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The nephrology and dialysis sector is characterized by a high technological content, considerable technological and digital complexity, continuous innovation within the care processes and a strong economic impact on the national and regional health system. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the application of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methodology in the evaluation of technological innovations in the nephrology and dialysis field. In particular, the evaluation steps of the multidimensional and multidisciplinary process applied to the nephrodialysis field will be described, specifically a device to be used in patients with chronic kidney disease, also considering important comorbidities such as cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias, which often require implantation of electronic cardiac implantable devices in renal patients. The HTA uses a rigorous scientific methodology, and today represents an essential tool for a governance of the modern health system, in which every innovative technological element that significantly modifies the organization must be evaluated. For this strategic reason, HTA becomes an important intervention for the dialysis sector, where technological innovations are a fundamental sector. For a precise understanding of the function of HTA in dialysis, a complete example of the application of HTA for the evaluation of a resorbable antibacterial device for the prevention of infections from cardiac implantable electronic devices on patients with high infectious risk has been shown, such as patients with chronic kidney disease., The nephrology and dialysis sector is characterized by a high technological content, considerable technological and digital complexity, continuous innovation within the care processes and a strong economic impact on the national and regional health system. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the application of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methodology in the evaluation of technological innovations in the nephrology and dialysis field. In particular, the evaluation steps of the multidimensional and multidisciplinary process applied to the nephrodialysis field will be described, specifically a device to be used in patients with chronic kidney disease, also considering important comorbidities such as cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias, which often require implantation of electronic cardiac implantable devices in renal patients. The HTA uses a rigorous scientific methodology, and today represents an essential tool for a governance of the modern health system, in which every innovative technological element that significantly modifies the organization must be evaluated. For this strategic reason, HTA becomes an important intervention for the dialysis sector, where technological innovations are a fundamental sector. For a precise understanding of the function of HTA in dialysis, a complete example of the application of HTA for the evaluation of a resorbable antibacterial device for the prevention of infections from cardiac implantable electronic devices on patients with high infectious risk has been shown, such as patients with chronic kidney disease.

This article has the aim of informing the reader about methodology and production of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) and the instruments in order to be able to approach the whole process, from the production to the publication and distribution, but also to updated CPG. The importance of the issue is given by: 1) the need to avoid the CPG duplication, which is the reason of waste of resources and that raises confusion among users; 2) the need to ensure the independence of the experts involved and without conflict of interests; 3) the use of methodologies that respect the best quality standards; 4) the inhomogeneity of healthcare processes in the Italian territory and practices not based on scientific evidences; 5) the consultation and the commentary of stakeholders on the recommendations produced., This article has the aim of informing the reader about methodology and production of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) and the instruments in order to be able to approach the whole process, from the production to the publication and distribution, but also to updated CPG. The importance of the issue is given by: 1) the need to avoid the CPG duplication, which is the reason of waste of resources and that raises confusion among users; 2) the need to ensure the independence of the experts involved and without conflict of interests; 3) the use of methodologies that respect the best quality standards; 4) the inhomogeneity of healthcare processes in the Italian territory and practices not based on scientific evidences; 5) the consultation and the commentary of stakeholders on the recommendations produced.

Death is incurable. It precedes, transcends and overcomes any possibility of cure. Medicine cures, but leaves man's fundamental event, his death, without cure. After a lifetime of treatment, everyone dies, even those who have used all kinds of treatments, so as not to die. Molecules, surgery, nuclear medicine, technology is not and will never be adequate for death. What can be appropriate for death? Not the escape, but the awareness of its existence, in every minute of the short earthly passage. But how? Man has always used artistic expression, not science, as a way of seeing death. Literature, cinema, theater are human inventions that go through death, and in this article we expose some artistic productions that cure our existence from the "Incurable".