Percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting in left main disease according to patients' sex: A meta-analysis.

Background: The role of sex in choosing between coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease has gained interest.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials and adjusted observational studies comparing PCI versus CABG in ULMCA patients with outcomes by sex were included. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), with secondary endpoints being all-cause mortality and repeated revascularization.

New Insight into the genotype-phenotype correlation of PTH1R variants and primary failure of tooth eruption on an Italian Cohort.

Primary failure of tooth eruption (PFE) is an autosomal dominant disease with penetrance defect. While the clinical phenotype is relatively well-defined since the 70 s of the last centuries, much more need to be clarified about the genetic causes of this condition. In our previous paper we established clinical criteria to better identify PFE patients carrying PTH1R gene variants.

SARS-CoV-2-Related Olfactory Dysfunction: Autopsy Findings, Histopathology, and Evaluation of Viral RNA and ACE2 Expression in Olfactory Bulbs.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a health emergency with a significant impact on the world due to its high infectiousness. The disease, primarily identified in the lower respiratory tract, develops with numerous clinical symptoms affecting multiple organs and displays a clinical finding of anosmia. Several authors have investigated the pathogenetic mechanisms of the olfactory disturbances caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, proposing different hypotheses and showing contradictory results.

Primary Thyroid Lymphoma: How Molecular Biology and Ancillary Techniques Can Help the Cytopathologist Overcome This Diagnostic Challenge.

Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) occurs rarely, its diagnosis is a challenge, and the prognosis of these patients depends on the time of diagnosis. Even though fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is recognized as the most accurate tool for detecting thyroid malignancies, its sensitivity for PTL is poor. Both clinical and ultrasound presentation of PTL can be atypical, and laboratory tests fail to furnish relevant data.

Spontaneously Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Computed Tomography-Based Assessment.

Spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (SRHCC) is an uncommon and life-threatening complication in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is usually associated with chronic liver disease and has a poor prognosis with a high mortality rate during the acute phase. SRHCC can cause a severe and urgent condition of acute abdomen disease and requires a correct diagnosis to achieve adequate treatment.

Could Small Neurotoxins-Peptides be Expressed during SARS-CoV-2 Infection?

SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis has been recently extended to human central nervous system (CNS), in addition to nasopharyngeal truck, eye, lung and gut. The recent literature highlights that some SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein regions homologous to neurotoxin-like peptides might bind to human nicotinic Acetyl-Choline Receptors (nAChRs). Spike-nAChR interaction can probably cause dysregulation of CNS and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways and uncontrolled immune-response, both associated to a severe COVID-19 pathophysiology.

SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination in Italian health care workers: a case report.

Following the approval of COVID-19 vaccination program by EMA and national authorities, an immunization campaign started in Italy with BNT162b2mRNA vaccine, initially focused on healthcare workers. The active immunization was monitored by systemic antibody titration and continuous surveillance was guaranteed by antigenic/molecular tests on swabs. Cases of infection have been recently observed in vaccinated healthcare workers.

Phacoemulsification and nucleic acid-enriched aerosol: considerations from an eye model of cataract simulation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether phacoemulsification can generate aerosolized single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and retain sequence integrity using an artificial eye model for experimental cataract surgery.

Methods: A simulation of cataract surgery was performed using an anterior chamber eye model filled with an ssRNA probe at different scalar dilutions (kanamycin positive control ssRNA). A plastic conical cage was built over the artificial eye surface of the mock-up.

Angiotensin System Polymorphisms' in SARS-CoV-2 Positive Patients: Assessment Between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), a metabolic cascade regulating pressure and circulating blood volume, has been considered the main system involved in the pathogenesis of severe lung injury and organs decline in COVID-19 patients. The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (), angiotensinogen (AGT) and receptors angiotensin II receptor type 1 () are key factors for SARS-CoV-2 entering in the cells, sodium and water retention with an increase blood pressure, promotion of fibrotic and inflammatory phenomena resulting in a cytokine storm.

Methods: In this pilot study, the frequencies of six polymorphisms in the and genes were analysed in symptomatic patients affected by COVID-19 and compared with the results obtained from asymptomatic subjects.

COVID-19 integrated imaging: our experience and literature review.

Purpose: To investigate the imaging features of emerging COVID-19 pneumonia on chest ultrasound, radiographs and computed tomography examinations performed at admission. In addition, we provide a review of the literature and compare our results with recent evidence regarding the imaging characteristics of this novel disease.

