Objectives: To clarify whether the results of repair of a complex mitral lesion (Barlow valve) at the intermediate-term follow-up are independent of the mode of surgical access [minithoracotomy vs. median sternotomy (MS)].
Methods: In a prospective randomized study of mitral repair for Barlow disease using either a minimally invasive (MI) approach or MS, we achieved an average follow-up of 3 years (echocardiography, physical examination and quality of life).
G Ital Dermatol Venereol
December 2013
Aim: The aim of this study was to provide practical recommendations for optimizing the use of conventional and biological systemic treatments for moderate-severe chronic plaque psoriasis, particularly in case of transitioning and switching.
Methods: A total number of 147 dermatologists from 33 different countries including Italy achieved consensus in providing practical recommendations for the use of conventional and biological treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis based on systematic literature review and/or expert opinion.
Results: In general, the continuous treatment regimen should be preferred in order to achieve a complete and long-term control of psoriasis.
Background And Aim Of The Study: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) after previous cardiac surgery is usually associated with an increased risk profile. The study aim was to compare the outcome after AVR through an upper 'J' ministernotomy compared to a standard full sternotomy approach in a redo operation.
Methods: A total of 90 patients who underwent reoperative AVR at the authors' institution between October 2007 and January 2012 was retrospectively reviewed.
Aim: Purpose of this study was to evaluate short and long term functional outcomes after TME (total mesorectal excision) for rectal cancer. The role of straight anastomosis or colonic J-pouch reconstruction is investigated, as well as the impact of preoperative chemoradiotherapy is analyzed as a cause of the so called "anterior resection syndrome".
Methods: We enrolled 40 patients (17 male and 23 female), in which a low anterior resection was performed: they were divided in four groups: A1 (Straight and no RCT), A2 (Straight and RCT), B1 (J-pouch and no RCT), B2 (J-pouch and RCT).
Aim: Aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of fecal incontince and its impact on life-quality after intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer.
Material And Methods: Twentyeight patients (18 males and 10 female) underwent intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer between 2006 and 2008. The presence of fecal incontinence was evaluated by Wexner score pre-operatory and 3, 6 and 12 months after ileostomy closure; Quality of Life was evaluated by Fecal Incontinence Quality Of Life (FIQL) score.
Conduction disorders and permanent pacemaker implantation are common complications in patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and clinical significance of new bundle branch block in patients who underwent TAVI with the Medtronic CoreValve Revalving System (MCRS) or the Edwards SAPIEN valve (ESV). Data from 238 patients with no previous pacemaker implantation, left bundle branch block (LBBB) or right bundle branch block at baseline electrocardiography who underwent TAVI with either MCRS (n = 87) or ESV (n = 151) bioprostheses from 2007 to 2011 were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Adherence is an overall marker of treatment success, and it depends on multiple factors including efficacy and safety. Despite the wide use of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α blockers in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis, few data regarding treatment adherence in routine clinical practice are available.
Objectives: To estimate the long-term survival rate of anti-TNF-α therapy in a cohort of patients with psoriasis in routine clinical practice; to evaluate the reasons for and predictors of treatment discontinuation.
Members of the " cluster" represent important livestock pathogens worldwide. We report the genome sequence of sp. nov.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The aims of this study are to evaluate the epidemiology of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Southern Italy and the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of isolates.
Methods: A surveillance program was implemented in 18 ICUs. IFI cases were recorded using a standardized form.
We report our experience with the Levitronix CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) in the setting of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system support as treatment for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock. Between January 2007 and August 2011, 14 consecutive adult patients received CentriMag ECMO support after cardiac surgery procedures at our institution. There were nine males (64.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Gene Ontology (GO) Consortium (GOC, http://www.geneontology.org) is a community-based bioinformatics resource that classifies gene product function through the use of structured, controlled vocabularies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe 5th International Biocuration Conference brought together over 300 scientists to exchange on their work, as well as discuss issues relevant to the International Society for Biocuration's (ISB) mission. Recurring themes this year included the creation and promotion of gold standards, the need for more ontologies, and more formal interactions with journals. The conference is an essential part of the ISB's goal to support exchanges among members of the biocuration community.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Crit Care
December 2012
Purpose Of Review: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurrence in critically ill patients is common and is associated with a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality. The scope of this review is to summarize the most recent evidence-based knowledge for prevention of AKI.
