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Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) first‐line therapy often consists of polychemotherapy regimens, but choosing a second‐line therapy after disease progression, especially following first‐line FOLFIRINOX, remains a clinical challenge. This study presents results from a large, multicenter, retrospective analysis of Italian patients with metastatic PC (mPC) treated with Nab‐paclitaxel/Gemcitabine (AG) as second or later line of treatment. Main objective of the study is to identify prognostic factors that could inform treatment decisions. Methods: The study included 160 mPC patients treated with AG in 17 Italian institutions. AG was administered according to labelling dose, until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or patient refusal. Variations in schedules, dose modifications, supportive measures, and response evaluation were determined by individual clinicians' practice. Results: AG was well‐tolerated and exhibited promising clinical activity. The overall response rate (ORR) and the disease control rate (DCR) were 22.5% and 45.6%, respectively. Median progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.9 and 6.8 months, respectively. Among the patients who received AG as a second‐line therapy (n = 111, 66.9%), median PFS and OS were 4.2 and 7.4 months, respectively. Notably, in the 76 patients (68%) receiving AG after first‐line FOLFIRINOX, an ORR of 19.7% and a DCR of 46.0% were observed, resulting in a median PFS of 3.5 and median OS of 5.7 months. The study identified specific clinical or laboratory parameters (LDH, NLR, fasting serum glucose, liver metastases, ECOG PS, and first‐line PFS) as independent prognostic factors at multivariate level. These factors were used to create a prognostic nomogram that divided patients into three risk classes, helping to predict second‐line OS and PFS. Conclusions: This study represents the largest real‐world population of mPC patients treated with AG as a second or later line of therapy. It supports the feasibility of this regimen following first‐line FOLFIRINOX, particularly in patients with specific clinical and laboratory characteristics who derived prolonged benefit from first‐line therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact with animals in pediatric oncohematologic patients is associated with many benefits, but the risk of contracting zoonoses, even if low, must be considered by clinicians. In order to assess the awareness about this topic, we surveyed the Italian pediatric oncohematology centers, which resulted in heterogeneous responses. The Infectious Diseases Working Group and the Nurse Working Group of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, together with veterinarians from the National Federation of Italian Veterinarians, drew up a consensus document to unify the indications to be given to families with the aim of guaranteeing a safe interaction between patients and animals and improving the collaboration of clinicians with veterinarians and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic and antifungal resistance is a global health concern that arises when microorganisms develop mechanisms to resist treatment. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics and antifungals in human and veterinary medicine contribute to this problem. The increasing prevalence of drug resistance has significant implications, with an estimated 700,000 deaths per year currently attributed to antimicrobial resistance. This number is predicted to rise to 10 million deaths per year by 2050. The research presented in this special issue highlights the widespread occurrence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms in various species and environments, emphasizing the potential public health implications. The studies also emphasize the importance of a One Health approach, recognizing the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health in addressing this issue. [Extracted from the article]

In March 2020, the World Health Organization Department declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic, as a consequence of its rapid spread on all continents. The COVID-19 pandemic has been not only a health emergency but also a serious general problem as fear of contagion and severe restrictions put economic and social activity on hold in many countries. Considering the close link between human and animal health, COVID-19 might infect wild and companion animals, and spawn dangerous viral mutants that could jump back and pose an ulterior threat to us. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the pandemic, with a particular focus on the clinical manifestations in humans and animals, the different diagnosis methods, the potential transmission risks, and their potential direct impact on the human–animal relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a current public health issue globally. To counter this phenomenon and prioritize AMR in the health sector, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a list of bacterial pathogens against which the development of new antimicrobial agents is urgently needed, designating the ESKAPE pathogens (i.e., Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) with a 'priority status'. Moreover, the One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) states that human health is closely linked to animal and environmental health, thus promoting a