Kidney cancer: From tumor biology to innovative therapeutics.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constitutes the most frequent kidney cancer of the adult population and one of the most lethal malignant tumors worldwide. RCC often presents without early symptoms, leading to late diagnosis. Prognosis varies widely based on the stage of cancer at diagnosis.

Noninvasive Assessment of portal Hypertension in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis is Affected by Severity of Cholestasis.

Background & Aims: Noninvasive tests (NITs) for ruling-out clinical significant portal hypertension (CSPH) and high-risk varices (HRVs) in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) are lacking. We evaluated NITs in these patients and the influence of cholestasis on their performance.

Methods: Consecutive patients from the "Italian PBC registry" and 2 United Kingdom large-volume PBC referral centers with upper endoscopy within 6 months from biochemical evaluation and transient elastography were included.

Gender impact on pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (PanNEN) prognosis according to survival nomograms.

Purpose: Personalizing care and outcome evaluation are important aims in the field of NEN and nomograms may represent useful tools for clinicians. Of note, gender difference is being progressively more considered in NEN care, as it may also impact on survival. This systematic review aims to describe and analyze the available nomograms on pancreatic NENs (PanNENs) to identify if gender differences are evaluated and if they could impact on patients' management and prognosis.

Predictors of delayed hospital discharge after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: the impact of single-port robotic surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the predictors of delayed discharge for patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) at our Institution since the introduction of the single port (SP) robotic system.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of our prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing RAPN from September 2020 to August 2024. Patients were categorized by the postoperative day of their discharge: POD1 (single overnight stay) or POD > 1 (more than one night stay).

Women With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Have Favorable Pregnancy Outcomes but Prolonged Time to Conceive.

Objective: To study pregnancy outcomes and complications in women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted at tertiary reference centers in 5 countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, USA), including 72 adult women with CAH (nonclassic [NC] n = 34, simple virilizing [SV] n = 21, salt wasting [SW] n = 17).

Results: A total of 133 pregnancies, 112 live births, and 25 abortions were documented.

-related disorder in 87 adults: Natural history and self-sustainability.

Purpose: is one of the most frequently mutated genes in intellectual disability cohorts. Thus, far few adult-aged patients with -related disorder have been described, which limits our understanding of the disease's natural history and our ability to counsel patients and their families.

Methods: Data on patients aged 18+ years with -related disorder were collected through an online questionnaire completed by clinicians and parents.

Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with MOGAD.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection increases the risk of having multiple sclerosis (MS). Data on adults with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) are lacking.

Objective: To compare EBV serological status in MOGAD versus MS.

Clinical Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement With Contemporary Devices.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been identified as a marker of advanced cardiac damage in aortic stenosis patients. However, the factors associated with poorer outcomes among AF patients in contemporary transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) practice, particularly regarding mortality and heart failure (HF)-related hospitalizations, remain largely unknown.

Methods: In this multicenter study we assessed consecutive patients with a history of AF and evaluated the clinical outcomes, predictors of mortality, and HF-related hospitalization rates of those who underwent TAVR with newer generation devices using either balloon- or self-expandable valves.

Survival after trimodal therapy in octogenarians with organ-confined urothelial bladder cancer.

Objectives: It is not known whether cancer-specific mortality (CSM) differences distinguish radical cystectomy (RC) from trimodal therapy (TMT) in octogenarians harbouring organ-confined (T2N0M0) urothelial cancer of the urinary bladder (UCUB).

Methods: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004-2021), CSM and other-cause mortality (OCM) rates were computed in octogenarian patients with organ-confined UCUB undergoing either TMT or RC. Smoothed cumulative incidence plots depicted 5-year CSM and OCM rates according to RC vs TMT.

Behind the scenes: exploring neurological journal editors' work habits, decisions, and potential sources of conflict of interest.

Background And Objectives: Editors of scientific journals play a key role in the health-related research process. Our study aims to characterize the demographics, work habits, decision-making processes, and ethical challenges faced by editors of neurological journals and to evaluate associations between editor or journal characteristics and editorial decisions, as well as sources of conflict of interest.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving editors from neurological journals that fell above the 50th percentile in the Scimago rankings.

