Assessment of Saliva Specimens' Reliability for COVID-19 Surveillance.

The aim of the present study is to assess saliva as a reliable specimen for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection by real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), especially in community mass screening programs. The performance analysis considered 1,221 total samples [nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and corresponding saliva], tested by means of a reference diagnostic real-time RT-PCR assay. Conflicting results were further investigated with a second, more sensitive, reference assay.

Exposure study on susceptible people - SPES: An integrative biomonitoring approach.

Background: The evaluation of environmental exposure risk requires a global analysis of pollution phenomena, including biological effects and potentially correlated clinical outcomes in susceptible populations. Although human biomonitoring plays a fundamental role in assessing the degree of contamination, it is not effective alone in identifying a direct link between exposure, biomolecular effects and outcomes on target organisms. While toxicogenomics and epidemiology are mainly focused on the investigation of molecular reactions and clinical outcomes, the monitoring of environmental matrices works independently to characterize the territorial distribution of toxic compounds, without proving any correlated health risk for residents.

An observational study of a cohort of citizens receiving the AZD1222 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

In this retrospective study, a cohort of 67 subjects vaccinated with AZD1222 was retrospectively observed. Consistently with published findings, no serious adverse event was reported, and all adverse events reported (fever, muscle ache and/or pain in the site of injection) had resolved by day 8. Of note, some citizens were prescribed low-dose aspirin and even heparin for thrombosis prevention.

Development of a municipality index of environmental pressure in Campania, Italy.

The Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy (Istitituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, IZSM) is a public health institution operating within the Italian National Health Service. Over the past 5 years [IZSM] has promoted several research studies and interventions in an effort to tackle the 'Land of Fires' phenomenon, caused by the continued trafficking and uncontrolled incineration of waste that has affected some areas of Campania for decades. In this article, a mathematical model that generates a municipality index of environmental pressure is presented.

Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with mitral valve prostheses and enlarged atria: safety, feasibility, and efficacy.

Objectives: Few data have been published on transcatheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with mitral valve prostheses. Thus, we sought to report our experience.

Background: Ablation is an effective treatment for AF.

Prevention of iatrogenic atrial tachycardia after ablation of atrial fibrillation: a prospective randomized study comparing circumferential pulmonary vein ablation with a modified approach.

Background: Circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) is effective in curing atrial fibrillation (AF), but new-onset left atrial tachycardia (AT) is a potential complication. We evaluated whether a modified CPVA approach including additional ablation lines on posterior wall and the mitral isthmus would reduce the incidence of AT after PV ablation.

Methods And Results: A total of 560 patients (291 men, 52%; age, 56.

Left atrial tachycardia after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation for atrial fibrillation: electroanatomic characterization and treatment.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the electroanatomic characteristics of left atrial tachycardia (AT) in a series of patients who underwent circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) and to describe the ablation strategy and clinical outcome.

Background: Circumferential pulmonary vein ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation. A potential midterm complication is the development of left AT.