Comparison between male and female breast cancer survival using propensity score matching analysis.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease. The few studies on MBC reported conflicting data regarding survival outcomes compared to women. This study has two objectives: to describe the characteristics of a single-cohort of MBC and to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between men and women using the propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

[Management strategies and choice of antithrombotic treatment in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome--executive summary for clinical practice. Consensus Document of the Regional Chapters of the Italian National Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) and of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine (SIMEU)].

This document has been developed by the Lazio regional chapters of two scientific associations, the Italian National Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) and the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine (SIMEU), whose members are actively involved in the everyday management of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS). The document is aimed at providing a specific, practical, evidence-based guideline for the effective management of antithrombotic treatment (antiplatelet and anticoagulant) in the complex and ever changing scenario of ACS. The document employs a synthetic approach which considers two main issues: the actual operative context of treatment delivery and the general management strategy.

Clinical features, and in-hospital and 1-year mortalities of patients with acute heart failure and severe renal dysfunction. Data from the Italian Registry IN-HF Outcome.

Background: Chronic renal dysfunction (RD) frequently coexists with heart failure (HF) and influences outcome. Patients with acute HF (AHF) and severe RD are frequently excluded in the trials. We characterized these subjects and assessed incidence and predictors of in-hospital and one-year mortalities.

Multicenter prospective observational study on acute and chronic heart failure: one-year follow-up results of IN-HF (Italian Network on Heart Failure) outcome registry.

Background: Clinical observational studies on heart failure (HF) deal mostly with hospitalized patients, few with chronic outpatients, all with no or limited longitudinal observation.

Methods And Results: This is a multicenter, nationwide, prospective observational trial on a population of 5610 patients, 1855 hospitalized for acute HF (AHF) and 3755 outpatients with chronic HF (CHF), followed up for 1 year. The cumulative total mortality rate at 1 year was 24% in AHF (19.

Acute heart failure patient profiles, management and in-hospital outcome: results of the Italian Registry on Heart Failure Outcome.

Aims: Registries and surveys improve knowledge of the 'real world'. This paper aims to describe baseline clinical profiles, management strategies, and the in-hospital outcome of patients admitted to hospital for an acute heart failure (AHF) episode.

Methods And Results: IN-HF Outcome is a nationwide, prospective, multicentre, observational study conducted in 61 Cardiology Centres in Italy.

Prognostic implications of renal dysfunction in patients hospitalized with heart failure: data from the last decade of clinical investigations.

Numerous studies over the last decade have demonstrated that renal dysfunction and worsening renal function (WRF) are common in patients hospitalized for heart failure (HHF) and appear to be associated with poor in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes. Unfortunately, its etiology has not been completely understood, and its prediction during hospitalization remains challenging. The evaluation of renal impairment during hospitalization should take into consideration the underlying renal substrate (e.

Prevalence of preclinical and clinical heart failure in the elderly. A population-based study in Central Italy.

Aims: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of both preclinical and clinical heart failure (HF) in the elderly.

Methods And Results: A sample of 2001 subjects, 65- to 84-year-old residents in the Lazio Region (Italy), underwent physical examination, biochemistry/N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) assessment, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. Systolic left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%.

[Selection criteria for referral to cardiac rehabilitation centers].

Current guidelines state that cardiac rehabilitation is indicated after the acute phase of major cardiovascular diseases and interventions; on the other hand implementation of these indications is difficult because of several barriers, i.e. the number of patients per year with an indication exceeds by far the accommodation offer of cardiac rehabilitation centers; the demand for access to cardiac rehabilitation from acute cardiac care hospitals is low because the attention is focused on the acute phase of cardiac diseases.

[Selection criteria for patient admission to cardiac rehabilitation centers].

Current guidelines state that cardiac rehabilitation is indicated after the acute phase of major cardiovascular diseases and interventions; on the other hand implementation of these indications is difficult because of several barriers, i.e. the number of patients per year with an indication exceeds by far the accommodation offer of cardiac rehabilitation centers; the demand for access to cardiac rehabilitation from acute cardiac care hospitals is low because the attention is focused on the acute phase of cardiac diseases.

Diuretic therapy in heart failure: current controversies and new approaches for fluid removal.

Hospitalization for heart failure is a major health problem with high in-hospital and postdischarge mortality and morbidity. Non-potassium-sparing diuretics (NPSDs) still remain the cornerstone of therapy for fluid management in heart failure despite the lack of large randomized trials evaluating their safety and optimal dosing regimens in both the acute and chronic setting. Recent retrospective data suggest increased mortality and re-hospitalization rates in a wide spectrum of heart failure patients receiving NPSDs, particularly at high doses.

Effect of growth-promoting 17beta-estradiol, 19-nortestosterone and dexamethasone on circulating levels of nine potential biomarker candidates in veal calves.

