Contact-force local impedance algorithm to guide effective pulmonary vein isolation in AF patients: 1-year outcome from an international multicenter clinical setting.

Background: The combination of highly localized impedance (LI) and contact force (CF) may improve tissue characterization and lesion prediction during radiofrequency (RF) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: We report the outcomes of our acute and long-term clinical evaluation of CF-LI-guided PVI in consecutive AF ablation cases from an international multicenter clinical setting.

Methods: Three hundred twenty-four consecutive patients from 20 European centers undergoing RF catheter ablation with the Stablepoint™ catheter were enrolled in the CHARISMA registry.

Transcatheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Multicenter Propensity Score-Based Analysis.

Background: The prognostic impact of catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients has not yet been satisfactorily elucidated.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of CA of AF on clinical outcomes in a large cohort of HCM patients.

Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, 555 HCM patients with AF were enrolled, 140 undergoing CA and 415 receiving medical therapy.

Atrial septal pouches and ridges: Morphological features and potential implications in clinical practice.

Incomplete or irregular fusion of the interatrial septum may result in several anatomic variants, including atrial septal pouches and ridges, whose knowledge and recognition are still poorly widespread in clinical practice. An educational review focused on the definition, clinical significance and diagnostic work-up of these anatomic findings was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central databases up to June 2023. Atrial septal pouches and ridges have been associated with an increased difficulty of catheter-based interventions requiring a transseptal approach, due to procedural challenges for transseptal puncture and the restricted motion of guidewires and catheters through the transseptal access.

Multicentric Carpo-Tarsal Osteolysis Syndrome (MCTO) and "Function Profile": a rehabilitative approach.

Background: Multicentric Carpo-Tarsal Osteolysis Syndrome (MCTO) is an autosomal dominant disease with increased bone reabsorption in the carpus and tarsus and the elbows, knees and spine. The disease is extremely heterogeneous and secondary and tertiary injuries vary widely and can lead to progressive disability and severe functional limitations. In addition to the available and upcoming drug therapies, physical medicine and rehabilitation are important treatment options.

Abnormalities of pubertal development and gonadal function in Noonan syndrome.

Background: Noonan syndrome (NS) is a genetic multisystem disorder characterised by variable clinical manifestations including dysmorphic facial features, short stature, congenital heart disease, renal anomalies, lymphatic malformations, chest deformities, cryptorchidism in males.

Methods: In this narrative review, we summarized the available data on puberty and gonadal function in NS subjects and the role of the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway in fertility. In addition, we have reported our personal experience on pubertal development and vertical transmission in NS.

Impact of Complete Revascularization on Development of Heart Failure in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Multivessel Disease: A Subanalysis of the CORALYS Registry.

Background The impact of complete revascularization (CR) on the development of heart failure (HF) in patients with acute coronary syndrome and multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention remains to be elucidated. Methods and Results Consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome with multivessel coronary artery disease from the CORALYS (Incidence and Predictors of Heart Failure After Acute Coronary Syndrome) registry were included. Incidence of first hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular death was the primary end point.

Insight into contact force local impedance technology for predicting effective pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Highly localized impedance (LI) measurements during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation have the potential to act as a reliable predictor of the durability of the lesions created.

Objective: We aimed to collect data on the procedural parameters affecting LI-guided ablation in a large multicenter registry.

Methods: A total of 212 consecutive patients enrolled in the CHARISMA registry and undergoing their first pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for paroxysmal and persistent AF were included.

Transplacental permeability of heavy metals in relation to newborn sex - evidence from the neurodevelopment project.

Introduction: Gender medicine is an innovative medical approach that studies how some biological variables are influenced by the male or female sex and gender. This issue is under debate because it characterizes the impact of tailored or individual medicine. In this scenario, the aim of this study is to study the correlation between heavy metal exposure and pathologies of neurodevelopment, according to the sex of newborns.

Hyperthyroidism in a 15-year-old adolescent treated with Dupilumab for severe allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis.

Dupilumab is a biologic, acting on IL-4 and IL-13 pathways. Dupilumab has a pediatric indication for treating severe asthma and atopic dermatitis. We report a pediatric case concerning paucisymptomatic, transient, and self-resolving hyperthyroidism.

