Publications by authors named "Lorenzo Previato"
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to analyze the trends in hospitalizations due to systemic and cardiac amyloidosis in the Veneto Region of Northeastern Italy from 2010 to 2020, highlighting the need for better understanding of its epidemiology.
- - Using ICD-9 codes, the researchers found that the incidence of amyloidosis-related hospitalizations increased significantly, particularly among older male patients (>65 years), with an annual increase of 17% from 2015 to 2020.
- - By 2020, a majority (about 70%) of the hospitalized cases involved cardiac amyloidosis, and there was also a notable connection between patients undergoing carpal tunnel syndrome surgeries and subsequent cardiac issues, especially in men. *
Article Synopsis
- Achilles tendon xanthoma (ATX) develops when cholesterol accumulates in macrophages within the tendon, similar to cholesterol buildup in artery plaques (atheroma).
- A study compared 16 familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients with ATX to 29 without, finding no major differences in overall plasma lipid profiles but observing distinct variations in cholesterol efflux mechanisms.
- The results indicated that specific lipoprotein dysfunctions, such as decreased ABCG1-mediated HDL cholesterol efflux and increased serum cholesterol loading capacity, may play a role in the development and progression of ATX in FH patients.
Article Synopsis
- Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an effective and convenient imaging tool for assessing COVID-19 pneumonia, allowing for bedside evaluation and ongoing monitoring of patients.
- A study of 96 hospitalized patients revealed that LUS patterns, such as B-lines and consolidations, are linked to disease severity and stage, particularly worsening during the intermediate period of illness (day 7 to 13 post-symptom onset).
- Results indicate that LUS can help differentiate between localized disease (consolidations) and generalized illness (B-lines), providing valuable insights into the patient's condition and related complications.
Rapid intensive observation (RIO) units have been created to guarantee high standards of care in a sustainable health-care system. Within short stay units (SSUs), which are a subgroup of RIOs, only rapidly manageable patients should be admitted. Physicians are unable to predict the length of stay (LOS) as objective criteria to make such a prediction are missing.
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- The study focused on hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Italy, particularly those who are elderly and have pre-existing health conditions, to explore the links between cardiac injury and mortality.
- A total of 109 patients were analyzed, revealing that 18% died during their hospital stay, with deceased patients generally being older and presenting more serious comorbidities and higher levels of cardiac troponin.
- Elevated cardiac troponin levels were found to significantly correlate with increased risk of in-hospital death, mediating about 25% of mortality risk alongside other factors like chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease.
Background: Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin combination therapy is often prescribed for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring is warranted because both medications cause corrected QT-interval (QTc) prolongation. Whether QTc duration significantly varies during the day, potentially requiring multiple ECGs, remains to be established.
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- Monocyte-macrophages (MoMas) are essential in the development of atherosclerosis, and their behavior in humans was analyzed in different groups: familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), non-familial hypercholesterolemia (NFH), and normocholesterolemic (CTRL) patients.
- The study found that both FH and NFH patients had higher levels of pro-inflammatory M1 MoMas compared to CTRL, while anti-inflammatory M2 MoMas were decreased, especially in NFH.
- A significant correlation was identified between LDL cholesterol levels and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques, suggesting that human hypercholesterolemia leads to an imbalance in monocyte populations that may increase atheros
The leading function of the physician is the clinical reasoning, which involves appropriate investigation of the problems of the patient, formulation of a diagnostic suspect based on the patient's symptoms and signs, gathering of additional relevant information, to select necessary tests and administration of the most suitable therapy. The problems of the patient are expressed by symptoms or signs or abnormal test results, requested for a variety of reasons. The entire scientific, as well as diagnostic approach, is based on three steps: to stumble in a problem; to try a solution through a hypothesis; to disprove or to prove the hypothesis by a process of criticism.
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