Cranial structure and condylar asymmetry of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The aim of this prospective cross sectional study was to evaluate the cranial structure and condylar asymmetry of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed after 25 years of age compared to a healthy adult control group.

Methods: Eighteen adult patients (57.4 ± 11.

Prevalence of asystole during tilt test-induced vasovagal syncope may depend on test methodology.

This review addresses tilt-testing methodology by searching the literature which reports timing of asystole and loss of consciousness (LOC). Despite the Italian protocol being the most widely adopted, its stipulations are not always followed to the letter of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. The discrepancies permit reassessment of the incidence of asystole when tilt-down is early, impending syncope, compared with late, established LOC.

Acquired methemoglobinemia in children presenting to Italian pediatric emergency departments: a multicenter report.

Introduction: Methemoglobinemia (MetHb) is a rare inherited or acquired cause of cyanosis in children. Owing to its rarity, case reports and case series are mostly available in the current literature. This study reports data on a large sample of children with acquired MetHb.

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients with Hyperglycemia: Effects of Intravenous Adenosine.

Background: Admission hyperglycemia is common in subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Reperfusion therapy with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) represents the leading therapeutic choice, in particular in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Despite this, mortality, re-hospitalizations and complications remain a relevant problem.

Non Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Scheduled for Electrical Cardioversion: A Real-Life Propensity Score Matched Study.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing electrical cardioversion (EC).

Methods: A propensity score-matched analysis was performed in order to identify two homogeneous groups including AF patients on NOACs and VKAs treatment scheduled for EC. The primary safety endpoint was major bleeding.

A case report of a boy suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus and familial Mediterranean fever.

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus could be associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid disease, celiac disease, but the association with Familial Mediterranean Fever is rare, we describe a case of a boy with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus associated with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Case Presentation: A 13 year old boy already suffering from Diabetes Mellitus type 1 since the age of 4 years, came to our attention because of periodic fever associated with abdominal pain, chest pain and arthralgia. The fever appeared every 15-30 days with peaks that reached 40 °C and lasted 24-48 h.

Heart rate distribution in paced and non-paced patients with severe recurrent reflex syncope and tilt-induced asystole: Findings from the BIOSync CLS study.

Background: Undiagnosed sinus or atrioventricular node dysfunction may bias estimation of the real efficacy of cardiac pacing in preventing vasovagal reflex syncope. We assessed this hypothesis in the BIOSync CLS trial which showed that dual-chamber pacing with closed loop stimulation (CLS) remarkably reduced recurrences of syncope.

Methods And Results: In the study patients aged 40 years or older with ≥2 episodes of loss of consciousness in the last year and an asystolic response to Tilt-Table test were randomized to pacing ON (DDD-CLS mode) or pacing OFF (ODO mode).

Gastrointestinal Henoch-Schönlein purpura successfully treated with Mycophenolate Mofetil: Description of 2 case reports.

Rationale: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is an acute small vessel vasculitis. It is the most common vasculitis in children. In majority of the cases, the disease is self-limited.

Cardiac pacing in severe recurrent reflex syncope and tilt-induced asystole.

Aim: The benefit of cardiac pacing in patients with severe recurrent reflex syncope and asystole induced by tilt testing has not been established. The usefulness of tilt-table test to select candidates for cardiac pacing is controversial.

Methods And Results: We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years or older who had at least two episodes of unpredictable severe reflex syncope during the last year and a tilt-induced syncope with an asystolic pause longer than 3 s, to receive either an active (pacing ON; 63 patients) or an inactive (pacing OFF; 64 patients) dual-chamber pacemaker with closed loop stimulation (CLS).

Direct Current Cardioversion in Atrial Fibrillation Patients on Edoxaban Therapy Versus Vitamin K Antagonists: a Real-world Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to compare the long-term effectiveness and safety of newly initiated anticoagulation with edoxaban (EDO) versus uninterrupted vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) scheduled for transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)-guided direct electrical current cardioversion (DCC).

Methods: A propensity score-matched cohort observational study was performed comparing the safety and effectiveness of edoxaban versus well-controlled VKA therapy among a cohort of consecutive non-valvular AF patients scheduled for DCC. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding.

Clinical characteristics and genetic analyses of 187 patients with undefined autoinflammatory diseases.

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment response and genetic findings in a large cohort of patients with undefined systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAIDs).

Methods: Clinical and genetic data from patients with undefined SAIDs were extracted from the Eurofever registry, an international web-based registry that retrospectively collects clinical information on patients with autoinflammatory diseases.

Results: This study included 187 patients.

Clinical Performance of Apixaban vs. Vitamin K Antagonists in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Direct Electrical Current Cardioversion: A Prospective Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events.

Objectives: This study compared the long-term efficacy and safety of apixaban with that of uninterrupted vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy in patients with AF scheduled for transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)-guided direct current cardioversion (DCC) from June 2014 to September 2016.

Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients with persistent nonvalvular AF scheduled to undergo DCC.

Does cardiac pacing reduce syncopal recurrences in cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope patients selected with head-up tilt test? Analysis of a 5-year follow-up database.

Purpose: Benefit of cardiac pacing in patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS) and cardioinhibitory response to head-up tilt test (HUTT) is still debated. We aimed at retrospectively assessing the long-term effect of cardiac pacing in a cohort routinely followed in our institutions.

Methods And Results: From a cohort of 1502 patients who performed HUTT between 2008 and 2014, 181 (12%) patients had VASIS 2A (40) or 2B (141) response (median age 43 [interquartile range, 25-56] years, 59% male).

Effect of dual-chamber minimal ventricular pacing on paroxysmal atrial fibrillation incidence in myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients: A prospective, randomized, single-blind, crossover study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common finding in the myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) population. Pacemakers (PMs) may facilitate the diagnosis and management of frequent subclinical asymptomatic AF episodes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of minimal ventricular pacing on paroxysmal AF incidence in DM1 patients during a 24-month follow-up period.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: a case report.

Background: Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO), also known as chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis, is a rare, noninfectious inflammatory disorder that causes multifocal bone lesions with swelling and pain. Lytic and sclerotic bone lesions could be found on X-ray. Short tau inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (STIR MRI) shows bone marrow oedema, bone expansion, lytic areas and periosteal reaction.

Efficacy and safety of dabigatran in patients with atrial fibrillation scheduled for transoesophageal echocardiogram-guided direct electrical current cardioversion: a prospective propensity score-matched cohort study.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are predisposed to a hypercoagulable state and are at an increased risk for thromboembolic events when undergoing procedures. This study investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of newly initiated anticoagulation with dabigatran versus uninterrupted vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy in patients with AF scheduled for transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)-guided direct electrical current cardioversion (DCC). Consecutive adult patients with persistent AF scheduled to undergo DCC were included in the study.