Milk and Lacticaseibacillus casei BL23 effects on intestinal responses in a murine model of colitis.

Probiotic-containing fermented dairy foods have the potential to benefit human health, but the importance of the dairy matrix for efficacy remains unclear. We investigated the capacity of Lacticaseibacillus casei BL23 in phosphate-buffered saline (BL23-PBS), BL23-fermented milk (BL23-milk), and milk to modify intestinal and behavioral responses in a Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS, 3% w/v) mouse model of colitis. Significant sex-dependent differences were found such that female mice exhibited more severe colitis, greater weight loss, and higher mortality rates. Sex differences were also found for ion transport ex vivo, colonic cytokine and tight junction gene expression, and fecal microbiota composition. Measurements of milk and BL23 effects showed BL23-PBS consumption improved weight recovery in females, while milk resulted in better body weight recovery in males. Occludin and Claudin-2 gene transcript levels indicated barrier function was impaired in males, but BL23-milk was still found to improve colonic ion transport in those mice. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory gene expression levels were increased in both male and female mice fed BL23, and to a more variable extent, milk, compared to controls. The female mouse fecal microbiota contained high proportions of Akkermansia (average of 18.1%) at baseline, and females exhibited more changes in gut microbiota composition following BL23 and milk intake. Male fecal microbiota harbored significantly more Parasutterella and less Blautia and Roseburia after DSS treatment, independent of BL23 or milk consumption. These findings show the complex interplay between dietary components and sex-dependent responses in mitigating inflammation in the digestive tract.

Current status and future perspectives on stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Previous assessments of stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries (SCI) have encountered challenges and constraints. Current research primarily emphasizes safety in early-phase clinical trials, while systematic reviews prioritize effectiveness, often overlooking safety and translational feasibility. This situation prompts inquiries regarding the readiness for clinical adoption. AIM: To offer an up-to-date systematic literature review of clinical trial results con cerning stem cell therapy for SCI. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across major medical databases [PubMed, Embase, Reference Citation Analysis (RCA), and Cochrane Library] up to October 14, 2023. The search strategy utilized relevant Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms and keywords related to "spinal cord", "injury", "clinical trials", "stem cells", "functional outcomes", and "adverse events". Studies included in this review consisted of randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials reporting on the use of stem cell therapies for the treatment of SCI. RESULTS: In a comprehensive review of 66 studies on stem cell therapies for SCI, 496 papers were initially identified, with 237 chosen for full-text analysis. Among them, 236 were deemed eligible after excluding 170 for various reasons. These studies encompassed 1086 patients with varying SCI levels, with cervical injuries being the most common (42.2%). Bone marrow stem cells were the predominant stem cell type used (71.1%), with various administration methods. Follow-up durations averaged around 84.4 months. The 32.7% of patients showed functional impro vement from American spinal injury association Impairment Scale (AIS) A to B, 40.8% from AIS A to C, 5.3% from AIS A to D, and 2.1% from AIS B to C. Sensory improvements were observed in 30.9% of patients. A relatively small number of adverse events were recorded, including fever (15.1%), headaches (4.3%), muscle tension (3.1%), and dizziness (2.6%), highlighting the potential for SCI recovery with stem cell therapy. CONCLUSION: In the realm of SCI treatment, stem cell-based therapies show promise, but clinical trials reveal potential adverse events and limitations, underscoring the need for meticulous optimization of transplantation conditions and parameters, caution against swift clinical implementation, a deeper understanding of SCI pathophysiology, and addressing ethical, tumorigenicity, immunogenicity, and immunotoxicity concerns before gradual and careful adoption in clinical practice.

Size-tunable silicon nanoparticles synthesized in solution via a redox reaction.

A current challenge in silicon chemistry is to perform liquid-phase synthesis of silicon nanoparticles, which would permit the use of colloidal synthesis techniques to control size and shape. Herein we show how silicon nanoparticles were synthesized at ambient temperature and pressure in organic solvents through a redox reaction. Specifically, a hexacoordinated silicon complex, bis(N,N'-diisopropylbutylamidinato)dichlorosilane, was reduced by a silicon Zintl phase, sodium silicide (Na4Si4). The resulting silicon nanoparticles were crystalline with sizes tuned from a median particle diameter of 15 nm to 45 nm depending on the solvent. Photoluminescence measurements performed on colloidal suspensions of the 45 nm diameter silicon nanoparticles indicated a blue emission signal, attributed to the partial oxidation of the Si nanocrystals or to the presence of nitrogen impurities.

Laparoscopic right colectomy: correct technique based on key anatomical principles.

