Large Left Atrial Thrombus in a Patient With Severe Mitral Stenosis and Atrial Fibrillation Despite Anticoagulant Therapy: A Case Report.

This case report highlights a patient with atrial fibrillation, severe mitral stenosis, and left atrial dilatation who developed a large thrombus, despite being on anticoagulant therapy. The complexity of thrombus formation in patients with multiple risk factors is described, emphasising the need for regular echocardiographic assessments to detect and monitor thrombi, even in patients undergoing anticoagulant treatment. The interplay between atrial fibrillation, mitral stenosis, and left atrial dilatation contributes to thrombus formation, requiring a multidisciplinary approach to the management of these patients.

Pragmatic use of ultrasound in plaster room.

X-ray represent gold standard to check reduction of fractures and dislocations. Sometimes plaster room is not equipped with C-arm or similar devices. Practical and focused use of ultrasound in plaster room cannot replace X-ray but may be a useful tool especially in tricky situations.

Organization and Activity of Italian Echocardiographic Laboratories: A Survey of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging.

Background: The Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SIECVI) conducted a national survey to understand better how different echocardiographic modalities are used and accessed in Italy.

Methods: We analyzed echocardiography laboratory activities over a month (November 2022). Data were retrieved via an electronic survey based on a structured questionnaire, uploaded on the SIECVI website.

Water-assisted colonoscopy: an international modified Delphi review on definitions and practice recommendations.

Background And Aims: Since 2008, a plethora of research studies has compared the efficacy of water-assisted (aided) colonoscopy (WAC) and underwater resection (UWR) of colorectal lesions with standard colonoscopy. We reviewed and graded the research evidence with potential clinical application. We conducted a modified Delphi consensus among experienced colonoscopists on definitions and practice of water immersion (WI), water exchange (WE), and UWR.

The role of inflammation, iron, and nutritional status in cancer-related anemia: results of a large, prospective, observational study.

Anemia in oncology patients is often considered a side effect of cancer therapy; however, it may occur before any antineoplastic treatment (cancer-related anemia). This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cancer-related anemia in a large cohort of oncology patients and whether inflammation and malnutrition were predictive of its development and severity. The present study included 888 patients with cancer at different sites between May 2011 and January 2014.

Ovarian hyperstimulation in premenopausal women during adjuvant tamoxifen treatment for endocrine-dependent breast cancer: A report of two cases.

Adjuvant endocrine therapy is an integral component of care for endocrine-dependent breast cancer. The aim of this type of therapy is to counteract the production and the action of estrogens. The ovary is the primary site of estrogen production in premenopausal women, whereas, in postmenopausal women, the main source of estrogens is adipose tissue.

Management of anemia of inflammation in the elderly.

Anemia of any degree is recognized as a significant independent contributor to morbidity, mortality, and frailty in elderly patients. Among the broad types of anemia in the elderly a peculiar role seems to be played by the anemia associated with chronic inflammation, which remains the most complex form of anemia to treat. The origin of this nonspecific inflammation in the elderly has not yet been clarified.

Current pharmacotherapy options for cancer anorexia and cachexia.

Introduction: Anorexia and cachexia syndrome represents a complex clinical picture that occurs in the late stage of several chronic inflammatory diseases, including cancer. Unless counteracted cancer-related anorexia and cachexia syndrome affects quality of life (QL) and survival. However, to date a standard effective treatment is lacking.

Three cases of laparoscopic myomectomy performed during pregnancy for pedunculated uterine myomas.

Purpose: Laparoscopic myomectomy during pregnancy is indicated when symptoms related to uterine myomas persist despite pharmacologic therapy; however, currently there is very little information concerning its safety.

Methods: We report three cases of antepartum laparoscopic myomectomy performed to manage complicated myomas requiring surgical intervention.

Results: In particular, we report for the first time in literature the laparoscopic removal of two myomas in a patient during a single surgery performed in the 19th week of pregnancy followed by additional multiple myomectomy at the time of the cesarean section.

Inflammation and ovarian cancer.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a highly lethal gynecological cancer for which overall prognosis has remained poor over the past few decades. A number of theories have been postulated in an effort to explain the etiology of EOC. Noteworthy, these theories likely are not mutually exclusive, as they all converge more or less on the role of inflammation in promoting ovarian tumorigenesis and cancer progression.

