Recent advances in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder which presents with abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. It affects about 20% of the general population, mainly women, and has a considerable impact on the quality of life and health care costs. Four different entities of IBS have been identified: IBS with constipation (IBS‑ C), IBS with diarrhea (IBS D), IBS with a mixed pattern of constipation and diarrhea, and unclassified IBS.

Maintenance versus discontinuation of androgen deprivation therapy during continuous or intermittent docetaxel administration in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients: A multicentre, randomised Phase III study by the Piemonte Oncology Network.

Background: This study was designed to demonstrate the non-inferiority (NI) in overall survival (OS) of suspension of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) versus maintenance and intermittent versus continuous docetaxel administration in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients.

Patients And Methods: mCRPC patients were randomised to first-line docetaxel with maintenance or suspension of ADT. Patients attaining a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response after four chemotherapy cycles underwent second randomisation to receive continuous or intermittent docetaxel therapy.

Antibiotic De-escalation Experience in the Setting of Emergency Department: A Retrospective, Observational Study.

Background: Antimicrobial de-escalation (ADE) is a part of antimicrobial stewardship strategies aiming to minimize unnecessary or inappropriate antibiotic exposure to decrease the rate of antimicrobial resistance. Information regarding the effectiveness and safety of ADE in the setting of emergency medicine wards (EMW) is lacking.

Methods: Adult patients admitted to EMW and receiving empiric antimicrobial treatment were retrospectively studied.

Exploring the role of respiratory microbiome in lung cancer: A systematic review.

Giving the potential contribute in cancer initiation and progression, lung microbiota represents a promising topic in cancer research, although still unexplored. We performed a systematic literature search to identify clinical studies evaluating lung microbiota composition, its correlation with lung cancer patients' clinico-pathological features and prognosis. Of the identified 370 studies, 21 were eligible and included.

Risk Factors for Mortality in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients in Piedmont, Italy: Results from the Multicenter, Regional, CORACLE Registry.

Background: CORACLE is a retrospective and prospective, regional multicenter registry, developed to evaluate risk factors for mortality in a cohort of patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection within non-intensive wards.

Methods: The primary objective was to estimate the role of several prognostic factors on hospital mortality in terms of adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR) with multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: A total of 1538 patients were enrolled; 42% were female, and 58% were >70 years old.

X-ray management in electrophysiology: a survey of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC).

Aims: Radiation use in medicine has significantly increased over the last decade, and cardiologists are among the specialists most responsible for X-ray exposure. The present study investigates a broad range of aspects, from specific European Union directives to general practical principles, related to radiation management among a national cohort of cardiologists.

Methods And Results: A voluntary 31-question survey was run on the Italian Arrhythmology and Pacing Society (AIAC) website.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC): fatter is better? A review on the role of obesity in RCC.

Obesity represents a well-known risk factor for renal cell carcinoma development. Several studies evaluated the relationship between obesity and outcome in patients with non-metastatic and metastatic renal cell carcinoma using different parameters such as BMI, visceral fat area and s.c.

COVID-19 infection in cancer patients: what has been the contribution of Associazione Italiana Oncologia Medica (AIOM) to oncological care since the beginning of the first pandemic wave?

High mortality rates in elderly patients or in those with underlying chronic illnesses and/or a compromised immune system is a peculiar feature of COVID-19 infection. The possible coexistence of a cancer and COVID-19 infection in the same individual prompted concerns regarding their synergistic effect on prognosis. In order to balance patients' needs with the risks related to the infection, the question oncologists have asked from the beginning of the first wave of the pandemic has been: 'how can we deal with COVID-19 infection in cancer patients?' In pursuing its mission, the Associazione Italiana Oncologia Medica (AIOM) has made every possible effort to support cancer patients, health care professionals and institutions in the decision-making processes the pandemic has engendered within this scenario.

Recurrent Erythema Annulare Centrifugum due to Influenza Type A.

Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC) is a rare erythema characterized by erythematous and urticarial papules or annular plaques that enlarges centrifugally. The lesions usually involve the thighs and the legs. Several disorders are occasionally associated with EAC, infections, including mycoses, bacteria, or viruses and drugs have also been regarded as possible causes of this eruption.

