Foreign body ingestion in children: Definition of a nomogram to predict surgical or endoscopic intervention.

Background And Aims: Foreign body ingestion (FBI) in children requires early identification to prevent adverse outcomes and may necessitate endoscopic or surgical intervention. This study aims to develop a nomogram that identifies children who require urgent surgical or endoscopic intervention by using the patient's medical history and clinical parameters collected at admission.

Methods: This study is a retrospective review (01/2015-12/2020) of a multicenter case series of children admitted for FBI.

The Role of Surgery in Patients with COVID-19-Related Thoracic Complications.

Objective: Patients with several thoracic complications induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection may benefit from surgery, but its role in this condition is largely unknown, and many surgeons' advice against any surgical referrals. Our aim is to investigate the efficacy and safety of surgery in COVID-19 patients with thoracic complications requiring surgery.

Methods: We designed a multicenter observational study, involving nine thoracic surgery departments, evaluating patients who developed thoracic complications in hospital, surgically managed from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Use of Temporary Membrane-Covered Self-Expandable Metallic Stent - UVENTA for Treatment of Recurrent Bulbar Urethral Stricture.

Introduction: Recurrent urethral stricture is a real challenge. Interestingly use of temporary double layered self-expanding nitinol urethral stent with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane coating (Uventa, Taewoong Medical, South Korea) has been recently reported with promising short-term results in recurrent urethral stricture. However most of the reported studies are published as abstracts of either case reports or case series of miniscule numbers.

Penile injection of aedile silicone: A dangerous shortcut.

Introduction: The size of penis can cause concern in patients, even if the organ is clinically normal. Additionally, the cost of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (iPDE5) and long waiting lists to access penile prosthesis placement can lead patients to resort to non-medical and potentially dangerous alternatives. One of these dangerous alternatives is the injection of building silicone at the level of the subcutis of the penis or the corpora cavernosa causing the formation of a granuloma that increases the girth and consistency of the penis.

Incidence, predictors and prognostic impact of intracranial bleeding within the first year after an acute coronary syndrome in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The rate of intracranial haemorrhage after an acute coronary syndrome has been studied in detail in the era of thrombolysis; however, in the contemporary era of percutaneous coronary intervention, most of the data have been derived from clinical trials. With this background, we aim to analyse the incidence, timing, predictors and prognostic impact of post-discharge intracranial haemorrhage in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: We analysed data from the BleeMACS registry (patients discharged for acute coronary syndrome and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention from Europe, Asia and America, 2003-2014).

Prediction of Post-Discharge Bleeding in Elderly Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes: Insights from the BleeMACS Registry.

Background: A poor ability of recommended risk scores for predicting in-hospital bleeding has been reported in elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). No study assessed the prediction of post-discharge bleeding in the elderly. The new BleeMACS score (Bleeding complications in a Multicenter registry of patients discharged with diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome), was designed to predict post-discharge bleeding in ACS patients.

Development and external validation of a post-discharge bleeding risk score in patients with acute coronary syndrome: The BleeMACS score.

Background: Accurate 1-year bleeding risk estimation after hospital discharge for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may help clinicians guide the type and duration of antithrombotic therapy. Currently there are no predictive models for this purpose. The aim of this study was to derive and validate a simple clinical tool for bedside risk estimation of 1-year post-discharge serious bleeding in ACS patients.

Serous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas: a multinational study of 2622 patients under the auspices of the International Association of Pancreatology and European Pancreatic Club (European Study Group on Cystic Tumors of the Pancreas).

Objectives: Serous cystic neoplasm (SCN) is a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas whose natural history is poorly known. The purpose of the study was to attempt to describe the natural history of SCN, including the specific mortality.

Design: Retrospective multinational study including SCN diagnosed between 1990 and 2014.

Benefit of supplements in functional dyspepsia after treatment of Helicobacter pylori.

Aim: Functional dyspepsia, though benign, leads to deterioration of the quality of life and high costs for healthcare systems. The optimal therapy for functional dyspepsia is still to be defined because of its multifactorial pathogenesis. In an open multicentric study of patients with functional dyspepsia, we prospectively evaluated the benefit of treatment with a food supplement composed of sodium alginate, carbonate calcium, pineapple, papaya, ginger, α-galactosidase and fennel (Perdiges, Bioten Snc, Turin, Italy).

