Imaging of elbow entrapment neuropathies.

Entrapment neuropathies at the elbow are common in clinical practice and require an accurate diagnosis for effective management. Understanding the imaging characteristics of these conditions is essential for confirming diagnoses and identifying underlying causes. Ultrasound serves as the primary imaging modality for evaluating nerve structure and movement, while MRI is superior for detecting muscle denervation.

Establishing Decisional Cutoff Values of Neurofilament Light Chains in Cerebrospinal Fluid Measured by Fully Automated Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay.

Introduction: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is one of the most important biomarkers in the field of clinical neurochemistry. Several analytical methods have been developed in the last decade. Recently, Fujirebio introduced a ready-to-use assay kit for measuring NfL levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on the fully automated LUMIPULSE G System.

Cardiovascular toxicity induced by TKIs in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia: Are women and men different?

Aims: Knowledge of the effects of sex in cardio-oncology is limited, particularly in patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). This study aims to evaluate the influence of gender differences on the incidence of cardiovascular toxicity in patients with CML.

Methods: The study population consisted of 148 patients (45% women, mean age: 58 ± 14.

Pneumococcal carriage in a large Sicilian sample population: impact on the current epidemiological scenario and implications for future vaccination strategies.

Introduction: is a prevalent and virulent global pathogen, with colonization being considered a precondition for pneumococcal disease. Understanding colonization is critical for gaining insights into transmission dynamics and developing effective interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nasopharyngeal colonization and serotype distribution in the Sicilian population.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Lipid Transfer Proteins (LTPs) Specific IgE Assay in Food Allergy: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of molecular-based LTPs serum sIgE for the diagnosis of food allergies in patients with suspected allergy to one of the LTPs-containing foods. Cohort, prospective or retrospective cross-sectional studies were considered for inclusion in this review. Oral food challenge (both open and double-blind placebo-controlled) was the reference standard for the diagnosis.

Correlation of Sarcopenia with Coronary Artery Disease Severity and Pericoronary Adipose Tissue Attenuation: A Coronary CT Study.

Objective: To investigate the association between sarcopenia, as appraised with CT-derived muscle metrics, and cardiovascular status, as assessed via coronary CT angiography (CCTA) using the Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) and with pericoronary adipose tissue (pCAT) metrics.

Methods: A retrospective observational study conducted on patients who underwent CCTA. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and attenuation values of the paravertebral muscles at the T8 level and the pectoralis major muscles at the T6 level were measured.

The Impact of Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) Index on Future Cardio and Cerebrovascular Events in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome, During 3 Years of Follow-Up.

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a new alternative insulin resistance (IR) biomarker. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the TyG index can have a prognostic value in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Moreover, we wanted to compare the TyG index with HOMA index.

Insights into Genetic and Antigenic Characteristics of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Viruses Circulating in Sicily During the Surveillance Season 2023-2024: The Potential Effect on the Seasonal Vaccine Effectiveness.

After disruption in the influenza circulation due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the intensity of seasonal outbreaks has returned to the pre-pandemic levels. This study aimed to evaluate the evolution and variability of whole-genome sequences of A(H1N1)pdm09, the predominant influenza virus in Sicily (Italy) during the season 2023-2024. The potential vaccine efficacy was calculated using the model based on amino acid changes in the dominant epitope of hemagglutinin.

The ANOCA/INOCA Dilemma Considering the 2024 ESC Guidelines on Chronic Coronary Syndromes.

Cardiovascular disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its manifestations continue to pose a challenge in clinical practice [...

Dysfunctional High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Coronary Artery Disease: A Narrative Review.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is traditionally viewed as protective against cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, emerging evidence reveals that dysfunctional HDL, characterized by impaired reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), reduced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and increased endothelial dysfunction, which can contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD). Dysfunctional HDL, resulting from oxidative modifications of Apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1) and enzyme inactivation, fails to effectively remove cholesterol from peripheral tissues and may promote inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Prognosis of myocarditis stratified by initial clinical presentation: Does "intermediate" risk still play a role?

Background/aims: Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease with diverse clinical presentations. It is known that low-risk patients have a good prognosis compared to high-risk patients. There are few data regarding the prognosis of intermediate-risk patients.

Optimal Timing of Angiography-Guided Complete Revascularization of Non-Culprit Lesions in STEMI Patients with Multivessel Disease.

