Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity-State of the Art: A Five-Year Narrative Review.

Non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity (NCGWS) is a syndrome for which pathogenesis and management remain debated. It is described as a condition characterized by gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms rapidly occurring after gluten ingestion in subjects who have had celiac disease or wheat allergy excluded. To date, the diagnosis of NCGWS is challenging as no universally recognized biomarkers have been yet identified, nor has a predisposing genetic profile been described.

Prioritizing Patient Selection in Clinical Trials: A Machine Learning Algorithm for Dynamic Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality for ICU Admitted Patients Using Repeated Measurement Data.

A machine learning prognostic mortality scoring system was developed to address challenges in patient selection for clinical trials within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environment. The algorithm incorporates Red blood cell Distribution Width (RDW) data and other demographic characteristics to predict ICU mortality alongside existing ICU mortality scoring systems like Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS). The developed algorithm, defined as a Mixed-effects logistic Random Forest for binary data (MixRFb), integrates a Random Forest (RF) classification with a mixed-effects model for binary outcomes, accounting for repeated measurement data.

"Add More Arrows to Your Quiver": The Role of Adding Another Chemotherapy Drug to Fluoropyrimidine and Long Term Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Despite optimal local control obtained with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), data on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of local advanced rectal cancer patients are still equivocal. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pathological complete response (pCR), regression rate, DFS, and OS probabilities of rectal cancer patients treated with a second chemotherapy drug added to fluoropyrimidine and long-term radiotherapy. Computerized bibliographic searches of MEDLINE, PUBMED, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases (1970-2023) were supplemented with hand searches of reference lists.

Organocatalytic Packed-Bed Reactors for the Enantioselective Flow Synthesis of Quaternary Isotetronic Acids by Direct Aldol Reactions of Pyruvates.

The utilization of the homogeneous ()-2-pyrrolidine-tetrazole organocatalyst (Ley catalyst) in the self-condensation of ethyl pyruvate and cross-aldol reactions of ethyl pyruvate donor with non-enolizable pyruvate acceptors, namely the sterically hindered ethyl 3-methyl-2-oxobutyrate or the highly electrophilic methyl 3,3,3-trifluoropyruvate, is described as the key enantioselective step toward the synthesis of the corresponding biologically relevant isotetronic acids featuring a quaternary carbon functionalized with ester and alkyl groups. The transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous flow conditions is also investigated, detailing the fabrication and operation of packed-bed reactors filled with a silica-supported version of the pyrrolidine-tetrazole catalyst (SBA-15 as the matrix).

Atypical Metastases from Prostate Cancer: Alpha-Methylacyl-Coenzyme A Racemase (AMACR) as a Potential Molecular Target in Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-Negative Prostate Adenocarcinoma.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a high-prevalence disease usually characterized by metastatic spread to the pelvic lymph nodes and bones and the development of visceral metastases only in the late stages of disease. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) plays a key role in the detection of PCa metastases. Several PET radiotracers are used in PCa patients according to the stage and pathological features of the disease, in particular Ga/F-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligands.

Expert Judgment Supporting a Bayesian Network to Model the Survival of Pancreatic Cancer Patients.

: Pancreatic cancer is known for its poor prognosis. The most effective treatment combines surgery with peri-operative chemotherapy. Current prognostic tools are designed to predict patient outcomes and inform treatment decisions based on collected data.

Management of Patients with Vulvar Cancers: A Systematic Comparison of International Guidelines (NCCN-ASCO-ESGO-BGCS-IGCS-FIGO-French Guidelines-RCOG).

Background: Vulvar carcinoma is an uncommon gynecological tumor primarily affecting older women. Its treatment significantly impacts the quality of life and, not least, aesthetics because of the mutilating surgery it requires.

Objectives: The management requires a multidisciplinary team of specialists who know how to care for the patient in her entirety, not neglecting psychological aspects and reconstructive surgery.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): A Targeted Antioxidant Strategy to Counter Oxidative Stress in Retinopathy.

Omega-3 fatty acids are critical components of cell membranes, including those in the retina. Specifically, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are the primary omega-3 fatty acids that have been studied for their potential benefits in retinal health, preventing the progression of retinopathy. Several studies have shown that a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a lower risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Polyploidization-driven transcriptomic dynamics in Medicago sativa neotetraploids: mRNA, smRNA and allele-specific gene expression.

Whole genome duplication (WGD) is a powerful evolutionary mechanism in plants. Autopolyploids have been comparatively less studied than allopolyploids, with sexual autopolyploidization receiving even less attention. In this work, we studied the transcriptomes of neotetraploids (2n = 4x = 32) obtained by crossing two diploid (2n = 2x = 16) plants of Medicago sativa that produce a significant percentage of either 2n eggs or pollen.

In situ forming gels as subcutaneous delivery systems of curcumin and piperine.

In this study an in situ forming gel for curcumin and piperine delivery is investigated as a long-lasting strategy in the local treatment of inflammatory and degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Particularly glyceryl monooleate, in association with phosphatidylcholine and ethanol, were employed. Different ratios between excipients were tested, with the aim to obtain a liquid form suitable for subcutaneous injection, gaining a semisolid consistency in contact with biological fluids.

