Exploring homeostasis in children, the body's dynamic balancing act.

Homeostasis can be described as the dynamic process within an organism designed to maintain a relatively constant internal environment that is conducive to the optimal functioning of cells, enzymes and organs. To regulate physiological variables, homeostasis relies on mechanisms called negative and positive feedback loops. However, certain factors can disrupt homeostatic processes, leading to dysregulation and disease.

The interventricular conduction delays guide best cardiac resynchronization therapy: A tailored-patient approach to perform a CRT through Conduction System Pacing.

Evaluation of conduction intervals to predict success of resynchronization in biventricular pacing(BiVP) or Conduction System Pacing(CSP) is not spread in clinical practice. A right ventricle-to-left ventricle intrinsic conduction interval (RVs-LVs) > 70 ms or prolonged RVpaced - LVs(RVp-LVs)interval can predict Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)response.This paper describes a case of cardiac resynchronization guided by spontaneous and paced interventricular conduction delays (IVCD) obtained in BiVP that led to changing intraoperative approach.

Biventricular or Conduction System Pacing for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Strategy for Cardiac Resynchronization Based on a Hybrid Approach.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is usually performed with biventricular pacing (BiVP), but recently, conduction system pacing (CSP) has been proposed as an alternative in case of BiVP failure. The aim of this study is to define an algorithm to choose between BiVP and CSP resynchronization using the interventricular conduction delays (IVCD) as a guide.

Methods: Consecutive patients from January 2018 to December 2020 with an indication for CRT were prospectively enrolled in the study group (delays-guided resynchronization group, DRG).

Moderator Band and Ventricular Tachycardia: Structural or Functional Substrate?

The moderator band (MB) is an intracavitary structure of the right ventricle composed of muscular fibers encompassing specialized Purkinje fibers, separated each other by collagen and adipose tissue. In the last decades, premature ventricular complexes originating within the Purkinje network have been implicated in the genesis of life-threatening arrhythmias. However, right Purkinje network arrhythmias have been much less reported in the literature compared to the left counterpart.

Secondary prevention and treatment innovation of early stage non-small cell lung cancer: Impact on diagnostic-therapeutic pathway from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, mostly because the lack of a screening program so far. Although smoking cessation has a central role in LC primary prevention, several trials on LC screening through low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in a high risk population showed a significant reduction of LC related mortality. Most trials showed heterogeneity in terms of selection criteria, comparator arm, detection nodule method, timing and intervals of screening and duration of the follow-up.

Left Ventricular Lead Placement for Biventricular Pacing in a Left Lateral Vein in a Patient with Congenital Atresia of the Coronary Sinus Ostium.

Coronary sinus ostial atresia (CSOA) is a rare kind of congenital heart anomaly. This creates a new drainage pathway for the cardiac venous flow, with the most common being a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC). During the implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, we discovered a case of CSOA in a patient who underwent aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement.

Association Between Device-Detected Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Implantable Defibrillator Therapy in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: Sleep-disordered breathing is highly prevalent in heart failure (HF) and has been suggested as a risk factor for malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) computed by an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) algorithm accurately identifies severe sleep apnea.

Objectives: In the present analysis, the authors evaluated the association between ICD-detected sleep apnea and the incidence of appropriate ICD therapies in patients with HF.

Characterization of alkaloids in bark extracts of Geissospermum vellosii by HPLC-UV-diode array-multistage high-resolution mass spectrometry.

A number of analytical studies, started in the sixties of the last century, concerning the stem bark of Geissospermum vellosii, have documented the presence of a number of indole alkaloids whose molecular identity was defined by NMR technique. The potential bioactivity of these compounds has inspired more recent analogous studies either devoted to structural elucidation of new alkaloid molecules or to the investigation of the role of some of them in cancer therapy. Anyway, a complete fingerprinting of the bark content is still lacking.

Combined Use of Voltage Mapping and Speckle-tracking Analysis for the Characterization of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report.

A 38-year-old man was admitted to our hospital after ventricular tachycardia. Endocardial bipolar and unipolar voltage mapping were performed and findings were integrated with data from intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) right ventricular (RV) speckle-tracking analysis. A reduction in the strain analysis was stored in correspondence of the fragmented electrogram area.

Emulgel Loaded with Flaxseed Extracts as New Therapeutic Approach in Wound Treatment.

Dry (D.E.) and liquid (L.

Upgrading from a Dual-chamber Pacemaker to a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator in Situs Inversus Totalis with Dextrocardia Following Mitral Valve Replacement and Tricuspid Annuloplasty Using a Left-sided Approach.

A 71-year-old female patient was referred to our center to upgrade a dual-chamber pacemaker to a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) following the detection of worsened systolic function (ejection fraction:25%-30%) via transthoracic echocardiography. The patient had situs inversus totalis with dextrocardia. She had undergone mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty in July 2019, with a concomitant left upper pulmonary lobectomy for neoplasm, detected at cardiac tomography incidentally.

Impact of Metabolic Surgery on Type-2 Diabetes Remission.

Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by numerous metabolic disorders, which have in common the serum elevation of glucose, caused for a pancreatic malfunction in insulin secretion and / or its action. It is a non-communicable disease, considered major public health problems and generalized growth worldwide, being a chronic disease, which can generate a high treatment cost. Metabolic surgery is a safe treatment, regulated by the Federal Council of Medicine and useful in treating people with BMI over 30 years of age, who are unable to control pathologies associated with obesity, primarily type 2 diabetes.

