Primary sclerosing cholangitis in children with inflammatory bowel disease: An ESPGHAN position paper from the Hepatology Committee and the IBD Porto group.

Objective: We aimed to provide an evidence-supported approach to diagnose, monitor, and treat children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Methods: The core group formulated seven PICO-structured clinical questions. A systematic literature search from inception to December 2022 was conducted by a medical librarian using MEDLINE and EMBASE.

HBV and HCV testing outcomes among marginalized communities in Italy, 2019-2024: a prospective study.

Background: The health of the marginalized populations is crucial for public health and inequalities. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Hepatitis Report 2024 stated that over 304 million people were living with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)/Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection in 2022. We performed HBV/HCV screenings among marginalized communities to reveal hidden infections and link-to-care positive participants.

CT-radiomics and pathological tumor response to systemic therapy: A predictive analysis for colorectal liver metastases. Development and internal validation of a clinical-radiomic model.

Introduction: The standard treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is surgery with perioperative chemotherapy. A tumor response to systemic therapy confirmed at pathology examination is the strongest predictor of survival, but it cannot be adequately predicted in the preoperative setting. This bi-institutional retrospective study investigates whether CT-based radiomics of CRLM and peritumoral tissue provides a reliable non-invasive estimation of the pathological tumor response to chemotherapy.

The Relationship Between Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Atherogenic Index with LV Geometry Pattern in Obese Children: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in Serbia.

Arterial hypertension and increased atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) are strong predictors of cardiovascular risk associated in individuals with obesity both in adults and children. Thus, we aimed to explore the relationship between AIP and systolic ambulatory blood pressure index (sABPI) with left ventricular geometry pattern in obese children. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 129 obese children (BMI greater or equal to the 95th percentile for age and sex) were examined.

Venetoclax Plus Intensified Chemoimmunotherapy as a Bridge to Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Richter Syndrome: Report of Two Cases.

Richter syndrome (RS) represents a major unmet need in the lymphoma field, being refractory to chemoimmunotherapy and targeted agents. The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax in combination with dose-adjusted EPOCH-R chemoimmunotherapy showed promising efficacy in patients affected by RS. However, responses were not durable, suggesting the need for further treatment optimization.

Perioperative therapies and techniques to enhance penile dimensional and functional outcomes following inflatable penile prosthesis implantation: a contemporary 10-year systematic review.

Implantation of inflatable penile prosthesis should be considered as a definitive treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, the sole procedure might not allow for optimal dimensional and functional outcomes. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature and present the findings on the optimal choice of perioperative methods, surgical techniques, and pharmacotherapy to improve penile length, curvature, and erectile function.

Exploring the impact of exercise on women with ovarian cancer: A call for more methodologically standardized RCTs to enable a realistic systematic review.

Introduction: Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among gynecological malignancies, often diagnosed at advanced stages due to nonspecific symptoms and limited screening tools. Standard treatment, including cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy, can cause fatigue, physical dysfunction, and psychological distress, impacting quality of life. Exercise interventions have shown potential to mitigate these effects, but inconsistent methodologies in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) limit reliable conclusions and clinical integration.

Management of a young HoFH patient during pregnancy using Lipoprotein Apheresis (whole blood): A novel experience.

The pregnancy of a patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) represents a challenge in the clinical setting due to the high cardiovascular risk of the mother and maternal-fetal morbidity. The lipid lowering drugs are generally contraindicated and lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is the only accepted treatment in HoFH pregnant woman. Liposorber D, an LA technique on whole blood, has good efficacy, safety, and short operative time.

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.

Could chronic opioid use be an additional risk of hepatic damage in patients with previous liver diseases, and what is the role of microbiome?

Among illicit drugs, addiction from opioids and synthetic opioids is soaring in an unparalleled manner with its unacceptable amount of deaths. Apart from these extreme consequences, the liver toxicity is another important aspect that should be highlighted. Accordingly, the chronic use of these substances, of which fentanyl is the most frequently consumed, represents an additional risk of liver damage in patients with underlying chronic liver disease.

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Crohn's Disease: Results from a Large Real-Life Cohort Study.

Ustekinumab (UST) is an interleukin-12/interleukin-23 receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Only limited real-life data on the long-term outcomes of CD patients treated with UST are available. This study assessed UST's long-term effectiveness and safety in a large population-based cohort of moderate to severe CD patients.

Secondary Brain Injury After Parenchymal Cerebral Hemorrhage in Humans: The Role of NOX2-Mediated Oxidative Stress and Endothelin-1.

Perihematomal hypoperfusion may lead to ischemic damage during intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhage (ICH), resulting in worse prognosis. We aimed to (1) investigate the relationship between serum biomarkers related to oxidative stress and vasoactive substances and the occurrence of hypoperfusion and ischemic perihematomal lesions in ICH and (2) evaluate their correlation with the volumetric evolution of the hematoma and perihematomal edema. We enrolled 28 patients affected by ICH.

