An Ascaris lumbricoides infection diagnosed by colonoscopy: A case report and a brief literature review.

Background: Ascaris lumbricoides is a nematode that parasitizes the human gastrointestinal tract, and it is the cause of the most common helminthic infections worldwide. It predominates in areas of poor sanitation. Early diagnosis of this intestinal infection is pivotal to avoid its severe and lethal complications such as gut obstruction, volvulus, and perforation.

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.

AZD2693, a PNPLA3 antisense oligonucleotide, for the treatment of MASH in 148M homozygous participants: two randomized phase I trials.

Background & Aims: A common genetic variant (rs738409) encoding isoleucine to methionine at position 148 in the PNPLA3 protein is a determinant of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver-related mortality. AZD2693 is a liver-targeted antisense oligonucleotide against PNPLA3 mRNA. We evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) studies.

Prospective Multicenter Evaluation of the MDS "Suggestive of PSP" Diagnostic Criteria.

Background: The recent Movement Disorders Society (MDS)-progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) diagnostic criteria conceptualized three clinical diagnostic certainty levels: "suggestive of PSP" for sensitive early diagnosis based on subtle clinical signs, "possible PSP" balancing sensitivity and specificity, and "probable PSP" highly specific for PSP pathology.

Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively validate the criteria against long-term clinical follow-up and characterize the diagnostic certainty increase over time.

Methods: Patients with "possible PSP" or "suggestive of PSP" diagnosis and clinical follow-up were recruited in two German multicenter longitudinal observational studies (ProPSP and DescribePSP).

Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fracture: When Should We Surgically Treat? A Case-Series.

: Supracondylar humerus fractures (SCHFs) are the most common pediatric elbow injuries and often require surgical intervention. Despite guidelines, optimal timing for surgical management, particularly for cases without neurovascular compromise, remains unclear. This study evaluates the influence of surgical timing on short-term outcomes, focusing on fracture reduction quality and surgical parameters.

The Influence of an Intense Training Regime in Professional and Non-Professional Athletes on Semen Parameters: A Systematic Review.

: Male infertility is influenced by physiological factors like age, as well as lifestyle factors, including physical activity. However, the specific impact of sport activity on semen parameters, and thus on male fertility, remains unclear. Specifically, the aim of this systematic review is to evaluate how an intense regime of training may affect sperm parameters in professional and non-profession athletes.

Exploring the Hearing Improvement and Parental Stress in Children with Hearing Loss Using Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants.

This study aims to describe the stress levels experienced by parents of children with hearing loss who use conventional hearing aids or cochlear implants, and to assess the correlation between parental stress and the auditory skills acquired by the children. The study was conducted at the Policlinic "Gaetano Martino" in Messina, evaluating data from 42 pairs of parents of children using hearing aids or cochlear implants. Parents completed the LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire (LEAQ) and the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) 18 months after the initial device (hearing aid or cochlear implant) had been activated.

The IL-23R and Its Genetic Variants: A Hitherto Unforeseen Bridge Between the Immune System and Cancer Development.

IL-23R (interleukin-23 receptor), found on the surface of several immune cells, plays a key role in the immune system. Indeed, this process is not limited to the inflammatory response but also plays a role in the adaptive immune response. The binding between IL-23R and its specific ligand, the interleukin 23, initiates a number of specific signals by modulating both properties and behavior of immune cells.

An Innovative Method of Improving an Extract of from Leaves: Its Anticancer Effect Involves the Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum.

In this manuscript, the effects of two extracts from were tested: (a) an extract titrated to 49.7% of andrographolide and obtained from leaves of the plant: (b) the pure andrographolide titrated to 99%. The extracts were dissolved in 1-butanol and tested on tumor lines (MCF7 and SH-SY5Y) and the non-tumor line (Huvec) to understand the effects on cell proliferation.

Novel Variants Related to a Variable Phenotypic Spectrum Ranging from Epilepsy with Auditory Features to Severe Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies.

Pathogenic variants are associated with neonatal epilepsies, ranging from self-limited neonatal epilepsy to -developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). In this study, next-generation sequencing was performed, applying a panel of 142 epilepsy genes on three unrelated individuals and affected family members, showing a wide variability in the epileptic spectrum. The genetic analysis revealed two likely pathogenic missense variants (c.

The Role of GFAP in Post-Mortem Analysis of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, particularly in forensic settings where determining the cause of death and timing of injury is critical. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a biomarker specific to astrocytes, has emerged as a valuable tool in post-mortem analyses of TBI. A PRISMA-based literature search included studies examining GFAP in human post-mortem samples such as brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, and urine.

The Role of Cardiac Troponins in Postmortem Diagnosis of Myocardial Ischemia: A Systematic Review.

Postmortem diagnosis of myocardial ischemia remains a challenge in forensic pathology, as traditional methods like autopsy and histology may not always provide conclusive results. Cardiac troponins, specifically cTnI and cTnT, are well-established biomarkers for myocardial injury in living patients, but their role in postmortem ischemia diagnosis is still under investigation. This systematic review aims to evaluate the role of troponins in diagnosing myocardial ischemia in postmortem cases, focusing on the diagnostic accuracy, sample types, and the influence of the postmortem interval (PMI).

Non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB 101, 153, and 180) and adipocyte lipid dysfunctions: involvement of glycerol and role of aquaglyceroporins in mature 3T3-L1 cells.

