0000000000936574
AUTHOR
Marco Ventimiglia
Physicians’ Knowledge and Application of Immunization Strategies in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Survey of the Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
<b><i>Background:</i></b> No data on European countries about knowledge and application of immunization strategies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are available. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> We designed a questionnaire aimed at exploring these issues among Italian gastroenterologists dealing with adult and paediatric IBD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> An anonymous, 24-item, questionnaire was sent via e-mail to all members of the Italian Group for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Three sets of questions were formulated: (1) Characteristics of respondents; (2) General opinions on the role of vaccines in IB…
P717 Ustekinumab in Crohn’s disease: Real-world outcomes from the Sicilian Network for inflammatory bowel diseases (SN-IBD):–Preliminary results
Abstract Background Ustekinumab is approved in Europe for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease (CD) since 2016. Italian real-life data on efficacy and safety are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess effectiveness, safety and usage of Ustekinumab in an Italian cohort of patients. Methods Data of patients with moderate-to-severe CD who started Ustekinumab in Sicily were extracted from the database of the SN-IBD. Demographic data, disease-related data (disease duration, location, clinical activity) and previous therapies with biologics were collected. The primary study endpoints were steroid-free clinical remission and steroid-free clinical response at week 12, 24 and 52 …
A real life comparison of the effectiveness of adalimumab and golimumab in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, supported by propensity score analysis
Abstract Background Adalimumab and golimumab are effective in the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Aims We reported the comparative effectiveness of adalimumab and golimumab in ulcerative colitis. Methods 118 patients treated with adalimumab and 79 treated with golimumab were included and evaluated at 8 weeks and at the end of follow up. Results Overall clinical benefit was 72.6% at 8 weeks and 58.9% at the end of follow up. Patients with longer disease duration and those treated with adalimumab had a better outcome. Clinical benefit was 78.8% in adalimumab patients and 63.3% in golimumab patients (p = 0.026) after 8 weeks; it was 66.9% in adalimumab patients and 46.8% in…
Persistence on Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor Therapy in Older Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Compared with Younger Patients: Data from the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (SN-IBD)
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Older people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) appear to have a lower response to anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, with more frequent complications than younger patients. The objective of this study was to assess persistence on therapy and the safety of anti-TNF therapy in older patients (aged ≥ 60 years). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the database of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (SN-IBD), extracting data regarding IBD patients aged ≥ 60 years and controls < 60 years of age at their first course of anti-TNF treatment. Data concerning persistence on therapy over the first year of treatment (primary objective) together …
Effectiveness and safety of biologics in pediatric inflammatory boweldisease: Real-life data from the Sicilian Network
Background: Biological therapies have modified the disease course of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are routinely used in clinical practice. Our observational study aims to evaluate effectiveness and safety of biologics in IBD. Method: Clinical benefit and safety data of 93 children with IBD, receiving biologics (Infliximab – IFX, Adalimumab – ADA, Golimumab – GOL) from January 2013 to December 2017, were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network of IBD. Results: Among 87 children aged 7–17 years (63 Crohn's disease [CD], 24 Ulcerative colitis [UC]), 101 out of 108 biologic treatments were considered. Evaluation of 74 biologic treatments in CD patients at 26, 52, 104…
A 28.3 THz Plasmonic Graphene Arrow-bowtie Nanoantenna for Energy Harvesting
In this paper, the design of a 28.3 aor1 THz graphene arrow bowtie nanoantenna for IR energy harvesting applications astr is presented. A sensitivity analysis of the resonance frequency in terms of geometric parameters acty number of graphene sheets acny doping, and thickness of the substrate is reported. The simulations are carried out using the CST 2020 3D simulator.
Assessment of MOSFET switching losses in an LLC converter by a calorimetric method
The present work aims to implement a calorimetric method to measure the power dissipated during MOSFET switching in a high efficiency LLC resonant converter. The power dissipated from switching can significantly impact the total power dissipated by the device and consequent efficiency, so correct quantification is fundamental for optimizing the devices and increasing the efficiency of the converters. In LLC converters, this type of dissipated power cannot be measured with standard methods such as measurement with oscilloscopes as some of the energy that is recovered and not dissipated. The calorimetric method requires reasonably accurate measurement of thermal resistance and the temperature…
A Propensity Score-matched Comparison of Infliximab and Adalimumab in Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor-naïve and Non-naïve Patients with Crohn's Disease: Real-Life Data from the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Background and aims There is an unmet need to better understand the effectiveness of different biologics in inflammatory bowel diseases. We aimed at performing a multicentre, real-life comparison of the effectiveness of infliximab [IFX] and adalimumab [ADA] in Crohn's disease [CD]. Methods Data of consecutive patients with CD treated with IFX and ADA from January 2013 to May 2017 were extracted from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We used propensity score-matching accounting for the main baseline characteristics in TNF-α inhibitor-naive and non-naive patients. Results A total of 632 patients [735 total treatments] were included. Among naive patients, a cli…
The Addition of an Immunosuppressant After Loss of Response to Anti-TNFα Monotherapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 2-Year Study
Background The addition of an immunosuppressant (IM) after loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy is an emerging strategy of therapeutic optimization in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, few clinical data have been reported to date. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this selective combination therapy in patients with IBD. Methods All consecutive patients with loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy despite an intensive dose optimization who added an IM from October 2014 to October 2016 were entered into a prospective database. Results Among 630 patients treated with anti-TNFα agents during the study period, 46 (7.3%) added an IM. A total of 31 patie…
Non-Linear Inductors Characterization in Real Operating Conditions for Power Density Optimization in SMPS
The exploitation of power inductors outside their linear region in switching converters can be achieved by raising the current until a decreasing of the inductance can be noticed. It allows using a smaller magnetic core increasing the power density of the converter. On the other hand, a detailed description of the magnetization curve including the temperature is required. Since this information is often not included in the inductor’s datasheets, this paper shows how to identify the behavior of an inductor when it is operated up to saturation and its temperature rises. In order to characterize the inductor in real operating conditions, a dedicated measurement rig has been developed. It consi…
A Measurement System for Power Inductors in Non-Linear Operating Conditions
The exploitation of power inductors in switching converters outside the linear region requires detailed information on the magnetization curve that often is not included among those usually available on their datasheets. This paper proposes an automatic system in which the inductor is characterized in real operating conditions taking into account also the core temperature. It is based on a switching converter suitably controlled by a virtual instrument. The system was tested by retrieving the inductance vs current curves of two commercial inductors for core temperatures up to 105°C, showing the different behaviors of the magnetization curves. Results are coherent with data given by manufact…
Tolerability profile of thiopurines in inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective experience
The occurrence of thiopurine-related adverse events (AEs) may complicate the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to evaluate the tolerability of thiopurines in a current IBD setting.All consecutive patients who started a treatment with azathioprine (AZA) from January 2010 to March 2016 were entered in a prospectively maintained database, and the AEs which led to the permanent discontinuation of the drug were reported.Two hundred and fifty three patients were included. Median total follow-up was 32 months (range: 0.2-75 months). At the end of the study, AZA was discontinued in 160 patients (63.2%). The main reason leading to drug withdrawal was the occurren…