1,542 results match your criteria: "Tor Vergata" University of Rome[Affiliation]"

Effects of coagulation factors on bone cells and consequences of their absence in haemophilia a patients.

Sci Rep

October 2024

Center for Hemorrhagic and Thrombotic Diseases, Foundation University Hospital "A. Gemelli", IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.

Haemophilia is associated with reduced bone mass and mineral density. Due to the rarity of the disease and the heterogeneity among the studies, the pathogenesis of bone loss is still under investigation. We studied the effects of coagulation factors on bone cells and characterized in a pilot study the osteoclastogenic potential of patients' osteoclast precursors.

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Macrophages and autophagy: partners in crime.

FEBS J

October 2024

Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Macrophages and autophagy are intricately linked, both playing vital roles in maintaining homeostasis and responding to disease. Macrophages, known for their 'eating' function, rely on a sophisticated digestion system to process a variety of targets, from apoptotic cells to pathogens. The connection between macrophages and autophagy is established early in their development, influencing both differentiation and mature functions.

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  • FSHD is a myopathy linked to changes in DNA methylation at the D4Z4 locus, and this study evaluates the effectiveness of a methylation assay as a diagnostic tool.
  • The research involved 218 individuals suspected of having FSHD, comparing traditional molecular testing with the new methylation assay to assess accuracy and consistency.
  • The refined methylation assay showed high sensitivity (90%), specificity (100%), and accuracy (93%), indicating its potential for early detection, even in asymptomatic individuals with a family history of FSHD.
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Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has achieved notable success in treating hematological cancers but faces significant challenges in solid-tumor treatment and overall efficacy. Key limitations include T-cell exhaustion, tumor relapse, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME), immunogenicity, and antigen heterogeneity. To address these issues, various genetic engineering strategies have been proposed.

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  • This study evaluates early bleeding complications after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in patients on blood-thinning medications, covering data from January 2020 to February 2023.
  • The study categorizes patients into three groups based on their antithrombotic therapy: none, antiplatelet (AP), and anticoagulant (AC), and compares their postoperative outcomes.
  • Findings indicate that while HoLEP is generally safe, patients on anticoagulants have a higher risk of minor bleeding complications, and those not on any therapy have shorter hospital stays and catheterization times.
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Minimally invasive surgery could improve cosmetic outcomes and reduce the risks of surgical injury with less postoperative pain and a quicker patient's discharge. Recently, transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has been introduced in urogynecology with exciting results. After PROSPERO registration (n°CRD42023406815), we performed a comprehensive literature search on Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL, including peer-reviewed studies evaluating transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.

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  • Age-related changes in the brain impact sleep quality, particularly through alterations in slow-wave sleep properties, though the exact reasons for these changes remain unclear.
  • The study modifies an existing brain model to simulate slow-wave sleep, starting with a connectome representative of younger brains and progressively reducing inter-hemispheric connections.
  • The model successfully replicates key observations, such as shorter and more variable slow waves, and suggests that reduced synchrony between brain regions contributes to the decrease in amplitude of these waves.
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  • * A total of 98 patients with migraine and 98 healthy controls were analyzed for gut microbiota diversity and metabolic pathways in fecal samples, finding significant differences between the two groups.
  • * Results indicated that migraine patients had greater bacterial richness and specific metabolic changes, along with markers of gut inflammation and increased intestinal permeability, highlighting the distinct GM profiles in pediatric migraine cases.
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Appraisal and evaluation of the quality of life in pulmonary arterial hypertension instruments: A systematic review using COSMIN methodology.

Respir Med

November 2024

Doctoral Program in Nursing Sciences and Public Health Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy; Department of Nursing and Obstetrics, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • - The review evaluated tools for measuring quality of life in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients, emphasizing the need for instruments that reflect the unique challenges of this rare condition.
  • - Four specific instruments were reviewed: CAMPHOR, LPHQ, emPHasis-10, and PAH-SYMPACT, with CAMPHOR and PAH-SYMPACT rated the highest for reliability and effectiveness.
  • - The review identifies gaps in the psychometric properties of these tools and suggests that while they can be useful, improvements are needed to ensure they fully capture the impact of PAH on patients' lives.
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Background: Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) are associated with an increased chance of untreatable symptoms and worse prognosis. However, limited data are available about the interaction between treatment strategy, potential ischemia burden reduction and quality of life (QoL) improvement.

Methods: Our prospective registry aims to assess the potentially different impacts of treatment strategies (coronary artery bypass grafting vs.

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  • The study aimed to assess the likelihood of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients during the year following their transplant.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 191 SOT patients who had their first CDI episode, finding a 12% recurrence rate and highlighting that severe CDI and metronidazole monotherapy significantly raised this risk.
  • The findings suggest that using metronidazole alone increases the chances of a recurrence, indicating a need for improved treatment strategies to prevent repeated infections in these patients.
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The importance of sports and the approval of the Dual Career regulation at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" are highly significant topics for the well-being and personal development of students. In line with European and international policies, this initiative recognizes the specific needs of student-athletes by offering them tools and flexibility to excel in both sports and academics. However, monitoring student-athletes by Universities requires thorough investigations and the development of initiatives to promote students' adherence to sports practice.

