The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Syncope Units Activities in Italy: A Report from the Italian Multidisciplinary Working Group on Syncope (GIMSI).

The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Syncope Units (SUs) Activities in Italy. Data about types of SU activities and admissions were obtained from 10 SUs throughout Italy, certified by the Italian Multidisciplinary Working Group on Syncope (GIMSI), from 10 March 2020 to 31 December 2020 and compared with the same time frame in 2019. A remarkable reduction in overall non-invasive diagnostic tests (-67%; < 0.

Detection of subclinical atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke using implantable cardiac monitors.

Background: Implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) revealed subclinical atrial fibrillation (SCAF) in up to 30% of cryptogenic stroke (CS) patients in randomized trials. However, real world data are limited.

Objectives: We investigated SCAF occurrence, treatments, clinical outcomes and predictors of SCAF in a multicenter real-world population subjected to ICM after CS.

High Levels at Diagnosis of Chronic Phase CML Are Associated with Unfavorable Responses to Standard-Dose Imatinib.

The approval of second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the first-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has generated an unmet need for baseline molecular parameters associated with inadequate imatinib responses. We correlated and transcripts at diagnosis with the outcome-defined by the 2013 European LeukemiaNet recommendations-of 272 patients newly diagnosed with CML receiving imatinib 400 mg/daily. Applying receiver-operating characteristic curves, we defined and levels associated with lower probabilities of optimal response, failure-free (FFS), event-free (EFS), transformation-free (TFS), and overall survival (OS).

A population-based study of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib in first line.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treatment is based on company-sponsored and academic trials testing different tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line therapy. These studies included patients selected according to many inclusion-exclusion criteria, particularly age and comorbidities, with specific treatment obligations. In daily clinical practice (real-life), inclusion-exclusion criteria do not exist, and the treatment outcome does not only depend on the choice of first-line TKI but also on second- and third-line TKIs.

[Prevalence of aneurysm of the interatrial septum in the general population and in patients with a recent episode of cryptogenetic ischemic stroke: a tissue harmonic imaging transthoracic echocardiography study in 5.631 patients].

Cerebral ischemia is among the principal causes of mortality and morbidity in industrialized countries being responsible of 10-12% of all deaths and of an elevated number of permanent disability. The cardio-embolic forms may be responsible of the 30-35% of cerebrovascular acute syndrome, nevertheless in a significant percentage of cases, especially among young people, cerebral ischemic episodes are not induced by these cardio-embolic forms: these cases are defined as cryptogenetic stroke/TIA. In these patients cardiac abnormalities represented by an aneurysm of the interatrial septum (ASA) and by a patent foramen ovale (PFO) have been frequently observed.

Flow cytometric immunophenotyping analysis of patterns of antigen expression in non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma in samples obtained from different anatomic sites.

Multiparametric clinical flow cytometry has evolved from two-parameter quantitative assessment of lymphocytes to assessment of many qualitative parameters of suspensions obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and lymph nodes for hematopathology. Nowadays, lymphoma immunophenotyping is a necessary complement to morphology and molecular parameters in the diagnosis and monitoring of human hematopoietic malignancies. The aim of the present study was to determine whether immunophenotypic differences could be used to distinguish between non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma (NHL-B) and the normal B cell subpopulation by assessing the variability in the patterns of expression of some lymphoid antigens (CD5, CD19, FMC7, CD23, CD20, CD79b, CD38, CD22, CD10, sIgkappa, sIglambda, mIgA, mIgG, mIgM, and mIgD) in specimens obtained from patients with NHL-B.

Cardiovascular responses to postural changes: differences with age for women and men.

The cardiovascular responses to postural change, and how they are affected by aging, are inadequately described in women. Therefore, the authors examined the influence of age and sex on the responses of blood pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, and other variables to change in posture. Measurements were made after 10 minutes each in the supine, seated, and standing positions in 22 men and 25 women who ranged in age from 21 to 59 years.

