Direct Aspiration Versus Combined Technique for Anterior Distal, Medium Vessel Occlusions Stroke: The JET Distal Vessel Occlusion Study.

Background And Objectives: The optimal mechanical thrombectomy technique for distal, medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) stroke remains unknown. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of 2 thrombectomy first-line approaches, direct aspiration (DA), and combined technique (CT) in patients with DMVOs.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively collected multicenter database of patients with DMVOs (at or distal to M2 and A1), who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with JET D reperfusion catheters between January 2020 and December 2021.

Retrospective Study on the Features and Outcomes of a Tuscany COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients Cohort: Preliminary Results.

A few months after the COVID-19 pandemic onset, knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes and treatments blew up. This paper aimed to evaluate the features of a Tuscany COVID-19 hospitalized cohort and to identify risk factors for COVID-19 severity. This retrospective observational COVID-19 cohort study (1 March 2020-1 March 2021) was conducted on patients ≥ 18 years old, admitted to Tuscany Hospital, and subjected to follow-up within 12 months after discharge.

Severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children: Is it still a mystery? What role does adenovirus play?

On March 31, 2022, severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin was first reported from the Royal Glasgow Children's Hospital in Scotland. According to the criteria by WHO-ECDC, a probable case of unknown acute hepatitis in children is defined as a subject under 16 years of age, who tested negative for viral hepatitis and transaminases >500 U/L, starting from the 1st of October 2021. WHO invites Member States to participate in the global effort to collect anonymized clinical data on probable cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology.

Hepatitis C epidemiology and treatment outcomes in Italy: Impact of the DAA era and the COVID-19 pandemic.

HCV infection poses a global health threat, with significant morbidity and mortality. This study examines HCV trends in a large Italian region from 2015 to 2022, considering demographic changes, evolving clinical profiles, treatment regimens and outcomes, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This multicentre retrospective study analysed demographics, clinical histories and risk factors in 6882 HCV patients.

Liver Stiffness Evaluation in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Cirrhosis before and after Direct-Acting Antivirals.

After the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, parallel significant clinical progress has been achieved in the assessment of liver fibrosis progression/regression before treatment and during the follow-up of the cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The evolution of chronic hepatitis C into liver cirrhosis is correlated with an extensive accumulation of the extracellular matrix, leading to the formation of large amounts of fibrotic tissues that, initially, are concentrated in periportal areas and, in the later stages, surround the nodules of regenerating hepatocytes. The progressive increase in the fibrotic matrix contributes to vascular disturbances (favoring the development of portal hypertension) and to microenvironmental changes.

Liver Stiffness Values to Predict Occurrence and Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Globally, liver cancer is the third most frequent etiology of cancer death, with the rates of occurrence of both new cases and mortality estimated to increase. Given the availability of multiple treatments, interdisciplinary management of the patient is crucial. Moreover, the diagnostic assessment of patients with severe liver fibrosis is essential for the staging of HCC and liver cirrhosis and early diagnosis of HCC.

Access to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in immigrants in Italy, by geographical area of origin.

Objective: Immigrants are commonly considered disadvantaged and at high risk of not receiving appropriate care, including vaccination. This study aimed to evaluate the access to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in immigrants, by geographical area of origin, compared with Italian citizens. We also evaluated sex differences in vaccine's coverage by geographical area of origin.

Woven EndoBridge Device for Unruptured Wide-Neck Bifurcation Aneurysm: A Multicenter 5-Year Follow-up.

Background And Objectives: This multicenter study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device for treating unruptured wide-neck intracranial bifurcation aneurysms (WIBAs) with short-, mid-, and long-term follow-ups (FUPs).

Methods: Consecutive patients with unruptured WIBAs treated with WEB between December 2014 and January 2018 were included. Patient, aneurysm, and device characteristics were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

Flow-diverter treatment for renal artery aneurysms: One-year follow-up of a multicentric preliminary experience.

PURPOSE Renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) are rare in the general population, although the true incidence and natural history remain elusive. Conventional endovascular therapies such as coil embolization or covered stent graft may cause sidebranches occlusion, leading to organ infarction. Flow-diverters (FD) have been firstly designed to treat cerebrovascular aneurysms, but their use may be useful to treat complex RAAs presenting sidebraches arising from aneurysmal sac.

Italian guidelines for the management of irritable bowel syndrome: Joint Consensus from the Italian Societies of: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy (SIGE), Neurogastroenterology and Motility (SINGEM), Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists (AIGO), Digestive Endoscopy (SIED), General Medicine (SIMG), Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition (SIGENP) and Pediatrics (SIP).

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of gut-brain interaction. IBS is still associated with areas of uncertainties, especially regarding the optimal diagnostic work-up and the more appropriate management. Experts from 7 Italian Societies conducted a Delphi consensus with literature summary and voting process on 27 statements.

