Interrupted time series analysis to evaluate the impact of COVID-19-pandemic on the incidence of notifiable infectious diseases in the Lazio region, Italy.

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.

Adrenal gland size in fetuses with congenital heart disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the adrenal gland size of fetuses with congenital heart diseases (CHD) and normal fetuses.

Methods: In this cross-sectional prospective study we measured the fetal adrenal gland size (total width, cortex width, medulla width, adrenal gland ratio of total width divided by medulla width) in 62 fetuses with CHD and 62 gestational-age-matched controls between 20 + 0 and 39 + 3 weeks of gestation. First, we clustered three CHD subgroups: CHD group_1 with a normal outflow tract (n=7), CHD group_2 with an altered outflow tract and anterograde flow in the ascending aorta (n=39) and CHD group_3 with an altered outflow tract and retrograde flow in the ascending aorta (n=16).

A novel inner-branched stent-graft to overcome narrowed lumen in branched endovascular aneurysm repair.

A narrowed patent aortic lumen (<25 mm) represents a challenging scenario frequently observed during thoraco-abdominal and abdominal aortic pathologies involving the visceral vessels. The paper aims to describe the characteristics of a novel tapered-shape inner-branched custom-made stent-graft designed to specifically address the narrowed patent aortic lumen and its applicability in a wider spectrum of aortic scenarios at the reno-visceral segment.

Dyssynchronous Fetal Heart Failure in Maternal Diabetes: Evaluation with Speckle Tracking Echocardiography and Novel M-Mode Software.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate dyssynchronous heart failure in fetuses of mothers with diabetes mellitus (FDM) and fetal controls (FC) using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) and novel M-mode prototype software (PS).

Methods: In this cohort study 174 fetuses were analyzed, 87 in the FDM-cohort and 87 gestational age-matched fetuses in the FC-cohort. A subgroup of 38 fetuses formed the final case group, with a high median frame rate of approximately 160 frames/s.

Prediction of fetal growth restriction and small for gestational age by ultrasound cardiac parameters.

Objective: Prediction of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and small of gestational age (SGA) infants by using various ultrasound cardiac parameters in a logistic regression model.

Methods: In this retrospective study we obtained standardized ultrasound images of 357 fetuses between the 20th and 39th week of gestation, 99 of these fetuses were between the 3rd and 10th growth percentile, 61 smaller than 3rd percentile and 197- appropriate for gestational age over the 10th percentile (control group). Several cardiac parameters were studied.