Publications by authors named "Greco E"

Purpose: To determine the positive predictive values (PPV) of Ontario administrative data codes for the identification of open (OSR) and endovascular (EVAR) repairs of elective (eAAA) and ruptured (rAAA) abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Methods: We randomly identified 319 eAAA and rAAA repairs at two Toronto hospitals between April 2003 and March 2015, using administrative health data in Ontario, Canada. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes I71.

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Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe condition that can potentially lead to death caused by right ventricular (RV) failure and the consequent cardiogenic shock. Despite the fact thrombolysis is often administrated to critical patients to increase pulmonary perfusion and to reduce RV afterload, surgical treatment represents another valid option in case of failure or contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. Correct risk stratification and multidisciplinary proactive teams are critical factors to dramatically decrease the mortality of this global health burden.

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Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is frequently associated with the development of ascending aortic aneurysm, even if the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. Here, we investigated if a deregulation of Notch1 signaling pathway and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) number is associated with BAV disease and an early ascending aortic aneurysm (AAA) onset. For this purpose, 70 subjects with BAV (M/F 50/20; mean age: 58.

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Objectives: The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is an approved treatment option for end-stage heart failure. Several devices have been developed over the years, including 2 newer ones (HeartMate 3 and HeartWare), but an overall comparative analysis has never been performed. We conducted a network meta-analysis of randomized trials on LVAD for adults with end-stage heart failure.

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In the everyday practice of respiratory physicians, ultrasound techniques play a key role by enabling several diagnostic and interventional procedures. The application of ultrasound to endoscopic procedures allows both a visualization and a guided sampling of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes. Endobronchial ultrasound can be combined with transbronchial needle aspiration, and, similarly, endoscopic ultrasound can be combined with fine-needle aspiration to sample virtually all mediastinal nodal stations from the airways and the esophagus.

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The material analyzed in this study is probably the most ancient archeological solid residue of cheese ever found to date. The sample was collected during the Saqqara Cairo University excavations in the tomb of Ptahmes dated to XIX dynasty ( El-Aguizy, O. Bulletin de l'Institut Française d'Archéologie Orientale (BIFAO) 2010 , 110 , 13 - 34 (ref (1) ); Staring, N.

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Background: Body weight loss program may lead to a decrease in lean body mass affecting negatively muscle performance in obese subjects. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of weight loss on muscle performance in female obese subjects.

Methods: Eighty obese female adults were enrolled for a 2-month unsupervised aerobic training (UAT) plus nutritional program.

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Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate possible interaction of IL-17, TRAIL, and TNF-α in the modulation of osteoblast homeostasis in vitro, using human differentiated osteoblastic Saos-2 cells as in vitro model.

Methods: The effects of these cytokines on osteoblastic cell viability were assessed, by MTT assay, alone or in combination, at different times and concentrations. The effects of IL-17 and TNF-α on the regulatory system of osteoclast activity RANK/RANKL/ OPG were evaluated by Western blot and ELISA techniques in cell culture media.

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Background: To provide indicators for the likelihood of sperm retrieval in patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction is a major issue in the management of male infertility by TESE. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of different parameters, including testicular histopathology, on sperm retrieval in case of reoperation in patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 486 patients who underwent sperm extraction for intracytoplasmic sperm injection and testicular biopsy.

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A multi-center imaging trial by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) "A Multicenter, phase II assessment of tumor hypoxia in glioblastoma using 18F Fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) with PET and MRI (ACRIN 6684)", was conducted to assess hypoxia in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). The aims of this study were to support the role of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI) as a prognostic marker for brain tumor patients in multi-center clinical trials. Seventeen participants from four sites had analyzable 3D MRSI datasets acquired on Philips, GE or Siemens scanners at either 1.

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Objective: To examine the performance of screening for early, preterm and term pre-eclampsia (PE) at 11-13 weeks' gestation by maternal factors and combinations of mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery (UtA) pulsatility index (PI), serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A).

Methods: The data for this study were derived from three previously reported prospective non-intervention screening studies at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation in a combined total of 61 174 singleton pregnancies, including 1770 (2.9%) that developed PE.