holistic One Health approach in order to be prepared to address possible emerging health threats from the human–animal–environment interface. Wild birds may host and spread pathogens, integrating the epidemiology of infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the role of wild birds as a source of ESKAPE bacteria and other antibiotic-resistant enterobacterales. A total of fifty strains within the ESKAPE group were detected in 40/163 cloacal samples of examined birds (24.5%). Additionally, different strains of enterobacterales were detected in 88/163 cloacal samples (53.9%). Isolated strains exhibited antimicrobial resistance, including towards critically important antibiotics (e.g., third, fourth, fifth generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones) for human medicine. Our results confirm that wild birds are potential reservoirs of several pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and that they could be involved in the dissemination of those bacteria across different environments, with resulting public health concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood interspecific relationships can be viewed as a mirror of the person's capacity to interact with other living beings. The interspecific relationship can involve different attachment styles, affect regulation skills, transitional object dynamics, and self-awareness and mentalization processes. Yet interspecific relationships can also be disrupted, since they can be associated with cruel behavior toward animals, which is in turn related to possible psychopathology. Method: We provided a conceptual framework based on the literature addressing the interspecific relationship in both its adaptive and positive features as well as in its disrupted aspects. Discussion: Pets have often been regarded as attachment figures that can aid children in socialization and growth processes. They have been deemed to represent "social catalysts" that tend to facilitate human relationships, thus increasing prosocial behaviors. On the dark side of the pet-child interaction, childhood abuse of animals tends to be associated with behavioral and emotional problems that have been thought of as underlying psychopathology (e.g., conduct disorder and antisocial personality traits). Childhood cruelty to animals seems to accompany emotion dysregulation, poor social information processing, and low empathy. Conclusions: Since the child-pet relationship has substantial implications for the individual's mental health and for the potential development of psychopathology, addressing children's attitudes toward animals can aid in understanding the affective and emotional dimensions of their interpersonal experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Comparison of first-line FOLFIRINOX (FFN) and nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (NabGem) in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Patients & methods: The authors analyzed data from 160 patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving first-line FFN (n = 43) or NabGem (n = 117). Results: FFN and NabGem were similar in median progression-free survival (24.43 vs 26.28 weeks; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.88) and medial overall survival (47.43 vs 42.86 weeks; HR: 0.90). Of the 43 patients receiving FFN, 26 (60.4%) were treated with second-line NabGem; 14/117 (12.0%) patients receiving NabGem received second-line FFN (p < 0.0001). In the FFN → NabGem and NabGem → FFN groups, median overall survival was 51.2 and 71.6 weeks (HR: 0.69; p = 0.15). In patients receiving NabGem, second-line FFN, compared with FOLFOX/CAPOX or FOLFIRI, improved median progression-free survival 2 (25.6 vs 12.1 weeks; HR: 0.47; p = 0.0067) and median overall survival 2 (39.0 vs 19.14 weeks; HR: 0.49; p = 0.032). Conclusion: First-line FFN and NabGem promote similar clinical outcomes. Second-line FFN should be considered after NabGem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. In cases with metastasis, the combination of 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy regimens are considered the standard of care. However, the optimal sequence of these regimens is unclear. Methods: This retrospective study initially evaluated 186 patients with locally advanced/metastatic pancreatic cancer at three Italian institutions between February 2013 and October 2019. All patients had progressed after receiving gemcitabine-based first-line chemotherapy and were subsequently offered second-line FOLFIRINOX, FOLFOX-6, or FOLFIRI treatment. This study evaluated progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival from the start of second-line treatment (OS2), overall survival from the start of first-line treatment (OS1), and safety outcomes. Results: A total of 77 patients received ⩾4 cycles of second-line chemotherapy and were considered eligible: 15 patients received FOLFIRINOX, 32 patients received FOLFOX-6, and 30 patients received FOLFIRI. The FOLFIRINOX group had median PFS of 26.29 weeks and median OS2 of 47.86 weeks, while the FOLFIRI group had median PFS of 10.57 weeks and median OS2 of 25.00 weeks (p = 0.038). No significant differences were observed between the FOLFIRINOX and FOLFOX-6 groups in terms of PFS (26.29 weeks versus 23.07 weeks) or OS2 (47.86 weeks versus 42.00 weeks). The most common grade 3–4 toxicities were anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia, which occurred more frequently in the FOLFIRINOX and FOLFOX-6 groups. Conclusion: Relative to the FOLFIRI regimen, the FOLFIRINOX regimen had a favorable toxicity profile and better survival outcomes. No significant differences were observed relative to the FOLFOX-6 regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal Assisted Interventions (AAIs) programmes have been considered useful in different settings, such as hospital, therapeutic, educational and assisted living environments. In these contexts, all animals, and particularly dogs, should be subjected to appropriate health controls to prevent a potential risk of transmission of zoonotic agents. Domestic dogs are reservoirs of many zoonotic pathogens including several gastrointestinal parasites (protozoa and helminths). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of the protozoanGiardia duodenalisand zoonotic gastrointestinal nematodes (geohelminths) in dogs hosted in a dog educational centre in the city of Naples (southern Italy) where the animals were trained to AAI. Between April and June 2016, 74 dog faecal samples were analysed using the FLOTAC dual technique to detectG. duodenaliscysts and other parasitic elements. Out of the 74 faecal samples examined, 18 (24.3%; 95% CI = 15.4–35.9) were positive for parasitic elements. Specifically, 8 were positive forG. duodenalis(44.4%; 95% CI = 22.4–68.7). In addition, some co-infections were also found: one sample (5.6%; 95% CI = 0.3–29.4) resulted positive to bothToxocara canisandTrichuris vulpisand two samples (11.1%; 95% CI = 1.9–36.1) were positive to bothG. duodenalisand Ancylostomidae. Given that children, young adults and immunocompromised individuals are among the main users of the AAIs, specific guidelines targetingG. duodenalisand other gastrointestinal zoonotic parasites should be formulated in order to develop effective control and prevention strategies and reduce the zoonotic risk favoured by the human-dog interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses a study on the efficacy of animal-assisted therapy adapted to reality orientation therapy. Highlights include how the dog-mediated interactions may impact the daily variation in cortisol levels, the principles of research described in the Helsinki Declaration, and the use of a General Linear Logistic Model with Mixed Effects for modelling therapy effect on cortisol levels.

The article presents a study on the efficacy of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease, based on the formal reality orientation therapy (ROT) protocol. Topics include pet therapy interventions, assessment of patients using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the study results which show that pet therapy interventions based on formal ROT protocol were statistically more effective compared to ROT.

Simple Summary: We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the effect of treatment with FOLFIRINOX (FFN) or Nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (GemNab) in patients with locally advanced (LA) pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Forty-eight percent of patients treated with FFN became eligible for radical resection, and twenty-two percent of patients receiving GemNab underwent surgery after neoadjuvant treatment. FFN treatment was associated with a better overall survival, compared with GemNab (mOS 85.1 vs. 54.3 weeks, FFN and GemNab, respectively; HR = 0.54; p = 0.0109). We found different toxicity profiles between the two chemotherapy regimens. Future randomized clinical trials are mandatory to clarify the best treatment in patients with LA PDAC. Patients with locally advanced (LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) do not present distant metastases but are not eligible for surgery upfront. Chemotherapy regimens, such as FOLFIRINOX (FFN) or nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (GemNab) in combination with loco-regional treatments are generally used in this setting. However, the best treatment choice is unknown. We retrospectively analyzed the information of 225 patients with stage II–III PDAC treated at our institution between October 2011 and December 2020. A total of 94 patients with LA PDAC who are non-eligible for surgery upfront received neoadjuvant FFN or GemNab. Of the 67 patients receiving FFN, 28 (41.8%) underwent surgery after neoadjuvant therapy. Of the 27 patients treated with GemNab, 6 (22.2%) became eligible for resection. The median overall survival (OS) was 85.1 weeks and 54.3 weeks in the FFN and GemNab groups, respectively (HR = 0.54, p = 0.0109). The median OS was 189.7 weeks and 76.4 weeks in the resected and unresected cohorts, respectively (HR = 0.25, p < 0.0001). Neutropenia (37.3%), anemia (6.0%), and diarrhea (6.0%) in the FFN group and neutropenia (22.2%) and thrombocytopenia (18.5%) in the GemNab groups were the most frequent grade 3–4 side effects. Higher rates of thrombocytosis (p < 0.0001) and peripheral edema (p < 0.0001) were observed in the GemNab group. Our results suggest that the use of FFN is associated with more favorable clinical outcomes than GemNab for patients with LA PDAC. Future randomized and controlled clinical trials are needed to further elucidate the role of these regimens and loco-regional treatments in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Animal-assisted therapies (AATs), as discussed in this review, are structured interventions, involving pets, for patients suffering from different diseases. Although many