Publications by authors named "Agresta A"

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency has represented a profound upheaval in the dynamics of infectious diseases transmission worldwide. This phenomenon has been at least in part driven by the introduction of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), implemented to counteract viral transmission. Our study aimed to assess the magnitude and the features of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of notifiable infectious diseases (NIDs) in the Lazio region, Italy.

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Article Synopsis
  • Dengue virus (DENV) is spreading to new temperate regions, including Europe, due to global trade and climate change, resulting in local outbreaks even among non-travelers.
  • A study in the Latium Region from August to November 2023 investigated local DENV infections caused by serotypes 1, 2, and 3, using advanced sequencing techniques for genetic analysis.
  • The findings revealed that the predominant DENV-1 strain, which originated from South America, had led to 42 local infections in Rome, indicating adaptation of the virus to human hosts and changes in how it interacts with antibodies and cell receptors.
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This is a retrospective observational study including all COVID-19 patients admitted at our Institute throughout three successive pandemic waves, from January 2021 to June 2023. The main in-hospital outcomes (clinical progression [CP], defined as admission to Intensive Care Unit [ICU]/death, and death within 28 days) were compared among participants unvaccinated (NV), fully vaccinated (FV), with one (FV&B1) and two (FV&B2) booster doses. Vaccinated participants were stratified into recently and waned FV/FV&B1/FV&B2, depending on the time elapsed from last dose (≤ and >120 days, respectively).

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Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid mutations of the virus SARS-CoV-2, resulting in the emergence of new variants that affect public health.
  • The Lazio region has established a genomic sequencing laboratory network (WGSnet-Lazio) to closely monitor these variants and work alongside an epidemiological surveillance center (SERESMI).
  • Data collected from February 2020 to October 2022 show that this sequencing effort is effective for understanding variant circulation and supporting public health efforts during the pandemic.
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Background: Contact force (CF)-sensing catheters have not proved superior to standard catheters in the ablation of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) from the right and left ventricular outflow tract (RVOT, LVOT). In this context, the utility of measuring local impedance (LI) is not known. We aimed to ascertain whether the use of a catheter combining LI and CF information was associated with superior outcomes in comparison with other catheter technologies.

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Sharp injuries, determining the risk of bloodborne infections and psychological distress in healthcare workers, may be prevented by a set of strategies, legally enforced in Europe through the Directive 2010/32/EU. To assess its level of implementation in Italy, a national survey was conducted in 2017 and again in 2021, evaluating the progress and possible drawbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Altogether, 285 safety managers and 330 nurses from a representative sample of 97 and 117 public hospitals were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire.

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Background: The waning of the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccines and timing of booster doses are debated.

Methods: Population-based cohort study in the largest Health-Authority of Lazio region, Italy, on 946,156 residents aged 12+ (study period: 1 January 2021-10 January 2022). Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against any SARS-CoV-2 infection (symptomatic or asymptomatic) was estimated through multivariable negative-binomial models using unvaccinated person-time as a reference.

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Introduction: A new dielectric-based method (KODEX-EPD mapping system, EPD Solutions, a Philips company) for measuring tissue thickness at the catheter-tissue interface has recently been developed. We reported preliminarydata on real-time catheter-based measuring myocardial wall thickness in vivo, during typical atrial flutter radio frequency ablation.

Methods And Results: The study population consisted of 12 consecutive patients, suffering from symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent cavo-tricuspid isthmus dependent, counter clockwise and clockwise AFL, under going a first catheter ablation between April 2021 and November 2021.

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Vaccine is the main public health measure to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and hospitalization, and a massive scientific effort worldwide resulted in the rapid development of effective vaccines. This work aimed to define the dynamics and persistence of humoral and cell-mediated immune response in Health Care Workers who received a two-dose BNT162b2-mRNA vaccination. Serological response was evaluated by quantifying anti-RBD and neutralizing antibodies while cell-mediated response was performed by a whole blood test quantifying Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2) produced in response to Spike peptides.

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Background: A very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) strategy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation aims to minimize conductive heating and increase resistive heating. We evaluated the feasibility, efficacy and safety of the vHPSD ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) in patients presenting with typical atrial flutter (AFL).

Methods: This prospective non-randomized study enrolled 28 consecutive patients (FAST Group) with typical AFL undergoing CTI ablation.

