Insights into the nanostructuring and phase behaviour of an all-aromatic prototypical nematic liquid crystal.

All-aromatic calamitic liquid crystals are an unconventional family of rigid linear mesogens that represents the closest embodiment of the idealised rod-like molecule central to liquid crystal theories. 2,6-biphenyl naphthalene (PPNPP), a prototypical all-aromatic nematogen, has recently been the focus of scientific interest for both fundamental and technological purposes. While it provides a valuable benchmark for classical theories of nematic order, its experimental study presents challenges given the high temperature of the nematic phase.

Nanovesicles and Human Skin Interaction: A Comparative Ex-Vivo Study.

The topical administration of drugs on the skin by nanovesicular systems can represent a tool to treat skin pathologies. The study of nanovesicle biodistribution after skin administration is crucial to understanding their transdermal potential. A formative study enabled us to investigate the influence of some methods in the production of nanovesicles based on phosphatidylcholine, differing in their ethanol amount.

Correction: Viglianisi et al. The Emerging Role of Salivary Oxidative Stress Biomarkers as Prognostic Markers of Periodontitis: New Insights for a Personalized Approach in Dentistry. 2023, , 166.

Following discussions between the Editorial Board and the authors, the original published references no [...

Spinal Arachnoid Cysts: A Single-Center Preliminary Surgical Experience with a Rare and Challenging Disease.

Spinal arachnoid cyst development (SAC) is a rare and debilitating disease with a non-well-defined treatment strategy: a series of five patients diagnosed with SAC and submitted to neurosurgical treatment was retrospectively analyzed. : SACs represent 1-2% of all spinal neoplasms; they can be extradural, intradural, or intramedullary, with intradural arachnoid cysts (IDACs) comprising only 10% of these cases. The rarity of SACs and the lack of consensus on the best treatment strategies represent a care challenge: the aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness and outcomes of the neurosurgical management in patients with SACs treated at our institution.

Predictors of Five-Year Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Background: Residual risk after acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) continues to affect prognosis. We investigated the impact of female sex, non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), diabetes mellitus (DM), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) on coronary atherosclerosis extent, culprit stenosis location, and bio-humoral data. The rate of both major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and non-fatal recurrent coronary events (RCE) was additionally evaluated.

Comprehensive genomic profiling by liquid biopsy in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer patients who are candidate for anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy: findings from the CAVE-2 GOIM trial.

Background: Biomarker-guided therapies are needed for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Liquid biopsy (LBx) circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) could contribute to the clinical tailoring of molecular targeted therapies for these patients.

Patients And Methods: The CAVE-2 GOIM trial is a randomized phase II trial assessing the efficacy of adding avelumab to cetuximab compared with cetuximab monotherapy as anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) rechallenge in refractory ctDNA RAS/BRAF wild-type mCRC patients.

Plasma Glycolate Levels Contribute to Drive the Decision of Isolated Kidney Transplantation in Dialyzed Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease due to Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1 Treated with Lumasiran: A Case Report.

Introduction: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an inherited disease due to deficient activity of the liver enzyme AGT due to a mutation of the AGXT gene, leading to impairment in the glyoxylate metabolism with excessive oxalate urinary excretion (uOx) causing nephrolithiasis, renal failure, and systemic oxalosis. The historical treatment for renal failure was combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) to restore normal function of AGT enzyme, but in mutations fully responsive to pyridoxine, an isolated kidney transplant (IKT) is feasible. Recently, RNA-interference (RNAi) agents such as lumasiran that reduce the oxalate synthesis in PH1 patients open new therapeutic challenges such as IKT irrespective of the type of gene mutation.

FL30: an epidermal growth factor kinase inhibitor overcoming T790M and C797S mutations through unique conformational modulation mechanism.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the oncogene Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) are widely used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this context, the introduction of fourth-generation TKIs has significantly advanced targeted therapy for T790M and C797S EGFR mutations. Current therapeutic strategies are increasingly focusing on the design of orthoallosteric TKIs, which have shown promise in stabilizing the inactive conformation of mutated EGFR.

Redefining Representativeness of a Sample in Causal Terms.

Rationale: Despite its crucial role, sample representativeness remains a controversial topic in the methodology of medical science. There is an ongoing debate not only about how best to define and ensure the representativeness of a sample (e.g.

Effect of aerobic or resistance exercise, or both on insulin secretion, ciliary neurotrophic factor, and insulin-like growth factor-1 in dieting older adults with obesity.

Background And Aims: Obesity exacerbates age-related changes in metabolic and physical function. The effect of distinct exercise modalities combined with diet-induced weight loss on insulin secretion in older adults with obesity and frailty is unknown, and the potential mediators of the metabolic and functional improvements induced by lifestyle therapy still need to be identified. We aimed to assess the effects of various exercise therapies coupled with diet-induced weight loss on insulin secretion and sensitivity and on the levels of circulating Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF), its receptor (CNTFRα), and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) in older adults with both obesity and frailty.

Copanlisib in combination with rituximab and bendamustine for transplant-ineligible relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients: Results from the phase II multicentre FIL Copa-BR trial from Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL).

Treatment options for relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy remain limited. The PI3K inhibitor copanlisib has shown activity as a single agent in DLBCL. This phase II, single-arm, multicentre trial evaluated copanlisib with rituximab and bendamustine (copa-BR) in ASCT- and CAR-T-ineligible R/R DLBCL.

