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Palliative Sedation in Patients With Advanced Cancer Followed at Home: A Prospective Study

2014

Abstract Context Home care programs in Italy. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess a protocol for palliative sedation (PS) performed at home. Methods A total of 219 patients were prospectively assessed to evaluate a PS protocol in patients with advanced cancer followed at home by two home care programs with different territorial facilities. The protocol was based on stepwise administration of midazolam. Results A total of 176 of the patients died at home, and PS was performed in 24 of these patients (13.6%). Younger patients received the procedure more frequently than older patients (P = 0.012). The principal reasons to start PS were agitated delirium (n = 20) and dyspnea (n = 4).…

The Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Genetic Variant rs5068 Is Associated With a Favorable Cardiometabolic Phenotype in a Mediterranean Population

2013

OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that the minor allele of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) genetic variant rs5068 is associated with a favorable cardiometabolic phenotype in a general Mediterranean population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We genotyped a random sample of the residents of Ventimiglia di Sicilia, Sicily, for rs5068. RESULTS Genotype frequencies of rs5068 are AA, 93.5%; AG, 6.4%; and GG, 0.1%. All subsequent analyses are AA versus AG+GG. After adjusting for age and sex, the minor G allele is associated with lower BMI (estimate [SE]: −1.7 kg/m2 [0.8], P = 0.04). In the AG+GG group, males with HDL cholesterol levels <40 mg/dL are less frequent (P = 0.05) and obesity tends to …

New Tools for Embryo Selection: Comprehensive Chromosome Screening by Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization

2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) using array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). The study included 1420 CCS cycles for recurrent miscarriage (n=203); repetitive implantation failure (n=188); severe male factor (n=116); previous trisomic pregnancy (n=33); and advanced maternal age (n=880). CCS was performed in cycles with fresh oocytes and embryos (n=774); mixed cycles with fresh and vitrified oocytes (n=320); mixed cycles with fresh and vitrified day-2 embryos (n=235); and mixed cycles with fresh and vitrified day-3 embryos (n=91). Day-3 embryo biopsy was performed and analyzed by aCGH followed by day-5 embryo tran…

Management of chronic otitis by middle ear obliteration with blind sac closure of the external auditory canal.

2008

Objective: Description of a technique of middle ear obliteration (MEO) with blind sac closure of the external auditory canal with discussion of the indications for its use in cases of recalcitrant chronic otitis and in far advanced disease. Patients: All patients underwent otologic examination and audiologic and radiologic assessments in a quaternary center. Results: Fifty-three cases of MEO were analyzed. For 9 patients, primary surgery was performed. One case of residual disease was identified. The minimum follow-up was 2 years. Conclusion: The decision to perform a MEO is one that is made only rarely. However, this is a technique that should be part of every otologist`s armamentarium. Wh…

Relationships between 24 h blood pressure load and target organ damage in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.

2001

Objective: To analyse the relationships between 24 h blood pressure load (the percentage of systolic/diastolic blood pressures exceeding 140/90 mmHg while awake and 120/80 mmHg during sleep) and some indices of hypertensive target organ involvement, independently of the mean level of 24 h blood pressure. Methods: One hundred and thirty patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension underwent 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, ocular fundus examination, microalbuminuria assay and two-dimensional guided M-mode echocardiography. The study population was divided into subsets according to the systolic and diastolic 24 h blood pressure load values predicted from the regression equation relat…

Polymorphism insertion/deletion of the ACE gene and ambulatory blood pressure circadian variability in essential hypertension

2001

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to analyze the influence of the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme on ambulatory blood pressure values and circadian variability in untreated patients with hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety-nine essential hypertensive patients, less than 50 years old (mean age 39.5+/-7.0 years), previously untreated with antihypertensive drugs were included. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed with a Spacelabs (90202 and 90207) monitor, during a regular working day in unrestricted ambulatory conditions. The I/D polymorphism of the ACE was determined by PCR. RESULTS The dist…

Post-doctoral mentorship award : have you considered applying?

2017

Risk factors for locally advanced cancer associated with ulcerative colitis: Results of a retrospective multicentric study in the era of biologics

2020

Abstract Background Patients affected by ulcerative colitis (UC) are more likely to develop colorectal cancer, and are often diagnosed with lymph node involvement (N+) at surgery. Aim To identify the risk factors for N+ cancer in UC patients. Methods Patients undergoing surgery from 2001 to 2018 in six European tertiary centres were included. N+ patients were compared to the control group (N−) for clinical variables. The evaluation of risk factors for N+ was assessed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results A total of 130 patients were included. Median duration of disease was 21 years (1–52). Forty patients (30.8%) were N+ at surgery. Eighteen (13.8%) develop…

Integrating Downstaging in the Risk Assessment of Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: Validation…

2017

Abstract Background Adjuvant chemotherapy is controversial in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiation. Valentini et al developed 3 nomograms (VN) to predict outcomes in these patients. The neoadjuvant rectal score (NAR) was developed after VN to predict survival. We aimed to validate these tools in a retrospective cohort at an academic institution. Patients and Methods VN and the NAR were applied to 158 consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with chemoradiation followed by surgery. According to the score, they were divided into low, intermediate, or high risk of relapse or death. For statistical analysis, we performed Kaplan-M…

Effects of Pentoxifylline on Soluble Klotho Concentrations and Renal Tubular Cell Expression in Diabetic Kidney Disease

2018

OBJECTIVE The effect of pentoxifylline on Klotho levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with chronic kidney disease (CKD) was assessed in a post hoc analysis of the Pentoxifylline for Renoprotection in Diabetic Nephropathy (PREDIAN) trial. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Circulating and urinary tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Klotho were measured before and after 1 year of pentoxifylline. The effect on Klotho expression was assessed in cultured renal tubular cells. RESULTS Pentoxifylline administration resulted in decreased serum and urinary TNF-α, whereas serum and urinary Klotho increased significantly. Changes in urinary Klotho, urinary TNF-α, and phosphorus were associated wi…