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The aim of the work was to create a survey related to health questions to be distributed to associations active for trans* people's rights. 165 answers were obtained: among these, 45.6% are from trans* people and 31.3% from cisgender women. Different gender identifications are reported by trans* people who answered to the survey. Finally, among all the answers obtained, 71.3% have never received information about a gender-personalized medicine and 79.4% have never received informations about different therapeutic choices. From the comments collected in the survey's open field, three macro-themes emerged: disinformation, pathologization, and lack of economic resources. It is then necessary to break all prejudices to respect the right to health of trans* people, who are still invisible within health systems today.

The anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus with interarterial course is a rare but life-threatening coronary abnormality. Coronary computed tomography is crucial in identifying this disease whose treatment, based on coronary artery bypass grafting, is recommended in symptomatic patients but is more controversial in asymptomatic patients. The case report presented offers an opportunity to discuss the pathophysiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this congenital coronary artery disease.

Antibiotic resistance does not seem to be stopping despite international policies that have been aiming to combat this phenomenon for more than 10 years. The World health organization (Who) seeing the relentless growth of the issue has reiterated its recommendations that have been implemented at the national level. In fact, in Italy the new National plan against antibiotic-resistance 2022-2025 (Pncar 2022-2025) is in full operation. At Asl Napoli 3 Sud, which boasts a population of more than 1 million people, an analysis was carried out regarding antibiotic consumption in the first six months of 2022. The results showed consumption deviating from the regional and national average, thus suggesting that swift actions are needed to curb overprescription by physicians as much as possible. This work also aims to raise awareness among physicians and health care professionals of compliance with the requirements of regulatory agencies and scientific societies, so that a virtuous path toward a decisive change of pace can be taken.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown high morbidity and mortality and the relationship between pulmonary embolism (PE) and COVID-19 is well established in the literature., Methods: We describe the characteristics of a cohort of COVID-19 patients (EP-COV) hospitalized at our Centre with PE, investigating how COVID-19 may have influenced their outcomes, as compared to patients without COVID-19 hospitalized for PE in the same months of 2020 (EP-2020) and 2019 (EP-2019)., Results: EP-COV patients (n=25) were younger (60.5 ± 8.5 vs 71.4 ± 14.5 vs 70.9 ± 11.8 years, p=0.003), more frequently male (76% vs 48% vs 35%, p=0.016), with a lower history of neoplasia (12% vs 47% vs 40%, p=0.028) and more clinically severe (SOFA score 3.4 ± 1.4 vs 2.2 ± 1.4 vs 1 ± 1.1, p<0.001 and PaO2/FiO2 ratio 223.8 ± 75.5 vs 306.5 ± 49.3 vs 311.8 ± 107.5) than EP-2020 (n=17) and EP-2019 patients (n=20). D-dimer and C-reactive protein were higher in EP-COV (p=0.038 e p<0.001, respectively). The rate of concomitant deep vein thrombosis associated with PE did not differ significantly between the three groups. EP-COV patients developed PE more frequently during in-hospital stay than non-COVID-19 patients (p = 0.016). The mortality rate was higher in EP-COV than in EP-2020 and EP-2019 patients (36% vs 0% vs 5%, p=0.019)., Conclusions: In our study, the risk factors for PE in COVID-19 patients seem to differ from the traditional risk factors for venous thromboembolism; EP-COV patients are clinically more severe and display a higher mortality rate than EP-2020 and EP-2019 patients.

Takotsubo syndrome is a heart disease characterized by transient ventricular dysfunction; although it is considered a benign pathology, it is not free from serious complications. Intraventricular thrombosis is a rare occurrence as well as pericarditis, and the simultaneous presence of both complications is very exceptional. Here we describe a case. Diagnosis and therapeutic management was successfully guided by multimodality imaging.

The epidemic wave that hit Italy from February 21st, 2020, when the Italian National Institute of Health confirmed the first case of SARS‑CoV‑2 infection, led to a rapid and efficient reorganization of Dialysis Centers' activities, in order to contain large-scale spread of disease in this clinical setting. We herein report the experience of the Hemodialysis Unit of Parma University Hospital (Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Parma, Italy) and the Dialysis Centers of Parma territory, in the period from March 1st, 2020 to June 15, 2020. Among patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis, 37/283 (13%) had positive swabs for SARS‑CoV‑2, 9/37 (24%) died because of COVID-19. Twenty-three patients required hospitalization, while the remaining were managed at home. The primary measures applied to contain the infection were: the strengthening of personal protective equipment use by doctors and nurses, early identification of infected subjects by performing oro-pharyngeal swabs in every patient and in the healthcare personnel, the institution of a triage protocol when entering Dialysis Room, and finally the institution of two separate sections, managed by different doctors and dialysis nurses, to physically separate affected from unaffected patients and to manage "grey" patients. Our experience highlights the importance and effectiveness of afore-mentioned measures in order to contain the spread of the virus; moreover, we observed a higher lethality rate of COVID-19 in dialysis patients as compared to the general population., (Copyright by Società Italiana di Nefrologia SIN, Rome, Italy.)

