Genotypic groups as risk factors for cardiac magnetic resonance abnormalities and complications in thalassemia major: a large, multicentre study.

Background: The causes and effects of genotypic heterogeneity in beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) have not been fully investigated. The aim of this multicentre study was to determine whether different genotype groups could predict the development of cardiovascular magnetic resonance abnormalities and cardiac complications.

Materials And Methods: We considered 708 β-TM patients (373 females, age 30.

Noninvasive respiratory support in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure associated with COVID-19 and other viral infections.

Introduction: Noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) such as noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and high flow nasal therapy (HFNT) have been used in the treatment of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other viral infections. However, there is a lack of consensus in favor of or against NRS use due to the risks of worsening hypoxemia, intubation delay, and aerosols environmental contamination associated with the use of these tools. We aimed to summarize the evidence on the use of NRS in adult patients with COVID-19 and other viral pneumonia (i.

Uveal Melanoma Cells Elicit Retinal Pericyte Phenotypical and Biochemical Changes in an in Vitro Model of Coculture.

Vascular pericytes are an important cellular component in the tumor microenvironment, however, their role in supporting cancer invasion is poorly understood. We hypothesized that PDGF-BB could be involved in the transition of human retinal pericytes (HRPC) in cancer-activated fibroblasts (CAF), induced by the 92.1 uveal melanoma (UM) cell line.

Coverage of the requirements of first and second level stroke unit in Italy.

Background And Aim: In the scientific literature, there is unanimous consensus that hospitalization in stroke unit (SU) is the most important treatment for stroke patients. In this regard, the Act number 70/2015 by the Italian government identified specific skills that contribute to a classification of SU and outlined a "hub and spoke" stroke network. The aim of our study was to check the coverage of requirements of first and second level SU in the national territory and to shed light on any deficit or misdistribution of resources.

Nasal microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is defined as an inflammatory disorder of the paranasal sinuses and of the nasal mucosa that lasts 12 weeks or longer. In CRS microbes contribute to the disease pathogenesis. Clinical microbiology is focused on finding single pathogens that causes the disease and the main goal is the use of antibiotics to kill bacteria.

Ventilation, oxidative stress and risk of brain injury in preterm newborn.

Preterm infants have an increased risk of cognitive and behavioral deficits and cerebral palsy compared to term born babies. Especially before 32 weeks of gestation, infants may require respiratory support, but at the same time, ventilation is known to induce oxidative stress, increasing the risk of brain injury. Ventilation may cause brain damage through two pathways: localized cerebral inflammatory response and hemodynamic instability.

Systolic-dicrotic notch pressure difference can identify tachycardic patients with septic shock at risk of cardiovascular decompensation following pharmacological heart rate reduction.

Background: During sepsis, heart rate (HR) reduction could be a therapeutic target, but identification of responders (non-compensatory tachycardia) and non-responders (compensatory for 'fixed' stroke volume [SV]) is challenging. We tested the ability of the difference between systolic and dicrotic pressure (SDP), which reflects the coupling between myocardial contractility and a given afterload, in discriminating the origin of tachycardia.

Methods: In this post hoc analysis of 45 patients with septic shock with persistent tachycardia, we characterised features of haemodynamic response focusing on SDP, classifying patients according to variations in arterial dP/dt after 4 h of esmolol administration to maintain HR <95 beats min.

Dysarthria and stroke. The effectiveness of speech rehabilitation. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the studies.

Introduction: Speech difficulties, such as dysarthria or aphasia, in addition to motor impairments are frequently seen in post-stroke patients.

Evidence Acquisition: Literature searches with the keywords: "stroke" and "dysarthria" and "diagnosis" and "stroke" and "dysarthria" and "assessment" were conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to perform the systematic review about the methods used to measure the severity of dysarthria in subjects post-stroke. The search was performed by two authors from 15 January to 22 February 2020.

Anticoagulation after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Current Status.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the standard of care for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Antithrombotic therapy is required after TAVI to prevent thrombotic complications but it increases the risk of bleeding events. Current clinical guidelines are mostly driven by expert opinion and therefore yield low-grade recommendations.

An Italian registry of chest pain patients in the emergency department: clinical predictors of acute coronary syndrome.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the population of patients arriving in several Italian Emergency Departments (EDs) complaining of chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in order to evaluate the incidence of ACS in this cohort and the association between ACS and different clinical parameters and risk factors.

Methods: This is an observational prospective study, conducted from the 1st January to the 31st December 2014 in 11 EDs in Italy. Patients presenting to ED with chest pain, suggestive of ACS, were consecutively enrolled.

Systematic review and literature appraisal on methodology of conducting and reporting critical-care echocardiography studies: a report from the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine PRICES expert panel.

Background: The echocardiography working group of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine recognized the need to provide structured guidance for future CCE research methodology and reporting based on a systematic appraisal of the current literature. Here is reported this systematic appraisal.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review, registered on the Prospero database.

