Clinical Features, Cardiovascular Risk Profile, and Therapeutic Trajectories of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Candidate for Oral Semaglutide Therapy in the Italian Specialist Care

Introduction: This study aimed to address therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the potential of early treatment with oral semaglutide. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 among specialists treating individuals with T2D. A scientific committee designed a data collection form covering demographics, cardiovascular risk, glucose control metrics, ongoing therapies, and physician judgments on treatment appropriateness. Participants completed anonymous patient questionnaires reflecting routine clinical encounters. The preferred therapeutic regimen for each patient was also identified. Results: The analysis was conducted on 4449 patients initiating oral semaglutide. The population had a relatively short disease duration (42%  60% of patients, and more often than sitagliptin or empagliflozin. Conclusion: The study supports the potential of early implementation of oral semaglutide as a strategy to overcome therapeutic inertia and enhance T2D management

Spinal meningiomas: age related features.

OBJECTIVES: Spinal meningiomas mainly occur in old patients, with a remarkable female prevalence. This study investigates the different features between younger and older patients in an adult population (>18 years). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A surgical series of 120 adult patients operated on for spinal meningiomas at the Neurosurgical Clinic of the "Federico II" University of Naples is reviewed. In this series 117 patients with a sporadic spinal meningioma were divided in two groups: group I including 30 patients (25.6%) younger than 50 years of age, group II including 87 patients (74.4%) older than 50 years. 3 patients had a spinal meningioma and neurofibromatosis. Several parameters, including sex, predisposing factors, tumor location and growth, histology, recurrences, proliferation index Ki-67 LI, and outcome, are considered and compared in the two age groups. RESULTS: Group I showed an incidence of high cervical spine (C1-C4) meningiomas higher than group II (23.3% vs 3.4%, p=0.026) and lower rate of thoracic tumors (60% vs 82.7%, p=0.04). No significant differences of istological type and Ki-67 LI were found. Group I had 2 cases of atypical meningiomas (6.6% vs 0%, ns). Recurrences occurred in 6.6% of group I and 2.6% of group II, with no significance. In recurrent meningiomas values of Ki-67 LI were significantly higher than values in not recurrent meningiomas (p=0.0001), whereas no difference of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Younger adult patients with spinal meningiomas show not rare occurrence of NF (9%) and significantly higher incidence of high cervical and lower incidence of thoracic localizations with respect to the older patients. On the other hand, there are not significant differences of histology, Ki-67 LI and recurrence rate, excepting for a slight difference for atypical meningiomas

Can recurrences be predicted in craniopharyngiomas? β-catenin coexisting with stem cells markers and p-ATM in a clinicopathologic study of 45cases

Recurrence is a common feature of craniopharyngiomas, benign tumors that origin from squamous epithelial remnants of Rathke's pouch- arising at any segment of its whole course. There are two histotypes, showing different morphology and clinical behavior: adamantinomatous(adaCP) and papillary (papCP). An univocal strategy of management has not yet been defined, being considered the combination of surgery and radiotherapy the most effective, especially in case of incomplete resection. Therefore, the identification of factors influencing the biological and clinical behaviour is of paramount importance. β-catenin is a cell-cell adhesion protein, whose nuclear localization has been linked to the pathogenesis of adaCP: its nuclear accumulation is associated to the presence of a tumor stem cell subpopulation. The latter is made of cells capable of self-renewal, hence believed to be responsible of recurrence, metastases and resistance to therapy in all tumors. ATM is a kinase activated by autophosphorylation (p-ATM) upon DNA double-strand breaks. It is involved not only in DNA repair, but also in tumor migration and invasiveness. Its expression may have prognostic implications in many neoplastic diseases

Clinical progression and familial occurrence of cerebral cavernous angiomas: the role of angiogenic and growth factors

10nonenoneMAIURI, FRANCESCO; CAPPABIANCA, PAOLO; GANGEMI, MICHELANGELO; DEL BASSO DE CARO, MARIALAURA; ESPOSITO, FELICE; PETTINATO, GUIDO; DE DIVITIIS, ORESTE; MIGNOGNA, CHIARA; STRAZZULLO, VERONICA; DE DIVITIIS, ENRICOMaiuri, Francesco; Cappabianca, Paolo; Gangemi, Michelangelo; DEL BASSO DE CARO, Marialaura; Esposito, Felice; Pettinato, Guido; DE DIVITIIS, Oreste; Mignogna, Chiara; Strazzullo, Veronica; DE DIVITIIS, Enric