Systematic literature review and meta-analysis informing the EULAR points to consider on the initiation of targeted therapies in patients with inflammatory arthritis and a history of cancer.

Background: Targeted therapies have been associated with potential risk of malignancy, which is a common concern in daily rheumatology practice in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and a history of cancer.

Objectives: To perform a systematic literature review to inform a Task Force formulating EULAR points to consider on the initiation of targeted therapies in patients with IA and a history of cancer.

Methods: Specific research questions were defined within the Task Force before formulating the exact research queries with a librarian.

2024 EULAR points to consider on the initiation of targeted therapies in patients with inflammatory arthritis and a history of cancer.

Background: Potential associations between targeted therapies and a new cancer in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and a previous malignancy are a frequent concern in daily rheumatology practice.

Objectives: To develop points to consider (PTC) to assist rheumatologists when initiating a targeted therapy in the context of a previous malignancy.

Methods: Following EULAR standardised operating procedures, a task force met to define the research questions for a systematic literature review and to formulate the overarching principles (OPs) and the PTC.

Topographical Quantification of Hyper-Reflective Foci May Predict the Development of Macular Atrophy in Patients With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was o examine the optical coherence tomographic (OCT) characteristics of hyper-reflective foci (HRF) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and to assess the potential of HRF as a predictive factor for the development of macular atrophy following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 61 treatment-naïve eyes diagnosed with exudative AMD and type 1 macular neovascularization (MNV). The HRF was identified in the inner retina and outer retina layers, and the treatment response of HRF was documented.

Short-term outcomes of vessel-oriented D2 and D3 lymph node dissection for sigmoid colon cancer.

Background: Level of lymph nodes dissection (LND) and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation is still matter of debate of radical resection of colorectal cancer. This study aims to compare the short-term outcome of three different surgical techniques to treat sigmoid cancer: low ligation (LL) of the IMA with D3-LND, low IMA ligation with D2-LND, and high ligation (HL) of the IMA with D3-LND.

Methods: Patients affected by sigmoid colon cancer, who underwent radical resection with three different techniques (LL and D3-LND Group A, HL and D3-LND Group B, and LL with D2 LND- Group C), were included.

Update on andrological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19: An overview review.

Background: Evidence indicates a wide range of andrological alterations in patients with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aim: To provide an update on the andrological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE and Institutional websites were searched for randomized clinical trials, non-systematic reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

The ADHD Assessment Quality Assurance Standard for Children and Teenagers (CAAQAS).

Around 5% of the children and teenagers worldwide are affected by Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], making it a major public health concern. Recently, demand for assessments has substantially increased, putting strain on healthcare and waiting lists. There is concern that pressure to clear service bottlenecks is leading to variable quality and reliability of ADHD assessments in this population.

Epigenetic Modulations of Non-Coding RNAs: A Novel Therapeutic Perspective in Sjӧgren's Syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that can be classified as an epithelitis based on the immune-mediated attack directed specifically at epithelial cells. SS predominantly affects women, is characterized by the production of highly specific circulating autoantibodies, and the major targets are the salivary and lachrymal glands. Although a genetic predisposition has been amply demonstrated for SS, the etiology remains unclear.

Discriminative stimulus properties of α-ethyltryptamine (α-ET) in rats: α-ET-like effects of MDMA, MDA and aryl-monomethoxy substituted derivatives of α-ET.

Rationale α-ET (α-ethyltryptamine), a homolog of the classical hallucinogen α-methyltryptamine, was once prescribed clinically as an antidepressant. Classical psychedelic drugs are currently of interest as potential pharmacotherapy for psychiatric disorders. Objectives Drug discrimination was used to (a) determine if α-ET-like stimulus effects could be engendered by the prototypical phenylalkylamines MDMA ("Ecstasy") or MDA ("Love Drug") and (b) evaluate the α-ET-like stimulus effects of four synthesized aryl-substituted monomethoxy analogs of α-ET (4-OMe-, 5-OMe-, 6-OMe- and 7-OMe-α-ET).

Two-year follow-up after drug desensitization in mucopolysaccharidosis.

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type 1 S and type 2 are rare lysosomal storage disorders characterized by impaired enzyme production, resulting in glycosaminoglycans accumulation within lysosomes. Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) with laronidase and idursulfase are first line treatments, respectively. However, infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions (HR) may lead to ERT discontinuation.

Towards Accurate Biocompatibility: Rethinking Cytotoxicity Evaluation for Biodegradable Magnesium Alloys in Biomedical Applications.

Magnesium and its alloys represent promising candidates for biomedical implants due to their biodegradability and mechanical properties, which are similar to natural bone. However, their rapid degradation process characterized by dynamic pH fluctuations and significant hydrogen gas evolution during biocorrosion adversely affects both in vitro and in vivo assessments. While the ISO 10993-5 and 12 standards provide guidelines for evaluating the in vitro biocompatibility of biodegradable materials, they also introduce testing variability conditions that yield inconsistent results.

Piezosurgery in Third Molar Extractions: A Systematic Review.

