A large series of molecular and serological specimens to evaluate mother-to-child SARS-CoV-2 transmission: a prospective study from the Italian Obstetric Surveillance System.

Objectives: To assay the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in vaginal, rectal, and placental swabs among pregnant women and in newborn nasopharyngeal swabs and to investigate the immunological response and maternal antibody transfer through the umbilical cord blood and milk of unvaccinated mothers.

Methods: Vaginal, rectal, and placental specimens, maternal and neonatal serum, and milk were collected from a wide cohort of pregnant Italian women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the hospital between February 25, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Samples were tested in selected reference laboratories according to a shared interlaboratory protocol.

Conversion from chronic to episodic migraine in patients treated with galcanezumab in real life in Italy: the 12-month observational, longitudinal, cohort multicenter GARLIT experience.

Objective: To investigate in real-life the conversion from chronic migraine (CM) to episodic migraine (EM), specifically to EM with High-Frequency (HFEM: 8-14 monthly migraine days, MMDs), Medium-Frequency (MFEM, 4-7 MMDs), and Low-Frequency EM (LFEM, 0-3 MMDs), and its persistence during 1 year of treatment with galcanezumab.

Methods: Consecutive CM patients treated with galcanezumab completing 1 year of observation were enrolled. We collected data on MMDs, pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS score), and monthly acute medication intake (MAMI) from baseline (V1) to the 12-month visit (V12).

Galcanezumab for the prevention of high frequency episodic and chronic migraine in real life in Italy: a multicenter prospective cohort study (the GARLIT study).

Background: The clinical benefit of galcanezumab, demonstrated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), remains to be quantified in real life. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of galcanezumab in the prevention of high-frequency episodic migraine (HFEM) and chronic migraine (CM) in a real-life setting.

Methods: This multicenter prospective observational cohort study was conducted between November 2019 and January 2021 at 13 Italian headache centers.

Exploring the Relationship between Disease Awareness and Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Disease awareness is a challenge in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to explore the association between COPD optimal and suboptimal awareness, clinical parameters, and the following patient-reported outcomes: modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQM-9), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Morisky Medication-Taking Adherence Scale (MMAS-4), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ).

Methods: This post hoc analysis of the SAT study included all enrolled patients for whom awareness (Disease Awareness in COPD Questionnaire - DACQ) was assessed at baseline and 12 months.

Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in the Liquid Phase: Are Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Percarbonate Efficient Decontamination Agents?

A diluted 3% w/w hydrogen peroxide solution acidified to pH 2.5 by adding citric acid inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus by more than 4 orders of magnitude in 5 min. After a contact time of 15 min, no viral replication was detected.

Presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewaters and rivers.

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewaters has been demonstrated in many countries affected by this pandemic. Nevertheless, virus presence and infectivity in treated wastewaters, but also in the receiving water bodies are still poorly investigated. In this study, raw and treated samples from three wastewater treatment plants, and three river samples within the Milano Metropolitan Area, Italy, were surveyed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by means of real time RT-PCR and infectivity test on culture cells.

The Suv420h histone methyltransferases regulate PPAR-γ and energy expenditure in response to environmental stimuli.

Obesity and its associated metabolic abnormalities have become a global emergency with considerable morbidity and mortality. Epidemiologic and animal model data suggest an epigenetic contribution to obesity. Nevertheless, the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which epigenetics contributes to the development of obesity remain to be elucidated.

The "three-in-one" formulation of bismuth quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication with or without probiotics supplementation: Efficacy and safety in daily clinical practice.

Background: Clinical trials have shown a good efficacy of the "three-in-one" formulation of bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT) for Helicobacter (H.) pylori eradication. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the three-in-one BQT in clinical practice, and investigate the effect of probiotic supplementation, in Italy.

Nitric Oxide Generated by Tumor-Associated Macrophages Is Responsible for Cancer Resistance to Cisplatin and Correlated With Syntaxin 4 and Acid Sphingomyelinase Inhibition.

Tumor microenvironment is fundamental for cancer progression and chemoresistance. Among stromal cells tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) represent the largest population of infiltrating inflammatory cells in malignant tumors, promoting their growth, invasion, and immune evasion. M2-polarized TAMs are endowed with the nitric oxide (NO)-generating enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

Factors influencing the choice of first- and second-line biologic therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: real-life data from the Italian LORHEN Registry.

According to international recommendations, the selection of the biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is mainly left to the clinician's preference. We analyzed the real-life factors influencing the first-line choice or the switching strategy, focusing on the prescription of abatacept (ABA) or tocilizumab (TCZ) compared to TNFα inhibitors (TNFi). Patients enrolled in the Lombardy Rheumatology Network (LORHEN) Registry after January 1, 2010, when all considered bDMARD agents were available, were included.

Natural variability of enzymatic biomarkers in freshwater invertebrates.

Biomarkers have been widely employed in ecotoxicology as early warning indicators of exposure to toxicants. Very often, they are used to compare reference and polluted sites, or to analyse time trends. However, very few studies focus on the natural variability range of biomarkers in the environment, which is pivotal to understand if the detected differences are actually determined by any adverse effects due to pollution.

Severe somatoform and dysautonomic syndromes after HPV vaccination: case series and review of literature.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is recognized as a major cause for cervical cancer among women worldwide. Two HPV vaccines are currently available: Gardasil and Cervarix. Both vaccines enclose viral antigenic proteins, but differ as to the biological systems of culture and the adjuvant components.

