Distinctive chromosomal, mutational and transcriptional profiling in colon versus rectal cancers.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) encompasses tumors arising in the colon (CC) and rectum (RC), often treated as a single disease despite emerging evidence of biological divergence. Understanding the molecular differences between CC and RC is critical for improving diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies.

Methods: We performed an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of CC and RC data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to investigate their degree of similarity and observed that these tumors present distinct molecular profiles, which suggest an evolution through divergent pathways.

Real-world comparison of lymphopenia profiles in S1P receptor modulators for multiple sclerosis: a multicenter retrospective study.

Introduction: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators, regulating the S1P/S1PR pathway, lead to lymphocyte sequestration in lymphoid organs, which results in peripheral lymphopenia. This study evaluates the degree of lymphopenia induced by S1P modulators in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Ozanimod, Siponimod, Ponesimod, and Fingolimod.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study across thirteen MS centers in Italy, including 191 MS patients (mean age 46.

Addressing the unmet needs of cardiovascular evaluation in athletes: A national survey of the Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC) and the Regional Associations of Ambulatory Cardiologists (ARCA).

Introduction: Cardiovascular screening of athletes is of paramount importance in identifying individuals at risk for sudden cardiac death. Performing such evaluations requires specific knowledge and expertise. The educational needs of cardiology community and the perception of sports cardiology as a specific subspecialty needing a dedicated approach have never been explored.

Clinical and echocardiographic phenotype of cardiac wasting in patients with advanced cancer.

Aims: Cardiac wasting-associated cardiomyopathy in patients with advanced cancer is characterized by loss of left ventricular (LV) mass and independently associated with poor prognosis. Better understanding of this very prevalent cardiomyopathy is urgently needed.

Methods And Results: Overall, 398 patients with active, mostly advanced cancer without significant cardiovascular disease (mean LV ejection fraction [LVEF] 64.

Laparoscopic Interval Appendectomy as Safe and Effective Treatment of Complicated Appendicitis after Failed Initial Conservative Approach: A Single-Center Experience.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, antibiotic therapy has become the first-line treatment for acute appendicitis (AA) in many centers. Interval appendectomy (IA) is often needed later due to symptom recurrence. This paper aimed to report our experience with early, unplanned laparoscopic IA (LIA) over the past 2 years.

Innovative approach to IOL-bag complex fixation with Siepser's scleral sliding knots in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

To assess the 1-month outcomes of visual performance and positional stability of capsule-fixated intraocular lenses (IOLs) in patients with IOL-Bag complex dislocation. We enrolled 36 eyes (34 patients) with IOL-Bag complex dislocation due to pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Patients with intraoperative complications or prior posterior capsule Nd-YAG laser were excluded.

Low prolactin levels as a marker of gestational diabetes in late pregnancy.

Aims: Beyond its known role in lactation, prolactin is emerging as a hormone involved in gestational glucose metabolism. This study aimed to assess prolactin trajectories across pregnancy and their association with metabolic outcomes, including gestational diabetes (GDM).

Methods: A longitudinal cohort of 120 pregnant women (67 with GDM, 53 non-GDM) was followed throughout gestation.

Pregnancy in patients with inherited myocardial disorders - A consensus document on preconception counseling and pregnancy management by the working group on myocardial and pericardial disorders of the Italian Society of Cardiology.

Cardiomyopathies are inherited cardiac disorders characterized by increased risk of heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac death. The comprehension of the genetic foundation and the accessibility of genetic testing have significantly enhanced the identification of patients harbouring mutations linked to cardiomyopathy, even in the absence of a distinct phenotype, facilitating early diagnosis. However, the diagnosis at a young age carries the intrinsic problem of the possible disease transmission.

Long-term antithrombotic therapy practices in adult patients with short bowel syndrome following acute mesenteric ischemia: An international case-based survey.

Background & Aims: Long-term antithrombotic therapy is recommended for short bowel syndrome (SBS) after acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). However, targeted recommendations on drug selection, dosing, duration and monitoring, are lacking. Current recommendations rely on data from other arterial diseases, often overlooking SBS-related drug absorption issues.

FGF Signaling Promotes Lysosome Biogenesis in Chondrocytes via the Mannose Phosphate Receptor Pathway.

The mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) pathway is critical for lysosome biogenesis, facilitating the trafficking of hydrolases to lysosomes to ensure cellular degradative capacity. Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signaling, a key regulator of skeletogenesis, has been linked to the autophagy-lysosomal pathway in chondrocytes, but its role in lysosome biogenesis remains poorly characterized. Here, using mass spectrometry, lysosome immune-purification, and functional assays, we reveal that RCS (Swarm rat chondrosarcoma cells) lacking FGF receptors 3 and 4 exhibit dysregulations of the M6P pathway, resulting in hypersecretion of lysosomal enzymes and impaired lysosomal function.

Role of NRP1/HDAC4/CREB/RIPK1 Axis in SARS-CoV2 S1 Spike Subunit-Induced Neuronal Toxicity.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) is associated with neurological symptoms, but the molecular mechanisms have not yet been identified. Since the S1 subunit (S1) of the envelope of the SARS-CoV2 Spike glycoprotein can reach the CNS, we studied whether S1 could cause neuronal death in a direct manner. Transfection of the S1 plasmid in SH-SY5Y cells reduces cell survival in a time-dependent manner, whereas the overexpression of the S2 subunit does not.

What is Cardiometabolic HFpEF and How Can We Study it Preclinically?

Cardiometabolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has emerged as a distinct and dominant endotype of HFpEF. Driven by prevalent comorbidities, its incidence and prevalence are projected to continue to rise amid the current global pandemic of obesity and metabolic disease. Recognizing the characteristic clinical and molecular features of cardiometabolic HFpEF is paramount for developing an efficacious therapeutic arsenal and improving clinical outcomes, challenges in which success to date has been modest.