Minimal fluoroscopy approach for right-sided supraventricular tachycardia ablation with a novel ablation technology: Insights from the multicenter CHARISMA clinical registry.

Background: No data exist on the ability of the novel Rhythmia 3-D mapping system to minimize fluoroscopy exposure during transcatheter ablation of arrhythmias. We report data on the feasibility and safety of a minimal fluoroscopic approach using this system in supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) procedures.

Methods: Consecutive patients were enrolled in the CHARISMA registry at 12 centers.

Prognostic role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer treated with abiraterone or enzalutamide.

Background: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are markers of systemic inflammation associated with poor outcome in several solid tumors. We retrospectively investigated the prognostic role of PLR and, secondly, NLR in mCRPC patients treated with abiraterone acetate (AA) or Enzalutamide (E), both in pre- and postdocetaxel setting.

Methods: Two hundred twenty-five mCRPC patients treated with AA or E with basal blood count were divided in three groups according to PLR (PLR1<128; PLR2 128-190; PLR>190) and in two groups according to NLR (<3 vs.

Sequencing Life-Prolonging Agents in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients: Comparison of Sequences With and Without Ra.

The retrospective studies that have so far described the outcomes of the sequential use of life-prolonging agents (LPAs) did not include metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients who received radium-223 (Ra) as part of their treatment. Consequently, it is not known whether including Ra in the therapeutic sequence has an impact on cumulative survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate this impact by comparing the cumulative overall survival (OS) in two series of mCRPC patients sequentially treated with two or three LPAs after first-line docetaxel (DOC), including Ra and not.

Efficacy of idelalisib and rituximab in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated outside of clinical trials. A report of the Gimema Working Group.

Because the efficacy of new drugs reported in trials may not translate into similar results when used in the real-life, we analyzed the efficacy of idelalisib and rituximab (IR) in 149 patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated at 34 GIMEMA centers. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 22.9 and 44.

Surgical tracheotomy in COVID-19 patients: an Italian single centre experience.

Purpose: Coronavirus infection disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes in 10% of patients a severe respiratory distress syndrome managed with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), sometimes difficult to wean. The role of tracheotomy is debated for the possible risks for patients and staff. We are going to describe here our experience with surgical tracheotomy in COVID-19 positive patients.

Prognostic role of the duration of response to androgen deprivation therapy in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer treated with enzalutamide or abiraterone acetate.

Background: Our retrospective study aims to evaluate the prognostic role of duration of response to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with enzalutamide (E) or abiraterone acetate (AA).

Materials And Methods: Data about ADT start and duration were available in 255 (82%) of 311 patients treated with AA or E. Patients were divided in three groups according to ADT response (group 1 [G1]: <12 months; group 2 [G2]: 12-36 months; group 3 [G3]: >36 months).

Ceftobiprole Perspective: Current and Potential Future Indications.

Ceftobiprole combines an excellent spectrum for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) pathogens, with a low/medium MDR risk, and the β-lactams' safety in frail patients admitted to the hospital in internal medicine wards which may be at high risk of adverse events by anti-MRSA coverage as oxazolidinones or glycopeptides. We aimed to report the available evidence regarding ceftobiprole use in pneumonia and invasive bacterial infections, shedding light on ceftobiprole stewardship. The clinical application and real-life experiences of using ceftobiprole for bloodstream infections, including infective endocarditis, are limited but nevertheless promising.

Sequencing radium 223 and other life-prolonging agents in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.

Radium 223 (RA223) is currently administered as part of a therapeutic sequence with the other life-prolonging agents (LPAs) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients who had received at least three LPAs including RA223. Median overall survival (OS) from the start of first-line treatment was 39.

Transcatheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Long-term results and clinical outcomes.

Introduction: Radiofrequency transcatheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been proven feasible. However, the long-term results of RFCA and its impact on clinical course of HCM are unknown. The aim of this study was to analyse clinical outcomes and long-term efficacy of RFCA in a multicentre cohort of patients with HCM and concomitant AF.