Reflux characteristics triggering post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) in patients with GERD symptoms.

Background: Esophageal chemical clearance has been evaluated with the post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index. The factors triggering PSPW in Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) have not yet been investigated. This multicenter study was aimed at evaluating the characteristics of reflux episodes associated with PSPW occurrence in patients with typical GERD symptoms.

Esophageal pH increments associated with post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic waves show the occurrence and relevance of esophago-salivary reflex in clinical setting.

Background: Following acid perfusion, esophageal pH is restored by swallowed bicarbonate-containing saliva secreted in response to a vagal esophago-salivary reflex. At impedance-pH monitoring, the post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index puts into relationship timely post-reflux swallows with the number of reflux events: Low values typify reflux-related heartburn (RRH) and lack of on-therapy improvement characterizes proton pump inhibitor (PPI) failure. Considerable esophageal pH increments associated with PSPWs could demonstrate the occurrence of esophago-salivary reflex in clinical setting, while its relevance could be shown by lower esophageal pH increments in PPI-refractory RRH.

High NEMO score values in nailfold videocapillaroscopy are associated with the subsequent development of ischaemic digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is a feasible method that allows the observation of the microvascular changes that mark the course of systemic sclerosis (SSc). In previous studies, we demonstrated that the NEMO score, i.e.

NEMO score in nailfold videocapillaroscopy is a good tool to assess both steady state levels and overtime changes of disease activity in patients with systemic sclerosis: a comparison with the proposed composite indices for this disease status entity.

Background: In previous studies, we demonstrated that the NEMO score, i.e. the cumulative number of microhaemorrhages (MHEs) and microthromboses (MTs), observed in nailfold videocapillaroscopy was a good indicator of the steady state level of disease activity (DA) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) when the European Scleroderma Study Group (EScSG) index was considered the gold standard.

Lack of improvement of impaired chemical clearance characterizes PPI-refractory reflux-related heartburn.

Objective: Heartburn is the most specific symptom of reflux disease and is highly responsive to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Some patients do not respond to PPIs, but mechanisms of refractoriness have not yet been fully elucidated. Impedance-pH monitoring, allowing comprehensive on-therapy assessment of reflux, represents a valuable test to investigate PPI refractoriness.

Declining prevalence and increasing awareness of HCV infection in Italy: A population-based survey in five metropolitan areas.

Background: Data on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Italy are outdated and usually derived from studying residents in small towns.

Methods: To assess prevalence of and risk factors for HCV infection among Italian residents in 5 metropolitan areas, subjects ≥20 years of age were randomly selected from the list of the general practitioners' registers in 2015. Anti-HCV was tested by a salivary test; HCV-RNA, HCV genotypes, and ALT were determined in positive individuals.

Transcatheter Closure of Arterial Duct in Infants < 6 kg: Amplatzer Duct Occluder Type I vs Amplatzer Duct Occluder II Additional Sizes.

Transcatheter closure of arterial duct (AD) remains challenging in low-weight patients and using Amplatzer Duct Occluder devices is still considered off-label in infants < 6 kg. This study aimed to report a large, single-center experience of percutaneous AD closure in infants < 6 kg as well as to compare the most frequently used devices, Amplatzer Duct Occluder type I (ADO I) and Amplatzer Duct Occluder type II Additional Sizes devices (ADO II-AS) (St. Jude Medical Corp, St.

Protein misfolding, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and guanabenz: protocol for a phase II RCT with futility design (ProMISe trial).

Introduction: Recent studies suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through an altered regulation of the proteostasis, the cellular pathway-balancing protein synthesis and degradation. A key mechanism is thought to be the dephosphorylation of eIF2α, a factor involved in the initiation of protein translation. Guanabenz is an alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist safely used in past to treat mild hypertension and is now an orphan drug.

Fate of Duct-Dependent, Discontinuous Pulmonary Arteries After Arterial Duct Stenting.

Significant and balanced PA growth following arterial duct (AD) stenting has already been consistently reported in literature. However, to date, no data are available about the role of this approach as palliation of congenital heart disease with a duct-dependent discontinuous pulmonary artery (dPA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the fate of a dPA of ductal origin following trans-catheter AD stabilization.

The cumulative number of micro-haemorrhages and micro-thromboses in nailfold videocapillaroscopy is a good indicator of disease activity in systemic sclerosis: a validation study of the NEMO score.

Background: Some abnormalities in nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), such as the presence of micro-haemorrhages (MHEs), micro-thromboses (MTs), giant capillaries (GCs) and reduction in the number of capillaries (nCs), suggest a disease activity (DA) phase in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In a previous paper, we showed that the number of micro-haemorrhages and micro-thromboses (the so-called NEMO score) was the NVC feature more closely associated with DA. The present study was aimed at validating the NEMO score as a measure of DA in patients with SSc.

Echographic Evaluation of a Subconjunctival Cystic Lesion.

Migration of intraocular silicone oil, used in the treatment of complicated retinal detachment, has been rarely described, but when it happens it can arise with a differential diagnosis with scleral buckling extrusion, tumor, dermoid, ocular cysticercosis, and abscess. The presence of silicone oil in the eye gives very ugly echographic pictures, but these kinds of pictures can be very useful in making a differential diagnosis in the above-mentioned cases. A 39-year-old white female complained of the presence of conjunctival hyperemia and tearing in the right eye (RE); her visual acuity was hand motion, and the intraocular pressure was 14 mmHg.

