Understanding the Pathogenesis of Neurotrophic Keratitis: The Role of Corneal Nerves.

Neurotrophic keratitis (NK) is a rare degenerative disease of the cornea caused by trigeminal nerve damage, which leads to loss of corneal sensitivity, corneal epithelium breakdown, and poor healing. Though extremely uncommon, NK is increasingly recognized for its characteristics as a distinct and well-defined clinical entity rather than a rare complication of various diseases that can disrupt trigeminal innervation. Indeed, the defining feature of NK is loss of corneal sensitivity, and its clinical findings do not correlate with the wide range of systemic or ocular conditions that underlie trigeminal nerve damage.

Development of innovative hybrid and intrinsically magnetic nanobeads as a drug delivery system.

Aim: Synthesis of superparamagnetic hybrid nanobeads (MHNs) made of iron-substituted hydroxyapatite nanophase mineralizing a self-assembling alginate (Alg) matrix to be used as drug carriers, with ability of remote activation by magnetic signaling.

Materials & Methods: Iron-doped apatite was heterogeneously nucleated on the self-assembling Alg matrix by a bioinspired mineralization process and MHNs are formed by a subsequent emulsification by oil-in-water technique.

Results: The obtained MHNs exhibited biomimetic composition, adequate swelling properties in physiological-like environment and superparamagnetic properties.

Laparoscopic vs. open treatment of endometrial cancer in the elderly and very elderly: An age-stratified multicenter study on 1606 women.

Unlabelled: Objective To investigate in depth the effect of increasing age on the peri-operative outcomes of laparoscopic treatment for endometrial cancer, compared to open surgery, with stratification of patients according to the different definitions of elderly age used in the literature.

Methods: Data of consecutive patients who underwent surgery for endometrial cancer staging at six centers were reviewed and analyzed according to surgical approach (laparoscopic or open), different definitions of elderly and very elderly age (≥65years, ≥75years, ≥80years), and class of age (<65; ≥65-<75; ≥75-80; ≥80years). Multivariable analysis to correct for possible confounders and propensity-score matching to minimize selection bias were used.

Non-magnetic equipment for the high-resolution quantification of finger kinematics during functional studies of bimanual coordination.

Simultaneous recording of behavioral and functional data is crucial in capturing the neural mechanisms underpinning human motor actions. We describe a non-magnetic equipment (NME) to record finger kinematics, in particular the absolute amplitude of finger oscillation, during bimanual coordination paradigms performed in functional studies. NME monitors finger movements with optic fiber signals that are post-processed off-line to quantify finger kinematics.

Addressing the need for increased adherence to multiple sclerosis therapy: can delivery technology enhance patient motivation?

Background: Several injectable disease-modifying drugs are available for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) to control disease progression and reduce relapse frequency and severity. However, the benefits offered by treatment may be compromised by suboptimal levels of adherence to prescribed regimens.

Objective: To examine what is now known about adherence to MS therapies, and to discuss how technological advances may affect adherence in the future, with reference to examples from other therapy areas.