0000000000670800
AUTHOR
F. Galletti
Carotid plaque detection improves the predictve value of CHA2DS2-VASc score in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrilation: The ARAPACIS Study
Abstract Background and aims Vascular disease (VD), as assessed by history of myocardial infarction or peripheral artery disease or aortic plaque, increases stroke risk in atrial fibrillation (AF), and is a component of risk assessment using the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. We investigated if systemic atherosclerosis as detected by ultrasound carotid plaque (CP) could improve the predictive value of the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. Methods We analysed data from the ARAPACIS study, an observational study including 2027 Italian patients with non-valvular AF, in whom CP was detected using Doppler Ultrasonography. Results VD was reported in 351 (17.3%) patients while CP was detected in 16.6% patients. Ad…
MALIGNANT EXTERNAL OTITIS. A CASE SERIES FROM AN ITALIAN TERTIARY-CARE HOSPITAL
Objectives: Malignant external otitis (MEO) is an. aggressive and potentially fatal disease that affects the external. auditory canal (EAC) it occurs almost exclusively in elderly, diabetic patients or immune compromised ones. The aim of this study was to describe epidemiological and clinical characteristics of a consecutive series of patients affected by malignant external otitis (MEO) and to conceive a flow-chart for its management. Material and methods: Adult patients diagnosed with and treated for MEO at the University Hospital of Messina, Italy between 2003 and 2013 were identified. Charts were reviewed for history, clinical presentation, laboratory data treatment, and outcomes. Result…
Body balance and postural control in patients with dizziness
The ability to maintain body balance and postural control is regulated by a central integration process of afferent inputs received from peripheral sensory components such as the somatosensory, visual, and vestibular apparatus, which control the tonic postural system by modulating efferent information. It is widely recognized that stimuli from the visual and the vestibular systems provide information on the position of the head relative to the trunk and contribute to the orientation and the movement of the body in the environment. For these reasons, the vestibular system plays a key role in controlling body balance. Indeed, several studies have shown the presence of imbalance, postural inst…
Major adverse cardiovascular events in non-valvular atrial fibrillation with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the ARAPACIS study
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increases the risk of mortality in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. Data on the relationship of COPD to major cardiovascular events (MACE) in AF have not been defined. The aim of the study is to assess the predictive value of COPD on incident MACE in NVAF patients over a 3-year follow-up. In the Atrial Fibrillation Registry for Ankle-Brachial Index Prevalence Assessment-Collaborative Italian Study (ARAPACIS) cohort, we evaluate the impact of COPD on the following clinical endpoints: MACE (including vascular death, fatal/non-fatal MI and stroke/TIA), cardiovascular (CV) death and all-cause mortality. Among 2027 NVAF patients, pati…
Ewing sarcoma family of tumors: Causes, diagnosis and treatment
The Ewing's sarcoma Family of Tumors (EFT) includes classic Ewing's Sarcoma (ES) of bone, Extraskeletal Ewing's Sarcoma (EES) and malignant peripheral primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (pNET) of bone and soft tissue. ES is an aggressive tumor with a high incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis. The skeletal form is more common and typically occurs in the long bones of the extremities. The extra skeletal form occurs in the soft tissues of the lower extremities, paravertebral tissues, chest wall, retroperitoneum and rarely in the head and neck region in about 1-4% of cases. Involvement of the head and neck is usually identified in the nasal or oral cavities, sinuses or soft tissues…
Diagnosis and treatment of Ewing's Sarcoma of the tongue
The Ewing's sarcoma Family of Tumors (EFT) includes classic Ewing's Sarcoma (ES) of bone, Extraskeletal Ewing's Sarcoma (EES) and malignant peripheral primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (pNET) of bone and soft tissue. ES is an aggressive tumor with a high incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis. The skeletal form is more common and typically occurs in the long bones of the extremities. The extra skeletal form occurs in the soft tissues of the lower extremities, paravertebral tissues, chest wall, retroperitoneum and rarely in the head and neck region in about 1- 4% of cases. Involvement of the head and neck is usually identified in the nasal or oral cavities, sinuses or soft tissue…