Since the early1990s, laparoscopic right colon resections have been the most performed advanced laparoscopic procedures just after laparoscopic left colectomies and sigmoid resections. Indications for laparoscopic right colectomies are either benign or malignant diseases. Despite its many indications, a laparoscopic right or extended right colectomy is mostly performed for cancer of the caecum, the ascending colon, the hepatic flexure or the proximal transverse colon. Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer: an estimated 1,880,725 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2020, out of which 1,148,515 were colon cancer cases and 40% were located in the right colon. These figures make an oncologic sound surgery for right colon cancer of the utmost relevance. More recently, complete mesocolic excision has been advocated as the optimal choice in term of radicality, especially in node-positive patients with right colon cancer. Laparoscopic standard right colectomy and extended right colectomy with or without CME should be performed according to defined principles based on a close knowledge of key anatomical landmarks. This knowledge will allow to trace anatomical structures and drive instruments along the correct surgical planes and has its foundations in teachings from surgeons and scientists of past and present time.

Failure to reduce benzodiazepine prescriptions through the implementation of a psychological intervention for insomnia in an Italian mental health service.

PURPOSE: Despite the evidence of higher effectiveness of psychological interventions for insomnia compared to pharmacological ones, drug prescriptions for insomnia remain frequent. This study has assessed patterns of prescriptions of BZDs for insomnia before and after the delivery of a training in psychological interventions to professionals working in the services of a Department of Mental Health in northern Italy. METHODS: The intervention consisted in two training sessions about psychological interventions for insomnia delivered to professionals of the participating services. The prevalence of users with a prescription of BZDs for insomnia in an index period after the delivery of the training was compared to the prevalence in an index period before the training. RESULTS: Among 727 people assessed for BZDs prescription at pre-intervention, 306 (42.1%, 95% CI 0.39-0.46) had a prescription, and 344 (49.2%, 95% CI 0.45-0.53) had a prescription among 699 people assessed at post-intervention, corresponding to a significant odds ratio of 1.33 to be prescribed with BZDs in the second index period compared to the first one. Psychological interventions were offered to a small group of patients. CONCLUSION: Prescribing attitudes of BZDs for insomnia were not modified after the training and delivery of a psychological intervention in a mental healthcare outpatient setting. Prescribing habits should be addressed more directly in training, and professionals should be more aware of risks of BZDs assumption. The failure in changing drug prescriptions in this study should prompt more real-world studies of the application of evidence-based strategies, particularly in outpatient mental health settings.

Advancing the Management of Skull Base Chondrosarcomas: A Systematic Review of Targeted Therapies.

BACKGROUND: Chondrosarcomas rank as the second most common primary bone malignancy. Characterized by the production of a cartilaginous matrix, these tumors typically exhibit resistance to both radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT), resulting in overall poor outcomes: a high rate of mortality, especially among children and adolescents. Due to the considerable resistance to current conventional therapies such as surgery, CT, and RT, there is an urgent need to identify factors contributing to resistance and discover new strategies for optimal treatment. Over the past decade, researchers have delved into the dysregulation of genes associated with tumor development and therapy resistance to identify potential therapeutic targets for overcoming resistance. Recent studies have suggested several promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for chondrosarcoma, including isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1/2) and COL2A1. Molecule-targeting agents and immunotherapies have demonstrated favorable antitumor activity in clinical studies involving patients with advanced chondrosarcomas. In this systematic review, we delineate the clinical features of chondrosarcoma and provide a summary of gene dysregulation and mutation associated with tumor development, as well as targeted therapies as a promising molecular approach. Finally, we analyze the probable role of the tumor microenvironment in chondrosarcoma drug resistance. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across major medical databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) up to 10 November 2023. The search strategy utilized relevant Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms and keywords related to "chondrosarcomas", "target therapies", "immunotherapies", and "outcomes". The studies included in this review consist of randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies reporting on the use of target therapies for the treatment of chondrosarcoma in human subjects. RESULTS: Of the initial 279 articles identified, 40 articles were included in the article. The exclusion of 140 articles was due to reasons such as irrelevance, non-reporting of selected results, systematic literature review or meta-analysis, and lack of details on the method/results. Three tables highlighted clinical studies, preclinical studies, and ongoing clinical trials, encompassing 13, 7, and 20 studies, respectively. For the clinical study, a range of molecular targets, such as death receptors 4/5 (DR4 and DR5) (15%), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha or -beta (PDGFR-α, PDGFR-ß) (31%), were investigated. Adverse events were mainly constitutional symptoms emphasizing that to improve therapy tolerance, careful observation and tailored management are essential. Preclinical studies analyzed various molecular targets such as DR4/5 (28.6%) and COX-2 (28.6%). The prevalent indicator of antitumoral activity was the apoptotic rate of both a single agent (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand: TRAIL) and double agents (TRAIL-DOX, TRAIL-MG132). Ongoing clinical trials, the majority in Phase II (53.9%), highlighted possible therapeutic strategies such as IDH1 inhibitors and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors (30.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The present review offers a comprehensive analysis of targeted therapeutics for skull base chondrosarcomas, highlighting a complex landscape characterized by a range of treatment approaches and new opportunities for tailored interventions. The combination of results from molecular research and clinical trials emphasizes the necessity for specialized treatment strategies and the complexity of chondrosarcoma biology.

