{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T20:04:37Z","timestamp":1791489877312,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,25]],"date-time":"2023-02-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1677283200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,25]],"date-time":"2023-02-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1677283200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"Fondi di Ateneo, University of Pisa"},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100007514","name":"Universit\u00e0 di Pisa","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100007514","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Endocrinol Invest"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>Laboratory, imaging, and pathological features of Graves\u2019 disease (GD), although well characterized, have been barely correlated each other. Aim of the study was to link laboratory and ultrasound characteristics of GD with its pathological features.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>We correlated laboratory and ultrasound data at the time of diagnosis in 28 consecutive GD patients who underwent thyroidectomy with their pathological features, i.e., lymphocytic infiltration and follicular hyperplasia (both classified as mild or severe).<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>Thyroid volume correlated positively with the levels of FT4 (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.002, <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\u2009=\u20090.42), FT3 (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.011, <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\u2009=\u20090.22), autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAbs) (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.016, <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\u2009=\u20090.32), autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOAbs) (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.011, <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\u2009=\u20090.34) and the extent of lymphocytic infiltration (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.006 comparing mild to severe lymphocytic infiltration) but not with the levels of autoantibodies to the thyrotropin receptor (TRAbs) and to follicular hyperplasia. Compared to subjects with mild lymphocytic infiltration, those with severe lymphocytic infiltration showed higher levels of TgAbs (316 vs 0.0\u00a0IU\/mL, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.0001) and TPOAbs (295\u00a0IU\/mL vs 14\u00a0IU\/mL, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.0001) and similar levels of TRAbs (7.5 vs 13\u00a0IU\/mL, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.68). Compared to patients with mild, those with severe follicular hyperplasia had similar levels of TgAbs (76 vs 30\u00a0IU\/mL, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.31) and TPOAbs (251\u00a0IU\/mL vs 45\u00a0IU\/mL, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.26) but higher levels of TRAbs (39 vs 7.2\u00a0IU\/mL, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001).<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>In GD, TgAbs and TPOAbs levels correlate with the extent of lymphocytic infiltration, TRAbs levels with the degree of follicular hyperplasia. Thyroid volume, the main factor influencing the severity of hyperthyroidism, is related to lymphocytic infiltration and not to follicular hyperplasia.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s40618-023-02044-0","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,25]],"date-time":"2023-02-25T09:03:53Z","timestamp":1677315833000},"page":"1695-1703","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["In Graves\u2019 disease, thyroid autoantibodies and ultrasound features correlate with distinctive histological features"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"46","author":[{"given":"A.","family":"Brancatella","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"L.","family":"Torregrossa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"N.","family":"Viola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"D.","family":"Sgr\u00f2","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"Casula","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"F.","family":"Basolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"G.","family":"Materazzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"Marin\u00f2","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"C.","family":"Marcocci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"F.","family":"Santini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0297-5904","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"F.","family":"Latrofa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,25]]},"reference":[{"issue":"16","key":"2044_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1552","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMra1510030","volume":"375","author":"TJ Smith","year":"2016","unstructured":"Smith TJ, Heged\u00fcs L (2016) Graves\u2019 disease. N Engl J Med 375(16):1552\u20131565","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"10","key":"2044_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"911","DOI":"10.1089\/thy.2007.0170","volume":"17","author":"B Rapoport","year":"2007","unstructured":"Rapoport B, McLachlan SM (2007) The thyrotropin receptor in Graves\u2019 disease. Thyroid 17(10):911\u2013922","journal-title":"Thyroid"},{"key":"2044_CR3","unstructured":"Davies TF (2013) Pathogenesis of Graves\u2019 disease. In: Werner & Ingbar\u2019s The Thyroid: A Fundamental and Clinical Text, Tenth Edition. p.356\u201369."