Applying Lyon Consensus criteria in the work-up of patients with proton pump inhibitory-refractory heartburn.

Background: A hierarchical approach for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) diagnosis by impedance-pH monitoring was proposed by the Lyon Consensus, based on acid exposure time (AET) and supportive impedance metrics.

Aims: To establish the clinical value of Lyon Consensus criteria in the work-up of patients with proton pump inhibitory (PPI)-refractory heartburn.

Methods: Expert review of off-therapy impedance-pH tracings from unproven GERD patients with PPI-refractory heartburn prospectively evaluated at referral centers.

Application of Lyon Consensus criteria for GORD diagnosis: evaluation of conventional and new impedance-pH parameters.

Objective: To validate Lyon Consensus criteria for diagnosing gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) by reflux monitoring.

Design: Manual review of impedance-pH tracings from patients with proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-dependent heartburn, evaluated off PPI. Acid exposure time (AET) thresholds defined by the Lyon Consensus and impedance parameters were investigated, namely, total refluxes (TRs), postreflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index and mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI).

[Alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: the emerging role of the Cardiomyopathy Team].

Alcohol septal ablation is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective procedure for the treatment of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) who remain symptomatic despite maximal medical therapy. Originally performed by Ulrich Sigwart in 1994, the procedure causes a iatrogenic infarction - through the injection of absolute alcohol - of the basal portion of the interventricular septum and aims at reducing LVOT obstruction in order to improve patient's hemodynamics and symptoms. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of the procedure, making it a valid alternative to surgical myectomy.

Being adults with cerebral palsy: results of a multicenter Italian study on quality of life and participation.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is still the most common cause of disability developing in infancy. How such a complex disorder affects adult life raises important questions on the critical issues to consider and the most appropriate care pathway right from early childhood. We conducted a multicenter study on a sample of 109 individuals with CP followed up from infancy and recalled for an assessment at ages ranging between 18 and 50 years (mean age 26 years).

Exploring the role of age as a moderator of cognitive remediation for people with schizophrenia.

Background: While Cognitive Remediation (CR) is effective in reducing cognitive and functioning difficulties in people with schizophrenia, there is variability in treatment response. Previous research suggested that participants' age may be a significant moderator of CR response.

Aim: To examine the impact of participants' age on CR outcomes.

Identification of cardiac organ damage in arterial hypertension: insights by echocardiography for a comprehensive assessment.

: Arterial hypertension, a widespread disease, whose prevalence increases with age, represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular events, causing damage in several organs, including the heart. In this context, echocardiography has a clear and pivotal role, being able to assess cardiac morphology and detect haemodynamic changes induced by this disease. 2018 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension guidelines on AH identified main echo parameters such as left ventricular mass, relative wall thickness and left atrial volume, for detecting cardiac organ damage.

Testing Attention Restoration in a Virtual Reality Driving Simulator.

Attention Restoration Theory (ART) suggests that walking or being in natural settings, as opposed to urban environments, benefits cognitive skills because it is less demanding on attentional resources. However, it is unclear whether the same occurs when the person is performing a complex task such as driving, although it is proven that driving through different road environments is associated with different levels of fatigue and may engage attention differently. The present study investigated whether exposure to rural vs.

Late mortality and causes of death among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed in the period 1960-1999 and registered in the Italian Off-Therapy Registry.

Introduction: Advances in paediatric oncology led to the increase in long-term survival, revealing the burden of therapy-related long-term side effects. We evaluated overall and cause-specific mortality in a large cohort of Italian childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) and adolescent cancer survivors identified through the off-therapy registry.

Materials And Methods: CCSs alive 5 years after cancer diagnosis occurring between 1960 and 1999 were eligible; the last follow-up was between 2011 and 2014.

Arthroscopic Bankart repair with remplissage for non-engaging Hill-Sachs lesion in professional collision athletes.

Background: The present study aimed to determine whether arthroscopic remplissage with Bankart repair is an effective treatment for improving outcomes for collision athletes with Bankart and non-engaging Hill-Sachs lesions.