Hemodynamic and hormonal responses to lower body negative pressure in men with varying profiles of strength and aerobic power.

Hemodynamic, cardiac, and hormonal responses to lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) were examined in 24 healthy men to test the hypothesis that responsiveness of reflex control of blood pressure during orthostatic challenge is associated with interactions between strength and aerobic power. Subjects underwent treadmill tests to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2max) and isokinetic dynamometer tests to determine knee extensor strength. Based on predetermined criteria, subjects were classified into one of four fitness profiles of six subjects each, matched for age, height, and body mass: (a) low strength/average aerobic fitness, (b) low strength/high aerobic fitness, (c) high strength/average aerobic fitness, and (d) high strength/high aerobic fitness.

Pharmacotherapy in the geriatric population.

The geriatric population constitutes the largest group of consumers of medications in this country. Changes in the pharmacokinetic response to medications of this population are less predictable than in younger age groups, thereby resulting in adverse reactions and drug interactions in multidrug users. Dentists need to be aware of these changes as well as alterations in therapeutic responses to the medications most commonly used in dental treatment: sedatives, local anesthetics, analgesics, and antibiotics.

Plasma volume expansion in humans after a single intense exercise protocol.

We used intense intermittent exercise to produce a 10% expansion of plasma volume (PV) within 24 h and tested the hypothesis that PV expansion is associated with an increase in plasma albumin content. The protocol consisted of eight 4-min bouts of exercise at 85% maximal O2 uptake with 5-min recovery periods between bouts. PV, plasma concentrations of albumin and total protein (TP), and plasma osmolality were measured before and during exercise and at 1, 2, and 24 h of recovery from exercise.

Effect of a central redistribution of fluid volume on response to lower-body negative pressure.

We studied cardiovascular responses to lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) following 1 hour (h) of 6 degrees head-down tilt to determine whether a redistribution of blood volume toward the central circulation modifies the subsequent response to orthostatic stress. Responses of 12 men, ages 30-39 years, were evaluated by electrocardiography, impedance cardiography, sphygmomanometry, and measurement of calf circumference. During the LBNP that followed head-down tilt--as compared with control LBNP (no preceding head-down tilt)--subjects had smaller stroke volume and cardiac output, greater total peripheral resistance, and less calf enlargement.

Adenosine nucleotide utilization in subtotally nephrectomized rabbits.

Two- to three-kilogram albino rabbits were subtotally nephrectomized and compared with sham-operated normal rabbits for the muscle content of adenosine mono (AMP)-, di (ADP)- and triphosphate (ATP) and inosine monophosphate (IMP) before and after exercise. Analysis of snap-frozen, lyophilized soleus muscle showed lower levels of AMP, ATP and total adenosine nucleotide (TAN) (p less than 0.01) and ATP/ADP (p less than 0.

Hysteresis in response to descending and ascending lower-body negative pressure.

We have investigated the pattern of fluid redistribution and cardiovascular responses during graduated orthostatic stress. Twelve men, age 30-39 yr, underwent a 25-min lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) test protocol that involved sequential stages of LBNP at -8 mmHg (1 min), -16 mmHg (1 min), -30 mmHg (3 min), -40 mmHg (5 min), -50 mmHg (5 min), -40 mmHg (5 min), -30 mmHg (3 min), -16 mmHg (1 min), and -8 mmHg (1 min). Data were recorded at the end of each stage.

Cardiovascular dynamics during the initial period of head-down tilt.

The cardiovascular response to 1 h of 6 degrees head-down tilt was studied in 12 male subjects, ages 30-39 years, to simulate the early effects of weightlessness. Fluid shifts, hemodynamic variables, and indices of myocardial contractility were evaluated by utilizing electrocardiography, systolic time intervals, impedance cardiography, sphygmomanometry, and measurement of calf circumference. Most cardiovascular variables remained stable throughout the initial 30 min of the protocol, even though translocation of fluid from the legs to the thorax commenced immediately with the onset of head-down tilt.