Recent Findings: Recent recommendations for prevention of AKI in ICU patients are all 'negative' and, similarly, the most recent and updated guidelines about major topic areas of interest for AKI, including definition and classification, prevention, and pharmacologic treatment, have failed to identify single evidence-based recommendations for prevention and treatment of AKI.
Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg
November 2012
In cardiovascular surgery, reduced organ perfusion and oxygen delivery contribute to increased postoperative morbidity and prolonged intensive care unit stay. Goal-directed therapy (GDT), a perioperative haemodynamic strategy aiming to increase cardiac output, is helpful in preventing postoperative complications, but studies in the context of cardiovascular surgery have produced conflicting results. The purpose of the present meta-analysis is to determine the effects of perioperative haemodynamic goal-directed therapy on mortality and morbidity in cardiac and vascular surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEquilibrium fluctuations of thermodynamic variables, such as density or concentration, are known to be small and typically occur at a molecular length scale. In contrast, theory predicts that non-equilibrium fluctuations grow very large both in amplitude and spatial size. On earth, the presence of gravity and buoyancy forces severely limits the development of the fluctuations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: A debate over alternative therapeutic strategies for multivessel coronary disease is currently ongoing. We aimed at analyzing the results of myocardial revascularization with arterial conduits.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 10,752 patients undergoing isolated coronary bypass surgery within our hospital's group.
Introduction: Candida prophylaxis in ICU is still a matter of debate. Oral chemoprophylaxis has been advocated to reduce the incidence of Candida colonisation and infection.
Methods: We performed a randomised trial studying a single drug (nystatin) versus control in surgical/trauma ICU patients.
Background: The relative risk of psoriasis and its severity are directly related to the body mass index.
Objective: To investigate the effects of a hypoenergetic diet to maintain disease remission in obese patients.
Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 200 patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis asking whether diet could influence psoriasis severity.
Purpose: To evaluate the quality of health care assistance during childbirth in the hospitals of Goiânia, in Brazil.
Methods: Thirteen hospitals were appraised from April to December 2007, and a random sample of 404 normal births was studied. Data were obtained from interviews with mothers after delivery and by consulting their medical records.
Background: The BioCreative challenge evaluation is a community-wide effort for evaluating text mining and information extraction systems applied to the biological domain. The biocurator community, as an active user of biomedical literature, provides a diverse and engaged end user group for text mining tools. Earlier BioCreative challenges involved many text mining teams in developing basic capabilities relevant to biological curation, but they did not address the issues of system usage, insertion into the workflow and adoption by curators.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZiconotide is a nonopioid intrathecal analgesic drug used to manage moderate to severe chronic pain. The aim of this work is to assess the safety and efficacy of intrathecal (IT) combination of ziconotide and morphine in malignant pain refractory to high doses of oral opioids. Patients with malignant pain refractory to high oral opioids doses with a mean visual analogue scale of pain intensity (VASPI) score of ≥ 70 mm were enrolled.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple-site colonization with Candida spp. is commonly recognized as a risk factor for invasive fungal infection in critically ill patients. We carried out a study to determine the relationship between Candida colonization and invasive infection in neurological patients admitted to an ICU.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report data for nonequilibrium density fluctuations in a layer of liquid CS(2) subjected to temperature gradients on Earth and in a satellite. The structure factor S(q) was measured using a calibrated shadowgraph. Upon removing gravity, S(q) increased dramatically at small wave vector, until the fluctuations generated by thermal noise were limited only by the 3 mm sample thickness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Infectious complications are the main causes of postoperative morbidity. The early timing of their promoting factors is the rationale for perioperative strategies attempting to reduce them. Our aim was to determine the effects of perioperative haemodynamic goal-directed therapy on postoperative infection rates.
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