Current Evidence and Future Perspectives about the Role of PARP Inhibitors in the Treatment of Thoracic Cancers.

In recent years, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition has become a promising therapeutic option for several tumors, especially for those harboring a BRCA 1-2 mutation or a deficit in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway. Nevertheless, to date, PARP inhibitors are still not largely used for thoracic malignancies neither as a single agent nor in combination with other treatments. Recently, a deeper understanding of HRR mechanisms, alongside the development of new targeted and immunotherapy agents, particularly against HRR-deficient tumors, traced the path to new treatment strategies for many tumor types including lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Primary versus secondary antiemetic prophylaxis with NK1 receptor antagonists in patients affected by gastrointestinal malignancies and treated with a doublet or triplet combination regimen including oxaliplatin and/or irinotecan plus fluoropyrimidines: A propensity score matched analysis.

Aim: The aim of the current study is to investigate the impact of primary compared to secondary chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) prophylaxis with NK1 receptor antagonists (NK1-RA) in patients affected by gastrointestinal malignancies and treated with oxaliplatin- and/or irinotecan-based doublet or triplet regimens.

Study Design And Methods: Clinical data of patients affected by gastrointestinal malignancies, treated with an oxaliplatin and/or irinotecan-based doublet or triplet regimen as neo/adjuvant or advanced-line treatment, and who received NK1-RA as primary (from the first cycle of treatment) or secondary (after the onset of CINV with a previous regimen with 5HT3-RA and dexamethasone) prophylaxis for CINV, were retrospectively collected in an observational study involving 16 Italian centers. A propensity score matching was performed by taking into account the following stratification factors: sex (male vs.

[Lifestyle and global cardiovascular risk: a prospective study on a borderline hypertensive population].

Background And Aims: Arterial hypertension is a well known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Today, it is possible to calculate the cardiovascular risk at 10 years with the risk card. The reduction of cardiovascular risk is based on a multi-factorial approach including the lifestyle modification.

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of combined low-dose simvastatin-fenofibrate treatment in primary mixed hyperlipidaemia.

Objective: In order to assess the long-term (12 months) efficacy and safety of fenofibrate administered with simvastatin in the treatment of primary mixed hyperlipidaemia, we conducted a study that compared increasing dosages of these drugs in subgroups of men and women belonging to a clinical sample of out-patients.

Design: This was an open study carried out in patients with primary mixed hyperlipidaemia (lipoprotein phenotype IIb) who needed a combined therapeutic approach because of their poor response to a single-drug regimen with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (simvastatin). Thus, a fibrate (fenofibrate) was added to the therapy.

Autonomic dysfunction and microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by vascular damage and interstizial fibrosis of many organs. Our interest was focused on the evaluation of cardiac autonomic function by measurements of heart rate variability (HRV) and microvascular damage detected by nailfold capillaroscopy (NC) in SSc patients. We examined 25 consecutive outpatients affected by systemic sclerosis and 25 healthy controls.

Assessment of risk in radiology using malpractice RVU.

Introduction: Analysis on the causes and remedies needed to reduce the incidence of malpractice has been under continual studies, although limited data is available regarding quantitative evaluation of the risk.

Objectives: To determine radiological risk in a preventive and quantitative manner and verify if the malpractice relative value units (MP-RVU) are a good indicator of associated risk factors.

Materials And Methods: Radiological examinations executed by our Radiology Department in 2000-2004 have been codified according to nomenclature HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) used by United States of America Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and interferon- induced thyroid diseases in four patients with HCV-related chronic hepatitis.

Objectives: The interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy for HCV hepatitis may exacerbate or induce underlying thyroid disorders. Besides viral factors, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) may be an independent risk factor.

Methods: We evaluated fifteen patients with HCV chronic hepatitis during a period of 40 months.

Joint sonography in asymptomatic patients with HCV correlated hepatitis.

Objectives: Many different articular symptoms may appear in patients with HCV hepatitis, but in a relatively large number of patients no rheumatic symptoms are present. This sonographic study was undertaken to detect the possible presence of early articular changes in HCV patients without any rheumatic manifestations.

Methods: The knee, hip and shoulder were evaluated in a cohort of 29 consecutive HCV patients without any rheumatic symptoms.

Attitudes and approach to cardiovascular risk factors in Italy: results of an electronic questionnaire survey.

Background: The advent of computer-based technology has led to innovative epidemiological research methods to exploit the advantages of computer-mediated communications. The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a self-administered electronic questionnaire for acquiring information on cardiovascular health, knowledge and behaviours in a representative, stratified sample of the Italian population.

Methods: We report information on the attitudes and approach to cardiovascular disease prevention in a representative sample of Italian families who were interviewed at home by electronic questionnaires.

Immunoadsorption apheresis (Selesorb) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus-related type 2 mixed cryoglobulinemia.

In this short-term open label clinical pilot study, conducted at one center, the immune complex dextran sulphate adsorber (Selesorb) was used to treat four female patients aged 59-69 with HCV-related cryoglobulinaemia, vasculitis and/or neuropathy. The primary trial objective was to assess the clinical efficacy of the immunoadsorber. The secondary objective of the trial was to determine the safety of the adsorber and to investigate the adsorption capacity, measured as the adsorption of cryoglobulin-related immune complexes and the resulting influence on plasma components of the immune system.

Prevalence and clinical features of skin diseases in chronic HCV infection. A prospective study in 96 patients.

