Panminerva medica最新文献

Background: Sustainability in medicine is gaining increasing importance. In interventional pulmonology only few studies demonstrated the impact of mechanisms involved in CO2 equivalent production; moreover, operators' sensitivity to sustainability and each center's recycling processes are highly variable. We conducted a national survey among interventional pulmonologists on perception of sustainability resulting from their work, and how endoscopic activity impacts the production of recyclable material.

Methods: A 26-item questionnaire was sent to each AIPO member registered in the interventional pulmonology study group. Items were divided in four topics: demographic data, perception of the problem, measures in place to improve sustainability and potentially feasible measure to improve the problem.

Results: We obtained a 16.2% response rate and majority of participants work in high volume centers. Climate change was perceived as an important problem but responders though that physicians are few involved mainly due to lack of awareness of the problem. Recycling programs are widely available with differentiation between recyclable and potentially contaminated material. The disposable bronchoscopes use was perceived to increase carbon footprint. Most critical interventions to improve sustainability suggested were: optimization of separate waste collection, instrument reprocessing procedures, adherence to guidelines to reduce unnecessary procedures and improving staff awareness. Most participants believed that scientific societies should establish a working group on climate change.

Conclusions: The sustainability of daily activity in interventional pulmonology is a cause for concern among interventional pulmonologists while the lack of awareness remains the main reason for the poor perception of the problem; sustainability represents a need and an opportunity for interventional pulmonologists to align with other disciplines, but this concept can also be extended to all areas of pneumology.

With the formal designation of obesity as a primary disease process, early detection of its end-organ consequences and the prognostication of long-term risk will become an important aspect of its clinical management. Obesity is increasingly recognized as a treatable risk factor for chronic kidney disease. However, profiling of kidney health and estimation of renal risk remain relatively underemphasized in obesity and nephrology care guidelines. The establishment of clinical protocols that facilitate the detection of early-stage renal impairment in obesity and incorporate profiling of an individual's risk of progression, could help guide strategies to break the causal association between obesity and chronic kidney disease. Currently, checks on kidney health in patients with obesity are prompted due to the presence of obesity complications such as cardiovascular and/or metabolic disease and routine screening relies upon the use of estimated glomerular filtration rate equations. Ample evidence exists to demonstrate that these equations are of limited utility in the setting of excess body weight and intentional weight loss. The present article presents the case that an expanded model of renal risk profiling should be developed for obesity medicine, suggesting feasible means of incorporating important risk factors and biomarker profiling alongside a more targeted assessment of directly measured GFR and renal functional reserve in at risk patients. The development of such a model or variation thereof should be prioritized to guide the targeted deployment of obesity treatments with proven reno-protective effects.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with multiple subtypes including classical mantle cell lymphoma (cMCL), the leukemic variant of mantle cell lymphoma (LV-MCL), and in situ mantle cell neoplasia (ISMCN). Their clinical presentations differ significantly and range from indolent to very aggressive. The defining genetic feature and chief oncogenic mechanism of MCL involves the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation, which results in a fusion of the gene that encodes cyclin D1 (CCND1) and the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGH). As a result of significant variation between subtypes, treatment approaches and prognoses of this disease vary drastically. Current treatment options for MCL range from observation to conventional chemotherapy with or without subsequent stem cell transplantation, to targeted immunotherapies against key molecular targets. The role of stem cell transplant has become more debatable for frontline consolidation therapy. Earlier incorporation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors is being strongly considered for frontline therapy. Chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR-T) therapies have become established treatment options for relapsed/refractory disease. Ongoing frontiers involve optimal management of TP53 mutated MCL and those relapsing with CNS involvement. Novel therapeutic approaches including the development of non-covalent BTK inhibitors and bispecific antibody therapy carry significant promise to further improve outcomes across all subtypes of this disease.

Acute pain is a common symptom experienced by all children. Pain may be due to different causes, but inflammatory pain is the most common. In addition, infectious diseases are characterized by an inflammatory reaction. As a result, inflammatory pain, including pain associated with infections, should be preferably relieved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In this regard, ketoprofen and ketoprofen lysine salt represent a valuable option also in children with mild-moderate acute pain. This paper presents and discusses the comparative studies between ketoprofen or KLS and other analgesics, mainly concerning ibuprofen and acetaminophen. The results showed that ketoprofen and KLS are an effective, safe, and rapid strategy in relieving mild-moderate acute pain in children.

Fever usually is a physiological response to infectious/inflammatory acute events. Namely, fever has positive benefits contrasting noxious agents. However, when fever causes discomfort, it is better to relieve symptoms associated to fever. Antipyretics mainly are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen. The NSAIDs class includes many molecules. The most used NSAID to relieve fever is ibuprofen. However, ketoprofen also provides interesting pharmacological characteristics. In particular, salifying ketoprofen with lysine, such as ketoprofen lysine salt (KLS), provides a better and quicker absorption then acid ketoprofen and reduces side effects. The present paper considers the comparative pediatric studies between ketoprofen or KLS and other antipyretics, mainly concerning ibuprofen and acetaminophen. The results showed that ketoprofen and KLS are valuable option in managing children with fever.

