Italian Association for Cancer Research

No information is available about the influence exerted by F9 variants on extended half-life (EHL)-recombinant factor IX (rFIX) pharmacokinetics (PK). Adult patients with severe HB (n=41), infused with EHL albumin-fused-rIX-FP, were investigated for key parameters, obtained by Non-Compartmental Analysis (NCA), and for F9 variants, grouped by non-null (n=27) and null (n=14) lesions. Distribution of PK parameters did not differ between genotype groups. However, clearance in the first tertile, including favorable PK profiles, was slower (p=0.003) in patients with null (mean 0.52 mL/h/kg) than in non-null (mean 0.62 mL/h/kg) variants, and non-null genotypes were more frequent in the third tertile (p=0.046). Missense variant bioinformatics analyses predicted more severe disease features in the third than in the first tertile. These exploratory results suggest i) a moderate role of F9 variant type in inter-individual EHL-rFIX clearance variability and ii) differences in F9 genotype-PK NCA parameter association between EHL- and standard half-life-rFIX products.

Abstract: Both people with dementia and their caregivers show a decrease in quality of life and well-being. The Alzheimer Café (AC) is a psychosocial intervention supporting both people with dementia and their caregivers. This pilot study aims to (1) create a network of Alzheimer’s associations operating in different Italian regions; (2) assess the project’s feasibility; and (3) evaluate the impact of AC participation on (a) the quality of life of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia and (b) the caregivers’ depressive symptoms and burden. We conducted a multicenter pilot study involving a network of Alzheimer’s associations. People with MCI or dementia (referred to as “participants”) and their caregivers participated in weekly AC meetings that included psychosocial, cognitive, physical, and educational activities. We enrolled a total of 168 participants and 161 caregivers through a network of 16 AC across eight Italian regions. We measured the outcomes at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was the change in the participants’ quality of life. Secondary outcomes included changes in caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, and psychological stress. We used generalized linear models to analyze the changes in test scores over time. At follow-up, the participants’ neuropsychiatric symptoms had significantly improved, and their overall quality of life remained stable. Among the caregivers, distress related to the participants’ neuropsychiatric symptoms significantly declined, and burden remained moderate. The AC appears to reduce participants’ neuropsychiatric symptoms and has a beneficial impact on caregivers’ distress, suggesting its potential as a valuable psychosocial support model.

Accessibility of cities involves designing spaces and services to enable everyone to live independently and fully participate in urban life. This study aims to gather the perspectives of individuals with visual impairment on the accessibility of everyday environments in Padua, a midsize urban centre in Northeastern Italy. A total of 204 participants with visual impairment completed an online survey designed to meet accessibility standards, including adjustable text size, audio descriptions, and screen readers compatibility. Findings show that 70% of respondents frequently experience physical and social barriers in local services and transport; 61% in health services; 58% in commerce; 41% in sports; and 38% in both cultural and educational settings. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses further identified specific barriers, which reflected both physical and social dimensions. Social barriers, alongside physical ones, should be a primary focus in evaluating the accessibility of urban environments and in planning subsequent interventions.

Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a rare, asbestos-linked cancer with a long asymptomatic latency, delaying diagnosis and limiting treatment options. Identifying blood‐based biomarkers that signal disease before symptoms onset could improve surveillance of at‐risk individuals. In our work, we conducted a prospective proteomic study of pre-diagnostic serum from 21 PM cases (< 5 years before diagnosis) and 21 asbestos‐exposed controls in the EPIC cohort using SWATH‐MS, followed by ELISA validation. Findings were tested in an independent MoMar cohort of 32 pre‐diagnostic plasma samples (< 1 year before diagnosis) and 32 matched controls. SWATH-MS identified 12 differentially expressed proteins (nominal p < 0.05, fold change > 1.3 or < 0.75). Transferrin and complement C4A were elevated, while beta‐2‐microglobulin and dermcidin were reduced in pre‐diagnostic cases. ELISA confirmed a borderline significant rise in beta‐2‐microglobulin within two years of diagnosis in EPIC. Calretinin and mesothelin were also detected in both cohorts, with the five‐marker panel achieving an AUC of 0.91 (p = 0.001) in MoMar but not reaching significance in EPIC (AUC = 0.88, p = 0.17). Integrating novel proteomic biomarker candidates with established markers enhances early PM detection in high-risk populations. Larger, multi‐cohort validation is warranted to refine this biomarker panel for clinical surveillance.

