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Pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs) are usually benign and slow-growing; however, in some cases, they may behave aggressively and become resistant to conventional treatments. Therapeutic options for aggressive or metastatic PitNETs are limited, and currently mainly consist of temozolomide, with little experience of other emerging approaches, including peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Somatostatin receptor expression in PitNETs explains the effectiveness of somatostatin analogues for treating PitNETs, particularly those hypersecreting pituitary hormones, such as growth hormone or adrenocorticotropic hormone. The expression of such receptors in pituitary tumour cells has provided the rationale for using PRRT to treat patients with aggressive or metastatic PitNETs. However, the PRRT efficacy in this setting remains unestablished, as knowledge on this today is based only on few case reports and small series of cases, which are reviewed here. A total of 30 PRRT-treated patients have been thus far reported: 23 aggressive PitNETs, 5 carcinomas, and 2 of malignancy status unspecified. Of the 27 published cases with information regarding the response to PRRT, 5 (18%) showed a partial response, 8 (30%) had stable disease, and 14 (52%) had progressive disease. No major adverse effects have been reported, and there is also no increased risk of clinically relevant hypopituitarism in patients with pituitary or non-pituitary neuroendocrine tumours following PRRT. PRRT may be regarded as a safe option for patients with aggressive or metastatic PitNETs if other treatment approaches are not feasible or have failed in controlling the disease progression, with tumour shrinkage occurring in up to a fifth of cases, while about a third of aggressive pituitary tumours may achieve stable disease. Here, the data on PRRT in the management of patients with aggressive pituitary tumours are reviewed, as well as the effects of PRRT on the pituitary function in other PRRT-treated cancer patients.

(1) Background: Smart cities have been gaining attention in the community, both among researchers and professionals. Although this field of study is gaining some maturity, no academic manuscript yet offers a unique holistic view of the phenomenon. In fact, the existing systematic reviews make it possible to gather solid and relevant knowledge, but still dispersed; (2) Method: through a meta-review it was possible to provide a set of data, which allows the dissemination of the main theoretical and managerial contributions to enthusiasts and critics of the area; (3) Results: this research identified the most relevant topics for smart cities, namely, smart city dimensions, digital transformation, sustainability and resilience. In addition, this research emphasizes that the natural sciences have dominated scientific production, with greater attention being paid to megacities of developed nations. Recent empirical research also suggests that it is crucial to overcome key cybersecurity and privacy challenges in smart cities; (4) Conclusions: research on smart cities can be performed as multidisciplinary studies of small and medium-sized cities in developed or underdeveloped countries. Furthermore, future research should highlight the role played by cybersecurity in the development of smart cities and analyze the impact of smart city development on the link between the city and its stakeholders.

Inherited retinal dystrophies/degenerations (IRDs) are a clinically and genetically heterogenous group of rare eye diseases. Despite their low prevalence (~1:3000 individuals), IRDs are an important cause of severe visual impairment and blindness in children and young adults. Remarkable progress in understanding the genetics of IRDs resulted in the identification of roughly 300 disease-causing genes (https://sph.uth.edu/retnet/). However, this wealth of information is only slowly being translated into genetic diagnoses for individual patients, as significant barriers to testing still exist all over the world. Recently, the subretinal administration of voretigene neparvovec has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency as a one-time gene augmentation therapy to treat RPE65-associated retinal degeneration. Improved light sensitivity, visual field and navigational ability under dim lighting conditions were reported, with preservation of the clinically meaningful effect for at least 4 years.1 Not only has this new treatment changed the lives of individuals previously destined to live a life of blindness, but it has also fuelled interest in developing additional gene therapy reagents targeting other genetic forms of inherited retinal disease.2 Nevertheless, IRDs remain largely unknown among decision/policymakers, the general public, medical students, clinicians and other healthcare workers. Early recognition of clinical clues/red flags like abnormal visual behaviour and nystagmus in preverbal children; or low vision, constricted visual fields, nyctalopia and photophobia in children, adolescents or young adults is crucial for a timely referral to an IRD expert centre where patients can be adequately diagnosed, genotyped and ultimately treated. Obtaining a genetic diagnosis for every IRD patient is a vital goal for moving the field forward and the single most important factor for gaining access to an approved treatment or clinical trial based on gene therapy. It is of the utmost importance to fight the disinformation and/or misinformation that exists towards IRDs so that patients can be granted full clinical, familial and socioeconomic support.

The complement system is deeply embedded in our physiology and immunity. Complement activation generates a multitude of molecules that converge simultaneously on the opsonization of a target for phagocytosis and activation of the immune system via soluble anaphylatoxins. This response is used to control microorganisms and to remove dead cells, but also plays a major role in stimulating the adaptive immune response and the regeneration of injured tissues. Many of these effects inherently depend on complement receptors expressed on leukocytes and parenchymal cells, which, by recognizing complement-derived molecules, promote leukocyte recruitment, phagocytosis of microorganisms and clearance of immune complexes. Here, the plethora of information on the role of complement receptors will be reviewed, including an analysis of how this functionally and structurally diverse group of molecules acts jointly to exert the full extent of complement regulation of homeostasis.

