First use of cord blood platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus: a preliminary study towards a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although topical corticosteroids (TCS) represent first-line treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) and as such should be prescribed to all women at time of diagnosis, approximately 30% of patients do not experience complete symptom resolution following such treatment. TCS may not effectively improve vulvar trophism and elasticity, both of which are crucial for sexual function. Owing to its regenerative and healing properties, cord blood platelet-rich plasma (CB-PRP) may represent an efficacious supplementary therapy, to be administered following first line treatment with TCS.

Long-term fasting induces a remodelling of fatty acid composition in erythrocyte membranes.

Introduction: Long-term fasting (LF) activates an adaptative response to switch metabolic fuels from food glucose to lipids stored in adipose tissues. The increase in free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation during fasting triggers health benefits. We questioned if the changes in lipid metabolism during LF could affect lipids in cell membranes in humans.

Mechanistic insights into the base-mediated deuteration of pyridyl phosphonium and ammonium salts.

Pyridines can be deuterated at the remote sites by treatment with KOBu in DMSO- , although without discrimination between the - and -position. Herein, base-catalyzed deuterations have been studied, computationally and experimentally, using a series of pyridyl phosphonium salts with a temporary electron-withdrawing group to block the -position while increasing the acidity in the other positions.

Staple principles for the definition of front-of-pack nutritional labels.

Front-of-pack nutrition labels (FOPNLs) have been developed since 1989 to curb the increasing prevalence of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and to promote healthy consumption choices. While several countries have introduced their own labeling schemes on a voluntary basis, the European Commission aims to harmonize a FOPNL system that will be mandatory for all member states. This paper summarizes a contribution to the current debate on FOPNLs from Italian and Spanish researchers working in the fields of human nutrition, nutritional epidemiology and public health education and communication policy before the final decision on FOPNLs to become mandatory in Europe is taken.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PULMONARY EMBOLISM IN COVID-19 VERSUS NON COVID-19 PATIENTS: A MULTICENTRIC CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OVER A 24-MONTH PERSPECTIVE.

Background: COVID-19 is associated with intense systemic inflammation and abnormal coagulation profile leading to an increased incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE). This study investigates whether PE in COVID-19 patients has different clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics when compared to traditional PE in COVID negative patients.

Methods: We conducted an observational, multicentric, cross-sectional study on consecutive patients diagnosed with PE at admission or during hospital stay from February 21 2019 to February 20 2021.

Combining an Anterolateral Complex Procedure With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Reduces Graft Reinjury Without Increasing the Rate of Complications: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) or lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) has been used more frequently in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in recent years. However, there are still concerns that these procedures may lead to complications such as overconstraint of the lateral compartment, stiffness, infections, tunnel convergence, and other intra- and postoperative complications because of increased surgical time and the need for additional procedures.

Hypothesis/purpose: The lateral extra-articular procedure will reduce the failure rate of reconstructed ACLs without increasing the number of complications.

Unveiling the drug delivery mechanism of graphene oxide dots at the atomic scale.

Graphene oxide (GO) is an amphiphilic and versatile graphene-based nanomaterial that is extremely promising for targeted drug delivery, which aims to administer drugs in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. A typical GO nanocarrier features a polyethylene glycol coating and conjugation to an active targeting ligand. However, it is challenging to accurately model GO dots, because of their intrinsically complex and not unique structure.

Deep Convolutional Framelets for Dose Reconstruction in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy with Compton Camera Detector.

Background: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an innovative binary form of radiation therapy with high selectivity towards cancer tissue based on the neutron capture reaction B(n,α)Li, consisting in the exposition of patients to neutron beams after administration of a boron compound with preferential accumulation in cancer cells. The high linear energy transfer products of the ensuing reaction deposit their energy at the cell level, sparing normal tissue. Although progress in accelerator-based BNCT has led to renewed interest in this cancer treatment modality, in vivo dose monitoring during treatment still remains not feasible and several approaches are under investigation.

Influence of Breast Density and Menopausal Status on Background Parenchymal Enhancement in Contrast-Enhanced Mammography: Insights from a Retrospective Analysis.

Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) has recently gained recognition as an effective alternative to breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing breast lesions, offering both morphological and functional imaging capabilities. However, the phenomenon of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) remains a critical consideration, as it can affect the interpretation of images by obscuring or mimicking lesions. While the impact of BPE has been well-documented in MRI, limited data are available regarding the factors influencing BPE in CEM and its relationship with breast cancer (BC) characteristics.

Dietary Macronutrient Composition and Risk of Radiation-Induced Acute Skin Toxicity in Women with Breast Cancer: Results from the ATHENA Project.

Background: The impact of the dietary macronutrient composition and its subcomponents (saccharides, fatty acids, and protein sources) on radiation-induced acute skin toxicity (AST) in breast cancer (BC) patients is unknown. Hence, we examined the association between dietary macronutrients and their subcomponents and the risk of ≥grade 2 (G2) AST post-radiotherapy among women with BC.

Methods: An observational study was conducted among 161 BC patients treated with radiotherapy and enrolled in the ATHENA project in Italy.

Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders and miRNA-Associated Disease: An Up-to-Date.

Chronic gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) impose significant health burdens globally. IBDs, encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are multifactorial disorders characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, IBS is one of the principal gastrointestinal tract functional disorders and is characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.

The Emerging Predictive and Prognostic Role of Aggressive-Variant-Associated Tumor Suppressor Genes Across Prostate Cancer Stages.

Aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC) is characterized by a molecular signature involving combined defects in , , and/or (AVPC-TSGs), identifiable through immunohistochemistry or genomic analysis. The reported prevalence of AVPC-TSG alterations varies widely, reflecting differences in assay sensitivity, treatment pressure, and disease stage evolution. Although robust clinical evidence is still emerging, the study of AVPC-TSG alterations in prostate cancer (PCa) is promising.

Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR) in the Diagnosis of a Diaphragm Dysfunction.

Dynamic digital radiography (DDR) is a recent imaging technique that allows for real-time visualization of thoracic and pulmonary movement in synchronization with the breathing cycle, providing useful clinical information. A 46-year-old male, a former smoker, was evaluated for unexplained dyspnea and reduced exercise tolerance. His medical history included a SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2021.

Coordination Chemistry of Mixed-Donor Pyridine-Containing Macrocyclic Ligands: From Optical to Redox Chemosensors for Heavy Metal Ions.

2,8-Dithia-5-aza-2,6-pyridinophane () has been used as a receptor unit in the construction of the conjugated redox chemosensor 5-ferrocenylmethyl-2,8-dithia-5-aza-2,6-pyridinophane (). In order to further explore the coordination chemistry of , and comparatively, that of its structural analogue 2,11-dithia-5,8-diaza-2,6-pyridinophane (), featuring two secondary nitrogen atoms in the macrocyclic unit, the crystal structures of the new synthesised complexes [Pb()(ClO)]·½CHCN, [Cu()](ClO)·CHCN and [Cd()(NO)]NO were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The electrochemical response of towards the metal ions Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Pb was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in CHCl/CHCN 0.

Comparative Analysis of Polyethylene-Oxidizing Laccases: Redox Properties and Enzyme-Polyethylene Interaction Mechanism.

Laccases that oxidize low-density polyethylene (LDPE) represent a promising strategy for bioremediation purposes. To rationalize or optimize their PE-oxidative activity, two fundamental factors must be considered: the enzyme's redox potential and its binding affinity/mode towards LDPE. Indeed, a stable laccase-PE complex may facilitate a thermodynamically unfavorable electron transfer, even without redox mediators.

Risk factors and protective measures for desmoid tumours in familial adenomatous polyposis: retrospective cohort study.

Background: Familial adenomatous polyposis is a cancer-predisposing syndrome caused by germline pathogenic variants of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene, leading to numerous colorectal polyps and a high risk of colorectal cancer. Desmoid tumours have become significant in the management of familial adenomatous polyposis after a colectomy, yet the exact incidence remains undetermined due to a lack of dedicated surveillance.

Methods: This retrospective study accessed data from the prospectively maintained Hereditary Digestive Tumours Registry from 2000 to 2023.

Pre-biologic FeNO might predict anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα response to treatment in severe asthmatics.

Objective: It remains unclear whether baseline FENO levels can predict response to anti-IL5/5R biologic treatment in patients with severe asthma.

Methods: We recruited 104 patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with anti-IL5/anti-IL5R for at least one year who had measured FeNO values before the beginning of anti-eosinophilic treatment. Population was divided into subjects with FeNO < 25 and ≥25 ppb.

Resolving the Nanostructure of Carbon Nitride-Supported Single-Atom Catalysts.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are gathering significant attention in chemistry due to their unique properties, offering uniform active site distribution and enhanced selectivity. However, their precise structure often remains unclear, with multiple models proposed in the literature. Understanding the coordination environment of the active site at the atomic level is crucial for explaining catalytic activity.

Safety of steroids in severe community-acquired pneumonia.

The systemic use of corticosteroids for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) remains controversial in clinical practice, particularly in terms of the safety profile of these drugs. This narrative review aims to analyse the available literature data concerning the safety of short-term steroid use in the treatment of sCAP, while also highlighting potential future research directions. Several trials and meta-analyses have evaluated corticosteroid therapy as an adjuvant treatment for sCAP, yielding heterogeneous results regarding its efficacy and safety.

A Multimodal Approach to Symptomatic Endometriosis: A Proposed Algorithm for Clinical Management.

Recent research has proven that peripheral (PS) and central sensitization (CS), mental health, and myofascial dysfunction all play a role, alongside nociception, in the genesis and in the perpetuation of endometriosis' symptoms. However, such components of pain are still largely ignored in clinical practice, although not considering such contributors may entail serious consequences on women's health, including the choice of unnecessary surgery and leaving the real causes of pain untreated. At the present time, we are facing a paradox by which 25-40% of women who undergo laparoscopic surgery for pelvic pain do not have an obvious diagnosis, while the percentage of women with endometriosis who have signs of CS, of depressive or anxiety disorders, or who have an increased pelvic muscle tone ammounts to 41-55%, 15-88% and 28-73%, respectively.

Screening properties of the updated normative framework for the Italian MMSE in MCI and dementia.

Background: This study aimed to assess the screening properties of Foderaro et al.s' updated normative framework for the Italian MMSE in detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to neurodegenerative, chronic cerebrovascular, and mixed etiologies, as well as in differentiating between these two syndromes.

Methods: Data on 234 patients with either MCI (N = 83) or dementia (N = 151) due to Alzheimer's disease (N = 112), Lewy body disease (N = 11), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (N = 20), chronic cerebrovascular disease (N = 39), or mixed (N = 47) etiologies having been administered Foderaro et al.

Critical Care Therapy After Cytoreductive Nephrectomy for Metastatic Kidney Cancer.

Objectives: To examine critical care therapy rates after cytoreductive nephrectomy in metastatic kidney cancer patients.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Relying on the National Inpatient Sample (2000-2019), we addressed critical care therapy use (total parenteral nutrition, invasive mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion, and tracheostomy) and in-hospital mortality in surgically treated metastatic kidney cancer patients. Estimated annual percentage changes and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted.