The increased risk of stroke/transient ischemic attack in women with a cardiac implantable electronic device is not associated with a higher atrial fibrillation burden.

Aims: To evaluate if the increased thromboembolic risk in female patients may be related to a higher burden of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: Data collected in a prospective observational research of patients implanted with a cardiac implantable electrical device (CIED) were analysed. We included 2398 patients: 489 (20.

Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir and Dasabuvir Combination Treatment in Patients with HIV/HCV Co-Infection: Results of an Italian Compassionate Use Program.

Patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at high risk of liver disease progression. We report a favorable safety profile and SVR12 rates of 96.7% among HIV/HCV co-infected patients participating in an Italian compassionate-use program of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir + dasabuvir (OBV/PTV/r + DSV) ± ribavirin (RBV).

Unraveling gene expression profiles in peripheral motor nerve from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: insights into pathogenesis.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the molecular pathways underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis within the peripheral nervous system. We analyzed gene expression changes in human motor nerve diagnostic biopsies obtained from eight ALS patients and seven patients affected by motor neuropathy as controls. An integrated transcriptomics and system biology approach was employed.

Incidence and progression to cirrhosis of new hepatitis C virus infections in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroconversion and the risk of severe fibrosis/cirrhosis in HCV seroconverters among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Methods: We analysed data on 4059 persons with HIV enrolled in a cohort study in Italy.

Results: Incidence rate of seroconversion was 0.

Ibrutinib for patients with rituximab-refractory Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia (iNNOVATE): an open-label substudy of an international, multicentre, phase 3 trial.

Background: In the era of widespread rituximab use for Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia, new treatment options for patients with rituximab-refractory disease are an important clinical need. Ibrutinib has induced durable responses in previously treated patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ibrutinib in a population with rituximab-refractory disease.

Predictors of Long-Term Mortality in Older Patients Hospitalized for Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure: Clinical Relevance of Natriuretic Peptides.

Background: Acute heart failure is a common cause of hospitalization among older patients. Optimized risk stratification might improve the outcome for this subgroup of patients. Natriuretic peptides have been used in the diagnosis of heart failure and in evaluating the prognosis of patients hospitalized for heart failure.

Long-Term Prognostic Value of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Left Ventricle Noncompaction: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is useful for the diagnosis of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). However, there are limited data regarding its prognostic value.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the prognostic relevance of CMR findings in patients with LVNC.

Characterizing Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Infection in Bronchiectasis.

Chronic airway infection is a key aspect of the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis. A growing interest has been raised on non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection. We aimed at describing the clinical characteristics, diagnostic process, therapeutic options and outcomes of bronchiectasis patients with pulmonary NTM (pNTM) disease.

Endoscopic Stenting With the Over-The-Scope Technique: Our Experience With 11 Consecutive Patients.

Background: Endoscopic stenting is widely used to manage benign and malignant strictures, postoperative stenoses, or anastomotic leaks and fistulas.

Materials And Methods: However, Over the Wire delivery systems are generally short and quite stiff, and therefore, cannot reach distal parts of the gastrointestinal tract or cross severely angulated strictures. In such cases, we used the Over-the-Scope stenting (OTSS) technique to deliver and deploy endoscopically large-bore fully covered stents.

Epidemiology and outcome of Clostridium difficile infections in patients hospitalized in Internal Medicine: findings from the nationwide FADOI-PRACTICE study.

Background: Clostridium difficile (CD) is a leading cause of diarrhoea among hospitalized patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate, the optimal diagnostic work-up, and outcome of CD infections (CDI) in Internal Medicine (IM) wards in Italy.

Methods: PRACTICE is an observational prospective study, involving 40 IM Units and evaluating all consecutive patients hospitalized during a 4-month period.

The Effectiveness of Myo-Inositol and D-Chiro Inositol Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes.

Inositol has been used as a supplement in treating several pathologies such as PCOS, metabolic syndrome, and gestational diabetes. Both myo-inositol and its isomer d-chiro-inositol showed insulin mimetic effects in conditions of insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a condition typically caused by insulin resistance.

First evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus performance in contact screening.

Identifying latently infected individuals is crucial for the elimination of tuberculosis (TB). We evaluated for the first time the performance of a new type of interferon-γ release assay, QuantiFERON-TB Plus (QFT-Plus), which includes an additional antigen tube (TB2), stimulating both CD4 and CD8 T-cells in contacts of TB patients.Contacts were screened for latent TB infection by tuberculin skin test, QFT-Plus and QuantiFERON-TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT).

One-Year Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Using the Direct Aortic Approach.

Background: The direct aortic (DA) approach allows for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with difficult peripheral vascular anatomy. The CoreValve ADVANCE Direct Aortic (ADVANCE DA) study was performed to assess the outcomes of DA TAVI with the CoreValve System (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) in routine practice.

Methods: Patients were selected for the DA approach by local cardiac surgical teams, and TAVI was performed with patients under general anesthesia.

