Genetic diversity of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus in cohorts of patients affected with SARS-CoV-2.

Background: The Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain (IGH) genomic region is responsible for the production of circulating antibodies and warrants careful investigation for its association with COVID-19 characteristics. Multiple allelic variants within and across different IGH gene segments form a limited set of haplotypes. Previous studies have shown associations between some of these haplotypes and clinical outcomes of COVID-19.

An aptamer-based electrochemical sensor for the quantification of the malaria biomarker lactate dehydrogenase.

Malaria is one of the most deadly infectious diseases, causing the death of hundreds of thousands of patients each year. Global efforts to combat malaria necessitate the implementation of novel rapid diagnostic tests deployable at the point of care. Here, we present the development of an electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensor for the quantification of the malaria biomarker Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH).

The potential role of interleukin-6 in the association between inflammation and cognitive performance in obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) represents one of the main molecules involved in inflammatory responses, which can be altered in either patients with cognitive impairment or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The present study aimed to evaluate serum IL-6 levels and cognitive performance in patients with severe OSA (Apnea-Hypopnea Index - AHI >30/h).

Methods: Thirty patients with severe OSA were compared to 15 controls similar in age, sex, and Body Mass Index.

Radiological images of an advanced invasive carcinoma with mucinous aspects: A case report.

Mucinous carcinoma of the breast, also known as colloid carcinoma, is an uncommon type of differentiated adenocarcinoma, representing only 2% of all invasive breast carcinomas. It usually occurs in women ≥ 60 years of age. Mucinous carcinoma is characterized by clusters of epithelial tumour cells suspended in pools of extracellular mucin and is further divided in 2 subgroups, pure and mixed.

A protein corona modulates the function of mineralization-competent matrix vesicles.

Mineralizing cells release a special class of extracellular vesicles known as matrix vesicles (MV), crucial for bone mineralization. Following their release, MV anchor to the extracellular matrix (ECM), where their highly specialized enzymatic machinery facilitates the formation of seed mineral within the MV's lumen, subsequently releasing it onto the ECM. However, how MV propagate mineral onto the collagenous ECM remains unclear.

Development and validation of the pain management competency scale for nurses and a nationwide survey of Chinese nurses.

Background: Nurses' competency in pain management is essential for effectively alleviating patients' acute pain, controlling chronic pain, and promoting patient recovery. However, reliable tools for evaluating these competencies across different clinical specialties and healthcare settings are lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate a Pain Management Competency Scale for Nurses (PMCSN) and to assess the pain management competencies of nurses in China through a nationwide survey.

The evolving landscape of COVID-19: factors associated with in-hospital COVID-19 related mortality during the 2023-2024 phase of JN.1 subvariant dominance.

Background: COVID-19 remains a complex health challenge. We analysed the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-related hospitalisations during JN.1 variant dominance.

Future perspectives for PDE5 inhibitors bridging the gap between cardiovascular health and psychological status.

The serendipitous discovery that inhibiting type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) using sildenafil, a potent PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5i) initially developed for cardioprotection, introduced the possibility of orally managing erectile dysfunction (ED) led to an increase in research data, which are currently considered groundbreaking for the new discipline of sexual medicine. Findings from a number of laboratories and clinics around the world unanimously demonstrated the following: (i) the major cause of ED is directly or indirectly related to cardiovascular disease (CVD); (ii) ED and CVDs share the same risk factors, which are related mainly to lifestyle choices; (iii) the first therapeutic approach to both ED and CVDs is to transform harmful lifestyles into virtuous lifestyles; and (iv) PDE5is in general, particularly sildenafil, are very safe, if not protective, for use in CVD patients. However, the use of PDE5is has faced several challenges.

Maresin-1 promotes neuroprotection and modulates metabolic and inflammatory responses in disease-associated cell types in preclinical models of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent inflammatory neurodegenerative disease in young people, causing neurological abnormalities and impairment. To investigate a novel therapeutic agent for MS, we observed the impact of maresin 1 (MaR1) on disease progression in a well-known, relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (RR-EAE) mouse model. Treatment with MaR1 accelerated inflammation resolution, reduced neurological impairment, and delayed disease development by reducing immune cell infiltration (CD4+IL-17+ and CD4+IFNγ+) into the central nervous system (CNS).

Psychometric Properties of the Self Care Oral Anticancer Agents Index (SCOAAI).

Objective: To test the Self-Care Oral Anticancer Agents Index (SCOAAI)'s psychometric properties (structural validity, convergent validity, predictive validity, and internal consistency) in a sample of patients with solid tumour on Oral anticancer agents (OAA).

Methods: A methodological research in five in- or out-patient Italian facilities. Structural validity was tested by confirmatory factor analysis, and internal consistency was assessed through Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability.

Tenofovir and Doravirine Are Potential Reverse-Transcriptase Analogs in Combination with the New Reverse-Transcriptase Translocation Inhibitor (Islatravir) Among Treatment-Experienced Patients in Cameroon: Designing Future Treatment Strategies for Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Islatravir (ISL) is a novel antiretroviral that inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase translocation. The M184V mutation, known to reduce ISL's viral susceptibility in vitro, could arise from prolonged exposure to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) (3TC). This study evaluated the predictive efficacy of ISL and identified potentially active antiretrovirals in combination among treatment-experienced patients in Cameroon, where NRTIs (3TC) have been the backbone of ART for decades now.

Pneumonia Severity Is Associated with Taxonomic Shifts in the Respiratory Microbiota.

