The authors of this manuscript affirm that no financial support, grants, or any other form of external funding were received during the preparation and development of this study. The research was conducted by Andrea Boccatonda, who is affiliated with the Internal Medicine Department at Bentivoglio Hospital, AUSL Bologna, located in Bentivoglio, Italy. Fabio Piscaglia, also an author, holds positions in the Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases at the IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna and the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna, both in Bologna, Italy. Andrea Boccatonda is listed as the corresponding author for this manuscript.
In terms of ethical considerations, the authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest, both financial and non-financial, related to the study. Ethical approval and consent to participate were not applicable to this work, as the research did not involve direct patient intervention or clinical trials that would necessitate such procedures.
The publisher, Springer Nature, has stated that it remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims in the published maps and institutional affiliations of the authors, ensuring an unbiased presentation of the findings. This neutrality reflects the editorial standards that ensure objectivity in the scientific process. The authors’ affiliations are properly listed, and there are no additional declarations regarding conflicts of interest or ethical issues. The paper aims to contribute to the scientific community’s understanding of the topic without external influence or financial entanglements.