Navigating the Nose-to-Brain Route: A Systematic Review on Lipid-Based Nanocarriers for Central Nervous System Disorders.

BACKGROUND: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulates brain substance entry, posing challenges for treating brain diseases. Traditional methods face limitations, leading to the exploration of non-invasive intranasal drug delivery. This approach exploits the direct nose-to-brain connection, overcoming BBB restrictions. Intranasal delivery enhances drug bioavailability, reduces dosage, and minimizes systemic side effects. Notably, lipid nanoparticles, such as solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers, offer advantages like improved stability and controlled release. Their nanoscale size facilitates efficient drug loading, enhancing solubility and bioavailability. Tailored lipid compositions enable optimal drug release, which is crucial for chronic brain diseases. This review assesses lipid nanoparticles in treating neuro-oncological and neurodegenerative conditions, providing insights for effective nose-to-brain drug delivery. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across major medical databases (PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Scopus) up to 6 January 2024. The search strategy utilized relevant Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms and keywords related to "lipid nanoparticles", "intranasal administration", "neuro-oncological diseases", and "neurodegenerative disorders". This review consists of studies in vitro, in vivo, or ex vivo on the intranasal administration of lipid-based nanocarriers for the treatment of brain diseases. RESULTS: Out of the initial 891 papers identified, 26 articles met the eligibility criteria after a rigorous analysis. The exclusion of 360 articles was due to reasons such as irrelevance, non-reporting selected outcomes, the article being a systematic literature review or meta-analysis, and lack of method/results details. This systematic literature review, focusing on nose-to-brain drug delivery via lipid-based nanocarriers for neuro-oncological, neurodegenerative, and other brain diseases, encompassed 60 studies. A temporal distribution analysis indicated a peak in research interest between 2018 and 2020 (28.3%), with a steady increase over time. Regarding drug categories, Alzheimer's disease was prominent (26.7%), followed by antiblastic drugs (25.0%). Among the 65 drugs investigated, Rivastigmine, Doxorubicin, and Carmustine were the most studied (5.0%), showcasing a diverse approach to neurological disorders. Notably, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were predominant (65.0%), followed by nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) (28.3%), highlighting their efficacy in intranasal drug delivery. Various lipids were employed, with glyceryl monostearate being prominent (20.0%), indicating preferences in formulation. Performance assessment assays were balanced, with in vivo studies taking precedence (43.3%), emphasizing the translation of findings to complex biological systems for potential clinical applications. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review reveals the transformative potential of intranasal lipid nanoparticles in treating brain diseases, overcoming the BBB. Positive outcomes highlight the effectiveness of SLNs and NLCs, which are promising new approaches for ailments from AD to stroke and gliomas. While celebrating progress, addressing challenges like nanoparticle toxicity is also crucial.

'ALL ABOUT MY IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE': Users, family members and experts by experience discussing a co-designed service.

INTRODUCTION: Many studies have investigated patients' understandings of how to optimise mental health services. However, only a few studies in the Italian context have involved experts by experience (EbEs), who can be ex-users, family members of ex-users or current service collaborators. Their role is crucial in implementing collaborative service quality assessment projects. METHOD: The study investigated the experience of 35 EbEs,  users, and family members who carried out a 9-month fortnightly project aimed at imagining an 'ideal service'. The facilitators of the discussion groups (two EbEs) were interviewed; written reports of each meeting were produced with relevant comments, notes and specific suggestions; and content analysis was applied. RESULTS: The most important result concerns the effectiveness of the project management method and group leadership carried out by the two EbEs. This approach allowed for complete autonomy of the work, without professional gaze or power imbalance. Also, the ideas and specific contents focused on by the two groups offer strategies to facilitate users' entry and reception in health care centres, to reduce the stigma of mental illness, to improve the centres' physical environment, to improve organisational aspects, to keep family members actively involved and to network mental health services with other territorial services. CONCLUSIONS: EbEs have proven to be key figures in ensuring equity of role in the service co-design process. This also concerns a context, the Italian one, where their role has not yet been recognised and legalised. Their contribution and ideas to improve services could be fundamental not only in mental health centres, but also in other health facilities, and could concern the entire service delivery process rather than being limited to quality assurance, according to a virtuous circle based on active participation and transformation of the role of users. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This work resulted from close collaboration between the two EbEs who conducted the groups, users and family members, the university, and the psychiatrist in charge of the service. All of them contributed to the research. The EbEs, researchers and psychiatrist participated in the interpretation of the data and are the co-authors of this paper.

