ZNF341 controls STAT3 expression and thereby immunocompetence.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a central regulator of immune homeostasis. STAT3 levels are strictly controlled, and STAT3 impairment contributes to several diseases including the monogenic autosomal-dominant hyper-immunoglobulin E (IgE) syndrome (AD-HIES). We investigated patients of four consanguineous families with an autosomal-recessive disorder resembling the phenotype of AD-HIES, with symptoms of immunodeficiency, recurrent infections, skeletal abnormalities, and elevated IgE.

"Immune TOR-opathies," a Novel Disease Entity in Clinical Immunology.

Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) represent a group of mostly monogenic disorders caused by loss- or gain-of-function mutations in over 340 known genes that lead to abnormalities in the development and/or the function of the immune system. However, mutations in different genes can affect the same cell-signaling pathway and result in overlapping clinical phenotypes. In particular, mutations in the genes encoding for members of the phosphoinositide3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR/S6 kinase (S6K) signaling cascade or for molecules interacting with this pathway have been associated with different PIDs that are often characterized by the coexistence of both immune deficiency and autoimmunity.

Increased burden of comorbidities and risk of cardiovascular death in atrial fibrillation patients in Europe over ten years: A comparison between EORP-AF pilot and EHS-AF registries.

Background: In 2002, the European Society of Cardiology conducted the Euro Heart Survey (EHS), while in 2014concluded 1-year follow-up of the EURObservational Research Programme AF (EORP-AF) Pilot Registry.

Methods: We analysed differences in clinical profiles, therapeutic approaches and outcomes between these two cohorts after propensity score matching (PSM).

Results: After PSM, 5206 patients were analysed.

Appropriateness of oral anticoagulant therapy prescription and its associated factors in hospitalized older people with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Although oral anticoagulants (OACs) are effective in preventing stroke in older people with atrial fibrillation (AF), they are often underused in this particularly high-risk population. The aim of the present study was to assess the appropriateness of OAC prescription and its associated factors in hospitalized patients aged 65 years or older.

Methods: Data were obtained from the retrospective phase of Simulation-based Technologies to Improve the Appropriate Use of Oral Anticoagulants in Hospitalized Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (SIM-AF) study, held in 32 Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards.

Frailty as a predictor of mortality and hospital services use in older adults: a cluster analysis in a cohort study.

Background: Lowering mortality and hospitalization of older adults is one of the main goals of public health to improve both health systems' sustainability and older adults' quality of life. The aim of this study is to identify the determinants associated with mortality and the use of hospital services in the population older than 64 years of age.

Methods: A randomized sample from the population of the Lazio region (Italy) above the age of 64 was enrolled in 2014 by the administration of a questionnaire to assess frailty; the rates of use of hospital services and mortality in the year following the enrolment have been retrieved by the regional database.

Major adverse cardiovascular events in non-valvular atrial fibrillation with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the ARAPACIS study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increases the risk of mortality in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. Data on the relationship of COPD to major cardiovascular events (MACE) in AF have not been defined. The aim of the study is to assess the predictive value of COPD on incident MACE in NVAF patients over a 3-year follow-up.

Restarting oral anticoagulant therapy after major bleeding in atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Use of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an inherited risk of bleeding. Benefits and risks of OAC restarting after a major bleeding are still uncertain. We aimed to assess effectiveness and safety of restarting OAC in AF patients after a major bleeding event.

Choice and Outcomes of Rate Control versus Rhythm Control in Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Report from the REPOSI Study.

Background: Among rate-control or rhythm-control strategies, there is conflicting evidence as to which is the best management approach for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) in elderly patients.

Design: We performed an ancillary analysis from the 'Registro Politerapie SIMI' study, enrolling elderly inpatients from internal medicine and geriatric wards.

Methods: We considered patients enrolled from 2008 to 2014 with an AF diagnosis at admission, treated with a rate-control-only or rhythm-control-only strategy.

Overweight and obesity in patients with atrial fibrillation: Sex differences in 1-year outcomes in the EORP-AF General Pilot Registry.

Background: The impact of overweight and obesity on outcomes in "real world" patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is not fully defined. Second, sex differences in AF outcomes may also exist.

Methods And Results: The aim was to investigate outcomes at 1 year follow-up for AF patients enrolled in the EORP-AF Registry, according to BMI (kg/m ), comparing patients with normal BMI (18.

Impact of quality of anticoagulation control on outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation taking aspirin: An analysis from the SPORTIF trials.

Background: Concomitant aspirin (ASA) is often prescribed in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to investigate the relationship between ASA use and quality of anticoagulation control determining major adverse outcomes.

Methods: An ancillary analysis of patients in the warfarin arm of the SPORTIF III and V trials was performed.

Estimated absolute effects on efficacy and safety outcomes of using non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in 'real-world' atrial fibrillation patients: A comparison with optimally acenocoumarol anticoagulated patients.

Background: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been proposed as an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Some studies have proposed that well-managed warfarin therapy is still a valid alternative as efficacious as NOACs but the potential impact and absolute effect of NOACs in "real world" optimally management of VKA AF patients is unknown.

Purpose: To estimate the potential absolute benefit in clinical outcome rates if the optimally anticoagulated "real-world" AF patients with acenocoumarol had been treated with NOACs.

Outcome of octogenarians with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the AFCAS registry.

Background: More evidence is needed on the optimal antithrombotic regimen in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Hypothesis: Octogenarian patients (aged ≥80 years) with AF who underwent PCI have worse 12-month clinical outcome, compared with younger patients.

Methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of data from the prospective, multicenter AFCAS registry, which enrolled consecutive patients with AF who underwent PCI and stenting.

Atrial fibrillation prevention: an appraisal of current evidence.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), which is the most diagnosed arrhythmia, is becoming a significant issue for health policy-makers. In particular, more and more attention is being devoted to AF prevention. Indeed, several studies recently published point out how targeted interventions could be useful in reducing the risk of AF occurrence (or recurrence).

Pollutants in Plastics within the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.

Here we report concentrations of pollutants in floating plastics from the North Pacific accumulation zone (NPAC). We compared chemical concentrations in plastics of different types and sizes, assessed ocean plastic potential risks using sediment quality criteria, and discussed the implications of our findings for bioaccumulation. Our results suggest that at least a fraction of the NPAC plastics is not in equilibrium with the surrounding seawater.

Real-World Use of Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Purpose: The use of oral anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation has been transformed by the availability of the nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants. Real-world studies on the use of nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants would help elucidate their effectiveness and safety in daily clinical practice. Apixaban was the third nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants introduced to clinical practice, and increasing real-world studies have been published.

Comparison of bleeding risk scores in patients with atrial fibrillation: insights from the RE-LY trial.

Background: Oral anticoagulation is the mainstay of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF), but must be balanced against the associated bleeding risk. Several risk scores have been proposed for prediction of bleeding events in patients with AF.

Objectives: To compare the performance of contemporary clinical bleeding risk scores in 18 113 patients with AF randomized to dabigatran 110 mg, 150 mg or warfarin in the RE-LY trial.