Homocysteine metabolism in children and adolescents with epidermolysis bullosa.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) belongs to a family of rare heterogeneous, genetic disorders characterized by blistering of the skin and mucous membranes in response to minor mechanical trauma. The involvement of the oral mucosa and oesophagus stenosis is suggested to be responsible for severe nutritional deficiencies, but few studies have till now considered this aspect. This observational study aimed to evaluate homocysteine status in children and adolescents with EB by assessing total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) and metabolically related vitamins (B, B, folate) concentrations.

Epilepsy surgery in the posterior part of the brain.

Posterior cortex epilepsy surgery is rarely performed and is associated with a high number of surgical failures, partly because accurate localization of the epileptogenic zone in the posterior part of the brain is extremely difficult. We present the characteristics as well as the surgical outcome and its determinants of a cohort of 208 consecutive patients (adults/children: 125/83) operated on for drug-resistant posterior cortex epilepsy at the "Claudio Munari" Epilepsy Surgery Centre, Milan between May 1996 and May 2013 (mean postsurgical follow-up: 9.6years).

Intra- and interday repeatability of peripheral arterial function: suitability and potential limitations.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the inter-and intraday repeatability of RHI measured by Endo-PAT in healthy volunteers.

Methods: Interday RHI repeatability was tested in two consecutive days in a group of 31 male subjects. Intraday repeatability was investigated at baseline and after 2 and 4 hour in a group of 16 volunteers.

Successful donation after cardiac death liver transplants with prolonged warm ischemia time using normothermic regional perfusion.

The role of donation after cardiac death (DCD) in expanding the donor pool is mainly limited by the incidence of primary nonfunction (PNF) and ischemia-related complications. Even greater concern exists toward uncontrolled DCD, which represents the largest potential pool of DCD donors. We recently started the first Italian series of DCD liver transplantation, using normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) in 6 uncontrolled donors and in 1 controlled case to deal with the legally required no-touch period of 20 minutes.

Pulmonary dysfunction in thalassaemia major: is there any relationship with body iron stores?

Although pulmonary function abnormalities in thalassaemia major (TM) were described in 1980, the pathogenetic mechanism is not clear and data are contradictory, probably because of study heterogeneity and the multifactorial nature of the pathogenesis. We retrospectively analysed 73 adult TM patients to evaluate the prevalence of pulmonary dysfunction in adult TM and investigate relationships with iron load. All patients underwent body plethysmography and carbon monoxide diffusion (DLCO) was assessed in 63, in addition to blood tests, echocardiogram and T2* myocardial and liver magnetic resonance imaging.

Circulating CD14+ and CD14CD16- classical monocytes are reduced in patients with signs of plaque neovascularization in the carotid artery.

Background And Aims: Monocytes are known to play a key role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and contribute to plaque destabilization through the generation of signals that promote inflammation and neoangiogenesis. In humans, studies investigating the features of circulating monocytes in advanced atherosclerotic lesions are lacking.

Methods: Patients (mean age 69 years, 56% males) with intermediate asymptomatic carotid stenosis (40-70% in diameter) were evaluated for maximal stenosis in common carotid artery, carotid bulb and internal carotid artery, overall disease burden as estimated with total plaque area (TPA), greyscale and neovascularization in 244 advanced carotid plaques.

Clinical approach on challenge and desensitization procedures with aspirin in patients with ischemic heart disease and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug hypersensitivity.

Background: Hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) constitutes a serious problem for subjects with coronary artery disease. In such subjects, physicians have to choose the more appropriate procedure between challenge and desensitization. As the literature on this issue is sparse, this study aimed to establish in these subjects clinical criteria for eligibility for an ASA challenge and/or desensitization.

Pregnancy in patients with tuberculosis: a TBNET cross-sectional survey.

Background: Objectives: To determine whether the incidence of tuberculosis with pregnancy is more common than would be expected from the crude birth rate; to see whether there is significant delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis during pregnancy.

Method: Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Setting: 13 tuberculosis clinics within different European countries and the USA.

Comprehensive evaluation of cardiac involvement in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) with cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis characterized by hypereosinophilia. EGPA typically develops in three clinical phases, beginning with asthma, followed by tissue eosinophilia and finally systemic vasculitis. Cardiac involvement is the most important predictor of mortality; it occurs in approximately 15-60% of EGPA patients, a significant proportion of whom are asymptomatic and have normal electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram.

Transaxillary versus transaortic approach for transcatheter aortic valve implantation with CoreValve Revalving System: insights from multicenter experience.

Background: About one-third of candidates for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) suffer from severe peripheral artery disease, making the routine femoral approach difficult or impossible. The aim was to compare the transaxillary (TAx) and the transaortic (TAo) route for TAVI with Medtronic CoreValve Revalving System (CRS).

Methods: Out of 1049 consecutive TAVI with 18F CRS, 242 (23%) were treated in 4 high-volume Italian Centre through TAx (61%) and TAo (39%).

Pre-operative Diagnosis of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors with Endoscopic Ultrasonography and Computed Tomography in a Large Series.

Background And Aims: Diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (p-NETs) is frequently challenging. We describe a large series of patients with p-NETs in whom both pre-operative Computed Tomography (CT) and Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS) were performed.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected sporadic p-NET cases.