The ability of lumbar spine DXA and phalanx QUS to detect previous fractures in young thalassemic patients with hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and hepatitis-B: A 2-year subgroup analysis from the Taranto Area of Apulia Region.

Background: Osteoporosis is a leading cause of morbidity in patients affected by β-thalassemia major or intermediate; we aimed to assess the association between demineralization observed in young thalassemic patients.

Methods: A total of 88 patients with β-thalassemia were recruited at Microcitemia Center of Taranto Hospital under the Prevention Osteoporosis and Fractures research project from 2008 to 2010. All the patients were screened with both dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative ultrasound (QUS).

The risk profile for obstructive sleep apnea does not affect the recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to increased prevalence and recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that OSA may aggravate AF in patients with pacemakers implanted for sinus bradycardia who had documented paroxysmal AF.

Methods: Seventy-two patients (36 M, aged 77 +/- 6 years) completed the study.

[Outpatient treatment of recurrent atrial fibrillation with the "pill-in-the-pocket" approach: practical aspects].

In patients with not very frequent episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF), highly symptomatic for palpitation, hemodynamically well tolerated but long enough to require emergency room (ER) intervention, the best outpatient treatment appears to be the "pill-in-the-pocket" approach. In several studies, in-hospital administration of flecainide or propafenone in a single oral loading dose has been shown to be effective and superior to placebo in terminating recent-onset AF. Recently, a multicenter Italian study has been carried out to evaluate the feasibility and the safety of self-administered oral loading of flecainide or propafenone in terminating AF of recent onset outside the hospital.

Outpatient treatment of recent-onset atrial fibrillation with the "pill-in-the-pocket" approach.

Background: In-hospital administration of flecainide and propafenone in a single oral loading dose has been shown to be effective and superior to placebo in terminating atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the feasibility and the safety of self-administered oral loading of flecainide and propafenone in terminating atrial fibrillation of recent onset outside the hospital.

Methods: We administered either flecainide or propafenone orally to restore sinus rhythm in 268 patients with mild heart disease or none who came to the emergency room with atrial fibrillation of recent onset that was hemodynamically well tolerated.