Radiotherapy activities and technological equipment in Veneto, Italy: a report from the Rete Radioterapica Veneta.

Background: Despite the pivotal role of radiotherapy in oncology, the provision of radiation treatments remains inadequate in many areas of the world. The present report is an assessment conducted among Radiation Oncology centers of Veneto region with the aim to collect information concerning radiotherapy assets and technological equipment availability.

Methods: Data concerning Veneto Radiation Oncology departments about radiotherapy activities, number of treatments, techniques used and radiotherapy machines available were collected.

Safety, efficacy, and reproducibility of cavotricuspid isthmus ablation guided by the ablation index: acute results of the FLAI study.

Aims: Ablation index (AI) is a marker of lesion quality during catheter ablation that incorporates contact force, time, and power in a weighted formula. This index was originally developed for pulmonary vein isolation as well as other left atrial procedures. The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the AI for the ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) in patients presenting with typical atrial flutter (AFL).

Zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation of premature ventricular contractions at left coronary cusp near left main coronary artery.

The left coronary cusp is the commonest site of origin for coronary cusp PVC. Catheter ablation without fluoroscopy is highly effective, feasible, and safe but it could be related to risks because of proximity to the coronary arteries. The use of ICE integration allowed an improvement in the safety and efficiency of these procedures.

Preparation and characterization of polymeric microparticles loaded with Moringa oleifera leaf extract for exuding wound treatment.

The aim of this study was to develop an innovative formulation, particularly useful for the treatment of exuding wounds. An extract from Moringa oleifera leaves (MOE), prepared by an eco-friendly method, was used as active ingredient. Its preliminary characterization showed that MOE is rich in quercetin-O-glucoside and quercetin-O-malonyl glucoside, responsible for the antioxidant, radical scavenging and antibacterial activities (toward Staphylococcus aureus, S.

Detection of oesophageal course during left atrial catheter ablation.

Background: Oesophageal changes and injuries were recorded after atrial fibrillation(AF) ablation procedures. The reduction of power in the posterior left atrial(LA) wall(closest to the oesophagus) and the monitoring of temperature in the oesophagus(OE) reduced oesophageal injuries. The intracardiac-echocardiography(ICE) with a Cartosound module provides two-dimensional imaging (2D) to assess detailed cardiac anatomy and its relationship with the OE.

Bioadhesive Polymeric Films Based on Red Onion Skins Extract for Wound Treatment: An Innovative and Eco-Friendly Formulation.

The onion non-edible outside layers represent a widely available waste material deriving from its processing and consumption. As onion is a vegetable showing many beneficial properties for human health, a study aiming to evaluate the use of extract deriving from the non-edible outside layers was planned. An eco-friendly extraction method was optimized using a hydroalcoholic solution as solvent.

From near-zero to zero fluoroscopy catheter ablation procedures.

Aims: The use of electroanatomical mapping (EAM) systems can reduce radiation exposure (RX) and it can also completely eliminate the use of RX. Radiation exposure related to conventional radiofrequency ablation procedures can have a stochastic and deterministic effect on health. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of an entirely nonfluoroscopic approach to catheter ablation (CA) using EAM CARTO3.

Formation of by-products during chemical interesterification of lipids. Detection and characterization of dialkyl ketones by non-aqueous reversed-phase liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A new class of foreign substances present in the unsaponifiable fraction of vegetable oils undergone to chemical interesterification was systematically investigated. Their chemical structure, corresponding to dialkyl ketones (DAK) molecules, was elucidated both by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). An analytical protocol aimed to qualitative and quantitative detection of DAK molecules in vegetable oils of confectionery industry interest was developed.

Characterization and Determination of Interesterification Markers (Triacylglycerol Regioisomers) in Confectionery Oils by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Interesterification is an industrial transformation process aiming to change the physico-chemical properties of vegetable oils by redistributing fatty acid position within the original constituent of the triglycerides. In the confectionery industry, controlling formation degree of positional isomers is important in order to obtain fats with the desired properties. Silver ion HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) is the analytical technique usually adopted to separate triglycerides (TAGs) having different unsaturation degrees.

Manufacturer change and risk of system-related complications after implantable cardioverter defibrillator replacement: physicians' survey and data from the Detect Long-term Complications After Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Replacement Registry.

Aims: Some barriers seem to exist in changing implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) manufacturer at the time of device replacement. We sought to understand the obstacles to changing ICD manufacturer within the cohort of patients enrolled in the Detect Long-term Complications After ICD Replacement Registry.

Methods: We analyzed 784 consecutive ICD/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) device replacements within a 1.

Access to magnetic resonance imaging of patients with magnetic resonance-conditional pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator systems: results from the Really ProMRI study.

Aims: The Really ProMRI study evaluates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) access for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) as well as the performance of magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional leads when undergoing MRI.

Methods And Results: Patients either with an MR-conditional pacemaker or implantable defibrillator (ICD) system or with at least a component (device or one or more leads) from an MR-conditional system, were asked to fill in a questionnaire when they were referred to a MR scan. The rate of prescription, denial, or execution of MR examinations was evaluated in a 1-year follow-up visit.