Methods: Twenty collision athletes underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair with posterior capsulotenodesis (B&R group) and were evaluated retrospectively, using pre- and postoperative WOSI (Western Ontario Shoulder Instability), EQ-5D (EuroQOL five dimensions), EQ-VAS (EuroQol-visual analogue scale) scores and Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV). The recurrence and re-operation rates were compared to a matched group with isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair (B group).

Drug Retention Rate and Predictive Factors of Drug Survival for Interleukin-1 Inhibitors in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Few studies have reported the drug retention rate (DRR) of biologic drugs in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and none of them has specifically investigated the DRR of interleukin (IL)-1 inhibitors on systemic JIA (sJIA). This study aims to describe IL-1 inhibitors DRR and evaluate predictive factors of drug survival based on data from a real-world setting concerning sJIA. Medical records from sJIA patients treated with anakinra (ANA) and canakinumab (CAN) were retrospectively analyzed from 15 Italian tertiary referral centers.

Nivolumab in never-smokers with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer: Results from the Italian cohort of an expanded access program.

Objectives:: Never-smokers may be a distinct subgroup among patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, appearing to benefit less from immunotherapy than smokers. We report results from never-smokers enrolled in the Italian cohort of the nivolumab expanded access program in pre-treated patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Materials And Methods:: Nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks for ≤24 months) was available on physician request.

Gender differences in early systemic sclerosis patients: a report from the EULAR scleroderma trials and research group (EUSTAR) database.

Objectives: To describe differences in clinical presentation between men and women in a large group of patients with early (<3 years' duration) systemic sclerosis (SSc) according to disease subsets.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the prospective EULAR Scleroderma Trial and Research database (EUSTAR) was performed. Patients fulfilling preliminary ACR 1980 classification criteria for SSc, with less than 3 years from the first non-Raynaud's symptom at first entry, were selected.

Mitochondrial ribosomal proteins involved in tellurite resistance in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A considerable body of evidence links together mitochondrial dysfunctions, toxic action of metalloid oxyanions, and system and neurodegenerative disorders. In this study we have used the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate the genetic determinants associated with tellurite resistance/sensitivity. Nitrosoguanidine-induced KTeO-resistant mutants were isolated, and one of these mutants, named Sc57-Te, was characterized.

Chronic Apical and Nonapical Right Ventricular Pacing in Patients with High-Grade Atrioventricular Block: Results of the Right Pace Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the two approaches to chronic right ventricular pacing currently adopted in clinical practice: right ventricular apical (RVA) and non-RVA pacing.

Background: Chronic RVA pacing is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, morbidity, and even mortality. Non-RVA pacing may yield more physiologic ventricular activation and provide potential long-term benefits and has recently been adopted as standard procedure at many implanting centers.

Risk factors for heart disease in transfusion-dependent thalassemia: serum ferritin revisited.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), which can be attributed to several factors but primarily develops in the setting of iron overload. This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing Webthal patient data from five major centers across Italy. Patients without heart disease were followed-up for 10 years (2000-2010) and data were collected for demographics, splenectomy status, serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels, and comorbidities associated with heart disease.

Immune-escape mutations and stop-codons in HBsAg develop in a large proportion of patients with chronic HBV infection exposed to anti-HBV drugs in Europe.

Background: HBsAg immune-escape mutations can favor HBV-transmission also in vaccinated individuals, promote immunosuppression-driven HBV-reactivation, and increase fitness of drug-resistant strains. Stop-codons can enhance HBV oncogenic-properties. Furthermore, as a consequence of the overlapping structure of HBV genome, some immune-escape mutations or stop-codons in HBsAg can derive from drug-resistance mutations in RT.

Safety profile of the interleukin-1 inhibitors anakinra and canakinumab in real-life clinical practice: a nationwide multicenter retrospective observational study.

A few studies have reported the safety profile of interleukin (IL)-1 blockers from real life. The aim of this study is to describe anakinra (ANA) and canakinumab (CAN) safety profile in children and adults, based on data from a real-life setting. Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data from patients treated with ANA and CAN were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

Comparison between fiber-reinforced polymers and stainless steel orthodontic retainers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the properties of fiber-reinforced composite and stainless steel twisted retainers for orthodontic retention.

Methods: Three different span lengths (5.0, 8.