Comment on the New Indian Injection Technique Recommendations: Critical Appraisal of the Real-World Implementation of the Current Guidelines.

With an eye on the sequence of two Indian papers concurrently published in Diabetes Therapy, this paper analyzes skin differences among races and points to a lack of organized structured education sessions as the main cause of the high prevalence of lipodystrophy (LD) and consequent poor metabolic control. Only half of all insulin-treated patients reach their therapeutic targets worldwide. The factors involved in this are manifold, including the choice of overlong and repeatedly reused needles, as well as a failure to systematically rotate injection sites, all of which lead to skin LD.

Surgical suturing-induced melanocytic nevi. A new type of eruptive melanocytic nevi?

Background: Nevogenesis is a complex process involving several pathogenetic mechanisms, including genetic factors, hormonal influences and UV-radiation. Trauma has been described as a triggering factor for an alternative pathway of nevogenesis. Eruptive melanocytic nevi (EMN), related either to immunosuppression or to blistering disorders, represent a special type of nevi probably induced by the disruption of the dermo-epidermal junction and consequent proliferation of quiescent pigment cells during re-epithelization.

Carbon and Pu isotopes in Baltic Sea sediments.

Distributions of Cs, Pu, ΔC and δC measured in sediments indicated low Cs and Pu activities in the Curonian Lagoon and higher levels in the open Baltic Sea. Depleted δC values were found in the Curonian Lagoon as compared with the open Baltic Sea, while the most depleted ΔC values were found in the Gotland Deep. The global fallout Pu dominated in the deeper zones of the Baltic Sea, while higher Pu/Pu atom ratios were characteristic of the coastal regions.

Off-label use of Amplatzer Duct Occluder II additional sizes.

Objective: To report our experience on novel, off-label use of Amplatzer Duct Occluder type II additional sizes (ADO II-AS) device (St. Jude Medical, Inc.; St.

Single-center experience in percutaneous closure of arterial duct with Amplatzer duct Occluder II additional sizes.

Objectives: This study aimed to report a large, single-center experience of percutaneous arterial duct (AD) closure using Amplatzer Duct Occluder II Additional Sizes device (ADO II-AS)(St. Jude Medical Corp, St. Paul, MN, USA).

CRLF2 over-expression is a poor prognostic marker in children with high risk T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Pediatric T-ALL patients have a worse outcome compared to BCP-ALL patients and they could benefit from new prognostic marker identification. Alteration of CRLF2 gene, a hallmark correlated with poor outcome in BCP-ALL, has not been reported in T-ALL.We analyzed CRLF2 expression in 212 T-ALL pediatric patients enrolled in AIEOP-BFM ALL2000 study in Italian and German centers.

Pulmonary artery growth after arterial duct stenting in completely duct-dependent pulmonary circulation.

Objective: Significant and balanced pulmonary artery (PA) growth following arterial duct (AD) stenting has already been reported in literature. However, no data are so far available about the role of this percutaneous approach in promoting PA growth in the case of congenital heart disease (CHD) with completely duct-dependent pulmonary blood flow (CDD-PBF). Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AD stenting in this pathophysiological setting.

Lispro insulin in people with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: To compare metabolic control under lispro and recombinant regular human insulin (RHI) in people with diet-unresponsive type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and compensated non-alcoholic liver disease (CLD).

Methods: 108 people with T2DM and CLD were randomly allocated to RHI or lispro according to a 12+12 week cross-over protocol. A 1-week continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) session was performed at the end of each treatment period followed by a standard meal test with a 12IU lispro or RHI shot ahead.

Serum Hepcidin and Iron Absorption in Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: We sought to correlate hepcidin levels in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] children with disease activity, inflammatory markers, and iron load test [ILT] and to compare IBD patients with coeliac and healthy patients.

Methods: Between December 2012 and June 2013, 145 subjects [50 IBD patients, 45 coeliac patients and 50 healthy controls] were included in the study. All patients underwent the following examinations: blood count, iron status, erythropoiesis parameters, serum hepcidin, C-reactive protein [CRP], and erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR].

Predictors of Pulmonary Infarction.

In the setting of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), pulmonary infarction is deemed to occur primarily in individuals with compromised cardiac function.The current study was undertaken to establish the prevalence of pulmonary infarction in patients with acute PE, and the relationship between infarction and: age, body height, body mass index (BMI), smoking habits, clot burden, and comorbidities.The authors studied prospectively 335 patients with acute PE diagnosed by computed tomographic angiography (CT) in 18 hospitals throughout central Italy.

Fate of Hypoplastic Pulmonary Arteries After Arterial Duct Stenting in Congenital Heart Disease With Duct-Dependent Pulmonary Circulation.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the impact of arterial duct (AD) stenting in promoting catch-up growth of hypoplastic pulmonary artery (PA) tree in congenital heart disease with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation (CHD-DPC).

Background: Significant and balanced PA growth following AD stenting has already been consistently reported in the literature. However, no data are so far available about the role of this approach in severe PA hypoplasia, which significantly impacts the risk of surgical repair.