Outcome of laparoscopic gastric bypass in obese and diabetic patients: when surgery fails.

Background: The beneficial effects of bariatric surgery on diabetes and obesity have been widely demonstrated in the literature. The aim of our study was to evaluate the rate of failure of laparoscopic gastric bypass both in terms of weight loss and metabolic remission after one follow-up year.

Methods: A longitudinal, multicenter prospective study was carried out on 771 patients affected by pathological obesity.

Neuron-Specific Enolase Predicts Poor Outcome After Cardiac Arrest and Targeted Temperature Management: A Multicenter Study on 1,053 Patients.

Objective: Outcome prediction after cardiac arrest is important to decide on continuation or withdrawal of intensive care. Neuron-specific enolase is an easily available, observer-independent prognostic biomarker. Recent studies have yielded conflicting results on its prognostic value after targeted temperature management.

UGT1A polymorphisms as genetic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma risk in Caucasian population.

Background & Aims: The definition of new biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, especially in high-risk HBV/HCV-positive population, is urgently needed to improve HCC clinical management. This study focused on variants of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A) enzymes that catalyse the reaction of glucuronidation, one of the most important chemical defence pathway of the body. The aim of this study was to elucidate the contribution of UGT1A polymorphisms in predicting HCC susceptibility in Caucasians.

Prognostic effects of rosuvastatin in patients with co-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart failure: A sub-analysis of GISSI-HF trial.

Objectives: Rising evidences showed a possible protective role of statins in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to evaluate in a post-hoc analysis of the GISSI-HF trial the prognostic effect of the use of rosuvastatin in patients with co-existing COPD and HF, assuming that the anti-inflammatory properties of these drugs may imply a potential beneficial effect in these associated chronic inflammatory conditions.

Methods: We analyzed patients with chronic HF and history of COPD deriving from the GISSI-HF study.

Vaporize, anatomically vaporize or enucleate the prostate? The flexible use of the GreenLight laser.

Purposes: GreenLight laser has gained increasing acceptance as a less invasive treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH/LUTS). Three surgical options were developed: standard photovaporization (PVP), anatomical PVP and GreenLight enucleation of prostate (GreenLEP); however, literature lacks a direct comparison among the procedures. Aim of the present study is to compare the three techniques in a multicentre series of patients.

Feasibility and outcome of interval debulking surgery (IDS) after carboplatin-paclitaxel-bevacizumab (CPB): A subgroup analysis of the MITO-16A-MaNGO OV2A phase 4 trial.

Background: Few data are available on the outcome of surgery after a bevacizumab-containing regimen. The MITO 16A- MaNGO OV2A phase 4 trial evaluates the outcomes of first-line CPB in a clinical-practice-like setting. Here we present the results of the subgroup of patients undergoing IDS after neoadjuvant treatment or suboptimal primary surgery.

Patients' Attitudes and Physicians' Perceptions Toward Maintenance Therapy for Advanced Non-Small-cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Italian Survey.

Introduction: Pemetrexed maintenance therapy (MT) after induction with platinum-based chemotherapy has recently become a common treatment strategy for advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the benefits of MT should be weighed with consideration of the patients' perceptions and preferences. The aim of the present study was to evaluate patients' attitudes toward MT and to describe physicians' awareness of their patients' inclinations.

Left Ventricular Function Assessed by One-Point Carotid Wave Intensity in Newly Diagnosed Untreated Hypertensive Patients.

Objectives: To investigate whether newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients show higher left ventricular (LV) contractility, as assessed by traditional echocardiographic indices and carotid wave intensity (WI) parameters, including amplitude of the peak during early (W ) and late systole (W ).

Methods: A total of 145 untreated hypertensive patients were compared with 145 age- and sex-matched normotensive subjects. They underwent comprehensive echocardiography and WI analysis.

The impact of extracerebral organ failure on outcome of patients after cardiac arrest: an observational study from the ICON database.

Background: We used data from a large international database to assess the incidence and impact of extracerebral organ dysfunction on prognosis of patients admitted after cardiac arrest (CA).

Methods: This was a sub-analysis of the Intensive Care Over Nations (ICON) database, which contains data from all adult patients admitted to one of 730 participating intensive care units (ICUs) in 84 countries from 8-18 May 2012, except admissions for routine postoperative surveillance. For this analysis, patients admitted after CA (defined as those with "post-anoxic coma" or "cardiac arrest" as the reason for ICU admission) were included.

