Rate of Perceived Exertion Based on Repetitions in Reserve Versus Percentage of One-Repetition Maximum for Resistance Training Prescription in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study.

The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy of the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale based on the number of repetitions in reserve (RIR) before exhaustion for the prescription of resistance training in cardiac rehabilitation and to compare it to the percentage of estimated one-repetition maximum (1RM) prescription method. Sixteen male patients (age 60 ± 8) with history of coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to two resistance training rehabilitation protocols lasting nine weeks and consisting of three sessions per week, with the same exercise selection, number of sets and repetitions, and rest periods, but different load prescription method (RPE vs. %1RM).

Acute Changes in Myocardial Work during Isometric Exercise in Hypertensive Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Case-Control Study.

The acute hemodynamic response to isometric exercise in hypertensive patients' ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess acute changes in left ventricular myocardial work (MW) during isometric bilateral knee extension in patients with IHD. Twenty stable hypertensive patients with IHD and ten healthy, age-matched controls (HC) were enrolled.

Changes in left atrial function following two regimens of combined exercise training in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: a pilot study.

Purpose: Left atrial dysfunction has shown to play a prognostic role in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and is becoming a therapeutic target for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The effects of exercise training on the atrial function in patients with ICM have been poorly investigated. In the present study, we assessed the effects of a 12-week combined training (CT) program on the left atrial function in patients with ICM.

Acute Changes on Left Atrial Function during Incremental Exercise in Patients with Heart Failure with Mildly Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Case-Control Study.

Background: the aim of this study was to assess acute changes in left atrial (LA) function during incremental aerobic exercise in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) in comparison to healthy subjects (HS).

Methods: twenty patients with established HFmrEF were compared with 10 HS, age-matched controls. All subjects performed a stepwise exercise test on a cycle ergometer.

The Improvement of Left Atrial Function after Twelve Weeks of Supervised Concurrent Training in Patients with Heart Failure with Mid-Range Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Study.

Left atrial dysfunction is associated with exercise intolerance and poor prognosis in heart failure (HF). The effects of exercise training on atrial function in patients with HF with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of a supervised concurrent training (SCT) program, lasting 12 weeks, on left atrial function of patients with HFmrEF.

Neonatal Cerebral Venous Thrombosis following Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy.

A possible consequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is the development of an exacerbated thrombophilic status, and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare but possible complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection reported both in adults and in children. The present case report describes the clinical course of a term neonate showing extended CVT of unclear origin, whose mother had developed SARS-CoV-2 infection during the third trimester of pregnancy. We speculate that the prothrombotic status induced by maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection may have played a pathophysiological role in the development of such severe neonatal complication.

Vitreous and Chorioretinal Lesions in People Who Inject Drugs and Are Hospitalized with Bloodstream and Related Infections.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of and to characterize vitreous and chorioretinal lesions, to identify causative organisms, and to correlate symptoms with ophthalmic involvement in people who inject drugs and are hospitalized with bloodstream infection (BSI), related metastatic foci of infection (MFI), or both.

Design: An academic hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Participants: Patients admitted with BSI or MFI related to injection drug use (IDU).

[Marijuana-associated peripheral arteriopathy].

The marijuana arteriopathy should be considered in young patients with peripheral arterial disease with no risk factors for atherosclerosis. It was described for the first time in 1960 and since then there have been about 100 cases published in the literature. Although it tends to be considered as an independent entity of thromboangiitis obliterans or Leo Buerger's disease, in the light of the last findings it is possible to consider it within the spectrum of the latter.

Prevalence of Extrapancreatic Malignancies Among Patients With Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas.

Objectives: We conducted a study in order to assess the prevalence of extrapancreatic malignancies (EPMs) in a cohort of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) from northeastern Italy.

Methods: A study was conducted in hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy. Hospital records were screened in order to identify newly diagnosed IPMN cases in the period from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2015.

An overview of a Sertoli cell transplantation model to study testis morphogenesis and the role of the Sertoli cells in immune privilege.

Advanced testicular germ cells, expressing novel cell surface and intracellular proteins, appear after the establishment of central tolerance and thus are auto-immunogenic. However, due to testis immune privilege these germ cells normally do not evoke a detrimental immune response. The Sertoli cell (SC) barrier (also known as the blood-testis barrier) creates a unique microenvironment required for the completion of spermatogenesis and sequesters the majority of the advanced germ cells from the immune system.

IPOD Study: Management of Acute Left Colonic Diverticulitis in Italian Surgical Departments.

Background: In recent years, the emergency management of acute left colonic diverticulitis (ALCD) has evolved dramatically despite lack of strong evidence. As a consequence, management strategies are frequently guided by surgeon's personal preference, rather than by scientific evidence. The primary aim of IPOD study (Italian Prospective Observational Diverticulitis study) is to describe both the diagnostic and treatment profiles of patients with ALCD in the Italian surgical departments.