studies have highlighted the beneficial effects of these interventions on the well-being and health of the humans given the dogs, there are few studies that highlight the involved dogs themselves. Therefore, in this study, we carried out a systematic review to investigate the characteristics of the dogs involved in AATs. Based on the results, in most papers, there is a lack of general information on the dog(s) involved, including the methods used to choose and train the dog and the animal's health status. These results highlight the need for standardized, specific methods to choose and train the dog and also suggest the need for univocal health protocols to ensure the animal's welfare, as well as the final results of the therapeutic intervention. Dogs are considered the most important species involved in animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and the scientific literature focuses on the benefits linked to the involvement of dogs in various therapeutic areas. In this study, we carried out a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, exploring the scientific literature from the last 5 years (2016–2021) on three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to highlight the characteristics of the dogs involved in AATs. Based on the scientific literature relevant to such dogs, we considered different parameters (i.e., number, age, sex, breed, temperament, methods of choice and training, health status, research goals, and activities with dogs) to include studies in our paper. After screening 4331 papers identified on the searched databases, we selected 38 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the included articles showed that the characteristics of the dogs were neglected. Our findings indicated a lack of information about the dogs, as well as the absence of standardized and univocal criteria for dog selection, training programs, and health protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria (i.e.Campylobacterspp., shigatoxin-producingEscherichia coli,Salmonellaspp.) in common quail (Coturnix coturnix). To achieve this goal, 70 common quails were collected during the hunting season in the Campania region (southern Italy). From each bird, cloacal swab samples were collected and subjected to culture methods, polymerase chain reaction and serotyping. The results of the present study showed a prevalence of 21.4% and 5.7% forCampylobacterspp. and shigatoxin-producingE. coli, respectively. In contrast, noSalmonellaspp. was isolated. These findings show that common quail, as migratory birds, may constitute an environmental carrier of these pathogens representing a source of infection for other birds, livestock and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Children's understanding of the nature, causes, and regulation of emotions represents a crucial developmental competence, as it improves the quality of peer interactions and increases educational success. This study presents an animal-assisted education intervention model with dogs to promote emotion comprehension in a group of children aged 6–7 years. Children who benefitted from the intervention improved their emotion comprehension compared to children who did not benefit from it. This improvement may be due to the beneficial role of relationships with companion animals, as they seem to positively affect social and emotional development in children, as well as enhancing their social competence, emotion regulation, and empathy. Further psychological processes which may have influenced the positive outcomes achieved are the group dynamics and role model offered by the relationship between the dog and the zootherapist veterinarian. Emotion comprehension (EC) is a crucial competence for children, as it determines the quality of peer interactions. This study assessed the efficacy of an animal-assisted education (AAE) intervention with dogs based on the Federico II Model of Healthcare Zooanthropology (FMHZ) to promote EC in a group of primary school children. One hundred and four children (48 females) aged 6–7 years took part in the study, of whom 63 participated in the AAE intervention (i.e., experimental group) and 41 did not (i.e., control group). The intervention was deployed in a school setting through a group format and consisted of five bimonthly sessions. EC was assessed pre- and post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Student's t-test and mixed-model ANOVA were performed to analyze the effect of the intervention on EC. EC significantly improved in children of the experimental group compared to the control group. Significant time effects from pre- to post-intervention, post-intervention to follow-up, and pre-intervention to follow-up assessment were found in the experimental group only. AAE based on FMHZ was effective in improving EC in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the prevalence of Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) DT104 bacteria in rabbits from rabbit farms in the Campania region in southern Italy. Under the study, standard culture method was used to isolate Salmonella species from 1,000 rectal samples taken from rabbits. All the isolates showed resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline (ACSSuT pentaresistance type). Rabbits may possibly serve as a carrier of S. Typhimurium DT104 based on the findings. Also discussed is the role of S. Typhimurium as a causative agent for enteritis and metritis in rabbits.

