VEGF in psoriatic arthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic autoimmune disease of unclear aetiology, is associated with dysregulated angiogenesis due to the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role such that PsA patients exhibit skin and joint symptoms, e.g., pain and stiffness, with morphologic alterations in blood vessels. To more fully examine this phenomenon, a systematic review and meta-analysis compliant with the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42024572653) was conducted using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Secondary analyses on disease activity and response to treatment were also included. In the twelve selected studies, VEGF was significantly higher in PsA vs healthy controls (SMD = 0.544, 95 % CI 0.253–0.835; p < 0.001) with moderate heterogeneity across studies. Subgroup analysis revealed that the SMD in prospectively conducted studies was significantly higher vs those conducted retrospectively (p = 0.005). Furthermore, methotrexate or sulfasalazine treatment did not affect VEGF which remained significantly higher than controls. Moreover, VEGF was lower in those with inactive disease and in those receiving disease modifying agents in pre-post studies. These findings suggest that VEGF is a promising candidate biomarker in PsA and worthy of further prospective studies to investigate its utility in monitoring disease progress and response to treatment

Buona fede e affidamento nel diritto civile e amministrativo: similitudini e differenze

Il saggio analizza gli orientamenti della giurisprudenza civile e di quella amministrativa in relazione alla tutela del privato rispetto all'operato di pubblici poteri

Antidiabetic potential of vanadium complexes combined with olive leaf extracts: a viable approach to reduce metal toxicity

Vanadium compounds are known for their antidiabetic properties due to their ability to interfere with numerous mechanisms that lead to the decrease of blood glucose levels. Although some of these compounds have reached clinical trials and have the advantage of being orally administrable, no vanadium-containing drugs are currently available on the market, primarily due to the high doses required, which can lead intestinal and renal problems in case of long-term treatments. In this study, plant extracts obtained from olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) were combined with vanadium complexes with established antidiabetic activity with the aim of reducing their metal toxicity and, at the same time, amplifying their hypoglycemic action. The extracts were characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods showing a composition rich in polyphenols and a high antioxidant activity. Formulations containing a vanadium complex (bis(maltolato)oxidovanadium(IV), BMOV, or bis(picolinato)oxidovanadium(IV), BPOV) mixed with different amount of olive leaves extract were tested in vitro to evaluate intestinal toxicity and hypoglycemic activity. The results demonstrated that the plant extracts are generally non-toxic toward human colon fibroblast in the whole range of tested concentrations and some of them are particularly effective in reducing the toxicity of the two vanadium compounds. Further in vitro tests conducted on differentiated human adipocyte cell lines revealed a significant increase in glucose uptake following treatment with the mixed formulations, compared to the effect of the individual components, indicating a synergistic effect. Immunocytochemical assays suggested that the translocation of GLUT4 transporter can be involved in the mechanism of action

Impiego sostenibile dei co-prodotti della macellazione da carcasse di Agnello per la realizzazione di alimenti complementari per cani

This study aims to improve the value of Sardinian lamb by-products, specifically heart, liver, and lungs, by applying innovative thermal treatments to produce high-quality pet food. With increasing focus on sustainability and the circular economy, the pet food industry is looking for ways to reduce waste by utilizing previously underused resources. Offals were sourced from lambs slaughtered in Sardinia in March 2023, with a total of 68.96 kg stored at -20°C after being ground and vacuum-sealed. The main goals of the study were to optimize the sensory characteristics, microbiological safety, and nutritional profile of the final product through different thermal treatments. The raw materials were thawed overnight at 25°C, and colorimetric analysis and pH measurements were performed before cooking. Various combinations of temperature and cooking time were tested to assess their impact on taste, texture, and overall acceptability of the final product. After cooking, the products were analysed for colour, texture profile (TPA), and water activity (aw). Statistical analysis using ANOVA and Tukey’s test revealed significant differences in colour and texture among the different thermal treatments. The colorimetric data showed that the temperature and cooking time significantly affected the L*, a*, and b* values, with the highest colour intensity recorded at 75°C. Moreover, post-cooking pH values were significantly higher than pre-cooking values, with minimal variation across different temperature treatments. A palatability test was also conducted on dogs to evaluate consumer acceptance and preference. The results demonstrated that cooking temperature and time significantly influenced both the texture and sensory qualities of the final product. This study highlights the importance of optimizing cooking protocols to enhance the quality of meat-based pet food products and provides valuable insights for enhancing the formulation and processing of meat-based pet foods

Seasonal variation in myasthenia gravis incidence

Introduction: Environmental factors may contribute to myasthenia gravis (MG) development, sometimes with seasonal patterns of exposure. However, whether seasonality has an impact on MG incidence remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between seasonality and MG onset. Methods: We reviewed data of MG patients with acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-IgG and disease onset between January 2010–December 2019, from two Italian cohorts: 1) an hospital-based cohort and 2) a population-based cohort. MG cases were assigned to four season-trimesters based on month of onset to determine seasonal association with MG incidence. Results: We enrolled 316 patients:214 in the hospital-based and 102 in the population-based cohort. Median age at onset was 66 years (range, 8–92); Female accounted for 41.1 %. The median number of new MG cases per season-trimester was significantly higher in summer than other trimesters (p = 0.009), and associated with higher environmental temperatures. Discussion: Our findings suggest that MG onset may be more common in summer and at higher environmental temperatures. Identifying the determinants of this association may improve our understanding of disease pathophysiology

Proposal of a New Composite Score (DAMADECO) to Simultaneously Evaluate Asthma and CRSwNP Severity in Comorbid Patients

Background: Asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) are chronic respiratory conditions that frequently coexist. However, an integrated assessment tool for both conditions is currently lacking. This study aimed to develop and preliminarily evaluate a composite score capable of simultaneously assessing asthma and CRSwNP in comorbid patients. Methods: An expert panel comprising three pulmonologists, one allergist/clinical immunologist, and four ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists developed a tool to capture asthma and CRSwNP severity. The tool (D’Amato-De Corso score, or DAMADECO score) incorporates eight parameters, four specific to asthma and four specific to CRSwNP, to assign individual scores for each condition. A composite score is then calculated to reflect the overall disease burden (ranging from −8: poor control and +8: optimal control). A retrospective pilot study was conducted to evaluate the tool. Results: The DAMADECO composite score was applied to 21 comorbid patients. The mean partial scores for asthma and CRSwNP were −1.57 and −1.67, respectively, with a mean total composite score of −3.24. A total of 13 out of 21 patients had uncontrolled domains in both diseases, while fewer patients had only uncontrolled domains in asthma (1/21) or CRSwNP (6/21). The DAMADECO score also allows researchers to track disease progression and monitor treatment effectiveness. Conclusions: The preliminary results suggest that the DAMADECO score is a promising tool for simultaneously assessing asthma and CRSwNP, addressing the unmet need for an integrated approach to comorbid respiratory diseases. Further validation studies are needed to validate the tool in larger patient populations