Practice Guidelines of the Central European Hepatologic Collaboration (CEHC) on the Use of Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease Undergoing Invasive Procedures.

Background: Second-generation thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are emerging as the new standard for managing thrombocytopenia (TCP) in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs) undergoing scheduled procedures. However, practical guidance for their routine use in CLD patients undergoing specific invasive procedures is lacking.

Methods: These practice guidelines were developed by the Initiative Group for Central European Hepatologic Collaboration (CEHC), composed of nine hepatologist/gastroenterologist experts from Central Europe.

Beyond the Finish Line: The Impact and Dynamics of Biomarkers in Physical Exercise-A Narrative Review.

The research of biomarkers continues to emerge as a developing academic field which is attracting substantial interest. The study of biomarkers proves to be useful in developing and implementing new screening methods for a wide variety of diseases including in the sports area, whether for leisure activities or professional sports. Novel research has brought into question the immune system and the limitations it may impose on sports practicing.

A Novel Paradigm Based on ST2 and Its Contribution towards a Multimarker Approach in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Heart Failure: A Prospective Study during the Pandemic Storm.

Background: Acute heart failure (HF) represents an increasingly common and challenging presentation in the emergency room, also inducing a great socio-economic burden. Extensive research was conducted toward finding an ideal biomarker of acute HF, both in terms of sensitivity and specificity, but today practicians' interest has shifted towards a more realistic multimarker approach. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) currently represent the for diagnosing HF in routine clinical practice, but novel molecules, such as sST2, emerge as potentially useful biomarkers, providing additional diagnostic and prognostic value.

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on functional dyspepsia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common conditions in clinical practice. In spite of its prevalence, FD is associated with major uncertainties in terms of its definition, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Methods: A Delphi consensus was initiated with 41 experts from 22 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 87 statements.

Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review.

infection (CDI) is a health issue of utmost significance in Europe and North America, due to its high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rate. The clinical spectrum of CDI is broad, ranging from asymptomatic to deadly fulminant colitis. When associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), CDI is more prevalent and more severe than in the general population, due to specific risk factors such as impaired immune system, intestinal dysmotility, high antibiotic use leading to disturbed microbiota, frequent hospitalization, and PPI use.

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on gastroparesis.

Background: Gastroparesis is a condition characterized by epigastric symptoms and delayed gastric emptying (GE) rate in the absence of any mechanical obstruction. The condition is challenging in clinical practice by the lack of guidance concerning diagnosis and management of gastroparesis.

Methods: A Delphi consensus was undertaken by 40 experts from 19 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 89 statements.

Ovarian teratoma in a teenager causing ureterohydronephrosis: Case report and literature review.

Rationale: Teratomas are solid tumors that may occur in both gonadal and extragonadal locations, depending on the age of the child. Benign cystic teratomas are relatively common tumors among women of reproductive age, but they can occur at any age. The clinical presentation is not specific.

Obesity and Multiple Sclerosis-A Multifaceted Association.

Background: Given the common elements in the pathophysiological theories that try to explain the appearance and evolution of obesity and multiple sclerosis, the association between the two pathologies has become an increasingly researched topic in recent years. On the one hand, there is the chronic demyelinating inflammation caused by the autoimmune cascade of multiple sclerosis, while on the other hand, according to the latest research, it has been shown that obesity shares an inflammatory component with most chronic diseases.

Methods: The authors performed independent research of the available literature in the most important electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Science Direct) in February 2021.

Developing a Neural Network Model for a Non-invasive Prediction of Histologic Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: Colonoscopy with biopsy is the "gold" standard for evaluating disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Current research is geared toward finding non-invasive, cost-efficient methods that estimate disease activity. We aimed to develop a neural network (NN) model for the non-invasive prediction of histologic activity in IBD using routinely available clinical-biological parameters.

Consensus paper on postural dysfunction: recommendations for prevention, diagnosis and therapy.

Good fundamentals of posture and balance are essential for the efficient performance of both simple daily tasks and more complex movement patterns. In particular, postural balance is the ability to keep the body in equilibrium and to regain balance after the shift of body segments: postural control mechanisms of integration of the visual, vestibular and foot afferential channels contribute to this. This document provides recommendations based on scientific evidence, clinical practice, and consensus between experts concerning the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of postural dysfunction at the three stages of life as the developmental age, adult age, and old age > 65 years and follows the "National Guidelines on Classification and Measuring of Posture and its Dysfunctions" per the Italian Ministry of Health (December 2017).

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on gastroparesis.

Background: Gastroparesis is a condition characterized by epigastric symptoms and delayed gastric emptying (GE) rate in the absence of any mechanical obstruction. The condition is challenging in clinical practice by the lack of guidance concerning diagnosis and management of gastroparesis.

Methods: A Delphi consensus was undertaken by 40 experts from 19 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 89 statements.

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on functional dyspepsia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common conditions in clinical practice. In spite of its prevalence, FD is associated with major uncertainties in terms of its definition, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Methods: A Delphi consensus was initiated with 41 experts from 22 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 87 statements.

Latest Insights into Mechanisms behind Atrial Cardiomyopathy: It Is Not always about Ventricular Function.

Atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM) represents a constantly evolving concept, with increasing importance in contemporary research and clinical practice. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in atrial remodeling and its clinical correlations especially with atrial fibrillation (AF) and other cardiometabolic comorbidities may induce a significant impact on the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic approach of ACM-related comorbidities. Although initially described several decades ago, investigators have only recently highlighted that several renal, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases are determining factors for atrial remodeling and subsequent ACM.

European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Systems saving lives.

The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) has produced these Systems Saving Lives guidelines, which are based on the 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations. The topics covered include chain of survival, measuring performance of resuscitation, social media and smartphones apps for engaging community, European Restart a Heart Day, World Restart a Heart, KIDS SAVE LIVES campaign, lower-resource setting, European Resuscitation Academy and Global Resuscitation Alliance, early warning scores, rapid response systems, and medical emergency team, cardiac arrest centres and role of dispatcher.

The complex relationship between infertility and psychological distress (Review).

Infertility is defined as the inability to procreate, or carry or deliver a baby naturally. The majority of specialists describe infertility as being unable to get pregnant after having tried for at least one year. The relationship between infertility and psychological stress is complex.

Multifactorial expression of IL-6 with update on COVID-19 and the therapeutic strategies of its blockade (Review).

Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a cytokine produced by various cells of the human body (macrophages, lymphocytes, astrocytes, ischemic myocytes, endothelial cells) has both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties, being a key component in regulating various physiologic and pathological processes. The structure of this molecule and the receptor system it possesses are important due to the different activities that IL-6 can exert; through trans-signaling pro-inflammatory activities are mediated, while through classic signaling, IL-6 is responsible for anti-inflammatory and regenerative activities. IL-6 signaling is involved in coronary artery disease and the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Novel Perspectives Opened by ST2 in the Pandemic: A Review of Its Role in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Patients with Heart Failure and COVID-19.

The increasing incidence of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and its polymorphic clinical manifestations due to local and systemic inflammation represent a high burden for many public health systems. Multiple evidence revealed the interdependence between the presence of cardiovascular comorbidities and a severe course of COVID-19, with heart failure (HF) being incriminated as an independent predictor of mortality. Suppression of tumorigenicity-2 ST2 has emerged as one of the most promising biomarkers in assessing the evolution and prognosis of patients with HF.

Transradial Embolization, an Underused Type of Uterine Artery Embolization Approach: A Systematic Review.

The most utilized approach for the embolization of uterine arteries is the transfemoral path. However, the transradial approach (TRA) has been gaining popularity among cardiologic interventions in the last years but only few studies have shown its applicability in uterine myoma treatment. The objective of this paper is to assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of TRA when compared with the transbrachial, transulnar or transfemoral approach (TFA) for uterine arteries embolization (UAE).

Nutritional status improvement in elderly CKD patients: a systematic review.

Purpose: Almost all CKD patients have a poor nutritional status, while elderly CKD patients are specifically frail and malnourished. Our aim is to conduct a systematic review of the up to date primary studies that look at methods of improving nutritional status in CKD patients in the elderly demographic.

Methods: A focussed and sensitive search strategy was applied to the PUBMED database to identify relevant English language articles.

Glucocorticoid-Induced Skin Atrophy: The Old and the New.

Glucocorticoids are major therapeutic agents highly used in the medical field. Topical glucocorticoids have biologic activities which make them useful in dermatology - anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive, immune suppressive and antiproliferative, in treating inflammatory skin disorders (allergic contact eczema, atopic hand eczema, nummular eczema, psoriasis vulgaris or toxic-irritative eczema). Unfortunately, the beneficial effects of topical glucocorticoids are shadowed by their potential for adverse effects - muscle or skin atrophy, striae distensae, rubeosis or acne.

A Machine Learning Model Accurately Predicts Ulcerative Colitis Activity at One Year in Patients Treated with Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor α Agents.

The biological treatment is a promising therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, being able to induce subclinical and long-term remission. However, the relatively high costs and the potential toxicity have led to intense debates over the most appropriate criteria for starting, stopping, and managing biologics in UC. Our aim was to build a machine learning (ML) model for predicting disease activity at one year in UC patients treated with anti-Tumour necrosis factor α agents as a useful tool to assist the clinician in the therapeutic decisions.

Impact of perceived inappropiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation on emergency clinicians' intention to leave the job: Results from a cross-sectional survey in 288 centres across 24 countries.

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in patients with a poor prognosis increases the risk of perception of inappropriate care leading to moral distress in clinicians. We evaluated whether perception of inappropriate CPR is associated with intention to leave the job among emergency clinicians.

Methods: A cross-sectional multi-centre survey was conducted in 24 countries.

A comparison using standardized measures for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: Trust in the gastroenterologist and reliance on the internet.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients' use of the Internet for health information interacts with the way they trust their gastroenterologist. No standardized measure has targeted IBS patients and gastroenterologists specifically, nor their use of the Internet. The aims of this paper were as follows: the development of a scale that measures an IBS patient's trust in their gastroenterologist, the development of a scale measuring an IBS patient's reliance on Internet health information, and testing the hypothesis that IBS patients, who use the Internet for IBS-related information, trust their gastroenterologist less than those who do not.