Efficacy of Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in reducing the risk of severe outcome in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a real-life full-matched case-control study (SAVALO Study).

Background: Ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (N/r) is an antiviral which targets the main viral protease, administered to prevent the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients at high risk for severe COVID-19. We present a real-life case-control study evaluating the efficacy of N/r therapy in SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants positive outpatients in Campania region, Italy, with the aim of assessing the occurrence of three outcomes (hospital admission, admission in ICU and death) in cases and controls.

Methods: We enrolled SARS-CoV-2 positive subjects that came to our attention in Early antiviral treatment ambulatory of Infectious Diseases ward of University Federico II of Naples, Italy from January 1st, 2022, to December 31st, 2022, during the first five days from symptoms occurrence.

Establishing Effective Patient Engagement Through a Terms of Reference to Foster Inclusivity and Empowerment in Research: Example From a Healthcare Transition Quality Indicators Project.

Introduction: Patient engagement in research aims to foster meaningful partnerships, integrating patient experiences into the research process. This paper describes the development of a Terms of Reference (ToR) to support these meaningful partnerships. While engagement improves data collection and empowerment, ineffective engagement can lead to negative outcomes.

Sub-20-fs UV-XUV beamline for ultrafast molecular spectroscopy.

We present an ultraviolet (UV) - extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pump-probe beamline with applications in ultrafast time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The UV pump pulses, tuneable between 255 and 285 nm and with µJ-level energy, are generated by frequency up-conversion between ultrashort visible/infrared pulses and visible narrow-band pulses. Few-femtosecond XUV probe pulses are produced by a high-order harmonic generation source equipped with a state-of-the-art time-delay compensated monochromator.

A case of a huge aortic pseudo-aneurysm following aortic bioprosthetic endocarditis: the key role of 3D echocardiography.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening condition with high morbidity and mortality rates, making early diagnosis and intervention crucial. This report details the case of a 47-year-old male with a history of mechanical prosthetic aortic valve replacement, presenting with pyrexia and diagnosed with aortic bioprosthetic endocarditis leading to a massive aortic pseudoaneurysm. This shows that 3D transesophageal echocardiography is much more useful than regular 2D imaging for finding problems with IE, which makes surgical planning and intervention more precise.

Three-dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography in Infective Endocarditis: What Does It Add?

Infective endocarditis (IE) diagnosis is based on a clinical suspicion supported by consistent microbiological and instrumental data. Evidence of involvement of cardiac valves (native or prosthetic) or prosthetic intracardiac material is a major diagnostic criterion of IE. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the initial technique of choice for the diagnosis while transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is recommended in patients with an inconclusive or negative TTE, in patients with high suspicion of IE, as well as in patients with a positive TTE, in order to document local complications.

Patient, caregiver and other knowledge user engagement in consensus-building healthcare initiatives: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Patient engagement and integrated knowledge translation (iKT) processes improve health outcomes and care experiences through meaningful partnerships in consensus-building initiatives and research. Consensus-building is essential for engaging a diverse group of experienced knowledge users in co-developing and supporting a solution where none readily exists or is less optimal. Patients and caregivers provide invaluable insights for building consensus in decision-making around healthcare, policy and research.

Enhanced optical conductivity and many-body effects in strongly-driven photo-excited semi-metallic graphite.

The excitation of quasi-particles near the extrema of the electronic band structure is a gateway to electronic phase transitions in condensed matter. In a many-body system, quasi-particle dynamics are strongly influenced by the electronic single-particle structure and have been extensively studied in the weak optical excitation regime. Yet, under strong optical excitation, where light fields coherently drive carriers, the dynamics of many-body interactions that can lead to new quantum phases remain largely unresolved.

Patient-reported outcome measures for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: the ITALY study.

Background: Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) has a deep impact on the quality of life (QoL), yet no specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for ATTR-CA exist.

Methods: The ITALY study involved 5 Italian referral centres (Pisa, Pavia, Ferrara, Florence, Messina) enrolling consecutive outpatients with ATTR-CA.

Results: Two 30-item questionnaires were created for wild-type (wt) and variant (v) ATTR-CA.

Organization and Activity of Italian Echocardiographic Laboratories: A Survey of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging.

Background: The Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SIECVI) conducted a national survey to understand better how different echocardiographic modalities are used and accessed in Italy.

Methods: We analyzed echocardiography laboratory activities over a month (November 2022). Data were retrieved via an electronic survey based on a structured questionnaire, uploaded on the SIECVI website.