[The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Italian and foreign population in the various phases: the results of an interregional multicentre project].

Objectives: to analyze the difference of the SARS-CoV-2 infection impact between Italian and foreigner subjects, evaluating the trend of infections and access to diagnostic tests (molecular or antigenic swabs for the detection of SARS- CoV-2) in the two different populations, inducing the detection of new positive cases in the population.

Design: retrospective population study for the period February 2020-June 2021.

Setting And Participants: Italian and foreign resident population on 1st January of the years 2020 and 2021 in the Regions participating to the project: Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy), Tuscany, Lazio (Central Italy), and Sicily (Southern Italy).

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and the Bridge between First and Fourth Dose: Where Are We?

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has induced the explosion of vaccine research. Currently, according to the data of the World Health Organization, there are several vaccines in clinical (145) and preclinical (195) stages, while at least 10 are already in clinical phase 4 (post-marketing). Vaccines have proven to be safe, effective, and able to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its variants, as well as the clinical consequences of the development of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

Ways to promote screening for hepatitis B virus and accelerated vaccination schedule in prison: Training, information, peer education.

The World Health Organization has suggested prioritizing preventive measures for communicable diseases, including the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. To reduce inequalities in health, we have conducted a study on the impact of HBV in prisons located in the region of Tuscany by recording the results of serum screening in clinical medical records, the objective being to increase anti-HBV vaccination in subjects susceptible to infection by means of an accelerated schedule. To further advance disease prevention, we conducted health promotion and education activities prior to a screening/vaccination program in Tuscany prisons; both staff working in the prisons and the prisoners themselves were actively involved.

Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab administered in an outpatient setting for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The early administration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) could decrease the risk of severe disease and the need of inpatients care. Herein, our clinical experience with Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab for the treatment of early SARS-CoV-2 infection through an outpatient service was described. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 were selected by General Practitioners (GPs) if eligible to mAb administration, according to manufacturer and AIFA (Agenzia-Italiana-del-Farmaco) criteria.

Nitrogen dioxide pollution increases vulnerability to COVID-19 through altered immune function.

Previous ecological studies suggest the existence of possible interplays between the exposure to air pollutants and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Confirmations at individual level, however, are lacking. To explore the relationships between previous exposure to particulate matter < 10 μm (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO), the clinical outcome following hospital admittance, and lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients with pneumonia.

Optimizing the Angiography Protocol to Reduce Radiation Dose in Uterine Artery Embolization: The Impact of Digital Subtraction Angiographies on Radiation Exposure.

Purpose: The aim was to compare a protocol of uterine artery embolization (UAE) consisting in three digital subtraction angiographies (DSAs)-Group A, with a protocol based on a single DSA-Group B.

Materials And Methods: This is a single-center prospective randomized study enrolling 20 women (mean age 41 years, range 22-55 years) with uterine fibroids treated with UAE, from January 2015 to February 2016. All UAEs were performed by two interventional radiologists using the same angiography machine.

Rapid improvement of psychiatric stigmata after IFN-free treatment in HCV patients with and without cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes neuropsychiatric disorders and quality of life impairment, especially in patients with cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV). Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) are effective in most extrahepatic HCV diseases, but limited information exists regarding the outcome of psychiatric disorders in patients with and without CV, after therapy. We aimed to evaluate psychiatric outcomes, in HCV-patients with and without CV, before and after successful DAA therapy.

The Minimally Invasive Treatment of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms: A Retrospective Observational Single Centre Cohort Study on Glue Embolization.

Objective: The objective is to report a single centre experience in the embolization of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms with N-butyl-cyanoacrylate-methacryloxy sulfolane (NBCA-MS).

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on data about all consecutive patients treated for visceral artery pseudoaneurysms in the Interventional Radiology Unit of SS Annunziata Hospital, in Taranto (Italy) between January 2016 and July 2020. Only patients treated with NBCA-MS embolization were included.

Substance Abuse Disorder and Viral Infections (Hepatitis, HIV): A Multicenter Study in Tuscan Prisons.

Aims of this study were to define the prevalence of people with a substance use disorder (SUD) in Tuscan prisons and the relationship of such disorders with chronic viral hepatitis C or B (HCV, HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Of 3,291 adult prisoners, 3,100 were enrolled. Of the 3,100 inmates, 912 (29.

Treatment or Prophylaxis against Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Patients with Rheumatic Disease Undergoing Immunosuppressive Therapy: An Update.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) flares or reactivations are serious causes of morbidity or mortality in rheumatologic patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. The recent insights in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases led to the use of new immunosuppressive therapies indicated in case of failure, partial response, or intolerance of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Based on these premises, this review examines and discusses the main rheumatologic treatments that could require the initiation of prophylactic treatment or close monitoring of occult HBV infection in patients beginning antiviral therapy at the first signs of HBV reactivation, or antiviral treatment in chronic HBV-infected patients.