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) syndrome is a rare congenital coronary artery anomaly. The development of acquired collateral circulation between the right coronary artery and the left coronary artery allows, sometimes, survival until adulthood. In our clinical practice, we came across an exceptional case for the advanced age, 75 years. Coronary computed tomography, associated with other imaging modalities, has played a crucial role in accurately defining the origin, the course and the connection of the coronary arteries.

Objectives: to compare the benefit of a personalised outpatient therapy prescribed upon discharge by the cardiology unit to the patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent or bare-metal stent vs. the usual practice., Design: controlled, multicentre, non-randomized study that enrolled patients who underwent coronary stent implantation and treated in the year after stent implantation with two protocols: the treatment group received Clopidogrel directly from the cardiology unit at each monitoring visit; the control group received a prescription for outpatient treatment through the standard retail pharmacy channel., Setting and Participants: the recruited centres adopting the new treatment protocol are Magenta, Legnano, and Rho (ASL Milano1, Magenta - Lombardy Region, Northern Italy), with 477 patients included; the recruited centres following for the standard protocol are Niguarda and San Carlo (ASL Milano), with 307 patients included. We identified all patients aged ≥40 years, discharged after coronary stent implantation between January 1st, 2010 and March 31st, 2011, and followed for 1 year., Main Outcome Measures: all coronary events, second coronary interventions or deaths in the year after hospital discharge., Results: we found differences between the two treatments in relation with coronary events: hazard ratio (HR) for the control group in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is 3.32 (95%CI 1.67- 6.62), HR in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is 2.44 (95%CI 1.07-5.57). The compliance at 1 year is 80% in the treated group vs. 70% in the control group, respectively (p-value <0.01)., Conclusions: the application of the therapeutic plan, governed by the interventional cardiology, increases treatment adherence and reduces the risk of cardiovascular events subsequent to the insertion of a stent. It is crucial, therefore, to improve the adherence to dual antiplatelet therapy by using high levels of integration between inpatient and outpatient care to reduce adverse health outcomes during post-surgery phase and to ensure the taking in charge of the patient.

Despite clear advances in reperfusion therapy and pharmacological treatment, a large proportion of patients with an acute myocardial infarction will die of its consequences. In this regard, it is very important to understand the molecular processes underpinning ischemia-reperfusion injury and occurrence of left ventricular dysfunction, with the aim to develop mechanism-based therapeutic strategies. Experimental evidence indicates that metformin, a biguanide often used in the treatment of diabetes, has favorable effects on left ventricular function. This effect is largely mediated by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key molecule orchestrating many biochemical processes such as glucose uptake, glycolysis, oxidation of free fatty acids and mitochondrial biogenesis. These processes significantly contribute to raise ATP levels and restore myocardial contractile efficiency. AMPK also activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase and promotes autophagy, thus preventing inflammation and cellular death. These basic studies prompted many researchers to test the cardioprotective effects of metformin in the clinical setting. In diabetic patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), retrospective analyses showed that metformin is associated with reduced infarct size as compared to non-metformin-based strategies, implicating beneficial effects beyond glucose control. A recent randomized trial, the GIPS-III study, has postulated that metformin may improve left ventricular function following STEMI even in patients without diabetes. Metformin (500 mg twice/day), administered 3h after percutaneous coronary intervention, did not result in improved left ventricular ejection fraction after 4-month follow-up. Based on these results, it remains unclear whether metformin exerts a cardioprotective effect regardless of glycemic control. Further randomized studies in diabetic and nondiabetic patients are required to address these important questions. The present review critically discusses established knowledge and evidence gaps on the effects of metformin on left ventricular function in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with myocardial infarction.

Disseminated histoplasmosis is an invasive fungal infection documented in patients with impaired cellular immunity coming from endemic areas (America, Asia, Africa). We report two cases of disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS patients paradigmatic of the multifaceted nature of the disease, which may be an expression either of an advanced state of immunosuppression or the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).

