A randomized, phase II study of sequential belimumab and rituximab in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

BACKGROUNDPrimary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is characterized by B cell hyperactivity and elevated B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS). Anti-BLyS treatment (e.g.

Short vs long-course antibiotic therapy in pyelonephritis: a comparison of systematic reviews and guidelines for the SIMI choosing wisely campaign.

Background: The Italian Society of Internal Medicine (SIMI) Choosing Wisely Campaign has recently proposed, among its five items, to reduce the prescription of long-term intravenous antibiotics if not indicated. The aim of our study was to assess the available evidences on optimal duration of antibiotic treatment in pyelonephritis through a systematic review of secondary studies.

Materials And Methods: We searched for all guidelines on pyelonephritis and systematic reviews assessing the optimal duration of antibiotic therapy in this type of infection.

Short- vs long-course antibiotic therapy for pneumonia: a comparison of systematic reviews and guidelines for the SIMI Choosing Wisely Campaign.

Reduction of the inappropriate use of antibiotics in clinical practice is one of the main goals of the Società Italiana di Medicina Interna (SIMI) choosing wisely campaign. We conducted a systematic review of secondary studies (systematic reviews and guidelines) to verify what evidence is available on the duration of antibiotic treatment in Pneumonia. A literature systematic search was performed to identify all systematic reviews and the three most cited and recent guidelines that address the duration of antibiotic therapy in pneumonia.

'Real-life' report on the management of chronic GvHD in the Gruppo Italiano Trapianto Midollo Osseo (GITMO).

Several guidelines have been published about management of chronic GvHD (cGvHD), but the clinical practice still remains demanding. The Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Midollo Osseo (GITMO) has planned a prospective observational study on cGvHD, supported by a dedicated software, including the updated recommendations. In view of this study, two surveys have been conducted, focusing the management of cGvHD and ancillary therapy in cGvHD, to address the current 'real life' situation.

Groin Pain Syndrome Italian Consensus Conference on terminology, clinical evaluation and imaging assessment in groin pain in athlete.

The nomenclature and the lack of consensus of clinical evaluation and imaging assessment in groin pain generate significant confusion in this field. The Groin Pain Syndrome Italian Consensus Conference has been organised in order to prepare a consensus document regarding taxonomy, clinical evaluation and imaging assessment for groin pain. A 1-day Consensus Conference was organised on 5 February 2016, in Milan (Italy).

Socioeconomic factors influencing childhood vaccination in two northern Italian regions.

Background: Infant vaccination rates have been declining in Italy over the past 5-7years. The aims of this study were to assess the trend in the proportions of children unvaccinated at 24months old, to identify sociodemographic factors associated with non-vaccination; and to examine changes in parental attitudes to vaccination over time.

Methods: We conducted a population-based birth cohort study by combining existing electronic data sets.

Patterns of care of brain tumor-related epilepsy. A cohort study done in Italian Epilepsy Center.

Unlabelled: Epilepsy is the most common comorbidity in patients with brain tumors.

Study Aims: To define characteristics of brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE) patients and identify patterns of care. Nationwide, multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Autologous transplant vs oral chemotherapy and lenalidomide in newly diagnosed young myeloma patients: a pooled analysis.

In newly diagnosed myeloma patients, upfront autologous transplant (ASCT) prolongs progression-free survival 1 (PFS1) compared with chemotherapy plus lenalidomide (CC+R). Salvage ASCT at first relapse may still effectively rescue patients who did not receive upfront ASCT. To evaluate the long-term benefit of upfront ASCT vs CC+R and the impact of salvage ASCT in patients who received upfront CC+R, we conducted a pooled analysis of 2 phase III trials (RV-MM-209 and EMN-441).

Minimal residual disease after transplantation or lenalidomide-based consolidation in myeloma patients: a prospective analysis.

