Comparing sexual outcomes and complications in Male-to-Female Gender-Affirming Surgery: penile inversion vs. robotic peritoneal vaginoplasty.

Gender dysphoria is a condition characterized by distress due to a mismatch between a person's gender identity and their assigned gender at birth. This study aimed to compare sexual satisfaction and complication rates in patients undergoing feminizing gender affirming surgery (fem-GAS) using two techniques: standard penile inversion vaginoplasty (PIV) and robotic peritoneal vaginoplasty (RPGAV). We conducted a retrospective analysis data from a prospective registry (2017-2022).

Optimizing timing and dose of exogenous melatonin administration in neuropsychiatric pediatric populations: a meta-analysis on sleep outcomes.

Melatonin is known to be effective in improving sleep in pediatric patients affected by neurological and psychiatric conditions. However, no guidelines exist advising the most effective treatment schedule. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the dose, time of administration and treatment duration associated with the maximal treatment efficacy.

Textbook Outcomes and Minimally Invasive Techniques in Resectable Gallbladder Cancer: A Global Cohort Study.

Introduction: Surgery for resectable gallbladder cancer (GbC) encompasses complex operative management, and evaluating surgical quality through textbook outcome (TO) is crucial. This study aimed to assess TO incidence and impact in a global cohort, identify independent predictors, and evaluate TO rates of minimally invasive (MI) techniques, including robotic (ROB) and laparoscopic (LPS).

Materials And Methods: This cohort study included patients undergoing curative-intent hepatectomy and lymphadenectomy for GbC (T1b-T3) from 2012 to 2023 in 41 hospitals.

Low-grade persistent poliovirus infection in long-term polio survivors diagnosed with post-polio syndrome: diagnostic and clinical implications.

Despite extensive research, the pathogenesis of Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) remains unclear. We investigated 251 participants from Northern Italy: long-term polio survivors with PPS, long-term polio survivors with stable polio, family members of both groups, subjects with neurological disorders other than poliomyelitis, and healthy controls. This study investigated whether persistent viral activity or the existence of viral reservoirs contributes to causing PPS.

Interoceptive sensibility mediates emotional dysregulation: Insights from individuals with Bipolar II Depression.

Emotion dysregulation (ED), a core feature of Bipolar Disorder (BD), contributes to symptom severity, mood instability, and reduced quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests that interoception-the ability to perceive and integrate internal bodily signals-may play a pivotal role in shaping emotional experience. However, the relationship between interoceptive sensibility and ED in BD remains poorly understood.

Animal welfare and meat quality: The impact of on-farm slaughter on Cinta senese pigs.

This study evaluated the effects of on-farm slaughter (OF) compared to traditional slaughter (TS) on animal welfare, meat quality, and microbiological safety in Cinta senese pigs reared outdoors. Forty pigs were slaughtered using both methods across different seasons, allowing for the analysis of environmental influences via the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). Blood parameters (cortisol, LDH, CPK), carcass and meat microbial loads, and technological meat quality traits were assessed.

Antimicrobial prophylactic strategies in vNOTES: No consensus, but what do we know?

Aim: Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) combines vaginal and laparoscopic techniques and is increasingly used in gynecologic surgery. Given the lack of standardized guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis, this review aims to evaluate infection rates, current prophylactic practices, and recommendations.

Method: A literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords such as "v-NOTES," "infection," "prophylaxis," and "antibiotics".

From pan-active to parasite-selective antiparasitic agents: A scaffold hopping approach.

Vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs) represent a major global public health concern, with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and malaria collectively threatening millions of people, particularly in developing regions. Climate change may further influence their transmission and geographic spread, increasing the global burden. As drug resistance continues to rise, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic agents to expand treatment options and limit disease progression.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-O heterobicyclic ring systems derived from 1,2-dihydropyridines as novel TRPA1 activators: implication in GLP-1 release and neuroprotection.

A set of small molecules containing an unusual sp-rich heterobicyclic scaffold were prepared and evaluated in vitro for their ability to increase GLP-1 secretion in STC-1 cells and to protect SH-SY5Y cells from acute and chronic damage induced by glucose and methylglyoxal, respectively. The results obtained showed that some compounds, especially those containing an electron-withdrawing and/or lipophilic group at the meta position of the aryl moiety present at position 9, are effective non-covalent TRPA1 agonists. The lead compound so far individuated (compound 4b) was also prepared by asymmetric synthesis in both enantiomeric forms.

Gastrointestinal involvement in very early and established systemic sclerosis: insights from the SPRING-SIR national Italian registry.

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Very Early Diagnosis of SSc (VEDOSS), identify clinical and serological features associated with GI involvement, and explore a cranio-caudal pattern of symptom distribution, using data from the Italian SPRING-SIR registry.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included patients fulfilling 2013 ACR/EULAR SSc or VEDOSS criteria. GI involvement was defined as symptoms in at least one GI tract segment and categorized as upper and lower.

Probing Photoinduced Halide Segregation in CHNHPb(BrI) Perovskites via Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectroscopy.

Mixed-halide perovskites of formula MAPb(BrI), where MA is methylammonium, are of great interest for optoelectronic applications (particularly high-efficiency solar cells) due to their finely tunable bandgap, which enables precise control over light absorption. However, their stability remains a critical challenge, notably due to reversible photoinduced halide segregation. Under continuous illumination, this process leads to the formation of Br- and I-rich domains, which lower device performance by introducing low-bandgap regions that trap charge carriers.