Antimicrobial resistance is a public health concern worldwide and it is largely attributed to the horizontal exchange of transferable genetic elements such as plasmids carrying integrons. Several studies have been conducted on livestock showing a correlation between the systemic use of antibiotics and the onset of resistant bacterial strains. In contrast, although companion birds are historically considered as an important reservoir for human health threats, little information on the antimicrobial resistance in these species is available in the literature. Therefore, this study was aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonasaeruginosa isolated from 755 companion birds. Cloacal samples were processed for E. coli and P. aeruginosa isolation and then all isolates were submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. P. aeruginosa was isolated in 59/755 (7.8%) samples, whereas E. coli was isolated in 231/755 (30.7%) samples. Most strains showed multidrug resistance. This study highlights that companion birds may act as substantial reservoirs carrying antimicrobial resistance genes which could transfer directly or indirectly to humans and animals, and from a One Health perspective this risk should not be underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Non-pharmacological approach represents a valid therapeutic option as an alternative or supplement to pharmacological treatments in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A type of non-pharmacological therapy is animal-assisted therapy (AAT), where the dog is a valid support to improving the quality of life of patients. In patients with Alzheimer's disease, interaction with animals can reduce behavioral, stress, and mood disorders, and it can also stimulate some cognitive functions and give benefits to the psychosocial sphere. The purpose of this study was to apply, over a long period of time (2012–2019), AAT interventions adapted to reality orientation therapy (ROT), in groups of patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. The work aimed to stimulate neuro-cognitive functions such as spatio-temporal orientation, memory, the ability to calculate, and language and to improve the depressive state of patients through the interaction and carrying out of structured games with the dog. The results obtained in the present study show an improvement in both cognitive function and mood of patients who carried out the therapy with the dog. In conclusion, we can therefore affirm how the study conducted confirms the potential of animal-assisted therapy as a non-pharmacological therapy in the treatment of deficits deriving from Alzheimer's disease patients. Recently, many efforts have been made to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological therapies as an alternative or supportive option to conventional approaches. Specifically, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has recently raised a great interest and large research efforts. This work represents a retrospective study carried out over seven years (from 2012 to 2019) in 127 patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. The patients were divided into three groups: an experimental group that received AAT interventions adapted to the formal reality orientation therapy (ROT), a group receiving a formal ROT, and a control group that did not perform any of the previous therapies. All sessions, for all patient groups, were held weekly for a total period of six months. The evaluation of cognitive function was performed through the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), while the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) assessed the depressive state. Test administration to all patients was performed before the start of the first session (T0) and after the last session (T1). The results obtained showed an improvement in the values in the GDS and MMSE tests. The variations between the average MMSE values between T1 and T0 were 0.94 ± 0.9 (SD), 0.15 ± 0.62, and −0.42 ± 0.45 in the AAT group, ROT group, and control (CTRL) group, respectively. The variations between the average GDS values between T1 and T0 were −1.12 ± 1.17 (SD), −0.42 ± 1.21, and 0.12 ± 0.66 in the AAT group, ROT group, and CTRL group, respectively. Based on our findings, we can therefore affirm how the study carried out confirms the potential of AAT performed by Federico II Model of Healthcare Zooanthropology, and particularly its efficacy in the treatment of cognitive deficits deriving from Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) include a wide range of activities aimed at improving the health and well-being of people with the help of pets. Although there have been many studies on the effects of these interventions on animal and human wellbeing and health, univocal data on the methodological aspects, regarding type and duration of intervention, operators, involved animal species, and so on, are still lacking. In this regard, several systematic reviews in the scientific literature have already explored and outlined some methodological aspects of animal-assisted interventions. Therefore, we developed an umbrella review (UR) which summarizes the data of a set of suitable systematic reviews (SRs), in order to clarify how these