Machine learning-assisted assessment of extracellular vesicles can monitor cellular rejection after heart transplant.

Background: Heart transplant rejection, particularly acute cellular rejection (ACR), remains a critical post-operative concern, despite declining incidence rates. Current diagnostic standards rely on invasive endomyocardial biopsy, which presents limitations in sensitivity and reproducibility. There is an unmet need for noninvasive, accurate biomarkers that can detect and monitor rejection.

Transcriptomic profiling of cytomegalovirus infection in cardiac transplantation: proof-of-concept for a new strategy in tissue markers application.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a relevant threat to heart-transplanted patients during the first year after surgery, leading to increased morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. This study aims to assess the transcriptomic profile of CMV infection in cardiac transplanted patients as a new diagnostic approach to discriminate infection and Acute Cellular Rejection (ACR) on EMB specimens.

Methods: We performed a microarray-based messenger RNA (mRNA) and micro-RNA (miRNA) profiling.

Isolated Radial Nerve Palsy in a Newborn Due to a Congenital Myofibroma: A Rare Case of Peripheral Nerve Injury.

Isolated musculoskeletal infantile myofibroma is a rare tumor of pediatric age. The majority of cases are seen in children under two years old, but it can occur at any age as a painless enlarging mass that involves bone, skin, or soft tissue, typically accompanied by compression symptoms. Perineural involvement is extremely rare in myofibromas.

Myofunctional Speech Therapy for Facial Rejuvenation and Orofacial Function Improvement: A Systematic Review.

This review aims to reveal the effectiveness of myofunctional speech therapy on facial rejuvenation and/or improvement of orofacial function. A systematic review of four medical electronic databases (Medline, Google Scholar, SciELO, and LILACS) was conducted between January and March 2023. The research question was defined using the PICO model: Population (P): adult subjects with signs of physiological aging of facial skin.

Deriving lessons learned from monitoring adaptation activities in projects under the EU mission on adaptation.

Actions to strengthen climate resilience are gaining more traction. In order to ensure effective adaptation, it is important to monitor the outcomes and impacts of these actions. However, there are numerous challenges and a multitude of approaches when it comes to monitoring adaptation to climate change.

When Waldenström macroglobulinemia hits the kidney: Description of a case series and management of a "rare in rare" scenario.

Background: Renal injury related to Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) occurs in approximately 3% of patients. Kidney biopsy is crucial to discriminate between distinct histopathological entities such as glomerular (amyloidotic and non-amyloidotic), tubulo-interstitial and non-paraprotein mediated renal damage. In this context, disease characterization, management, relationship between renal, and hematological response have been poorly explored.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Thrombolysis Resistance: New Insights for Targeting Therapies.

Background: Thrombosis is linked to neutrophil release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs are proposed as a mechanism of resistance to thrombolysis. This study intends to analyze the composition of thrombi retrieved after mechanical thrombectomy, estimate the age and organization of thrombi, and evaluate associations with the use of thrombolysis, antiplatelets, and heparin.

Short-term effects of positive expiratory pressure mask on ventilation inhomogeneity in children with cystic fibrosis: A randomized, sham-controlled crossover study.

Background: Can physiotherapy with a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) mask improve peripheral ventilation inhomogeneity, a typical feature of children with cystic fibrosis (cwCF)? To answer this question, we used the nitrogen multiple-breath washout (NMBW) test to measure diffusion-convection-dependent inhomogeneity arising within the intracinar compartment (S*VT).

Methods: For this randomized, sham-controlled crossover trial, two NMBW tests were performed near the hospital discharge date: one before and the other after PEP mask therapy (1 min of breathing through a flow-dependent PEP device attached to a face mask, followed by three huffs and one cough repeated 10 times) by either a standard (10-15 cmH0) or a sham (<5 cmH0) procedure on two consecutive mornings. Deception entailed misinforming the subjects about the nature of the study; also the NMBW operators were blinded to treatment allocation.

Lung clearance index in children with cystic fibrosis previously diagnosed with CRMS/CFSPID: A monocentric prospective experience.

Introduction: No data are available on the values and role of lung clearance index (LCI) in cystic fibrosis (CF) Screen Positive Inconclusive Diagnosis (CFSPID) progressed to CF diagnosis (CFSPID > CF). This study aimed to assess the value of the LCI in correctly predicting the progression of CFSPID to CF.

Methods: This is a prospective study carried out at the CF Regional Center of Florence, Italy from September 1, 2019.

Can percussive intrapulmonary ventilation improve the efficacy of physiotherapy in children with cystic fibrosis?

Lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by reduced mucociliary clearance, airway plugging, recurrent infections, and chronic pulmonary inflammation. Patients who are affected undergo daily respiratory physiotherapy to improve airway clearance. Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV) is a technique used in clinical practice, but it is not commonly used in CF patients.

Efficacy of a topical formulation containing MIA (Melanoma Inhibitory Activity) - Inhibitory peptides in a case of recalcitrant vitiligo in combination with UV exposure.

Introduction: Vitiligo is an acquired chronic pigmentation disorder of the skin. Even if the role of the immune system seems to be well established, new pathogenetic hypothesis are rising in these years. It has been recently suggested by the development of an animal model that a protein called Melanoma Inhibitory Activity (MIA) is involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Effect of Dornase Alfa on the Lung Clearance Index in Children with Cystic Fibrosis: A Lesson from a Case Series.

