The burden of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) on patient experience and patient-reported outcomes (PROs): findings from the EXPLORE XLRP-2 study.

Background/aims: X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is considered one of the most severe forms of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), accounting for 5-15% of all RP cases and primarily affecting males. However, the real-world humanistic impacts of this disease on patients are poorly investigated, especially with respect to burdens faced by patients with varying disease severities.

Methods: EXPLORE XLRP-2 was an exploratory, multicentre, non-interventional study.

Polymer-free versus biodegradable-polymer drug-eluting stent in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: an assessor-blind, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Few data are available on polymer-free drug-eluting stents in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Aims: We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a polymer-free amphilimus-eluting stent (AES), using a reservoir-based technology for drug delivery, compared with a biodegradable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent (EES).

Methods: This was a randomised, investigator-initiated, assessor-blind, non-inferiority trial conducted at 14 hospitals in Italy (ClinicalTrials.

Repeated social stress increases posterior medial amygdala neuronal activity in stress-susceptible adult male rats.

The medial amygdala (MeA) is activated by social stimuli and manipulations of the MeA disrupt a wide range of social behaviors. Social stress can shift social behaviors and may accomplish this partly via effects on the MeA. However, very little is known about the effects of social stress on the electrophysiological activity of MeA neurons.

Correction: Hallan et al. Challenges in the Physical Characterization of Lipid Nanoparticles. 2021, , 549.

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Optimizing Ultrasound Probe Disinfection for Healthcare-Associated Infection Control: A Comparative Analysis of Disinfectant Efficacy.

Ultrasound is a key diagnostic tool in modern medicine due to its ability to provide real-time, high-resolution images of the internal structures of the human body. Despite its undeniable advantages, there are challenges related to the contamination of ultrasound probes, with the risk of healthcare-associated infections. The aim of this review was to identify the most effective disinfectants for disinfecting ultrasound probes to prevent the transmission of pathogens between patients.

Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) and Its Constituent S-Allyl-Cysteine (SAC) Inhibit the Expression of Pro-Inflammatory Genes Induced in Bronchial Epithelial IB3-1 Cells by Exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and the BNT162b2 Vaccine.

Garlic ( L.) is a species of the onion family () widely used as a food and a folk medicine. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of AGE (aged garlic extract) on pro-inflammatory genes relevant to COVID-19.

Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Brain Involvement in Sepsis: A Relationship Supported by Immunohistochemistry.

: A large amount of recent evidence suggests that cellular inability to consume oxygen could play a notable part in promoting sepsis as a consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The latter could, in fact, represent a fundamental stage in the evolution of the "natural history" of sepsis. Following a study previously conducted by the same working group on heart samples, the present research project aims to evaluate, through an immunohistochemical study, the existence and/or extent of oxidative stress in the brains of subjects who died due to sepsis and define, after reviewing the literature, its contribution to the septic process to support the use of medications aimed at correcting redox anomalies in the management of septic patients.

Comparison of the Accuracy, Completeness, Reproducibility, and Consistency of Different AI Chatbots in Providing Nutritional Advice: An Exploratory Study.

: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for obtaining healthcare advice is greatly increased in the general population. This study assessed the performance of general-purpose AI chatbots in giving nutritional advice for patients with obesity with or without multiple comorbidities. : The case of a 35-year-old male with obesity without comorbidities (Case 1), and the case of a 65-year-old female with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sarcopenia, and chronic kidney disease (Case 2) were submitted to 10 different AI chatbots on three consecutive days.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Antifungal Properties of L. Essential Oil from the Ecuadorian Amazon Against (ATCC 10231).

Essential oils are investigated due to their biological activity, and the Amazon rainforest, with its rich biodiversity, is a promising source of therapeutic compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the essential oil from the leaves of as an antifungal agent, thus contributing to the search for alternatives that can address the growing resistance to conventional antifungals. leaves were collected in the Ecuadorian Amazon and their essential oil was obtained by steam distillation.

Role of Human Milk Microbiota in Infant Neurodevelopment: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications.

Background: Human milk (HM) is recognized as an ideal source of nutrition for newborns; as a result, its multiple bioactive molecules can support the growth of healthy newborns and reduce the risk of mortality and diseases such as asthma, respiratory infections, diabetes (type 1 and 2), and gastrointestinal disorders such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Furthermore, it can reduce the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants. Moreover, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) present in breast milk show an immunomodulatory, prebiotic, and neurodevelopmental effect that supports the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Pimozide Inhibits Type II but Not Type I Hair Cells in Chicken Embryo and Adult Mouse Vestibular Organs.

Background: Pimozide is a conventional antipsychotic drug of the diphenylbutylpiperidine class, widely used for treating schizophrenia and delusional disorders and for managing motor and phonic tics in Tourette's syndrome. Pimozide is known to block dopaminergic D2 receptors and various types of voltage-gated ion channels. Among its side effects, dizziness and imbalance are the most frequently observed, which may imply an effect of the drug on the vestibular sensory receptors, the hair cells.

Kappa Free Light Chains in Multiple Sclerosis as a Marker of Intrathecal Humoral Response: A Sex-Disaggregated Study.

