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The control of pre-analytical-factors in human biospecimens collected for health research is currently required. Only two previous reports using post-mortem brain samples have tried to address the impact of cold-ischemia on tissue pH. Here we report pH variations according to time (third-order polynomial model) in mice for liver, kidney and lung samples. Tissue alkalosis in cold-ischemia time may be an underlying mechanism of gene expression changes. Therefore, tissue-pH regulation after organ removal may minimize biological stress in human tissue samples.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors occur most frequently in bone and soft tissue but have been reported in other locations. Primary lung primitive neuroectodermal tumors without pleural or chest wall involvement are extremely rare. We present a case with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies and follow-up of the patient. An 18-year-old man presented with hemoptysis. Chest radiographs revealed a right middle lobe mass, and bronchoscopy showed an endobronchial tumor. The lesion was resected by middle lobectomy. After 2 years, a local recurrence was treated by pneumonectomy. The patient died after surgery. Histologically, the tumor was composed of uniform cells with round nuclei and scanty cytoplasm arranged in cohesive lobules with occasional rosette formation. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for vimentin, CD99, neuron-specific enolase, and neurofilaments. Ultrastructural study revealed neurosecretory granules and cytoplasmic processes. Our case shows the value of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in the diagnosis of primitive neuroectodermal tumors in unusual locations.

Objective: To investigate infiltrating cells in the liver of children with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AH-1). Methods: liver biopsies from 24 untreated AH-1 patients (14 children, 10 adults), five patients with hepatitis C virus related chronic hepatitis (HCV), and 10 control liver specimens (CL) were processed for immunohistochemical cell characterisation. Results: Two different cell distribution patterns were detected in the liver of patients with AH-1: (1) CD4+ and CD20+ cells were found in the central areas of the portal tracts (portal distribution); (2) CD8+ cells were observed at the periphery of the portal space (periportal distribution). Some cell subsets, like CD56, CD57, Fas-L, and Bak, showed a non-defined distribution pattern. The presence of two well defined patterns of cell distribution was not observed in HCV and CL (CD4+, CD20+, and CD8+ cells were uniformly distributed in the portal space). In AH-1 and CL, the NK markers CD56 and CD57 were found scattered throughout the liver parenchyma. However, in HCV biopsies, CD56+ cells were also clearly increased in both the portal and the periportal areas. Biopsies of AH-1 and HCV patients showed a uniform distribution of Fas-L and Bak in the portal and periportal areas, with Bak staining also detected in the hepatic parenchyma. Conclusions: Despite clinical and genetic differences, there was a similar distribution of liver infiltrating mononuclear cells in children and adults with AH-1. These results raise the possibility of reclassifying cryptogenic chronic hepatitis by immunohistochemical analysis of infiltrating liver cells.

Weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on a choline-deficient diet with hydrogenated vegetable oil and corn oil as lipids develop acute renal failure. Pathogenesis of the latter is controversial and an ischemic mechanism has been proposed. Arachidonic acid derivatives are involved in the regulation of vascular tonus. Vasospasm could be due to an increase in tromboxane A2-mediated vasoconstriction or to a decrease in prostacyclin-induced vasodilatation. Enzymes involved in the synthesis of both compounds are tromboxane A2- and prostacyclin-synthase respectively. The aim of this study was to identify the variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) in the promoter region of prostacyclin synthase gene and verify if there exists a relationship between the occurrence of VNTR in those choline-deficient rats which die because of acute renal failure and those which do not. We verified the presence of the VNTR in the prostacyclin synthase rat gene, but we did not find any difference in the molecular weight of the alleles between experimental and control rats. Renal reparation of the acute kidney injury due to choline deficiency in some rats is not related with differences in VNTR in the promoter region of the prostacyclin synthase gene.

