Sulfonamide Moiety as "Molecular Chimera" in the Design of New Drugs.

Background: The -SONH- group is of great significance in modern pharmaceutical use since, in sulfa-drugs, it is possible to introduce easily chemical modifications, and even small changes may lead to an improved version of an already existing drug.

Objective: This paper aims to describe updated information in the sulfonamide field with a particular focus on new mechanisms of action, especially if discovered by employing computational approaches.

Methods: Research articles that focused on the use of the sulfonamide moiety for the design, synthesis, and in vitro/in vivo tests of various diseases were collected from various search engines like PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus, using keywords like sulfonamide moiety, aryl/heteroary lsulfonamides, alkyl sulfonamides, in silico drug design, etc.

Is There a Role for Bladder Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Non-Hunner Lesions Interstitial Cystitis?

Introduction: Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is either Hunner lesion interstitial cystitis (HL IC) or non-Hunner lesion interstitial cystitis (N-HL IC), differing in the presence of HLs on cystoscopy. Cystoscopy is essential in diagnosing HL but are bladder biopsies useful in N-HL IC patients? Our objective was to assess bladder biopsy in patients with N-HL IC, evaluating whether the count of mast cells (MCs) and percentage of activated MCs could measure severity.

Materials And Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective study.

A Novel Morphological Parameter Predicting Fibrotic Evolution in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: New Evidence and Molecular Insights.

Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) represent a group of hematological disorders that are traditionally considered as indistinct slow progressing conditions; still, a subset of cases shows a rapid evolution towards myelofibrotic bone marrow failure. Specific abnormalities in the megakaryocyte lineage seem to play a central role in this evolution, especially in the bone marrow fibrosis but also in the induction of myeloproliferation. In this review, we analyze the current knowledge of prognostic factors of MPNs related to their evolution to myelofibrotic bone marrow failure.

Use of Laparoscopic and Laparotomic J-Plasma Handpiece in Gynecological Malignancies: Results From A Pilot Study in A Tertiary Care Center.

Introduction: The J-Plasma has recently been introduced into the surgical community with different intrinsic characteristics aimed to further reduce the thermal effect and enhance precision when compared to standard radiofrequency. This study aimed to investigate the role of this new technology in different conditions of gynecological carcinomatosis characterized by the indication for regional peritonectomy and/or ablation, either in laparotomy (LPT) or in laparoscopy (LPS), in the context of a modern personalized approach to the surgical management of gynecological malignancies.

Material And Methods: From January 2019 to April 2019, 12 patients were selected for this prospective pilot study at the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.

Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy plus sacral colpopexy: continuous locked suture for mesh fixation. A randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR) plus sacral colpopexy (LSC) is a high-complexity surgical procedure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new approach to rectal-mesh fixation during LVR with continuous locked suture.

Methods: This is a prospective randomized double-blinded clinical trial enrolling 80 patients with severe POP and obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) from November 2016 to January 2021.

Molecular Fingerprinting of the Omicron Variant Genome of SARS-CoV-2 by SERS Spectroscopy.

The continuing accumulation of mutations in the RNA genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus generates an endless succession of highly contagious variants that cause concern around the world due to their antibody resistance and the failure of current diagnostic techniques to detect them in a timely manner. Raman spectroscopy represents a promising alternative to variants detection and recognition techniques, thanks to its ability to provide a characteristic spectral fingerprint of the biological samples examined under all circumstances. In this work we exploit the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties of a silver dendrite layer to explore, for the first time to our knowledge, the distinctive features of the Omicron variant genome.

Predictive features of borderline ovarian tumor recurrence in patients with childbearing potential undergoing conservative treatment.

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) represent 10-12% of ovarian cancer cases with a higher prevalence in young patients. Although reproductive outcomes are satisfactory after conservative treatment, several authors reported a higher relapse rate in patients undergoing fertility-sparing surgery compared with radical treatment. The aim of the present study was to identify predictive factors of BOT recurrence in patients with childbearing potential undergoing conservative treatment with unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

The risks associated with percutaneous native kidney biopsies: a prospective study.

Background: The known risks and benefits of native kidney biopsies are mainly based on the findings of retrospective studies. The aim of this multicentre prospective study was to evaluate the safety of percutaneous renal biopsies and quantify biopsy-related complication rates in Italy.

Methods: The study examined the results of native kidney biopsies performed in 54 Italian nephrology centres between 2012 and 2020.

Development of a Nomogram Predicting the Risk of Persistence/Recurrence of Cervical Dysplasia.

Cervical dysplasia persistence/recurrence has a great impact on women's health and quality of life. In this study, we investigated whether a prognostic nomogram may improve risk assessment after primary conization. This is a retrospective multi-institutional study based on charts of consecutive patients undergoing conization between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014.

Update of Robotic Surgery in Benign Gynecological Pathology: Systematic Review.

Since the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval in 2005, the application of robotic surgery (RS) in gynecology has been adopted all over the world. This study aimed to provide an update on RS in benign gynecological pathology by reporting the scientific recommendations and high-value scientific literature available to date. A systematic review of the literature was performed.

Surgical management of endocervical and decidual polyps during pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of endocervical and decidual polypectomy on obstetrical outcomes of pregnant women.

Methods: MEDLINE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scielo, EMBASE, Cochrane Library at the CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials, and LILACS were searched from inception to April 2021.

Structure and biosynthesis of carotenoids produced by a novel Planococcus sp. isolated from South Africa.

Background: The genus Planococcus is comprised of halophilic bacteria generally reported for the production of carotenoid pigments and biosurfactants. In previous work, we showed that the culturing of the orange-pigmented Planococcus sp. CP5-4 isolate increased the evaporation rate of industrial wastewater brine effluent, which we attributed to the orange pigment.