Unveiling preferences in multiple sclerosis care: insights from an Italian discrete-choice experiment with patients and healthcare professionals.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Understanding patient and healthcare professional (HCP) preferences for MS treatments is crucial for optimizing therapeutic strategies and improving adherence and outcomes. This Discrete-Choice Experiment (DCE) assesses preferences for various MS treatment attributes among Italian patients and HCPs.

Checkpoint based immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: a real-world retrospective study.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based immunotherapy targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or its ligand 1 (PD-L1) has radically changed the management of many types of solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Many clinical trials have demonstrated that ICIs improve the survival and the quality of life of patients with advanced non oncogene NSCLC as compared to standard therapies. However, not all patients achieve a clinical benefit from this immunotherapeutic approach.

Management of acute decompensated valvular heart disease.

Worldwide, valvular heart disease (VHD) is a common cause of hospitalization for acute heart failure. In acute heart failure caused by VHD, symptoms result from rapid haemodynamic changes and subsequent decline in cardiac function, and if left untreated, leads to acute decompensation and cardiogenic shock. Current evidence remains scarce and recommendations regarding the management of acute heart failure caused by VHD are lacking in most recent international guidelines.

Trends and Disparities in Inpatient Palliative Care Use in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Receiving Critical Care Therapy.

Purpose: Temporal trends in and predictors of inpatient palliative care use in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) undergoing critical care therapy are unknown.

Methods: Relying on the National Inpatient Sample (2008-2019), we identified mRCC patients undergoing critical care therapy, namely invasive mechanical ventilation, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion, dialysis for acute kidney failure, total parenteral nutrition, or tracheostomy. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) analyses and multivariable logistic regression models addressed inpatient palliative care use.

Update on the diagnosis and treatment of pericardial diseases: a position paper of the Italian Society of Cardiology in collaboration with the study group on cardiomyopathies and pericardial diseases.

The knowledge of pericardial diseases has now improved, including prospective and retrospective cohort studies focusing on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. The complex interplay between genetic predisposition (especially for autoinflammatory conditions), inflammation, and autoimmunity is now known to trigger recurrences of pericarditis. Moreover, diagnostic capabilities have improved with the implementation of multimodality imaging, particularly cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), to detect and monitor pericardial inflammation, to allow diagnosis in more complicated cases, and tailor the duration of therapy based on objective parameters.

Early combination of sotrovimab with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or remdesivir is associated with low rate of persisting SARS CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19: a prospective single-centre study.

Background: Immunocompromised patients are at high risk of developing persisting/prolonged COVID-19. Data on the early combined use of antivirals and monoclonal antibodies in this population are scarce.

Research Design And Methods: We performed an observational, prospective study, enrolling immunocompromised outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, treated with a combination of sotrovimab plus one antiviral (remdesivir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) within 7 days from symptom onset.

Outcomes of loop ileostomy after rectal resection for cancer: A prospective observational multicenter snapshot study from Multidisciplinary Italian Study group for STOmas (MISSTO).

Background: Diverting ileostomy is a common procedure in rectal cancer surgery, but it is sometimes associated with a nonnegligible rate of complications. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and types of stoma-related complications for ileostomy creation after rectal cancer resection. The secondary aims were to report the indications, the technical details, and the efficacy of stoma care provided by ostomy nurses.

Rituximab versus placebo for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: a randomized trial.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) often requires prolonged ongoing treatment to prevent worsening. The efficacy of rituximab in preventing worsening after the discontinuation of immunoglobulin therapy in CIDP patients was assessed. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted at seven Italian hospitals, CIDP patients under immunoglobulin therapy were assigned to receive either rituximab (1g on days 1, 15, and 180±7) or placebo.

Examining causal relationships between educational attainment and type 2 diabetes using genetic analysis: findings from the EPIC-InterAct study through Mendelian randomisation.

Introduction: Observational studies have shown that more educated people are at lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, robust study designs are needed to investigate the likelihood that such a relationship is causal. This study used genetic instruments for education to estimate the effect of education on T2D using the Mendelian randomisation (MR) approach.