Distant metastases of pleural malignant mesothelioma (MM) are infrequent. We report a case of MM that presented as a skeletal muscle metastasis. This type of presentation has not been previously reported. A 38-year-old male complained about a mass in his right forearm. The tumor showed the histologic pattern, immunohistochemical phenotype, and ultrastructural features of an MM. In the clinical work-up, the x-ray film and computed tomography scan demonstrated pleural effusion and diffuse pleural thickening in the right hemithorax. The pleural biopsy showed an epithelial MM. The patient died from local progression of the disease 6 months after the diagnosis. No other distant metastases were clinically evident. Our case shows the importance of including MM in the differential diagnosis of metastatic neoplasms in skeletal muscle and the usefulness of ancillary techniques in the diagnosis of mesothelial neoplasms.

Background A more digitalised world comes with the promise to improve people’s lives. Therefore, it is essential that policymakers also align digital interventions with initiatives to empower citizens and strengthen their digital health literacy. The aim of this study was to explore the views of Swedish policymakers regarding the potential and barriers of a European strategy to strengthen digital health literacy. Method Representatives from Swedish governmental agencies and regions were purposively approached by email to ask them to participate in online workshops to discuss the potential and barriers of developing a European strategy to strengthen digital health literacy. Results The results highlight the need for a national strategy to strengthen digital health literacy. The findings point to critical areas for improvement, ethical and social considerations, and the importance of inclusive and accessible health information online. Participants identified vulnerable groups requiring targeted support to enhance their digital health literacy, particularly those at risk of digital exclusion. Participants emphasised the importance of considering various combinations of conditions or problems that people may have, urging policymakers to adopt a nuanced approach to enhance digital literacy. Conclusions There is a critical need for policymakers to strengthen digital health literacy in the population to ensure health equity in relation to digitalisation opportunities. Policymakers advocate for a dedicated national strategy, supporting policymakers to prioritize digital health literacy. Tailoring information, enhancing digital support for prevention, and considering ethical implications are reported as important aspects to improve digital health literacy.

La definizione di «criteri, contenuti e momenti di verifica dei vari livelli di progettazione» veniva rinviata all'emanazione di un atto regolamentare Nel Regolamento di attuazione della legge Merloni (DPR 554/1999), oltre alla indicazione degli elaborati da produrre in relazione ad ogni singola fase progettuale è presente una sezione dedicata alla verifica e validazione dei progetti, in cui se ne attribuiva la competenza al RUP, si articolava il procedimento in due distinte fasi, si individuavano i contenuti dell'attività in relazione alle fasi progettuali. Successivamente la stessa ha trovato più logica collocazione all'interno della normazione dedicata alla progettazione, ma la finalità è rimasta praticamente inalterata, sino al vigente Codice dei contratti3 in cui essa viene individuata nella verifica della «rispondenza del progetto alle esigenze espresse nel documento di indirizzo e la sua conformità alla normativa vigente», definizione riconducibile alla definizione della \"qualità\" di un servizio quale è la progettazione4 . La verifica costituisce, quindi, un sub-procedimento della fase relativa alla progettazione di un'opera, che, assumendo a riferimento il quadro esigenziale e il documento di indirizzo alla progettazione (assimilabili rispettivamente al client requirements e all'attività di briefing del mondo anglosassone), controlla il progetto nel suo sviluppo e ha termine con la validazione dello stesso. Contenuto e attuazione della verifica In termini oggettivi, quella che inizialmente era stata genericamente indicata come verifica, nella successiva evoluzione normativa, viene articolata in due momenti distinti, sia temporalmente, che contenutisticamente, la verifica da un lato e la validazione dall'altro. La competenza sulla verifica e validazione e relative responsabilità Altra questione di grande rilievo è quella legata alla competenza in materia. Al di sopra di tale cifra, con una logica graduale, il verificatore deve essere dotato di un sistema di controllo interno di qualità, sino ad arrivare, per progetti di importo superiore a 20 Meuro, alla necessità che lo stesso sia accreditato ai sensi della UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 170208 .