Anemia and Mineral Bone Disorder in Kidney Disease Patients: The Role of FGF-23 and Other Related Factors.

Anemia and mineral and bone disorder (MBD) are significant complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The erythropoietin (Epo) pathway plays a key role in both of these processes in CKD. Another molecule that plays an important role in CKD-MBD is fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, whose main role is to maintain serum phosphate levels in the normal range, acting via its co-receptor Klotho; however, its activity may also be related to anemia and inflammation.

Advantages of the Use of Axial Traction Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Shoulder in Patients with Suspected Rota-Tor Cuff Tears: An Exploratory Pilot Study.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with axial traction is a tool for the assessment of musculoskeletal pathology. Previous reports have demonstrated a better distribution of intra-articular contrast material. No investigations were performed to evaluate glenohumeral joint axial traction MRI in patients with suspected rotator cuff tears.

Trend of Perioperative CRP (C-Reactive Protein) Levels in Non-Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty.

The aim of this prospective study was to define the perioperative trend of C-reactive protein (CRP) in non-infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA). CRP was evaluated in 42 patients the day before surgery and 4 and 30 days after surgery. Functional and radiological evaluation was scheduled for 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.

Revision surgery for periprosthetic elbow infection: eradication rate, complications, and functional outcomes-a systematic review.

Introduction: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the outcomes of revision surgery after periprosthetic elbow infection (PEI).

Material And Methods: Eighteen studies with 332 PEI that underwent revision surgery were included. Demographics, laboratory and microbiological data, types of implants, surgical techniques with complications and reoperations, eradication rates, and clinical and functional outcomes were reported.

Posterior versus lateral surgical approach: functionality and quality of life after total hip arthroplasty in a matched cohort study.

Background: One of the most controversial aspects for maximizing outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains the surgical approach to the hip joint. The posterior (PA) and lateral approaches (LA) are the two most commonly performed approaches used worldwide, but sparse data are available for their comparison in terms of health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to assess the role of the PA and LA in the HRQoL and hip functionality of patients who underwent primary and elective THA for osteoarthritis, after a minimum 2-year follow-up.

Clinical RoPE (cRoPE) score predicts patent foramen ovale detection among stroke patients: a multicenter observational study.

Backgroud: The role of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in cryptogenic stroke (CS) is debated. Tools to predict PFO occurrence and attributable fraction are needed to guide cost-effective diagnostics and treatment. Risk of Paradoxical Embolism (RoPE) score relies on neuroimaging findings, which might be inconclusive in up to 30% of cases.

Bridging versus Direct Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Subgroup Pooled Meta-Analysis for Time of Intervention, Eligibility, and Study Design.

Background And Aim: The risk/benefit profile of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) prior to endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke is still unclear. We provide a systematic review and meta-analysis including studies comparing direct EVT (dEVT) vs. bridging treatment (IVT + EVT), defining the impact of treatment timing and eligibility to IVT on functional status and mortality.

Small vessel disease and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction after ischaemic stroke.

Introduction: Although pathogenesis of small vessel disease is poorly understood, increasing evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction may have a relevant role in development and progression of small vessel disease. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between imaging signs of small vessel disease and blood biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction at two different time points in a population of ischaemic stroke patients.

Patients And Methods: In stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis, we analysed blood levels of von Willebrand factor, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Medical and endovascular treatments of symptomatic intracranial stenosis. A Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Intracranial stenosis is a well-established stroke risk factor with an increase of stroke recurrence or TIA up to 12.6% at 1 year. Treatments are different: medical and endovascular.

Defensive medicine: It is time to finally slow down an epidemic.

Defensive medicine is widespread and practiced the world over, with serious consequences for patients, doctors, and healthcare costs. Even students and residents are exposed to defensive medicine practices and taught to take malpractice liability into consideration when making clinical decisions. Defensive medicine is generally thought to stem from physicians' perception that they can easily be sued by patients or their relatives who seek compensation for presumed medical errors.

Small Vessel Disease Is Associated with Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-4 After Ischaemic Stroke.

Small vessel disease (SVD) is frequent in aging and stroke patients. Inflammation and remodeling of extracellular matrix have been suggested as concurrent mechanisms of SVD. We investigated the relationship between imaging features of SVD and circulating metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in patients with ischaemic stroke.

Infections and Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies influence the functional outcome in thrombolysed strokes.

Objective: Thrombolysis is effective in ischemic stroke patients, but some factors influence its benefit. Previous infections could increase the risk of ischemic stroke by an activation of systemic inflammation. We analysed the influence of previous infections and Chlamydia pneumoniae serology on functional outcome in thrombolysed stroke patients.

Inflammatory and metalloproteinases profiles predict three-month poor outcomes in ischemic stroke treated with thrombolysis.

Inflammatory mediators and metalloproteinases are altered in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and play a detrimental effect on clinical severity and hemorrhagic transformation of the ischemic brain lesion. Using data from the Italian multicenter observational MAGIC (MArker bioloGici nell'Ictus Cerebrale) Study, we evaluated the effect of inflammatory and metalloproteinases profiles on three-month functional outcome, hemorrhagic transformation and mortality in 327 patients with AIS treated with intravenous thrombolys in according to SITS-MOST (Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-MOnitoring STudy) criteria. Circulating biomarkers were assessed at baseline and 24 h after thrombolysis.

Postischemic Inflammation in Acute Stroke.

Cerebral ischemia is caused by arterial occlusion due to a thrombus or an embolus. Such occlusion induces multiple and concomitant pathophysiological processes that involve bioenergetic failure, acidosis, loss of cell homeostasis, excitotoxicity, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. All of these mechanisms contribute to neuronal death, mainly via apoptosis or necrosis.

Unbalanced Metalloproteinase-9 and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases Ratios Predict Hemorrhagic Transformation of Lesion in Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated with Thrombolysis: Results from the MAGIC Study.

Background: Experimentally, metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a detrimental role related to the severity of ischemic brain lesions. Both MMPs activity and function in tissues reflect the balance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We aimed to evaluate the role of MMPs/TIMPs balance in the setting of rtPA-treated stroke patients.

The influence of previous infections and antichlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity on functional outcome in ischemic stroke patients: results from the IN2 study.

Although a growing attention is being paid to acute ischemic stroke patients, the correlation between clinical outcome and infectious events in this population has been poorly investigated. 749 ischemic stroke (mean age 71 years old, males 56%) patients were enrolled in this prospective case-control study by 11 Italian Stroke Units. Demographic data, vascular risk factors, previous infections and post-stroke infections (PSIs) were recorded.

Previous infection and the risk of ischaemic stroke in Italy: the IN2 study.

Background And Purpose: There is an increasing interest in new risk factors for ischaemic stroke. Acute and chronic infections could contribute to different aetiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis that lead to cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that previous infections and Chlamydia pneumoniae in particular increase the risk of ischaemic stroke in the population.

MMP9 variation after thrombolysis is associated with hemorrhagic transformation of lesion and death.

Background And Purpose: Experimentally, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a detrimental role related to hemorrhagic transformation and severity of an ischemic brain lesion. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) enhances such effects. This study aimed to expand clinical evidence in this connection.

Androstanolone treatment for congenital penile curvature.

Objectives: To test the etiological hypotheses of congenital penile curvature (CPC) and to infer the possible therapeutic approaches.

Materials And Methods: Seventy patients affected by CPC were enlisted for the present study: 37 with left curvature, 21 with ventral curvature, 11 with left ventral-lateral curvature, and 1 with right curvature. All patients under the age of 21 years were encouraged to take local medical therapy with alcohol androstanolone gel in a dosage of 0.