Usefulness of longitudinal systolic strain and delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance in depicting risk of supraventricular arrythmias in patients with acute myocarditis and preserved left ventricular function.

Background: Myocarditis have variable clinical presentation, evolution and prognosis. Aim of our study was to evaluate the value of speckle tracking echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the short-term prediction of supraventricular arrhythmias (SVA) in patients with acute myocarditis.

Methods: Seventy patients (mean age 31±14 years old) with acute myocarditis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were enrolled.

Improving the diagnostic approach to celiac disease: Experience from a regional network.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is still underestimated. To close this diagnostic gap, the Health Sicilian Authorities have constituted the "Sicilian Network for CD".

Aims: A) To verify the quality of the current diagnostic approach using the data sheet of the Network.

National networking in rare diseases and reduction of cardiac burden in thalassemia major.

Aims: A tailored chelation therapy guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a strategy to improve the prognosis in iron-loaded patients, in many cases still hampered by limited MRI availability. In order to address this issue, the Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia (MIOT) network was established in Italy and we aimed to describe the impact of 10-year activity of this network on cardiac burden in thalassemia major (TM).

Methods And Results: Within the MIOT network, 1746 TM patients (911 females; mean age 31.

COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pneumonia: a comparison.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the relocation of huge financial resources to departments dedicated to infected patients, at the expense of those suffering from other pathologies.

Aim: To compare clinical features and outcomes in COVID-19 pneumonia and non-COVID-19 pneumonia patients.

Patients And Methods: 53 patients (35 males, mean age 61.

Whole Cow's Milk but Not Lactose Can Induce Symptoms in Patients with Self-Reported Milk Intolerance: Evidence of Cow's Milk Sensitivity in Adults.

Background: Lactose intolerance is the most frequent food intolerance, but many subjects with self-reported milk intolerance (SRMI) are asymptomatic at lactose hydrogen breath test (LHBT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of lactose intolerance in SRMI patients and their clinical characteristics.

Methods: In a retrospective study, the clinical records of 314 SRMI patients (259 females, mean age: 39.

Primary HBB gene mutation severity and long-term outcomes in a global cohort of β-thalassaemia.

In β-thalassaemia, the severity of inherited β-globin gene mutations determines the severity of the clinical phenotype at presentation and subsequent transfusion requirements. However, data on associated long-term outcomes remain limited. We analysed data from 2109 β-thalassaemia patients with available genotypes in a global database.

Second-line administration of thrombopoietin receptor agonists in immune thrombocytopenia: Italian Delphi-based consensus recommendations.

Introduction: In patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a short course of steroids is routinely given as first-line therapy. However, the response is often transient and additional therapy is usually needed. Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are frequently used as second-line therapy, although there is little clinical guidance on the timing of their administration and on tapering/discontinuation of the drug.

Self-reported nonceliac wheat sensitivity in an outpatient digestive endoscopy center: high frequency but insufficient medical approach.

Objective: 'Self-reported wheat sensitivity' (SRWS) is a self-reported condition caused by wheat ingestion in the absence of celiac disease or wheat allergy. The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency and characteristics of SRWS in outpatients referred for digestive endoscopy.

Methods: The study, performed at the University of Palermo, enrolled 496 outpatients.

Frequency and Clinical Aspects of Neurological and Psychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity.

Background: Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity (NCWS) is characterized by both intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms. The study aims to investigate the frequency of neuropsychiatric manifestations in NCWS patients and identify their clinical and demographic characteristics.

Methods: 278 clinical records of NCWS patients, diagnosed by a double-blind placebo-controlled wheat challenge between 2006 and 2020, were retrospectively revised.

Direct antiviral agents in hepatitis C virus related liver disease: Don't count the chickens before they're hatched.

Since molecules with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) became available, the landscape of the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has completely changed. The new drugs are extremely effective in eradicating infection, and treatment is very well tolerated with a duration of 8-12 wk. This review aims to report the outstanding clinical benefits of DAA and to highlight their critical disadvantages, identifying some clinically relevant hot topics.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients with immune thrombocytopenia treated with rituximab: a retrospective multicenter analysis.

The primary aim of this study was to describe the use of primary anti-infective prophylaxis (AP) in common clinical practice in patients affected by immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and treated with RTX. Population studied consisted of patients affected by ITP (age ≥ 18 years) who had received at least one dose of RTX from January 2008 to June 2018. Five Italian haematology centres participated in the current study.

The Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak on the Psychological Flexibility and Behaviour of Cancelling Medical Appointments of Italian Patients with Pre-Existing Medical Condition: The "ImpACT-COVID-19 for Patients" Multi-Centre Observational Study.

Psychological distress imposed by the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak particularly affects patients with pre-existing medical conditions, and the progression of their diseases. Patients who fail to keep scheduled medical appointments experience a negative impact on care. The aim of this study is to investigate the psychosocial factors contributing to the cancellation of medical appointments during the pandemic by patients with pre-existing health conditions.