Intensive training programme for ultrasound-guided minimally invasive synovial tissue biopsy on knees and wrists in different phases of inflammation.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an intensive training programme for ultrasound (US)-guided synovial tissue (ST) biopsy on knees and wrists in inflammatory arthritis and to assess the learning curve, patient tolerability, sample quality and trainees' expectations. METHODS: Active or remission rheumatoid arthritis patients were enrolled. Nine trainees joined the 4-month programme in a centre experienced in performing US-guided ST biopsies consisting of four sequential phases: (1) observation, (2) performance of guided step-by-step phases, (3) execution of the whole procedure on paired joints (knees or wrists) of the same patient in parallel with the trainer and (4) performance of the procedure autonomously. Sample representativity was assessed by histology, and procedure-related adverse events were recorded. Before and after the programme, trainees' expectations and perceptions were collected. RESULTS: 328 ST biopsy procedures were included. The rate of trainees' informative samples was: (1) comparable to the trainers in active and remission knees, but lower in active wrists (70% for trainees vs 100% for trainers, p=0.06) in phase 3; (2) excellent on active knees and wrists (91.9% and 90.9% respectively) but lower (77.6%, p=0.0089) on remission knees in phase 4. Procedures performed by trainees did not affect patient tolerability. Trainees' expectations about procedure-related invasiveness and pain infliction decreased while the difficulty of procedure execution on active wrists and remission knees remained perceived as moderately difficult. CONCLUSIONS: This intensive training programme develops advanced skills in the performance of US-guided ST biopsy on knees and wrists, yielding high-quality specimens available for basic and translational studies on inflammatory joint diseases.

High fat intake sustains sorbitol intolerance after antibiotic-mediated Clostridia depletion from the gut microbiota.

Carbohydrate intolerance, commonly linked to the consumption of lactose, fructose, or sorbitol, affects up to 30% of the population in high-income countries. Although sorbitol intolerance is attributed to malabsorption, the underlying mechanism remains unresolved. Here, we show that a history of antibiotic exposure combined with high fat intake triggered long-lasting sorbitol intolerance in mice by reducing Clostridia abundance, which impaired microbial sorbitol catabolism. The restoration of sorbitol catabolism by inoculation with probiotic Escherichia coli protected mice against sorbitol intolerance but did not restore Clostridia abundance. Inoculation with the butyrate producer Anaerostipes caccae restored a normal Clostridia abundance, which protected mice against sorbitol-induced diarrhea even when the probiotic was cleared. Butyrate restored Clostridia abundance by stimulating epithelial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) signaling to restore epithelial hypoxia in the colon. Collectively, these mechanistic insights identify microbial sorbitol catabolism as a potential target for approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sorbitol intolerance.

Emergency Crisis Resource Management de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias: curso de gestión en crisis basado en simulación para estudiantes de ciencias de la salud / Emergency crisis resource management: a simulation-based course developed by the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) for health sciences students

Objetivo. Los programas educativos dirigidos a la adquisición de competencias no técnicas, tales como el Crisis Resource Management (CRM), basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, implican un aumento de las competencias del alumno en el manejo de situaciones de crisis. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar la eficacia del programa Emergency CRM (E-CRM) de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias, dirigido a estudiantes de último año de los grados de ciencias de la salud. Método. Se llevó a cabo un estudio cuasiexperimental con medidas pre y posintervención, que consistió en un programa de E-CRM con simulación de alta fidelidad, en un único grupo. Participaron un total de 209 estudiantes que completaron dos instrumentos autoadministrados sobre la autoeficacia hacia las competencias no técnicas y la resiliencia. Además, a través de observadores externos se evaluó sus competencias no técnicas con instrumentos de evaluación objetivos. Resultados. El alumnado mejoró las puntuaciones de resiliencia (F = 25,90; p < 0,001) y autoeficacia (F = 68,02; p < 0,001) tras la intervención, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas para la resiliencia en la línea basal en función del grupo de estudios (t = 2,67; p = 0,008). Por otro lado, se encontraron mejoras de las puntuaciones obtenidas tanto para el instrumento Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale (F = 6,18; p < 0,001; eta2 = 0,20) como para el Ottawa Global Rating Scale Crisis Resource Management (F = 5,58; p < 0,005; eta2 = 0,19). Conclusión. El programa de E-CRM, basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, con un equipo interprofesional coordinado, mejora la autoeficacia en todas las competencias no técnicas medidas y aumenta la resiliencia. (AU)

