Anorectal Malformations: The Pivotal Role of the Good Clinical Practice.

Anorectal malformations (ARM) without a fistula are a rare congenital condition. Although may seem more simple to repair compared with ARM with fistulas, surgery has proved to be challenging. We report the case of a newborn who presented a well-formed anus and normal genitalia; a blind-ending anal canal was detected after the insertion of a rectal probe, thus allowing the diagnosis of ARM.

Prognostic value of combined fractional flow reserve and pressure-bounded coronary flow reserve: outcomes in FFR and Pb-CFR assessment.

Background: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) has an emerging role to predict outcome in patients with and without flow-limiting stenoses. However, the role of its surrogate pressure bounded-CFR (Pb-CFR) is controversial. We investigated the usefulness of combined use of fractional flow reserve (FFR) and Pb-CFR to predict outcomes.

Prevalence of anxiety and depression risk during the prepartum period in the different groups of women and responses from the Italian National Health Service.

Background: Specific screening for anxiety and depression in pregnant women is important to identify those at risk and to provide timely intervention. The aims of the study were: 1) to compare the risk of anxiety and depression in four groups of pregnant women belonging to four types of healthcare centers distinguished by the level of risk: at low-risk; at high-risk for an obstetric reason; at high-risk for fetal anomalies; at high-risk for psychiatric conditions and 2) to identify the response that the National Health Service offers to women positively screened for anxiety and depression.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2801 pregnant women, cared for by National Health Service, divided into four groups: 1) low-risk pregnancy (N.

Serum Anti-Spike Antibodies Are Not Affected by Immunosuppressants in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations Given to Brazilian Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

This study aimed to evaluate humoral responses after vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients with IBD enrolled in a tertiary outpatient unit were followed up between September 2021 and September 2022 via serial blood collection. Immunoglobulin G antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 were measured before administration and 1 and 6 months after the administration of two doses of different vaccination regimens.

The Effects of Ultrasound-Guided Intra-Articular Injections with Hyaluronic Acid and Corticosteroids in Patients with Hip Osteoarthritis: A Long-Term Real-World Analysis.

Intra-articular (IA) ultrasound-guided hip injections are currently considered a cornerstone of the conservative management of symptomatic hip osteoarthritis (HOA), although their effect on clinical outcomes has not been fully elucidated.The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided IA hip injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) with or without corticosteroids (CS) on pain relief and functional improvement in patients with HOA. In total, 167 patients with HOA were assessed at baseline (T0) and 12 months after injection (T1) using the VAS and GLFS scores.

Evaluation of HNF1B, KLK3, ELAC2, TMPRSS2-ERG, and CTNNB1 polymorphisms associated with prostate cancer in samples of patients from HUPE-UERJ.

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the leading cause of death among men in 48 countries. Genetic alterations play a significant role in PCa carcinogenesis. For the hypothesis of this research, five unique polymorphisms (SNP) were investigated in different genes that showed to be associated in different ways with PCa: rs4430796, rs2735839, rs4792311, rs12329760, and rs28931588, respectively for the genes HNF1B, KLK3, ELAC2, TMPRSS2-ERG, and CTNNB1.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Uterine Leiomyomas and Sarcomas.

Background: Differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas is challenging. Ultrasound shows an uncertain role in the clinical practice given that pooled estimates about its diagnostic accuracy are lacking.

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of ultrasound in the differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas.

Conservative re-treatment of women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia and early endometrial carcinoma: We can hope, at least.

Background: In women with recurrent disease who were conservatively treated for atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) and early endometrial carcinoma (EEC), the reasons why conservative treatment was chosen persist and outcomes of performing a conservative re-treatment are unclear, as pooled estimates on oncologic outcomes of such a re-treatment are lacking.

Objectives: To provide pooled estimates of oncologic outcomes of conservative re-treatment in women with recurrent AEH or EC.

Search Strategy: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching six electronic databases from their inception to March 2022.

Diagnostic accuracy of MRI in the differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas is challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents the second-line diagnostic method after ultrasound for the assessment of uterine masses.

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of MRI in the differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas.

IL-1 blockade in cardiovascular disease: an appraisal of the evidence across different inflammatory paradigms.

Pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest a role for inflammation in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. The NLRP3 (NACHT, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) inflammasome is activated during tissue injury and releases interleukin-1β (IL-1β). We describe three paradigms in which the NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β contribute to CV diseases.

The optimal healthy ranges of thyroid function defined by the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Reference intervals of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT) are statistically defined by the 2·5-97·5th percentiles, without accounting for potential risk of clinical outcomes. We aimed to define the optimal healthy ranges of TSH and FT based on the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Methods: This systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis identified eligible prospective cohorts through the Thyroid Studies Collaboration, supplemented with a systematic search via Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar from Jan 1, 2011, to Feb 12, 2017 with an updated search to Oct 13, 2022 (cohorts found in the second search were not included in the IPD).

Spina bifida and cardiorespiratory profile: the impact of leisure sport activities on physical fitness.

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate a population of young patients affected by Spina Bifida (SB) to describe their cardiorespiratory function and bone mineral density profile, analyzing any differences between people performing and those who do not perform sports activity. The study also aimed to rule out possible congenital heart disease associated with spina bifida, considering the common origin of certain cardiac structures with those found to be altered in SB patients.

Methods: Thirty-four young patients, aged between 12 and 22 years, diagnosed with spinal dysraphism (SD), have been clinically described and, in order to evaluate their physical fitness, functional capacity and bone mass, almost all of them underwent a complete cardiorespiratory assessment, including electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET), body composition analysis using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), as well as the estimation of bone mineral density (BMD) with Computerized Bone Mineralometry (CBM).

Atrial paced rhythm and heart rate-dependent worsening of left atrial and ventricular function.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The response to the increase in heart rate (HR) could be characterized by failure in both left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) functions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the increase in paced HR and the changes in LV and LA functions, assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking analysis.

Methods: In a group of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker, the atrial paced rhythm was progressively increased from 60 to 70, from 70 to 80, and from 80 to 90 beats per minute (bpm).

Blood-Derived Systemic Inflammation Markers and Risk of Nodal Failure in Stage Ia Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicentric Study.

Background: Unexpected spread to regional lymph nodes can be found in up to 10% of patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), thereby affecting both prognosis and treatment. Given the known relation between systemic inflammation and tumor progression, we sought to evaluate whether blood-derived systemic inflammation markers might help to the predict nodal outcome in patients with stage Ia NSCLC.

Methods: Preoperative levels of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic inflammation score (SII, platelets × NLR) were collected from 368 patients who underwent curative lung resection for NSCLC.

Geographical differences in the management of metastatic de novo renal cell carcinoma in the era of immune-combinations.

Background: The upfront treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has been revolutionized by the introduction of immune-based combinations. The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in these patients is still debated. The ARON-1 study (NCT05287464) was designed to globally analyze real-world data of mRCC patients receiving first-line immuno-oncology combinations.

Relationship between the strain measures of left atrial function and heart failure worsening.

Background: Two-dimensional speckle tracking evaluation (2D-STE) is a useful tool to evaluate the complexity of atrial function by the analysis of the different phases of atrial deformation and by the combination with Doppler measurements of diastolic function.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the role of the left atrial (LA) strain parameters to predict worsening chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: We enrolled outpatients affected by CHF referred to our heart failure unit.

The effectiveness of chest T-tube drainage in uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Objectives: Uniportal incision located at 4th or 5th intercostal space represents a problem for the correct drainage of distal areas of pleural cavity. The T-shaped tube can drain both the extremities of pleural space. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of T-chest tube compared to classic chest tube after uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery.