthritis (OA). This suggests that CB2 modulators could be novel therapeutic tools to treat OA. In the present study, the involvement of root extract, a common ingredient of nutraceuticals used to treat joint disorders, in CB2 modulation has been evaluated.

Hsa-miR223-3p circulating level is upregulated in Friedreich's ataxia and inversely associated with HCLS1 associated protein X-1, HAX-1.

Frataxin (FXN) deficiency is responsible for Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) in which, besides the characteristic features of spinocerebellar ataxia, two thirds of patients develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that often progresses to heart failure and premature death. Different mechanisms might underlie FRDA pathogenesis. Among them, the role of miRNAs deserves investigations.

Results of the implementation of a triage system of vascular access performance in haemodialysis patients: experience of a single dialysis centre.

Background: Routine systems for monitoring vascular access (VA) performance are lacking. We developed a vascular access triage system to evaluate the monthly performance of the access, developed a specific score and assessed the association between score improvement and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Vascular access was triaged (Green, Yellow or Red) according to a score generated by dialytic and clinical parameters in all patients who, from 1/1/2014 to 31/03/2014, had been receiving haemodialysis treatment for at least 3 consecutive months in our Unit and who were then followed up for 4 years.

Radical Surgery After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Neuroendocrine Cancer of the Cervix.

Background/aim: Although still controversial, the current treatment for locally advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (NECC) relies on chemoradiation (CRT). The aim of this study is to evaluate the alternative role of combined chemotherapy and surgery in treating NECC.

Patients And Methods: This is a retrospective series of patients undergoing radical surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for locally advanced NECC (stages IIB-IVA).

Focus on the Possible Role of Dietary Sodium, Potassium, Phosphate, Magnesium, and Calcium on CKD Progression.

The impressive estimated number of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in the world justifies any possible effort at implementing preventive measures of disease progression. Renal insufficiency is associated with significant changes in the electrolyte handling and body balance of sodium, potassium, phosphate, magnesium, and calcium, all of which are biologically vital molecules. Dietary habits could contribute significantly to the optimal management of possible derangements.

Oxygen extraction ratio to identify patients at increased risk of intradialytic hypotension.

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a hemodynamic phenomenon recently associated with decreased blood oxygen saturation (SO). The ratio between peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO) and central venous SO (ScvO) or Oxygen Extraction Ratio (OER), which represents a roughly estimate of the amount of oxygen claimed by peripheral tissues, might be used to estimate haemodialysis (HD) related hypoxic stress. Aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the relationship between OER increments during dialysis sessions (ΔOER) and episodes of IDH.

Decrease of coronary heart disease risk with GLP1-receptor agonists or SGLT2 inhibitors therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes in primary cardiovascular prevention: A 24 months follow-up study.

Aims: The aim of this real-world study is to evaluate the effect of glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonist (GLP1 RA) and sodium-glucose co-transporter2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in primary cardiovascular prevention.

Methods: Data from 312 patients with T2D, without CHD history, starting treatment with GLP1 RA (n = 174) or SGLT2i (n = 138), were retrospectively collected. UKPDS-RE score was used to estimate 10-years risk for CHD before and 6, 12 and 24 months after prescription.

Atypical cellular neurothekeoma (ACN) of the elderly: case report and brief review of the literature.

Atypical cellular neurothekeoma (ACN) is an aggressive and rare variant of cellular neurothekeoma. Only few cases have been reported in the literature and the biological behavior seems to be uncertain. We describe the case of an ACN presenting on the scalp of an elderly man, emphasizing the cytologic features of malignancy.

Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Bone in Chronic Kidney Disease in the Osteoimmunology Era.

Bone is not only a mineralized and apparently non-vital structure that provides support for locomotion and protection to inner organs. An increasing number of studies are unveiling new biologic functions and connections to other systems, giving the rise to new fields of research, such as osteoimmunology. The bone marrow niche, a new entity in bone physiology, seems to represent the site where a complex crosstalk between bone and immune/inflammatory responses takes place.

Cardiometabolic multimorbidity is associated with a worse Covid-19 prognosis than individual cardiometabolic risk factors: a multicentre retrospective study (CoViDiab II).

Background: Cardiometabolic disorders may worsen Covid-19 outcomes. We investigated features and Covid-19 outcomes for patients with or without diabetes, and with or without cardiometabolic multimorbidity.

Methods: We collected and compared data retrospectively from patients hospitalized for Covid-19 with and without diabetes, and with and without cardiometabolic multimorbidity (defined as ≥ two of three risk factors of diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidaemia).

Clinical features of patients with type 2 diabetes with and without Covid-19: A case control study (CoViDiab I).

Aims: To evaluate whether subjects with diabetes hospitalized for Coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) represent a subgroup of patients with high-risk clinical features compared to patients with diabetes without Covid-19.

Methods: In this case-control study 79 patients with type 2 diabetes out of 354 adults hospitalized for Covid-19 and 158 controls with type 2 diabetes but without Covid-19, matched for age and gender, were enrolled. Medical history and concomitant therapies were retrieved from medical charts and compared between cases and controls, controlling for confounders.