Left atrial strain and risk of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass-grafting.

Aim: Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Aim of the study is to analyze whether the measurement of preoperative Left Atrial (LA) strain can offer advantages over conventional clinical and echocardiographic parameters to identify patients at risk of developing POAF.

Methods And Results: We conducted a prospective study involving 100 patients undergoing isolated CABG from April 2023 to April 2024.

Progress and Challenges in Integrating Nutritional Care into Oncology Practice: Results from a National Survey on Behalf of the NutriOnc Research Group.

Introduction: Nutritional care is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by addressing malnutrition and enhancing recovery. Despite growing awareness, the integration of evidence-based nutritional strategies into oncology remains inconsistent. Following a 2020 survey that highlighted critical gaps, the NutriOnc Research Group launched targeted initiatives to raise awareness and improve practices.

Prognostic Value of Myocardial CT-ECV in Severe Aortic Stenosis Requiring Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Aim: Computed tomography (CT)-derived extracellular volume fraction (ECV) is a non-invasive method to quantify myocardial fibrosis. Evaluating CT-ECV during aortic valve replacement (AVR) planning CT in severe aortic stenosis (AS) may aid prognostic stratification. This meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic significance of CT-ECV in severe AS necessitating AVR.

Mechanism of syncope: role of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and cardiovascular autonomic function assessment.

Background And Aims: Identifying the haemodynamic mechanism of autonomic syncope is the essential pre-requisite for effective and personalized therapy aimed at preventing recurrences. The present study assessed the diagnostic efficacy of a two-step assessment.

Methods: Multicentre prospective, cross-sectional, observational study.

End-procedural adherence to recommended hemodynamic targets does not improve the outcome of elective tips in cirrhotic patients.

Background Aims: In clinical practice, the reduction of porto-caval pressure gradient (PCPG) following trans-jugular intra-hepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) does not always meet the recommendation of current guidance. We evaluated the impact of different degrees of PCPG reduction, measured at the end of an elective TIPS, on ascites control, recurrence of portal hypertension-related bleeding (PHRB) and survival.

Approach And Results: Cirrhotic patients receiving TIPS for refractory ascites (RA) or for the secondary prophylaxis of PHRB were consecutively enrolled.

Establishing an Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Program.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a complex, life-saving procedure that uses mechanical support for patients with refractory cardiac arrest, representing the pinnacle of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) applications. Effective ECPR requires precise patient selection, rapid mobilization of a multidisciplinary team, and skilled cannulation techniques. Establishing a program necessitates a cohesive ECMO system that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, which is essential for managing acute cardiogenic shock and severe pulmonary failure.

Recent Advances and Current Challenges in Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Ultra-Central Lung Tumors.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy has been established as a viable treatment option for inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer or secondary lesions mainly in oligoprogressive/oligometastatic scenarios. Treating lesions in the so-called "no flight zone" has always been challenging and conflicting data never cleared how to safely treat these lesions. This is truer considering ultra-central lesions, i.

Post-infective neuromuscular hyperexcitability syndrome in a young man with cystic fibrosis: A case report.

Cystic fibrosis (CF)-related central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorders have not yet been fully described. We report the first case of post-infective neuromuscular hyperexcitability syndrome in a 23-year-old male patient with CF and pulmonary exacerbation. CNS radiological investigations were unremarkable and no autoantibodies were detected.

Drug-Drug Interactions Between DAAs and Anticoagulants or Antiplatelets: A Position Paper of the Italian Anticoagulation Clinics.

The natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has changed after the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). Screening programs have been ongoing to reach the World Health Organisation's goal of HCV elimination by 2030, and most infected people are eligible for treatment. Given the increased cardiovascular risk in people with HCV infection and the metabolic pathways of DAAs, it is not uncommon to face the issue of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.

Effectiveness of most common adjuvant wound treatments (skin substitutes, negative pressure wound therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, platelet-rich plasma/fibrin, and growth factors) for the management of hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials for the development of the Italian Guidelines for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Syndrome.

Aim: To assess the effects of several adjuvant therapies (AT) commonly used in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The present meta-analysis was designed to support the development of the Italian Guidelines for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Syndrome.

Methods: A Medline and Embase search were performed up to May 20th, 2024 collecting all RCTs including diabetic patients or reporting subgroup analyses on diabetic patients with DFU comparing AT with placebo/standard of care (SoC), with a duration of at least 12 weeks.

Haemodynamic effects of fludrocortisone and midodrine in patients with symptoms due to hypotension.

Aim: The study aimed to assess the haemodynamic effects of fludrocortisone and midodrine, alone or combined, in patients with recurrent syncope and/or symptoms due to hypotension and ≥ 1 daytime systolic blood pressure (SBP) drop < 90 mmHg or ≥ 2 daytime SBP drops < 100 mmHg recorded by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM1).

Method: A total of 53 patients (mean age, 40.9 ± 18.

Tobacco, heated tobacco products, e-cigarette, alcohol, cannabis and other psychotropic substances. Polysubstance use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

Objective: Psychoactive substance use is largely found to involve multiple substances. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed psychoactive substance use patterns. Aim of this study is to investigate profiles of polysubstance and their pattern during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

External Validation of the ISGPS Complexity Grading System for Minimally Invasive Pancreatoduodenectomy: Insights from the IGOMIPS registry.

Objective: To validate the ISGPS complexity grading system for minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD).

