RNA design addresses the need to build novel RNAs, e.g., for biotechnological applications in synthetic biology, equipped with desired functional properties. This chapter describes how to use the software RNARedPrint for the de novo rational design of RNA sequences adopting one or several desired secondary structures. Depending on the application, these structures could represent alternate configurations or kinetic pathways. The software makes such design convenient and sufficiently fast for practical routine, where it even overcomes notorious problems in the application of RNA design, e.g., it maintains realistic GC content.

Hypertesion is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, worldwide, and its prevalence has been increasing in several countries, including Italy.

To assess hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in a real-world sample of adults with self-reported diabetes compared with nondiabetic individuals.

Following the 2018 World Hypertension Day, a nationwide, cross-sectional epidemiological survey on cardiovascular risk factors (“Abbasso la Pressione!”) in 3956 Italian pharmacies enrolled 47217 self-presenting volunteers (≥18 years). Participants underwent standardized blood pressure (BP) measurements and answered a questionnaire on cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle habits. Questions included if they had an established diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or were on a BP medication. Hypertension prevalence was defined as systolic BP ≥140 and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg. A double definition for hypertension control based on the recent European and US guidelines on hypertension was applite into adequate BP control in the real world. Concomitant unfavorable metabolic features and unhealthy lifestyle habits might contribute to this observation.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly emerging disease caused by a highly contagious virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and this disease has affected millions of people across the world and led to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Nutrition is a key factor related to this disease, and nutritional status may determine the risk and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Selenium is one of the major trace elements required for redox functions and has significant roles in viral infections. The purpose of this review was to examine the current evidence on the role of selenium in COVID-19. We reviewed studies on selenium and COVID-19, and other relevant studies to understand how selenium status can modify the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and how selenium status might affect a person post-infection.

We found that oxidative stress is a characteristic feature of COVID-19 disease, which is linked with the immunopathological disorder observed in individuals witlness, and selenium deficiency is found to be associated with the severity of COVID-19 disease. Selenium supplementation at an appropriate dose may act as supportive therapy in COVID-19. Future studies in large cohorts of COVID-19 are warranted to verify the benefits of selenium supplementation for reducing risk and severity of COVID-19.Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is required for the surgical correction of congenital heart defects and incites an acute inflammatory response that impairs endothelial function post-operatively. Abexinostat Therefore, we hypothesized that the pre-operative relationship between endothelial function and blood pressure would be impaired after CPB-mediated inflammation. Using laser Doppler perfusion monitoring coupled with iontophoresis, we found that while there was a significant inverse correlation between endothelium-dependent vascular reactivity to acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation and systolic blood pressure (SBP), this relationship was lost after CPB. No relationship was observed between endothelium-independent vascular reactivity using sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and SBP either pre-CPB or any point thereafter. Additionally, neither CPB time nor inflammatory cytokines correlated with the degree of responsiveness to ACh. These data suggest that the measurement of endothelium impairment after CPB may be more reflective of cardiovascular health than SBP alone.

To evaluate the efficacy of pre-operative low-dose radiation computed tomography (CT) in optimizing screw placement in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

49 patients with AIS who required correction and posterior fusion between January 2018 and December 2019 were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent surgery performed by the same team of experienced surgeons. Patients were divided in two groups. The study group received a pre-operative low-dose CT scan (CT group, n = 25), differently from the control group (CG, n = 24). Patients of both groups received a post-operative low-dose CT scan. The primary outcome measure was the accuracy of screw placement on the Gertzbein-Robbins scale (grades A and B were considered acceptable). Secondary outcome measures included a comparison of perioperative complications.

A total of 1045 screws were placed. In CT group (n = 25, screws = 528) and CG (n = 24, screws = 517), trajectories were grade A or B in 94.5% and 93.6% of screws, respectively. Two screws (one for each group) were removed because of intra-operative-evoked potentials alteration and one screw required revision after post-operative imaging. No correlation was found between the malpositioning rate and the proximity to the apex of the curve, conversely a significative peak of misplacements was observed at T3 (p < 0.01). No neurological and vascular complications related to screw placement were recorded. There was not intergroup difference neither in screw accuracy (Chi-Square, 2-tailed Fisher’s exact, p = 0.63), nor in complications rate.

Pre-operative low-dose CT scan as surgical plan does not contribute in reducing pedicle screw misplacement rate.

Retrospective comparative cohort study.

III.

III.

To describe the objectives, methods and expected impact of an international consortium (iKASCADE) whose purpose is to improve drug safety for older adults by addressing prescribing cascades through a sex and gender lens.

To create a comprehensive, internationally relevant inventory of prescribing cascades affecting older adults, the consortium has created a modified Delphi procedure where international experts in prescribing and managing pharmacotherapy for older adults will rank a list of prescribing cascades as to their clinical importance. We will use administrative and clinical data on older adults to evaluate the frequency of prescribing cascades by sex internationally, in the hospital, long-term care and community settings. Finally, we will use semi-structured interviews and realistic, country-specific vignettes, each incorporating a prescribing cascade with identified sex differences, to explore how socially constructed gender roles contribute to the experience, presentation and management of prescribing cascades.