Discovery of allosteric regulators with clinical potential to stabilize alpha-L-iduronidase in mucopolysaccharidosis type I.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is an inherited lysosomal disease caused by lowered activity of the enzyme alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA). Current therapeutic options show limited efficacy and do not treat some important aspects of the disease. Therefore, it may be advantageous to identify strategies that could improve the efficacy of existing treatments.

Cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation in octogenarians: a propensity score-based analysis with a younger cohort.

Background: In terms of safety and efficacy, cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) has become a valid option for achieving pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients affected by symptomatic atrial fibrillation. However, CB-A data in octogenarians are still scarce and limited to single-centre experiences. The present multicentre study aimed to compare the outcomes and complications of index CB-A in patients older than 80 years with a cohort of younger patients.

Differences in clinical characteristics and quantitative lung CT features between vaccinated and not vaccinated hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Italy.

Background: To evaluate the differences in the clinical characteristics and severity of lung impairment, assessed by quantitative lung CT scan, between vaccinated and non-vaccinated hospitalized patients with COVID-19; and to identify the variables with best prognostic prediction according to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status. We recorded clinical, laboratory and quantitative lung CT scan data in 684 consecutive patients [580 (84.8%) vaccinated, and 104 (15.

Pathophysiology of COVID-19 pneumonia and respiratory treatment.

COVID-19 pandemic has seen an unprecedented number of patients presenting with acute respiratory distress syndrome to the intensive care units all over the world. Between August and November 2022, we performed research on PubMed screening all publications on COVID-19 disease and respiratory failure and its treatment. In this review we focused on COVID-19 most common manifestations concerning lung function.

Design of a sensor network for the quantitative analysis of sport climbing.

We describe the design of a modular sensorized climbing wall for motion analysis in a naturalistic environment. The wall is equipped with force sensors to measure interaction forces between the athlete and the wall, which can be used by experienced instructors, athletes, or therapists, to gain insights into the quality of motion. A specifically designed triaxial load cell is integrated into each hold placement, invisible to the climber, and compatible with standard climbing holds.

High- versus Low-Flow Extracorporeal Respiratory Support in Experimental Hypoxemic Acute Lung Injury.

In the EOLIA (ECMO to Rescue Lung Injury in Severe ARDS) trial, oxygenation was similar between intervention and conventional groups, whereas [Formula: see text]e was reduced in the intervention group. Comparable reductions in ventilation intensity are theoretically possible with low-flow extracorporeal CO removal (ECCOR), provided oxygenation remains acceptable. To compare the effects of ECCOR and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, and hemodynamics in animal models of pulmonary (intratracheal hydrochloric acid) and extrapulmonary (intravenous oleic acid) lung injury.

Ventilatory ratio, dead space, and venous admixture in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Ventilatory ratio (VR) has been proposed as an alternative approach to estimate physiological dead space. However, the absolute value of VR, at constant dead space, might be affected by venous admixture and CO volume expired per minute (VCO).

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study of mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the UK and Italy.

Energy dissipation during expiration and ventilator-induced lung injury: an experimental animal study.

The amount of energy delivered to the respiratory system is recognized as a cause of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). How energy dissipation within the lung parenchyma causes damage is still a matter of debate. Expiratory flow control has been proposed as a strategy to reduce the energy dissipated into the respiratory system during expiration and, possibly, VILI.

Safety and long-term efficacy of cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation in octogenarians: a multicenter experience.

Background: Cryoballoon technology (CB-A) has become a cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in terms of safety and efficacy. Data regarding CB-A in octogenarians are still scarce and limited to single center experiences. The present study sought to analyze the performances of index CB-A in patients older than 80 years-old referring to 3 high-volume European centers.

End-Tidal to Arterial Pco Ratio as Guide to Weaning from Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Weaning from venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is based on oxygenation and not on carbon dioxide elimination. To predict readiness to wean from VV-ECMO. In this multicenter study of mechanically ventilated adults with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving VV-ECMO, we investigated a variable based on CO elimination.

Cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: mid-term outcome evaluated by ECG monitoring with an implantable loop recorder.

Background: The success rate after cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) performed for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) might be overestimated by traditional noninvasive monitoring techniques. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mid-term outcome of CB-A in patients with PAF implanted with an implantable loop recorder (ILR) after the procedure.

Methods: Between January 2017 and March 2019, all patients who underwent CB-A for PAF and who were subsequently implanted with an ILR were retrospectively included.

Ajmaline Testing and the Brugada Syndrome.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) diagnosis requires the presence of a typical type 1 ECG pattern. Owing to the spontaneous ECG variability, the real BrS prevalence in the general population remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of positive ajmaline challenge for BrS in a cohort of consecutive patients who underwent electrophysiological evaluation for different clinical reasons.

Evaluation of 2011 AAP cervical spine screening guidelines for children with Down Syndrome.

Purpose: Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) has a higher incidence rate among individuals with Down syndrome (DS) than the non-DS population. In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its AAI screening guidelines for children with DS from radiographic screening to radiographs only if there are clinical symptoms suggestive of cervical spine pathology. An assessment of whether this alteration has been associated with an increase in AAI-associated spinal cord injury has not been undertaken.