Interventions are carried out. From our results, it is shown that there is a widespread heterogeneity in the scientific literature concerning the study and implementation of these interventions. These results highlight the need for the development and, consequently, the diffusion of protocols (not only operational, but also research approaches) providing for a univocal use of globally recognized terminologies and facilitating comparison between the numerous experiences carried out and reported in the field. Recently, animal-assisted interventions (AAIs), which are defined as psychological, educational, and rehabilitation support activities, have become widespread in different contexts. For many years, they have been a subject of interest in the international scientific community and are at the center of an important discussion regarding their effectiveness and the most appropriate practices for their realization. We carried out an umbrella review (UR) of systematic reviews (SRs), created for the purpose of exploring the literature and aimed at deepening the terminological and methodological aspects of AAIs. It is created by exploring the online databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library. The SRs present in the high-impact indexed search engines Web of Sciences and Scopus are selected. After screening, we selected 15 SRs that met the inclusion criteria. All papers complained of the poor quality of AAIs; some considered articles containing interventions that did not always correspond to the terminology they have explored and whose operating practices were not always comparable. This stresses the need for the development and consequent diffusion of not only operational protocols, but also research protocols which provide for the homogeneous use of universally recognized terminologies, thus facilitating the study, deepening, and comparison between the numerous experiences described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, the treatment strategy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients has been heavily modified by the introduction of the immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Anti-programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) therapy has improved both progression-free and the overall survival in almost all subgroups of patients, with or without PDL1 expression, with different degrees of responses. However, there are patients that are not benefitting from this treatment. A defined group of immune-checkpoint inhibitors non-responder tumours carry EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutations: nowadays, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 clinical trials often do not involve this type of patient and the use of immune-checkpoint inhibitors are under evaluation in this setting. Our review aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this resistance: we focused on evaluating the role of the tumour microenvironment, including infiltrating cells, cytokines, secreted factors, and angiogenesis, and its interaction with the tumour tissue. Finally, we analysed the possible role of immunotherapy in EGFR mutated tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) represent an opportunity for the well-being and health of people, but it is necessary that the animals involved in these interventions are subjected to very thorough health checks in order to avoid the potential risk of zoonoses transmission. Dogs are the main animal species involved in AAIs and may represent a potential reservoir of zoonotic agents (e.g., bacteria, parasites, fungi). Some scientific contributions have been published regarding healthcare checks and related hygiene measures for dogs involved in these interventions, but no attention has been paid to the presence of Toxocara eggs on the fur. Thus, a systematic review was carried out to address this topic. Although the infection of humans through the transmission of Toxocara eggs after direct contact with dogs must be critically challenged, we suggest including the examination of fur during a complete parasitological screening of dogs involved in AAIs in order to exclude hair coat contamination with zoonotic helminth eggs. Moreover, it is important to also monitor the behaviors of dogs that can increase the risk of contamination from the environment (e.g., roll on grass and feces of other dogs or cats) as well as the life habits of dogs (e.g., outdoor or indoor). Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) usually contribute to the well-being and health of users/patients, but it is essential that the animals involved in these activities do not represent a source of zoonoses. This systematic review focused on the evaluation of the potential risk of the transmission of Toxocara by dogs' fur, considering their involvement as the main animal species in AAIs. Three databases were considered: MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and the PRISMA guidelines were used. Out of 162 articles found, 14 papers were identified as eligible for inclusion in the review. Although the findings were very heterogeneous, they showed that regular parasitological surveillance to plan effective control programs is strongly needed to guarantee the health of pets and consequently the