Successful pregnancy following myomectomy of a giant uterine myoma: role of a combined surgical approach.

Purpose: There are very few reports in the literature about the conservative surgical approach of large uterine myoma. The individualization of the surgery approach, the technical expertise and skill of the surgeon, the use of modern technologies/facilities could offer the optimal individualized treatment.

Methods: We performed a conservative combined surgical approach consisting of open laparoscopy myomectomy followed by laparotomy for the treatment of a very large uterine myoma of the anterior uterine wall in a 27-year-old non-pregnant woman with a history of progressive abdominal distension and symptoms related to abdomen pressure and constipation.

A randomized phase III clinical trial of a combined treatment for cachexia in patients with gynecological cancers: evaluating the impact on metabolic and inflammatory profiles and quality of life.

Objectives: Gynecological neoplastic disease progression is characterized by specific energy metabolism alterations and by symptoms including fatigue, anorexia, nausea, anemia, and immunodepression, which result in a cachexia syndrome and a marked decrease in patient quality of life (QoL). Therapeutic protocols associated with appropriate and effective psychological and social support systems are essential to counteract the symptoms of neoplastic disease in incurable patients.

Methods: A phase III randomized study was performed to establish the most effective and safest treatment to improve the key symptoms in advanced gynecological cancer patients, i.

Obesity, inflammation, and postmenopausal breast cancer: therapeutic implications.

Breast cancer is the female malignant neoplasia with the highest incidence in the industrialized world. Although early diagnosis has contributed to therapeutic success, breast cancer remains a major health issue. In the last few year the hormone therapy for estrogen-dependent breast cancer has evolved achieving significant clinical results; at the same time, it has enabled us to better define the role of estrogens in the etiopathogenesis of this tumour.

Efficacy and safety of oral lactoferrin supplementation in combination with rHuEPO-beta for the treatment of anemia in advanced cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: open-label, randomized controlled study.

Advanced-stage cancer patients often suffer from anemia that closely resembles the anemia of chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by specific changes in iron homeostasis and absorption. i.v.

Oxytocin both increases proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphomonocytes to phytohemagglutinin and reverses immunosuppressive estrogen activity.

Background: It has been shown that the neurohypophyseal peptide oxytocin is present in the human thymus and in vitro it can mimic interleukin (IL)-2 action in the induction of interferon-gamma production. In the present study, we tested the capacity of oxytocin to modulate the response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and its ability to change the membrane expression of IL-2 receptor CD25 and the CD95 activation marker. Furthermore, whether oxytocin was able to reverse the inhibition of PBMC blastic response and CD25 expression induced by estradiol benzoate (E(2)B) was studied.

Correlation of body mass index and leptin with tumor size and stage of disease in hormone-dependent postmenopausal breast cancer: preliminary results and therapeutic implications.

Obesity is considered the most important risk and prognostic factor for estrogen-dependent breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Adipokines, in particular leptin, are at the center of the etiopathogenetic mechanisms by which obesity and related metabolic disorders influence breast cancer risk and its prognosis. The present prospective observational study aims to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), serum levels of leptin and proinflammatory cytokines, and breast cancer prognostic factors.

Adipose tissue as target organ in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer: new therapeutic perspectives.

Breast cancer is the female malignant neoplasia with the highest incidence in the industrialized world. Despite many undeniable therapeutic successes obtained, breast cancer still remains, however, a major health issue. In the last few years, thanks to aromatase inhibitors, the hormone therapy for oestrogen-dependent breast cancer has evolved in terms of efficacy and tolerability; at the same time, it has enabled us to better define the role of oestrogens in the etiopathogenesis of this tumour.

Carbocysteine: clinical experience and new perspectives in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Background: Carbocysteine is a muco-active drug with free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties. It is actually approved for clinical use as adjunctive therapy of respiratory tract disorders characterized by excessive, viscous mucus, including chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD).

Objective: The intriguing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of carbocysteine, beyond its known mucolytic activity, are described to explain its therapeutic efficacy and suggest new clinical uses.