Electrophysiological findings in patients with isolated veins after cryoablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Aims: The main cause of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation is pulmonary vein reconnection. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyse the electophysiological findings in patients undergoing repeat procedures after an index cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) and presenting with permanency of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in all veins. In addition, we sought to compare the latter with a similar group of patients with reconnected veins at the redo procedure.

Temperature-guided ablation with the second-generation cryoballoon for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: 3-year follow-up in a multicenter experience.

Purpose: A strategy based on the attainment of the specific parameter of - 40 °C within the first 60 s during cryoenergy applications in the setting of cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) without the use of an inner lumen mapping catheter (ILMC) (Achieve; Medtronic, USA) for the visualization of real-time recordings (RTR) has been previously described. The latter has proven to be very effective in guaranteeing freedom from atrial arrhythmias in patients affected by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) at 1-year follow-up. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of this strategy in a multicenter experience on a long-term follow-up of 3 years.

Standardized Quantification of Vagal Denervation by Extracardiac Vagal Stimulation during Second Generation Cryoballoon ablation: a Vein per Vein Analysis.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution in the acute loss in vagal innervation after ablation with the second generation cryoballoon (CB-A) in each distinct pulmonary vein (PV) by means of external cardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS) by positioning a catheter in the internal jugular vein in a cohort of 60 patients.

Methods: Sixty patients, 50 starting from the left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) and 10 from the right superior pulmonary vein with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), having undergone ECVS before the first and after each PV ablation by means of CB-A ablation, were included.

Results: The ECVS performed pre-ablation provoked cardioinhibitory responses in all cases with mean pause duration of 10251.

Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm during cryoballoon ablation: A favorable and not unusual phenomenon during second-generation cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: The prevalence and the clinical impact of conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm (SR) during cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) are unknown.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of restoration of SR during CB-A and the clinical impact of this phenomenon.

Methods: Between January 2012 and September 2018, all patients who experienced conversion of AF to SR during CB-A were included.

A novel strategy to treat vaso-vagal syncope: Cardiac neuromodulation by cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Clinical management of vaso-vagal syncope (VVS) remains challenging since no therapy has proven to completely prevent VVS recurrence.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the mid-term outcome of cryoballoon (CB) cardioneuroablation achieved by pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with VVS.

Methods: Patients who underwent CB cardioneuroablation in our centers between January 2014 to June 2018 were included.

Phrenic nerve palsy during right-sided pulmonary veins cryoapplications: new insights from pulmonary vein anatomy addressed by computed tomography.

Purpose: There is still sparse information regarding phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) during the cryoablation of both right-sided pulmonary vein (PV) and its anatomical predictors.

Methods: Consecutive patients who had undergone pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using CB-A and suffered PNP during both right-sided PVs were retrospectively included in our study. Two other groups were then selected among patients who experienced PNP during RIPV application only (group 2) and RSPV application only (group 3).

Inhibition of vascular calcification by inositol phosphates derivatized with ethylene glycol oligomers.

Myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) is a natural product known to inhibit vascular calcification (VC), but with limited potency and low plasma exposure following bolus administration. Here we report the design of a series of inositol phosphate analogs as crystallization inhibitors, among which 4,6-di-O-(methoxy-diethyleneglycol)-myo-inositol-1,2,3,5-tetrakis(phosphate), (OEG)-IP4, displays increased in vitro activity, as well as more favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles than IP6 after subcutaneous injection. (OEG)-IP4 potently stabilizes calciprotein particle (CPP) growth, consistently demonstrates low micromolar activity in different in vitro models of VC (i.

Predictors of cardiac neuromodulation achieved by cryoballoon ablation performed in patients with atrial fibrillation who were in sinus rhythm before the ablation.

Background: The impact of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) performed with cryoballoon (CB) on the intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system (ICANS) remains unclear.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictors and the clinical meaning of cardiac neuromodulation achieved by CB-ablation as assessed by sinus heart rate (HR) response after the procedure.

Methods: Patients who underwent CB-ablation for drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) from January 2014 to October 2018 were included.

Correction to: Two-year follow-up of one-stage left unilateral thoracoscopic epicardial and transcatheter endocardial ablation for persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.

Owing to a type error during final correction and proof data submission to the journal, there were mistakes introduced into the legends of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 as well as into the Y-axis title of the plot of Fig.

Pulmonary veins anatomical determinants of cooling kinetics during second-generation cryoballoon ablation.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of anatomical characteristics of the pulmonary veins (PVs) determining cooling kinetics during second-generation cryoballoon ablation (CbA).

Methods And Results: we enrolled all consecutive patients who underwent CbA for symptomatic atrial fibrillation in our center from January 2019 to March 2019. All patients had complete computed tomography scans of the heart before the ablation.

High parasympathetic activity as reflected by deceleration capacity predicts atrial fibrillation recurrence after repeated catheter ablation procedure.

Purpose: High parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity is accurately reflected by deceleration capacity (DC) and is involved in atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation procedure. When compared with initial catheter ablation procedure, repeated procedures for AF recurrence are followed by a lower success rates, estimated at 50%. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of PNS activity assessed by DC measured before repeated procedure on AF recurrence after repeated procedure.