Cranioplasty infection in porous hydroxyapatite: Potential antibacterial properties.

Introduction: Intensive research is dedicated to the development of novel biomaterials and medical devices to be used as grafts in reconstructive surgery, with the purpose of enhancing their therapeutic effectiveness, safety, and durability. A variety of biomaterials, from autologous bone to polymethylmetacrylate, polyether ether ketone, titanium, and calcium-based ceramics are used in cranioplasty. Porous hydroxyapatite (PHA) is reported as a possible material for bone reconstruction, with good signs of biocompatibility, osteoconductive and osteointegrative properties.

Formulation Study of a Poly(amino methacrylate) Film-Forming Solution for Transdermal Administration.

Background/objectives: The objective of this paper is to design a novel film-forming system (FFS) based on Eudragit E PO (EuE) polymeric solutions, differing in volatile solvents (i.e., isopropanol and ethanol) and plasticizers (i.

Uncovering the Mechanism of Action of Antiprotozoal Agents: A Survey on Photoaffinity Labeling Strategy.

, , and parasites are responsible for infectious diseases threatening millions of people worldwide. Despite more recent efforts devoted to the search for new antiprotozoal agents, efficacy, safety, and resistance issues still hinder the development of suited therapeutic options. The lack of robustly validated targets and the complexity of parasite's diseases have made phenotypic screening a preferential drug discovery strategy for the identification of new chemical entities.

Diagnostic Algorithm Using Multimodal Imaging for the Differential Diagnosis of Intra-Cardiac Masses.

Cardiac masses are complex clinical conditions that frequently pose diagnostic challenges in cardiology practice. These masses can form within heart chambers or near the pericardium and are generally categorized as either non-neoplastic or neoplastic. These latter are further classified into benign and malignant (primary and secondary or metastatic).

All You Need to Know About TACE: A Comprehensive Review of Indications, Techniques, Efficacy, Limits, and Technical Advancement.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a proven and widely accepted treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma and it is recommended as first-line non-curative therapy for BCLC B/intermediate HCC (preserved liver function, multifocal, no cancer-related symptoms) in patients without vascular involvement. Different types of TACE are available nowadays, including TAE, c-TACE, DEB-TACE, and DSM-TACE, but at present there is insufficient evidence to recommend one TACE technique over another and the choice is left to the operator. This review then aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature on indications, types of procedures, safety, and efficacy of different TACE treatments.

A Novel Approach for In Vitro Testing and Hazard Evaluation of Nanoformulated RyR2-Targeting siRNA Drugs Using Human PBMCs.

Nucleic acid (NA)-based drugs are promising therapeutics agents. Beyond efficacy, addressing safety concerns-particularly those specific to this class of drugs-is crucial. Here, we propose an in vitro approach to screen for potential adverse off-target effects of NA-based drugs.

Targeting Bacterial Cell Division with Benzodioxane-Benzamide FtsZ Inhibitors as a Novel Strategy to Fight Gram-Positive Ovococcal Pathogens.

The widespread emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to global public health and among Gram-positive cocci, constitutes a priority in the list of AMR-threatening pathogens. To counteract this fundamental problem, the bacterial cell division cycle and the crucial proteins involved in this process emerged as novel attractive targets. FtsZ is an essential cell division protein, and FtsZ inhibitors, especially the benzamide derivatives, have been exploited in the last decade.

The Epigenetic Machinery and Energy Expenditure: A Network to Be Revealed.

Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery (MDEMs) include a large number of conditions caused by defective activity of a member of the epigenetic machinery. MDEMs are characterized by multiple congenital abnormalities, intellectual disability and abnormal growth. that can be variably up- or down-regulated.

Advances and Challenges in Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis: Integrating Early Warning Scores and Biomarkers for Improved Prognosis.

Identifying and managing pediatric sepsis is a major research focus, yet early detection and risk assessment remain challenging. In its early stages, sepsis symptoms often mimic those of mild infections or chronic conditions, complicating timely diagnosis. Although various early warning scores exist, their effectiveness is limited, particularly in prehospital settings where accurate, rapid assessment is crucial.

Vascular Access Device Infections: Current Management Practices and the Role of Multidisciplinary Teams at a Large Hospital in Northern Italy.

: Vascular access device (VAD)-associated infections, including catheter-related (CRBSI) and catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CABSI), present significant challenges in patient care. While multidisciplinary VAD teams (VATs) are equipped with protocols for managing these infections, adherence to these guidelines in real-life practice is inconsistent. This study aims to evaluate the alignment between actual VAD infection management practices and VAT-recommended protocols.

Characterization of Urine-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells from Healthy Dogs and Dogs Affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Urine-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (USCs) could be a valuable source of cells in regenerative medicine because urine can be easily collected non-invasively. In this paper, USCs were isolated from both healthy dogs and dogs affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the efficacy of collection methods (spontaneous micturition, bladder catheterization, and cystocentesis) were compared. Isolated cells were cultured in the presence of platelet-rich plasma and studied for their proliferative capacity (growth curve, doubling time, and colony forming unit), differentiation properties, expression of mesenchymal markers, and Klotho protein.

Deep Learning-Based Glioma Segmentation of 2D Intraoperative Ultrasound Images: A Multicenter Study Using the Brain Tumor Intraoperative Ultrasound Database (BraTioUS).

Intraoperative ultrasound (ioUS) provides real-time imaging during neurosurgical procedures, with advantages such as portability and cost-effectiveness. Accurate tumor segmentation has the potential to substantially enhance the interpretability of ioUS images; however, its implementation is limited by persistent challenges, including noise, artifacts, and anatomical variability. This study aims to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for glioma segmentation in ioUS images via a multicenter dataset.