Effectiveness of Adalimumab for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis: An Italian Real-Life Retrospective Study.

Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of adalimumab in the real-life setting in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). To evaluate the 2-year retention rate of adalimumab in PsA patients. Potential baseline parameters influencing persistence on treatment were also evaluated.

Early onset retinal dystrophies: clinical clues to diagnosis for pediatricians.

Introduction: Inherited retinal dystrophies are major cause of severe progressive vision loss in children. Early recognition and diagnosis are essential for timely visual rehabilitation during the appropriate stages of the visual development, as well as for genetic diagnosis and possible gene therapy. The aim of this study is to characterize a pattern of the initial visual symptoms, which could help the pediatricians and the primary care providers to suspect an inherited retinal disorder in its early stage.

Implant of ATOMS® system for the treatment of postoperative male stress urinary incontinence: an Italian multicentric study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of the ATOMS system for the treatment of postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods: We included all consecutive male patients referring for postoperative SUI and treated with ATOMS system from June 2013 to July 2017. Patients received anamnesis, 24 h Pad Test, Pad count, physical examination, urodynamic evaluation, ICIQ-UI SF questionnaire.

Cerebral White Matter Lesions and Dysmorphisms: Signs Suggestive of 6p25 Deletion Syndrome-Literature Review.

Deletion of the region including chromosome 6p25 has been defined as a syndrome, with more than 68 reported cases. Individuals affected by the syndrome exhibit variable findings, including developmental delay and intellectual disability, cardiac anomalies, dysmorphic features, and-less commonly-skeletal and renal malformations. Ocular and hearing abnormalities are the most notable presenting features.

Emergency management in patients with haemophilia A and inhibitors on prophylaxis with emicizumab: AICE practical guidance in collaboration with SIBioC, SIMEU, SIMEUP, SIPMeL and SISET.

Emicizumab has been approved in several countries for regular prophylaxis in patients with congenital haemophilia A and FVIII inhibitors because it substantially reduces their bleeding risk and improves quality of life. However, although significantly less frequent, some breakthrough bleeds may still occur while on emicizumab, requiring treatment with bypassing or other haemostatic agents. Thrombotic complications have been reported with the associated use of activated prothrombin complex concentrates.

Intraoperative computed tomography, navigated ultrasound, 5-amino-levulinic acid fluorescence and neuromonitoring in brain tumor surgery: overtreatment or useful tool combination?

Background: Brain tumor surgery is routinely supported by several intraoperative techniques, such as fluorescence, brain mapping and neuronavigation, which are often used independently. Efficacy of navigation is limited by the brain-shift phenomenon, particularly in cases of large or deep-sited lesions. Intraoperative imaging was introduced also to update neuronavigation data, to try and solve the brain-shift phenomenon-related pitfalls and increase overall safety.

SOFA Score prognostic performance among patients admitted to High-Dependency Units.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess prognostic stratification in patients admitted in two Italian Emergency-Department High-Dependency Units (ED-HDU).

Methods: From June 2014, to July 2016, we recorded all patients admitted in the ED-HDU of the Careggi University Hospital and the Vittorio Emanuele University Hospital in a standardized database. Charlson Index and SOFA Score were calculated to evaluate comorbidity burden and severity of organ dysfunction.

Molecular Mechanism Involved in the Pathogenesis of Early-Onset Epileptic Encephalopathy.

Recent studies have shown that neurologic inflammation may both precipitate and sustain seizures, suggesting that inflammation may be involved not only in epileptogenesis but also in determining the drug-resistant profile. Extensive literature data during these last years have identified a number of inflammatory markers involved in these processes of "neuroimmunoinflammation" in epilepsy, with key roles for pro-inflammatory cytokines such as: IL-6, IL-17 and IL-17 Receptor (IL-17R) axis, Tumor-Necrosis-Factor Alpha (TNF-α) and Transforming-Growth-Factor Beta (TGF-β), all responsible for the induction of processes of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and inflammation of the Central Nervous System (CNS) itself. Nevertheless, many of these inflammatory biomarkers have also been implicated in the pathophysiologic process of other neurological diseases.

Virtual Orthodontic Surgical Planning to Improve the Accuracy of the Surgery-First Approach: A Prospective Evaluation.

Purpose: We developed an innovative computer-assisted method to increase the accuracy of the surgery-first (SF) approach by linking the virtual orthodontic planning (VOP) with the virtual surgical planning (VSP).

Materials And Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients were enrolled from 2013 to 2015. All 15 patients had initially undergone cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT; 15 × 15 field-of-view) and intraoral digital scanning of the dental arches.

Correction to: A decade of progress in critical care echocardiography: a narrative review.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.

Preterm birth: seven-year retrospective study in a single centre population.

Background: Preterm birth is a health and social problem, considered the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. It is associated with higher rates of neurodevelopmental morbidity, sensorineural impairments and other complications. The aim of the study was to describe the incidence and the major risk factors associated with preterm birth.