Long-term efficacy (at and beyond 1 year) of gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy for refractory gastroparesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Although gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) has shown substantial efficacy in patients with medically refractory gastroparesis (GP), comprehensive long-term data on its effectiveness are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis including observational studies assessing long-term efficacy after G-POEM in patients with refractory GP. Our primary outcome was the pooled rate of clinical success 1-year after G-POEM.

Topographical Quantification of Retinal Fluid in Type 3 MNV and Associations With Short-Term Visual Outcomes.

Purpose: This study aims to quantify the volume of intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF), and subretinal pigment epithelium (sub-RPE) fluid in treatment-naïve Type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV) eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to investigate the correlation of these fluid volumes with visual acuity (VA) outcomes at baseline and following antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment.

Design: Retrospective, clinical cohort study.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed patients diagnosed with exudative AMD and treatment-naïve Type 3 MNV undergoing a loading dose of anti-VEGF therapy.

Pembrolizumab plus either epacadostat or placebo for cisplatin-ineligible urothelial carcinoma: results from the ECHO-307/KEYNOTE-672 study.

Background: Indoleamine 2,3- dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is an immunosuppressive enzyme that has been correlated with shorter disease-specific survival in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC). IDO1 may counteract the antitumor effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Epacadostat is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of IDO1.

Contrast enhanced photoacoustic detection of fibrillar collagen in the near infrared region-I.

Fibrillar collagen accumulation emerges as a promising biomarker in several diseases, such as desmoplastic tumors and unstable atherosclerotic plaque. Gold nanorods (GNRs) hold great potential as contrast agents in high-resolution, biomedically safe, and non-invasive photoacoustic imaging (PAI). This study presents the design and characterization of a specialized imaging tool which exploits GNR assisted targeted photoacoustic imaging that is tailored for the identification of fibrillar collagen.

Impact on Outcome of Different Mechanisms, Baseline Degree and Changes of Mitral Regurgitation in Patients With Aortic Stenosis Who Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is frequent in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Although primary MR is an established negative prognostic factor, whether different mechanisms of MR have different effects on outcome is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the MR mechanism in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Structural OCT and OCT angiography biomarkers associated with the development and progression of geographic atrophy in AMD.

Background: Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced, irreversible, and progressive form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) have been largely used to characterize this stage of AMD and, more importantly, to define biomarkers associated with the development and progression of GA in AMD.

Methods: Articles pertaining to OCT and OCTA biomarkers related to the development and progression of GA with relevant key words were used to search in PubMed, Researchgate, and Google Scholar.

Horizontal GBR with anorganic equine bone combined with a customized titanium mesh.

This case report describes the fixed rehabilitation of the lower left arch in a patient following an horizontal GBR procedure by means of a customized titanium mesh and a new slow resorption bone substitute of equine origin.

Retinal OCT biomarkers associated with reading performance in patients with persistent vs. resolved diabetic macular edema.

Background: Recent advancements in imaging technologies, particularly structural optical coherence tomography (OCT), have improved the understanding of diabetic macular edema (DME) pathophysiology and provided valuable biomarkers for disease progression and visual outcomes. This prospective study aimed to investigate the association between specific retinal biomarkers identified through OCT imaging and reading performance metrics in patients with previously treated persistent versus resolved DME and good visual acuity.

Methods: Forty-nine eyes from 35 patients with a history of DME were enrolled.

Comparative Study on Anti-VEGF in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Setting Based on Lean Methodology from the Bari Intravitreal Injection Registry (BIVIR).

Introduction: Optimizing treatment protocols for wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is an ongoing challenge, as it involves a delicate balance between achieving therapeutic efficacy and minimizing invasive procedures' frequency. This study aimed to apply the Lean methodology and evaluate the effectiveness of this new setting on intravitreal therapy for wAMD, employing different anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) drugs (bevacizumab, brolucizumab, aflibercept, ranibizumab), drawing data from the Bari Intravitreal Injections Registry (BIVIR).

Methods: This was a retrospective, monocentric, nonrandomized, comparative study.

Real-world experience with fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Objectives: to evaluate long-term effectiveness and safety of fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) implant used as second-line treatment in patients with persistent diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: retrospective data chart review of 241 pseudophakic eyes of 178 patients treated with FAc from July 2017 to December 2021 in 10 medical retinal units in Italy. The primary endpoint was the change of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) at 2 years.

Cardiac Involvement in Patients With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults.

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in adults is a hyperinflammatory condition following (within 4-12 weeks) SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, the dysregulation of the immune system leads to a multiorgan involvement often affecting the heart. Cardiac involvement in multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in adults has been described mainly in young men without other comorbidities and may present with different clinical scenarios, including acute heart failure, life-threatening arrhythmias, pericarditis, and myocarditis, with a nonnegligible risk of mortality (up to 7% of all cases).

Subacute postoperative atrial fibrillation after heart surgery: Incidence and predictive factors in cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common arrhythmia following cardiac surgery (CS). It may occur between the 1st and the 4th postoperative day as acute POAF or between the 5th and the 30th as subacute (sPOAF). sPOAF is associated with higher thromboembolic risk, which consistently increase patients' morbidity.

Intravascular Imaging-Guided Versus Angiography-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

Background: Despite the initial evidence supporting the utility of intravascular imaging to guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), adoption remains low. Recent new trial data have become available. An updated study-level meta-analysis comparing intravascular imaging to angiography to guide PCI was performed.

Peripartum Cardiogenic Shock and Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Despite remarkable improvements in the past two decades, the annual cardiovascular mortality rate has remained higher for women than for men. Pregnant women represent an underinvestigated population in clinical research, and the mechanisms of long-term cardiovascular complications in women with obstetric complications remain to be elucidated. Regarding advanced heart failure during pregnancy, interventional approaches are effective but still underutilised.

INTERSESSION REPEATABILITY OF READING PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN PATIENTS WITH NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

Purpose: To assess the intersession repeatability of reading performance measures in patients with previously treated neovascular age-related macular degeneration and good best-corrected visual acuity (≥20/40 Snellen).

Methods: Ninety-one patients (91 eyes) with a diagnosis of previously treated neovascular age-related macular degeneration and good best-corrected visual acuity (≥20/40 Snellen) were prospectively enrolled. Reading performance metrics were assessed using Radner charts, and these measurements were repeated after 7 days to obtain the intersession repeatability.

Congenital solitary kidney in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: Where do known genes end and the unknown begin?

We present the case of a 41-year-old man patient diagnosed with solitary left kidney with few cysts. He has a family history of unilateral renal agenesis (URA) but no for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Genetic testing revealed PKD1 gene intron 11 heterozygous nucleotide variant c.

Choroidal Hyper-Reflective Foci in Geographic Atrophy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the presence of choroidal hyper-reflective foci (HRF) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with geographic atrophy (GA). The relationship between the presence and quantity of choroidal HRF and other clinical and imaging factors was also investigated.

Methods: A total of 40 participants (40 eyes) with GA and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were retrospectively analyzed.

Training and career opportunities for residencies in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine: results of a survey on 39 Italian schools.

Introduction: The Italian National Health Service (SSN) is currently grappling. with a complex situation, characterized by a persistent shortage of medical personnel and the divergent aspirations of young medical graduates. Additionally, recent regulatory developments concerning specialist training further contribute to the intricacies of the landscape, calling for a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities within the sector.