The use of screening methods based on the detection of biological effects of growth promoters is a promising approach to assist residue monitoring. To reveal useful effects on protein metabolism, male and female veal calves at 10 weeks of age were treated thrice with a combination of 25mg 17beta-estradiol 3-benzoate and 150 mg 19-nortestosterone decanoate with 2 weeks intervals and finally once with 4 mg dexamethasone. Hormone-treated calves showed a significant accelerated growth rate over 6 weeks.

Anti-remodelling effect of canrenone in patients with mild chronic heart failure (AREA IN-CHF study): final results.

Aims: To test whether canrenone, an aldosterone receptor antagonist, improves left ventricular (LV) remodelling in NYHA class II heart failure (HF). Aldosterone receptor antagonists improve outcome in severe HF, but no information is available in NYHA class II.

Methods And Results: AREA IN-CHF is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study testing canrenone on top of optimal treatment in NYHA class II HF with low ejection fraction (EF) to assess 12-month changes in LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV).

Elimination kinetic of 17beta-estradiol 3-benzoate and 17beta-nandrolone laureate ester metabolites in calves' urine.

Efficient control of the illegal use of anabolic steroids must both take into account metabolic patterns and associated kinetics of elimination; in this context, an extensive animal experiment involving 24 calves and consisting of three administrations of 17beta-estradiol 3-benzoate and 17beta-nandrolone laureate esters was carried out over 50 days. Urine samples were regularly collected during the experiment from all treated and non-treated calves. For sample preparation, a single step high throughput protocol based on 96-well C(18) SPE was developed and validated according to the European Decision 2002/657/EC requirements.

Baseline characteristics of patients recruited in the AREA IN-CHF study (Antiremodelling Effect of Aldosterone Receptors Blockade with Canrenone in Mild Chronic Heart Failure).

Objective: Excess aldosterone activity contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure (HF). Aldosterone antagonists improve clinical outcome in patients with severe HF or left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after myocardial infarction, but knowledge of their impact in mild chronic HF is sparse. AREA IN-CHF was planned to investigate the effects of canrenone on progression of LV remodelling in mild HF.

Multiparametric risk stratification in patients with mild to moderate chronic heart failure.

Background: Whether brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) combined with cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPx) and echocardiographic findings improves prognostic stratification in mild-to-moderate systolic heart failure (HF) is unclear.

Methods And Results: A total of 244 consecutive stable outpatients, median age of 71 (62-76) years, with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I-III HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45% underwent BNP measurement, Doppler echocardiography, and a maximal CPx. Median BNP was 166 (70-403) pg/mL, median LVEF 35% (28%-40%).

[Italian Network on Congestive Heart Failure: ten-year experience].

IN-CHF is a multicenter registry, designed in 1995 to compile a large clinical database on the epidemiological, clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of heart failure outpatients. Main objectives of IN-CHF registry were to provide cardiological centers with a software to collect data of outpatients during office visit, for educational purpose; and to enter local data into a national registry (IN-CHF registry), for scientific purpose. Entry into the database required a diagnosis of heart failure according to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology.

Nationwide survey on acute heart failure in cardiology ward services in Italy.

Aims: Chronic heart failure (HF) is recognized as an important public health problem but little attention has been focused on acute-stage HF.

Methods And Results: Nationwide, prospective, observational study setting 206 cardiology centres with intensive cardiac care units. During 3 months, 2807 patients diagnosed as having de novo acute HF (44%) or worsening chronic HF (56%) were enrolled.

[Economic impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure. Available evidence and evaluation of the CRT-Eucomed model for analysis of cost-effectiveness].

Several clinical trials show that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with moderate-severe heart failure increases survival, improves quality of life and reduces hospital admissions. The high cost of this new technology, incurred by health organizations at the moment of the implant, requires to assess whether its use is economically rational for the Italian Health Service. The paper summarizes evidences of the impact of CRT on the use of hospital resources and on quality of life, and presents a model to calculate incremental costs per quality adjusted life years (QALYs) gained in patients with moderate-severe heart failure treated with optimal medical therapy.

[The AREA IN-CHF trial (antiremodeling effect of aldosterone receptors blockade with canrenone in mild chronic heart failure): rationale and design].

The RALES study has shown that spironolactone reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality both from progressive heart failure and sudden death in patients with NYHA class III or IV heart failure. This favorable effect was clearly independent of a diuretic effect. EPHESUS extended these results to eplerenone in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular dysfunction and signs of heart failure.

Temporal trends in survival and hospitalizations in outpatients with chronic systolic heart failure in 1995 and 1999.

Abstract Background Community and hospital studies have suggested that survival of patients with heart failure (HF) has increased; however, the causes of the improvement and the hospital readmission rates remain undetermined. Methods and Results We compared survival and hospital admission rates in 2 cohorts enrolled in a national registry of outpatients with HF secondary to left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction referred to cardiology centers in 1995 (n = 712) and 1999 (n = 603). One year after enrollment, 163 of 1315 patients (12%) were dead.