Introduction: Idiopathic chronic low back pain (icLBP) represents approximately 90% of chronic low back pain and lacks a clearly identifiable pathological origin. It impacts both productivity and overall quality of life. Auricular acupuncture (AA) is a promising emerging therapy for icLBP. Objective: To verify if there are areas of both the lateral and medial auricle surfaces with greater incidence of neuroreflex points in subjects with icLBP as compared to a group of healthy controls. Methods: A total of 64 subjects with a diagnosis of icLBP and a control group of 64 healthy individuals were evaluated. All sectors of the Romoli Sectogram and the Chinese Standardized Map were examined with the Electrical Skin Resistance Test (ESRT) and with the Pressure Pain Test (PPT) on both the medial and lateral surfaces of each auricle. Results: The icLBP subjects had a significantly higher average number of positive points in sectors 17, 18, and 19 of the Romoli Sectogram and in areas AH9, AH5, TF4, and P1 of the Chinese Standardized Map as compared with the control. In icLBP subjects, the positive points were predominantly grouped into four main areas: area 1 in AH9, area 2 in P1, area 3 in TF4, and area 4 in AH5. In areas 1 and 2, one or more positive points in the vast majority of icLBP subjects were detected. Conclusions: In icLBP, there are four areas of the auricle within which one or more points positive on ESRT and PPT can be detected, identifying potentially specific and effective AA points.

To evaluate, in Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, the use of pre-treatment drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) as a patient selection tool, that could improve the outcomes of mandibular advancement device (MAD) therapy. A multicenter retrospective case-control study has been performed. A multicenter case-control study with two parallel arms was conducted to compare functional outcomes in patients undergoing MAD therapy. Group A (n=118) received MAD therapy based solely on static clinical assessments, including dentoskeletal features, oropharyngeal anatomy, and upper airway endoscopy. Group B (n=87) underwent pre-treatment DISE to dynamically evaluate the site, type, and pattern of upper airway collapse, thereby guiding patient selection for MAD therapy. In Group A, the mean pre-treatment apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 28.1, decreasing significantly to 12.4 post-treatment (p=0.0001). In Group B, the mean AHI decreased from 31.3 to 9.5 (p=0.0001). The Delta apnea-hypopnea index (ΔAHI) was significantly greater in Group B (-21.7) than in Group A (-16.6; p=0.04). Similarly, the Delta Oxigen desaturation index (ΔODI) was -18.6 in Group B versus -14.1 in Group A (p=0.04). The therapeutic success rate was significantly higher in Group B (82.7%) compared to Group A (60.1%) (p=0.001). In OSA patients, a pre-treatment DISE evaluation, improves the selection of appropriate candidates for MAD therapy by enabling dynamic assessment of upper airway collapsibility during a pharmacologically induced sleep. This targeted selection results in significantly better therapeutic outcomes for MAD therapy for the OSA treatment.

BackgroundProcessed meat (PM) consumption is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). It has been hypothesized that nitrosyl-heme, formed by the addition of nitrites during meat processing, may enhance the carcinogenic effects of PMs. This study aims to investigate the association between nitrosyl-heme intake and CRC risk within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition(EPIC) study.MethodsThis prospective study included 367,463 participants(70.3% women) from seven countries from the EPIC-study. Dietary data were collected via baseline questionnaires, and nitrosyl-heme exposure was estimated using biochemical data from 52 Spanish PMs, extrapolated to country-specific items. Sex-specific multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios(HRs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsOver a 15-year median follow-up, 5,115 incident CRC cases were identified. Comparing the highest vs. the lowest sex-specific tertile of nitrosyl-heme intake we found no significant association with CRC risk (HRT3vsT1:1.01;95%CI:0.93–1.09). Subgroup analyses by tumor subtype and interactions with lifestyle factors also showed no associations.ConclusionsThis study offers insights into nitrosyl-heme exposure in European populations but found no link to CRC risk. Further research is needed to understand nitrosyl-heme's role in CRC.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12937-025-01266-7.

Background: Pediatric oncological diagnoses and treatments pose complex biopsychosocial challenges for both patients and their families. These experiences can significantly disrupt daily life, evoke intense emotional responses, and raise concerns about the future, often leading to long-term psychological implications. Objective: This study aimed to assess the emotional functioning of children undergoing cancer treatment and to explore the lasting psychological effects reported by young adult survivors of pediatric cancer. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed. In total, 52 minors and their caregivers were recruited from two pediatric oncology units in Italy (Turin and Bari), while 18 young adults diagnosed during childhood were recruited from clinical and community settings in Ancona and Bari. Standardized instruments were used to evaluate emotional symptoms and broader psychological functioning in the pediatric sample, while self-report measures assessed psychological well-being and quality of life in the young adult group. To complement these data, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the young adult survivors to investigate the long-term psychosocial and psychological impacts of pediatric cancer. Results: The quantitative results indicate generally low levels of psychological distress in both groups. However, the qualitative findings reveal the complexity of post-cancer identity, highlighting experiences of resilience, emotional ambivalence, and redefinition of self. Conclusions: These results underscore the importance of addressing the psychological well-being of pediatric oncology patients and young adult survivors beyond the medical treatment phase, with a focus on long-term psychosocial support and individualized care.