The emerging role of Nrf2 in heart failure: From cardioprotection to therapeutic approaches.

Heart failure (HF) is a multifactorial and pathophysiological complex syndrome, involving not only neurohormonal activation but also oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, and metabolic derangements. Central to the cellular defence against oxidative damage is nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that orchestrates antioxidant and cytoprotective responses. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies reveal that Nrf2 signalling is consistently impaired in HF, contributing to the progression of myocardial dysfunction.

Autoimmune nodopathies: emerging insights and clinical implications.

Purpose Of Review: Autoimmune nodopathies (AN) are a recognized distinct group of immune-mediated peripheral neuropathies with unique immunopathological features and therapeutic implications. This review synthesizes recent advances in their pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management, which have refined their clinical classification and informed targeted treatment strategies.

Recent Findings: AN are characterized by autoantibodies targeting surface proteins in the nodal-paranodal area (anti-contactin-1, anti-contactin-associated protein 1, anti-neurofascin-155, anti-pan-neurofascin), predominantly of IgG4 subclass.

Frozen potential: embryo research at the crossroads of ethics, regulation and scientific opportunity.

In an era of expanding reproductive possibilities, the human embryo has come to represent both immense potential and profound constraint. Advances in medically assisted reproduction (MAR) have led to the cryopreservation of hundreds of thousands of embryos each year, yet many remain unused and are ultimately discarded. Meanwhile, studies aimed at understanding infertility, early human development and preventing miscarriage continue to face significant barriers, with only a small fraction of embryos ever donated to research.

Trends in fertility preferences among Italian young adults.

In examining Italy's low fertility, recent studies have emphasized the role played by socio-economic factors, uncertainty, and the welfare state. Meanwhile, emerging research is highlighting a potential downward revision of fertility ideals among more recent generations. Our study analyses trends in fertility desires and expectations among young adults in Italy from 2012 to 2022.

Finerenone according to insulin resistance in heart failure: Insights from the FINEARTS-HF trial.

Aims: The estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) is a simple, non-invasive measure of insulin resistance. In this exploratory analysis of FINEARTS-HF, we evaluated whether lower eGDR, reflecting greater insulin resistance, is associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: The eGDR was calculated at baseline using waist circumference, glycated haemoglobin, and hypertension status.

Genomic Characterisation of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CRL2085 Unveiling Probiotic Traits for Application in Cattle Feed.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum CRL2085, isolated from feedlot cattle rations, displayed high efficiency as a probiotic when administered to animals. A comprehensive genomic analysis was performed to elucidate the genetic basis underlying its probiotic potential. Fifteen genomic islands and CRISPR-Cas elements were identified in its genome.

Inducible Ischemia in Asymptomatic Patients With Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions: A Stress CMR Study.

Background: Given the divergence in recommendations regarding the relevance of inducible ischemia regarding the indication to revascularize chronic total occlusions (CTOs) among European and North American guidelines, we aim at investigating the prevalence and the prognostic impact of significant inducible ischemia in an unselected cohort of asymptomatic CTO patients, integrating collateralization status and viability assessment with stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: From a cohort of 749 patients referred to our center with a diagnosis of CTO, we retrospectively analyzed 111 asymptomatic individuals who underwent an adenosine stress CMR. The amount of inducible ischemia subtended by the CTO was calculated, as well as the presence of viable myocardium and the collateralization status.

Attachment Dimensions and Infertility: Exploring Psychological Outcomes Through Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the role of romantic attachment as a protective or risk factor in how individuals cope with infertility diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. A systematic search was conducted across six databases from January 1, 2011, to February 3, 2025. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria, exploring associations between romantic attachment and individual psychological correlates of infertility.

European Bioanalysis Forum recommendation on embracing a context-of-use-driven scientific validation for chromatographic assays in the light of ICH M10.

The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use M10 guideline provides a global framework for bioanalytical method validation in studies intended for regulatory submission. While its structure ensures consistency and data reliability, the guideline also acknowledges that not all studies require the same level of validation. This paper examines where full compliance is essential and where scientific judgment allows for leaner, context-driven validation, such as in early-stage development, for additional matrices, metabolites, nonstandard biological matrices or studies intended for internal decision-making.

Ischemic heart disease.

The new section on ischemic heart disease (IHD) among the Italian Sports Cardiology Guidelines (COCIS) provides updated recommendations for the evaluation, management and eligibility of athletes with known or suspected IHD. Emphasizing a risk-stratified approach, the guidelines integrate clinical, functional, and imaging assessments to determine the safety of competitive sports participation. Key updates include considerations for athletes with asymptomatic or subclinical disease.