HCV-related liver and lymphoproliferative diseases: association with polymorphisms of IL28B and TLR2.

To explore the relationship between innate immunity and hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in determining the risk of cirrhosis (CIR), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome (MCS) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), we investigated the impact of the toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) and interleukin-28B (IL28B) genetic variants. TLR2 -174 del variant was associated with TLR2 expression and with specific downstream molecules that drive the expression of different interleukins; rs12979860 Il28B was important in response to interferon-treatment and in spontaneous clearance of HCV. The risk for liver and lymphoproliferative diseases in HCV progression was clarified by stratifying 862 HCV-positive patients into groups based on liver (CIR, HCC) and lymphoproliferative HCV-related diseases (MCS, NHL) and compared with chronic HCV (CHC) infection.

The proliferation marker Ki67, but not neuroendocrine expression, is an independent factor in the prediction of prognosis of primary prostate cancer patients.

Background: Neuroendocrine markers, which could indicate for aggressive variants of prostate cancer and Ki67 (a well-known marker in oncology for defining tumor proliferation), have already been associated with clinical outcome in prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of those markers in primary prostate cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: NSE (neuron specific enolase), ChrA (chromogranin A), Syp (Synaptophysin) and Ki67 staining were performed by immunohistochemistry.

Stroke incidence in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices remotely controlled with automatic alerts of atrial fibrillation. A sub-analysis of the HomeGuide study.

Background: Remote Monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is recommended in management of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), which is a recognized risk factor for thromboembolism. We tried to elucidate whether stroke incidence observed in a large, remotely monitored population was consistent with the CHA2DS2VASc risk profile.

Methods: Data from 1650 patients [76% male, age 72 (63-68), CHA2DS2VASc score 3.

Effect of external PEEP in patients under controlled mechanical ventilation with an auto-PEEP of 5 cmH2O or higher.

Background: In some patients with auto-positive end-expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP), application of PEEP lower than auto-PEEP maintains a constant total PEEP, therefore reducing the inspiratory threshold load without detrimental cardiovascular or respiratory effects. We refer to these patients as "complete PEEP-absorbers." Conversely, adverse effects of PEEP application could occur in patients with auto-PEEP when the total PEEP rises as a consequence.

Cancer among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A population-based cohort study in northeastern Italy.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an elevated risk of cancer. The aim of this study was to assess cancer risk and survival in individuals with type 2 DM (T2DM) in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. A retrospective population-based cohort study of 32,247 T2DM patients aged 40-84 years was conducted through a record linkage of local healthcare databases and cancer registry for the period 2002-2009.

Clinical outcomes in octogenarians treated with docetaxel as first-line chemotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Aim: To assess clinical outcomes in octogenarians treated with docetaxel (DOC) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Patients & Methods: The multicenter retrospective study was based on a review of the pre- and post-DOC clinical history, DOC treatment and outcomes.

Results: We reviewed the records of 123 patients (median age: 82 years) who received DOC every 3 weeks or weekly, without significant grade 3-4 toxicities.

The optimal hemodynamics management of post-cardiac arrest shock.

Patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest develop a pathophysiological state named "post-cardiac arrest syndrome." Post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction is a common feature of this syndrome, and many patients eventually die from cardiovascular failure. Cardiogenic shock accounts for most deaths in the first 3 days, when post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction peaks.

Assessment of Factors Related to Auto-PEEP.

Background: Previous physiological studies have identified factors that are involved in auto-PEEP generation. In our study, we examined how much auto-PEEP is generated from factors that are involved in its development.

Methods: One hundred eighty-six subjects undergoing controlled mechanical ventilation with persistent expiratory flow at the beginning of each inspiration were enrolled in the study.

Healthcare workers and skin sensitization: north-eastern Italian database.

Background: Working in healthcare is regarded as a risk factor for occupational skin disease. Workers are exposed to disinfectants, soaps, detergents and latex and need to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly.

Aims: To investigate the association between healthcare work and patch test reactions to various potential sensitizers in a population of contact dermatitis patients in various dermatology and occupational medicine units in north-eastern Italy.

Anxiety and depression among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors.

Aim: Survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) may experience psychological distress but the actual prevalence is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate anxiety and depression within a large cohort of OHCA-survivors.

Methods: OHCA-survivors randomized to targeted temperature of 33 °C or 36 °C within the Target Temperature Management trial (TTM-trial) attended a follow-up after 6 months that included the questionnaire Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).