Non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs), as well as dioxin-like PCBs, are endocrine disruptors that persist in human and animal tissues worldwide. Due to their lipophilicity and resistance to enzymatic degradation, PCBs accumulate in fat deposits contributing to the onset of endocrine and metabolic diseases. Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane channel proteins that allow the transport of water and small solutes.

Correlation of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography and Slit-Lamp Imaging in Infectious Keratitis.

Purpose: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) is increasingly being used to complement slit-lamp biomicroscopy in the evaluation of corneal infections. Our purpose was to analyze, compare, and correlate the clinical signs elicited by these 2 methods in patients with infectious keratitis (IK).

Methods: Slit-lamp photomicrographs (diffuse and slit beam) and AS-OCT scans were obtained from 20 consecutive patients (21 eyes) with IK.

The Protective Role of the FIFA 11+ Training Program on the Valgus Loading of the Knee in Academy Soccer Players Across a Season.

: Improper neuromuscular control with excessive dynamic valgus loading of the knee has been identified as one of the main anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the FIFA 11+ training program on the valgus loading of the knee in academy soccer players over a competitive season. : A prospective study was conducted on 85 players.

Deception and Fraud in the Justification of "Pediatric Drug Development": A Challenge at the Interface of Medicine and Law.

United States and European Union laws demand separate clinical studies in children as a condition for drugs' marketing approval. Justified by carefully framed pseudo-scientific wordings, more so the European Medicines Agency than the United States Food and Drug Administration, "Pediatric Drug Development" is probably the largest abuse in medical research in history. Preterm newborns are immature and vulnerable, but they grow.

Prognostic Value of Myocardial CT-ECV in Severe Aortic Stenosis Requiring Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Aim: Computed tomography (CT)-derived extracellular volume fraction (ECV) is a non-invasive method to quantify myocardial fibrosis. Evaluating CT-ECV during aortic valve replacement (AVR) planning CT in severe aortic stenosis (AS) may aid prognostic stratification. This meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic significance of CT-ECV in severe AS necessitating AVR.

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.

The Role of [F]F-FDG PET/CT for Predicting Histology and Prognosis in Patients with Thymic Lesions.

Objectives: To investigate whether 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ([F]F-FDG PET/CT) metabolic parameters were associated with histology and to assess their prognostic role in patients with thymic lesions.

Patients And Methods: In total, 116 patients (49/67 M/F; mean age 59.5 years) who underwent preoperative [F]F-FDG PET/CT and thymectomy from 2012 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.

Racecadotril in the management of diarrhea: an underestimated therapeutic option?

Acute infectious diarrhea (AID) represents an important clinical entity both regarding morbidity and mortality rates, even in industrialized countries, and it leads to one of the major public health burdens, among gastroenterological diseases, with significant healthcare costs. Oral rehydration solution is the cornerstone of the therapy, but despite its proven efficacy in avoiding dehydration, it is still underused as it does not reduce the duration of diarrhea; hence, it is perceived as ineffective by caregivers. In this narrative review, we collected literature regarding the use of racecadotril, deeply discussing its role in the treatment of AID in both adults and children.

Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Using 1 Anterior Portal Has a Shorter Surgical Time and Comparable Clinical Results With the Standard 2-Portal Technique.

Purpose: To assess the modified 1 anterior portal Bankart repair and compare it to the 2-portal Bankart repair in terms of surgical time, functional scores, and recurrent dislocation.

Methods: Patients who underwent Bankart repair from 2014 to 2021 were identified and separated into 2 groups: a modified 1 anterior portal group and a 2 anterior portal group. The inclusion criteria were being >18 years old, having a recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with a Bankart lesion, and having a minimum 2-year follow-up.

The influence of seminal microbiota on human testicular steroidogenesis: a prospective study.

Objective: Preclinical evidence has demonstrated that gut microbiota composition can influence steroid hormone biosynthesis and spermatogenesis. This study aims to investigate the association of seminal microbiota and testicular steroidogenesis.

Patients And Methods: One hundred adult eugonadal men were consecutively enrolled.

Extended clinical phenotypes and treatment modalities in 32 JAGN1-deficient patients. A multicenter study by EBMT IEWP.

JAGN1 (Jagunal-homolog1) is a ER-resident transmembrane protein which is part of the early secretory pathway and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor mediated signaling. Autosomal recessively inherited variants in the JAGN1 gene lead to congenital neutropenia, early-onset bacterial infections, aphthosis and skin abscesses due to aberrant differentiation and maturation of neutrophils. In addition, bone metabolism disorders and a syndromic phenotype, including facial features, short stature and neurodevelopmental delay, have been reported in affected patients.

Pemphigus and Bullous Pemphigoid Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged the rapid development and licensing of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Currently, numerous vaccines are available on a global scale and are based on different mechanisms of action, including mRNA technology, viral vectors, inactive viruses, and subunit particles. Mass vaccination conducted worldwide has highlighted the potential development of side effects, including ones with skin involvement.

The Greater the Number of Altered Eating Behaviors in Obesity, the More Severe the Psychopathology.

: Altered eating behaviors (AEBs) are not only associated with eating disorders but also play a role in obesity. This study assessed AEBs in individuals with obesity and their association with general and eating psychopathology, using the "Eating Behaviors Assessment for Obesity" (EBA-O). The hypothesis posited that a higher frequency of pathological eating behaviors would correlate with more severe psychopathology.