Objetivo. Los programas educativos dirigidos a la adquisición de competencias no técnicas, tales como el Crisis Resource Management (CRM), basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, implican un aumento de las competencias del alumno en el manejo de situaciones de crisis. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar la eficacia del programa Emergency CRM (E-CRM) de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias, dirigido a estudiantes de último año de los grados de ciencias de la salud. Método. Se llevó a cabo un estudio cuasiexperimental con medidas pre y posintervención, que consistió en un programa de E-CRM con simulación de alta fidelidad, en un único grupo. Participaron un total de 209 estudiantes que completaron dos instrumentos autoadministrados sobre la autoeficacia hacia las competencias no técnicas y la resiliencia. Además, a través de observadores externos se evaluó sus competencias no técnicas con instrumentos de evaluación objetivos. Resultados. El alumnado mejoró las puntuaciones de resiliencia (F = 25,90; p < 0,001) y autoeficacia (F = 68,02; p < 0,001) tras la intervención, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas para la resiliencia en la línea basal en función del grupo de estudios (t = 2,67; p = 0,008). Por otro lado, se encontraron mejoras de las puntuaciones obtenidas tanto para el instrumento Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale (F = 6,18; p < 0,001; eta2 = 0,20) como para el Ottawa Global Rating Scale Crisis Resource Management (F = 5,58; p < 0,005; eta2 = 0,19). Conclusión. El programa de E-CRM, basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, con un equipo interprofesional coordinado, mejora la autoeficacia en todas las competencias no técnicas medidas y aumenta la resiliencia. (AU)

Discordance of Biomarker Expression Profile between Primary Breast Cancer and Synchronous Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Preoperative Core Needle Biopsy.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease made up of clones with different metastatic potential. Intratumoral heterogeneity may cause metastases to show divergent biomarker expression, potentially affecting chemotherapy response. Methods: We investigated the immunohistochemical (IHC) and FISH profile of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone (PR) receptors, Ki67, and HER2 in a series of BC-matched primary tumors (PTs) and axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases in pre-operative core needle biopsies (CNBs). Phenotypical findings were correlated to morphological features and their clinical implications. Results: Divergent expression between PTs and ALNs was found in 10% of the tumors, often involving multiple biomarkers (12/31, 39%). Most (52%) displayed significant differences in ER and PR staining. HER2 divergences were observed in almost three-quarters of the cases (23/31, 74%), with five (16%) switching from negativity to overexpression/amplification in ALNs. Roughly 90% of disparities reflected significant morphological differences between PTs and ALN metastases. Less than half of the discrepancies (12/31, 39%) modified pre/post-operative treatment options. Conclusions: We observed relevant discrepancies in biomarker expression between PTs and metastatic ALNs in a noteworthy proportion (10%) of preoperative BC CNBs, which were often able to influence therapies. Hence, our data suggest routine preoperative assessment of biomarkers in both PTs and ALNs in cases showing significant morphological differences.

Emergency crisis resource management: a simulation-based course developed by the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) for health sciences students. / Emergency Crisis Resource Management de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias: curso de gestión en crisis basado en simulación para estudiantes de ciencias de la salud.

OBJECTIVES: Educational programs based on high-fidelity simulation training aim to promote students' acquisition of nontechnical competencies such as understanding crisis resource management (CRM). This study evaluated the efficacy of a CRM course for students in their last year of university studies in health sciences. The course was developed by the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quasi-experimental study of a high-fidelity simulation course to teach emergency CRM (E-CRM) using preand postcourse measures of achievement in a single student cohort. A total of 209 students completed 2 selfadministered self-efficacy evaluations of their acquisition of nontechnical competencies and resilience. External observers also assessed the students' nontechnical competencies with objective measurement scales. RESULTS: Scores on resilience and self-efficacy assessments improved through the intervention (F = 25.90 and F = 68.02, respectively; P .001, for both pre-post comparisons). Statistically significant differences were found between students in different health sciences at baseline (t = 2.67; P = .008). Scores improved significantly on the Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale (F = 6.18, P .001, eta2 = 0.20) and the Ottawa CRM Global Rating Scale (F = 5.58; P .005, eta2 = 0.19). CONCLUSION: The E-CRM course developed by a coordinated multiprofessional team based on high-fidelity simulations improved self-efficacy assessments of resilience and all nontechnical competencies.

OBJETIVO: Los programas educativos dirigidos a la adquisición de competencias no técnicas, tales como el Crisis Resource Management (CRM), basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, implican un aumento de las competencias del alumno en el manejo de situaciones de crisis. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar la eficacia del programa Emergency CRM (E-CRM) de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias, dirigido a estudiantes de último año de los grados de ciencias de la salud. METODO: Se llevó a cabo un estudio cuasiexperimental con medidas pre y posintervención, que consistió en un programa de E-CRM con simulación de alta fidelidad, en un único grupo. Participaron un total de 209 estudiantes que completaron dos instrumentos autoadministrados sobre la autoeficacia hacia las competencias no técnicas y la resiliencia. Además, a través de observadores externos se evaluó sus competencias no técnicas con instrumentos de evaluación objetivos. RESULTADOS: El alumnado mejoró las puntuaciones de resiliencia (F = 25,90; p < 0,001) y autoeficacia (F = 68,02; p 0,001) tras la intervención, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas para la resiliencia en la línea basal en función del grupo de estudios (t = 2,67; p = 0,008). Por otro lado, se encontraron mejoras de las puntuaciones obtenidas tanto para el instrumento Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale (F = 6,18; p 0,001; eta2 = 0,20) como para el Ottawa Global Rating Scale Crisis Resource Management (F = 5,58; p 0,005; eta2 = 0,19). CONCLUSIONES: El programa de E-CRM, basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, con un equipo interprofesional coordinado, mejora la autoeficacia en todas las competencias no técnicas medidas y aumenta la resiliencia.

The impact of COVID-19 on menstrual cycle's alterations, in relation to depression and sleep disturbances: a prospective observational study in a population of medical students.

BACKGROUND: The sars-Cov-2 pandemic has determined psychological stress, particularly in the young population of medical students. We studied the impact of the pandemic on menstrual cycle alteration in relation to psychological stress, presence of depression, sleep disturbances and post-traumatic stress, on a population of medical students. METHODS: 293 female students at the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology of the Sapienza University of Rome (23.08 years old ± 3.8) were enrolled. In March 2021, one year after quarantine, a personal data sheet on menstrual cycle, examining the quality of the menstrual cycle during the pandemic, compared to the previous period. Concomitantly, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Impact of Event Scale have been administered. A Pearson chi-square test was assessed to evaluate the difference between the characteristics of the menstrual cycle and the scores obtained with the questionnaires. RESULTS: A statistically significant association between menstrual alterations and stress during pandemic had been found. The onset of depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances was observed in 57.1% and in 58.1% of young women with cycle's alterations, respectively. Amenorrhea was three times more common in female students with depressive symptoms, premenstrual syndrome had a significant correlation with both depression and sleep disturbances. The pandemic has been related to menstrual alterations, with depressive symptoms and sleep disorders. Amenorrhea is connected to depression, as observed on the functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic affected the menstrual cycle as well as the depressive symptoms and sleep. Practical implications of the study lead to the development of strategies for psychological intervention during the pandemic experience, in order to help medical trainees, with specific attention to women's needs. Future studies should analyze the impact of other types of social stress events, on sleep, depression and the menstrual cycle beside the pandemic.

Emergency Crisis Resource Management de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias: curso de gestión en crisis basado en simulación para estudiantes de ciencias de la salud / Emergency crisis resource management: a simulation-based course developed by the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) for health sciences students

Objetivo. Los programas educativos dirigidos a la adquisición de competencias no técnicas, tales como el Crisis Resource Management (CRM), basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, implican un aumento de las competencias del alumno en el manejo de situaciones de crisis. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar la eficacia del programa Emergency CRM (E-CRM) de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias, dirigido a estudiantes de último año de los grados de ciencias de la salud. Método. Se llevó a cabo un estudio cuasiexperimental con medidas pre y posintervención, que consistió en un programa de E-CRM con simulación de alta fidelidad, en un único grupo. Participaron un total de 209 estudiantes que completaron dos instrumentos autoadministrados sobre la autoeficacia hacia las competencias no técnicas y la resiliencia. Además, a través de observadores externos se evaluó sus competencias no técnicas con instrumentos de evaluación objetivos. Resultados. El alumnado mejoró las puntuaciones de resiliencia (F = 25,90; p < 0,001) y autoeficacia (F = 68,02; p < 0,001) tras la intervención, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas para la resiliencia en la línea basal en función del grupo de estudios (t = 2,67; p = 0,008). Por otro lado, se encontraron mejoras de las puntuaciones obtenidas tanto para el instrumento Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale (F = 6,18; p < 0,001; eta2 = 0,20) como para el Ottawa Global Rating Scale Crisis Resource Management (F = 5,58; p < 0,005; eta2 = 0,19). Conclusión. El programa de E-CRM, basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, con un equipo interprofesional coordinado, mejora la autoeficacia en todas las competencias no técnicas medidas y aumenta la resiliencia. (AU)

