Advancements and applications of artificial intelligence in cardiovascular imaging: a comprehensive review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming cardiovascular imaging by offering advancements across multiple modalities, including echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CCT), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), interventional cardiology, nuclear medicine, and electrophysiology. This review explores the clinical applications of AI within each of these areas, highlighting its ability to improve patient selection, reduce image acquisition time, enhance image optimization, facilitate the integration of data from different imaging modality and clinical sources, improve diagnosis and risk stratification. Moreover, we illustrate both the advantages and the limitations of AI across these modalities, acknowledging that while AI can significantly aid in diagnosis, risk stratification, and workflow efficiency, it cannot replace the expertise of cardiologists.

The Impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasound on the Diagnosis and Management of Small Bowel Obstruction in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Observational Single-Center Study.

: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) requires prompt diagnosis and management. Due to its advantages, POCUS can be beneficial when assessing SBO. However, it is still doubtful whether POCUS performed by an emergency doctor can prolong the time of patients with SBO in the emergency department (ED).

Insights on the Genetic and Phenotypic Complexities of Optic Neuropathies.

/: Optic neuropathies are a category of illnesses that ultimately cause damage to the optic nerve, leading to vision impairment and possible blindness. Disorders such as dominant optic atrophy (DOA), Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), and glaucoma demonstrate intricate genetic foundations and varied phenotypic manifestations. This narrative review study seeks to consolidate existing knowledge on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying ocular neuropathies, examine genotype-phenotype correlations, and assess novel therapeutic options to improve diagnostic and treatment methodologies.

A critical update on endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

Objectives: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (endo-DCR) is becoming a workhorse in the management of distal lacrimal duct obstruction. It yields success rates comparable to external DCR, with the advantage of no external scars. However, it requires multidisciplinary expertise and many uncertainties in terms of proper indications, technique, and perioperative management still exist.

Effectiveness and tolerability of rimegepant in the acute treatment of migraine: a real-world, prospective, multicentric study (GAINER study).

Background: Rimegepant, a novel oral calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist, has been recently approved for the acute migraine treatment. While its efficacy was confirmed in randomized clinical trials, no data is available regarding real-life effectiveness and tolerability. GAINER, a prospective, multicentric study, aimed to evaluate rimegepant effectiveness and tolerability in the real-world setting.

Baricitinib for the treatment of severe alopecia areata: results from a 52-week multicenter retrospective real-world study.

Baricitinib, a JAK 1/2 inhibitor, is approved for treating severe alopecia areata (AA). This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of baricitinib in a real-world setting over 52 weeks. This multicenter retrospective study included 96 adult patients diagnosed with severe AA from 11 Italian Dermatology Units.

The uropathologist of the future: getting ready with intelligence for the prostate cancer tsunami.

According to the recently published paper by the Lancet Commission on prostate cancer (PCa) , the projections of new cases of PCa will rise from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million by 2040.

Amino Acid Infusion for Kidney Protection in Cardiac Surgery Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Secondary Analysis of the PROTECTION Trial.

Background: In the PROTECTION trial, intravenous amino acids (AA) decreased the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cardiac surgery patients with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Recruitment of renal functional reserve may be responsible for such protection. However, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have diminished renal functional reserve, and AA may be less protective in such patients.

Clinico-pathological predictors of radiologic complete response to first-line anti-HER2 therapy in metastatic breast cancer.

This study aimed to identify the clinico-pathological variables predictive of radiologic complete response (rCR) to first-line anti-HER2 therapy in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Patients were selected from the database of the GIM14 study and classified according to the best radiologic response obtained to first-line anti-HER2 therapy and upon time-to-treatment-discontinuation (TTD). A total of 545 patients were included in the analysis.

Role of MR-proADM and Monocyte CD169 in Predicting In-Hospital and 60-Day Mortality in COVID-19 Patients.

Objectives: Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and monocyte CD169 (CD169) are valuable prognostic indicators of severe COVID-19.

Methods: We assessed the predictive ability of a single measurement of MR-proADM and CD169 at emergency department (ED) admission to forecast in-hospital and 60-day mortality in adult COVID-19 patients. We analyzed clinical and laboratory data, with in-hospital mortality as the primary endpoint and 60-day mortality as the secondary endpoint.

