Intra-articular injections of oxygen-ozone versus hyaluronic acid for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular (AI) injections of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) versus Oxygen-Ozone (OO) in relieving pain and reducing disability in patients affected by knee osteoarthritis (KOA).MethodsPeople with painful KOA for at least three months were randomly allocated to receive three IA injections, once a week, of HA (Group A) vs OO (Group B). They were evaluated at baseline (T0), at 1 (T1), 3 (T2), 6 (T3), and 12 months (T4) after the treatment, using as outcomes: WOMAC pain score, WOMAC LK 3.

Pretreatment and on-treatment ctDNA and tissue biomarkers predict recurrence in patients with stage IIIB-D/IV melanoma treated with adjuvant immunotherapy: CheckMate 915.

Purpose: CheckMate 915 (NCT03068455) compared adjuvant nivolumab monotherapy versus combination nivolumab+ipilimumab in patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma. This exploratory analysis was performed to identify biomarkers that correlate with benefit from adjuvant immunotherapy.

Patients And Methods: 1,844 patients received nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks or nivolumab 240 mg every 2 weeks with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks.

Effects of dry needling on functioning and pain relief in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: Chronic nonspecific neck pain frequently causes disability and absence from work. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of dry needling (DN) on disability and pain in CNSNP patients.

Materials And Methods: We performed a systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science following the PRISMA guidelines.

Genetic screening of tuberous sclerosis complex in Sicily with a focus on neurological manifestations.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by widespread hamartomas and prominent neurological involvement. It results from pathogenic variants in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, leading to hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway and consequent dysregulation of cell growth. These tumor suppressor genes encode hamartin and tuberin, proteins critical for regulating cell proliferation, neuronal excitability and synaptogenesis.

Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and nutraceutical supplementation in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Numerous scientific papers have compared different treatment options in the management of lateral epicondylitis. Our study evaluated the efficacy of focal extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) combined with an integrative nutraceutical treatment of hyaluronic acid, collagen, vitamin C, and manganese, compared with single treatment in patients with lateral epicondylitis in terms of improvement of pain, functional capacity, muscle strength, and reduction of inflammation on ultrasound images.

Methods: A single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in a population of patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Effects of Injections of Monocytes, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Hyaluronic Acid in Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: An Observational Study.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition among adults that leads to knee joint pain and dysfunction. Over the past two decades, local intra-articular knee injection therapy has gained popularity due to the advent of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and the novel peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells (PBMNCs). This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of intra-articular injections of PBMNCs, HA, and PRP combined with hyaluronic acid (PRP-HA) for treating degenerative knee OA classified as stages II and III, according to the Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) scale.

Combined immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab with and without sequential or concomitant stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with melanoma brain metastasis: An international retrospective study.

Background: Ipilimumab plus nivolumab (COMBO) is the standard treatment in patients with asymptomatic melanoma brain metastases (MBM). We report a retrospective study aiming to assess the outcome of patients with MBM treated with COMBO with or without sequential/concomitant stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT).

Methods: MBM patients treated with COMBO with or without SRT have been retrieved: demographics, steroid treatment, Central Nervous System [CNS]-related symptoms, BRAF status, radiotherapy (yes/no and timing) or surgery, number of MBM, maximum diameter of metastasis, overall response rate (ORR), progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) have been analyzed.

Impact of Adequate Disinfection Techniques for Ultrasound-Guided Injections in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.

: Interventional physiatry is a branch of medicine that uses minimally invasive ultrasound-guided techniques for diagnosis and treatment in the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this scoping review is to investigate the sterilisation techniques used and the rate of infection with ultrasound-guided injections. : PubMed was searched up to 30 September 2024 using the following search terms ("Ultrasound, Interventional"[mesh]) AND "Injections, Intra-Articular"[mesh]; "Ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection".

Pembrolizumab versus placebo as adjuvant therapy in resected stage IIB or IIC melanoma: Long-term follow-up, crossover, and rechallenge with pembrolizumab in the phase III KEYNOTE-716 study.

Background: Adjuvant pembrolizumab prolonged recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in patients with resected stage IIB/IIC melanoma in KEYNOTE-716. Results of a post hoc 4-year analysis are reported, including progression/recurrence-free survival 2 (PRFS2).

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to pembrolizumab 200 mg or placebo intravenously every 3 weeks (part 1).

Sex-specific modulation of FOLR1 and its cycle enzyme genes in Alzheimer's disease brain regions.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized by progressive cognitive and functional decline. Its incidence increases significantly with age and is more prevalent in women than men. We investigated the folate receptor alpha (FOLR1) gene expression levels in the central nervous system (CNS) of AD and non-demented healthy control (NDHC) subjects.

Patient-reported outcomes with adjuvant nivolumab versus placebo after complete resection of stage IIB/C melanoma in the randomized phase 3 CheckMate 76 K trial.

Background: In the phase 3 CheckMate 76 K trial, adjuvant nivolumab significantly improved recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival versus placebo in patients with resected stage IIB/C melanoma. We report patient-reported outcomes from CheckMate 76 K.

