Cardiovascular effects of COVID-19 lockdown in professional football players.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic with the stay-at-home orders and lockdown has dramatically forced athletes to stop team training and competitions, causing deep changes in habits and lifestyle. Aim of this study was to evaluate in a retrospective single center study the cardiovascular (CV) health and fitness of elite football player after COVID-19 lockdown in Italy and to compare such findings with the 2019 off-season period, in order to identify potential differences in the CV features and outcomes.

Methods: All 29 professional football players of the first male team were enrolled before resuming training and competition after COVID-19 lockdown and underwent several exams including physical examination, resting and stress electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, spirometry and blood tests.

Assessment of Biventricular Function by Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Secondary Mitral Regurgitation after Repair with the MitraClip System.

Background: The goal of this study was to determine changes in left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function with three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) after percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip system in high-risk surgical patients with moderate to severe or severe secondary mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods: Thirty-two patients with MR undergoing MitraClip were prospectively included. Patients underwent two-dimensional (2D) and 3D transthoracic echocardiography before clip implantation and after 6-month follow-up.

Comparison of clinical and angiographic prognostic risk scores in elderly patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and referred for percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Multiple risk prediction models have been validated in all-age patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, they have not been validated specifically in the elderly.

Methods: We calculated the GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) score, the logistic EuroSCORE, the AMIS (Acute Myocardial Infarction Swiss registry) score, and the SYNTAX (Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery) score in a consecutive series of 114 patients ≥75 years presenting with ACS and treated with PCI within 24 hours of hospital admission. Patients were stratified according to score tertiles and analysed retrospectively by comparing the lower/mid tertiles as an aggregate group with the higher tertile group.

Echocardiographic findings in simple and complex patent foramen ovale before and after transcatheter closure.

Aims: Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in cryptogenic cerebrovascular events is an alternative to medical therapy. The interpretation of residual shunts after implantation of different devices for PFO with different morphologies is controversial.

Methods And Results: Transcatheter PFO closure was performed in 123 patients with a history of ≥1 paradoxical embolism using three different devices: Amplatzer (n = 46), Figulla Occlutech (n = 41), and Atriasept Cardia (n = 36).

Right ventricular function in acute pulmonary embolism: a combined assessment by three-dimensional and speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess changes in right ventricular (RV) parameters determined by three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography and speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and RV dysfunction without systemic hypotension (submassive pulmonary embolism).

Methods: Sixty-six patients were prospectively studied at the onset of the acute episode and after median follow-up periods of 30 days and 6 months. Sixty-six controls were selected.

Horizontal glottectomy: is it an out-of-date procedure?

Purpose: The aim of the study is to illustrate our experience with horizontal glottectomy (HG), reviewing the indications and results of this uncommon partial laryngectomy.

Materials And Methods: It is a retrospective study. We completed a chart review of patients who underwent partial laryngectomy between May 2003 and June 2010.

Diagnosis of anal human papillomavirus infection: polymerase chain reaction or cytology?

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative patients engaging in promiscuous behaviors and anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cytology.

Methods: Fifty-six HIV-positive patients and 49 HIV-negative patients who engaged in sexually promiscuous behavior were enrolled in the study. We performed cytological exams using the Pap smear and PCR for HPV-DNA detection, with identification of oncogenic strains.

Assessment of coronary stenosis, plaque burden and remodeling by multidetector computed tomography in patients referred for suspected coronary artery disease.

Aims: To compare multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and invasive quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) for assessment of coronary lesions in patients referred for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: We studied 57 patients (48 men; mean age: 63 ± 10 years) who underwent 64-slice MDCT because of atypical chest pain, stable angina, or ECG abnormalities and were diagnosed with CAD. All patients subsequently underwent QCA and IVUS.

Carotid stenting and transcranial Doppler monitoring: indications for carotid stenosis treatment.

Background: Recently, angioplasty and stenting of carotid arteries (CAS) have taken the place of surgery. The aim of our study is to assess the role of transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring during CAS to address the embolic complications during the stages of the procedure, with or without embolic cerebral protection devices.

Methods: A total of 152 patients were submitted to carotid stenting.

Interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy after breast conserving surgery.

We evaluated local recurrence, toxicity rate and cosmetic outcome in 72 patients treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy after breast conserving surgery. HDR brachytherapy was administered: i) as partial breast irradiation (PBI) in 64 patients with low-risk early stage breast cancer, enrolled in a phase II prospective study; ii) as PBI after a second conservative surgery as treatment of local relapse in 3 patients; iii) for delivering a boost after whole breast external beam radiotherapy in 5 patients. Implantation was done during surgery (breast conserving or re-excision to achieve adequate surgical margins), with the wound open, or postoperatively.