Objetivo. Los programas educativos dirigidos a la adquisición de competencias no técnicas, tales como el Crisis Resource Management (CRM), basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, implican un aumento de las competencias del alumno en el manejo de situaciones de crisis. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar la eficacia del programa Emergency CRM (E-CRM) de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias, dirigido a estudiantes de último año de los grados de ciencias de la salud. Método. Se llevó a cabo un estudio cuasiexperimental con medidas pre y posintervención, que consistió en un programa de E-CRM con simulación de alta fidelidad, en un único grupo. Participaron un total de 209 estudiantes que completaron dos instrumentos autoadministrados sobre la autoeficacia hacia las competencias no técnicas y la resiliencia. Además, a través de observadores externos se evaluó sus competencias no técnicas con instrumentos de evaluación objetivos. Resultados. El alumnado mejoró las puntuaciones de resiliencia (F = 25,90; p < 0,001) y autoeficacia (F = 68,02; p < 0,001) tras la intervención, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas para la resiliencia en la línea basal en función del grupo de estudios (t = 2,67; p = 0,008). Por otro lado, se encontraron mejoras de las puntuaciones obtenidas tanto para el instrumento Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale (F = 6,18; p < 0,001; eta2 = 0,20) como para el Ottawa Global Rating Scale Crisis Resource Management (F = 5,58; p < 0,005; eta2 = 0,19). Conclusión. El programa de E-CRM, basado en simulación de alta fidelidad, con un equipo interprofesional coordinado, mejora la autoeficacia en todas las competencias no técnicas medidas y aumenta la resiliencia. (AU)

Septostomy and Monroplasty in Isolated Lateral Ventricle After Removal of a Third Ventricle Colloid Cyst: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Isolated unilateral hydrocephalus (IUH) is a condition caused by unilateral obstruction of the foramen of Monro.1 Etiopathogenic causes include tumors, congenital lesions, infective ventriculitis, intraventricular haemorrhage, and iatrogenic causes such as the presence of contralateral shunts.2,3 Neuroendoscopic management is considered the "gold-standard" treatment in IUH.4 Even if endoscopic septostomy and foraminoplasty in IUH are well-known procedures,5,6 IUH after an interhemispheric transcallosal transchoroidal approach for removal of a III ventricle colloid cyst is a complication barely described in literature. Video 1 describes this rare complication and the neuroendoscopic treatment adopted, including the operative room setup, patient's positioning, instrumentation needed, and a series of intraoperative tips for the performance of septostomy and Monroplasty via a single, precoronal burr hole. The scalp entry point and endoscope trajectory, homolateral to the dilated ventricle, were planned on the neuronavigation system. The avascular septal zone away from the septal veins and body of the fornix was reached, and the ostomy was performed. At the end of the procedure, Monroplasty was performed, too. The procedure was effective in solving the hydrocephalus and patient's clinical picture. No surgical complications occurred. Imaging demonstrated an evident and progressive reduction of enlarged lateral ventricle. In authors' opinion, the single burr-hole approach, ipsilateral to the enlarged ventricle, provides an optimal identification the intraventricular anatomy and allows Monroplasty to be performed, if deemed feasible during surgery. The patient consented to the procedure. The participants and any identifiable individuals consented to publication of their images.

Advancing Craniopharyngioma Management: A Systematic Review of Current Targeted Therapies and Future Perspectives.