public health, according to the concept of One Health. Since AAIs involve patients and/or users potentially susceptible, it is very important to appropriately treat dogs enrolled in these interventions after an accurate diagnosis of parasitic zoonoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to improve the moment of dialysis because the emotional management of a person during treatment can help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. This process positively affects the acceptance and progress of treatment and improves the self-management of the disease, a very important achievement in chronic kidney disease. Serotonin and oxytocin are important neuromodulators of different human behaviours, such as affectivity and socialization, and are involved in the control of stress, anxiety and social cooperation. The relationship between humans and domestic animals provides psychophysical well-being and can facilitate interpersonal bonds by favouring mechanisms involved in social relations. Dogs due to their ethological characteristics, allow the establishment of an active relationship through play, communication and interaction. Animal-assisted activities (AAAs) are structured interventions aimed at improving the psychophysical conditions of people in stressful conditions. Our study was aimed at determining the circulating levels of serotonin and oxytocin in patients who participated in an AAAs program with a dog during dialysis treatment. Our study aimed to measure the levels of serotonin and oxytocin in patients affected by end-stage renal disease (ESRD), undergoing dialysis and participating in a program of animal-assisted activities (AAAs) with a dog. Ten patients with comparable levels of ESRD were enrolled. A blood sample was taken before the start of the study in order to establish basal levels. Eleven meetings were held once a week for 3 months during the last hour of dialysis, and blood samples were collected before and after AAAs. Two more meetings, one month apart from each other, were held two months later without the dog but with the same veterinarian zootherapist. Blood was drawn at the beginning and at the end of each meeting. The samples were then processed for the measurement of serotonin and oxytocin, and data obtained were analysed using analysis of variance with mixed effect models. The results show an increasing level of both serotonin and oxytocin between subsequent meetings with the dog and an increasing trend of inter-intervention levels. Overall, the results suggest that AAAs lead to modifications of serotonin and oxytocin levels, which are also accompanied by behavioural changes of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal therapeutic strategy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients (LAPC) has not yet been established. Our aim is to evaluate how surgery after neoadjuvant treatment with either FOLFIRINOX (FFN) or Gemcitabine-NabPaclitaxel (GemNab) affects the clinical outcome in these patients. LAPC patients treated at our institution were retrospectively analysed to reach this goal. The group characteristics were similar: 35 patients were treated with the FOLFIRINOX regimen and 21 patients with Gemcitabine Nab-Paclitaxel. The number of patients undergoing surgery was 14 in the FFN group (40%) and six in the GemNab group (28.6%). The median Disease-Free Survival (DFS) was 77.10 weeks in the FFN group and 58.65 weeks in the Gem Nab group (p = 0.625), while the median PFS in the unresected group was 49.4 weeks in the FFN group and 30.9 in the GemNab group (p = 0.0029, 95% CI 0.138–0.862, HR 0.345). The overall survival (OS) in the resected population needs a longer follow up to be completely assessed, while the median overall survival (mOS) in the FFN group was 72.10 weeks and 53.30 weeks for the GemNab group (p = 0.06) in the unresected population. Surgery is a valuable option for LAPC patients and it is able to induce a relevant survival advantage. FOLFIRINOX and Gem-NabPaclitaxel should be offered as first options to pancreatic cancer patients in the locally advanced setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pet therapy had its origins in the USA in the early 1960s and is based on the hypothesis that the relationship between different species may have a therapeutic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Assessment of Progression-free survival (PFS) events by investigators might be inaccurate in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with open-label design. We explored differences in PFS evaluated by blinded independent central review (BICR) or local investigator assessment (IA) in trials testing immunotherapy (IO) in advanced cancers. We systematically reviewed articles of RCTs investigating IO in advanced tumors, published in PubMed-indexed journals up to December 2023. For each RCT, we collected PFS results by BICR and by local IA. We calculated the discrepancy index (DI) as the ratio of BICR and IA Hazard Ratios (HR BICR /HR IA) for PFS. An overall DI and relative confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a fixed-effect model weighted for the inverse of variance. Only 32/140 (22.9 %) RCTs reported both BICR and local IA PFS data, including 17,054 patients. PFS was the sole primary endpoint