Non-celiac wheat sensitivity: rationality and irrationality of a gluten-free diet in individuals affected with non-celiac disease: a review.

Non-celiac gluten or wheat sensitivity (NCWS) is a "clinical entity induced by the ingestion of wheat leading to intestinal and/or extraintestinal symptoms that improve once the wheat-containing foodstuff is removed from the diet, and celiac disease and wheat allergy have been excluded". This mostly accepted definition raises several points that remain controversial on this condition. In the present review, the authors summarize the most recent advances in the clinic and research on NCWS through an accurate analysis of different studies.

Complications of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: Incidence, risk factors, and clinical relevance in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in acute stroke.

Background: There are limited data concerning procedure-related complications of endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion strokes.

Aims: We evaluated the cumulative incidence, the clinical relevance in terms of increased disability and mortality, and risk factors for complications.

Methods: From January 2011 to December 2017, 4799 patients were enrolled by 36 centers in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Stroke Treatment.

Bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone followed by double autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (GIMEMA-MMY-3006): long-term follow-up analysis of a randomised phase 3, open-label study.

Background: The phase 3 GIMEMA-MMY-3006 trial, which compared bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (VTD) combination therapy with thalidomide and dexamethasone (TD) as induction therapy before and consolidation therapy after double autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, showed the superiority of the triplet regimen over the doublet in terms of increased complete response rate and improved progression-free survival. We report the results from the final analysis of the study.

Methods: In this randomised, open-label, phase 3 study, patients aged 18-65 years with previously untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma and a Karnofsky Performance Status of 60% or higher were enrolled at 73 centres in Italy.

A complication risk score to evaluate clinical severity of thalassaemia syndromes.

The thalassaemia syndromes (TS) show different phenotype severity. Developing a reliable, practical and global tool to determine disease severity and tailor treatment would be of great value. Overall, 7910 patients were analysed with the aim of constructing a complication risk score (CoRS) to evaluate the probability of developing one or more complications.

All-oral metronomic DEVEC schedule in elderly patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma.

Purpose: Peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCLs) have an overall poor prognosis. Indeed, registry data in elderly patients show that the median progression-free survival (mPFS) following first- and second-line therapies are only 6.7 and 3.

Autoimmunity Features in Patients With Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity.

Introduction: Nonceliac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) is characterized by intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations consequent to wheat ingestion in subjects without celiac disease and wheat allergy. Few studies investigated the relationship between NCWS and autoimmunity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of autoimmune diseases (ADs) and autoantibodies in patients with NCWS.

Genotypic groups as risk factors for cardiac magnetic resonance abnormalities and complications in thalassemia major: a large, multicentre study.

Background: The causes and effects of genotypic heterogeneity in beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) have not been fully investigated. The aim of this multicentre study was to determine whether different genotype groups could predict the development of cardiovascular magnetic resonance abnormalities and cardiac complications.

Materials And Methods: We considered 708 β-TM patients (373 females, age 30.

Consolidation Radiotherapy Could Be Safely Omitted in Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma With Large Nodal Mass in Complete Metabolic Response After ABVD: Final Analysis of the Randomized GITIL/FIL HD0607 Trial.

Purpose: To investigate the role of consolidation radiotherapy (cRT) in advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) presenting at baseline with a large nodal mass (LNM) in complete metabolic response after doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Advanced-stage (IIB-IVB) HL patients, enrolled in the HD 0607 trial (Clinicaltrial.gov identifier NCT00795613), with both a negative PET after two (PET-2) and six (PET-6) ABVD cycles, who presented at baseline with an LNM, defined as a nodal mass with the largest diameter ≥ 5 cm, were prospectively randomly assigned to receive cRT over the LNM or no further treatment (NFT).

Minimal Lesions of the Small Intestinal Mucosa: More than Morphology.

Minimal lesions of the small bowel are mucosal changes characterized by an increased number of intraepithelial lymphocytes (with or without crypt hyperplasia) and normal villous architecture. Such changes are associated with a wide spectrum of conditions, ranging from food intolerances to infections, and from drugs to immune diseases, with different clinical profiles and manifestations, which complicates the formulation of a differential diagnosis. Patient history, symptom evaluation, and histopathology are the diagnostic features needed to establish a correct diagnosis.

Endoscopic surveillance of colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel diseases: a review of the literature.

Introduction: The risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is higher compared to the general population and it is related to the type, severity, duration, and extension of the disease.

Areas Covered: This review aims to highlight current evidence from the literature supporting the role of endoscopic surveillance of CRC in patients with IBD.

Expert Opinion: Even in the absence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), evidence from the literature supports the effectiveness of endoscopic surveillance in reducing IBD-related CRC incidence and mortality.