Stem fixation techniques in revision total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) using uncemented press-fit stems (hybrid fixation) versus cemented stems (cemented fixation). It is also examined whether cemented fixation offers any superiority over hybrid fixation regarding implant survival, clinical function, imaging analysis and complication rates.

Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on five databases (Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, Medline and Cochrane).

Total penectomy and perineal urethrostomy configuration in locally advanced penile cancer: oncological, surgical and functional outcomes.

This study aims to report the oncological, surgical and functional outcomes in 15 patients with locally advanced penile cancer who underwent total penile amputation with perineal urethrostomy (PU). A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted from January 2018 to September 2023. Outcomes included postoperative complications, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS).

Role of gastric ultrasound in pediatric Menetrier's disease: Report of two cases.

Menetrier's disease (MD) is a protein-losing gastropathy characterized by acute generalized edema due to hypoalbuminemia. MD is rare in childhood, and it is commonly associated with cytomegalovirus infection. We reported two children, who presented with a history of generalized edema after some days of abdominal pain and diarrhea.

When enough is enough: Optimising monitoring effort for large-scale wolf population size estimation in the Italian Alps.

The ongoing expansion of wolf () populations in Europe has led to a growing demand for up-to-date abundance estimates. Non-invasive genetic sampling (NGS) is now widely used to monitor wolves, as it allows individual identification and abundance estimation without physically capturing individuals. However, NGS is resource-intensive, partly due to the elusive behaviour and wide distribution of wolves, as well as the cost of DNA analyses.

Psychophysical, electrofunctional, and morphological evaluation in naïve neovascular AMD patients treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the retinal morpho-functional characteristics of patients with neovascular wet age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with intravitreal injection (IV) of aflibercept (AFL).

Methods: The study was conducted on 35 patients previously diagnosed with type 1 nAMD who received a fixed-dosing regimen of aflibercept injections over 12 months. The goal was to assess trends in visual abilities over time by measuring visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), visual evoked potentials (VEPs), and spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Association of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors With Clinical Outcomes, Hemodynamics, and Myocardial Remodeling Among Patients With Advanced Heart Failure on Left Ventricular Assist Device Support.

Background: We evaluated the potential benefits of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) in patients with left ventricular assist device support.

Methods And Results: A total of 165 consecutive patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implant and alive at 6-month on support were studied. RAASi status after 6-month visit along with clinical reasons for nonprescription/uptitration were retrospectively assessed.

Biochemical characterization on muscle tissue of a novel biallelic mutation in an infant with progressive encephalopathy.

The gene encodes the mitochondrial protein aconitate hydratase, which is responsible for catalyzing the interconversion of citrate into isocitrate in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Mitochondrial aconitase is expressed ubiquitously, and deficiencies in TCA-cycle enzymes have been reported to cause various neurodegenerative diseases due to disruption of cellular energy metabolism and development of oxidative stress. We investigated a severe early infantile-onset neurometabolic syndrome due to a homozygous novel variant in exon 13 of the gene.

Age at Menopause and the Risk of Stroke: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Analysis in 204 244 Postmenopausal Women.

Background Observational studies have shown that women with an early menopause are at higher risk of stroke compared with women with a later menopause. However, associations with stroke subtypes are inconsistent, and the causality is unclear. Methods and Results We analyzed data of the UK Biobank and EPIC-CVD (European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition-Cardiovascular Diseases) study.

Acute Reduction in Left Ventricular Function Following Transcatheter Mitral Edge-to-Edge Repair.

Background Little is known about the impact of transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair on changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the effect of an acute reduction in LVEF on prognosis. We aimed to assess changes in LVEF after transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair for both primary and secondary mitral regurgitation (PMR and SMR, respectively), identify rates and predictors of LVEF reduction, and estimate its impact on prognosis. Methods and Results In this international multicenter registry, patients with both PMR and SMR undergoing transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair were included.

Assessment of Axial Postural Abnormalities in Parkinsonism: Automatic Picture Analysis Software.

Background: Software-based measurements of axial postural abnormalities in Parkinson's disease (PD) are the gold standard but may be time-consuming and not always feasible in clinical practice. An automatic and reliable software to accurately obtain real-time spine flexion angles according to the recently proposed consensus-based criteria would be a useful tool for both research and clinical practice.

Objective: We aimed to develop and validate a new software based on Deep Neural Networks to perform automatic measures of PD axial postural abnormalities.

Antibody responses to BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine among healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities: A cohort study in Northern Italy.

Background And Aims: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have been severely impacted by COVID-19, with a disproportionate amount of SARS-CoV-2 infections and related deaths occurring among residents.

Methods: This study is part of an ongoing multicenter, prospective cohort study conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs) and residents of 13 LTCFs in Northern Italy designed to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin class G (IgG) titers before and following vaccination with Pfizer/BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (two doses of vaccine, 21 days apart). Serum samples were obtained from participants (t0) before vaccination, and (t1) 2 weeks after and analyzed to determine anti-S1 IgG antibodies.

Species conservation profiles of the endemic spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from the Alps and the north-western Dinarides.

Background: The genus Joseph, 1882 (Araneae, Linyphiidae) includes 131 species, mainly distributed across the main European mountain ranges. The Alps and the north-western Dinarides account for 66 species, most of them showing narrow or even point-like distributions. The majority of spiders dwell in subterranean habitats including caves, mines, soil litter, rocky debris and other moist and shaded retreats.

Sod translocation to restore habitats of the myrmecophilous butterfly on former agricultural fields.

In Europe, 50%-70% of former natural grassland area has been destroyed during the past 30 years due to land use changes, losses are expected to increase in the future. Restoration is thought to reverse this situation by creating suitable abiotic conditions. In this paper, we investigate the effects of sod translocation with specific vegetation to facilitate the restoration of a former intensive agricultural field into a wet meadow.

Comparing digital detection platforms in high sensitivity immune-phenotyping of extracellular vesicles.

Despite their clinical potential, Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) struggle to take the scene as a preeminent source of biomarkers in liquid biopsy. Limitations in the use of EVs origin from their inherent complexity and heterogeneity and from the sensitivity demand in detecting low to very low abundant disease-specific sub-populations. Such need can be met by digital detection, namely capable to reach the single-molecule sensitivity.

Governing Migration through Multi-Level Governance? City Networks in Europe and the United States.

City networks (CNs) are often enthusiastically regarded as key actors in processes of Europeanization and multi-level governance (MLG) policy-making in Europe and beyond. However, systematic research on highly contentious issues like migration is still scarce. Building on an understanding of MLG as a specific mode or instance of policy-making, in this article I seek to understand why and how CNs engage in MLG-like policy-making on a typical issue of state sovereignty.

Consecutive chorioangiomas in the same pregnancy: A clinical case and review of literature.

Background And Aims: Aetiopathogenesis of chorioangioma is already unknown. Among the risk factors, hypoxia, environmental and genetic factors are believed to induce the overexpression of angiogenic cytokines promoting vascular proliferation. We reported a case of prenatally diagnosed 67 mm-wide placental chorioangioma, which occurred at 32 weeks of gestational age, infarcted, and followed by the onset of a second infarcted chorioangioma at 35 weeks of gestational age.