We analyzed 50 patients who achieved at least a very good partial response in the RV-MM-EMN-441 study. Patients received consolidation with autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) or cyclophosphamide-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (CRD), followed by Lenalidomide-based maintenance. We assessed minimal residual disease (MRD) by multi-parameter flow cytometry (MFC) and allelic-specific oligonucleotide real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ASO-RQ-PCR) after consolidation, after 3 and 6 courses of maintenance, and thereafter every 6 months until progression.

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.

[Positive surgical margin status after minimally invasive radical prostatectomy: a multicenter study].

Unlabelled: UNLABELLED: The aim of our study is to evaluate the status of positive margins (PSMs) comparing their incidence between aparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in centers with medium case-load (50-150 cases/year). We also analyzed the correlations between surgical technique, nerve-sparing approach (NS), and incidence of PSMs, stratifying our results by pathological stage.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 1992 patients who underwent RP in various urologic centers.

Genetic markers for toxicity of adjuvant oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidines in the phase III TOSCA trial in high-risk colon cancer patients.

We investigated 17 polymorphisms in 11 genes (TS, MTHFR, ERCC1, XRCC1, XRCC3, XPD, GSTT1, GSTP1, GSTM1, ABCC1, ABCC2) for their association with the toxicity of fluoropyrimidines and oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer patients enrolled in a prospective randomized trial of adjuvant chemotherapy. The TOSCA Italian adjuvant trial was conducted in high-risk stage II-III colorectal cancer patients treated with 6 or 3 months of either FOLFOX-4 or XELOX adjuvant chemotherapy. In the concomitant ancillary pharmacogenetic study, the primary endpoint was the association of polymorphisms with grade 3-4 CTCAE toxicity events (grade 2-4 for neurotoxicity).

Autologous transplantation and maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma.

Background: This open-label, randomized, phase 3 study compared melphalan at a dose of 200 mg per square meter of body-surface area plus autologous stem-cell transplantation with melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide (MPR) and compared lenalidomide maintenance therapy with no maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Methods: We randomly assigned 273 patients 65 years of age or younger to high-dose melphalan plus stem-cell transplantation or MPR consolidation therapy after induction, and 251 patients to lenalidomide maintenance therapy or no maintenance therapy. The primary end point was progression-free survival.

Geometrical stepper-guided navigation system for ProACT implant under transrectal ultrasound control: preliminary data.

Purpose: To describe a new geometrical stepper-guided navigation system for positioning ProACT®.

Methods: The sizing of the stepper-guided navigation system was calculated using the distance from the ideal position of the device to anatomic referral points previously measured by ultrasound. The trocar and subsequently the device were maneuvered to the ideal position in accordance with the navigation system.

[PK/PD profile and post-marketing surveillance of levofloxacin].

Ten years after introduction in therapeutic handbook, levofloxacin still plays a main role in treating bacterial infections. In particular, the deeper knowledge of kinetic-dynamic characteristics has allowed to highlight that high dosage approach in short term therapy might reveal as extremely interesting in a setting of critical patients. In addition, the good tissue diffusion, documented by pharmacokinetic studies performed in different districts, including the ones protected by anatomic barriers, lets to assume a good efficacy in the treatment of infection localized in deep tissues, as observed in different animal models, and successively confirmed by clinical studies.

[Value of uterine artery Doppler in the second subsequent pregnancy].

Aim: Pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are among the most common causes of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the value of uterine artery Doppler in the second subsequent pregnancy in a low risk population for the prediction of pre-eclampsia and IUGR at any gestational age.

Methods: Patients were randomized into two different groups: group A (nine patients) with positive notching both at week 20 and 24 in both pregnancies; group B (five patients) with bilateral positive notching at week 20 and 24 only in the second pregnancy.

Rare breast neoplasms: is there any peculiar feature on magnetic resonance mammography?

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the semiological features of rare breast neoplasms at magnetic resonance mammography (MRM).

Materials And Methods: Out of 468 MRMs of patients with a histological diagnosis of breast malignancy, 27 (5.7%) cases of rare breast neoplasms, confirmed by definitive histological analysis on surgical specimens, were selected: four (0.