Buparlisib plus fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative, advanced breast cancer progressing on or after mTOR inhibition (BELLE-3): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

Background: Activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway occurs frequently in breast cancer that is resistant to endocrine therapy. Approved mTOR inhibitors effectively inhibit cell growth and proliferation but elicit AKT phosphorylation via a feedback activation pathway, potentially leading to resistance to mTOR inhibitors. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of buparlisib plus fulvestrant in patients with advanced breast cancer who were pretreated with endocrine therapy and mTOR inhibitors.

Pharmacological Therapy of Osteoporosis: A Systematic Current Review of Literature.

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease affecting millions of people worldwide, particularly in elderly or in post-menopausal women. The pathogenesis is useful to understand the possible mechanism of action of anti-osteoporotic drugs. Early diagnosis, possible with several laboratory and instrumental tests, allows a major accuracy in the choice of anti-osteoporosis drugs.

Spectrum of mutations in Italian patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: New results from the LIPIGEN study.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by elevated plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol that confers an increased risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Early identification and treatment of FH patients can improve prognosis and reduce the burden of cardiovascular mortality. Aim of this study was to perform the mutational analysis of FH patients identified through a collaboration of 20 Lipid Clinics in Italy (LIPIGEN Study).

ANMCO/AIIC/SIT Consensus Information Document: definition, precision, and suitability of electrocardiographic signals of electrocardiographs, ergometry, Holter electrocardiogram, telemetry, and bedside monitoring systems.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) signal can be derived from different sources. These include systems for surface ECG, Holter monitoring, ergometric stress tests, and telemetry systems and bedside monitoring of vital parameters, which are useful for rhythm and ST-segment analysis and ECG screening of electrical sudden cardiac death predictors. A precise ECG diagnosis is based upon correct recording, elaboration, and presentation of the signal.

ANMCO/GICR-IACPR/SICI-GISE Consensus Document: the clinical management of chronic ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

Stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is a clinical entity of great epidemiological importance. It is becoming increasingly common due to the longer life expectancy, being strictly related to age and to advances in diagnostic techniques and pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Stable CAD encompasses a variety of clinical and anatomic presentations, making the identification of its clinical and anatomical features challenging.

Botulinum toxin therapy: functional silencing of salivary disorders.

Botulinum toxin (BTX) is a neurotoxic protein produced by Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic bacterium. BTX therapy is a safe and effective treatment when used for functional silencing of the salivary glands in disorders such as sialoceles and salivary fistulae that may have a post-traumatic or post-operative origin. BTX injections can be considered in sialoceles and salivary fistulae after the failure of or together with conservative treatments (e.

Botulinum Toxin Treatment for Limb Spasticity in Childhood Cerebral Palsy.

CP is the most common cause of chronic disability in childhood occurring in 2-2.5/1000 births. It is a severe disorder and a significant number of patients present cognitive delay and difficulty in walking.

Pharyngeal electrical stimulation for dysphagia associated with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.

Objective: Treatment options for dysphagia associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) are currently limited. In this study we investigated whether intraluminal electrical pharyngeal stimulation facilitates swallowing recovery in dysphagic MS patients.

Patients And Methods: Twenty dysphagic MS patients were randomized to receive 5 Hz "real" pharyngeal stimulation (10 patients) for 10 min or "sham" pharyngeal stimulation for 10 min (10 patients).

Single-fiber electromyography in hyperCKemia: the value of fiber density.

Although persistently raised serum creatine kinase (sCK), or hyperCKemia, is considered the biological hallmark of neuromuscular diseases, pauci- or asymptomatic- or isolated-hyperCKemia can often be found. Single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) is an electrophysiological technique of great value in the assessment of neuromuscular, neuropathic and myopathic disorders. We hypothesize that SFEMG fiber density (FD) evaluation is able to detect subclinical electrophysiological abnormalities indicating a myopathic process in subjects with hyperCKemia.

Botulinum toxin improves dysphagia associated with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) for severe oro-pharyngeal dysphagia associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Patients And Methods: BoNT/A was injected percutaneously into the hyperactive cricopharyngeal muscle of 14 dysphagic MS patients under electromyographic control. Patients were evaluated by videofluoroscopic and electromyographic examinations and by the Penetration/Aspiration Scale (PAS), at week 1, 4, 12, 16, 18, and 24 after BoNT/A injection.