Exercise for slowing the progression of atherosclerotic process: effects on inflammatory markers.

Atherosclerosis is a dynamic process driven by all cardiovascular risk factors that can be briefly divided into an early and a late phase. Inflammation is one of the fundamental substrates that initiates the atherosclerotic process in the early stages and promotes and maintains it in the final stages. In the last decades, clinical and experimental data have shown that inflammation is supported by mediators that respond to physical activity.

The core components of cardio-oncology rehabilitation.

The increased efficacy of cancer therapy has resulted in greater cancer survival and increasing number of people with cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The sharing of risk factors, the bidirectional relationship between cancer and cardiovascular diseases and the cardiotoxic effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are the cause of the rapid expansion of cardio-oncology. All strategies to preserve cardiovascular health and mitigate the negative effect of cancer therapy, by reducing the cardiovascular risk, must be pursued to enable the timely and complete delivery of anticancer therapy and to achieve the longest remission of the disease.

Histological and Histomorphometric Evaluation of New Bone Formation after Maxillary Sinus Augmentation with Two Different Osteoconductive Materials: A Randomized, Parallel, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

This study aimed to investigate the histological features of deproteinized equine bone mineral (DEBM) and anorganic bovine bone (ABB) after human sinus augmentation with the lateral approach. Twenty-three sinus augmentations were performed in 16 patients (male: 10/female: 6) using DEBM or ABB in a randomized fashion. Healing took place over the next 6 months.

Sacubitril/Valsartan Improves Autonomic Function and Cardiopulmonary Parameters in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Background: Heart rate recovery (HRR) is a marker of vagal tone, which is a powerful predictor of mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) is a treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), which impressively impacts cardiovascular outcome. This study aims at evaluating the effects of S/V on HRR and its correlation with cardiopulmonary indexes in HFrEF patients.

Clinical Evidence for Q10 Coenzyme Supplementation in Heart Failure: From Energetics to Functional Improvement.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are hallmarks of heart failure (HF). Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like organic compound widely expressed in humans as ubiquinol (reduced form) and ubiquinone (oxidized form). CoQ10 plays a key role in electron transport in oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria.

Secondary prevention advices after cardiovascular index event: From drug prescription to risk factors control in real world practice.

The present study aims at evaluating the achievement of blood pressure, lipid and blood glucose targets, healthy lifestyle changes and appropriate drug prescription/adherence in patients attending secondary prevention/CR ambulatory visit after index cardiovascular event in a time period ranging 1 to 5 year. At ambulatory visit, a predetermined set of data collection was used, including demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle habits, type and time of index event, current symptoms, physical sign, biochemistry and current medical treatment (including type and dosage). Cardiovascular risk profile (smoking habits, physical activity and body weight), secondary prevention goals (LDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, resting heart rate, glycated haemoglobin level) and the use of recommended drugs were also evaluated and categorized.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy for malignancies in children.

Purpose: Malignant tumors of the common bile duct or of the pancreas head are uncommon in childhood [Perez EA, Gutierrez JC, Koniaris LG, Neville HL, Thompson WR, Sola JE. Malignant pancreatic tumors: incidence and outcome in 58 pediatric patients. J Pediatr Surg.

Prehepatic portal hypertension with aneurysm of the portal vein: unusual but treatable malformative pattern.

Introduction: Portal vein aneurysms (PVAs) are usually located at the vein trunk or at its bifurcation, rarely intra-hepatic, or at the umbilical portion. Etiology remains unclear.

Methods: Three children with PVA were identified over a 5-year period.

Meso-Rex bypass as an alternative technique for portal vein reconstruction at or after liver transplantation in children: review and perspectives.

Direct portal revascularization can be achieved by interposing a vascular graft between the SMV and the Rex recessus (left portal vein system): the MRB. To review indications and results of the procedure in the setting of pediatric liver transplantation, reports were selected from the English literature. Previously reported series were updated to analyze long-term outcome.

Surgical management of portal hypertension in children.

The management of children with portal hypertension has dramatically changed during the past decade, with an improvement in outcome. This has been achieved by improved efficiency of endoscopic variceal control and the success of liver transplantation. Emergency surgical shunt procedures are rarely required, with acute bleeding episodes generally controlled endoscopically or, occasionally in adults, by interventional radiological procedures.

Congenital intrahepatic portohepatic shunt managed by interventional radiologic occlusion: a case report and literature review.

Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are rare hepatic vascular anomalies that often lead to severe secondary conditions. A 6-year-old boy was referred for assessment of severe hypoxia, and a large liver mass was diagnosed with such a malformation and was managed by direct closure of the venous fistula by interventional radiology. Follow-up assessment shows normalization of the respiratory condition and a progressive reduction of the vascular liver lesion.

Creatine phosphate: pharmacological and clinical perspectives.

Since the 1970s, extensive experimental and clinical research has demonstrated that relevant reductions of creatine phosphate (CrP) or phosphocreatine availability occur in a wide spectrum of pathophysiological situations. A decrease in intracellular concentrations of creatine (Cr) and CrP results in a hypodynamic state of cardiac and skeletal muscle pathology. Many experimental and clinical studies have evaluated the possibility to improve cardiac and skeletal muscle performance by exogenous administration of CrP.

Giant pilomatricoma mimicking a malignant parotid mass.

Pilomatricomas are benign neoplasms of the hair follicle occurring relatively often in the pediatric population. However, lesions attaining massive proportions are very rarely encountered. We describe such a case presenting in the parotid region and initially misdiagnosed as malignancy.

Conservative management of cervicomediastinal chyloma in an infant.

The accumulation of chyle into the mediastinum after surgical intervention is considered an extremely rare event, which has been previously described only in adulthood. We report on a 9-month-old boy who developed a cervicomediastinal chyloma after excision of a large left-sided supraclavicular cystic hygroma. Notwithstanding considerable tracheal deviation, the infant remained asymptomatic and was successfully treated by nonoperative treatment.

Infantile abdominoscrotal hydrocele: a not so benign condition.

Purpose: Infantile abdominoscrotal hydrocele is a rarely described condition. We report the outcome of the largest single institution experience managing these lesions.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed descriptive case series of all infants treated between January 1998 and December 2007.

The eyelid crease approach to angular dermoid cysts in pediatric general surgery.

Purpose: We recently adopted an approach described by eyelid surgeons for angular dermoid cyst excision. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of this technique with that accomplished through a conventional trans-eyebrow incision.

Methods: Prospective nonrandomized study of 34 consecutive children treated between January 2000 and December 2006.

One-stage excision of massive cervicomediastinal lymphangioma in the newborn.

We report the first neonate successfully treated with one-stage complete excision of massive cervicomediastinal lymphangioma producing alarming respiratory distress. Early postoperative course was complicated by refractory bilateral chylothorax, which effectively responded to insertion of external pleuroperitoneal shunts. At the 6-year follow-up, the child remains symptom free and recurrence free.