Background: Dornase alfa (DNase) is the only mucus-degrading agent that has proven efficacy in cystic fibrosis (CF). Few studies have evaluated the effects of DNase on the lung clearance index (LCI). We report the experience of two CF centers in which LCI monitoring was used to evaluate the efficacy of DNase therapy.

Guinea Worm Disease: A Neglected Diseases on the Verge of Eradication.

Background: Dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease (GWD), is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a parasite (). In the past, dracunculiasis was known as "the disease of the empty granary" because of the difficulties patients had in going to work in fields or to school when affected by this disease. In tropical areas, the condition has been widespread in economically disadvantaged communities, and has been associated with reduced economic status and low levels of education.

Are interferon-gamma release assays reliable to detect tuberculosis infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Janus kinase inhibitors?

Background: Screening for latent tuberculosis infection is recommended in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) starting Janus kinase inhibitors (Jaki). Interferon (IFN)-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are increasingly used for this purpose. Jaki tend to decrease the levels of IFNs, questioning the reliability of IGRAs during treatment with these drugs.

Modulator Therapy in Cystic Fibrosis Patients with Variants in F508del Complex Allele: A Short-Term Observational Case Series.

Previous studies reported the influence of variants in F508del cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in their responses to modulators. The current study is a prospective, observational study involving three patients with CF and pancreatic insufficiency, carrying a complex allele including F508del with A238V, I1027T, or L467F. We report clinical data before and after 4 weeks of treatment with tezacaftor (TEZ)/ivacaftor (IVA), elexacaftor (ELX)/TEZ/IVA, and lumacaftor (LUM)/IVA for patients with complex alleles A238V, I1027T, and L467F, respectively.

A Device Strategy-Matched Comparison Analysis among Different Intermacs Profiles: A Single Center Experience.

The present study evaluates outcomes of LVAD patients, taking into account the device strategy and the INTERMACS profile. We included 192 LVAD-patients implanted between January 2012 and May 2021. The primary and secondary end-points were survival and major adverse events between Profiles 1-3 vs.

Dornase alfa in Cystic Fibrosis: indications, comparative studies and effects on lung clearance index.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited disease in Caucasian populations, affecting around 50,000 patients in Europe and 30,000 in United States. A mutation in CF trans-membrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene changes a protein (a regulated chloride channel), which is expressed in many tissues. Defective CFTR results in reduced chloride secretion and an overage absorption of sodium across the epithelia, leading to thickened secretions in organs such as pancreas and lung.

Poly(lipoic acid)-based nanoparticles as a new therapeutic tool for delivering active molecules.

Pluronic-coated polylipoic acid-based nanoparticles (F127@PLA-NPs) have great potential as biodegradable nanovectors for delivering active molecules to different organs in complex diseases. In this study we describe the in vivo biodistribution, safety and ability to deliver molecules of F127@PLA-NPs in healthy rats following intravenous administration. Adult rats were injected with 10 mg/kg of rhodamine B-labeled F127@PLA-NPs, and NPs fluorescence and MFI rate were measured by confocal microscopy in whole collected organs.

Impact of Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device on Heart Transplant Candidates: A Multi-State Survival Analysis.

(1) Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the prolonged use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) on heart transplant (HTx) candidates. (2) Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2019, we included all consecutive patients diagnosed with end-stage heart failure considered for HTx at our institution, who were also eligible for LVAD therapy as a bridge to transplant (BTT). Patients were divided into two groups: those who received an LVAD as BTT (LVAD group) and those who were listed without durable support (No-LVAD group).

Marginal versus Standard Donors in Heart Transplantation: Proper Selection Means Heart Transplant Benefit.

Background: In this study, we assessed the mid-term outcomes of patients who received a heart donation from a marginal donor (MD), and compared them with those who received an organ from a standard donor (SD).

Methods: All patients who underwent HTx between January 2012 and December 2020 were enrolled at a single institution. The primary endpoints were early and long-term survival of MD recipients.

Ovarian reserve in patients with spondyloarthritis: impact of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on fertility status.

Objectives: Women of childbearing age may be affected by psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim was to assess the impact of biological agents (bDMARDs) on the fertility of women with PsA and AS by evaluating the serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH).

Methods: Consecutive female patients (18-45 years) affected by PsA or AS starting a bDMARD were retrospectively evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 8 months (T8) of treatment.

The Conundrum of Psoriatic Arthritis: a Pathogenetic and Clinical Pattern at the Midpoint of Autoinflammation and Autoimmunity.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by psoriasis, synovitis, enthesitis, spondylitis, and the possible association with other extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities. It is a multifaceted and systemic disorder sustained by complex pathogenesis, combining aspects of autoinflammation and autoimmunity. Features of PsA autoinflammation include the role of biomechanical stress in the onset and/or exacerbation of the disease; the evidence of involvement of the innate immune response mediators in the skin, peripheral blood and synovial tissue; an equal gender distribution; the clinical course which may encounter periods of prolonged remission and overlapping features with autoinflammatory syndromes.