Impaired lung transfer factor in fibromyalgia syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pulmonary diffusing capacity is impaired in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) as it is in those with other diseases characterised by autonomic nerve system (ANS) dysfunction such as type 1 diabetes.

Methods: Forty-five consecutive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA)-negative female Caucasian patients aged 50.1± 5.

Comparison between loop-tip guidewire-assisted and conventional endoscopic cannulation in high risk patients.

Background: The guidewire biliary cannulation (GWC) technique may increase the cannulation rate and decrease the risk for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis. The aim of our multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial was to determine if the use of an atraumatic loop-tip guidewire reduces the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) compared with the standard contrast-assisted cannulation (CC) technique.

Methods: From June 2012 to December 2013, a total of 320 patients who had a naïve papilla and were referred for ERCP were randomly assigned to the GWC group (n = 160) or the CC group (n = 160).

Performance capacity evaluated using the 6-minute walk test: 5-year results in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis and initial interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: To identify factors indicating exercise-induced oxygen desaturation during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) and initial interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: The study involved 121 consecutive adult anti-Scl 70 autoantibody-positive SSc patients with initial ILD, 93 of whom were followed up for five years. Before enrolment and then annually, the patients underwent high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), functional lung tests, with carbon monoxide diffusion capacity of the lung (DLCO) and its components (alveolar-capillary membrane [Dm] and pulmonary blood volume [Vc]), the evaluation of dyspnea before and after the 6MWT using the Borg scale, and transthoracic echocardiography.

Inter-observer agreement in endoscopic scoring systems: preliminary report of an ongoing study from the Italian Group for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD).

Background: Endoscopic activity has become a therapeutic endpoint in inflammatory bowel disease. Aim of this study was to evaluate inter-observer agreement for endoscopic scores in a real-life setting.

Methods: 14 gastroenterologists with experience in inflammatory bowel disease care and endoscopic scoring reviewed videos of ulcerative colitis (n=13) and postoperative (n=10) and luminal (n=8) Crohn's disease.

Skeletal muscle homeostasis in duchenne muscular dystrophy: modulating autophagy as a promising therapeutic strategy.

Muscular dystrophies are a group of genetic and heterogeneous neuromuscular disorders characterized by the primary wasting of skeletal muscle. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most severe form of these diseases, the mutations in the dystrophin gene lead to muscle weakness and wasting, exhaustion of muscular regenerative capacity, and chronic local inflammation leading to substitution of myofibers by connective and adipose tissue. DMD patients suffer from continuous and progressive skeletal muscle damage followed by complete paralysis and death, usually by respiratory and/or cardiac failure.

Nitric oxide and sphingolipids control apoptosis and autophagy with a significant impact on Alzheimer's disease.

Aberrant regulation of signalling pathways promoting and regulating apoptosis and autophagy contributes to the development of most human neurodegenerative diseases characterised by progressive dysfunction and death of neuronal and glial cells. Both in central and peripheral nervous systems cell death is either apoptotic or autophagic, depending on the cellular setting and the initial pathogenic cue. While some mixed phenotypes have been reported, apoptosis and autophagy tend to develop into mutually exclusive ways to such an extent that they inhibit each other.

Influence of K-ras status and anti-tumour treatments on complications due to colorectal self-expandable metallic stents: a retrospective multicentre study.

Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between K-ras status, anti-tumour treatments, and the complications of colorectal self-expandable metallic stenting in colorectal cancer.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicentre study of 91 patients with obstructive advanced colorectal cancer palliated with enteral stents between 2007 and 2011.

Results: K-ras wild-type tumours were diagnosed in 44 patients (48.

Acid sphingomyelinase determines melanoma progression and metastatic behaviour via the microphtalmia-associated transcription factor signalling pathway.

Melanoma is a rapidly growing and highly metastatic cancer with high mortality rates, for which a resolutive treatment is lacking. Identification of novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers of tumour stage is thus of particular relevance. We report here on a novel biomarker and possible candidate therapeutic target, the sphingolipid metabolising enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase).

Nitric oxide drives embryonic myogenesis in chicken through the upregulation of myogenic differentiation factors.

The muscle-specific variant of neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS-I), is developmentally regulated in mouse suggesting a role of NO during myogenesis. In chick embryo, a good model of development, we found that the expression of NOS-I is up-regulated, but only in the early phase of development. Through a pharmacological intervention in ovo we found that NO signalling plays a relevant role during embryonic development.

Efficacy and acceptability of sodium picosulphate/magnesium citrate vs low-volume polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid for colon cleansing: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The study compared the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a low-volume picosulphate/magnesium citrate preparation with that of polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid (PEG + ASC) in a randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Method: A multicentre randomized, single-blinded study was designed. Adult outpatients undergoing colonoscopy received either picosulphate/magnesium citrate (Group 1) or PEG + ASC (Group 2).

Autophagy as a new therapeutic target in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

A resolutive therapy for Duchene muscular dystrophy, a severe degenerative disease of the skeletal muscle, is still lacking. Because autophagy has been shown to be crucial in clearing dysfunctional organelles and in preventing tissue damage, we investigated its pathogenic role and its suitability as a target for new therapeutic interventions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here we demonstrate that autophagy is severely impaired in muscles from patients affected by DMD and mdx mice, a model of the disease, with accumulation of damaged organelles.