: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical efficacy, benefits, and limitations of piezosurgery in tooth extractions compared to conventional methods. Piezosurgery has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative, promoting better preservation of soft tissues and bone structures. Understanding its impact on postoperative outcomes such as pain, swelling, trismus, and bone healing is critical for its application in oral surgery; We restricted our search to English-language articles published between 1 January 2004 and 28 August 2024, in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Multifocal Electroretinography Changes in Patients with Late-Stage Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) After Smaller-Incision New-Generation Implantable Miniature Telescope (SING IMT): A Case Series.

The smaller-incision new-generation implantable miniature telescope (SING IMT) represents an advancement over the previous model, WA-IMT, serving as a unilateral prosthetic device for patients with late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study aims to report changes in multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) 6 months post-SING IMT implantation. In this case series, we prospectively evaluated a cohort of phakic patients with late-stage AMD who underwent SING IMT implantation at the Ophthalmology Unit, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy.

The Role of 11C-Methionine PET Imaging for the Evaluation of Lymphomas: A Systematic Review.

: In the last years, different evidence has underlined a possible role for [11C]-methionine ([11C]MET) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for the evaluation of lymphomas. The aim of this paper was, therefore, to review the available scientific literature focusing on this topic. : A wide literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases was conducted in order to find relevant published articles investigating the role of [11C]MET in the assessment of lymphomas.

Key concepts and a world-wide look at plant recruitment networks.

Plant-plant interactions are major determinants of the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. There is a long tradition in the study of these interactions, their mechanisms and their consequences using experimental, observational and theoretical approaches. Empirical studies overwhelmingly focus at the level of species pairs or small sets of species.

Haematological toxicity of PARP inhibitors in advanced ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are effective treatment options for patients with advanced ovarian cancer (OC). A typical adverse event (AE) of these agents is haematological toxicity, which represents the leading cause of treatment modification and discontinuation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyse the risk of haematological AEs, including anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia due to the use of PARPis in patients with OC.

The major-minor mode dichotomy in music perception.

In Western tonal music, major and minor modes are recognized as the primary musical features in eliciting emotional responses. The underlying correlates of this dichotomy in music perception have been extensively investigated through decades of psychological and neuroscientific research, yielding plentiful yet often discordant results that highlight the complexity and individual differences in how these modes are perceived. This variability suggests that a deeper understanding of major-minor mode perception in music is still needed.

Preliminary Ecological Data on the Cocco's Lanternfish (Cocco, 1838) (Osteichthyes: Myctophidae) in Mediterranean With New Records in the Northern Ionian Sea.

This paper presents preliminary ecological data on the Cocco's lanternfish (Cocco, 1838) (Osteichthyes: Myctophidae) in the Central Mediterranean and its first records from the northern Ionian Sea. A total of 28 specimens of lantern fish were collected using an experimental trawl net between August and September 2023 in a depth range of 500-701 m in the northern Ionian Sea (central Mediterranean), as part of the MEDITS project. Their morphological traits, the presence and arrangement of photophores together with the otolith characteristics allowed the identification of these specimens as .

Novel foods in the European framework: benefits and risks.

Given the rapidly increasing global demand for food, it is mandatory to consider new sources of nutrients, safe and sustainably produced protein foods to complement the current traditional and limited sources of protein in the human diet. In recent years, a wide range of nontraditional protein foods have been explored, prompting the European Union to legislate on how novel foods can be introduced and traded on the European market to ensure their safety. This review will illustrate the range of novel foods authorized in the EU and their potential impact on human health, highlighting the gaps, the potential risks, and the future research opportunities and perspectives.

Value of autopsy in the modern age: Discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnoses.

Background: Autopsy is a medical procedure that consists of the examination of the corpse to determine the cause of death and obtain information on pathological conditions or injuries. In recent years, there has been a reduction in hospital autopsies and an increase in forensic autopsies.

Aim: To evaluate the utility of autopsy in the modern age and the discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnoses.

BMIgap: a new tool to quantify transdiagnostic brain signatures of current and future weight.

Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of weight gain could reduce excess mortality and improve long-term trajectories of psychiatric disorders. We used support-vector machines and whole-brain voxel-wise grey matter volume to generate and validate a BMI predictor in healthy individuals (N = 1504) and applied it to individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ,N = 146), clinical high-risk states for psychosis (CHR,N = 213) and recent-onset depression (ROD,N = 200). We computed BMIgap (BMI-BMI), interrogated its brain-level overlaps with SCZ and explored whether BMIgap predicted weight gain at 1- and 2-year follow-up.

Advanced reconstructive techniques following orbital exenteration: The role of LCFA free flaps.

Background: Orbital exenteration is a severe and disabling surgical procedure that involves the removal of all orbital contents. Effective reconstruction is crucial to managing the resulting defects. This study aims to propose a reconstructive algorithm utilizing free flaps derived from the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) system for orbital exenteration defects, based on our clinical experience.

Non-motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease: underdiagnosed, yet important.

Non-motor fluctuations (NMF) in Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly affect patients' well-being. Despite being identified over two decades ago, NMF remain largely under-recognized, under-treated, and poorly understood. While they are often temporally associated with motor fluctuations (MF) and can share common risk factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms, NMF and MF are currently considered distinct entities.