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In this retrospective observational study (October 2014 - July 2016), the impact of sperm origin on embryo morphokinetics and on clinical outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection was evaluated. The developmental kinetics of embryos obtained either with testicular sperm (40 cycles; testicular sperm group) or with thawed donor sperm (26 cycles; donor sperm group) was analysed up to day-3 of culture with a time-lapse incubation system. In the testicular sperm group, all patients were affected by nonobstructive azoospermia.

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Bicuspid valve disease is associated with the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm. The molecular mechanisms underlying this association still need to be clarified. Here, we evaluated the circulating levels of T and B lymphocyte subsets associated with the development of vascular diseases in patients with bicuspid aortic valve or tricuspid aortic valve with and without thoracic aortic aneurysm.

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Whereas exercise training is key in the management of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk (obesity, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension), clinicians experience difficulties in how to optimally prescribe exercise in patients with different CVD risk factors. Therefore, a consensus statement for state-of-the-art exercise prescription in patients with combinations of CVD risk factors as integrated into a digital training and decision support system (the EXercise Prescription in Everyday practice & Rehabilitative Training (EXPERT) tool) needed to be established. EXPERT working group members systematically reviewed the literature for meta-analyses, systematic reviews and/or clinical studies addressing exercise prescriptions in specific CVD risk factors and formulated exercise recommendations (exercise training intensity, frequency, volume and type, session and programme duration) and exercise safety precautions, for obesity, arterial hypertension, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and dyslipidaemia.

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Purpose: Patients undergoing radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy (C/RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) often develop dysphagia. Interventions from speech-language pathologists aim to maintain or improve swallow physiology and function. However, it is unclear which interventions provide the greatest benefit.

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Objectives: To examine the effect of first-trimester screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) on the prediction of delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate and the effect of prophylactic use of aspirin on the prevention of SGA.

Methods: The data for this study were derived from two multicenter studies. In SPREE, we investigated the performance of screening for PE by a combination of maternal characteristics and biomarkers at 11-13 weeks' gestation.

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Background/aims: Apparent treatment resistant hypertension (aTRH) is highly prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The impact of aTRH and achievement of recommended blood pressure (BP) values on the rate of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) loss in CKD patients is poorly known. To assess the role of aTRH and time-updated BP control (BPC) on the progression of CKD in patients with T2D and hypertension (HT) in real life clinical practice.

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Objectives: To assess the predictive role of changes in albuminuria on the loss of renal function under antihypertensive treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: Clinical records from a total of 12 611 patients with hypertension and T2D, attending 100 antidiabetic centers in Italy, with normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at baseline and regular visits during a 4-year period were retrieved and analyzed. We assessed the association between changes in albuminuria status during a 1-year baseline period and time updated blood pressure (BP) and eGFR loss over the subsequent 4-year follow-up.

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Aim: We investigated the effect of alogliptin and gliclazide on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c between 7.5% and 8.

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Objective: To test the hypothesis that the performance of first-trimester screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) by a method that uses Bayes' theorem to combine maternal factors with biomarkers is superior to that defined by current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study (screening program for pre-eclampsia (SPREE)) in seven National Health Service maternity hospitals in England, of women recruited between April and December 2016. Singleton pregnancies at 11-13 weeks' gestation had recording of maternal characteristics and medical history and measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI), serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A).

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Objective: In the treatment of an infected aorta, open repair and replacement with a rifampin-impregnated Dacron vascular graft decrease the risk of prosthetic graft infections, with several protocols available in the literature. We hypothesize that the same holds true for endovascular aneurysm repair, and after studying and optimizing rifampin solution concentration and incubation period to maximize the coating process of rifampin on Dacron endovascular stent grafts (ESGs), we propose a rapid real-time perioperative protocol.

Methods: Several prepared rifampin solutions, including a negative control solution, were used to coat multiple triplicate sets of Dacron endovascular aortic stent grafts at different but set incubation periods.

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Background: Denervation triggers numerous molecular responses in skeletal muscle, including the activation of catabolic pathways and oxidative stress, leading to progressive muscle atrophy. Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) mediates skeletal muscle response to denervation, suggesting the use of HDAC inhibitors as a therapeutic approach to neurogenic muscle atrophy. However, the effects of HDAC4 inhibition in skeletal muscle in response to long-term denervation have not been described yet.

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Early switching to de-intensified maintenance regimen is still a matter of debate in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The MARTHA trial, a S.I.

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