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Introduction: Overconfidence is understood as the susceptibility to cognitive error caused by overconfidence in one’s own means and a lack of awareness of one’s own limits. The purpose of the work is to investigate the level of overconfidence in 186 maintenance workers and identify those most at risk of injury based on certain characteristics such as gender, age, educational qualification, and task performed. Methods: The study was conducted among the employees of a large metalworking company in central Italy over a three-months period. The validated questionnaire of Cavazza & Serpe was administered, on a voluntary basis, used for data collection, and subsequently descriptive analysis was carried out for data interpretation. Results: The study surveyed 184 male maintenance workers (response rate: 81.1%). Workers over 51 years old showed higher negative emotions toward safety procedures (SP) and greater intention to transgress, though actual transgressions were low. Living arrangements and education influenced attitudes, with workers living with others reporting higher control (p=0.032) and those with high school diplomas showing more positive attitudes (p=0.018). Transgressive behavior correlated with reduced moral norms, positive emotions, and control (all p

This study investigated the predictive role of baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT (bPET/CT) radiomics from two distinct target lesions in patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). cHL patients examined with bPET/CT and interim PET/CT between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively included. Two bPET/CT target lesions were selected for radiomic feature extraction: Lesion_A, with the largest axial diameter, and Lesion_B, with the highest SUVmax. Deauville score at interim PET/CT (DS) and 24-month progression-free-survival (PFS) were recorded. Mann-Whitney test identified the most promising image features (p < 0.05) from both lesions with regards to DS and PFS; all possible radiomic bivariate models were then built through a logistic regression analysis and trained/tested with a cross-fold validation test. The best bivariate models were selected based on their mean area under curve (mAUC). A total of 227 cHL patients were included. The best models for DS prediction had 0.78 ± 0.05 maximum mAUC, with a predominant contribution of Lesion_A features to the combinations. The best models for 24-month PFS prediction reached 0.74 ± 0.12 mAUC and mainly depended on Lesion_B features. bFDG-PET/CT radiomic features from the largest and hottest lesions in patients with cHL may provide relevant information in terms of early response-to-treatment and prognosis, thus representing an earlier and stronger decision-making support for therapeutic strategies. External validations of the proposed model are planned.

Rotavirus disease is the world’s leading cause of severe gastroenteritis and mortality in children up to 5 years of age. Premature infants are more vulnerable to rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) and its complications. International authorities strongly recommend vaccination because of the consistent reduction in infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and related costs. Background/Objectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety of anti-rotavirus vaccination in premature infants admitted and vaccinated in the main Sicilian Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) during the pandemic period. Methods: The human monovalent rotavirus vaccination (RV1) was administered to preterm infants of gestational age ≥28 weeks in the main Sicilian NICUs from January 2020 to December 2022, as a prolongation of a similar study conducted from April 2018 to December 2019. Rotavirus vaccinations were provided both to hospitalized infants and to those returning for post-discharge follow-up, beginning at six weeks of age according to the official immunization schedule. All potential adverse events—whether expected, unexpected, or serious—were recorded from the day of vaccination through 14 days (first follow-up) and 28 days (second follow-up) after each of the two scheduled doses. Results: A total of 355 preterm infants were fully vaccinated with RV in four Sicilian NICUs. The mean gestational age of newborns was 33.2 weeks (±2.7), 53% of whom were male. Vaccination was performed on average at 7 weeks of age (±2.1), and the mean weight at the time of vaccination was 3439 g (SD ± 745.2). No expected/unexpected or serious adverse events were observed either within the 14-day or within the 28-day period after administration of both two doses. Conclusions: Data confirm that vaccination in preterm infants ≥28 weeks gestational age is safe. The prolongation of this Public Health strategy, strongly recommended by the Sicilian Health Department during the pandemic period that also generally has led to a reduction of vaccination adherence and acceptance of pediatric vaccination, demonstrates the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration with neonatologists and pediatricians to continue promoting in-hospital vaccinations for fragile subjects.

