The β-cell effect of verapamil-based treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.

Aims: The possibility that verapamil has new beneficial effects in diabetic patients in terms of an improvement in glycometabolic control has been put forward recently in several studies. However, to date the issue is still under debate. We conducted the first systematic review examining the impact of verapamil-based treatment on glycometabolic outcomes, in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients.

A systematic review of the antidepressant effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) functional agonists: Further link between metabolism and psychopathology: Special Section on "Translational and Neuroscience Studies in Affective Disorders". Section Editor, Maria Nobile MD, PhD. This Section of JAD focuses on the relevance of translational and neuroscience studies in providing a better understanding of the neural basis of affective disorders. The main aim is to briefly summaries relevant research findings in clinical neuroscience with particular regards to specific innovative topics in mood and anxiety disorders.

Introduction: An increasing amount of preclinical and clinical evidence links together metabolic regulations and psychopathological mechanisms, in particular linking mood disorders with changes in Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta and 5'Adenosine Monophosphate-activated Protein Kinase expression and activity. New hypoglycemic drugs, including thiazolidinediones and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) functional agonists, which work by these mechanisms, have also been described as potential antidepressants. The putative role of thiazolidinediones in depression has been already supported, but no clear evidence exists yet for GLP-1 functional agonists.

Extracorporeal life support in the multidisciplinary management of cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: To analyze the results of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a single-center experience.

Background: Cardiogenic shock is still a leading cause of death for AMI. Conventional management carries mortality rates exceeding 50%.

Association of Hyponatraemia and Antidepressant Drugs: A Pharmacovigilance-Pharmacodynamic Assessment Through an Analysis of the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Database.

Background: Hyponatraemia induced by antidepressant drugs is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse reaction. Whether it is associated with all or only some antidepressant drugs is still unclear. This needs to be clarified to guide antidepressant therapies, especially in patients with electrolytic imbalances.

Outcomes of patients with systemic sclerosis treated with rituximab in contemporary practice: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of rituximab in systemic sclerosis (SSc) in clinical practice.

Methods: We performed a prospective study including patients with SSc from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) network treated with rituximab and matched with untreated patients with SSc. The main outcomes measures were adverse events, skin fibrosis improvement, lung fibrosis worsening and steroids use among propensity score-matched patients treated or not with rituximab.

Observational study on the QUality of life of Italian Axial SpondyloARthritis patients (QUASAR): baseline data.

Objectives: To describe the baseline characteristics of the patients enrolled in the QUality of life in patients with Axial SpondyloARthritis (QUASAR) study in terms of quality of life (QoL), disease activity, therapy adherence, and work ability in a real-world setting.

Methods: QUASAR is an Italian multicentre, prospective 12-month observational study, including consecutive adult patients classified as axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria for axSpA.

Results: Of 512 patients enrolled in 23 rheumatology centres, 80.

A case of co-existence of muscle bridge and anomalous origin of coronary artery.

Introduction: Coronary artery anomalies result from disturbances which may occur to the fetus in the third week of development. These disturbances may lead to anatomical variations which may affect the origin, trajectory, and termination of these arteries, or alterations in their intrinsic anatomy.

Presentation Of Case: We report an unusual case in which both anomalous origin of the right coronary artery and myocardial bridge on left anterior descending artery were detected concurrently.

Polysomnographic Analysis of a Pediatric Case of Baclofen-Induced Central Sleep Apnea.

Respiratory disorders may follow brain injury and may also occur because of comorbidities and drug use, especially central depressants or muscle relaxants. Sleep can precipitate respiratory disorders, thus polysomnography can be a powerful diagnostic tool. By revealing breathing patterns that identify specific sleep disorders, polysomnography may unmask adverse pharmacological effects, for instance connecting central depressant drugs with central sleep apneas.

Antipsychotics Promote Metabolic Disorders Disrupting Cellular Lipid Metabolism and Trafficking.

Antipsychotics frequently cause obesity and related metabolic disorders that current psychopharmacological/endocrinological theories do not explain consistently. An integrative/alternative theory implies metabolic alterations happening at the cellular level. Many observations in vitro and in vivo, and pivotal observations in humans, point towards chemical properties of antipsychotics, independent of receptor binding characteristics.

Breast Reconstruction Actualized in Nipple-sparing Mastectomy and Direct-to-implant, Prepectoral Polyurethane Positioning: Early Experience and Preliminary Results.

Background: Implant-based breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy has been the most common breast reconstruction procedure performed, for both breast cancer treatment and prophylactically. Subpectoral implant placement with partial detachment of the pectoralis major muscle has been the procedure of choice for staged reconstruction and direct-to-implantation. Prepectoral implant placement has recently increased in popularity among plastic surgeons owing to the high rates of animation deformity, loss of muscle function, and chronic pain observed with submuscular implant placement.

Outcomes after extracorporeal life support for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) may be necessary in refractory postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) unresponsive to optimal medical treatment. We sought to analyze the results and temporal outcomes of ECLS for PCS.