Material And Methods: From March 17, 2020 to April 25, 2020, 23 patients with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay confirmed COVID-19 were identified.

Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacogenetics: In Silico Prediction of Drug Effects in Treatments for Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV2 Disease.

The latest developments in precision medicine allow the modulation of therapeutic approaches in different pathologies on the basis of the specific molecular characterization of the patient. This review of the literature coupled with in silico analysis was to provide a selected screening of interactions between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and drugs (repurposed, investigational, and biological agents) showing efficacy and toxicityin counteracting Covid-19 infection. In silico analysis of genetic variants related to each drug was performed on such databases as PharmGKB, Ensembl Genome Browser, www.

Clinical utility of Dual Energy Computed Tomography in gout: current concepts and applications.

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis and is increasing in prevalence and incidence in many countries worldwide. Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) has a high diagnostic accuracy in established gout, but its diagnostic sensitivity is low in subjects with recent-onset gout. A meta-analysis of 17 studies showed a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.

MRI of perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease.

Unlabelled: Perianal fistulas represent one of the most critical complications of Crohn's disease (CD). Management and treatment need a multidisciplinary approach with an accurate description of imaging findings.

Aim: This study aspires to assess the significative role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the study of perianal fistulas, secondary extensions, and abscess in patients with CD.

Dysbiosis in intestinal microbiome linked to fecal blood determined by direct hybridization.

The important physiological and pathophysiological roles of intestinal human microbiome (HMB) in human health have been emerging, owing to the access to molecular biology techniques. Herein we evaluated, for the first time, the intestinal HMB through direct hybridization approach using n-counter flex DX technology which bypasses the amplification procedure currently applied by other technologies to study the human microbiome. To this purpose, a clinical study was carried out on fecal samples, recruiting both healthy volunteers (N-FOB) and subjects positive for occult blood (P-FOB).

Preliminary results in unresectable cholangiocarcinoma treated by CT percutaneous irreversible electroporation: feasibility, safety and efficacy.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) accounts for about 3% of the gastrointestinal and 10-25% of all hepatobiliary malignancies. It arises from the epithelium of the bile duct and it can be classified in intrahaepatic (ICC), perihilar (PCC) and distal (DCC) cholangiocarcinoma, depending on the anatomical location. About 50-60% of the cases are PCC.

Bevacizumab in Combination With Either FOLFOX-4 or XELOX-2 in First-line Treatment of Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Multicenter Randomized Phase II Trial of the Gruppo Oncologico dell'Italia Meridionale (GOIM 2802).

Introduction: Biweekly schedule of XELOX-2 (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) showed interesting results in first-line therapy of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Bevacizumab plus FOLFOX-4 (oxaliplatin, folinic acid, and infusional 5-fluorouracil) is among standard first-line treatment options in this setting. We performed a phase II randomized trial in order to evaluate the activity of bevacizumab plus either FOLFOX-4 or XELOX-2 in first-line therapy of patients with mCRC.

New Hormonal Agents in Patients With Nonmetastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety Outcomes.

In the past few years several hormonal agents have been tested in patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) leading to an impressive improvement in terms of metastases-free survival (MFS). We performed a meta-analysis aimed to: (1) estimate the pooled effect of new hormonal compounds in terms of MFS, overall survival (OS) in overall and specific subpopulations; and (2) estimate the effect of high-grade toxicities of these drugs. We identified 881 studies published between January 1, 2010 and February 16, 2018 on PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, and Scopus.

A Meta-Analysis Evaluating Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma Harboring Chromosome 9P Loss.

Context: 9p loss appears a reliable and promising marker able to differentiate specific categories of patients with renal cell carcinoma associated with a worse prognosis.

Objective: The aim was to systematically evaluate relative risk of death, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) among patients harboring 9p loss.

Evidence Synthesis: We found a total of 92 potentially relevant articles focused on the detection of 9p loss in patients with renal cell carcinoma and clinical outcomes of this population.

Novel Therapeutic Approaches and Targets Currently Under Evaluation for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Waiting for the Revolution.

Management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma has drastically changed in the last few years, witnessing the advent of more and more target therapies and, recently, of immune-checkpoint inhibitors. On the other hand, the adjuvant setting still lacks a clear beneficial treatment. Medical treatment still remains a compelling challenge.