High-risk Cytomegalovirus in Heart Transplant: How Can We Improve?

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with worse outcomes after heart transplant (HT). CMV mismatch (donor positive, recipient negative serology, D+/R-) increases the risk of infection. Guidelines recommend 3 to 6 months of antiviral prophylaxis in these patients.

Anthracycline-induced cardiovascular toxicity: validation of the Heart Failure Association and International Cardio-Oncology Society risk score.

Background And Aims: Baseline cardiovascular toxicity risk stratification is critical in cardio-oncology. The Heart Failure Association (HFA) and International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) score aims to assess this risk but lacks real-life validation. This study validates the HFA-ICOS score for anthracycline-induced cardiovascular toxicity.

PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF PREDICTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESSION OF GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of optical coherence tomography phenotypes preceding atrophy related to age-related macular degeneration on the progression of atrophic lesions.

Methods: In this observational retrospective cohort study, a total of 70 eyes of 60 consecutive patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration with a minimum follow-up of 24 months were included. The atrophy was quantified using fundus autofluorescence, also considering the directionality of atrophy as centrifugal and centripetal progression rates.

One-Year Results of Photorefractive Keratectomy for Myopia and Compound Myopic Astigmatism with 210 nm Wavelength All Solid-State Laser for Refractive Surgery.

Background: To examine the 12-month clinical and refractive outcomes of PRK performed with a UV all-solid-state laser.

Methods: The study included healthy patients with myopia and/or compound myopic astigmatism enrolled for refractive surgery and treated with PRK using a 210 nm wavelength, 2 kHz repetition rate, UV all-solid-state laser (LaserSoft, Katana Technologies GmbH, Kleinmachnow, Germany). All subjects were examined at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment with a slit lamp, refraction, visual acuity assessment (logMAR chart), tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, and corneal tomography with a Scheimpflug camera.

Biocomponents Based on Hydroxiapatite: Influence of Sterilization on the Mechanical Resistance.

 This study aimed to evaluate the influence of sterilization on the compressive and flexural mechanical strength of hydroxyapatite-based biocomponents obtained through freeze-dried bovine bone, and its association with chitosan.  Freeze-dried bovine bone was processed into 100 μm particles and mixed with 50% of its weight in chitosan. The mixture was packed in metallic molds for preparing the specimens, and sterilized at 127°C using an autoclave for subsequent experimentation.

Posterior Interosseous Nerve Syndrome due to Schwannoma - A Case Report.

Posterior interosseous nerve syndrome is the most frequent syndrome of radial nerve compression, with the arcade of Frohse being the main site of compression. Its symptoms include difficulties in finger and wrist extension with possible radial deviation. Herein, we present a case of posterior interosseous syndrome caused by a schwannoma, a type of neurological tumor.

Coronary Sinus Reducer Transfemoral Extraction After Intraprocedural Device Migration to the Pulmonary Artery.

Coronary sinus reducer migration during implantation is an unusual complication with no standard bailout strategy and to the best of our knowledge there is no description of migration to the pulmonary artery. A mother-and-child technique during implantation could be the safest way to avoid this complication.

Double safe suture during cataract surgery on post radial keratotomy patients using clear corneal incisions.

Purpose: the aim of this study is to find a safer surgical approach in cataract surgery on eyes previously treated with radial keratotomy using clear corneal incisions.

Setting: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Design: Prospective study.

Combined Phialemonium curvatum and Acanthamoeba Keratitis: The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Specific Therapy.

Purpose: To report the clinical and confocal findings of a unique case of combined Phialemonium curvatum and Acanthamoeba keratitis and to highlight the role of the prompt diagnosis and specific medical treatment in preserving visual function.

Methods: A case report and literature review.

Results: A 54-year-old woman presented with a 3-day history of visual impairment, photophobia, and ocular pain in her right eye.

Oral Aminoacids Supplementation Improves Corneal Reinnervation After Photorefractive Keratectomy: A Confocal-Based Investigation.