Assisted Reproductive Techniques and Risk of Congenital Heart Diseases in Children: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Infertility is a growing phenomenon and leads to an increased use of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). In recent years, concerns about the safety of these procedures emerged and ARTs were hypothesized to be a risk factor for developing congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in offspring. Our aim is to investigate the association between ART and CHD, specifying results according to various subtypes of defects.

Corrigendum: Pubertal timing in children with Silver Russell syndrome compared to those born small for gestational age.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.

Ablation of CTI-dependent flutter using different ablation technologies: acute and long-term outcome from the LEONARDO study.

Background: A novel ablation catheter has been released to map and ablate the cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) in patients with atrial flutter (AFL), improving ablation efficiency.

Methods: We evaluated the acute and long-term outcome of CTI ablation aiming at bidirectional conduction block (BDB) in a prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolling 500 patients indicated for typical AFL ablation. Patients were grouped on the basis of the AFL ablation method (linear anatomical approach, Conv group n = 425, or maximum voltage guided, MVG group, n = 75) and ablation catheter (mini-electrodes technology, MiFi group, n = 254, or a standard 8-mm ablation catheter, BLZ group, n = 246).

Matching Ablation Endpoints to Long-Term Outcome: The Prospective Multicenter Italian Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation Registry.

Background: Multicenter ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation studies have shown poorer outcomes compared with single-center experiences. This difference could be related to heterogeneous mapping and ablation strategies.

Objectives: This study evaluated a homogenous simplified catheter ablation strategy for different substrates and compared the results with those of a single referral center.

Cell-Free Fetal DNA and Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Chromosomopathies and Pediatric Monogenic Diseases: A Critical Appraisal and Medicolegal Remarks.

Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) analysis is a non-invasive prenatal diagnostic test with a fundamental role for the screening of chromosomic or monogenic pathologies of the fetus. Its administration is performed by fetal DNA detection in the mother's blood from the fourth week of gestation. Given the great interest regarding its validation as a diagnostic tool, the authors have set out to undertake a critical appraisal based on a wide-ranging narrative review of 45 total studies centered around such techniques.

IncidenCe and predictOrs of heaRt fAiLure after acute coronarY Syndrome: The CORALYS registry.

Background: Previous studies investigating predictors of Heart Failure (HF) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were mostly conducted during fibrinolytic era or restricted to baseline characteristics and diagnoses prior to admission. We assessed the incidence and predictors of HF hospitalizations among patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ACS.

Methods And Results: CORALYS is a multicenter, retrospective, observational registry including consecutive patients treated with PCI for ACS.

Neonatal Outcomes and Long-Term Follow-Up of Children Born from Frozen Embryo, a Narrative Review of Latest Research Findings.

In recent years, the growing use of ART (assisted reproductive techniques) has led to a progressive improvement of protocols; embryo freezing is certainly one of the most important innovations. This technique is selectively offered as a tailored approach to reduce the incidence of multiple pregnancies and, most importantly, to lower the risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome when used in conjunction with an ovulation-triggering GnRH antagonist. The increase in transfer cycles with frozen embryos made it possible to study the effects of the technique in children thus conceived.

Pubertal timing in children with Silver Russell syndrome compared to those born small for gestational age.

Context: Data on pubertal timing in Silver Russell syndrome (SRS) are limited.

Design And Methods: Retrospective observational study including twenty-three SRS patients [11p15 loss of methylation, (11p15 LOM, n=10) and maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 (mUPD7, n=13)] and 21 small for gestational age (SGA). Clinical (thelarche in females; testis volume ≥ 4 ml in males; pubarche), BMI SD trend from the age of 5 to 9 years to the time of puberty, biochemical parameters of puberty onset [Luteinizing hormone (LH), 17-β-estradiol, testosterone], and bone age progression were evaluated.

Impact of assisted reproduction techniques on the neuro-psycho-motor outcome of newborns: a critical appraisal.

Subfertility and infertility are common problems among couples of reproductive age, and they increasingly require the use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Understandably, doubts about the safety of such methods are increasing among future parents. The purpose of this review is to analyse the real impact of ART, such as fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), on the health of the unborn baby; in particular, this work is focussed on the problems related to the neuro-psycho-motor area.