Background: Kappa free light chains (KFLCs) are emerging as promising biomarkers for intrathecal B cell activity for diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. In this study, we evaluated the ability of KFLC formulas to identify the presence of MS and their agreement with the 'gold standard' of CSF IgG oligoclonal bands (OCBs).

Methods: A total of 233 patients were included in this study: 149, comprising 43 males and 106 females, had MS, and the remainder, 40 males and 44 females, had other neurological diseases (ONDs).

Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health Policies.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant challenge to public health, posing a considerable threat to effective disease management on a global scale. The increasing incidence of infections caused by resistant bacteria has led to heightened morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations. This review analyzes current strategies and health policies adopted in the European Union (EU) and Italy to manage AMR, presenting an in-depth examination of approaches for containment and mitigation.

Effects of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Treatment on ASD Symptoms in Children: A Pilot Study.

Background/objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders marked by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. People with ASD may exhibit repetitive behaviors, unique ways of learning, and different ways of interacting with the world. The term "spectrum" reflects the wide variability in how ASD manifests in individuals, including differences in abilities, symptoms, and support needs, and conditions characterized by difficulties in social interactions, communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in the General Population Under Stressful Conditions: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on mental health in the general population. The fear, stress, and uncertainty surrounding that traumatic period could have contributed to the aggravation or possible new onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) is a nationwide project organized by the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", designed as an observational investigation that aimed to gather data from a representative sample of the Italian general population.

Assessment of Replicability and Efforts to Refine an Operant Conditioning Procedure for Larval Zebrafish.

The zebrafish model is rapidly advancing numerous areas of basic and translational research, including toxicology, drug discovery, molecular genetics, genomic research, developmental biology, and the study of human diseases (reviewed in [...

A Ge.F.I. Collaborative Study: Evaluating Reproducibility and Accuracy of a DNA-Methylation-Based Age-Predictive Assay for Routine Implementation in Forensic Casework.

The increasing interest in DNA methylation (DNAm) analysis within the forensic scientific community prompted a collaborative project by Ge.F.I.

Combination of clinical factors predicts successful glucocorticoid withdrawal in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): results from a multicentre, retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Glucocorticoid (GC) tapering and withdrawal to reduce damage represents a key aspect of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) SLE recommendations. However, optimal strategies for relapse-free GC cessation remain ill-defined. We characterised clinical predictors and their combined effect on flares in patients with SLE who discontinued GC.

A comparison of gambling behaviors and beliefs in rural and urban populations in Pennsylvania.

Introduction: Little is known about the differences between rural and urban gamblers and potential vulnerabilities that may be unique to either population. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate differences between rural and urban Pennsylvanians' gambling behaviors and beliefs.

Methods: A dual-frame random digit dial survey was conducted in the US state of Pennsylvania.

Aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of thalassemia-associated osteoporosis of the adult.

Aim: This review aims to overview factors contributing to TAO development and addresses the targeted diagnostic work-up and treatment management in adult thalassemic patients.

Results: Osteoporosis management in Thalassemia is challenging because several factors contributing to its pathogenesis should be considered and controlled starting from child- hood. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial.

A historico-medical perspective on ancient epidemics and their impact on past human societies.

The present article reviews the major historical plague epidemics that characterised human history by combining data derived from historical sources and biomedical evidence emerged in recent years thanks to advancements of palaeogenetics and palaeopathology. Notes are offered on the Plague of Athens, the Antonine Plague, the Plague of Cyprian, the Justinian Plague, the Black Death down to more recent centuries and presenting key aspects that continued to be preserved over time and would also partly characterise the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Deep Learning to Predict the Future Growth of Geographic Atrophy from Fundus Autofluorescence.

Purpose: The region of growth (ROG) of geographic atrophy (GA) throughout the macular area has an impact on visual outcomes. Here, we developed multiple deep learning models to predict the 1-year ROG of GA lesions using fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images.

Design: In this retrospective analysis, 3 types of models were developed using FAF images collected 6 months after baseline to predict the GA lesion area (segmented lesion mask) at 1.

Supramolecular delivery systems for polyphenols: A green approach to predict in vivo permeability through an in vitro setup.

The use of in vitro markers able to reproduce the in vivo permeability and diffusivity of orally administered drugs, could represent an innovative starting point for the formulation of delivery systems, in particular for low soluble and low permeable drugs belonging to BCS class II and IV. Considering the great interest in the green pharmaceutical approaches and the increasing use of natural molecules as novel therapeutic drugs, in this study, rutin, hesperidin and curcumin have been selected as lipophilic model drugs to investigate their possible enhancement of their permeability and bioavailability after oral administration. As the low solubility of the three drugs hinders their application, β-cyclodextrins (CD), amphiphilic natural moieties able to form stable inclusion complexes, have been considered to promote their solubilization.

Noise power properties of a cone-beam CT scanner with unconventional scanning geometry.

Purpose: This work aims at investigating, via in-silico evaluations, the noise properties of an innovative scanning geometry in cone-beam CT (CBCT): eCT. This scanning geometry substitutes each of the projections in CBCT with a series of collimated projections acquired over an oscillating scanning trajectory. The analysis focused on the impact of the number of the projections per period (PP) on the noise characteristics.