Clostridium botulinum has become one of the most well-known microorganisms in medical history, thanks to both fatal botulism epidemics and the recent medical use of botulinum neurotoxin. It is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium that causes classic foodborne botulism, infant botulism, wound botulism, and intestinal colonization botulism, a serious neuroparalytic disease. The most common type of botulism is foodborne botulism, which is caused by eating botulinum toxin-contaminated foods. Just a few micrograms of toxin are enough to cause symptoms and, if untreated, death. Rapid diagnosis of the condition is critical to avoiding fatal outcomes. This article describes a clinical case of a patient who presented to us in June with typical symptoms of botulism. Early clinical diagnosis is based on a thorough medical history, including a meticulous reconstruction of the patient's food history in the days preceding symptom onset, as well as a careful physical examination, which can be highly suggestive of botulinum intoxication. Botulism treatment consists of symptom control, mechanical respiratory support, and Botulinum Antitoxin (BAT) administered intravenously. Epidemiological investigation is critical for quickly identifying the food vehicle causing the intoxication.

BackgroundOur study aimed to describe themes of tweets related to COVID-19 vaccines, race, and ethnicity to explore the context of the intersection of these topics on Twitter.MethodsWe utilized Twitter's Streaming Application Programming Interface (API) to collect a random 1% sample of publicly available tweets from October 2020 to January 2021. The study team conducted a qualitative content analysis from the full data set of 1110 tweets.ResultsThe tweets revealed vaccine support through vaccine affirmation, advocacy through reproach, a need for a vaccine, COVID-19 and racism, vaccine development and efficacy, racist vaccine humor, and news updates. Vaccine opposition was demonstrated through direct opposition, vaccine hesitancy, and adverse reactions. Conspiracy and misinformation included scientific misinformation, political misinformation, beliefs about immunity and protective behaviors, and race extermination conspiracy. Equity and access focused on overcoming history of medical racism, pointing out health disparities, and facilitators to vaccine access. Representation touted pride in development and role models, and politics discussed the role of politics in vaccines and international politics.ConclusionOur analysis demonstrates that Twitter can provide nuances about multiple viewpoints on the vaccine related to race and ethnicity and can be beneficial in contributing to insights for public health messaging.

Loxosceles rufescens, also known as “violin spider” due to its characteristic appearance, is a medium-sized spider species that can potentially pose a threat to humans. For this study, patients who presented to our hospital’s Poison Control Center between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, and met the following inclusion criteria were included: Suspicion of a violin spider bite, as evaluated by our center. Our protocol involves an initial local treatment, which includes local washing with copious water and disinfection, along with the application of chlorotetracycline hydrochloride. Systemic therapy utilizes Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid as the first-line medication. The primary endpoints of this study are the timing and effectiveness of the treatment for cutaneous lesions. Demographic and anamnestic information regarding age, gender, and timelines was summarized using descriptive methods. Our study’s results indicate that erythema and pain are the most frequent symptoms. Loxoscelism is highly concentrated in the Western hemisphere and is considered the only proven arachnological cause of dermo-necrosis. In recent years, there has been an increase in diagnoses.

Objectives:. Parkes Weber syndrome (PWS) is a rare disorder that combines overgrowth, capillary malformations, and arteriovenous malformations (AVM)/arteriovenous fistulas, for which underlying activating mutations in the ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway have been described. The clinical overlap with Klippel-Trenauny syndrome, associated with mutations in PIK3CA, is significant. This case series aimed to elaborate on the phenotypic description of PWS, to underline its clinical overlap with Klippel-Trenauny syndrome and nonsyndromic AVM, and to evaluate the contribution of genotypic characterization to the diagnosis. Methods:. All patients diagnosed with PWS upon enrollment in the Bernese VAScular COngenital Malformations (VASCOM) cohort were included. The diagnostic criteria of PWS were retrospectively reviewed. A next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel (TSO500, Illumina) was used on tissue biopsy samples. Results:. Overall, 10/559 patients of the VAScular COngenital Malformations cohort were initially diagnosed with PWS. Three patients were reclassified as nonsyndromic AVM (Kristen Rat Sarcoma Viral oncogene homolog [KRAS], KRAS+tumor protein p53, and protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 11). Finally, 7 patients fulfilled all clinical diagnostic criteria of PWS. Genetic testing was available in 5 PWS patients. Only 1 patient had the classic RASA1 mutation; another patient had mutations in G protein subunit alpha q (GNAQ) and phosphatase and tensin homolog. In a third case, a PIK3CA mutation was detected. In 2 patients, no mutations were identified. Conclusion:. Overgrowth syndromes with vascular malformations are rare and their clinical overlap hampers the classification of individual phenotypes under specific syndrome labels, sometimes even despite genetic testing. To provide optimal patient care, an accurate phenotypic description combined with the identification of molecular targets for precision medicine may be more meaningful than the syndrome classification itself.