Pneumonia caused by infection (PCP) is a potentially life-threatening illness, particularly affecting the immunocompromised. The past two decades have shown an increase in PCP incidence; however, the underlying factors that promote disease severity and fatality have yet to be fully elucidated. Recent evidence suggests that the microbiota of the respiratory tract may play a role in stimulating or repressing pulmonary inflammation, as well as the progression of both bacterial and viral pneumonia.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring-Guided Linezolid Therapy for the Treatment of Multiple Staphylococcal Brain Abscesses in a 3-Month-Old Infant.

Brain abscesses are invasive infections of the central nervous system with a high level of treatment complexity especially in pediatric patients. Here, we describe a 3-month-old infant with multiple brain abscesses caused by methicillin-susceptible (MSSA). The patient was initially treated with empirical antibiotics (ceftriaxone, metronidazole, vancomycin).

Repeatability of Pentacam HR in Keratoconus According to Two Different Scan Protocols: 25-3D Scan and 50-Cornea Fine.

This study aims to evaluate the repeatability of the Pentacam HR, comparing two different measurement modes (50-cornea fine and 25-3D scan) in patients affected by keratoconus. Multicenter retrospective study, conducted at Eye Clinic of the ASST-Spedali Civili-University of Brescia, Italy, and St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, United Kingdom.

Remifentanil-Propofol-Ketamine- Based Total Intravenous Anesthesia with Spontaneous Breathing for Adult Rigid Bronchoscopy.

Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) is the gold standard for managing central airway obstruction (CAO), a life-threatening condition caused by both malignant and benign etiologies. Anesthetic management is challenging as it requires balancing deep sedation with maintaining spontaneous breathing to avoid airway collapse. There is no consensus on the optimal anesthetic approach, with options including general anesthesia with neuromuscular blockers or spontaneous assisted ventilation (SAV).

Partial Loss of NEMO Function in a Female Carrier with No Incontinentia Pigmenti.

: The nuclear factor (NF)-kB essential modulator (NEMO) has a crucial role in the NFκB pathway. Hypomorphic pathogenic variants cause ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (EDA-ID) in affected males. However, heterozygous amorphic variants could be responsible for Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP) in female carriers.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Application of T-PEP in the Therapeutic Management of COPD Patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, characterized by chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH) that exacerbates airway obstruction and accelerates disease progression. Effective airway clearance techniques are essential to improve respiratory function and reduce exacerbations. Temporary Positive Expiratory Pressure (T-PEP) is a novel airway clearance device that has shown promise in managing COPD.

Control of Nanoparticle Size of Intrinsically Fluorescent PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Particles Produced Through Nanoprecipitation.

Plastics are widely produced due to their stability and ease of manufacturing, but many of them quickly become a waste, breaking down into microplastics and nanoplastics. While methods for the identification and characterization of plastic particles are well consolidated, the small size of nanoplastics presents challenges for their detection and analysis. Furthermore, due to the difficulty of identifying nanoplastics, analytical studies concerning their effect on cells and a comprehensive spectroscopic characterization are still lacking.

Production of Al Alloys with Kelvin Cells Using the Lost-PLA Technique and Their Mechanical Characterization via Compression Tests.

The mechanical behavior of AA6082 Kelvin cell foams under compressive tests has been investigated in this work. The lost-PLA replication technique, a simple and cheap technique, has been adopted as the production method. Six Al alloy samples have been made and successively subjected to compressive tests in order to examine the mechanical response and the repeatability too.

Implications of Mineralization Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Outcomes Beyond Calcifications.

The aim of this work was to explore the biomarkers associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mineralization processes as new prognostic factors across different breast cancer phenotypes. To this end, 133 breast biopsies, including benign and malignant lesions, with or without microcalcifications, were retrospectively collected. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of vimentin, BMP-2, BMP-4, RANKL, Runx2, OPN, PTX3, and SDF-1, while Kaplan-Meier plots were used to assess their prognostic impact on overall survival in a dataset of 2976 breast cancer patients.

HERVs Endophenotype in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Human Endogenous Retroviruses, Specific Immunoreactivity, and Disease Association in Different Family Members.

Increasing evidence indicates that human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are important to human health and are an underexplored component of many diseases. Certain HERV families show unique expression patterns and immune responses in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting their potential as biomarkers. Despite these interesting findings, the role of HERVs in ASD needs to be further investigated.

AI-Powered Neurogenetics: Supporting Patient's Evaluation with Chatbot.

Background/objectives: Artificial intelligence and large language models like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini are promising tools with remarkable potential to assist healthcare professionals. This study explores ChatGPT and Gemini's potential utility in assisting clinicians during the first evaluation of patients with suspected neurogenetic disorders.

Methods: By analyzing the model's performance in identifying relevant clinical features, suggesting differential diagnoses, and providing insights into possible genetic testing, this research seeks to determine whether these AI tools could serve as a valuable adjunct in neurogenetic assessments.

Deciphering the Link Between Diagnosis-Related Group Weight and Nursing Care Complexity in Hospitalized Children: An Observational Study.

Background/objectives: The increasing medical and nursing care complexity in hospitalized children represents a significant challenge for healthcare systems. However, the link between these two dimensions remains partially explored. This study aims to decipher the relationship between Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) weight and nursing care complexity in hospitalized children and to identify the determinants of medical complexity.

Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Youths Living in Rural and Semi-Urban Albania in the Ongoing Nutrition Transition: Preliminary Results.

Background: Albania is undergoing a demographic, epidemiological, and nutrition transition leading to an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among new generations. Comprehensive studies on the nutritional status and dietary patterns of youths in the country are still lacking.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of students (10-18 years) attending secondary schools in rural and semi-urban areas (October-November 2024).