The Role of the Endometrial Microbiota in Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

: Endometrial cancer is currently the sixth most frequent cancer in women, and scientific research is focusing on the search for particular features of the endometrium that may explain a further predisposition to the onset of endometrial cancer, aimed at improving knowledge of the pathogenetic factors of this disease. The aim of our review is to analyze in detail the results of the literature on the endometrial microbiota in patients with endometrial cancer and to investigate its role. : We performed our research on the Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases.

Capsular Contracture After Breast Augmentation: Our Approach to Prevent Reoccurrence with Combined Total Capsulectomy and Implantation of Motiva Ergonomix® Implants.

Background: Breast augmentation is the second most common aesthetic surgery worldwide. Capsular contracture, a prevalent complication which affects up to 30% of patients post-surgery, often leads to further necessary surgeries.

Objectives: This study investigates the effectiveness of total capsulectomy combined with Motiva Ergonomix® implant replacement in resolving capsular contracture and minimizing recurrence rates.

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).

Clinical manifestations, imaging and treatment of Sjögren's disease: one year in review 2024.

Sjögren's disease is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterised by hyperactivation of B-cells and cytokine production. The condition may evolve from an asymptomatic, indolent course, with glandular involvement, to several extra-glandular systemic manifestations up to lymphoma development. Recent efforts have been undertaken to identify patient phenotypes at risk of developing specific extraglandular manifestations in order to improve patient management.

Sjögren's disease and systemic lupus erythematosus overlap syndrome as distinct entity at crossroads of two autoimmune disorders: clinical characterisation from two Italian reference centres for both the diseases.

Objectives: To characterise the overlap syndrome between Sjögren's disease (SjD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Consecutive patients clinically defined as affected by SjD and SLE overlap syndrome (SjD-SLE), belonging to two Italian rheumatology centres were classified following the application of both the SjD and SLE classification criteria. Clinical, functional, ultrasound and histological data were compared with patients suffering from only SjD or SLE.

Arthralgia and Extraintestinal Manifestations in Crohn's Disease Elevate the Risk of IBD-Related Arthritis over Sacroiliitis.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) related arthritis is the most prevalent extraintestinal manifestation (EIM) of IBD, ranging between 10 and 39%. Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) is used to assess small bowel disease involvement in Crohn's disease (CD) and can detect signs of sacroiliitis in up to 23.5% of patients.

Primary cutaneous CD4 small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder nodule successfully treated with laser Co ablation: a case report and literature review.

This case report describes an 83-year-old patient with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer who presented with a violaceous, painless nodule on the neck. Dermoscopic examination and subsequent biopsy revealed a Small/Medium CD4 T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (SMPLPD) of the skin. Although excision was initially recommended, the patient opted for treatment with CO laser ablation.

Role of lymphadenectomy in advanced-stage ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: Epithelial Ovarian Cancer is one of the most lethal cancers among gynecologic malignancies. The disease metastasizes mainly through the peritoneal spread in the abdomen and through the lymphatic system. Lymph node involvement is present in 48% up to 75% of cases of advanced-stage ovarian cancer (ASOC).

Development and Validation of Prognostic Model for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients Treated With First-Line Abiraterone or Enzalutamide.

Introduction: Over the years, several prognostic models were developed in patients receiving chemotherapy for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), while data on androgen-receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI) in a real-world setting are limited.

Patients And Methods: We compared a consecutive series of 565 mCRPC patients receiving first-line ARSI at 4 high-volume Italian Centers (development set) to an external series of 180 patients receiving the same treatment at another Italian high-volume Center (training set), between 2011 and 2022. Sixteen clinical and baseline laboratory variables were selected to develop a prognostic model.

Update on the diagnosis and treatment of pericardial diseases: a position paper of the Italian Society of Cardiology in collaboration with the study group on cardiomyopathies and pericardial diseases.

The knowledge of pericardial diseases has now improved, including prospective and retrospective cohort studies focusing on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. The complex interplay between genetic predisposition (especially for autoinflammatory conditions), inflammation, and autoimmunity is now known to trigger recurrences of pericarditis. Moreover, diagnostic capabilities have improved with the implementation of multimodality imaging, particularly cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), to detect and monitor pericardial inflammation, to allow diagnosis in more complicated cases, and tailor the duration of therapy based on objective parameters.