The Dynamic Interplay between Loss of Semantic Memory and Semantic Learning Capacity: Insight from Neologisms Learning in Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Semantic Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia (svPPA) has often been considered as a loss of knowledge stored in semantic memory, but might also be due to a general disruption of mechanisms allowing the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of semantic memories. In order to assess any parallelism in svPPA patients between loss of semantic knowledge and inability to acquire new semantic information, we administered a battery of semantic learning tasks to healthy individuals and svPPA patients, where they were requested to learn new conceptual representations and new word forms, and to associate the former with the latter. A strong relation was found between loss of semantic knowledge and disruption of semantic learning: (a) patients with severe svPPA had the lowest scores in the semantic learning tasks; (b) significant correlations were found between scores obtained in semantic learning tasks and scores obtained in semantic memory disorders in svPPA patients.

Allochiria for spatial landmarks as the presenting feature of posterior cortical atrophy.

Allochiria refers to the mislocation of stimuli to the corresponding position on the opposite side of the body or hemispace. It is most often, although not exclusively, reported in the tactile modality and typically in association with unilateral neglect. We describe a patient presenting with a 2-year history of topographical disorientation without other cognitive complaints.

Aortic expansion rate in patients with dilated post-stenotic ascending aorta submitted only to aortic valve replacement long-term follow-up.

Objectives: This study was conceived to describe the evolution of aortic dimensions in patients with moderate post-stenotic ascending aorta dilation (50 to 59 mm) submitted to aortic valve replacement (AVR) alone.

Background: The appropriate treatment of post-stenotic ascending aorta dilation has been poorly investigated.

Methods: Ninety-three patients affected by severe isolated calcific aortic valve stenosis in the tricuspid aortic valve accompanied by moderate dilation of the ascending aorta (50 to 59 mm) were submitted to AVR only.

Survival after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis: does left ventricular mass regression have a clinical correlate?

Aim: The effects of post-operative left ventricular mass regression (LVMR) on clinical outcome after aortic valve surgery remains to be established. This study was intended to establish the impact of patient characteristics on post-operative survival in patients referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR), with particular regard to LVMR.

Methods And Results: Two hundred and sixty consecutive cases submitted to aortic valve replacement for valvular stenosis were prospectively followed for a mean of 28+/-9 months.

Effect of surgical revascularization of a right coronary artery tributary of an infarcted nonischemic territory on the outcome of patients with three-vessel disease: a prospective randomized trial.

Background: We evaluated the in-hospital and long-term effects of surgical grafting of a dominant graftable right coronary artery tributary of an infarcted nonischemic territory in patients with triple-vessel disease who were undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Of 303 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with 3-vessel coronary disease and a dominant right coronary artery tributary of an infarcted nonischemic territory, 154 were randomized to right coronary artery revascularization and 149 to no right coronary artery grafting. In all cases, standard on-pump surgical myocardial revascularization was performed.

High risk coronary artery bypass patient: incidence, surgical strategies, and results.

Background: To describe our experience in the treatment of high risk coronary artery bypass patients and compare patients assigned to on-pump or off-pump surgery.

Methods: During a 42-month period 306 high risk (Euroscore > 5) coronary artery bypass patients were consecutively treated at our institution. On the basis of the coronary anatomy and possibility of achieving a complete revascularization, 197 patients were assigned to off-pump and 109 to on-pump operation.

Early and late arrhythmias in patients in preoperative sinus rhythm submitted to mitral valve surgery through the superior septal approach.

Background: It has been hypothesized that the use of the superior septal approach to the mitral valve can lead to postoperative loss of sinus rhythm. This study was undertaken to evaluate the early and mid-term alterations of the cardiac rhythm in patients with preoperative sinus rhythm (SR) submitted to mitral valve surgery through the superior septal approach.

Methods: Seventy-five cases in preoperative SR submitted to primary isolated mitral valve surgery through the superior septal approach constitute the study population.