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy Can Help in Detecting Clinically Silent Mammary Paget's Disease.

Early detection and comprehensive diagnostic approaches for breast cancer are essential for improving prognosis. When it comes to changes in the skin of the breast or the nipple-areola complex (NAC), particularly if they are unilateral, it is essential to be vigilant, as these changes could be an early sign of underlying malignancy or other pathologies. Primary breast malignancies, such as mammary Paget's disease (MPD), can manifest as erythema, scaling, or ulceration of the NAC, while secondary cutaneous metastases from other breast carcinomas may present as nodules, erythematous plaques, or inflammatory reactions.

Comparative efficacy of different bowel preparations for colonoscopy: A network meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: The quality of a colonoscopy is heavily reliant on the effectiveness of bowel cleansing. Various cleansing solutions are currently available, but their comparative efficacy remains uncertain. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aims to compare the performance of different bowel preparations for colonoscopy.

Exploring Sex Differences in Outcomes of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for Patients With Noncardioembolic Mild-to-Moderate Ischemic Stroke or High-Risk Transient Ischemic Attack: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of the READAPT Study Cohort.

Background: Sex may impact clinical outcomes in patients with stroke treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). We aimed to investigate the sex differences in the short-term outcomes of DAPT within a real-world population of patients with noncardioembolic mild-to-moderate ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack.

Methods: We performed a propensity score-matched analysis from a prospective multicentric cohort study (READAPT [Real-Life Study on Short-Term Dual Antiplatelet Treatment in Patients With Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack]) by including patients with noncardioembolic mild-to-moderate stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 0-10) or high-risk transient ischemic attack (age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration of transient ischemic attack, presence of diabetes [ABCD] ≥4) who initiated DAPT within 48 hours of symptom onset.

The role of microbiome in the development of gluten-related disorders.

Gluten-related disorders (GRD) include celiac disease (CD), non celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and wheat allergy (WA), conditions that are associated with the ingestion of gluten-containing food. Gut microbiota composition and function may be involved in the pathogenesis of GRD. In untreated CD the microbiota is characterized by a reduction in beneficial microbes like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and an increase in pathogenic ones such as Bacteroides and E.

The microbiome-driven impact of western diet in the development of noncommunicable chronic disorders.

Noncommunicable chronic disorders (NCDs) are multifactorial disorders that share a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation together with an imbalance of gut microbiota. NCDs are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, and mainly in Western countries, with a significant impact on global health. Societal changes, together with the widespread diffusion of modern agricultural methods and food processing, have led to a significant shift in dietary habits over the past century, with an increased diffusion of the Western diet (WD).

The impact of vaccination status on post-acute sequelae in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors using a multi-disciplinary approach: An observational single center study.

Background: COVID-19 vaccines reduced mortality, hospitalizations and ICUs admissions. Conversely, the impact of vaccination on Long COVID-19 syndrome is still unclear. This study compared the prevalence of post-acute sequelae at short and long-term follow-up among hospitalized unvaccinated and vaccinated COVID-19 survivors through a multidisciplinary approach.

Five-Year Multiple Comparison of Transcatheter Aortic Valves: Insights From the OBSERVANT II study.

Background: Head-to-head comparisons of second and third generations of transcatheter heart valves (THVs) are mostly limited to 2-arm studies and to mid-term follow-up. The aim of this study was to simultaneously compare clinical outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with 4 different THVs at 5 years.

Methods: Patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR with 4 second-generation THV platforms and enrolled in the multicentre prospective OBSERVANT II study from December 2016 to September 2018 were compared according to the THV received.

Celiac Disease and Inflammatory Cardiomyopathies: Exploring the Heart-Gut Axis.

: Celiac disease (CD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events, especially inflammatory heart diseases. We aimed to gather evidence on the association between CD and inflammatory CV diseases, including pericarditis and myocarditis, and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. : The PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies assessing the prevalence and the long-term outcomes of patients with CD and inflammatory CV diseases.

Endovascular treatment of lower limb acute DVT: current trends and future directions.

Unlabelled: AIM OF THE STUDY: This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and comparative outcomes of endovascular treatments for acute lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT), including catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (PMT), mechanical thrombectomy, and venous stenting, drawing insights from a diverse range of studies.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive literature search identified 33 relevant studies, including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, systematic reviews, and case reports. Data extraction focused on study design, intervention type, outcome measures, and follow-up duration.

TAVI with the ACURATE neo2 in severe bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: the Neo2 BAV Registry.

Background: The ACURATE neo2 is a contemporary transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system approved for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in Europe. The ACURATE neo2 has not been evaluated in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis.

Aims: We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ACURATE neo2 in patients with BAV stenosis.