The Role of Biosimilars in Uveitis: Long-Term Real-World Outcomes of the Switch From Original to Biosimilar TNF-Alpha Inhibitors.

Recent expiry of patents for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors has led to the employment of biosimilars in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to identify any change in the control of ocular inflammatory manifestations among patients with non-infectious uveitis switching from an originator to a corresponding anti-TNF-α biosimilar. Thirty-seven consecutive patients (62 eyes involved) with non-infectious uveitis undergoing the switch from anti-TNF-α originators to biosimilars were retrospectively enrolled; the frequency of ocular flares before and after the switch as well as best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), daily systemic corticosteroid intake, and frequency of uveitic macular edema (UME) at the switch and at the following assessments were statistically analysed.

Early readmission for heart failure: An avoidable or ineluctable debacle?

Early hospital readmission after an episode of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) is an emerging issue that is causing a relevant clinical and economic burden. Although there might be several reasons for early readmissions, in many cases these might be effectively prevented by a more adequate post-discharge management, including recommendations on lifestyle and rehabilitation programs. However, almost half of hospitalizations are unrelated to specific cardiac causes and thus increases the difficulty in analyzing risks prediction.

Compliance to antifracture treatments in Tuscany: a regional survey based on institutional pharmaceutical dataset.

Objective: compliance to any antifracture therapy is the most important parameter affecting the effectiveness of the treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients compliance to antifracture therapies in the whole Tuscany population who benefit from treatments reimbursed by the Regional Healthcare System.

Methods: we have analyzed all antifracture drug prescriptions recorded in Tuscany regional pharmaceutical database concerning year 2009, from both in-hospital distribution database (direct drug delivery, FED), and private pharmacies across the whole region (SPF).

Early intra-intensive care unit psychological intervention promotes recovery from post traumatic stress disorders, anxiety and depression symptoms in critically ill patients.

Introduction: Critically ill patients who require intensive care unit (ICU) treatment may experience psychological distress with increasing development of psychological disorders and related morbidity. Our aim was to determine whether intra-ICU clinical psychologist interventions decrease the prevalence of anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after 12 months from ICU discharge.

Methods: Our observational study included critical patients admitted before clinical psychologist intervention (control group) and patients who were involved in a clinical psychologist program (intervention group).

Ventilatory and ECMO treatment of H1N1-induced severe respiratory failure: results of an Italian referral ECMO center.

Background: Since the first outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by H1N1 virus in Mexico, several reports have described the need of intensive care or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) assistance in young and often healthy patients. Here we describe our experience in H1N1-induced ARDS using both ventilation strategy and ECMO assistance.

Methods: Following Italian Ministry of Health instructions, an Emergency Service was established at the Careggi Teaching Hospital (Florence, Italy) for the novel pandemic influenza.

The TARGET project in Tuscany: the first disease management model of a regional project for the prevention of hip re-fractures in the elderly.

Background: The official inquiry on osteoporosis in Italy, promoted by the Italian Senate in 2002 concluded that proper preventive strategies should be adopted at regional level in order to prevent osteoporotic fractures. Tuscany is the first Italian region who has promoted an official program (the TARGET project) aimed to reduce osteoporotic fractures by ensuring adequate treatment to all people aged ≥65 years old who experience a hip fragility fracture.

Objective: this paper provides information concerning the implementation of TARGET project in Tuscany, assuming that it may represent an useful model for similar experiences to be promoted in other Italian Regions and across Europe.