Osteopenia and osteoporosis in patients with new diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: The decrease in bone density may occur as a result of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Studies conducted on this issue generally focused on treated IBD patients. It is thus difficult to discriminate the role of disease from the effect of therapy on bone density reduction.

Helicobacter pylori infection and respiratory diseases: actual data and directions for future studies.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been conclusively related to several gastroduodenal diseases. The possible role of the bacterium in the development of extragastric manifestations has been investigated in the past few years.

Comparison of sirolimus-, paclitaxel-, and everolimus-eluting stent in unprotected left main coronary artery percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: This retrospective study evaluated the outcomes of patients who underwent unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with different types of drug-eluting stents (DES).

Background: The standard of care for patients with ULMCA is coronary artery bypass surgery. However, current guidelines recommend PCI in clinical conditions where there is an increased risk of adverse surgical outcomes.

Helicobacter pylori infection and diabetes mellitus: the 2013 state of art.

It is well-known the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in the development of gastroduodenal diseases. From two decades literature has suggested the potential relationship of the bacterium with extragastric manifestations.

Long term clinical outcomes in DES implantation for unprotected left main disease.

Aim: Generate a long term follow-up and evaluate the impact of clinical and procedural characteristics on long term events in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease.

Methods: Ninety-seven consecutive patients who underwent PCI with DES, either sirolimus (SES) or paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES), for de novo lesions in ULMCA were analyzed. No patients were excluded.

FEV6 assessment in spirometric abnormalities screening: the first population-based study in Italian pharmacies.

Aim: In recent years, the FEV1/FEV in six seconds ratio has been proposed and validated as a parameter for screening of airways obstruction and restriction. In this context an electronic spirometry screening of pharmacy customers could lead to significant benefits such as improving the appropriateness of diagnostic test prescription and facilitating the early diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Customers of 500 pharmacies in the italian Piemonte region were proposed to test their ventilatory function by an electronic spirometer, PiKo-6®, to find out probably obstruction (pO) and probably restriction (pR).

Impact of TAVI on mitral regurgitation: a prospective echocardiographic study.

Objective: This study aims to assess changes in mitral regurgitation (MR) severity after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Background: Existing data on MR after TAVI are contradictory.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with MR graded ≥ 2+ were followed after undergoing TAVI with either the Edwards Sapien or CoreValve device.

Are guidelines for non-invasive ventilation during weaning still valid?

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has gained increasing acceptance over the years to reduce endotracheal intubation, pneumonia and to prevent or treat respiratory failure in patients with different diagnoses. The international consensus conference, and the British society guidelines on NIV ventilation have analyzed its use during the weaning phase concluding that there were still conflicting results of its use. However, recent clinical trials have shown clear clinical benefits on the use of NIV in several patient populations during the weaning period.

Long-term home ventilation of children in Italy: a national survey.

Background: Improved technology, as well as professional and parental awareness, enable many ventilator-dependent children to live at home. However, the profile of this growing population, the quality and adequacy of home care, and patients' needs still require thorough assessment.

Objectives: To define the characteristics of Italian children receiving long-term home mechanical ventilation (HMV) in Italy.

Intra-arterial lidocaine versus saline to reduce peri-procedural discomfort in patients undergoing percutaneous trans-radial or trans-ulnar coronary procedures.

Objective: Trans-radial and trans-ulnar access is increasingly used for percutaneous coronary procedures, but spasm or pain may limit comfort and compliance. Intra-arterial lidocaine administration could provide a local anaesthetic effect, but its risk-benefit ratio is unclear. We aimed to compare intraarterial lidocaine versus saline to reduce peri-procedural discomfort during percutaneous trans-radial or trans-ulnar procedures.

Impact of dental care in the prevention of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw: a single-center clinical experience.

Background: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is associated with bisphosphonate (BP) therapy and invasive dental care. An Interdisciplinary Care Group (ICG) was created to evaluate dental risk factors and the efficacy of a preventive restorative dental care in the reduction of ONJ risk.

Patients And Methods: This prospective single-center study included patients with bone metastases from solid tumors.

Imaging techniques in diagnostic approaches.

Despite the considerable technological advances in imaging modalities which have occurred over the last years, EUS remains one of the most reliable and accurate technique for the study of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. More specifically, EUS can detect very small lesions, assess the local extent and lymph node involvement and biopsy the lesion for cytophatological confirmation (EUS-FNA). In addition, nuclear medicine imaging has a relevant role in the evaluation of NET.