in 19/32 (59.4 %) and a co-primary endpoint 9/32 (28.2 %) trials. The study design was open label or double-blind in 17/32 (53.1 %) and 15/32 (46.9 %) RCTs, respectively. The overall DI was 1.07 (95 % CI 1.01–1.13; I2 =0, p = 0.02), revealing a more optimistic analysis of results in favor of local IA. In the 17 open-label trials, the overall DI was 1.09 (95 % CI 1.02–1.17, I2 =0, p = 0.02), revealing a more favorable interpretation of PFS results by local investigators. We found a statistically significant difference between BICR and local IA of PFS in trials of IO in cancer. These results suggest that the double assessment is recommended in RCTs testing IO, especially in open-label trials. This work was supported by the MFAG 27826–2022 grant (Dr. Alberto Servetto). • PFS in RCTs is adopted for approvals of new drugs in oncology, such as ICI. • PFS can be assessed by BICR, by a local investigator or by both. • We found a statistical difference in PFS assessment by BICR compared to local investigator. • This difference was maintained in open label trials, but not in double-blind trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period January 2004 to December 2005 four different ostrich farms were investigated to evaluate the presence of thermotolerant Campylobacter. A total of 150 ostriches were examined and all were found to be clinically healthy. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 60/150 cloacal swabs. Among the isolates, 48 were identified as Campylobacter jejuni whereas the remainder were identified as Campylobacter coli. Campylobacter lari was not isolated. The ostriches, although apparently in a healthy body condition, can be considered, theoretically, as potential Campylobacter carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pullorum is recognized as an emerging food-borne pathogen that may colonize the intestinal tract and the liver of avian species and humans causing several gastrointestinal and liver diseases. However, not all strains are reported to be capable of causing clinical disease, thus making poultry as reservoir for the zoonotic transmission of the infection through carcass contamination of broilers at slaughter. In poultry, the prevalence of this bacterium could be underestimated and the available data mainly refer to conventional rearing systems, whereas free-range and organic breedings have been poorly investigated. Therefore, this study was aimed to characterize the caecal microbiota community of free-range grown chickens and determine the presence and the relative abundance of H. pullorum by using NGS-based 16S rDNA sequencing. A total of 18 chickens reared for 56 d on a semi-extensive management system were euthanized at two time points: 9 birds at 28 d of age (before have access to outdoor; I = Indoor) and other 9 birds at 56 d of age (before slaughter; O = Outdoor). Cecal contents were collected for microbiota analyses. H. pullorum was detected in the cecum of 16/18 samples and its proportion in indoor was significantly higher than outdoor chickens (2.46 and 0.52%, respectively; P < 0.05), showing 78.8% of decrease with the outdoor access of the chickens. Therefore, it may be assumed that the potential for zoonotic infection is less likely. Moreover, H. pullorum was negatively correlated with 17 bacterial species as significantly more abundant in Outdoor microbial caecal communities. Among these, we highlighted the presence of Mucispirillium schaedleri and Oscillospira, already previously associated with a healthy gut and thus representing promising gut bacterial markers for host health. Our findings suggest that alternative production systems with outdoor access, may play a crucial role in the establishment of a healthy gut microbiota, which in turn might prevent colonization of harmful bacteria such as Helicobacter pullorum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have increased and improved the treatment options for patients with non-oncogene-addicted advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the role of ICIs in oncogene-addicted advanced stage NSCLC patients is still debated. In this study, in an attempt to fill in the informational gap on the effect of ICIs on other driver mutations, we set out to provide a molecular landscape of clinically relevant oncogenic drivers in programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive NSCLC patients., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data on 167 advanced stage NSCLC PD-L1 positive patients (≥1%) who were referred to our clinic for molecular evaluation of five driver oncogenes, namely, EGFR , KRAS , BRAF , ALK and ROS1 ., Results: Interestingly, n = 93 (55.7%) patients showed at least one genomic alteration within the tested genes. Furthermore, analyzing a subset of patients with PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50% and concomitant gene alterations ( n = 8), we found that n = 3 (37.5%) of these patients feature clinical benefit with ICIs administration, despite the presence of a concomitant KRAS gene alteration., Conclusions: In this study, we provide a molecular landscape of clinically relevant biomarkers in NSCLC PD-L1 positive patients, along with data evidencing the clinical benefit of ICIs in patient NSCLC PD-L1 positive alterations.