Inherited ichthyoses are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous rare disorders of skin keratinization with overlapping phenotypes. The clinical picture and family history are crucial to formulating the diagnostic hypothesis, but only the identification of the genetic defect allows the correct classification. In the attempt to molecularly classify 17 unrelated Italian patients referred with congenital nonsyndromic ichthyosis, we performed massively parallel sequencing of over 50 ichthyosis-related genes. Genetic data of 300 Italian unaffected subjects were also analyzed to evaluate frequencies of putative disease-causing alleles in our population. For all patients, we identified the molecular cause of the disease. Eight patients were affected by autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis associated with ALOX12B, NIPAL4, and TGM1 mutations. Three patients had biallelic loss-of-function variants in FLG, whereas 6/11 males were affected by X-linked ichthyosis. Among the 24 different disease-causing alleles we identified, 8 carried novel variants, including a synonymous TGM1 variant that resulted in a splicing defect. Moreover, we generated a priority list of the ichthyosis-related genes that showed a significant number of rare and novel variants in our population. In conclusion, our comprehensive molecular analysis resulted in an effective first-tier test for the early classification of ichthyosis patients. It also expands the genetic, mutational, and phenotypic spectra of inherited ichthyosis and provides new insight into the current understanding of etiologies and epidemiology of this group of rare disorders.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Dismembered open pyeloplasty described by Anderson and Hynes is the “gold standard” for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The aim of our study was to compare the results of open (OP) vs laparoscopic (LP) vs robotic (RALP) pyeloplasty. Material and Methods: A multicenter prospective review was conducted of pyeloplasty surgeries performed at five high-volume centers between 2014 and 2018. Demographic data, history of prenatal hydronephrosis, access type, MAG3 renogram and differential renal function, surgery time, length of hospital stay, and complication rate (Clavien-Dindo) were recorded. Access type was compared using the Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square, or Fisher's exact tests. Results: A total of 322 patients were included: 62 OP, 86 LP, and 174 RALP. The mean age was 8.13 (r: 1-16) years, with a statistically significant lower age (mean 5 years) in OP (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the distribution of the side affected. Operative time was 110.5 min for OP, 140 min for LP, and 179 min for RALP (p < 0.0001). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the RALP group than in the other groups (p < 0.0001). There were no differences in postoperative complications and reoperations between the three groups. Conclusions: Minimally invasive surgery for the management of UPJO in children is gaining more acceptance, even in patients younger than 1-year-old. Operative time continues to be significantly shorter in OP than in LP and RALP. Hospital stay was shorter in RALP compared to the other techniques. No differences were found in complication rates, type of complications, and reoperation rate.

Abstract Today, the key methodology to study in vitro or in vivo electrical activity in a population of electrogenic cells, under physiological or pathological conditions, is by using microelectrode array (MEA). While significant efforts have been devoted to develop nanostructured MEAs for improving the electrophysiological investigation in neurons and cardiomyocytes, data on the recording of the electrical activity from neuroendocrine cells with MEA technology are scarce owing to their weaker electrical signals. Disordered silicon nanowires (SiNWs) for developing a MEA that, combined with a customized acquisition board, successfully capture the electrical signals generated by the corticotrope AtT‐20 cells as a function of the extracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration are reported. The recorded signals show a shape that clearly resembles the action potential waveform by suggesting a natural membrane penetration of the SiNWs. Additionally, the generation of synchronous signals observed under high Ca2+ content indicates the occurrence of a collective behavior in the AtT‐20 cell population. This study extends the usefulness of MEA technology to the investigation of the electrical communication in cells of the pituitary gland, crucial in controlling several essential human functions, and provides new perspectives in recording with MEA the electrical activity of excitable cells.