Occupational Infections Among Workers in Europe: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Workers may be exposed to different infectious agents, putting them at risk of developing occupational diseases. This can occur in many ways, through deliberate use of specific microorganisms or through potential exposure from close contact with biological material. Infection prevention and control measures against biohazards can reduce the risk of infection among workers.

Identifying Research Priorities for Cognition in CKD: A Delphi Study.

Background: Cognition is a research priority for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but identification of critical research questions is lacking. This study aimed to determine which cognition-related research questions are most important to CKD stakeholders.

Methods: A modified Delphi technique with 3 survey rounds was used.

Communicating scientific evidence: drugs for Alzheimer's disease as a case study.

This paper reviews the scientific evidence on new anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies for treating Alzheimer's disease as a case study for improving scientific evidence communication. We introduce five guidelines condensed from the biomedical evidence literature but adapted to the short format of science communication in e.g.

More Than Meets the Eye: Unraveling the Interactions Between Skin Microbiota and Habitat in an Opportunistic Amphibian.

With amphibians still holding the record as the most threatened class of terrestrial vertebrates, their skin microbiota has been shown to play a relevant role in their survival in a fast-changing world. Yet little is known about how abiotic factors associated with different aquatic habitats impact these skin microorganisms. Here we chose the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata), a small anuran that colonizes a wide range of wetland habitats, to investigate how the diversity and composition of both its bacterial and fungal skin communities vary across different habitats and with water characteristics (temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen) of these habitats.

MOX Nanosensors to Detect Colorectal Cancer Relapses from Patient's Blood at Three Years Follow-Up, and Gender Correlation.

Colorectal cancer represents 10% of all the annual tumors diagnosed worldwide, being often not timely diagnosed, because its symptoms are typically lacking or very mild. Therefore, it is crucial to develop and validate innovative low-invasive techniques to detect it before becoming intractable. To this aim, a device equipped with nanostructured gas sensors has been employed to detect the airborne molecules of blood samples collected from healthy subjects, and from colorectal cancer affected patients at different stages of their pre- and post-surgery therapeutic path.

Exploring Methacrylated Gellan Gum 3D Bioprinted Patches Loaded with Tannic Acid or L-Ascorbic Acid as Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Application.

To improve wound healing, advanced biofabrication techniques are proposed here to develop customized wound patches to release bioactive agents targeting cell function in a controlled manner. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted "smart" patches, based on methacrylated gellan gum (GGMA), loaded with tannic acid (TA) or L-ascorbic acid (AA) have been manufactured. To improve stability and degradation time, gellan gum (GG) was chemically modified by grafting methacrylic moieties on the polysaccharide backbone.

Design of Novel Human Wrist Prostheses Based on Parallel Architectures: Dimensional Synthesis and Kinetostatics.

The human wrist affects the ability to efficiently perform many manipulation tasks. Despite this, most upper-limb prostheses are focused on the hand's mobility, which makes users compensate for the lost wrist mobility with complex manipulation strategies relying on the mobility of other body parts. In this context, research on wrist prostheses is still open to new contributions, even though a number of such prostheses are already present in the literature and on the market.

Advancing Orthodontic Aesthetics: Exploring the Potential of Injectable Composite Resin Techniques for Enhanced Smile Transformations.

The injection moulding technique (IMT) is a minimally invasive restorative treatment. This technique enables the application of thin, flowable composite layers into a stable, transparent silicone index that serves as a mould. Due to the fluid properties of the composite, it efficiently fills the silicone tray and seamlessly integrates with the tooth structure, often obviating tooth preparation and preserving overall tooth integrity.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging as Neurologic Predictor in Patients Affected by Traumatic Brain Injury: Scoping Review.

: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a variant of Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI), enables a neuroanatomical microscopic-like examination of the brain, which can detect brain damage using physical parameters. DTI's application to traumatic brain injury (TBI) has the potential to reveal radiological features that can assist in predicting the clinical outcomes of these patients. What is the ongoing role of DTI in detecting brain alterations and predicting neurological outcomes in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury and/or diffuse axonal injury? : A scoping review of the PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.

Ageing and inflammation limit the induction of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell responses in severe COVID-19.

CD8+ T cells are critical for immune protection against severe COVID-19 during acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, the induction of antiviral CD8+ T cell responses varies substantially among infected people, and a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie such immune heterogeneity is required for pandemic preparedness and risk stratification. In this study, we analyzed SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in relation to age, clinical status, and inflammation among patients infected primarily during the initial wave of the pandemic in France or Japan.

Perspectives in MicroRNA Therapeutics for Cystic Fibrosis.

The discovery of the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cystic fibrosis (CF) has generated increasing interest in the past years, due to their possible employment as a novel class of drugs to be studied in pre-clinical settings of therapeutic protocols for cystic fibrosis. In this narrative review article, consider and comparatively evaluate published laboratory information of possible interest for the development of miRNA-based therapeutic protocols for cystic fibrosis. We consider miRNAs involved in the upregulation of CFTR, miRNAs involved in the inhibition of inflammation and, finally, miRNAs exhibiting antibacterial activity.