},{"key":"2044_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo-2022-322442","author":"A Schuh","year":"2023","unstructured":"Schuh A, Ayvaz G, Baldeschi L, Bareti\u0107 M, Bechtold D, Boschi A, Brix TH, Burlacu M-C, Ciric J, Covelli D et al (2023) Presentation of Graves\u2019 orbitopathy within European group on graves\u2019 orbitopathy (EUGOGO) centres from 2012 to 2019 (PREGO III). Br J Ophthalmol. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bjo-2022-322442","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"2044_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"737","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2018.00737","volume":"9","author":"VA LiVolsi","year":"2018","unstructured":"LiVolsi VA, Baloch ZW (2018) The pathology of hyperthyroidism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 9:737","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)"},{"issue":"10","key":"2044_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1519","DOI":"10.1007\/s40618-020-01232-6","volume":"43","author":"S Ippolito","year":"2020","unstructured":"Ippolito S, Piantanida E, Tanda ML, Caturegli P (2020) Graves\u2019 disease insights from a review of the Johns Hopkins surgical pathology archive. J Endocrinol Invest 43(10):1519\u20131522","journal-title":"J Endocrinol Invest"},{"issue":"9","key":"2044_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1949","DOI":"10.1093\/clinchem\/35.9.1949","volume":"35","author":"K Beever","year":"1989","unstructured":"Beever K, Bradbury J, Phillips D, McLachlan SM, Pegg C, Goral A, Overbeck W, Feifel G, Smith BR (1989) Highly sensitive assays of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin and to thyroid peroxidase. Clin Chem 35(9):1949\u20131954","journal-title":"Clin Chem"},{"issue":"2\u20133","key":"2044_CR8","first-page":"147","volume":"97","author":"B Rapoport","year":"1991","unstructured":"Rapoport B (1991) Thyroid-specific antigens in Basedow\u2019s disease. Exp Clin Endocrinol 97(2\u20133):147\u2013152","journal-title":"Exp Clin Endocrinol"},{"issue":"12","key":"2044_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1435","DOI":"10.1007\/s40618-018-0935-8","volume":"41","author":"T Rago","year":"2018","unstructured":"Rago T, Cantisani V, Ianni F, Chiovato L, Garberoglio R, Durante C, Frasoldati A, Spiezia S, Farina R, Vallone G et al (2018) Thyroid ultrasonography reporting: consensus of Italian thyroid association (AIT), Italian society of endocrinology (SIE), Italian society of ultrasonography in medicine and biology (SIUMB) and ultrasound chapter of italian society of medical radiology (SIRM). J Endocrinol Invest 41(12):1435\u20131443","journal-title":"J Endocrinol Invest"},{"issue":"7","key":"2044_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2380","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2011-2812","volume":"97","author":"F Latrofa","year":"2012","unstructured":"Latrofa F, Ricci D, Montanelli L, Rocchi R, Piaggi P, Sisti E, Grasso L, Basolo F, Ugolini C, Pinchera A et al (2012) Lymphocytic thyroiditis on histology correlates with serum thyroglobulin autoantibodies in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma: impact on detection of serum thyroglobulin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97(7):2380\u20132387","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"issue":"5","key":"2044_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"768","DOI":"10.1111\/cen.12060","volume":"78","author":"HF Nystrom","year":"2013","unstructured":"Nystrom HF, Jansson S, Berg G (2013) Incidence rate and clinical features of hyperthyroidism in a long-term iodine sufficient area of Sweden (Gothenburg) 2003\u20132005. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 78(5):768\u2013776","journal-title":"Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)"},{"issue":"8","key":"2044_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"726","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMra0905750","volume":"362","author":"RS Bahn","year":"2010","unstructured":"Bahn RS (2010) Graves\u2019 ophthalmopathy. N Engl J Med 362(8):726\u2013738","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"3","key":"2044_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"283","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2265.2001.01349.x","volume":"55","author":"AJ Dickinson","year":"2001","unstructured":"Dickinson AJ, Perros P (2001) Controversies in the clinical evaluation of active thyroid-associated orbitopathy: use of a detailed protocol with comparative photographs for objective assessment. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 55(3):283\u2013303","journal-title":"Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)"},{"issue":"2","key":"2044_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autrev.2012.07.003","volume":"12","author":"R Tozzoli","year":"2012","unstructured":"Tozzoli R, Bagnasco M, Giavarina D, Bizzaro N (2012) TSH receptor autoantibody immunoassay in patients with Graves\u2019 disease: improvement of diagnostic accuracy over different generations of methods. Syst Rev Meta-Anal Autoimmun Rev 12(2):107\u2013113","journal-title":"Syst Rev Meta-Anal Autoimmun Rev"},{"issue":"6","key":"2044_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2247","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2012-4309","volume":"98","author":"G Barbesino","year":"2013","unstructured":"Barbesino G, Tomer Y (2013) Clinical review: clinical utility of TSH receptor antibodies. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 98(6):2247\u20132255","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"issue":"4","key":"2044_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcp\/27.4.367","volume":"27","author":"HJ Spjut","year":"1957","unstructured":"Spjut HJ, Warren WD, Ackerman LV (1957) Clinical-pathologic study of 76 cases of recurrent Graves\u2019 disease, toxic (non-exophthalmic) goiter, and nontoxic goiter; does a relation exist between thyroid hyperplasia and struma lymphomatosa? Am J Clin Pathol 27(4):367\u2013392","journal-title":"Am J Clin Pathol"},{"issue":"3","key":"2044_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1089\/thy.1994.4.333","volume":"4","author":"VA LiVolsi","year":"1994","unstructured":"LiVolsi VA (1994) The pathology of autoimmune thyroid disease: a review. Thyroid 4(3):333\u2013339","journal-title":"Thyroid"},{"issue":"5","key":"2044_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"631","DOI":"10.1210\/edrv.22.5.0444","volume":"22","author":"T Kimura","year":"2001","unstructured":"Kimura T, Van Keymeulen A, Golstein J, Fusco A, Dumont JE, Roger. PP (2001) Regulation of thyroid cell proliferation by TSH and other factors: a critical evaluation of in vitro models. Endocr Rev 22(5):631\u2013656","journal-title":"Endocr Rev"},{"issue":"1","key":"2044_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1210\/er.2013-1055","volume":"35","author":"SM McLachlan","year":"2014","unstructured":"McLachlan SM, Rapoport B (2014) Breaking tolerance to thyroid antigens: changing concepts in thyroid autoimmunity. Endocr Rev 35(1):59\u2013105","journal-title":"Endocr Rev"},{"issue":"20","key":"2044_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11074","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.93.20.11074","volume":"93","author":"N Shimojo","year":"1996","unstructured":"Shimojo N, Kohno Y, Yamaguchi K, Kikuoka S, Hoshioka A, Niimi H, Hirai A, Tamura Y, Saito Y, Kohn LD et al (1996) Induction of Graves-like disease in mice by immunization with fibroblasts transfected with the thyrotropin receptor and a class II molecule. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 93(20):11074\u201311079","journal-title":"Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A"},{"issue":"3","key":"2044_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1392","DOI":"10.1210\/endo.140.3.6599","volume":"140","author":"M Kita","year":"1999","unstructured":"Kita M, Ahmad L, Marians RC, Vlase H, Unger P, Graves PN, Davies TF (1999) Regulation and transfer of a murine model of thyrotropin receptor antibody mediated Graves\u2019 disease. Endocrinology 140(3):1392\u20131398","journal-title":"Endocrinology"},{"key":"2044_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autrev.2014.01.007","author":"P Caturegli","year":"2014","unstructured":"Caturegli P, De Remigis A, Rose NR (2014) Hashimoto thyroiditis: clinical and diagnostic criteria. Autoimmunity Rev. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.autrev.2014.01.007","journal-title":"Autoimmunity Rev"},{"key":"2044_CR23","volume-title":"Surgical pathology of the thyroid","author":"L Va","year":"1990","unstructured":"Va L (1990) Surgical pathology of the thyroid. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA"},{"issue":"5","key":"2044_CR24","first-page":"459","volume":"125","author":"R Paschke","year":"1991","unstructured":"Paschke R, Br\u00fcckner N, Eck T, Schaaf L, Back W, Usadel KH (1991) Regional stimulation of thyroid epithelial cells in Graves\u2019 disease by lymphocytic aggregates and plasma cells. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 125(5):459\u2013465","journal-title":"Acta Endocrinol (Copenh)"},{"issue":"6","key":"2044_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"803","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2265.1994.tb02516.x","volume":"40","author":"L Chiovato","year":"1994","unstructured":"Chiovato L, Santini F, Vitti P, Bendinelli G, Pinchera A (1994) Appearance of thyroid stimulating antibody and Graves\u2019 disease after radioiodine therapy for toxic nodular goitre. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 40(6):803\u2013806","journal-title":"Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)"},{"issue":"4","key":"2044_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"345","DOI":"10.1089\/thy.1996.6.345","volume":"6","author":"L Bartalena","year":"1996","unstructured":"Bartalena L, Bogazzi F, Pecori F, Martino E (1996) Graves\u2019 disease occurring after subacute thyroiditis: report of a case and review of the literature. Thyroid 6(4):345\u2013348","journal-title":"Thyroid"},{"issue":"1","key":"2044_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2265.1987.tb00841.x","volume":"27","author":"H Bliddal","year":"1987","unstructured":"Bliddal H, Heged\u00fcs L, Hansen JM, Bech K, van der Gaag R, Drexhage HA (1987) The relationships between serum T3 index, thyroid volume, and thyroid stimulating, TSH receptor binding and thyroid growth stimulating antibodies in untreated Graves\u2019 disease. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 27(1):75\u201384","journal-title":"Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)"},{"issue":"5","key":"2044_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1007\/BF03347623","volume":"6","author":"KW Wenzel","year":"1983","unstructured":"Wenzel KW, Lente JR (1983) Syndrome of persisting thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins and growth promotion of goiter combined with low thyroxine and high triiodothyronine serum levels in drug treated Graves\u2019 disease. J Endocrinol Invest 6(5):389\u2013394","journal-title":"J Endocrinol Invest"},{"issue":"5","key":"2044_CR29","first-page":"514","volume":"64","author":"W Pinto","year":"2021","unstructured":"Pinto W, Romaldini JH, Perini N, Santos RB, Villagelin D (2021) The change in the clinical presentation of Graves\u2019 disease: a 30 years retrospective survey in an academic Brazilian tertiary center. Arch Endocrinol Metab 64(5):514\u2013520","journal-title":"Arch Endocrinol Metab"},{"issue":"4","key":"2044_CR30","first-page":"482","volume":"107","author":"L Heged\u00fcs","year":"1984","unstructured":"Heged\u00fcs L, Hansen JM, Bech K, Kampmann JP, Jensen K, Andersen E, Hansen P, Karstrup S, Bliddal H (1984) Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins in Graves\u2019 disease with goitre growth, low thyroxine and increasing triiodothyronine during PTU treatment. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 107(4):482\u2013488","journal-title":"Acta Endocrinol (Copenh)"},{"issue":"4","key":"2044_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"412","DOI":"10.1093\/labmed\/lmac008","volume":"53","author":"Y Huang","year":"2022","unstructured":"Huang Y, Jin B, Huang Y, Dong A (2022) Consistency between thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) and thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb) levels in patients with Graves disease. Lab Med 53(4):412\u2013416","journal-title":"Lab Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"2044_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1177\/0004563217700655","volume":"55","author":"C Autilio","year":"2018","unstructured":"Autilio C, Morelli R, Locantore P, Pontecorvi A, Zuppi C, Carrozza C (2018) Stimulating TSH receptor autoantibodies immunoassay: analytical evaluation and clinical performance in Graves\u2019 disease. Ann Clin Biochem 55(1):172\u2013177","journal-title":"Ann Clin Biochem"},{"issue":"10","key":"2044_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1343","DOI":"10.1089\/thy.2016.0229","volume":"26","author":"DS Ross","year":"2016","unstructured":"Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, Greenlee MC, Laurberg P, Maia AL, Rivkees SA, Samuels M, Sosa JA, Stan MN et al (2016) 2016 American thyroid association guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid 26(10):1343\u20131421","journal-title":"Thyroid"}],"container-title":["Journal of Endocrinological Investigation"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s40618-023-02044-0.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s40618-023-02044-0\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s40618-023-02044-0.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,14]],"date-time":"2023-07-14T10:25:46Z","timestamp":1689330346000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s40618-023-02044-0"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,25]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]}},"alternative-id":["2044"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40618-023-02044-0","relation":{},"ISSN":["1720-8386"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1720-8386","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,25]]},"assertion":[{"value":"5 December 2022","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"15 February 2023","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"25 February 2023","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"There is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of research reported. This work was supported by \u201cFondi di Ateneo\u201d, University of Pisa to Francesco Latrofa.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Conflict of interest"}},{"value":"The reasarch involved human participants. Data publication was approved by the local institutional review committee (Comitato Etico di Area Vasta Nord Ovest\u2013CEAVNO).","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Research involving human participants and\/or animals"}},{"value":"Patients were informed and gave their consent to participate in the study.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Informed consent"}}]}}