Biliary strictures after liver transplantation: role of interleukin 28B genotypes in cyclosporine treated.

Introduction: The role of Interleukin 28B (IL-28B) genetic polymorphisms in influencing the occurrence of biliary complications after liver transplantation has never been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-28B rs12979860C/T polymorphisms associate with the occurrence of biliary complications after liver transplantation and if these complications may influence survival.

Methods: One hundred seventy one recipients (133 males) who underwent liver transplantation were recruited.

[Stress (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy in a patient with anorexia nervosa].

We report the case of a woman with anorexia nervosa who developed takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by emotional stress and electrolyte disturbances. The patient improved with conservative management. Descriptions of stress-cardiomyopathy in association with eating disorders are often of higher severity and related to QT prolongation because of electrolyte abnormalities, ventricular arrhythmias and hypoglycemia.

Pre-clinical Crohn's disease: diagnosis, treatment and six year follow-up.

Diagnosis of Crohn's disease is usually made at a symptomatic stage. However diagnosis at a pre-clinical stage might provide valuable information on etiology/pathogenesis and allow early intervention to alter its natural history. We describe here the case of a 27 year old woman who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at a completely asymptomatic stage and followed up for more than six years.

[Ergotism and HIV].

Ergotism is a complication of acute intoxication and/or chronic abuse of ergot derivatives. It expresses itself through a vasomotor syndrome with peripheral vascular disease which frequently involves extremities. We report four cases of HIV-1 infected patients treated with antiretroviral drugs including boosted-protease inhibitors who had self-treated themselves with ergotamine.

[Lethargic encephalitis. Report of one case].

Lethargic encephalitis (LE) is a Central Nervous System disorder following an upper respiratory tract infection, characterized by sleep disturbances, clinical symptoms corresponding to basal ganglia involvement and in some cases, neuropsychiatric sequelae. We report a 18-year-old mole with a history of sinusitis treated with azithromycin, two weeks before, presenting with fever, headache, confusion and myoclonus. Urine analysis was positive for cannabis.

Neuron Mid-Infrared Absorption Study for Direct Optical Excitation of Neurons.

Neuron optical excitations are important for brain-circuitry explorations and sensory-neuron-stimulation applications. To optimize the stimulation, we identify neuron mid-IR absorption peaks in this study and discuss their meanings and delivery methods of mid-IR photons.

Serous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas with portal thrombosis.

Serous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas is a rare entity. We report on a primary tumor of the pancreas in a 74-year-old male. Computerized tomography showed an abdominal mass within pancreatic head, portal vein infiltration and absence of metastatic lesions.

Laparoscopic enucleation of a jejunal mesenteric cyst: a case report.

Mesenteric cysts (MC) are a rare surgical condition occurring approximately in 1/200.000-350.000.

Clinical biomarkers and management of post thrombotic syndrome.

The post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a long-term complication of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) that is characterized by chronic, persistent pain, swelling and other signs in the affected limb. PTS is common, burdensome and costly. It is likely to increase in prevalence, since despite widespread use of and improvements in the efficacy of thromboprophylaxis, the incidence of DVT has not decreased over time.

Clinical biomarkers in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

This review describes genetic and molecular changes related to adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) with emphasis on prognostic value and possibilities for targeted therapy in clinical setting. The progression of Barrett's esophagus to adenocarcinoma has been the focus of particular scrutiny, and a number of potential tissue and serum-based disease biomarkers have emerged. Tissue biomarkers allowing risk stratification of Barrett's are reviewed as well as strategies currently being used to discover novel biomarkers that will facilitate the early detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac axis for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Resection of celiac axis for gastric cancer was first performed by Appleby in 1953. Subsequently, Mayumi et al. and Kimura et al.

Antioxidant properties of anesthetics: the biochemist, the surgeon and the anesthetist.

General anesthesia can impair immunological defense mechanisms while inducing an inflammatory reaction. Generalized inflammatory reactions involve leucocytes which in turn release inflammatory mediators and free oxygen radicals. General anesthetics include a series of gaseous and intravenous sedative-hypnotic agents indicated for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia as well as for sedation of intubated, mechanically ventilated adults in intensive care units (ICU).

Portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic total mesorectal excision: case report.

Data continue to grow regarding the safety and technical feasibility of laparoscopically assisted total mesorectal excision (TME). As this minimally invasive alternative to open colonic resection becomes more popular, it is inevitable that information on the benefits and complications associated with it will continue to expand. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) has been reported after a variety of laparoscopic procedures.