Contact dermatitis as an adverse reaction to some topically used European herbal medicinal products - part 4: Solidago virgaurea-Vitis vinifera.

This review focuses on contact dermatitis as an adverse effect of a selection of topically used herbal medicinal products for which the European Medicines Agency has completed an evaluation up to the end of November 2013 and for which a Community herbal monograph - now (since 2014) called a 'European Union herbal monograph' - has been produced. The present part 4 addresses species from Solidago virgaurea L. to Vitis vinifera L.

Disease status, reasons for discontinuation and adverse events in 1038 Italian children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with etanercept.

Background: Data from routine clinical practice are needed to further define the efficacy and safety of biologic medications in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The aim of this analysis was to investigate the disease status, reasons for discontinuation and adverse events in Italian JIA patients treated with etanercept (ETN).

Methods: In 2013, all centers of the Italian Pediatric Rheumatology Study Group were asked to make a census of patients given ETN after January 2000.

A population-based study of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib in first line.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treatment is based on company-sponsored and academic trials testing different tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line therapy. These studies included patients selected according to many inclusion-exclusion criteria, particularly age and comorbidities, with specific treatment obligations. In daily clinical practice (real-life), inclusion-exclusion criteria do not exist, and the treatment outcome does not only depend on the choice of first-line TKI but also on second- and third-line TKIs.

Imatinib and polypharmacy in very old patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: effects on response rate, toxicity and outcome.

Background: About 40% of all patients with chronic myeloid leukemia are currently old or very old. They are effectively treated with imatinib, even though underrepresented in clinical studies. Furthermore, as it happens in the general population, they often receive multiple drugs for associated chronic illnesses.

Incidence of Respiratory Disease During the First Two Years of Life in Children with Hemodynamically Significant Congenital Heart Disease in Italy: A Retrospective Study.

Children affected by hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (HSCHD) experience severe respiratory complications that can increase the frequency of hospitalizations. The aim of the SINERGY study was to describe the incidence of respiratory diseases and to collect information on active and passive immunoprophylaxis in the first 2 years of life. In this retrospective, multicenter, and epidemiologic study, children with HSCHD were enrolled across 11 Italian sites.

Efficacy of a new technique - INtubate-RECruit-SURfactant-Extubate - "IN-REC-SUR-E" - in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although beneficial in clinical practice, the INtubate-SURfactant-Extubate (IN-SUR-E) method is not successful in all preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome, with a reported failure rate ranging from 19 to 69 %. One of the possible mechanisms responsible for the unsuccessful IN-SUR-E method, requiring subsequent re-intubation and mechanical ventilation, is the inability of the preterm lung to achieve and maintain an "optimal" functional residual capacity. The importance of lung recruitment before surfactant administration has been demonstrated in animal studies showing that recruitment leads to a more homogeneous surfactant distribution within the lungs.

Apoptotic Pathways Linked to Endocrine System as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic condition common in older men that can result in bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms. The molecular mechanisms and networks underlying the development and the progression of the disease are still far from being fully understood. BPH results from smooth muscle cell and epithelial cell proliferation, primarily within the transition zone of the prostate.

Pre- and post-procedural quality indicators for colonoscopy: A nationwide survey.

Background: The provision of high-quality colonoscopy can be assessed by evaluating technical aspects of the procedure and, at individual center level, by comparing structural indicators and institutional policies for managing peri-procedural issues with guideline recommendations.

Aim: To assess the colonoscopy quality (CQ) in Italy at center level.

Methods: Gastroenterologists participating in a nationwide colonoscopy education initiative provided information on structural indicators of their centers and on institutional policies by answering 10 multiple-choice clinical scenarios.

Dual therapy with peg-interferon and ribavirin in thalassemia major patients with chronic HCV infection: Is there still an indication?

Background: Iron overload and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection together can lead to chronic liver damage in thalassemia major (TM) patients.

Aims: We investigated viral, genetic, and disease factors influencing sustained virological response (SVR) after peg-interferon and ribavirin therapy in TM patients with HCV infection.

Methods: We analyzed 230 TM patients with HCV infection (mean age 36.

PFO: Button me up, but wait … Comprehensive evaluation of the patient.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a slit or tunnel-like communication in the atrial septum occurring in approximately 25% of the population. A wide number of pathological conditions have been linked to its presence, most notably, cryptogenic stroke (CS) and migraine. However, in the setting of a neurological event, it is not often clear whether the PFO is pathogenically related to the index event or an incidental finding.