Safety and Efficacy of a Single Procedure of Extraction and Reimplantation of Infected Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) in Comparison with Deferral Timing: An Observational Retrospective Multicentric Study.

(1) Background: Infections are among the most frequent and life-threatening complications of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation. The aim of this study is to compare the outcome and safety of a single-procedure device extraction and contralateral implantation versus the standard-of-care (SoC) two-stage replacement for infected CIEDs. (2) Methods: We retrospectively included 66 patients with CIED infections who were treated at two Italian hospitals.

Clinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of enoxaparin in patients with COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), increases thrombotic risk in hospitalised patients. The rate of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 is unclear. The role of heparin, frequently used in the management of hospitalised patients, also needs to be clarified.

Clinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of enoxaparin in patients with COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), increases thrombotic risk in hospitalised patients. The rate of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 is unclear. The role of heparin, frequently used in the management of hospitalised patients, also needs to be clarified.

Global COVID-19 lockdown highlights humans as both threats and custodians of the environment.

The global lockdown to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic health risks has altered human interactions with nature. Here, we report immediate impacts of changes in human activities on wildlife and environmental threats during the early lockdown months of 2020, based on 877 qualitative reports and 332 quantitative assessments from 89 different studies. Hundreds of reports of unusual species observations from around the world suggest that animals quickly responded to the reductions in human presence.

CRT implantation after transvenous lead/device extraction (TLE) in a patient with COVID-19: Endocarditis triggered by syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection? A case report.

In the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the management of cardiac implantable electronic devices infections with concomitant viral infection has not been completely defined yet. In this explorable context, we report the first experience of a Cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation after transvenous lead extraction for endocarditis in a COVID-19 patient. We describe both the measures and procedures implemented to reduce the cross-infection in the operating room and our clinical practice to improving procedure effectiveness on patient care.

Cardiovascular Comorbidities and Pharmacological Treatments of COVID-19 Patients Not Requiring Hospitalization.

Introduction: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a whole Earth health emergency related to a highly pathogenic human coronavirus responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). Despite the fact that the majority of infected patients were managed in outpatient settings, little is known about the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients not requiring hospitalization. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical comorbidity and the pharmacological therapies of COVID-19 patients managed in outpatient settings.

Right ventricular-arterial uncoupling independently predicts survival in COVID-19 ARDS.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence and prognostic impact of right heart failure and right ventricular-arterial uncoupling in Corona Virus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) complicated by an Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

Methods: Ninety-four consecutive patients (mean age 64 years) admitted for acute respiratory failure on COVID-19 were enrolled. Coupling of right ventricular function to the pulmonary circulation was evaluated by a comprehensive trans-thoracic echocardiography with focus on the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PASP) ratio RESULTS: The majority of patients needed ventilatory support, which was noninvasive in 22 and invasive in 37.

Effect of Triple Combination Therapy With Lopinavir-Ritonavir, Azithromycin, and Hydroxychloroquine on QT Interval and Arrhythmic Risk in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Introduction: No data are provided about the effect of triple combination therapy with Lopinavir/Ritonavir (LPN/RTN), hydroxychloroquine (HQ) and azithromycin (AZT) on corrected QT (QTc) interval and arrhythmic risk, in COVID-19 patients. This study aims to describe the incidence of extreme QTc interval prolongation among COVID-19 patients on this experimental treatment and to identify the clinical features associated with extreme QTc prolongation.

Materials And Methods: Data of 87 COVID-19 patients, treated with triple combination including LPN/RTN, HQ and AZT, were analyzed.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with incident sustained tachyarrhythmias: A multicenter observational study.

Introduction: Little is still known about the prognostic impact of incident arrhythmias in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of sustained tachyarrhythmias in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and their potential association with disease severity and in-hospital mortality.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter observation study including consecutive patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 admitted to emergency department of ten Italian Hospitals from 15 February to 15 March 2020.

Moving Beyond Nursing Standardized Language for Substance Use Problems.

Nursing knowledge has been accompanied by the evolution of nursing standardized language systems (SLS) that can help nurses to systematize nursing care. We analyzed referential integrity (diagnosis, results, interventions) of substance related problems in Nursing SLS through documentary analysis: ICNP, NANDA-I, Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC), Nursing Outcome Classification (NOC), NANDA NIC NOC (NNN). ICNP has a definition of "substance abuse" but there are no clinical indicators or related factors to help formulate a diagnosis.