Aims: This paper aims at presenting the most significant results emerging from the work carried out by the focus groups of the multi-centre Project SIEP-DIRECT'S. The Project is aimed at assessing the existing discrepancies between the evidence-based NICE guidelines for schizophrenia and the usual practices of care given by Italian mental health services. Each focus group was requested to give an evaluation on: (a) appropriateness of the English NICE guidelines in the context of the Italian mental health services; (b) clarity and usefulness of the 103 indicators developed on the basis of the NICE recommendations to measure their level of application within the services., Methods: In each of the 19 mental health departments or psychiatric services participating in the Project there were organized "multidisciplinary" focus groups and "specialistic" focus groups. The former included, amongst others, professional operators of the mental health services, patients, their relatives, representatives of patient organizations and general practitioners. They examined the recommendations and indicators upon which the participants could express their opinion or judgment based on their knowledge, experience or information in their possession. The latter group, composed only of psychiatrists, examined the recommendations and indicators relative to pharmacological treatments that regarded the specific competences of their professional category., Results: Most NICE recommendations seemed appropriate to the working context of the Italian services. However, some perplexity emerged as regards specific organizational models of the services, such as the specific services for psychotic onsets or the assertive outreach teams, which were believed not to be strictly pertinent to the traditional organization of mental health care in our Country. There were also some criticisms regarding the cognitive-behavioural treatments which the NICE Guidelines recommend as the principle psychotherapeutic option for patients with schizophrenia, since in many Italian services, when the use of psychological interventions are needed, the tendency is to prefer interventions based on psychodynamic theories. The SIEP indicators were generally held to be clear and acceptable., Conclusions: In the view of the focus groups, the NICE guidelines are on the whole useful and suitable for orientating the services in the choice of more efficacious practices in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, the results obtained legitimate the use of the set of SIEP indicators for the evaluation of good practices and the quality of care offered by Italian services. Finally, the use of focus groups delines to a different context as well as the verification of the comprehensibility and applicability of SIEP indicators.

Latex-free products have been introduced in orthodontics following a growth in the number of latex allergy cases reported. The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency between latex-free and latex elastics which are normally used in clinics. In this study, 80 latex-free and 80 latex elastics were divided into 4 groups of 20 elastics. Each group was exposed to a variable number of opening/closing cycles (100, 1200, 2400 or 4800), using a specially adapted machine which simulated the stretching of these elastomeric products during the dynamics of the mouth. The machine extended the elastics' inner diameter from 3 to 5 times its original dimension (the extension being comparable to that experienced during the opening/closing movements of the mouth). Following this, the elastics underwent a dynamic tensile test using the Instron 4301 machine to evaluate possible force loss and deformation. The different test results were analyzed using the Student t-test and ANOVA test of Tuckey. The test results showed differences between the two types of elastics particularly in the inner diameter behaviour: the increase in the inner diameter of the non-latex elastics' was pronounced. The forces applied by both types of elastics were similar until 2400 opening/closing cycles were reached. Thereafter, the nonlatex elastics lost a larger force (p < .01). The test results suggest that latex-free elastics must be replaced more frequently than conventional latex elastics.

One year after a 3-day training course on EBP (Evidence Based Prevention), the 130 participants were sent a follow-up questionnaire intended to estimate the persistence of knowledge and the extent of the use of evaluation techniques in EBP. Although respondents to the questionnaire (73%) and participants to the course were not representative of workers in the health field area, results clearly indicate that major drawbacks the use of EBP are the organization of daily work in prevention activities and the limited knowledge of English (i.e. the language in which most scientific literature related to EBP is available). More education on EBP is advisable, including the application of distant learning techniques into the frame of Continuous Medical Education for all Italian professionals involved in Prevention.

The SALeM (Surveillance for apprentices and minors at work) is the first dossier aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a public health program in Italy. Here we describe the main results achieved and the main methodological difficulties faced during its gathering. Aim of the dossier was to collect and weigh up all the available evidence of effectiveness referred to the program of health surveillance of apprentices and minors at work in non risky environments, as it is planned by the Italian National Health System. We chose this subject for feasibility reasons (given the limited resources available), and for its paradigmatic essence (we applied the methodology for the first time). The results achieved stress the standing difficulties in public health when the effectiveness evaluation of a running program is necessary. Broadest possibilities of deeper evaluation are more feasible for programs implemented ex novo. Authors conclude that, anyhow, when evaluating the effectiveness of public health program introduced ex novo the experience of Italy is still under construction and knowledge has to be lended from foreign countries.

A project based on the integration of new technologies and artificial intelligence to develop a device--e-tool--for disabled patients and elderly people is presented. A mobile platform in intelligent environments (skilled-care facilities and home-care), controlled and managed by a multi-level architecture, is proposed to support patients and caregivers to increase self-dependency in activities of daily living.