Similar efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections and other biologically active injections in patients with early stages knee osteoarthritis: a level I meta-analysis.

Introduction: The present meta-analysis compared the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections in patients with early to mild knee osteoarthritis (OA) (Kellgren Lawrence I-II) versus other commonly injected biologically active compounds using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The outcomes of interest were the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario McMaster Osteo-Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores.

Methods: This study was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA statement.

Maintaining Telomeres without Telomerase in : Novel Mechanisms and Rapid Evolution to Save a Genus.

Telomere maintenance is crucial for preventing the linear eukaryotic chromosome ends from being mistaken for DNA double-strand breaks, thereby avoiding chromosome fusions and the loss of genetic material. Unlike most eukaryotes that use telomerase for telomere maintenance, relies on retrotransposable elements-specifically , , and (collectively referred to as HTT)-which are regulated and precisely targeted to chromosome ends. telomere protection is mediated by a set of fast-evolving proteins, termed terminin, which bind to chromosome termini without sequence specificity, balancing DNA damage response factors to avoid erroneous repair mechanisms.

Dark chocolate's impact on low-grade endotoxemia in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Background And Aims: Cocoa may have prebiotic effects and improve gut barrier function. However, it remains unclear whether dark chocolate can reduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). This study aims to evaluate the effect of dark chocolate compared to milk chocolate on endotoxemia in patients with MASH.

Effect of antiepileptic drug monotherapy on endogenous sex hormonal profile in men and women with epilepsy.

Objective: To assess the alterations of endogenous sex hormone profiles in patients with epilepsy (PWE) on different antiepileptic drug (AED) monotherapies compared to healthy controls and drug naïve PWE (DNPWE).

Methods: Four databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and CENTRAL were searched for analytical observational/intervention studies on the assessment of endogenous sex hormones in PWE compared to healthy controls and DNPWE. Two researchers reviewed the title/abstract, and full-text articles for the selection of the studies independently.

Sex differences in heart rate and heart rate variability responses to transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation in rats.

The identification of reliable biomarkers of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) responsiveness is a key challenge both at the clinical and preclinical level. Vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), a surrogate measure of cardiac vagal efferent activity, is an ideal candidate. Yet, the effects of taVNS on vmHRV remain inconclusive, likely due to the high degree of heterogeneity in stimulation protocols (e.

Epiretinal Membrane and Senile Cataract: Combined vs Sequential Surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of combined phacovitrectomy versus sequential phacoemulsification and vitrectomy in patients with both senile cataract and epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted between 2014 and 2022 at two hospitals in Italy. Patients with idiopathic ERM and senile cataract in the same eye were enrolled and underwent either combined (n=38) or sequential surgery (n=38), performed by a single surgeon.

EMG-assessed paratonia: A novel approach to investigating motor response inhibition in healthy subjects.

Paratonia is an involuntary muscle activity that occurs during passive joint mobilization and is common in people with dementia. It includes oppositional paratonia, in which muscle activity resists passive movement, and facilitatory paratonia, in which it assists movement. This phenomenon reflects a defect in motor response inhibition.

Comment on: Toward an optimal contraception dosing strategy.

The optimal contraception dosing strategy proposed by Gavina et al. recently is a commendable attempt to model a complex physiological process with potenial to apply to real-life data. However, there is a need to take into account the real challenges that arise when moving from the theory to its practical application, and it is important that lessons learnt from clinical studies be taken into consideration in any theoretical modelling.

Occurrence of 'soft flesh' condition induced by Kudoa thyrsites parasite in the Iberian European sardine stock.

European sardine Sardina pilchardus is a commercially valuable coastal pelagic fish species. Spain is one of the largest sardine suppliers in Europe and the Iberian stock is of particular significance. Kudoa parasites are known to infect sardines causing the so-called 'soft flesh' condition; however, data on the occurrence of 'soft flesh' in this sardine stock are limited.

On the anatomy of acoustic emission.

Abrupt, local frictional fault failure comprises a displacement that is normally accompanied by acoustic emission (AE)-an impulsive elastic wave broadcast with an amplitude proportional to particle velocity. The aggregate of these displacements is the basic fault motion. In laboratory shear experiments, the examination of a sequence of laboratory earthquakes includes continuous measurements of fault motion and the associated AE that is broadcast.

Pelvic floor contraction as an initial response to psycho-sensory sexual stimulation in men and a trigger for male sexual behaviour.

Introduction: This study is based on the hypothesis that, in men, the initial sexual response to erotic stimuli is triggered by a psycho-sensory pelvic reflex, mediated by the contraction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), rather than by an erection.

