Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary Calcium Burden with Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume Obtained from PET-CT Imaging in Oncological Patients.

Whole-body positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) imaging performed for oncological purposes may provide additional parameters such as the coronary artery calcium (CAC) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume with cost-effective prognostic information in asymptomatic people beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We evaluated the feasibility of measuring the CAC score and EAT volume in cancer patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD) referred to whole-body F-FDG PET-CT imaging, regardless of the main clinical problem. We also investigated the potential relationships between traditional cardiovascular risk factors and CAC with EAT volume.

Retraining transplant pharmacy staff to reduce Medicare Part B prescription billing errors post-transplant.

Background: Medicare Part B (MedB) imposes penalties for certain errors in prescription billing of post-transplant medications, which can greatly affect pharmacy revenue. To prevent MedB billing fines, pharmacy staff must be cognizant of specific MedB requirements.

Objective: This quality improvement project aimed to retrain certified pharmacy technicians (CPhTs) on common billing errors and evaluate changes in error rates and potential fines after retraining.

Tumor Burden of Iodine-Avid Bone Metastatic Thyroid Cancer Identified via F-Sodium Fluoride PET/CT Imaging.

Background: Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are referred to radioactive I (RAI) therapy and post-therapy I whole-body scintigraphy (WBS) to identify local and/or remote metastases. Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging with F-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) or F-sodium fluoride (NaF) may also be used with these patients for the evaluation of bone metastases. We compared the role of F-NaF PET/CT and F-FDG-PET/CT in patients with DTC and documented bone metastases at post-therapy WBS.

Coefficient of Variation in Metastatic Lymph Nodes Determined by F-FDG PET/CT in Patients with Advanced NSCLC: Combination with Coefficient of Variation in Primary Tumors.

Purpose The aim of the present study was to test whether the coefficient of variation (CoV) of F-FDG PET/CT images of metastatic lymph nodes and primary tumors may predict clinical outcome in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods Fifty-eight NSCLC patients who had undergone F-FDG PET/CT at diagnosis were evaluated. SUVmax, SUVmean, CoV, MTV and TLG were determined in targeted lymph nodes and corresponding primary tumors along with Total MTV (MTV) and Whole-Body TLG (TLG) of all malignant lesions.

Dietary Fatty Acids Contribute to Maintaining the Balance between Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Responses during Pregnancy.

Background: During pregnancy, the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses is essential for ensuring healthy outcomes. Dietary Fatty acids may modulate inflammation.

Methods: We investigated the association between dietary fatty acids as profiled on red blood cells membranes and a few pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including the adipokines leptin and adiponectin at ~38 weeks in 250 healthy women.

Tracers for Cardiac Imaging: Targeting the Future of Viable Myocardium.

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. In this context, myocardial viability is defined as the amount of myocardium that, despite contractile dysfunction, maintains metabolic and electrical function, having the potential for functional enhancement upon revascularization. Recent advances have improved methods to detect myocardial viability.

Delta-Procalcitonin and Vitamin D Can Predict Mortality of Internal Medicine Patients with Microbiological Identified Sepsis.

: The management of septic patients hospitalized in Internal Medicine wards represents a challenge due to their complexity and heterogeneity, and a high mortality rate. Among the available prognostic tools, procalcitonin (PCT) is considered a marker of bacterial infection. Furthermore, an association between vitamin D deficiency and poor sepsis-related outcomes has been described.

Impact of kidney transplant morbidity on elderly recipients' outcomes.

Background And Aims: Nowadays, advanced age does not represent an absolute contraindication to kidney transplantation (KT). However, aging is frequently associated with multiple comorbidities and lower performance status, making KT candidates less surgically fit. Limited data are available on the impact of KT morbidity on elderly recipients' outcomes.

The Interplay between CD27 and CD27 B Cells Ensures the Flexibility, Stability, and Resilience of Human B Cell Memory.

Memory B cells (MBCs) epitomize the adaptation of the immune system to the environment. We identify two MBC subsets in peripheral blood, CD27 and CD27 MBCs, whose frequency changes with age. Heavy chain variable region (VH) usage, somatic mutation frequency replacement-to-silent ratio, and CDR3 property changes, reflecting consecutive selection of highly antigen-specific, low cross-reactive antibody variants, all demonstrate that CD27 and CD27 MBCs represent sequential MBC developmental stages, and stringent antigen-driven pressure selects CD27 into the CD27 MBC pool.

Effects of Delayed Hypothermic Machine Perfusion on Kidney Grafts with a Preliminary Period of Static Cold Storage and a Total Cold Ischemia Time of Over 24 Hours.

BACKGROUND Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) appears to exert a reconditioning effect on the ischemic damage of kidney grafts. However, some concerns still remain about its real effectiveness when it is delayed after a preliminary period of static cold storage (SCS) or with prolonged overall cold ischemia time (CIT). MATERIAL AND METHODS The effect of HMP on hemodynamic, metabolic, histological and ultrastructural features of grafts was investigated in 21 single-kidney grafts treated with a delayed HMP after SCS and with a total CIT of over 24 h.

Tacrolimus Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Stable Kidney Transplantation and Individuation of CYP3A5 Genotype.

The posology of tacrolimus (TAC) is usually guided by its therapeutic drug monitoring. Some patients reach target concentrations (CTs) quickly, others more slowly. In a retrospective study, 20 kidney transplant recipients were included (mean age, 50.

Maternal Intake of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids During Pregnancy Is Associated With Differential Methylation Profiles in Cord Blood White Cells.

A healthy diet during pregnancy is pivotal for the offspring health at birth and later in life. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are not endogenously produced in humans and are exclusively derived from the diet. They are pivotal for the fetus growth and neuronal development and seem beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiometabolic diseases and preventing later allergic disorders in the offspring by modulating the inflammatory immune response.

Risk Factors for Graft Loss Due to Acute Vascular Complications in Adult Renal Transplantation Using Grafts Without Vascular Anomalies.

Background: Vascular complications are the main cause of early graft loss in renal transplant (RT). A graft with multiple vessels represents the most validated risk factor. The aim of the present study was to identify potential predictive factors for acute vascular complications causing graft loss when graft vascular anomalies are excluded.

Innovative Approaches to Active and Healthy Ageing: Campania Experience to Improve the Adoption of Innovative Good Practices.

The demographic projections on the European population predict that people aged over 60 will increase by about two million/year in the next decades. Since 2012, the Campania Reference Site of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing supports the innovation of the Regional Health System, to face up demographic changes and sustainability. Campania Reference Site provides the opportunity to connect loco-regional stakeholders in social and health care services (universities, healthcare providers, social services, local communities and municipalities), with international organizations, in order to adopt and scale up innovative solutions and approaches.

MEDS score and vitamin D status are independent predictors of mortality in a cohort of Internal Medicine patients with microbiological identified sepsis.

Objective: Sepsis is a life-threatening disease resulting from the interaction between pathogen and host response; its dysregulation causes organ dysfunction, high morbidity, and mortality. Despite the increase of septic patients admitted to Internal Medicine wards, data about clinical predictors of mortality in this setting are still lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of MEDS score and vitamin D as predictors of mortality (28-day and 90-day) in septic patients admitted to the Internal Medicine department.

Kidney Transplantation in Elderly Recipients: A Single-Center Experience.

Unlabelled: In this retrospective single-center study we evaluated the outcome after kidney transplant in recipients older than 65 years in terms of patient and graft survival and causes of death.

Patients And Methods: From 1993 to 2016, 109 consecutive first single kidney transplants in recipients older than 65 years were included. Furthermore, 2 age groups have also been identified (group A, 65-70 years old vs group B, 71-76 years old).

Androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Objective: We provide a review of the literature about the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS), its onset and associated developmental anomalies and the genetic alterations causing it.

Materials And Methods: We searched PubMed with a larger emphasis on the physiology, genetics and current management of AIS.

Results: AIS is an X-linked recessive Disorder of Sex Development (DSD).

Non-Coding RNAs and Endometrial Cancer.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of cell metabolism and neoplastic transformation. Recent studies have tried to clarify the significance of these information carriers in the genesis and progression of various cancers and their use as biomarkers for the disease; possible targets for the inhibition of growth and invasion by the neoplastic cells have been suggested. The significance of ncRNAs in lung cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and melanoma has been amply investigated with important results.

Association between Maternal and Foetal Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Profiles and Birth Weight.

Regular foetal development is crucial for assuring good health status in the offspring. The quality and quantity of maternal dietary fatty acids (FAs) can affect growth. The study aimed to: (1) investigate the association of maternal/foetal lipid profiles with birth weight (BW); and (2) compare these profiles in small, appropriate, and large for gestational age (SGA, AGA, and LGA) infants.

Fecal calprotectin in management of Clostridium difficile infection: a longitudinal study.

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is characterized by a relevant intestinal neutrophil infiltrate. So far, role of fecal calprotectin in CDI, has been investigated only in few studies, mainly focused on diagnosis of the disease.

Aim: By a longitudinal design, we assess fecal calprotectin concentrations (FCCs) in subjects with CDI, evaluating the correlation between fecal marker and response to therapy.

Sepsis in Internal Medicine wards: current knowledge, uncertainties and new approaches for management optimization.

Sepsis represents a global health problem in terms of morbidity, mortality, social and economic costs. Although usually managed in Intensive Care Units, sepsis showed an increased prevalence among Internal Medicine wards in the last decade. This is substantially due to the ageing of population and to multi-morbidity.

A novel approach in the treatment of neonatal gastroschisis: a review of the literature and a single-center experience.

Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect and its management remains an issue. We performed a review of the literature to summarize its evaluation, management and outcome and we describe a new type of surgical reduction performed in our center without anesthesia (GA), immediately after birth, in the delivery room. Between January 2002 and March 2013, we enrolled all live born infants with gastroschisis referred to the third-level Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology "San Camillo" of Rome.

Does vitamin D play a role in autoimmune endocrine disorders? A proof of concept.

In the last few years, more attention has been given to the "non-calcemic" effect of vitamin D. Several observational studies and meta-analyses demonstrated an association between circulating levels of vitamin D and outcome of many common diseases, including endocrine diseases, chronic diseases, cancer progression, and autoimmune diseases. In particular, cells of the immune system (B cells, T cells, and antigen presenting cells), due to the expression of 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), are able to synthesize the active metabolite of vitamin D, which shows immunomodulatory properties.