Methods: We performed an observational analysis of our prospective database.

Fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis: a 34-year single centre evaluation.

Backgound: Fungal peritonitis (FP) is one of the most important causes of peritoneal dialysis (PD) failure, often burdened by increased morbility and mortality. This study evaluates the clinical course of FP cases that arose between 1983 and 2016 in a single PD unit.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational analysis of FP episodes recorded in the Baxter POET (Peritonitis Organism Exit sites Tunnel infections) registry and clinical records.

The impact of a successful treatment of hepatitis C virus on glyco-metabolic control in diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: The effect of HCV eradication following the use of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) on the glyco-metabolic control is unknown. Through a meta-analysis of available clinical studies, we investigated whether eradication of HCV infection with interferon-free DAAs is associated with improved glyco-metabolic control in diabetic patients.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, MEDLINE and Embase, up to 08th June 2018, for all studies evaluating whether eradication of HCV infection with DAAs is associated with changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels from baseline in human subjects, without restrictions for study type and language.

Technical aspects of bedside respiratory monitoring of transpulmonary pressure.

Transpulmonary pressure, that is the difference between airway pressure (Paw) and pleural pressure, is considered one of the most important parameters to know in order to set a safe mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients but also in critically ill obese patients, in abdominal pathologies or in pathologies affecting the chest wall itself. Transpulmonary pressure should rely on the assessment of intrathoracic pleural pressure. Esophageal pressure (Pes) is considered the best surrogate of pleural pressure in critically ill patients, but concerns about its reliability exist.

Weight-Change Trajectories of Pediatric Outpatients Treated with Risperidone or Aripiprazole in a Naturalistic Setting.

Objectives: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) increase appetite and weight, leading toward a metabolic syndrome. Risperidone and aripiprazole, the most widely used pediatric SGAs, have been studied predominantly in short-term clinical trials, where risperidone leads to a rapid weight increase and aripiprazole to a slower one, while long-term effects are not yet elucidated. Factors that may influence weight gain are likewise not clarified, although baseline weight, previous SGA exposure, pubertal status, and type of SGA have been suggested as moderators.

A characterization and disproportionality analysis of medication error related adverse events reported to the FAERS database.

Objectives: To characterize adverse reactions associated with medication errors (ME) reported in US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (US-FAERS), and to identify the potential signals of disproportionate reporting (SDR) for different drugs.

Methods: ME associated Individual Case Study Report (ICSRs) were identified. ICSRs were categorized by patient age groups, affected stages of medication process and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system.

Interactions Between Antiepileptic and Antibiotic Drugs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Dosing Implications.

Introduction: Qualitative studies on drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between anticonvulsants and antibiotics report pharmacokinetic changes that may increase the clinical risks in terms of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and efficacy. However, no studies have provided a systematic and quantitative analysis of anticonvulsant-antibiotic pharmacokinetic DDIs. To provide such indications, we systematically and critically reviewed the literature on anticonvulsant-antibiotic DDIs in terms of quantitative pharmacokinetic changes and related ADRs.

Measurement of Diaphragmatic Electrical Activity by Surface Electromyography in Intubated Subjects and Its Relationship With Inspiratory Effort.

Background: Quantification of patient effort during spontaneous breathing is important to tailor ventilatory assistance. Because a correlation between inspiratory muscle pressure (P) and electrical activity of the diaphragm (EA) has been described, we aimed to assess the reliability of surface electromyography (EMG) of the respiratory muscles for monitoring diaphragm electrical activity and subject effort during assisted ventilation.

Methods: At a general ICU of a single university-affiliated hospital, we enrolled subjects who were intubated and on pressure support ventilation (PSV) and were on mechanical ventilation for > 48 h.

Central nervous system-active drug abused and overdose in children: a worldwide exploratory study using the WHO pharmacovigilance database.

Recent epidemiological studies have reported an increase in central nervous system (CNS)-active drug abuse rates in paediatric settings, raising several public health concerns. No study to date has explored this issue worldwide. We performed an extensive analysis of drugs abuse/overdose reported for children in the last decade by using the largest pharmacovigilance database, i.

Extracorporeal Life Support for Refractory Cardiac Arrest: A 10-Year Comparative Analysis.

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of cardiac arrest has poor outcomes. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) could represent a salvage option. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of ECLS used for refractory cardiac arrest.

Surgical Treatment of Idiopathic Enlargement of the Right Atrium.

Idiopathic enlargement of the right atrium (IERA) is a very rare abnormality. Approximately one-half (48%) of the patients with a congenital enlargement of the right atrium have no symptoms. When they occur, symptoms include shortness of breath (28% of cases), palpitations (17%), arrhythmias (12%), and in rare cases, right heart failure and extreme tiredness.

Non-specific interstitial pneumonia and features of connective tissue disease: What are the consequences of a different point of view?

Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) without a definitive diagnosis of connective tissue diseases (CTD) were historically described as Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD-ILD). Recently a new classification, Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features (IPAF), has been proposed. Aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of UCTD and IPAF subjects in a cohort of Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP) patients.