Intrathecal dexamethasone as an adjuvant for spinal anesthesia: a systematic review.

Introduction: Spinal anesthesia is a common anesthetic technique for lower limb and abdominal surgery. Despite its efficacy, its use is limited because of its duration and potential severe side effects, especially in high-risk patients undergoing major surgery. Adjuvants such as dexamethasone offer the potential to prolong the anesthetic effect and reduce the need for local anesthetics while reducing the incidence of serious adverse events.

Obstructive or non-obstructive megacystis: a prenatal dilemma.

Introduction: Diagnosis of prenatal megacystis has a significant impact on the pregnancy, as it can have severe adverse effects on fetal and neonatal survival and renal and pulmonary function. The study aims to investigate the natural history of fetal megacystis, to try to differentiate congenital lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) from non-obstructive megacystis, and, possibly, to predict postnatal outcome.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective single-center observational study was conducted from July 2015 to November 2023.

Dysglycemia, gender, and cognitive performance in older persons living with mild cognitive impairment: findings from a cross-sectional, population-based study.

Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between dysglycemia - also known as pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance- and cognitive abilities in an older population living Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and stratified by gender.

Study Design: This is a retrospective study with data gathered from a large Italian clinical-based database.

Main Outcome Measures: The evaluation of cognitive performances by the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised rating scale as tests of screening and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation of several cognitive areas.

Clinical signatures of genetic epilepsies precede diagnosis in electronic medical records of 32,000 individuals.

Purpose: An early genetic diagnosis can guide the time-sensitive treatment of individuals with genetic epilepsies. However, most genetic diagnoses occur long after disease onset. We aimed to identify early clinical features suggestive of genetic diagnoses in individuals with epilepsy through large-scale analysis of full-text electronic medical records.

The association between hypoalbuminemia and risk of death due to cancer and vascular disease in individuals aged 65 years and older: findings from the prospective Moli-sani cohort study.

Background: Serum albumin is inversely associated with overall mortality, but its association with specific causes of death remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate whether hypoalbuminemia, defined as serum albumin levels ≤35 g/L, is associated with mortality specifically attributed to cancer and/or vascular diseases.

Methods: Serum albumin levels were measured in the population-based, prospective cohort of the Moli-sani study, established between 2005 and 2010.

Surgical strategy in treatment of metopic synostosis in a single centre experience: technical note and quantitative analysis of the outcomes.

Purpose: Trigonocephaly is the most common craniosynostosis involving orbits. Although some degree of agreement has been reached regarding surgical timing and indications for treatment, there is no consensus regarding the ideal operative technique to guarantee an optimal morphological outcome. The purpose of this study is to describe both strategies and to compare morphological outcomes by means of morphological surface analysis obtained from three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry, with two different techniques.

This pain drives me crazy: Psychiatric symptoms in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

Background: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is an at least 6-mo noninfectious bladder inflammation of unknown origin characterized by chronic suprapubic, abdominal, and/or pelvic pain. Although the term cystitis suggests an inflammatory or infectious origin, no definite cause has been identified. It occurs in both sexes, but women are twice as much affected.

Strontium isotope signature of the PGI lemons Limone Costa d'Amalfi and Limone di Sorrento, and of the orchard soils from Sorrento peninsula.

The Limone Costa d'Amalfi and Limone di Sorrento lemons from the Sorrento Peninsula have Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and are subject to origin fraud. The Sr/Sr ratio (SrIR) signature of lemons and soils was investigated to verify its reliability to trace the PGI lemons and to highlight environmental factors responsible of the lemon SrIRs. The SrIR ranges of each PGI lemon were not discriminating as they overlapped with each other and some non-PGI lemon SrIRs fell within these ranges.

Circulating tumor HPV DNA in the management of HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer and its correlation with MRI.

