Ovarian reserve of women with and without BRCA pathogenic variants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Preliminary clinical evidence suggests a detrimental effect of pathogenic variants of BRCA1 and 2 genes on fertility outcome. This meta-analysis evaluates whether women carrying BRCA mutations (BRCAm) have decreased ovarian reserve, in terms of Anti-Muellerian Hormone (AMH), compared to women without BRCAm (wild-type).

Material And Methods: Systematic searches of PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Embase, Science Direct and the Cochrane Library from inception until July 2020 were conducted.

Septal Ablation Versus Surgical Myomectomy for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

Purpose Of Review: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who have left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) often experience severe symptoms and functional limitation. Relief of LVOTO can be achieved by two invasive interventions, i.e.

Mitral Valve Surgery After Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Mid-Term Outcomes From the CUTTING-EDGE International Registry.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, mechanisms of failure, and outcomes of mitral valve (MV) surgery after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER).

Background: Although >100,000 mitral TEER procedures have been performed worldwide, longitudinal data on MV surgery after TEER are lacking.

Methods: Data from the multicenter, international CUTTING-EDGE registry were retrospectively analyzed.

Surgical Explantation After TAVR Failure: Mid-Term Outcomes From the EXPLANT-TAVR International Registry.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics, mechanisms of failure, and outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) explantation.

Background: Surgical explantation following TAVR may be required for structural valve degeneration, paravalvular leak, infection, or other reasons. However, in-depth data on indications and outcomes are lacking.

OCT retinal angiography features in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate the superficial (SCP) and deep retinal capillary plexus (DCP) by mean of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in treatment-naïve patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Between March 2019 and January 2020, patients with recent diagnosis of "definite RA" based on 2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria were included in a Prospective, observational single center case-control study carried out at G.B.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplantation: Pathophysiology, detection approaches, prevention, and treatment management.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) continues to be a significant risk factor for the recipient's long-term survival following heart transplantation. Our knowledge of its etiology is constantly changing as new imaging techniques provide direct insight into the disease's natural history. CAV identification continues to be difficult since symptoms may be varied or nonexistent.

Predictors of Device-Related Thrombus Following Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion.

Background: Device-related thrombus (DRT) has been considered an Achilles' heel of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). However, data on DRT prediction remain limited.

Objectives: This study constructed a DRT registry via a multicenter collaboration aimed to assess outcomes and predictors of DRT.

Contemporary ICD Use in Patients with Heart Failure.

Despite constant breakthroughs in heart failure (HF) therapy, the population of HF patients resume to grow and is linked to increased mortality and morbidity. Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) are one of the leading causes of mortality in HF subjects. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are currently the gold standard in treatment, preventing arrhythmic sudden cardiac death (SCD) episodes.

Breast reconstruction and radiation therapy: An Italian expert Delphi consensus statements and critical review.

Breast conserving surgery (BCS) plus radiation therapy (RT) or mastectomy have shown comparable oncological outcomes in early-stage breast cancer and are considered standard of care treatments. Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) targeted to both the chest wall and regional lymph nodes is recommended in high-risk patients. Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OBCS) represents a significant recent improvement in breast surgery.

Axillary evaluation in ductal cancer in situ of the breast: challenging the diagnostic accuracy of clinical practice guidelines.

Background: Staging of the axilla is not routine in ductal cancer in situ (DCIS) although invasive cancer is observed in 20-25 per cent of patients at final pathology. Upfront sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) is advocated in clinical practice guidelines in certain situations. These include expected challenges in subsequent SLN detection and when the risk for invasion is high.

Role of Different Antithrombotic Regimens after Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: A Large Single Center Experience.

Background: Optimal antithrombotic therapy after left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is still not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of different antithrombotic regimens after the procedure.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analyzed data of 260 patients who underwent LAA occlusion and divided them into four groups according to therapy at discharge: dual antiplatelet therapy (group A, 71.

Clinical and Hemodynamic Outcomes of Rapid-Deployment Aortic Bioprostheses.