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Interventional cardiologists are significantly exposed to X- rays and no dose of radiation may be considered well tolerated or harmless. Leaded aprons protect the trunk and the thyroid gland, leaded glasses protect the eyes. The operator's legs, arms, neck and head are, instead, not fully protected.

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Nasu-Hakola Disease (NHD) is a recessively inherited systemic leukodystrophy disorder characterized by a combination of frontotemporal presenile dementia and lytic bone lesions. NHD is known to be genetically related to a structural defect of TREM2 and DAP12, two genes that encode for different subunits of the membrane receptor signaling complex expressed by microglia and osteoclast cells. Because of its rarity, molecular or proteomic studies on this disorder are absent or scarce, only case reports based on neuropsychological and genetic tests being reported.

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Introduction: A very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) strategy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation aims to minimize conductive heating and increase resistive heating. This study aimed to clarify the contribution of contact force (CF) and temperature and their interrelationship in making an adequate lesion with the vHPSD catheter.

Methods: We enrolled 46 consecutive patients undergoing first catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).

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Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation using cryoballoon (CB) catheter is generally characterized by a high radiation and contrast media exposure. A new dielectric imaging system (KODEX-EPD imaging system) allows pulmonary vein (PV) occlusion assessment without dye use. The purpose of this study was to verify the feasibility of reducing the radiation and dye use during CB ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using the new dielectric imaging system.

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Vaccination is the main public health measure to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and hospitalization, and a massive worldwide scientific effort resulted in the rapid development of effective vaccines. This work aimed to define the dynamics of humoral and cell-mediated immune response in a cohort of health care workers (HCWs) who received a two-dose BNT162b2-mRNA vaccination. The serological response was evaluated by quantifying the anti-RBD and neutralizing antibodies.

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Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is considered the most effective method of prevention to contain the pandemic. While highly effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are being applied on a large-scale, whether and to what extent the strength of the vaccine-induced immune response could be further potentiated is still an object of debate. Several reports studied the effect of different vaccines on the susceptibility and mortality of COVID-19, with conflicting results.

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Aims: Radiation use in medicine has significantly increased over the last decade, and cardiologists are among the specialists most responsible for X-ray exposure. The present study investigates a broad range of aspects, from specific European Union directives to general practical principles, related to radiation management among a national cohort of cardiologists.

Methods And Results: A voluntary 31-question survey was run on the Italian Arrhythmology and Pacing Society (AIAC) website.

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Background: Detailed temporal analyses of complete (full) blood count (CBC) parameters, their evolution and relationship to patient age, gender, co-morbidities and management outcomes in survivors and non-survivors with COVID-19 disease, could identify prognostic clinical biomarkers.

Methods: From 29 January 2020 until 28 March 2020, we performed a longitudinal cohort study of COVID-19 inpatients at the Italian National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy. 9 CBC parameters were studied as continuous variables [neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets, mean platelet volume, red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, mean red blood cell volume and red blood cell distribution width (RDW %)].

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Objectives: This study aims to identify the risk factors for intensive care (IC) in severe malaria patients admitted to the "Lazzaro Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy.

Methods: All patients with confirmed severe malaria and hospitalized between 2007 and 2015 were included in the analysis and stratified into two groups: those requiring IC and those who did not. Five prognostic malaria scores were estimated; clinical severity at IC unit admission was assessed using the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and the quick-Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores.

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HCV has been recognized as the cause of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) since 1990. CHC is associated with progressive liver damage and extrahepatic conditions. Direct antiviral agents (DAAs), approved in 2014, have shown effectiveness in eradicating HCV in most patients.

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Article Synopsis
  • Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) disrupts metabolic processes like glucose and lipid metabolism, increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke.
  • Recent treatments using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) not only effectively eradicate CHC but also improve metabolism.
  • The review highlights the link between HCV and metabolic issues, underscoring the potential public health benefits of DAAs and the need for further research on their impact on host metabolism.
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In the setting of liver transplant (LT), the survival after the diagnosis of de novo malignancies (DNMs) has been poorly investigated. In this study, we assessed the impact of DNMs on survival of LT recipients as compared to corresponding LT recipients without DNM. A nested case-control study was conducted in a cohort of 2,818 LT recipients enrolled in nine Italian centres between 1985 and 2014.

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Purpose: Reconnection of pulmonary veins (PVs) remains common following radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Ablation Index (AI) is a novel ablation quality marker that incorporates stability, contact force (CF), time, and power in a weighted formula. Its use seems to improve lesion durability.

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