Background: Between extra-hepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection particular interest is focused on some dermatological diseases such as: leukocytoclastic vasculitis, oral lichen planus, pruritus-urticaria, psoriasis, etc. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of some dermatoses in our population of patients with HCV infection and describe the more characteristics clinical pictures.

Methods: Ninety-six patients (36 men and 60 women) aged from 35 to 74 years with HCV documented by 3rd generation ELISA and RIBA tests were prospectively examined for 3 years to determine the prevalence of some skin disorders, reported as associated with HCV infection.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and myocardial function in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

An imbalance of TNF system activity has been reported in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Nevertheless, the question whether TNF-alpha action is directly implicated in the pathogenesis of DM1 or is a simple marker of disease activity is still open. Therefore, the present study was aimed to investigate serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6 levels in association with the disease stage, cytosine-thymine-guanine (CTG) expansion and cardiac function of 56 patients with DM1 (40+/-14 years) and 28 healthy controls (42+/-12 years).

Ventricular late potentials in systemic sclerosis: relationship with skin involvement.

Objective: To detect the myocardial involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) by signal averaged electrocardiography method (SA-ECG) in relationship to the skin changes.

Methods: We selected 24 SSc outpatients according to American Rheumatism Association criteria, without clinical and instrumental evidence of cardiac disease, and compared them with 24 control subjects. All patients and controls underwent SA-ECG to detect ventricular late potentials (LP).

[Efficacy-safety relationship of AT1 angiotensin II receptor antagonists: current data].

In evolution of hypertension's treatment it may no be sufficient to lower blood pressure to achieve beneficial effects in long term outcomes. Several goals of antihypertensive treatment remain unrealized. There is so great interest for new drugs that may protect target organs and improve outcomes.

[Rationale for the use of renin-angiotensin inhibitors in the treatment of arterial hypertension and correlated organ damage].

The treatment of hypertension has evolved in recent years. Blood pressure lowering per se is no longer a sufficient parameter to evaluate its beneficial effects on end-organ damage. Drugs must be considered on the basis of their effects on cellular level and structural alterations that occur in the vasculature, heart and kidney.

Evaluation of myocardial involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus by signal-averaged electrocardiography and echocardiography.

Objective: The myocardial involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, frequently found at autopsy or at endomyocardial biopsy, is less easily detected clinically. The myocardial lesions are characterized by an increase in interstitial connective tissue and myocardial scarring. Signal-averaged electrocardiography (ECG-SA) is currently used for recording ventricular late potentials which are the expression of slowed and disorganized conduction through zones of myocardial scarring.

Persistent hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in chronic hemodialysis patients and non-B, non-C chronic hepatitis.

Three groups of patients have been studied longitudinally for 24 months to analyze the role of hepatitis G virus (HGV) in hepatic disease. Group 1 consisted of 50 patients with non-B, non-C chronic hepatitis, group 2 consisted of 44 hemodialyzed patients, and group 3 consisted of 50 healthy blood donors. The presence of HGV RNA was detected by both reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE).

Increased soluble P-selectin levels in hepatitis C virus-related chronic hepatitis: correlation with viral load.

Background: Platelet functional abnormalities are commonly found in patients with chronic liver disease; however, their nature and clinical significance are still a matter of discussion.

Methods: Soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin, a marker of in vivo platelet activation) levels, lipid pattern, and clotting activity were investigated in 39 patients with histologically confirmed chronic C hepatitis.

Results: Serum factor VIIc (P < 0.

Peripheral neuropathy without cryoglobulinemia in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: An association between essential mixed cryoglobulinemia and hepatitis C virus infection has been documented by many reports. Some clinical manifestations such as purpura, arthralgia, vascular lesions and peripheral neuropathies are also connected with the presence of detectable cryoglobulins. The association between HCV infection, the presence of mixed cryoglobulinemia and peripheral neuropathy is well documented.

[Harmonic echocardiography of tissue in the diagnosis of aneurysms of the interatrial septum. Study of 550 consecutive ambulatory patients].

Background: It has been assessed whether echocardiographic harmonic imaging improves the detection of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) compared with fundamental imaging.

Methods: We studied consecutively, using fundamental and harmonic imaging, 550 patients (with or without cardiopathy; 300 females and 250 males) in an outpatients' department (age 23-76 years, mean 50 years). We used a multifrequency transthoracic probe transmitting at 2 Mhz and receiving at 4 Mhz.

Natural history of cardiac involvement in myotonic dystrophy (Steinert's disease): a 13-year follow-up study.

Myotonic dystrophy (MD) is associated with a wide spectrum of cardiac abnormalities, but only a few longitudinal studies have investigated the natural course of heart disease in MD. To assess whether neuromuscular involvement significantly predicts cardiac disorders in MD, 83 patients with various grades of disease severity were enrolled in a 13-year follow-up study (mean, 60.6 +/- 37.

Morphologic left ventricular patterns and prevalence of high-grade ventricular arrhythmias in the normotensive and hypertensive elderly.

In the elderly, systemic hypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Left ventricular hypertrophy, the most common adaptation to chronic pressure overload, has been recognized as an independent risk factor for an increased incidence of sudden death and arrhythmic disturbances. This study compared the prevalence of serious ventricular arrhythmias in elderly individuals with uncomplicated hypertension and in normotensive age-matched controls, using left ventricular mass index (LVMI) to differentiate patterns of anatomic adaptation to systolic, diastolic, or systolic-diastolic hypertension.