Immune and Nervous Systems Interaction in Endocrine Disruptors Toxicity: The Case of Atrazine.

Endocrine disruptors (ED) are natural and anthropogenic chemicals that can interfere with hormonal systems at different levels. As such, ED-induced alterations in hormone functions have been implicated in many diseases and pathological conditions, including adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, cardiovascular, and immunological effects in mammals. The fact that ED may compete with several endogenous hormones for multiple receptors and pathways is not always fully considered.

Symmetry-Induced Emergence of a Pseudo-Qutrit in the Dipolar Coupling of Two Qubits.

We investigate a system of two identical and distinguishable spins 1/2, with a direct magnetic dipole-dipole interaction, in an external magnetic field. Constraining the hyperfine tensor to exhibit axial symmetry generates the notable symmetry properties of the corresponding Hamiltonian model. In fact, we show that the reduction of the anisotropy induces the invariance of the Hamiltonian in the 3×3 subspace of the Hilbert space of the two spins in which S^2 invariably assumes its highest eigenvalue of 2.

Caffeic Acid/Eu(III) Complexes: Solution Equilibrium Studies, Structure Characterization and Biological Activity.

Caffeic acid (CFA) is one of the various natural antioxidants and chemoprotective agents occurring in the human diet. In addition, its metal complexes play fundamental roles in biological systems. Nevertheless, research on the properties of CFA with lanthanide metals is very scarce, and little to no chemical or biological information is known about these particular systems.

First Measurement of Timelike Compton Scattering.

We present the first measurement of the timelike Compton scattering process, γp→p^{'}γ^{*}(γ^{*}→e^{+}e^{-}), obtained with the CLAS12 detector at Jefferson Lab. The photon beam polarization and the decay lepton angular asymmetries are reported in the range of timelike photon virtualities 2.25 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Indocyanine Green to Assess Vascularity of Ileal Conduit Anastomosis During Pelvic Exenteration for Recurrent/Persistent Gynecological Cancer: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Pelvic exenteration performed for recurrent/persistent gynecological malignancies has been associated with urological short- and long-term morbidity due to altered vascularization of tissues for previous radiotherapy. The aims of the present study were to describe the use of intravenous indocyanine green (ICG) to assess vascularity of urinary diversion (UD) after pelvic exenteration for gynecologic cancers, to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this technique, and to assess the postoperative complications.

Methods: Prospective, observational, single-center, pilot study including consecutive patients undergoing anterior or total pelvic exenteration due to persistent/recurrent gynecologic cancers between August 2020 and March 2021 at Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

The Effect of Metal Cations on the Aqueous Behavior of Dopamine. Thermodynamic Investigation of the Binary and Ternary Interactions with Cd, Cu and UO in NaCl at Different Ionic Strengths and Temperatures.

The interactions of dopamine [2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethylamine, (Dop)] with cadmium(II), copper(II) and uranyl(VI) were studied in NaCl(aq) at different ionic strengths (0 ≤ /mol dm ≤ 1.0) and temperatures (288.15 ≤ /K ≤ 318.

How COVID-19 Has Affected Caregivers' Burden of Patients with Dementia: An Exploratory Study Focusing on Coping Strategies and Quality of Life during the Lockdown.

COVID-19 has caused a public and international health emergency, leading to isolation and social distancing. These restrictions have had a significant impact on the caregivers of people with dementia, increasing the burden of patient management. The purpose of this study was to investigate the stress perceived by caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) during the pandemic.

Toward the Rational Design of Organic Solar Photovoltaics: Application of Molecular Structure Methods to Donor Polymers.

Conjugated polymers are promising candidates in the design of polymer solar cell materials with suitable electronic properties. Recent studies show that the use of different functional groups as side chain in thiophene-based polymers changes the electronic and conformation structures. Here we design new thiophene-based molecules by replacing the hydrogen attached to the backbone of P3MT with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups.

Runs of homozygosity in the Italian goat breeds: impact of management practices in low-input systems.

Background: Climate and farming systems, several of which are considered as low-input agricultural systems, vary between goat populations from Northern and Southern Italy and have led to different management practices. These processes have impacted genome shaping in terms of inbreeding and regions under selection and resulted in differences between the northern and southern populations. Both inbreeding and signatures of selection can be pinpointed by the analysis of runs of homozygosity (ROH), which provides useful information to assist the management of this species in different rural areas.

Simplified patient-specific renal dosimetry in Lu therapy: a proof of concept.

Purpose: The aim of this proof-of-concept study is to propose a simplified personalized kidney dosimetry procedure in Lu peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for neuroendocrine tumors and metastatic prostate cancer. It relies on a single quantitative SPECT/CT acquisition and multiple radiometric measurements executed with a collimated external probe, properly directed on kidneys.

Methods: We conducted a phantom study involving external count-rate measurements in an abdominal phantom setup filled with activity concentrations of Tc, reproducing patient-relevant organ effective half-lives occurring in Lu PRRT.

Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Behavior of SiO @nitrized-TiO Nanocomposites Obtained by a Straightforward Novel Approach.

We report on the facile synthesis of SiO @nitrized-TiO nanocomposite (NST) by calcination of TiO xerogel with OctaAmmonium POSS® (N-POSS; POSS=polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes). The as-obtained nanoporous mixed oxide is constituted by uniformly distributed SiO and nitrized-TiO , where the silica component is present in an amorphous state and TiO in an anatase/rutile mixed phase (92.1 % vs.