Objective: The objective is to determine, using a questionnaire that evokes an erotic image, whether there is a correlation between an erotic psycho-sensory stimulus and PFM contraction in men and females and whether this contraction encourages the subject to seek sexual activity.

Materials And Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to 270 respondents (134 males, 136 females; mean age = 36.

Impact of renal-adjusted ceftazidime/avibactam in patients with KPC-producing bloodstream infection: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by KPC-producing (KPC-Kp) are still associated with high mortality, and the game-changing drug ceftazidime/avibactam has shown suboptimal pharmacokinetics in some clinical settings. Ceftazidime/avibactam renal dose adjustment has recently been identified as an independent risk factor for mortality.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of ceftazidime/avibactam renal dose adjustment on mortality.

Aseptic abscess syndrome: a case report of a patient achieving remission with both infliximab originator and biosimilar administered at varied intervals.

Aseptic abscesses syndrome is a rare but increasingly recognized disease that falls within the spectrum of autoinflammatory disorders. Here, we describe the case of a patient who presented with abdominal pain and fever, along with multiple abdominal and extra-abdominal abscesses, in the absence of underlying hematologic, autoimmune, infectious, or neoplastic conditions. Initially, the patient responded to glucocorticoids, but experienced several flares upon discontinuation, leading to the initiation of treatment with a TNFα inhibitor.

A GIMEMA survey on therapeutic use and response rates of FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia: Insights from Italian real-world practice.

Given the limited data on the real-life therapeutic use of feline McDonough sarcoma (FMS)-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitors in Italy, we surveyed investigators at 59 Italian hematology centers to gain insight into the proportion of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients receiving FLT3 inhibitors and we collected data on the efficacy and safety of these agents. The survey results showed that in the real-life setting the response rate of the 3/7 + midostaurin regimen in newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML and of gilteritinib in the relapsed/refractory AML were comparable to that reported in the registrative clinical trials. The 3/7 + midostaurin treatment resulted in a 63% of complete remission (CR) rates and gilteritinib in a 44% of CR rates.

Assessing the swelling behavior of oil paint in fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs).

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) have gained attention as low-impact solvents, offering low toxicity and versatility in applications ranging from biofuels to chemical feedstocks. This study investigates the swelling behavior of naturally-aged zinc white oil paint fragments when exposed to FAMEs with varying chain lengths. Swelling was monitored using a microscopy-based image analysis technique over a 15 minutes period, demonstrating that FAMEs induce low to moderate swelling in oil paints, consistent with prior findings on solvent-paint interactions.

How Italian radiation oncologists use ChatGPT: a survey by the young group of the Italian association of radiotherapy and clinical oncology (yAIRO).

Purpose: To investigate the awareness and the spread of ChatGPT and its possible role in both scientific research and clinical practice among the young radiation oncologists (RO).

Material And Methods: An anonymous, online survey via Google Forms (including 24 questions) was distributed among young (< 40 years old) ROs in Italy through the yAIRO network, from March 15, 2024, to 31, 2024. These ROs were officially registered with yAIRO in 2023.

Assessing diagnostic accuracy of intravascular imaging for functionally significant coronary stenosis: updated findings from a meta-analysis.

Background: Accurate discrimination of functionally significant coronary stenosis using intravascular imaging remains uncertain, particularly with regard to vessel size. This meta-analysis evaluates the diagnostic performance of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for identifying functionally significant coronary stenosis as confirmed by fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar identified studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of IVUS and OCT by minimal luminal area (MLA) with FFR as the reference standard.

Posterior cricoid plate drill enlargement in idiopathic subglottic stenosis.

Objectives: Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (ISS) is an airway stricture between larynx and trachea, within 1 cm from the vocal cords. Resection-reconstruction present technical issues because of the need to resect the anterior portion of the cricoid cartilage, but not the posterior plate beyond which the recurrent laryngeal nerves access the vocal cords. The main surgical challenge consists of the minute airway calibre short below the cords, ensuing after the resection.

Reconstructing micro-evolutionary dynamics shaping local variation in southern African populations using genomics, metagenomics and personal metadata.

Geography is a well-known factor shaping genetic variation in human populations. However, the potential role played by cultural variables remains much understudied. This study investigates the impact of socio-cultural variables on genomic similarity and the saliva microbiome, using data from populations in Lesotho and Namibia.

Inflammation, lipids and cardiovascular risk: The quest for improving risk stratification and prognosis in ischemic heart disease.

Lp(a): Lipoprotein (a). Created in BioRender. Romiti, G.