Serum albumin demonstrates comparable or superior prognostic value compared to albumin-based ratios in sepsis.

Background: Serum albumin is a well-known biomarker in sepsis, and several albumin-based ratios have been proposed to enhance its prognostic performance. However, it remains unclear whether these composite indices outperform serum albumin alone in predicting outcomes in septic patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study including 413 adult patients with sepsis admitted to the Intermediate Care Unit of Santorso Hospital, Italy, between January 2023 and June 2024.

Expressive language and social communication abilities in children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1.

Aim: To investigate parent-reported expressive language and social communication abilities in children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1) treated with disease-modifying therapies.

Method: This was a cross-sectional feasibility study performed at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, London (UK), and the Centro Clinico Nemo Pediatrico, Rome (Italy), testing the use of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDIs, 8 months+) to explore vocabulary production, and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ, 4 years+) to investigate social communication.

Results: Fifteen participants completed the MB-CDIs (age range 2 years 2 months-6 years 9 months).

Endometriosis and menopausal health: An EMAS clinical guide.

Introduction: Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition, and problems may persist or develop after the menopause. Endometriosis or its treatment in premenopausal women may lead to premature or early menopause. Thus, it is imperative that healthcare providers are appropriately trained in management of endometriosis at the menopause and beyond.

Impact of tumor size on oncological and surgical outcomes in robot-assisted transaxillary surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy (RATT) has emerged as a remote access approach for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), yet data on its oncological efficacy for tumors larger than 3 cm, particularly in European cohorts, remain scarce. This study aimed to evaluate surgical and oncological outcomes of RATT in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), stratified by tumor size.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 270 patients with histologically confirmed PTC who underwent RATT between July 2012 and August 2022 at a single tertiary center.

Impact of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated With Chemotherapy Plus Bevacizumab or Anti-EGFRs: Exploratory Analysis of Eight Randomized Trials.

Purpose: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification/overexpression (HER2-pos) is detected in 5% of wild-type metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRCs). Its prognostic/predictive role in terms of benefit from anti-EGFR/bevacizumab (bev) is debated. Similarly, the role of activating mutations (mut) is unclear.

Effects of chewing on postural learning: An experimental pre-post intervention study.

In 16 healthy volunteers (age 42-69 years, 8 females) we investigated chewing effects on postural learning. Initially, the Centre of Pressure (CoP) position in bipedal stance was recorded (1 minute) in 4 conditions: Hard support (HS)-Open Eyes (OE), HS-Closed Eyes (CE), Soft Support (SS)-OE, SS-CE. Following 2 minutes of Chewing (C, n = 8 subjects, 4 females) or rhythmic Hand Grip (HG, n = 8 subjects, 4 females), 10 unipedal stance test (1 minute) were performed for 30 minutes in both groups in HS-OE, with a progressive decrease in CoP Velocity and Path Length.

Efficacy and safety of a medical device based on hyaluronic acid and amino acids for the topical treatment of hard-to-heal skin ulcers: a pilot clinical trial.

Objective: Wound healing is a complex process involving haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. Dysregulation in any phase impairs healing. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and amino acids are essential in promoting tissue repair.

Diagnosed Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B and Delta Virus in Italy in 2024: An Estimation From a National Real-World Database.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection have undergone significant changes in Italy over the past few decades, but reliable and updated prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and Delta (CHD) data are lacking. The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology of CHB and CHD in Italy in 2024, based on real-world data.

Methods: The number of patients with a healthcare expenditure exemption for CHB (016.

Circulating free PSA in breast cancer patients: is it a reliable biomarker?

Introduction: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a serine protease primarily expressed in the prostate, has also been detected in hormonally regulated female tissues, including the breast. Some studies suggest a correlation between increased levels of circulating free PSA (fPSA) and breast cancer, but its role remains debated. This study aimed to evaluate this association while minimizing hormonal confounding factors.

Identification of four autophagy-related genetic variants as risk factors for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We investigated the influence of 55,583 autophagy-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) risk across four independent populations comprising 5,472 CLL cases and 726,465 controls. We also examined their impact on overall survival (OS), time to first treatment (TTFT), autophagy flux, and immune responses. A meta-analysis of the four populations identified, for the first time, significant associations between CDKN2A (rs3731204) and BCL2 (rs4940571, rs12457371, rs1026825) SNPs and CLL risk, with CDKN2A showing the strongest association (p=1.

CT assessment of right heart anatomy across tricuspid regurgitation severity grades: implications for transcatheter interventions.

Purpose: A five-grade severity scheme has been introduced for echocardiographic grading of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Although higher TR grades have been associated with worse prognosis, it is unknown whether they can help determining patient eligibility for transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions (TTVI) and correspond to different anatomical phenotypes. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between TR severity and tricuspid valve (TV) anatomy and determine the screening failure rate for TTVI.

The Complex Pathway of Conventional Investigations before the Diagnosis of Functional Motor Disorders.

Background: Functional motor disorder (FMD) is a diagnosis of inclusion based on the presence of positive signs on clinical examination, and only a few tests are validated as biomarkers for FMD identification.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relative frequency of different types of conventional instrumental investigations (such as magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography [MRI/CT] scan, dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DaT-SPECT), electroencephalography (EEG), neurophysiological tests, and other tests) in FMD patients before diagnosis and to identify the clinical and demographic features associated with their use.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Italian Registry of Functional Motor Disorders, a multicenter initiative involving patients with a diagnosis of clinically definite FMD.