Rotavirus disease is the world's leading cause of severe gastroenteritis and mortality in children up to 5 years of age. Premature infants are more vulnerable to rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) and its complications. International authorities strongly recommend vaccination because of the consistent reduction in infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and related costs. Background/Objectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety of anti-rotavirus vaccination in premature infants admitted and vaccinated in the main Sicilian Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) during the pandemic period. Methods: The human monovalent rotavirus vaccination (RV1) was administered to preterm infants of gestational age ≥28 weeks in the main Sicilian NICUs from January 2020 to December 2022, as a prolongation of a similar study conducted from April 2018 to December 2019. Rotavirus vaccinations were provided both to hospitalized infants and to those returning for post-discharge follow-up, beginning at six weeks of age according to the official immunization schedule. All potential adverse events—whether expected, unexpected, or serious—were recorded from the day of vaccination through 14 days (first follow-up) and 28 days (second follow-up) after each of the two scheduled doses. Results: A total of 355 preterm infants were fully vaccinated with RV in four Sicilian NICUs. The mean gestational age of newborns was 33.2 weeks (±2.7), 53% of whom were male. Vaccination was performed on average at 7 weeks of age (±2.1), and the mean weight at the time of vaccination was 3439 g (SD ± 745.2). No expected/unexpected or serious adverse events were observed either within the 14-day or within the 28-day period after administration of both two doses. Conclusions: Data confirm that vaccination in preterm infants ≥28 weeks gestational age is safe. The prolongation of this Public Health strategy, strongly recommended by the Sicilian Health Department during the pandemic period that also generally has led to a reduction of vaccination adherence and acceptance of pediatric vaccination, demonstrates the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration with neonatologists and pediatricians to continue promoting in-hospital vaccinations for fragile subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous preliminary study, radiomic features from the largest and the hottest lesion in baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT (bPET/CT) of classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma (cHL) predicted early response-to-treatment and prognosis. Aim of this large retrospectively-validated study is to evaluate the predictive role of two-lesions radiomics in comparison with other clinical and conventional PET/CT models. cHL patients with bPET/CT between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively included and randomized into training-validation sets. Target lesions were: Lesion_A, with largest axial diameter (Dmax); Lesion_B, with highest SUVmax. Total-metabolic-tumor-volume (TMTV) was calculated and 212 radiomic features were extracted. PET/CT features were harmonized using ComBat across two scanners. Outcomes were progression-free-survival (PFS) and Deauville Score at interim PET/CT (DS). For each outcome, three predictive models and their combinations were trained and validated: - radiomic model "R"; - conventional PET/CT model "P"; - clinical model "C". 197 patients were included (training = 118; validation = 79): 38/197 (19%) patients had adverse events and 42/193 (22%) had DS ≥ 4. In the training phase, only one radiomic feature was selected for PFS prediction in model "R" (Lesion_B F_cm.corr, C-index 66.9%). Best "C" model combined stage and IPS (C-index 74.8%), while optimal "P" model combined TMTV and Dmax (C-index 63.3%). After internal validation, "C", "C + R", "R + P" and "C + R + P" significantly predicted PFS. The best validated model was "C + R" (C-index 66.3%). No model was validated for DS prediction. In this large retrospectively-validated study, a combination of baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT two-lesions radiomics and other conventional models showed an added prognostic power in patients with cHL. As single models, conventional clinical parameters maintain their prognostic power, while radiomics or conventional PET/CT alone seem to be sub-optimal to predict survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave fabrication and design techniques are commonly employed in the terahertz (THz) domain. However, a characterization of commercially available microwave dielectric materials is usually lacking at sub-THz and THz frequencies. In this work, we characterized four substrates by Rogers and an Ordyl dry resist between 0.2 and 2 THz, in terms of relative permittivity and loss tangent. The reflectance spectra of the investigated materials were retrieved by means of THz time-domain spectroscopy in reflection mode and post-processed according to a transmission-line model in which the materials’ parameters are fit by means of the Havriliak–Negami variation of the Debye model. The relative permittivity of the investigated materials showed negligible frequency dispersion in the sub-THz and in the THz range. In terms of the loss tangent, the Rogers substrates revealed a more pronounced frequency-dispersive behavior among different materials, as dictated by the Havriliak–Negami model. The Ordyl resist was dispersive in the 0.2–1.2 THz range and presented a nearly constant loss tangent value between 1.2 and 2 THz. These results may represent a reference for the development of innovative components for THz and sub-THz emerging applications.

The head-and-neck area is one of the most common sites for nodal and extranodal localization of lymphomas. Clinical presentation of lymphomas in the head and neck region varies from slowly growing indolent lymphomas to highly aggressive lymphomas causing compression of the upper airways for which a timely diagnosis is warranted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of flow cytometry (FC) in the diagnosis of head and neck lesions suspicious for lymphoma. We analyzed cell suspensions of 50 excisional biopsies using FC and compared the results with histological examination. Using a sequential three-tube antibody panel, we found a high level of diagnostic concordance between FC and histology in the 30 non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). When no aberrant B or T cell population was identified in FC, indirect signs were helpful to predict diagnoses other than NHL, such as Hodgkin Lymphoma, metastatic lesions of epithelial tumors or reactive hyperplasia. In conclusion, FC can provide useful diagnostic information in a short turnaround time when clinical evaluation by hematologists and otolaryngologists raised the suspicion of lymphoma.