Methods: Change from baseline to week 53 in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D-5L utility index and visual analog scale (VAS), was compared between treatment groups using linear mixed-effect models.

Review: Botulinum Toxin for Treatment of Focal Limb Dystonia.

Focal limb dystonias (FLDs) are abnormal postures and muscle contractions in an arm or leg that can occur in the setting of specific activities or without any stimulus. This pathology can have a profound impact on quality of life and potentially limit work in those whose dystonias are brought on by activities related to their occupations. Botulinum toxin (BoNT) is approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration for several indications, including cervical dystonia and blepharospasm, but not for FLD.

Dabrafenib and Trametinib for the Treatment of Pediatric and Adolescent Melanoma: Single Center Experience Data From Italian Compassionate Use.

Data on BRAF/MEK inhibitors in pediatric and adolescent melanoma patients are limited. We report data of patients treated with dabrafenib/trametinib for compassionate use at our institution. From January 2020, four patients with Stage III and two patients with Stage IV disease were treated.

Maternal Phenylketonuria and Offspring Outcome: A Retrospective Study with a Systematic Review of the Literature.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) poses significant challenges for maternal and neonatal outcomes, requiring strict adherence to dietary protocols to maintain optimal maternal phenylalanine (Phe) levels during pregnancy. This study retrospectively analyzed outcomes of pregnancies in PKU-affected women and conducted a systematic review on the timing of dietary management and its impact on outcomes. This retrospective study included data from nine PKU-affected women and 14 pregnancies followed at the Regional Reference Center for Metabolic Diseases in Catania.

The Role of Botulinum Toxin for Masseter Muscle Hypertrophy: A Comprehensive Review.

Masticatory muscle hypertrophy (MMH) is a rare clinical phenomenon of uncertain etiology, characterized by a soft swelling near the angle of the jaw. This abnormal enlargement of the masseter muscle can alter the facial profile, leading to aesthetic concerns. Moreover, MMH may also have significant functional repercussions, including pain in the masseter region, often associated with temporomandibular disorders, fatigue, and discomfort during mastication.

The efficacy of manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for reducing chronic non-specific neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundChronic non-specific neck pain (CNSNP) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder associated with significant disability, resulting in growing recourse to healthcare providers, huge cost for society and a great number of workdays lost.ObjectiveBy this systematic review and metanalysis we aimed to assess the effects of different physical therapy techniques in patients with CNSNP.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were regularly used to search for articles published from 1 January 2010 until 31 January 2024.

Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in a Large Cohort of Eastern Sicilian Patients Affected by Phenylketonuria: Newborn Screening Program, Clinical Features, and Follow-Up.

: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene, leading to impaired amino acid metabolism. Early diagnosis through newborn screening (NBS) enables prompt treatment, preventing neurological complications. This study aims to describe the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of PKU and mild hyperphenylalaninemia (m-HPA) in patients diagnosed at the Department of Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Newborn Screening, Hospital G.

Effectiveness rehabilitative therapy and Pridinol Mesylate in low back pain.

Background: Spondylarthritis is a degenerative disease involving the intervertebral disc, vertebral bodies, and adjacent soft tissues. Treatment aims to slow disease progression and manage symptoms through an interdisciplinary approach. It can be conservative and rarely chirurgic.

Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Stage II Melanoma: Outcomes by Primary Tumor Location in the Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III KEYNOTE-716 Trial.

Background: Previous results from the KEYNOTE-716 trial demonstrated significantly improved recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) with adjuvant pembrolizumab versus placebo in patients with resected stage IIB or IIC melanoma. We present a post hoc analysis of efficacy according to primary tumor location.

Methods: KEYNOTE-716 (NCT03553836) is a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, phase III study.

Metaverse-Aided Rehabilitation: A Perspective Review of Successes and Pitfalls.

: The evolution of technology has continuously redefined the landscape of rehabilitation medicine. Researchers have long incorporated virtual reality (VR) as a promising intervention, providing immersive therapeutic environments for patients. The emergence of the metaverse has recently further expanded the potential applications of VR to augment the possibilities in rehabilitation.

Exploring SERPINA3 as a neuroinflammatory modulator in Alzheimer's disease with sex and regional brain variations.

SERPINA3, a serine protease inhibitor, is strongly associated with neuroinflammation, a typical condition of AD. Its expression is linked to microglial and astrocytic markers, suggesting it plays a significant role in modulating neuroinflammatory responses. In this study, we examined the SERPINA3 expression levels, along with CHI3L1, in various brain regions of AD patients and non-demented healthy controls (NDHC).

Retrospective-Prospective Observational Study of Italian Patients Treated in Melanoma Adjuvant Cohort MAP-MADAM (Maximing ADjuvAnt MAP): Interim Analysis.

: Dabrafenib and trametinib (D + T) have been approved for the treatment of stage III melanoma with BRAF V600E V600K mutations in an adjuvant setting, based on the results from the COMBI-AD trial. To provide early access to this combination therapy prior to its commercial availability in Italy, a Managed Access Program (MAP) was run in Italy from June 2018 to December 2019. : The MADAM (Maximing ADjuvAnt MAP) study is an Italian retrospective-prospective observational study that included patients who received at least one dose of D + T through the MAP.