Right coronary artery chronic total occlusion in presence of anomalous origin of left coronary artery.

Right sinus origin of left coronary artery is a very uncommon congenital coronary anomaly. The presence of an associated totally occluded right coronary artery represents an exceedingly rare picture. An accurate morphologic identification of anomalous arteries, by multi-detector computed tomography, is mandatory before planning any therapeutic intervention.

CT and MR findings in synovial chondromatosis of the temporo-mandibular joint: our experience and review of literature.

Objective: To compare Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) features and their diagnostic potential in the assessment of Synovial Chondromatosis (SC) of the Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ).

Materials And Methods: Eight patients with symptoms and signs compatible with dysfunctional disorders of the TMJ underwent CT and MR scan. We considered the following parameters: soft tissue involvement (disk included), osteostructural alterations of the joints, loose bodies and intra-articular fluid.

First trimester PAPP-A levels associated with early prediction of pregnancy induced hypertension.

Objective: Previous studies have suggested an association between low levels of first trimester serum Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein-A (PAPP-A) and the occurrence of hypertension in pregnancy (PIH). The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of maternal PAPP-A levels in the identification of women at risk of PIH.

Methods: Maternal serum PAPP-A was measured between 11-13 + 6 wks' gestation, as part of the first trimester screening of aneuploidies.

Diffusion-weighted MRI in cervical lymph nodes: differentiation between benign and malignant lesions.

Objective: Purpose of our study was to assess the potential role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant nodes.

Subject And Methods: We enrolled 32 subjects: 14 with benign lymphadenopathy, 17 patients with histologically proved malignant disease before beginning treatment and 1 patient with lymphoma after chemotherapeutic treatment. In all patients we used fast spin echo T2-weighted images in axial and coronal planes, fast spin echo T1-weighted images before and after contrast medium of administration in axial and coronal planes.

Type B aortic dissection in a patient with unknown left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy: cardiovascular magnetic resonance diagnosis.

A 61-year-old man was referred at our hospital for a cardiac evaluation after an episode of oppressive chest pain at rest. He was discharged with a MRI diagnosis of non-compaction cardiomyopathy presented with typical angina, left ventricle dysfunction and ischemic EKG findings without atherosclerotic narrowing and also with a type B aortic dissection, documented also by computed tomography.

Multi-slice tomographic diagnosis of isolated right aortic arch in an elderly patient.

Occasional report of asyntomatic right aortic arch in a 90-year-old man with any congenital defect associated.

Double superior vena cava: right connected to left atrium and left to coronary sinus.

Left persistent superior vena cava connected to coronary sinus may coexist with right superior vena cava connected to left atrium. Surgical correction is not mandatory if there is no cyanosis due to a big interjugular bridging vein.

Strain rate dobutamine echocardiography for prediction of recovery after revascularization in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to assess the accuracy of quantitative segmental analysis by strain rate imaging (SRI) technique during dobutamine test for detecting myocardial recovery after revascularization in patients with chronic ischemic regional left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and compare results with those of 2-dimensional echocardiography (2D) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) as well as rest-4 hours-24 hours redistribution thallium SPECT (Tl SPECT).

Methods And Results: Forty-one patients with chronic ischemic regional LV dysfunction (EF 29 +/- 8%) underwent dobutamine 2D/TDI/SRI and Tl SPECT before and after myocardial revascularization. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the recovery of regional LV function were 73%, 81%, and 77% for dobutamine 2D; 77%, 82%, and 80% for dobutamine TDI; 86%, 88%, and 85% for dobutamine SRI; and 94%, 76%, and 84% for Tl tomography.

Aortic wall mechanics in the Marfan syndrome assessed by transesophageal tissue Doppler echocardiography.

The aim of this study was to investigate the value of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in assessing the elastic properties of the thoracic aorta in patients with Marfan's syndrome. Aortic distensibility, stiffness index, and pulse-wave velocity were calculated using M-mode data in a TEE short-axis view in 31 patients with Marfan's syndrome and 22 normal controls. Acceleration time, maximum wall expansion velocity (Vmax), and wall strain were determined from TDI tracings.

Quantitative assessment of systolic and diastolic ventricular function with tissue Doppler imaging after Fontan type of operation.

Background: There is evidence that "inappropriate hypertrophy" of the single left ventricle, which occurs as a result of acute preload reduction, leads to adverse consequences on ventricular function. However, a systematic study of the capability of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to assess systolic and diastolic ventricular functions after the Fontan procedure is still missing.

Methods: Twenty-four postoperative patients aged 12-33 years were prospectively evaluated with two-dimensional echocardiography equipped with TDI capabilities.