Clinical perspectives on prurigo nodularis: diagnostic challenges and novel treatment options.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic skin inflammatory condition characterized by severe, persistent itching and excoriated nodules induced by scratching. PN is strongly related to neural and immune dysfunction and negatively impacts quality of life. Treatments for PN are often off-label, highlighting the need for specifically approved agents and consensus guidelines for patient management.

Development of a questionnaire for the detection of flares in atopic dermatitis treated with biologics and small molecules: a pilot study.

Background: Proper identification and management of flare in atopic dermatitis (AD) is complex, especially in patients being treated with biological drug or small molecules. To date, the definition of flare is not agreed upon. Available scores such as the ADCT (AD control tool) are administered retrospectively to the patient and do not cover key aspects such as self-medication with topical steroids.

CHEK2 Germline Variants in Early-Onset and Familial Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Of 313 patients with early-onset or familial MPN, 7 (2.2%) patients had pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) germline heterozygous loss of function mutations in CHEK2. The presence of CHEK2 variants was associated with a familial history of malignancies and a higher risk of leukemic evolution, reinforcing the hypothesis of CHEK2 variants as tumor predisposing risk allele.

European Myeloma Network Consensus Statement on Functional High-Risk Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable blood cancer characterized by clonal bone marrow plasmacytosis, hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia, and osteolytic bone disease. Approximately 20% of NDMM patients, not predicted to have high-risk disease at diagnosis, progress early, despite optimal induction +/- ASCT and lenalidomide maintenance, and are subsequently categorized as functional high-risk (FHR) disease. Standardized risk-stratification models incorporate biomarkers of tumor burden, existence of high-risk cytogenetics, with the presence/absence of plasma cell leukemia/extramedullary disease to attribute high-risk at diagnosis; however, depth/duration of response to novel agent-based induction (NA-IND) as dynamic markers of disease risk have not been defined.

Avian reovirus in Italy: three episodes of abnormal losses in offspring of vaccinated broiler breeders.

Avian reovirus (ARV) is an important pathogen of poultry and the causative agent of viral arthritis/tenosynovitis. The disease can cause severe clinical signs in broiler flocks at an early age, resulting in major welfare issues and substantial economic losses for the poultry industry. Vaccination of breeders is widely used to control the disease, aiming to reduce vertical transmission and provide maternal antibodies to offspring.

Beyond function: supervised exercise therapy may target inflammatory gene expression in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease.

Supervised exercise therapy (SET) is a first-line treatment for patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, its impact on inflammation, as well as the relationship between inflammation and functional improvements, remain poorly understood. In this prospective, single-arm study, 51 patients with symptomatic PAD underwent a 12-week multimodal SET program.

USPSTF Recommendation Against PSA Screening vs. Stage and Cancer-Specific Mortality in Localized Prostate Cancer.

Background: The USPSTF recommendation against PSA screening (RAPS) in 2012 resulted in unfavorable changes in prostate cancer (PCa) outcomes. However, the effect on cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in localized PCa has not been assessed.

Methods: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004-2021), we identified patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) or radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized PCa.

Strengthening population and organizational health literacy to reduce social inequalities within the JA PreventNCD.

Aims: Health literacy is considered a key social determinant of health. It plays an important role in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), contributing to better health and well-being. Therefore, the overall aim of the health literacy focus (Action) within the European Joint Action to prevent NCDs (JA PreventNCD) is to promote general, digital, mental and organizational health literacy to improve health outcomes and counteract NCD-related health inequities in Europe.

COMBINATORIC: Carbon Ion Boost With Photons or Protons in Salivary Gland and Sinonasal Cancers.

Aim: To evaluate the outcomes of combining carbon ion radiotherapy boost (CIRTb) with photons (Ph) or protons (PT) for locally advanced salivary gland and sinonasal cancers (SGCs and SNCs).

Materials And Methods: Sixty-nine patients with SGCs and SNCs received CIRTb to high-risk CTV and Ph or PT to low-risk CTV (LR-CTV) from October 2014 to September 2022. Two-year local relapse-free survival (LRFS) was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier.

Absence of Fitness Trade-Offs in Fungicide-Resistant : Evidence Along an Altitudinal Gradient.

, a hemibiotrophic ascomycete, is the causal agent of apple scab, a major disease affecting apple production worldwide. The widespread use of fungicides in orchard management has led to the selection of resistant strains. To limit the spread of these resistant strains, it is essential to understand their competitive fitness within the population.

Impact of forward and backward walking on gait parameters across parkinson's disease stages and severity: a prospective observational study.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor symptoms altering gait domains such as slow walking speed, reduced step and stride length, and increased double support time. Gait disturbances occur in the early, mild to moderate, and advanced stages of the disease in both backward walking (BW) and forward walking (FW), but are more pronounced in BW. At this point, however, no information is available about BW performance and disease stages specified using the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale.

Medicolegal landscape of prostate cancer ablative therapy: a national legal database analysis of malpractice claims (1970-2024).

Background: With the advancement of MR-based imaging, prostate cancer ablative therapies have seen increased interest to reduce complications of prostate cancer treatment. Although less invasive, they do carry procedural risks, including rectal injury. To date, the medicolegal aspects of ablative therapy remain underexplored.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the learning curve and mentoring in robotic pancreatectomy: transitioning from novice to expert robotic surgeon.

The adoption of robotic pancreatectomy has grown significantly in recent years, driven by its potential advantages in precision, minimally invasive access, and improved patient recovery. However, mastering these complex procedures requires overcoming a substantial learning curve, and the role of structured mentoring in facilitating this transition remains underexplored. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the number of cases required to achieve surgical proficiency, assess the impact of mentoring on skill acquisition, and analyze how outcomes evolve throughout the learning process.

X-Linked Hypophosphatemia: Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 on Human Skeletal Muscle-Derived Cells.

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare and progressive disease, due to inactivating mutations in the phosphate-regulating endopeptidase homolog X-linked (PHEX) gene. These pathogenic variants result in elevated circulating levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), responsible for the main clinical manifestations of XLH, such as hypophosphatemia, skeletal deformities, and mineralization defects. However, XLH also involves muscular disorders (muscle weakness, pain, reduced muscle density, peak strength, and power).

Emerging strategies, applications and challenges of targeting NAD in the clinic.

Beyond their classical functions as redox cofactors, recent fundamental and clinical research has expanded our understanding of the diverse roles of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) in signaling pathways, epigenetic regulation and energy homeostasis. Moreover, NAD and NADP influence numerous diseases as well as the processes of aging, and are emerging as targets for clinical intervention. Here, we summarize safety, bioavailability and efficacy data from NAD-related clinical trials, focusing on aging and neurodegenerative diseases.