The management of a water network metabolism depends on the estimate of incoming and outgoing flows related to the life cycle of the products and processes involved. This type of analysis can be used, in an equivalent manner, to estimate the environmental loads associated with products and processes, providing a useful support to define the sustainability level of a water network. The Life Cycle Assessment, in these contexts, is often used in association with other methods for estimating metabolism. In this work the impact analysis of input and output flows of the Rende (Italy) water network is proposed, aimed at estimating the cost of its metabolism, in terms of global impact, referring to the materials making up its hydraulic elements.

Abstract Background Current alignment tools typically lack an explicit model of indel evolution, leading to artificially short inferred alignments (i.e., over-alignment) due to inconsistencies between the indel history and the phylogeny relating the input sequences. Results We present a new progressive multiple sequence alignment tool ProPIP. The process of insertions and deletions is described using an explicit evolutionary model—the Poisson Indel Process or PIP. The method is based on dynamic programming and is implemented in a frequentist framework. The source code can be compiled on Linux, macOS and Microsoft Windows platforms. The algorithm is implemented in C++ as standalone program. The source code is freely available on GitHub at https://github.com/acg-team/ProPIP and is distributed under the terms of the GNU GPL v3 license. Conclusions The use of an explicit indel evolution model allows to avoid over-alignment, to infer gaps in a phylogenetically consistent way and to make inferences about the rates of insertions and deletions. Instead of the arbitrary gap penalties, the parameters used by ProPIP are the insertion and deletion rates, which have biological interpretation and are contextualized in a probabilistic environment. As a result, indel rate settings may be optimised in order to infer phylogenetically meaningful gap patterns.

We are recently faced with a progressive evolution of the therapeutic paradigm for radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI-R DTC), since the advent of tissue agnostic inhibitors. Thus, tumor genotype assessment is always more relevant and is playing a crucial role into clinical practice. We report the case of an elderly patient with advanced papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) harboring RET-CCDC6 fusion with four co-occurring mutations involving PI3KCA, TP53, and hTERT mutations, treated with pralsetinib under a compassionate use program. Despite the high histological grade and the coexistence of aggressive RET co-mutations, an impressive metabolic and structural tumor response has been obtained, together with a patient’s prolonged clinical benefit. A timely comprehensive molecular testing of those cases wild-type for the common thyroid carcinoma BRAF V600E-like and RAS-like driver mutations may uncover actionable gene rearrangements that can be targeted by highly selective inhibitors with great potential benefit for the patients.

BackgroundMalignancies represent 15–50% of total causes of pericardial effusions (PE). Routine analyses recommended to be performed on pericardial fluid include general chemistry, cytology, polymerase chain reaction, and microbiological cultures. Multicolor flow cytometry (FC) is a laboratory test that already proved to be useful in the detection of lymphoproliferative and metastatic malignancies in pleural and peritoneal effusions, but current guidelines do not mention its use on PE to reach a diagnosis.MethodsOur institutional protocol foresees to routinely perform a multicolor FC analysis on pericardial fluid samples obtained by pericardiocentesis, in addition to other guidelines-recommended analyses. A sample of 15–30 ml is analyzed using a lyse and wash staining method using combination panels of antibodies, allowing to detect specific cellular subpopulations, analyzing tens to hundreds of thousands of cells in few seconds. The present manuscript aims to report our single-center experience with this diagnostic tool in patients presenting with PE requiring pericardiocentesis.ResultsRoutine use of multicolor FC on pericardial fluid samples in our institution allowed to reach a definite diagnosis of cardiac lymphomas in two patients presenting with otherwise unexplained severe PE. This resulted in immediate start of combined immunotherapy, with patients’ clinical improvement. At 6 months follow-up both patients are alive and presented a complete disease regression.ConclusionPreliminary evidence from routine use of multicolor FC on PE support that this is a promising tool to reach a rapid diagnosis of hematological malignancies with heart involvement, leading to a prompt initiation of targeted therapies.