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  • Researchers believe that lung ultrasound scores (LUS) can better predict cardiac risks in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, compared to existing methods like the Revised Cardiac Risk Index and ASA Physical Status.
  • The study involved 877 patients across 11 Italian hospitals, finding a significant correlation between higher LUS scores and complications, with a notable incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
  • Results showed that a preoperative LUS score of 8 or higher was more effective at predicting MACE than traditional scoring methods, indicating its potential as a valuable tool for risk assessment in this patient population.
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  • * Recent efforts to stop smoking haven't been put into action yet, and it’s important to see what could happen if smoking rates stay the same or improve.
  • * Researchers used models to predict health outcomes by 2050 based on different scenarios of smoking rates, showing that cutting smoking could greatly improve health and life expectancy.
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Peptide-based drugs are powerful inhibitors of therapeutically relevant protein-protein interactions. Their affinity and selectivity for target proteins are commonly assessed using fluorescence-based assays such as anisotropy/polarization or quantitative microarrays. This study reveals that labeling can perturb peptide/protein binding by more than 1 order of magnitude.

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Regular exercise and physical activity are now considered lifestyle factors with positive effects on human health. Physical activity reduces disease burden, protects against the onset of pathologies, and improves the clinical course of disease. Unlike pharmacological therapies, the effects mediated by exercise are not limited to a specific target organ but act in multiple biological systems simultaneously.

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Cellular Senescence: The Driving Force of Musculoskeletal Diseases.

Biomedicines

August 2024

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, "Policlinico Tor Vergata" Foundation, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy.

The aging of the world population is closely associated with an increased prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and osteoarthritis, due to common genetic, endocrine, and mechanical risk factors. These conditions are characterized by degeneration of bone, muscle, and cartilage tissue, resulting in an increased risk of fractures and reduced mobility. Importantly, a crucial role in the pathophysiology of these diseases has been proposed for cellular senescence, a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest induced by factors such as DNA damage, telomere shortening, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

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  • * Identifying perinatal risk factors and using new molecular assays can enhance the accuracy of blood cultures, potentially minimizing unnecessary antibiotic use and improving treatment strategies.
  • * Future developments, including antibiotic lock therapy and artificial intelligence, may help personalize sepsis treatments and manage multidrug-resistant bacteria more effectively.
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  • - Environmental pollution significantly threatens human health, especially in relation to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), as highlighted through various studies.
  • - Epidemiological research shows a clear link between exposure to various pollutants (air, water, soil) and an increased risk of conditions like hypertension and stroke, while molecular studies identify mechanisms like oxidative stress and inflammation as contributing factors.
  • - The review emphasizes the need to understand these connections for developing effective interventions and policies aimed at reducing pollution's negative impacts on cardiovascular health, underscoring the importance of preventive measures for public health.
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Improving growth in preterm infants through nutrition: a practical overview.

Front Nutr

September 2024

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

The primary purpose of this practical overview is to provide a practical update on appropriate nutritional strategies to improve growth in preterm infants. Current recommendations for improving preterm growth concern both macronutrients and micronutrients, with tailored nutrition since the first days of life, particularly when fetal growth restriction has been reported. Human milk is undoubtedly the best nutrition for all newborns, but, in some populations, if not adequately fortified, it does not adequately support their growth.

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  • The use of oral anticancer agents (OAAs) has risen significantly, but patients face challenges like side effects and drug interactions that can impact their self-care.
  • Research aims to identify predictors of self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management among cancer patients on OAAs, emphasizing the need for knowledge about self-care determinants.
  • A systematic review found 45 studies focusing largely on adherence as a self-care maintenance component, identifying predictors such as age, side effects, and socioeconomic factors, indicating a gap in research on comprehensive self-care behaviors.
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Unlabelled: Limiting the availability of transition metals at infection sites serves as a critical defense mechanism employed by the innate immune system to combat microbial infections. exhibits a remarkable ability to thrive in zinc-deficient environments, facilitated by intricate cellular responses governed by numerous genes regulated by the zinc-responsive transcription factor Zur. Many of these genes have unknown functions, including those within the predicted and operons.

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The development of novel drug candidates is a current challenge in pharmacology where therapeutic benefits must exceed side effects. Toxicology testing is therefore a fundamental step in drug discovery research. Herein, we describe the first line of toxicology testing program, consisting in cell-based high-throughput screening assays, which have the advantage of being easy, rapid, cheap, and reproducible while providing quantitative information.

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Unveiling the disease progression in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies: Insights from EEG and neuropsychology.

Epilepsia

November 2024

Neurology, Epilepsy and Movement Disorders Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Full Member of European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Epilepsies EpiCARE, Rome, Italy.

Article Synopsis
  • Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are disorders that lead to developmental delays and epilepsy; this study evaluates their progression through clinical data, EEG results, and neuropsychological assessments from the onset of seizures to follow-up.
  • The research included a retrospective review of 160 patients at a children's hospital in Rome, which revealed significant changes in EEG activity and cognitive functions over time, while epileptiform abnormalities remained relatively stable.
  • Findings highlight a high prevalence of drug resistance and various disorders among patients, as well as a notable progression in cognitive impairment and EEG disruptions associated with genetic DEEs.
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Increasingly, studies use social media to recruit, enroll, and collect data from participants. This introduces a threat to data integrity: efforts to produce fraudulent data to receive participant compensation, e.g.

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