Angiogenesis in Multiple Myeloma: 25 Years of Research in This Field.

In 1994, Vacca, Ribatti, and colleagues demonstrated for the first time that bone marrow microvascular density was significantly increased in multiple myeloma (MM) compared to monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS) and moreover in active vs. non-active forms. Starting from 1994, the aim of this review article is to summarize the most important acquisitions in the literature concerning the role of angiogenesis in MM progression and the possibility to use anti-angiogenic drugs in its treatment.

Strategies for Enhancing Resilience in Horticultural Crops Against Combined Abiotic Stresses.

Horticultural crops are increasingly exposed to simultaneous abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature extremes, which often exacerbate each other's effects, leading to severe yield and quality losses. Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates the development and application of integrated and innovative strategies. This review highlights recent advancements in methodologies to enhance the resilience of horticultural crops against combined abiotic stresses.

Boosting biocompatibility and minimizing inflammation in electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) cardiac patches through optimized low-pressure plasma treatment.

Tailoring surface characteristics is key to guiding scaffold interaction with the biological environment, promoting successful biointegration while minimizing immune responses and inflammation. In cardiac tissue engineering, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a material of choice for its intrinsic piezoelectric properties, which can be enhanced through electrospinning, also enabling the fabrication of nanofibrous structures mimicking native tissue. However, the inherent hydrophobicity of PVDF can hinder its integration with biological tissues.

A 3D printed platform for sample treatment and detection of phytic acid in spinach leaves using a paper-based electrochemical biosensor.

Phytic acid is a phosphorylated derivative of myo-inositol that is ubiquitous in plants and serves as the primary storage form of phosphorus. In human nutrition, phytic acid is considered an anti-nutrient because it chelates essential minerals, including calcium, iron, and zinc. This binding action reduces the bioavailability of these metals, highlighting the importance of monitoring phytic acid in food.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Global Prevalence of ICD-11 Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Community.

Background: Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) has been included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) to capture symptomatology caused by extreme, prolonged, or multiple forms of trauma.

Aims: The present systematic review and meta-analysis sought to assess the one-month prevalence of this disorder in the community setting.

Method: A systematic search was conducted in four databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) where relevant studies were subjected to explicit eligibility criteria, resulting in 16 included studies and 22 effect sizes.

Post-recurrence Survival After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Mortality after liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mainly driven by HCC recurrence. We sought to determine whether post-recurrence survival (PRS) has improved during the last 2 decades.

Methods: Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we included all patients who underwent LT for HCC between 2003 and 2020 and experienced HCC recurrence.

Anatomy at the threshold: Teaching the human body in a hybrid age.

As emerging technologies reshape both the body and how we represent it, anatomical education stands at a threshold. Virtual dissection tools, AI-generated images, and immersive platforms are redefining how students learn anatomy, while real-world bodies are becoming hybridized through implants, neural interfaces, and bioengineered components. This Viewpoint explores what it means to teach human anatomy when the body is no longer entirely natural, and the image is no longer entirely real.

Inflammatory bowel disease vs. adverse in-hospital outcomes after radical prostatectomy.

Introduction: The effect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on adverse in-hospital outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP) for nonmetastatic prostate cancer (PCa) is not well known.

Materials And Methods: Descriptive analyses, propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression models were used within the National Inpatient Sample (2000-2019) RP patients, after stratification according to Crohn's disease (CD) vs. ulcerative colitis (UC) vs.

T follicular helper cells (T): From physiological to pathological aging.

The fraction that the elderly represent in the world's population is growing rapidly; numerous alterations that impact all organs and systems, including the immune system, are related to aging. A complex process common in the elderly, known as immunosenescence, is characterized by a decreased ability to respond to vaccination as well as an increased risk of bacterial and viral infections, autoimmune, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. These processes are associated with alterations in the innate and adaptive immune system and lead to a condition of chronic low-grade inflammation, referred to as inflammaging.

Hyponatremia and bone pathophysiology: An integrated preclinical and clinical perspective.

Chronic hyponatremia is increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to impaired bone health, although the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Experimental studies have demonstrated that low serum sodium levels affect both osteoclast and osteoblast function, resulting primarily in increased bone resorption and secondarily in reduced bone formation. In humans, however, evidence regarding the effects of hyponatremia on bone remains limited.