The impact of COVID-19 on new mesothelioma diagnoses in Italy.

Background: The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of the restrictions put in place to control the COVID-19 pandemic on new diagnoses of malignant mesothelioma (MM) in Italy.

Methods: Twelve of the 21 Italian malignant mesothelioma CORs (regional operating centres) participated. The study included all cases of MM with microscopic confirmation; cases without microscopic confirmation and death certificate only (DCO) were excluded.

MRI activity and extended interval of Natalizumab dosing regimen: a multicentre Italian study.

Background: To minimize the risk of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy and rebound in JCV-positive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients after 24 natalizumab doses, it has been proposed to extend the administrations interval. The objective is to evaluate the EID efficacy on MRI activity compared with the standard interval dosing (SID).

Methods: Observational, multicentre, retrospective cohort study, starting from the 24th natalizumab infusion to the loss of follow-up or 2 years after baseline.

Extending the Interval of Natalizumab Dosing: Is Efficacy Preserved?

Extending the natalizumab interval after the 24th administration could reduce the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The objective is to evaluate the noninferiority of the efficacy of an extended interval dosing (EID) compared with the standard interval dosing (SID) of natalizumab. It is an observational, multicenter (14 Italian centers), retrospective cohort study, starting from the 24th natalizumab infusion to the loss of follow-up or 2 years after baseline.

The prognostic role of Gender-Age-Physiology system in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients treated with pirfenidone.

Introduction: Gender, age, physiology (GAP) system have proven to be an easy tool for predicting disease stages and survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients.

Objective: To validate mortality risk as determined by the GAP system in a real-life multicentre IPF population treated with pirfenidone.

Methods: The study included patients who received pirfenidone for at least 6 months.

Nailfold Capillaroscopy Characteristics of Antisynthetase Syndrome and Possible Clinical Associations: Results of a Multicenter International Study.

Objective: To describe nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) features of patients with antisynthetase syndrome (AS) and to investigate possible correlations with clinical and serological features of the disease.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed NVC images of 190 patients with AS [females/males 3.63, mean age 49.

Clinical activity after fingolimod cessation: disease reactivation or rebound?

Background And Purpose: There is debate as to whether the apparent rebound after fingolimod discontinuation is related to the discontinuation itself or whether it is due to the natural course of highly active multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to survey the prevalence of severe reactivation and rebound after discontinuation of fingolimod in a cohort of Italian patients with MS.

Methods: Patients with relapsing-remitting MS who were treated with fingolimod for at least 6 months and who stopped treatment for reasons that were unrelated to inefficacy were included in the analysis.

Results of primary repair of distal triceps tendon ruptures in a general population: a multicentre study.

Aims: The aim of the study was to analyze the results of primary tendon reinsertion in acute and chronic distal triceps tendon ruptures (DTTRs) in the general population.

Patients And Methods: A total of 28 patients were operated on for primary DTTR reinsertions, including 21 male patients and seven female patients with a mean age of 45 years (14 to 76). Of these patients, 23 sustained an acute DTTR and five had a chronic injury.

A Real-Life Multicenter National Study on Nintedanib in Severe Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Background: Two therapeutic options are currently available for patients with mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): pirfenidone and nintedanib. To date, there is still insufficient data on the efficacy of these 2 agents in patients with more severe disease.

Objectives: This national, multicenter, retrospective real-life study was intended to determine the impact of nintedanib on the treatment of patients with severe IPF.

Value of Strain Imaging and Maximal Oxygen Consumption in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Longitudinal strain (LS) has been shown to be predictive of outcome in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). Percent predicted peak oxygen uptake (ppVO), among other cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) metrics, is a strong predictor of prognosis in HC. However, there has been limited investigation into the combination of LS and CPX metrics.

Timing of onset affects arthritis presentation pattern in antisyntethase syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate if the timing of appearance with respect to disease onset may influence the arthritis presentation pattern in antisynthetase syndrome (ASSD).

Methods: The patients were selected from a retrospective large international cohort of ASSD patients regularly followed-up in centres referring to AENEAS collaborative group. Patients were eligible if they had an antisynthetase antibody testing positive in at least two determinations along with arthritis occurring either at ASSD onset (Group 1) or during the course of the disease (Group 2).

Cryotherapy of Renal Lesions: Enhancement on Contrast-Enhanced Sonography on Postoperative Day 1 Does Not Imply Viable Tissue Persistence.

Objectives: To investigate whether persistent enhancement detected on contrast-enhanced sonography at postoperative day 1 (early contrast-enhanced sonography) after cryoablation of renal tumors implies the presence of residual viable tumor tissue, defined as residual enhancing tissue on reference imaging (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) performed 6 months after the procedure.

Methods: Seventy-four patients with percutaneous cryoablation of renal tumors had early contrast-enhanced sonography from November 2011 to August 2015. Two independent readers evaluated early contrast-enhanced sonographic findings and contrast-enhanced sonographic investigations performed 1 month after cryoablation of lesions that displayed enhancement on early contrast-enhanced sonography.

[SENTIERI-ReNaM: Discussion and concluding remarks].

SENTIERI-ReNaM Project analysed the incidence of malignant mesothelioma (MM) for the period 2000-2011 in 39 National Priority Contaminated Sites (NPCSs), and assessed the overall impact of mesothelioma in different types of NPCSs. In the study period, 2,683 incident cases of malignant mesothelioma were recorded: 1,998 males (74.5%), 685 females (25.

[SENTIERI-ReNaM: Results].

Mesothelioma incidence has been analyzed in National Priority Contaminated Sites (NPCSs) to estimate the health impact of asbestos exposure on resident people. The burden of professional and environmental exposures has been identified through data of the Regional Operational Centres (CORs), made available by the Italian National Mesothelioma Registry (ReNaM). An excess of mesothelioma incidence is confirmed in sites with a known past history of direct use of asbestos, such as Balangero, Casale Monferrato, Broni, Bari-Fibronit, and in coastal areas, where shipyards, harbours and other industries that involved a wide use of asbestos are represented (e.

[SENTIERI - Epidemiological study of residents in national priority contaminated sites: incidence of mesothelioma].

The purpose of SENTIERI-ReNaM Project is to describe mesothelioma incidence in the Italian National Priority Contaminated Sites (NPCSs). The present report deals with 39 NPCSs (20 in Northern Italy, 8 in Central Italy and 11 in Southern Italy). Asbestos is specifically mentioned in the regulatory acts of recognition for 10 NPCSs and it is the only agent that has determined environmental contamination in 3 of them (Casale Monferrato, Broni, and Bari).

Use of ultrasound in treatment decisions for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an observational study in Italy.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), treatment response is generally assessed using standard clinical disease activity measures. However, ultrasound has become increasingly popular among rheumatologists to monitor disease activity and response. The purpose of this analysis of ECOgraphic evaluation for STaging ARthritis (ECOSTAR) study data was to determine how ultrasound affects clinicians' decisions about changing treatment in RA.

Cutaneous melanoma frequencies and seasonal trend in 20 years of observation of a population characterised by excessive sun exposure.

Background: Cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. It has become an increasingly common neoplasm in the most developed countries, especially among individuals of European origin.

Patients And Methods: Anonymous data of patients with cutaneous melanoma were collected from the diagnostic database of the University Hospital of Trieste from 1 January 1990 to 10 December 2013.

CASH algorithm versus 3-point checklist and its modified version in evaluation of melanocytic pigmented skin lesions: The 4-point checklist.

Dermoscopy, in expert hands, increases accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions of a single operator, compared with clinical examination. Simplified algorithmic methods have been developed to help less expert dermoscopists in diagnosis of melanocytic lesions. This study included 125 melanocytic skin lesions divided into melanocytic nevi, dysplastic nevi and thin melanomas (<1 mm).

Safety of Abatacept in Rheumatoid Arthritis With Serologic Evidence of Past or Present Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with concomitant hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents a therapeutic challenge due to the risk of HBV reactivation under immunosuppressive treatment. To date there are few data coming from anecdotal case reports that concern HBV reactivation following treatment with abatacept. This observational retrospective study was aimed to assess the safety profile of abatacept in this particular clinical setting.

Procalcitonin Reveals Early Dehiscence in Colorectal Surgery: The PREDICS Study.

Objectives: We designed a multicentric, observational study to test if Procalcitonin (PCT) might be an early and reliable marker of anastomotic leak (AL) after colorectal surgery (ClinicalTrials.govIdentifier:NCT01817647).

Background: Procalcitonin is a biomarker used to monitor bacterial infections and guide antibiotic therapy.

Transphyseal elbow fracture in newborn: review of literature.

Transphyseal elbow fracture is a rare entity in newborns, and in the last century, only case reports or small case series have been published; however, precise epidemiological data lack. Such fractures occur more often in emergency Caesarian section or vaginal delivery. The differential diagnosis with elbow dislocation can be challenging.

Open surgical revision of radial nerve after humeral fracture in polytrauma.

The injury of the radial nerve is not uncommon in humeral shaft fractures. These lesions may be of different types and levels and their treatment changes depending on traumatic characteristic. The authors present a case report of a patient affected by a closed shaft humeral fracture, consequence of an high energy trauma, associated with motor palsy of the radial nerve in which an open surgical revision was performed.

First metatarsophalangeal joint replacement with total arthroplasty in the surgical treatment of the hallux rigidus.

The hallux rigidus, especially in advanced stage, has always been a challenge as regards the surgical treatment. Over the years there have been various surgical techniques proposed with the aim of relieving pain, correcting deformity and maintain a certain degree of movement. For some years we have addressed the problem with the replacement metatarsophalangeal joint arthroplasty with Reflexion system.

Distal radius fractures: surgical treatment with internal fixation.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the efficacy of plates and screws with angular stability in osteosynthesis of fractures of the distal radius.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 52 patients undergone surgery for fracture of the distal radius at the Clinica Ortopedica dell'Università di Trieste; in half of the patients osteosynthesis was provided using Synthes' LCP plates, in the other half we utilized a multidirectional and angular stable plate ("Aptus Radius" by Medartis). Mean follow-up was 28 ± 10 months, patients were evaluated with DASH score (disability of arm shoulder and hand) and the modified Gartland Werley score.