Background: Prompt reperfusion is critical for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to improve outcomes. Yet, variability in regional healthcare delivery may influence treatment times and patient outcomes. We thus aimed at evaluating differences in management and outcomes of STEMI patients across Northern, Central, and Southern Italy, focusing on time-dependent reperfusion and in-hospital logistics.

Methods: A prospective observational study conducted from September 1^st to 25^th, 2023, including 554 STEMI patients treated at high-volume hub centers operating 24/7. Data were collected through structured surveys completed by catheterization laboratory directors across different Italian regions. Primary outcomes included door-to-balloon (DTB) time, time from symptom onset to balloon inflation, and regional disparities in pre- and post-PCI management. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, discharge destinations, and medication regimens.

Results: The median DTB time was consistent across regions (30 minutes; IQR: 20-50 minutes). Significant regional disparities were however noted in time from symptom onset to balloon inflation, with Southern and Island regions experiencing longer median times (180 minutes) compared to Central (170 minutes) and Northern (154 minutes) regions (P<0.01). We also found a significant reduction in DTB time associated with ECG teletransmission from ambulances (mean reduction of 25 minutes, P=0.03). In-hospital mortality rates were similar across regions (P=0.83).

Conclusions: This comprehensive nationwide analysis highlights significant regional disparities in the management and treatment timelines of STEMI patients in Italy. Despite these differences, in-hospital care was consistently timely across regions, suggesting that pre-hospital logistics critically influence overall treatment times. Enhanced pre-hospital ECG teletransmission could further optimize reperfusion times, potentially improving patient outcomes.

Introduction: Despite advancement of therapeutic approaches to recurrent pericarditis, it poses notable challenges to its' management. As per the current guidelines, colchicine is the first line therapy, although, non-conventional treatments like interleukin-1 (IL-1) antagonists (rilonacept, anakinra, goflikicept) are progressively utilized for refractory cases.

Evidence acquisition: A comprehensive electronic search identified relevant literature across multiple databases, focusing on recurrence rates and adverse effects associated with each treatment regimen.

Evidence synthesis: Eleven studies (6 on colchicine, 5 on IL-1 antagonists) involving 1053 patients were included. Colchicine significantly reduced recurrence risk by 63% (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.27-0.52). IL-1 antagonists demonstrated superior efficacy: anakinra reduced recurrence by 98% (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.01-0.07), rilonacept by 98% (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.01-0.07), and goflikicept by 99% (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00-0.05). Adverse effects were comparable between colchicine and IL-1 antagonists except for rilonacept, which showed a higher risk (OR 5.70, 95% CI 2.13-15.27).

Conclusions: IL-1 antagonists significantly reduce recurrent pericarditis episodes compared to colchicine, with anakinra, rilonacept, and goflikicept demonstrating high efficacy and acceptable safety profiles. These findings support their consideration as alternative therapies in colchicine-refractory cases of recurrent pericarditis. Further studies are warranted to refine treatment guidelines and optimize patient outcomes.

Background: The finding of mutations that activate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in people with lung adenocarcinoma resulted in the creation of a new class of biological treatments called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). These medications have changed how patients with EGFR mutations are clinically managed, nearly doubling their survival rate compared to standard chemotherapy. Though 1st and 2nd generation EGFR TKIs are initially highly effective, typically within 9-14 months all tumors with the mutation progress due to secondary resistance mutations involving alternative molecular pathways. In most cases (up to 60%), this is due to the T790M mutation emerging in the EGFR gene.

Methods: The study included 85 patients with NSCLC with progression of the disease after treatment with TKI 1st and 2nd generation. The T790M mutation was determined by digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the QIAcuity One 5plex digital PCR system and traditional real-time PCR. Real-time PCR analysis of the presence of the T790M mutation was performed using the Therascreen EGFR Plasma RGQ PCR Kit (Qiagen). Using a digital PCR system in QIAcuity One (Qiagen) nanoplanets, the T790M mutation was analysed by digital PCR. The age of the patients ranged from 37 to 85 years.

Results: Of 85 patients with NSCLC with disease progression after TKI treatment, T790M mutations were detected during digital PCR in 30 of 85 patients, which is 35.2% of the sample, and with traditional real-time PCR, positive mutations came out only in 3 out of 85 patients.

Conclusions: Thus, completed study can assert that digital PCR is able to replace traditional real-time PCR as a more preferable method of high-performance quantitative determination of target nucleic acids and has a relatively high sensitivity without compromising high specificity. Results of this research also show that a liquid biopsy using digital PCR provides an opportunity to avoid repeated tissue biopsy in patients who cannot provide a tumor tissue sample suitable for molecular analysis.