Development and implementation of Phleos, a web-based tool for the data collection on Hypereosinophilic syndrome: the Italian Network on HES (INHES) study protocol.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by persistent hypereosinophilia associated with organ damage. Due to its rarity and heterogeneity in its clinical presentation, HES remains underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, often leading to delayed diagnosis and irreversible organ damage. The complexity of HES diagnosis is even more complicated due to the absence of standardised criteria.

White Mulberry Plant Extracts in Cardiovascular Prevention: An Update.

This review examines the principal preclinical and clinical findings assessing the effects of White Mulberry () plant extract supplementation currently available. Since it is one of the most cultivated species of mulberry tree, it has caught the eye of researchers for its rich phytochemical profile as well as multi-purpose usages. The leaves, fruits, and other parts of the White Mulberry plant take on the role of valuable sources of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and alkaloids.

The First Case Report of a Solitary Pulmonary Metastasis of a Transitional Meningioma and Literature Review.

Extracranial metastases from meningiomas are extremely rare, with an incidence of <1%, and their prognosis is poor. Moreover, there is currently no gold standard for their treatment; therefore, the decision-making process is strictly dependent on multidisciplinary discussions. In this report, we describe the case of a 73-year-old patient who was diagnosed with a solitary lung metastasis more than 20 years after the initial treatment for a low-grade meningioma.

Sex Disparities and Female Reproductive and Hormonal Factors Associated with Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Cohort.

Worldwide, men experience a higher incidence of pancreatic cancer (PC) than women. To increase understanding of the underlying reasons for this sex-related difference, we analysed general and sex-related risk factors for PC in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort (women/men No. = 293,682/136,728; 717/577 PC-cases).

Sleep and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis: Bridging the Gap Between Inflammation and Neurodegeneration via Glymphatic Failure.

Epidemiological studies identified insufficient and poor-quality sleep as independent risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS). The glymphatic system, active during slow-wave sleep, clears brain waste through perivascular astrocytic aquaporin-4 (AQP4) channels. The presence of antigens induces a transient, physiological lowering of glymphatic flux as a first step of an inflammatory response.

Prognostic Value of the Goutallier Scale for Paravertebral Muscle Atrophy in Predicting Disability and Pain Outcomes in Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of 100 Patients.

Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a prevalent cause of disability in elderly populations, often treated with decompressive surgery. However, postoperative functional outcomes are variable and influenced by factors beyond neural compression alone. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of the Goutallier Classification System (GS), a radiological index of paravertebral muscle fatty degeneration, in predicting long-term postoperative disability and pain in elderly patients undergoing decompression for LSS.

BLUEPRINT PERSONA AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY INTERVENTIONS: ADDRESSING UNMET NEEDS IN BURNING MOUTH SYNDROME CARE.

Objectives: This study aimed to create a Blueprint Persona for Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) patients, focusing on Unmet needs that digital solutions can address.

Methods: An interdisciplinary focus group formulated the BMS Blueprint Persona by discussing clinical data and survey results regarding education, informatics skills, and perceived unmet needs, collected from 500 BMS patients between 2022 and 2023.

Results: The BMS Blueprint Persona, named Anna, represents a typical BMS patient profile: a young-old woman with limited computer skills who experiences anxiety, depression, and insomnia, has memory issues leading to medication adherence challenges, is obese due to overeating, and spends much time watching TV at home.

Defining Global Benchmarks for Robotic Liver Resections: An International Multicenter Study.

Objective: This study aimed to establish global benchmark outcomes indicators for robotic liver resections (R-LR).

Background: In recent years, minimally invasive liver resections and in particular R-LR has seen an increase in uptake in recent years. Although, benchmark outcomes have been recently established for laparoscopic (L) -LR, this has not been established for R-LR.

Not Afraid to Go Beyond: Innovative Management of Intermuscular S-ICD Infection.

Background: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) infection can be managed conservatively, shifting the generator from the submuscular to intermuscular pocket.

Case Summary: A 50-year-old man with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and an S-ICD implanted as primary prevention with the intermuscular pocket technique was admitted to the cardiology department for a check-up owing to evidence of a pseudonodular skin lesion over the catheter sleeve that developed after having shaved the chest. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan was performed and revealed an active infection both over the S-ICD generator and along the lead.

New generation of paediatricians in the health care system: are paediatric residents ready to manage children without supervision? A survey using respiratory infections as a model.

Objectives: To measure the perceived autonomy level in managing lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) among paediatric residents and to compare perceived autonomy with the assessments by tutors who directly supervise and evaluate residents DESIGN/SETTING: A survey on managing LRTIs was distributed among all Italian paediatric residents and tutors via Google Forms between January 1 and 31, 2024.Participants, residents and tutors were classified according to their training year and clinical setting: primary care paediatrics (PCP), emergency department (ED) and hospital ward (HW).

Outcome: Perceived autonomy of paediatric residents in managing LRTI in different settings; overall perceived autonomy and interest in employment.

Fibroblasts activated by miRs-185-5p, miR-652-5p, and miR-1246 shape the tumor microenvironment in triple-negative breast cancer via PATZ1 downregulation.

The intricate interplay between epithelial and fibroblast cells within the tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in driving triple-negative breast cancer progression. This crosstalk involves the exchange of various signaling molecules, including growth factors, cytokines, extracellular matrix components, and extracellular vesicles. Recently, we demonstrated that triple-negative breast cancer extracellular vesicles carry and release a specific combination of miRs, including miR-185-5p, miR-652-5p, and miR-1246 (from here on, referred as combo-miRs), into normal fibroblasts, effectively reprogramming them into cancer-associated fibroblasts.