Craniopharyngiomas present unique challenges in surgical management due to their proximity to critical neurovascular structures. This systematic review investigates genetic and immunological markers as potential targets for therapy in craniopharyngiomas, assessing their involvement in tumorigenesis, and their influence on prognosis and treatment strategies. The systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines, with a thorough literature search conducted on PubMed, Ovid MED-LINE, and Ovid EMBASE. Employing MeSH terms and Boolean operators, the search focused on craniopharyngiomas, targeted or molecular therapy, and clinical outcomes or adverse events. Inclusion criteria encompassed English language studies, clinical trials (randomized or non-randomized), and investigations into adamantinomatous or papillary craniopharyngiomas. Targeted therapies, either standalone or combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, were examined if they included clinical outcomes or adverse event analysis. Primary outcomes assessed disease response through follow-up MRI scans, categorizing responses as follows: complete response (CR), near-complete response (NCR), partial response, and stable or progressive disease based on lesion regression percentages. Secondary outcomes included treatment type and duration, as well as adverse events. A total of 891 papers were initially identified, of which 26 studies spanning from 2000 to 2023 were finally included in the review. Two tables highlighted adamantinomatous and papillary craniopharyngiomas, encompassing 7 and 19 studies, respectively. For adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, Interferon-2α was the predominant targeted therapy (29%), whereas dabrafenib took precedence (70%) for papillary craniopharyngiomas. Treatment durations varied, ranging from 1.7 to 28 months. Positive responses, including CR or NCR, were observed in both types of craniopharyngiomas (29% CR for adamantinomatous; 32% CR for papillary). Adverse events, such as constitutional symptoms and skin changes, were reported, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring and personalized management to enhance treatment tolerability. Overall, the data highlighted a diverse landscape of targeted therapies with encouraging responses and manageable adverse events, underscoring the importance of ongoing research and individualized patient care in the exploration of treatment options for craniopharyngiomas. In the realm of targeted therapies for craniopharyngiomas, tocilizumab and dabrafenib emerged as prominent choices for adamantinomatous and papillary cases, respectively. While adverse events were common, their manageable nature underscored the importance of vigilant monitoring and personalized management. Acknowledging limitations, future research should prioritize larger, well-designed clinical trials and standardized treatment protocols to enhance our understanding of the impact of targeted therapies on craniopharyngioma patients.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: the role of plasmids in emergence, dissemination, and evolution of a major clinical challenge.

INTRODUCTION: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major agent of healthcare-associated infections and a cause of some community-acquired infections, including severe bacteremic infections associated with metastatic abscesses in liver and other organs. Clinical relevance is compounded by its outstanding propensity to evolve antibiotic resistance. In particular, the emergence and dissemination of carbapenem resistance in K. pneumoniae has posed a major challenge due to the few residual treatment options, which have only recently been expanded by some new agents. The epidemiological success of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CR-Kp) is mainly linked with clonal lineages that produce carbapenem-hydrolyzing enzymes (carbapenemases) encoded by plasmids. AREAS COVERED: Here, we provide an updated overview on the mechanisms underlying the emergence and dissemination of CR-Kp, focusing on the role that plasmids have played in this phenomenon and in the co-evolution of resistance and virulence in K. pneumoniae. EXPERT OPINION: CR-Kp have disseminated on a global scale, representing one of the most important contemporary public health issues. These strains are almost invariably associated with complex multi-drug resistance (MDR) phenotypes, which can also include recently approved antibiotics. The heterogeneity of the molecular bases responsible for these phenotypes poses significant hurdles for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.

A Systematic Review of the Metabolism of High-Grade Gliomas: Current Targeted Therapies and Future Perspectives.

High-grade glial tumors (HGGs) exhibit aggressive growth patterns and high recurrence rates. The prevailing treatment approach comprises radiation therapy (RT), chemotherapy (CMT), and surgical resection. Despite the progress made in traditional treatments, the outlook for patients with HGGs remains bleak. Tumor metabolism is emerging as a potential target for glioma therapies, a promising approach that harnesses the metabolism to target tumor cells. However, the efficacy of therapies targeting the metabolism of HGGs remains unclear, compelling a comprehensive review. This study aimed to assess the outcome of present trials on HGG therapies targeting metabolism. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid EMBASE was conducted until November 2023. The search method used pertinent Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terminologies and keywords referring to "high-grade gliomas", "metabolism", "target therapies", "monoclonal antibodies", "overall survival", and "progression-free survival". The review analyzed studies that focused on therapies targeting the metabolism of HGGs in human subjects. These studies included both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (NRCTs). Out of 284 articles identified, 23 trials met the inclusion criteria and were thoroughly analyzed. Phase II trials were the most numerous (62%). Targeted metabolic therapies were predominantly used for recurrent HGGs (67%). The most common targeted pathways were the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, 43%), the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER, 22%), the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF, 17%), and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR, 17%). In 39% of studies, the subject treatment was combined with CMT (22%), RT (4%), or both (13%). The median OS widely ranged from 4 to 26.3 months, while the median PFS ranged from 1.5 to 13 months. This systematic literature review offers a thorough exploration of the present state of metabolic therapies for HGGs. The multitude of targeted pathways underscores the intricate nature of addressing the metabolic aspects of these tumors. Despite existing challenges, these findings provide valuable insights, guiding future research endeavors. The results serve as a foundation for refining treatment strategies and enhancing patient outcomes within the complex landscape of HGGs.