Abstract Background Bond strength of orthodontic composite is strongly influenced by molecular and structural mechanisms. Aim of this in vitro study was to compare bond strength of light-cure orthodontic composites by measuring debonding forces and evaluating locations of bond failure. Investigations on chemical compositions clarified adhesive behaviors and abilities, exploring effects of ageing processes in this junction materials. Methods Twelve enamel discs, from human premolars, were randomly coupled to one orthodontic adhesive system (Transbond XT™ 3 M UNITEK, USA, Light-Cure Orthodontic Paste, LEONE, Italy and Bisco Ortho Bracket Paste LC, BISCO, Illinois) and underwent to Shear Bond Strength test. Metallic brackets were bonded to twenty-seven human premolar, with one of the adhesive systems, to quantify, at FE-SEM magnifications, after debonding, the residual material on enamel and bracket base surfaces. Raman Spectroscopy analysis was performed on eight discs of each composites to investigate on chemical compositions, before and after accelerated aging procedures in human saliva and sugary drink. Results Orthodontic adhesive systems showed similar strength of adhesion to enamel. The breakage of adhesive-adherent bond occurs in TXT at enamel-adhesive interface while in Bisco and Leone at adhesive-bracket interface. Accelerated in vitro aging demonstrated good physical–chemical stability for all composites, Bisco only, was weakly contaminated with respect to the other materials. Conclusion A similar, clinically adequate and acceptable bond strength to enamel for debonding maneuvers was recorded in all orthodontic adhesive systems under examination. No significant chemical alterations are recorded, even in highly critical situations, not altering the initial mechanical properties of materials.

EUS-FNB has been introduced in clinical practice as a less invasive diagnostic approach with respect to surgery. We performed a single-center retrospective study on the diagnostic efficacy of EUS-guided FNB, including 171 patients with lymph nodes, splenic, and extranodal lesions that underwent EUS for FNB at our institution. Excluding 12 patients who did not undergo FNB and 25 patients with a previous diagnosis of a solid tumor, we included 134 patients with clinical/radiological suspect of a lymphoproliferative disease, including 20 patients with a previous history of lymphoma. Out of the 134 biopsies, material of diagnostic quality was obtained in 111 procedures (84.3%). Histological examination of the EUS-FNB samples produced an actionable diagnosis in 100 cases (74.6%). Among the patients without an actionable diagnosis, a second, different diagnostic procedure produced a further eight diagnoses of lymphoma. Therefore, the sensitivity of EUS-FNB for diagnosing lymphomas was calculated to be 86.4% (51/59). Assignment of lymphomas to WHO classification subtypes was possible in 47/51 (92%) of the cases. In conclusion, EUS-FNB is an effective procedure for the histological characterization of lesions that are suspected to be lymphoproliferative disease, allowing for an actionable diagnosis in 75% of cases.