There are many questions regarding the optimal approach to treating non-culprit lesions in STEMI patients. Several questions still need to be answered, such as identifying the lesions to be revascularized and the optimal timing. We conducted a single-center analysis.

SGLT2 inhibitor therapy in patients with advanced heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLT2-i) improve outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, evidence in patients with advanced HF is lacking. We aimed to determine the effect of SGLT2-i in advanced HFrEF compared to their effect on a non-advanced population.

A Heuristic Approach to Analysis of the Genetic Susceptibility Profile in Patients Affected by Airway Allergies.

Allergic respiratory diseases such as asthma might be considered multifactorial diseases, having a complex pathogenesis that involves environmental factors and the activation of a large set of immune response pathways and mechanisms. In addition, variations in genetic background seem to play a central role. The method developed for the analysis of the complexities, as association rule mining, nowadays may be applied to different research areas including genetic and biological complexities such as atopic airway diseases to identify complex genetic or biological markers and enlighten new diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Left Ventricular Deformation and Myocardial Work Parameters in Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Treated with Patisiran: A Single-Center Study.

In recent years, many advances have been made in the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv). Patisiran is a small-interfering RNA used to treat ATTRv with only polyneuropathy or polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of patisiran on cardiac function in ATTRv patients using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) analysis.

Early coronary revascularization among 'stable' patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: the role of diabetes and age.

Aims: To investigate the impact of an early coronary revascularization (<24 h) compared with initial conservative strategy on clinical outcomes in diabetic patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) who are in stable condition at hospital admission.

Methods And Results: The International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes database was queried for a sample of diabetic and nondiabetic patients with diagnosis of NSTE-ACS. Patients with cardiac arrest, haemodynamic instability, and serious ventricular arrhythmias were excluded.

What happened to the left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy? to be or not to be: This is the question.

For several years, left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) was considered as a true cardiomyopathy and several definitions have followed one another. Particularly, LVNC was characterized by prominent left ventricular trabeculae separated from deep intertrabecular recesses. Several echocardiographic criteria and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) criteria have been used to diagnose LVNC, leading to overestimate the diagnosis of LVNC in patients with other diseases and/or physiological conditions.

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on acute coronary syndrome: Differences between epidemic waves.

Introduction: Since the beginning of the COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, poor attention has been paid to the indirect effects of the pandemia on cardiovascular health system, in particular in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The aims of this study is to compare possible epidemiological, clinical and management differences between the four epidemic waves in groups of patients hospitalized for ACS with a view to highlighting the burden of the pandemic on the management of this syndrome.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective observational study we included 98 patients admitted to Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU) for ACS between March 2020 and March 2022, who underwent revascularization procedure using percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI).

Assessment of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction in breast cancer women using a new speckle tracking echocardiography index: The GAVS.

Background: Recently, peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) has emerged as a possible predictor of Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in cancer patients (CP), in addition to left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS). Thus, considering the link between left atrium and left ventricle, the aim of this study was to assess the global atrio-ventricular strain (GAVS) in CP, to detect early cardiotoxicity.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out enrolling 131 breast cancer women (mean age 51.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Genetic Diversity of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Patients with Influenza-like Illness in Sicily (Italy) from 2017 to 2023.

Monitoring the genetic variability of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is of paramount importance, especially for the potential implication of key antigenic mutations on the emergence of immune escape variants. Thus, to describe the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of hRSV circulating in Sicily (Italy), a total of 153 hRSV whole-genome sequences collected from 770 hRSV-positive subjects between 2017 and 2023, before the introduction of expanded immunization programs into the population, were investigated. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the genotypes GA.

Chronic Pelvic Pain in Congestion Pelvic Syndrome: Clinical Impact and Electromyography Pelvic Floor Activity Prior to and after Endovascular Treatment.

Background: This study aims to characterize the clinical impact of endovascular treatment in Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) patients due to Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) and to assess the diagnostic value of surface electromyography (sEMG) studies of pelvic floor musculature (PFM) in PCS patients pre- and post-endovascular treatment. Between January 2019 and July 2023, we studied consecutive patients who were referred for interventional radiology assessment and treatment to a tertiary trauma care hospital, had evidence of non-obstructive PCS from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), had sEMG of PFM and who had undergone endovascular treatment. The primary outcome was clinical, defined as a change in symptom severity after endovascular treatment.