Prognostic Modeling of Overall Survival in Glioblastoma Using Radiomic Features Derived from Intraoperative Ultrasound: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Background: Accurate prognostic models are essential for optimizing treatment strategies for glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain tumor. While other neuroimaging modalities have demonstrated utility in predicting overall survival (OS), intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) remains underexplored for this purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic potential of iUS radiomics in glioblastoma patients in a multi-institutional cohort.

The Rare Entity of Basaloid Thymic Carcinoma: A Multicentric Retrospective Analysis from the Italian Collaborative Group for ThYmic MalignanciEs (TYME).

Background: thymic basaloid carcinoma (BTC) is an extremely rare tumor, and very little data are available on BTC's biology, clinical behavior, drug sensitivity, and patient outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study on patients diagnosed with BTC in 11 referral centers of TYME. All BTC diagnoses were reviewed by the referring pathologist.

Specific Physical Performances of Young Male Basketball Players in Palestine: An Assessment by Maturity Status.

Objectives: There is a lack of studies that investigate the relationship between anthropometric profiles, biological maturity, and specific physical performances in young male basketball players. This study aimed to evaluate the development of anthropometric characteristics and physical performance across different age and maturity groups among male basketball players in Palestine, as well as to identify the anthropometric factors influencing physical performance within this population.

Methods: A total of one-hundred-fifty male basketball players, aged 12 to 16, participated in this study.

Molecular Insights in the Anticancer Activity of Natural Tocotrienols: Targeting Mitochondrial Metabolism and Cellular Redox Homeostasis.

The role of mitochondria as the electric engine of cells is well established. Over the past two decades, accumulating evidence has pointed out that, despite the presence of a highly active glycolytic pathway (Warburg effect), a functional and even upregulated mitochondrial respiration occurs in cancer cells to meet the need of high energy and the biosynthetic demand to sustain their anabolic growth. Mitochondria are also the primary source of intracellular ROS.

Predictive value of TG/HDL-C and GFR-adjusted uric acid levels on cardiovascular mortality: the URRAH study.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) and serum uric acid (SUA) are closely interconnected: SUA contributes to adversely affects the insulin signaling pathway and contributes to IR, while IR is a known predictor for the development of hyperuricemia. The triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio has been proposed as an easily obtainable marker for IR. This research aimed to investigate the interaction between IR and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)-adjusted uricemia (SUA/GFR ratio) in determining CV risk in a large population cohort study.

Plasma levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain in patients with chronic migraine: a multicenter case-control study.

Objective: Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (pGFAP) and plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) levels reflect astrocyte activation and neuronal damage, respectively. Whether these phenomena play a role in migraine is unknown. This study aimed to compare pGFAP and pNfL levels in patients with chronic migraine (CM) and age-matched controls and to analyze their relation with clinical features.

Exploring neutrophils as therapeutic targets in cardiometabolic diseases.

Current therapies for diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ACVDs) mainly target metabolic risk factors, but often fall short in addressing systemic inflammation, a key driver of disease onset and progression. Advances in our understanding of the biology of neutrophils, the cells that are principally involved in inflammatory situations, have highlighted their pivotal role in cardiometabolic diseases. Yet, neutrophils can reprogram their immune-metabolic functions based on the energetic substrates available, thus influencing both tissue homeostasis and the resolution of inflammation.

Trends and Updates in the Management and Outcomes of Acute Uncomplicated Type B Aortic Dissection.

Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) presents a complex clinical challenge requiring coordinated, multidisciplinary care to optimize patient outcomes. While rapid intervention is crucial for complicated TBAD, the optimal management of uncomplicated cases remains less well-defined. Historically, uncomplicated TBAD was managed medically, but recent years have seen a shift toward selective interventional approaches.

Exploring specific alterations at the explicit and perceptual levels in sense of ownership, agency, and body schema in Functional Motor Disorder: A pilot comparative study with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Functional Motor Disorders (FMD) consists in symptoms of altered motor function not attributable to typical neurological and medical conditions. This study aimed to explore explicit and perceptual measures of Sense of Ownership, Agency, and Body Schema in FMD patients, and assess whether these alterations are specific to FMD or shared with other functional disturbances. Twelve FMD patients, ten with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS, a functional gastrointestinal disorder) and fifteen healthy controls (HC) underwent: (i) the Mirror Box Illusion (MBI), requiring participants to perform tapping movements with their dominant hand concealed from sight, while visual feedback was provided by an alien hand under visuo-motor congruency or incongruency conditions; (ii) a Forearm Bisection Task before and after exposure to the MBI, and the Embodiment Questionnaire after the MBI, as perceptual and explicit indices of the embodiment illusion, respectively.

Biomarker Investigation Using Multiple Brain Measures from MRI Through Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Alzheimer's Disease Classification.

As the leading cause of dementia worldwide, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has prompted significant interest in developing Deep Learning (DL) approaches for its classification. However, it currently remains unclear whether these models rely on established biological indicators. This work compares a novel DL model using structural connectivity (namely, BC-GCN-SE adapted from functional connectivity tasks) with an established model using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (namely, ResNet18).

Analytical protocol for measuring micro-molar quantities of sulfur volatile species in experimental high pressure and temperature fluids.

Validating thermodynamic models is essential in experimental geosciences for exploring increasingly complex systems and developing analytical protocols. However, investigating solid-fluid equilibria in mm-sized experimental capsules poses several challenges, particularly in sulfur-bearing chemical systems. These include maintaining bulk fluid composition and performing quantitative analysis with extremely low amounts of synthesized fluid.

Systematic review of the needs and health-related quality of life domains relevant to people surviving cancer in Europe.

Purpose: To systematically review qualitative studies on outcomes, needs, experiences, preferences, concerns and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people surviving cancer in Europe in the last decade.

Methods: Protocol registered ( https://www.crd.