Journal of Interdisciplinary Research Applied to Medicine

The new therapeutic options now available for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have made their assessment more complex, especially due to the different stages of liver cirrhosis typically associated with this tumor. The management of the disease therefore requires an interdisciplinary approach aimed at identifying the most appropriate treatment based on the risk–benefit profile and residual liver function, as well as in relation to the patient’s age and potential for a full or partial recovery, risk of complications, and cancer recurrence. Another factor to be carefully considered in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is the frequent comorbidities and the associated socio-health variables (substance abuse, addictions, unfavorable economic or family circumstances), which can impact patient management or the possibilities for long-term monitoring, thus influencing the choice of the most appropriate therapeutic pathway. The healthcare services offered in the Province of Salerno (Campania Region, Southern Italy) to ensure all possible diagnostic and therapeutic options for these patients can be difficult to access due to the territorial extension of the Local Health Authority, characterized by clinics and hospitals located in distant locations, as well as the potential fragmentation of expertise between the University Hospital and ambulatorial facilities or small hospitals. An interdisciplinary consensus conference on the management of patients with HCC has been set with the aim of involving clinicians and surgeons working in healthcare facilities located in Salerno and its Province for the optimal care and effective management of these patients, taking into account all the clinical characteristics of the disease and individual health needs or expectations, from the perspective of personalized medicine.

Occupational stress in dentistry, particularly during endodontic procedures, impacts practitioners’ health and performance. This study introduces a novel approach using real-time Heart Rate (HR) data from Apple Watch technology to assess physiological responses potentially indicative of occupational stress among endodontists. Materials and Methods: Twelve endodontists participated in this study, treating 119 patients. In a controlled clinical environment, HR was continuously monitored with the Apple Watch, and data were recorded via the Cardiogram app, capturing HR variations across treatment stages. Results: Significant HR fluctuations were observed during procedurally demanding stages such as local anesthesia and rubber dam placement. The endodontist’s HR, as a physiological proxy for stress, was significantly influenced by the treatment difficulty level, stage, and the patient’s age. Conclusions: Using Apple Watch technology, our study revealed significant HR variations during different endodontic treatment stages, suggesting fluctuating physiological responses that may reflect occupational stress. Elevated HR was noted during patient examination and rubber dam placement, particularly in complex cases. These preliminary findings suggest that HR monitoring via wearable technology may serve as a useful, albeit indirect, indicator of occupational stress during endodontic procedures. Future studies with larger samples and additional validated stress biomarkers are needed to confirm these observations.

The development of precise quantitative metrics is essential for characterizing the response of biological systems to external perturbations, enabling a transition from qualitative observation to predictive modeling. In this context, mathematical frameworks can provide insight into the dynamic behavior of cell populations under external stimuli. In this study, a logistic-type growth model was employed to describe wound healing dynamics. A scratch assay protocol was applied to lung cancer cells, and a perturbation-based analytical framework was developed to quantify the influence of external factors. Novel metrics were introduced, including the percentage difference in wound closure at specific time points, the shift in inflection time, and the Average Difference in Wound Closure (ADWC). A pilot experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on cell migration. The proposed model successfully captured the nonlinear dynamics of wound closure and enabled quantitative comparison between control and treated groups. The analysis demonstrated that LLLT enhances cellular activity, leading to a shift in the inflection time by approximately 7.6 h and an increase of 25.4% in wound closure at 24 h compared to the control group. The ADWC metric further confirmed a systematic difference in the overall healing dynamics between conditions. The presented perturbation-based framework provides a rigorous and interpretable tool for quantifying the effects of external stimuli on biological systems. These findings suggest a light-dependent modulation of tumor cell migration in an in vitro model, indicating that light exposure may influence cellular behavior under certain conditions. This observation may be relevant for clinical applications involving light, such as photodynamic therapy, particularly in cases of incomplete drug delivery.