Aim of this retrospective, multicenter study was to evaluate early and mid-term clinical and hemodynamic results of patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with Intuity rapid-deployment bioprostheses (RDB) (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA). We analyzed data from the Italian Registry of Intuity Valve (INTU-ITA registry) that is a national, real-world and independent from the industry registry. Preoperative variables were defined according to EuroSCORE and postoperative outcomes according to Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC).

Photodynamic therapy as a treatment option for peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome: a pilot study.

Background: To investigate the anatomical and functional results in eyes with peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome (PPS) undergoing photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Methods: A total of 25 eyes from 23 patients with PPS treated with PDT were retrospectively evaluated in this multicentric study. Main outcome measure was the proportion of eyes that achieved treatment success, defined as a decrease in both subretinal fluid (SRF) height and central subfield thickness (CST), at 3 months after PDT compared to baseline.

The Clinical and Pathological Profile of BRCA1 Gene Methylated Breast Cancer Women: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: DNA aberrant hypermethylation is the major cause of transcriptional silencing of the breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) gene in sporadic breast cancer patients. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to analyze all available studies reporting clinical characteristics of BRCA1 gene hypermethylated breast cancer in women, and to pool the results to provide a unique clinical profile of this cancer population.

Methods: On September 2020, a systematic literature search was performed.

A new device to treat mitral valve regurgitation: a proof of concept in bench test study.

Mitral valve repair is typically performed by implanting a ring-like device at the valve annulus to reshape the annulus and to improve leaflet coaptation. In most cases, some additional procedures are needed, including leaflet resection and artificial chordae implantation. However, artificial chordae implantation could be technically challenging and postoperative left ventricular remodeling could increase the risk of recurrent mitral regurgitation.

Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (GIse) registry Of Transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitaTiOn (GIOTTO): impact of valve disease aetiology and residual mitral regurgitation after MitraClip implantation.

Aims: The Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (GIse) registry Of Transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitaTiOn (GIOTTO) was conceived in order to assess the safety and efficacy of MitraClip therapy in Italy. The aim of this study was to assess procedural and mid-term outcomes, and clinical and echocardiographic predictors of mid-term mortality after MitraClip therapy, stratifying the results according to the diagnosis of functional and degenerative mitral regurgitation (FMR vs. DMR).

Should oncoplastic breast conserving surgery be used for the treatment of early stage breast cancer? Using the GRADE approach for development of clinical recommendations.

Introduction: The potential advantages of oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (BCS) have not been validated in robust studies that constitute high levels of evidence, despite oncoplastic techniques being widely adopted around the globe. There is hence the need to define the precise role of oncoplastic BCS in the treatment of early breast cancer, with consensual recommendations for clinical practice.

Methods: A panel of world-renowned breast specialists was convened to evaluate evidence, express personal viewpoints and establish recommendations for the use of oncoplastic BCS as primary treatment of unifocal early stage breast cancers using the GRADE approach.

Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Intervention in Patients With Previous Left Valve Surgery.

Background: Scarce data exist on patients with previous left valve surgery (PLVS) undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI). This study sought to investigate the procedural and early outcomes in patients with PLVS undergoing TTVI.

Methods: This was a subanalysis of the multicenter TriValve registry including 462 patients, 82 (18%) with PLVS.

A multidisciplinary view of mastectomy and breast reconstruction: Understanding the challenges.

The current review paper was written in collaboration with breast cancer surgeons from the European Breast Cancer Research Association of Surgical Trialists (EUBREAST), a breast pathologist from the Danish Breast Cancer Group (DBCG), and representatives from the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) breast cancer course. Herein we summarize the different mastectomies and reconstruction procedures and define high-risk anatomical areas for breast cancer recurrences, to further specify the challenges in the surgical procedure, histopathological evaluation, and target volumes in case of postmastectomy irradiation, as recommended by the ESTRO guidelines according to the surgical procedure. The paper has original figures and illustrations for all disciplines for in-depth understanding of the differences between the procedures.