A phase 2 study of three low-dose intensity subcutaneous bortezomib regimens in elderly frail patients with untreated multiple myeloma.

This phase 2 trial evaluated three low-dose intensity subcutaneous bortezomib-based treatments in patients ⩾75 years with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Patients received subcutaneous bortezomib plus oral prednisone (VP, N=51) or VP plus cyclophosphamide (VCP, N=51) or VP plus melphalan (VMP, N=50), followed by bortezomib maintenance, and half of the patients were frail. Response rate was 64% with VP, 67% with VCP and 86% with VMP, and very good partial response rate or better was 26%, 28.

[How to manage disasters: learning from recent experiences in the Emergency Department of a University Teaching Hospital, Italy].

The medical approach to disasters has been always a problematic issue for emergency departments. The authors of this paper reflect on possible efficient solutions for managing a massive influx of casualties in an Emergency Department, by analysing the responses to previous local catastrophic events, such as the collision of 'Segesta Jet', the great fire of Patti, the floods of Giampilieri/Scaletta and Saponara. The authors' point to a need for providing more extensive training of medical students in clinical aspects of disaster medicine.

Triplet vs doublet lenalidomide-containing regimens for the treatment of elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Lenalidomide-dexamethasone improved outcome in newly diagnosed elderly multiple myeloma patients. We randomly assigned 662 patients who were age ≥65 years or transplantation-ineligible to receive induction with melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide (MPR) or cyclophosphamide-prednisone-lenalidomide (CPR) or lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone (Rd). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) in triplet (MPR and CPR) vs doublet (Rd) lenalidomide-containing regimens.

Suboptimal methotrexate use in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Italy: the MARI study.

Objectives: Methotrexate (MTX) is the first choice in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the doses and regimens vary significantly. For this purpose, we conducted an observational study on the use of MTX for RA in Italy (MARI study).

Methods: The MARI study included 1,327 RA patients on MTX treatment for at least 12 months, at 60 Italian rheumatology units.

Contact dermatitis as an adverse reaction to some topically used European herbal medicinal products - Part 3: Mentha × piperita - Solanum dulcamara.

This review focuses on contact dermatitis as an adverse effect of a selection of topically used herbal medicinal products for which the European Medicines Agency has completed an evaluation up to the end of November 2013 and for which a Community herbal monograph - now (since 2015)(†) called a European Union herbal monograph - has been produced. Part 3: Mentha × piperita L.-Solanum dulcamara L.

A case report of a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the face irradiated using a stereotactic technique.

External beam radiotherapy can be used to treat cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Acute skin toxicity is the most common adverse event. In this case study we report on an elderly patient with nasal root cutaneous SCC treated with stereotactic technique using a dedicated linear accelerator (CyberKnife system).

Clear Cell Sarcoma Of Metatarsus.

We report a case of clear cell sarcoma in the third metatarsus of the right foot. This type of tumor is very rare and scantily reported in literature. A 42-year-old Caucasian male presented with a nodular ulcerated mass on the dorsal side of the left foot.

Surgical Site Infection In Orthopaedic Surgery: Correlation Between Age, Diabetes, Smoke And Surgical Risk.

Introduction: Surgical site infection is a common complication after orthopaedic surgery. It can be associated with increased morbidity rate and social cost. The accurate identification of risk factors is essential so that strategies to prevent these potentially devastating infections can be developed.

NLRP3 Inflammasome Involvement in the Organ Damage and Impaired Spermatogenesis Induced by Testicular Ischemia and Reperfusion in Mice.

We investigated the role of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome during testis ischemia and reperfusion injury (TI/R) in wild-type (WT) and NLRP3 knock-out (KO) mice. WT and KO mice underwent 1 hour testicular ischemia followed by 4 hours and 1 and 7 days of reperfusion or a sham TI/R. Furthermore, two groups of WT mice were treated at the beginning of reperfusion and up to 7 days with two inflammasome inhibitors, BAY 11-7082 (20 mg/kg i.

Managing chronic myeloid leukaemia in the elderly with intermittent imatinib treatment.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a non-standard, intermittent imatinib treatment in elderly patients with Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia and to answer the question on which dose should be used once a stable optimal response has been achieved. Seventy-six patients aged ⩾65 years in optimal and stable response with ⩾2 years of standard imatinib treatment were enrolled in a study testing a regimen of intermittent imatinib (INTERIM; 1-month on and 1-month off). With a minimum follow-up of 6 years, 16/76 patients (21%) have lost complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR), and 16 patients (21%) have lost MMR only.