0000000001080475
AUTHOR
F. Orlandi
Simplified first-trimester fetal cardiac screening (four chamber view and ventricular outflow tracts) in a low-risk population
Objectives Our aim was to assess the accuracy of a simplified fetal cardiac study, inclusive of four-chamber view (4CV) and ventricular outflow tracts, performed during the 11–14 week screening by well-trained obstetricians to detect congenital heart diseases (CHDs). Methods A transabdominal ultrasound was performed on 4820 singleton pregnant women at 11–14 weeks to visualize the visceral site, the 4CV, and the outflow tracts. Neonatal outcomes were recorded 6 and 12 months after birth. Results Among the 4820 patients reviewed, 790 were excluded because of loss at prenatal or postnatal follow-up (649 cases), or inability to obtain adequate first-trimester sonographic cardiac evaluation (141…
RANDOMIZED PHASE II STUDY OF FIRST-LINE EVEROLIMUS (EVE) + BEVACIZUMAB (BEV) VERSUS INTERFERON ALFA-2A (IFN) + BEV IN PATIENTS (PTS) WITH METASTATIC RENAL CELL CARCINOMA (MRCC): RECORD-2
ABSTRACT Background Study results demonstrated that IFN augments BEV activity and improves median PFS in pts with mRCC. Thus, combination BEV + IFN is a standard first-line treatment option for mRCC. Combining BEV with the mTOR inhibitor EVE may be an efficacious and well-tolerated treatment option. The open-label, phase II RECORD-2 trial compared first-line EVE + BEV and IFN + BEV in mRCC. Patients and methods: Therapy-naive pts with clear cell mRCC and prior nephrectomy were randomized 1:1 to BEV 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks with either EVE 10 mg oral daily or IFN (9 MIU SC 3 times/week, if tolerated). Tumour assessments were every 12 weeks. Primary objective was treatment effect on progress…
Band filling effect on polaron localization in La$_{1-x}($Ca$_y$Sr$_{1-y}$)$_{x}$MnO$_3$ manganites
We report on an a $\mu$SR and $^{55}$Mn NMR investigation of the magnetic order parameter as a function of temperature in the optimally doped La$_{5/8}$(Ca$_y$Sr$_{1-y}$)$_{3/8}$MnO$_3$ and in the underdoped La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$MnO$_3$ and La$_{1-x}$Ca$_{x}$MnO$_3$ metallic manganite families. The study is aimed at unraveling the effect of lattice distortions, implicitly controlled by the Ca-Sr isoelectronic substitution, from that of hole doping $x$ on the Curie temperature $T_c$ and the order of the magnetic transition. At optimal doping, the transitions are second order at all $y$ values, including the $y=1$ (La$_{5/8}$Ca$_{3/8}$MnO$_3$) end member. In contrast, they are first order in the…
Assessment of the awareness and management of sleep apnea syndrome in acromegaly. The COM.E.TA (Comorbidities Evaluation and Treatment in Acromegaly) Italian Study Group
In 2007 the Italian COM.E.T.A. (COMorbidities Evaluation and Treatment in Acromegaly) study group started to assess the application in a clinical setting of the Versailles criteria for management of acromegaly complications by a first questionnaire focusing on cardiovascular co-morbidities. A further questionnaire on sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) was delivered by the COM.E.T.A. study group to 107 endocrine centers in Italy. The results of our survey suggest that SAS is a well-known comorbidity even if its estimated prevalence is lower than in the literature. Polysomnography is the preferred tool for diagnosis. Control of SAS is considered relevant both for quality of life and co-morbidities. C…