Background: First aim was to compare ddPCR assays of ctHPVDNA with p16 IHC and qualitative HPV PCR. Second aim was to carry out longitudinal blood sampling to test for association of ctHPVDNA with histological confirmed recurrence. Third aim was to perform a multidimensional assessment which included: (1) clinical features; (2) ctHPVDNA; (3) MRI-based tumor size measurements of primary tumor (PT) and cervical lymph node metastases (CLNM).

GIS mapping of agricultural plastic waste in southern Europe.

The escalating use of plastics in agriculture, driven by global population growth and increasing food demand, has concurrently led to a rise in Agricultural Plastic Waste (APW) production. Effective waste management is imperative, prompting this study to address the initial step of management, that is the quantification and localization of waste generated from different production systems in diverse regions. Focused on four Southern European countries (Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal) at the regional level, the study uses Geographic Information System (GIS), land use maps, indices tailored to each specific agricultural application and each crop type for plastic waste mapping.

Leukoencephalopathy with Cerebral Calcifications and Cysts: The Neurosurgical Perspective. Literature Review.

Backgrounds: Labrune syndrome is a rare white matter disease characterized by angiomatous leukoencephalopathy, diffuse intracranial calcifications and supratentorial and infratentorial parenchymal cysts. The clinical worsening is often related to cyst expansion, and surgery may be advocated for symptomatic management in about one third of cases. However, no consensus exists on the surgical timing, the most effective procedure, and the long-term results.

Beyond pain: the influence of psychological factors on functional status in fibromyalgia.

Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterised by chronic widespread pain, often associated with fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive and mood impairment. Pain is a complex and multidimensional experience that significantly impacts personal, social, and professional functioning. Psychological factors related to chronic pain include catastrophising and self-efficacy in managing the painful condition.

Is Ortho-Terphenyl a Rigid Glass Former?

Ortho-terphenyl (OTP) has long been used as a model system to study the glass transition due to its apparent simplicity and a widespread assumption that it is a rigid molecule. Here, we employ terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and low-frequency Raman spectroscopy to investigate the rigidity of OTP by direct observation of the low-frequency vibrational dynamics. These terahertz phonons involve complex large-amplitude atomic motions where intramolecular and intermolecular displacements are often mixed.

The Mediating Role of Emotion Dysregulation in the Association Between Perfectionism and Eating Psychopathology Symptoms.

Introduction: This study explored the possible mediating role of emotion dysregulation in the association between perfectionism and eating psychopathology symptoms.

Method: One hundred forty-two outpatients with eating disorders (EDs) were enrolled. Perfectionism, emotion dysregulation, ED psychopathology, anxious and depressive symptoms were assessed.

2D materials for Tribo-corrosion and -oxidation protection: A review.

The recent rise of 2D materials has extended the opportunities of tuning a variety of properties. Tribo-corrosion, the complex synergy between mechanical wear and chemical corrosion, poses significant challenges across numerous industries where materials are subjected to both tribological stressing and corrosive environments. This intricate interplay often leads to accelerated material degradation and failure.

The digital era of pediatric urological clinical care: telemedicine for management of lower urinary tract symptoms and nocturnal enuresis - a comprehensive tertiary center insight.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and nocturnal enuresis (NE) are complex conditions requiring a long-term follow-up. Telemedicine is an emerging technological tool in the surgical field, and its availability exponentially grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding its application fields, optimizing technical aspects, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality standards. This work describes our experience with telemedicine in a Division of Pediatric Urology for the follow-up of enuresis and LUTS.

Arthroscopy-assisted Procedures in Hand and Wrist Surgery: An Update. Where Are We So Far?

Wrist and hand arthroscopy, despite being an old tool, has gained popularity and advanced in assisting in the treatment of various injuries and conditions in the region in recent years. Dorsal, volar, ulnar, and radial accessory portals are used to reach all points of the carpal and hand joints. The minimal tissue damage, lesser injury to the capsule and its mechanoreceptors, the assessment of injuries associated with the reason for surgery, and aesthetically more favorable scars have attracted many doctors and their patients.