High Gene Expression Predicts Extremely Low Segregation of Deleterious Mutations in Large Penguin Populations.

Purifying selection is the most pervasive type of selection, as it constantly removes deleterious mutations arising in populations, directly scaling with population size. Highly expressed genes appear to accumulate fewer nonsynonymous mutations between divergent species' lineages (known as E-R anticorrelation), pointing toward gene expression as an additional component modulating the selection coefficient of protein-coding mutations. However, estimates of the effect of gene expression on segregating deleterious variants in natural populations are scarce, as is an understanding of the relative contribution of population size and gene expression to purifying selection.

Identification of Alexamorelin Consumption Biomarkers Using Human Hepatocyte Incubations and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Alexamorelin is a synthetic peptide and growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) with potential performance-enhancing properties, making its use and abuse a topic of interest in clinical research and doping monitoring. Alexamorelin mimics the natural peptide hormone ghrelin by binding to the GHS type 1a receptor (GHS-R1a) in the pituitary gland, thereby promoting endogenous growth hormone release. Identifying alexamorelin and/or its metabolite biomarkers is crucial for effective doping controls.

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 diagnosis in adult dialysis patients: prediction model assessment in a group of Italian patients.

Background: To increase the diagnostic rate of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) in the adult dialysis setting, a prediction model based on five readily available clinical parameters was recently developed and validated in an adult hemodialysis population. To further test the prediction model in clinical practice, this case series describes the retrospective application of the diagnostic algorithm in a group of adult dialysis patients with PH1 treated at different Italian nephrology centers.

Methods: Between January and May 2023, adult patients (≥ 18 years) undergoing chronic hemodialysis with a genetic diagnosis of PH1, followed at 14 Italian nephrology centers, were selected for the retrospective application of the prediction model.

Temporal trends in vascular medication use in 8,079 patients with systemic sclerosis: insights to inform future trials and therapeutic strategies from the EUSTAR cohort.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterised by widespread vascular damage resulting in digital and systemic vasculopathic sequelae. Although there are effective treatments available, vascular disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in SSc. Our aim was to describe patterns of vascular medication use in SSc, including examination for potential changes over time.

Use of basic substances and other natural compounds as alternatives to synthetic fungicides for the control of grapevine downy and powdery mildews.

Consumer demand, retailer involvement, policies to reduce pesticide application, and the growth of organic agriculture are steering research toward safer alternatives like basic substances: compounds used as food, food ingredients, or in medicine with a potential secondary application in plant protection. Downy mildew (DM) and powdery mildew (PM) are major grapevine diseases, and many fungicide treatments are required for their management. In this two-year field trial chitosan, whey, sweet orange essential oil (EO), Equisetum arvense, Urtica spp.

MACanalyzeR scRNAseq analysis tool reveals PPARγ/GDF15 lipid-associated macrophages facilitate thermogenic expansion in BAT.

Macrophages are key regulators of adipose tissue plasticity. Obesity impairs brown adipose tissue (BAT) function in humans, yet macrophage-mediated mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we introduce MACanalyzeR, a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) tool designed for comprehensive monocyte/macrophage metabolic profiling.

The Role of Digital Health Equity Audits in Preventing Harmful Infodemiology.

Background: Health disparities persist and are influenced by digital transformation. Although digital tools offer opportunities, they can also exacerbate existing inequalities, a problem amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the related infodemic. Health equity audit (HEA) tools, such as those developed in the United Kingdom, provide a framework to assess equity but require adaptation for the digital context.

Long-Term Risk Assessment in Athletes With Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are a major concern in athletes. We sought to determine the prognostic role of noninvasive and invasive assessments in athletes with complex VAs.

Methods: One-hundred-ninety athletes (82% men; 28 [19-43] years; 148 [78%] competitive athletes) with frequent or exercise-induced premature ventricular complexes or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia were included in a multicenter cohort study and categorized based on VA ECG morphology into common (n=99) and uncommon (n=91) VA groups.

Axial psoriatic arthritis in patients not fulfilling the back pain entry features of the ASAS Classification Criteria for Axial Spondyloarthritis: findings from the ATTRACT Study.

Objective: Application of the ASAS classification criteria for axSpA in classifying axPsA is a topic of debate. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of axPsA in patients with psoriasis and back pain who do not meet the entry pain features of the ASAS classification criteria.

Methods: Patients reporting late-onset back pain (LoBP, after the age of 45) or non-chronic back pain (NcBP, lasting less than months) in the DCS screening tool were included in a group termed 'non-ASAS back pain' (non-ASAS/BP).

Agroecological genomics and participatory science: optimizing crop mixtures for agricultural diversification.

Crops based on mixtures of species or genotypes support yield stability by providing multiple ecosystem services. However, the genetic, molecular, and evolutionary dynamics underlying co-adaptation within such mixtures must be understood to optimize beneficial plant-plant interactions. We therefore propose agroecological genomics as an integrated quantitative and population genetics approach that can be combined with cutting-edge omics methods and participatory science.

Mitigation of PFOA-Induced Developmental Toxicity in by var. : Focus on Growth and Ossification.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent environmental contaminant that resists biological degradation and accumulates in organisms. It disrupts zebrafish embryo development, affecting their heartbeat rate and locomotion. Meanwhile, probiotics are known to enhance the development and ossification of zebrafish embryos.