Serum proteome signatures associated with liver steatosis in adolescents with obesity.

PURPOSE: Childhood obesity, a pressing global health issue, significantly increases the risk of metabolic complications, including metabolic dysfunction associated with steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Accurate non-invasive tests for early detection and screening of steatosis are crucial. In this study, we explored the serum proteome, identifying proteins as potential biomarkers for inclusion in non-invasive steatosis diagnosis tests. METHODS: Fifty-nine obese adolescents underwent ultrasonography to assess steatosis. Serum samples were collected and analyzed by targeted proteomics with the Proximity Extension Assay technology. Clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated, and correlations among them, the individuated markers, and steatosis were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the steatosis diagnostic performance of the identified candidates, the fatty liver index (FLI), and their combination in a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between subjects with and without steatosis in various clinical and biochemical parameters. Gender-related differences in the serum proteome were also noted. Five circulating proteins, including Cathepsin O (CTSO), Cadherin 2 (CDH2), and Prolyl endopeptidase (FAP), were identified as biomarkers for steatosis. CDH2, CTSO, Leukocyte Immunoglobulin Like Receptor A5 (LILRA5), BMI, waist circumference, HOMA-IR, and FLI, among others, significantly correlated with the steatosis degree. CDH2, FAP, and LDL combined in a logit model achieved a diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.91 (95% CI 0.75-0.97, 100% sensitivity, 84% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: CDH2 and FAP combined with other clinical parameters, represent useful tools for accurate diagnosis of fatty liver, emphasizing the importance of integrating novel markers into diagnostic algorithms for MASLD.

A 24-month survey on root canal treatment performed by NiTi engine driven files and warm gutta-percha filling associated system.

AIM: Techniques based on NiTi engine driven files for shaping and warm gutta percha for obturing the root canal space are becoming more and more popular. Aim of this paper is to evaluate, by a clinical longitudinal study, the type of sealing and the outcome of endodontic treatment, performed by new Profile and Thermafil technique, in teeth with or without periapical lesions. METHODS: A total of 122 teeth in 64 patients were consecutively enrolled in the study; 63 teeth had normal periapical status (Group A) and 59 teeth had periapical lesion (Group B). Endodontic therapy was carried out by Profile .04 and Profile .06 NiTi engine driven files and the obturation was made by Thermafil, a filling technique based on heated gutta-percha surrounding a plastic carrier. The type of sealing was evaluated by a score (A best - D worst) and the type of healing was classified as complete, incomplete and failure according to previous published data. The radiographical outcome of the teeth was evaluated by independent observers after 24 months. Data were analysed by non parametric statistics. RESULTS: At the end of the study, 115 teeth (59 group A and 56 group B) were examined. The quality of sealing was evaluated and some differences were reported comparing different types of teeth. The radiographic outcome was evaluated and 94.9% showed to be completely healed in group A and 48.2% in group B (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: The technique based on NiTi engine driven files and Thermafil heated gutta-percha has shown, after 24 months, results which were comparable to other root canal shaping and filling methods.

[The role of prostaglandins in fertility. Experimental research]. / Il ruolo delle prostaglandine nella fertilità. Ricerca sperimentale.

Prevention of postoperative adhesion is an issue that continues to elude the abdominal and reproductive surgeon. Adhesions seem to be a result of an inflammatory process and it is well known that prostaglandins play an important role in such an event. In an attempt to improve the results of microsurgery, we have tried in this study to examine the effect of local intraperitoneal application of prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF2 alpha) on adhesion formation in the rat after traumatizing to the uterine horn. Prostaglandins applied locally were found to increase intraperitoneal adhesion formation at the injured sites, in comparison with controls. Also, we have reported on histological examination an increased accumulation of inflammatory cells in traumatized areas. However, we didn't observe a reduced fertility in rats treated with prostaglandins because these substances induce follicular rupture by activation of proteolytic enzyme located in the follicular wall. We conclude that prostaglandins play an important role in the process of adhesion formation. Using antiprostaglandins agents could improve the outcomes of reproductive surgery.

[Tubo-ovarian transplantation in the treatment of sterility. Experimental research]. / Il trapianto tubo-ovarico nel trattamento della sterilita'. Ricerca sperimentale.

Microsurgical transposition of fallopian tube and ovary has the potential of being an efficient therapeutic treatment in patients with tubal sterility. The Authors present their experience of microsurgical adnexal transplantation in rabbit by two different techniques: the first procedure by microvascular anastomosis of the ovarian vessels, the second one without vascular pedicle. Function is evaluated at various time after grafting by: exploratory laparotomy on day 30 to establish whether circulation to the grafts was still maintained; macroscopic and microscopic examination of ovaries and fallopian tubes. The microvascular techniques prove highly reliable in terms of immediate vascular patency rate but it is disappointing that 50% of the autografts has failed with blocked vessels by day 30. Perhaps this is due to the difficult techniques in anastomosing the ovarian vessels of small caliber. In spite of these outcomes the vascularized autografts were viable and functional after transplantation in contrast with the non-vascularized tubo-ovarian grafts which all failed. This experience encourages to believe that the microsurgical technique could be employed for homograft transplantation in woman with extensive ovarian and tubal damages.

[Microsurgery and laser surgery in conservative operations on the ovary. Experimental research]. / La microchirurgia e la chirurgia laser negli interventi conservativi dell'ovaio. Ricerca sperimentale.

In this study we compared two different conservative surgery techniques performed on 12 ovaries of female rabbits: microsurgery and CO2 Laser surgery. After the surgical procedure all the animals were investigated by a Laparotomy to evaluate the post-operative adhesion formation. Histological examinations were performed on 6 ovaries, to evaluate the possible damage to the ovarian parenchyma. We did not find significant differences between the two methods employed, particularly for the adherence formation and the parenchymal thermic damages: no post-operative adhesions were detected respectively in 3 ovaries operated on by microsurgery and 5 by laser surgery; slight adhesions were present in 2 ovaries treated with microsurgery and in 3 with laser surgery; 3 ovaries treated with microsurgery and 2 with laser surgery showed moderate adhesions. Only 2 ovaries treated with microsurgery presented severe adhesions.