Purpose Vitamin-mineral and dietary supplements (VMDS) are taken by a large fraction of the population. Whether their long-term consumption impacts mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has seldom been studied. Methods Prospective study from a population-based cohort from Lausanne, Switzerland. Participants were categorized as non-users (no consumption at baseline and first follow-up), persistent users (consumption at baseline and follow-up), and occasional users (consumption either at baseline or follow-up). Incidence of CVD and of total mortality was assessed after the first follow-up. Results Data from 4261 participants (57.4 ± 10.4 years, 55% females) was used. Median follow-up was 9 years (interquartile range 7.0–9.2) After multivariable analysis, no association was found between VMDS use and total mortality: hazard ratio and (95% confidence interval) 0.95 (0.71–1.28) and 0.83 (0.55–1.26) for occasional and persistent consumers, respectively, CVD mortality: 1.00 (0.47–2.11) and 1.30 (0.53–3.18), or CVD events: 0.96 (0.72–1.27) and 0.95 (0.64–1.42). Similar findings were obtained after inverse probability weighting, using only vitamin-mineral supplement users, or considering only participants at baseline. When CVD events were split into coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke, persistent use of VMDS was associated with a higher risk of CHD in females: 3.12 (1.52–6.41), p = 0.002, but not in males, 0.25 (0.03–1.82), p = 0.171, p for interaction < 0.05. No association was found between VMDS use and incidence of stroke in both sexes. Conclusion We found no association between vitamin and dietary supplement use and total or CVD mortality, or CVD events. The higher risk of CHD for persistent use in females should be further explored.

Currently, climate change poses a global threat, which may compromise the sustainability of agriculture, forestry and other land surface systems. In a changing world scenario, the economic importance of Remote Sensing (RS) to monitor forests and agricultural resources is imperative to the development of agroforestry systems. Traditional RS technologies encompass satellite and manned aircraft platforms. These platforms are continuously improving in terms of spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions. The high spatial and temporal resolutions, flexibility and lower operational costs make Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) a good alternative to traditional RS platforms. In the management process of forests resources, UAVs are one of the most suitable options to consider, mainly due to: (1) low operational costs and high-intensity data collection; (2) its capacity to host a wide range of sensors that could be adapted to be task-oriented; (3) its ability to plan data acquisition campaigns, avoiding inadequate weather conditions and providing data availability on-demand; and (4) the possibility to be used in real-time operations. This review aims to present the most significant UAV applications in forestry, identifying the appropriate sensors to be used in each situation as well as the data processing techniques commonly implemented.

Teaching Point: Aggressive peptic ulcer disease can be indistinguishable from malignancy on imaging, even presenting invasion of adjacent organs, which often implies histological characterization.Teaching Point: Aggressive peptic ulcer disease can be indistinguishable from malignancy on imaging, even presenting invasion of adjacent organs, which often implies histological characterization.

These notes were made for the Preparatory School on Lefschetz Properties, held from 6th to 10th May 2024, in Kraków, ahead of the conference “Lefschetz properties in algebra, geometry, topology, and combinatorics”. They are a short introduction to Jordan type of an Artinian algebra, and collect basic results known so far, with examples to illustrate them along the way.

Clearance of cellular debris is required to maintain the homeostasis of multicellular organisms. It is intrinsic to processes such as tissue growth and remodeling, regeneration and resolution of injury and inflammation. Most of the removal of effete and damaged cells is performed by macrophages and neutrophils through phagocytosis, a complex phenomenon involving ingestion and degradation of the disposable particles. The study of the clearance of cellular debris has been strongly biased toward the removal of apoptotic bodies; as a result, the mechanisms underlying the removal of necrotic cells have remained relatively unexplored. Here, we will review the incipient but growing knowledge of the phagocytosis of necrotic debris, from their recognition and engagement to their internalization and disposal. Critical insights into these events were gained recently through the development of new and models, along with advances in live-cell and intravital microscopy. This review addresses the classes of \"find-me\" and \"eat-me\" signals presented by necrotic cells and their cognate receptors in phagocytes, which in most cases differ from the extensively characterized counterparts in apoptotic cell engulfment. The roles of damage-associated molecular patterns, chemokines, lipid mediators, and complement components in recruiting and activating phagocytes are reviewed. Lastly, the physiological importance of necrotic cell removal is emphasized, highlighting the key role of impaired debris clearance in autoimmunity.

This systematic review explores the role of remote sensing technology in addressing the requirements of sustainable olive growing, set against the backdrop of growing global food demands and contemporary environmental constraints in agriculture. The critical analysis presented in this document assesses different remote sensing platforms (satellites, manned aircraft vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and terrestrial equipment) and sensors (RGB, multispectral, thermal, hyperspectral and LiDAR), emphasizing their strategic selection based on specific study aims and geographical scales. Focusing on olive growing, particularly prominent in the Mediterranean region, this article analyzes the diverse applications of remote sensing, including the management of inventory and irrigation; detection/monitoring of diseases and phenology; and estimation of crucial parameters regarding biophysical parameters, water stress indicators, crop evapotranspiration and yield. Through a global perspective and insights from studies conducted in diverse olive-growing regions, this review underscores the potential benefits of remote sensing in shaping and improving sustainable agricultural practices, mitigating environmental impacts and ensuring the economic viability of olive trees.