Background: Although concerns about patient safety persist, MIPD is gaining popularity. The ISGPS recently introduced a difficulty grading system to improve patient selection by aligning procedural complexity with surgeon and center expertise.

How Italian radiation oncologists use ChatGPT: a survey by the young group of the Italian association of radiotherapy and clinical oncology (yAIRO).

Purpose: To investigate the awareness and the spread of ChatGPT and its possible role in both scientific research and clinical practice among the young radiation oncologists (RO).

Material And Methods: An anonymous, online survey via Google Forms (including 24 questions) was distributed among young (< 40 years old) ROs in Italy through the yAIRO network, from March 15, 2024, to 31, 2024. These ROs were officially registered with yAIRO in 2023.

Anaesthesia practice in Europe: A survey of the National Anaesthesiologists Societies Committee of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.

Background: Similar to other continents, Europe is experiencing a shortage of anaesthesia workforce, which profoundly impacts the national healthcare systems of affected countries.

Objective: To assess the current landscape of the anaesthesia workforce, organisational practices, rules and responsibilities of anaesthesiologists and other anaesthesia providers in operating rooms.

Design: Survey.

Revolutionizing Radiology with Natural Language Processing and Chatbot Technologies: A Narrative Umbrella Review on Current Trends and Future Directions.

The application of chatbots and NLP in radiology is an emerging field, currently characterized by a growing body of research. An umbrella review has been proposed utilizing a standardized checklist and quality control procedure for including scientific papers. This review explores the early developments and potential future impact of these technologies in radiology.

The Immune-Centric Revolution Translated into Clinical Application: Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMNC) Therapy in Diabetic Patients with No-Option Critical Limb-Threatening Ischemia (NO-CLTI)-Rationale and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), the most advanced form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is the comorbidity primarily responsible for major lower-limb amputations, particularly for diabetic patients. Autologous cell therapy has been the focus of efforts over the past 20 years to create non-interventional therapeutic options for no-option CLTI to improve limb perfusion and wound healing. Among the different available techniques, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) appear to be the most promising autologous cell therapy due to physio-pathological considerations and clinical evidence, which will be discussed in this review.

Diagnostic Performance of Clinical and Routine Laboratory Data in Acute Mesenteric Arterial Occlusion-An International Multicenter Study.

Background: There are no clinical or laboratory markers that can diagnose acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) accurately. This study aimed to find differences in clinical and laboratory markers between arterial occlusive AMI and other acute abdominal diseases where AMI was initially suspected.

Methods: This was a post hoc study of an international prospective multicenter study where data on patients with suspected AMI were collected.

Tolerability and Preliminary Outcomes of Adjuvant T-DM1 in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant Therapy: The ATD Study.

Background/objectives: HER2-positive breast cancer (HER2BC) is an aggressive subtype, with neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) aiming to achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) to improve long-term outcomes. Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) has been established as the standard of care in the adjuvant setting for HER2BC patients who do not obtain pCR. The ATD study aimed to evaluate the real-world tolerability of T-DM1 in this setting.

[Sexually transmitted infections: a new hub&spoke model to control the increasing trend of STIs in Italy and prevent their spread].

The project "Experimentation of new integrated hospital-territory organizational models for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections: facilitated diagnostic-care pathways and offer of free targeted screening" was developed as part of the CCM 2019 programme, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, being coordinated by the Italian National Health Institute (ISS), in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome. Three clinical units located in Turin, Milan, and Cagliari, specialized in sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis and treatment, and three highly specialized microbiology laboratories located in Trieste, Florence, and Palermo were involved.The objectives were to develop an innovative network model for the treatment of STIs based on multidisciplinary centres with high quality of care for STIs (hub-IST) and territorial structures (spoke-IST), to plan and test integrated facilitated care pathways for STIs, to evaluate the priorities, feasibility, and sustainability of prevention interventions.

Single-modality endocrine therapy versus radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in women aged 70 years and older with luminal A-like early breast cancer (EUROPA): a preplanned interim analysis of a phase 3, non-inferiority, randomised trial.

Background: Optimal therapy following breast-conserving surgery in older adults with low-risk, early-stage breast cancer remains uncertain. The EUROPA trial aims to compare the effects of radiotherapy and endocrine therapy as single-modality treatments on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) outcomes in this population.

Methods: This non-inferiority, phase 3, randomised study was conducted at 18 academic hospitals across Italy (17 centres) and Slovenia (one centre).

Impact of the 2023 ACR/EULAR Classification Criteria on START2 Antiphospholipid Registry.

Introduction: The recently published ACR/EULAR classification criteria score (3 points or more) both clinical and laboratory criteria to define the presence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The clinical criteria have been better defined while laboratory criteria remain the same [lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti ß2-Glycoprotein I (aß2GPI) antibodies] but with different impact (points) on the classification of patients. APS is excluded if more than 3 years separate positive test for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and clinical manifestation.

The Italian Perinatal Surveillance System SPItOSS: insights from Confidential Enquiries.

Background: An effective strategy to reduce perinatal mortality requires an active surveillance system. This includes monitoring cases, organizing multidisciplinary local audits, conducting Confidential Enquiries, identifying avoidable factors, and facilitating changes in the healthcare system. In 2017, the Italian Obstetric Surveillance System launched the SPItOSS pilot Perinatal Surveillance System.