Aim of this retrospective study was to estimate the effect of oral supplementation with amino acids (AA) on corneal nerves regrowth after excimer laser refractive surgery with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Based on the pre and post-surgical treatment received, 40 patients with 12 months of follow-up were distributed in two groups: 20 patients had received oral AA supplementation 7 days before and 30 days after PRK, and 20 patients without AA supplementation, as untreated reference control. All patients followed the same standard post-operative topical therapy consisting of an association of antibiotic and steroid plus sodium hyaluronate during the first week, then steroid alone progressively decreasing during 30 days and sodium hyaluronate for the following 3 months.

Ophthalmologic Manifestations of Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory, autoimmune disease, characterized by the lymphocyte infiltration of exocrine glands, especially the lacrimal and salivary, with their consequent destruction. The onset of primary SS (pSS) may remain misunderstood for several years. It usually presents with different types of severity, e.

Obstetric Paralysis: Evaluation of the Sever-L'Episcopo Technique Modified by Hoffer.

Evaluate the results of a series of 28 cases of high obstetric paralysis treated with the Sever-L'Episcopo technique modified by Hoffer, between 2003 and 2016. Children (mean age, four years and seven months) with adduction contracture and internal rotation of the shoulder without secondary bone deformities (Mallet class II) underwent lengthening of the pectoralis major muscle and tenotomy of the subscapularis muscle associated with transfer of the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscle to the infraspinatus muscle, moving to the function of external rotators and elevators. The mean follow-up was three years and 10 months.

Infectious conjunctivitis caused by in infected and extrused scleral buckles.

Extrusion of the scleral buckle is one of the complications patients may encounter undergoing the surgical treatment for retinal detachment. We present two cases of persistent -related conjunctivitis which infected the silicone explant after retinal surgery. One of them is a 73-year-old Caucasian female patient with hyperaemia, intense pain and mucopurulent discharge.

Lower Limb Reconstruction - Fasciocutaneous Sural Flap.

 The present study aims to evaluate the use of the reverse-flow sural fasciocutaneous flap to cover lesions in the distal third of the lower limb.  A total of 24 cases were analyzed, including 20 traumatic injuries, 3 sports injuries, and 1 case of tumor resection.  Among the 24 evaluated medical records, 16 patients were male, and 8 were female.

Impaired Verbal Communication: diagnosis review in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Objective: To review the contents of the nursing diagnosis of Impaired Verbal Communication in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Method: For the review of this diagnosis we used the integrative review. The 21 selected articles were submitted to a careful concept analysis for the definition of the diagnostic concept and review of its elements.

Percutaneous treatment for waist and proximal pole scaphoid fractures.

Objective: Analyze the percutaneous fixation technique for scaphoid fractures in the waist of the scaphoid and the proximal pole, and demonstrate its result.

Methods: A retrospective cross-cohort study conducted from January 2005 to April 2015, aiming at the consolidation time, epidemiological profile, level of function, return to work, and complications.

Results: Twenty-eight patients were selected, with a mean of eight weeks of follow-up.

Bone graft in the treatment of nonunion of the scaphoid with necrosis of the proximal pole: a literature review.

Scaphoid fractures are the most common fractures of the carpal bones, corresponding to 60%. Of these, 10% progress to nonunion; moreover, 3% can present necrosis of the proximal pole. There are various methods of treatment using vascularized and non-vascularized bone grafts.

Trans-scaphoid perilunate fracture dislocation beyond Mayfield stage IV: a case report on a new classification proposal.

This report and review of the literature aims to recognize the complete enucleation beyond stage IV of the classification proposed by Mayfield. The addition of a fifth category is proposed, added for complete ligament injuries that lead to nonexistent circulation for the radiolunate ligament, preventing surgical reconstruction, thus influencing surgical treatment.

Regenerative potential of the cartilaginous tissue in mesenchymal stem cells: update, limitations, and challenges.

Advances in the studies with adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have turned tissue regenerative therapy into a promising tool in many areas of medicine. In orthopedics, one of the main challenges has been the regeneration of cartilage tissue, mainly in diarthroses. In the induction of the MSCs, in addition to cytodifferentiation, the microenvironmental context of the tissue to be regenerated and an appropriate spatial arrangement are extremely important factors.