Clear aligners have transformed orthodontic care by providing an aesthetic, removable alternative to traditional braces. However, their significant environmental footprint, contributing to approximately 15,000 tons of plastic waste annually, poses a critical challenge. To address this issue, advancements in 4D printing have introduced "smart" aligners with shape memory properties, enabling reshaping and reducing the number of aligners required per treatment. This study focuses on ClearX aligners, an innovative 4D-printed solution aimed at extending usage duration and minimizing environmental impact. Using a comprehensive suite of tests, including morphological, optical, and mechanical evaluations conducted via scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and bending and strain assessments, we evaluated the optical and mechanical stability of the ClearX material before and after thermal activation. Our results demonstrate that ClearX aligners retain their structural and functional properties after reshaping. Temporary changes in transparency, observed only under prolonged treatment durations exceeding manufacturer recommendations, are fully reversible within 12 h and do not compromise the aligner's usability. These findings support the potential of ClearX aligners to effectively combine patient-centered, high-quality orthodontic care with sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: CD79b, a B-cell-specific antigen, is highly expressed in mature B-cell lymphomas, making it a promising therapeutic target. This study employs flow cytometry to assess CD79b in lymph node biopsies from 127 cases of large B-cell lymphomas (LBCLs), compared to benign reactive hyperplasia. We found that LBCLs exhibited lower and heterogeneous CD79b expression, with 18% of cases showing almost exclusively intracellular positivity and, in particular, low surface expression in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas. A positive correlation was observed between CD79b expression and surface immunoglobulin light chains. Patients over 60 years old and those with high-risk disease (Revised International Prognostic Index of 3–5) demonstrated higher surface CD79b expression. These findings align with results from the POLARIX study, where the addition of a CD79b-ADC (antibody–drug conjugate) to first-line therapy improved outcomes for patients with similar characteristics. Flow cytometry on tissue biopsies may offer valuable insights into target antigen expression, including CD79b. Background: CD79b is a B-cell-specific antigen that is crucial to the B-cell receptor and is considered a key target for treatment in aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Methods: While immunohistochemical studies have shown widespread expression of CD79b in mature B-cell-derived lymphomas, flow cytometry allows for precise measurement and differentiation between surface and intracellular localization. Results: In our comparative analysis, we discovered that CD79b expression percentages and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) were lower in a group of 127 cases of aggressive B-cell lymphomas compared to a control group of benign reactive hyperplasia. We also observed significant variability in the surface expression of CD79b among lymphoma cases, with 18% showing predominantly intracellular positivity. There was a strong correlation between the surface expression of CD79b and clonal light chains. Notably, primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas exhibited significantly lower surface CD79b expression compared to other lymphoma subtypes (median 0.8% IQR 0–48.5 vs. 80% IQR 24–97, p = 0.0005). Furthermore, patients over 60 years old and those with a higher Revised International Prognostic Index (R-IPI) had significantly higher CD79b expression, both of which are associated with a significant benefit from adding an anti-CD79b drug conjugate to first-line chemotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Conclusions: In conclusion, the quantitative flow cytometric analysis of CD79b surface expression in aggressive B-cell lymphomas provides clinically relevant information, highlighting its potential usefulness in guiding therapeutic decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments have led to improved survival, with life expectancy for Australians living with CF at 57yo. As life expectancy improves, long-term cardiovascular disease risk factors (as for the general population) will become an issue in these patients. We hypothesized that increased leukocyte expression of vasoconstriction and pro-fibrotic mediators may contribute to CF severity in adults with CF. We recruited 13 adult and 24 pediatric healthy controls, and 53 adults and 9 children living with CF. Leukocyte expression/release of endothelin-1 (ET1) and members of the TGF-β/Smad signaling were measured by multifluorescence quantitative confocal microscopy, Western blotting, ELISA, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The association between plasma ET1 levels and lung function was assessed. Leukocytes from adults living with CF expressed higher ET1 levels (p = 0.0033), and TGF-β (p = 0.0031); the phosphorylation ratio increased for Smad2/3 (p = 0.0136) but decreased for Smad1/5/8 (p = 0.0007), vs. control subjects. Plasma ET1 levels were significantly increased in adults with CF with FEV1<50% (p = 0.002) vs. controls, and adults with CF with normal lung function. The release of ET1 in adult plasma inversely correlated with CF severity (-0.609, p = 0.046). Our data indicates that upregulated ET1 and TGF-β/Smad signaling in leukocytes may contribute to CF severity, highlighting the need for further investigations into their impact on the clinical outcomes of people living with CF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background The purpose of the in vitro study is to investigate and compare the morphological features and the chemical stability in weight of two different polyurethane-based blends, Smart Track (LD30) and Exceed30 (EX30), used for orthodontic aligners manufacture before and after the oral usage. Methods Twenty orthodontic aligners were randomly selected: 10 LD30 and 10 EX30, each group was divided in two subgroups, never used and intra-orally aged. By the employment of a Stereomicroscope, a section of 5 × 5 mm was cut from the buccal surface of the incisal region of each aligner. All samples were subjected to Scanning Electron Microscopy and Ageing tests in different solutions to simulate the hostility of the oral environment. The statistical method used was t-test. Results At SEM images, LD30 appears more homogeneous in texture respect to EX30. However, after clinical usage, both materials show significant structural alterations: findings have been supported by higher magnifications at SEM, by which it is clearly to observe many superficial cracks cross through the polymer structures of LD30U, absent in never used samples. LD30U surface becomes also smoother due to the disappearance of most of the conglomerates, but at the same time also rougher while EX30U shows a greater irregularity and porosity in which large and deep cracks are also highlighted. Although these changes occur persistently, in the aging tests no significant weight loss from both materials has been found, confirming the initial hypothesis of a good chemical stability and safety of both polyurethane mixtures even in conditions of severe hostility. Conclusion LD30 is the expression of the technological evolution of EX30, this is made evident above all by its morphological architecture, more homogeneous and defined but also by the chemical stability that can be appreciated even in evident critic situations.