Clinical characterization and whole genome sequence-based typing of two cases of endophthalmitis due to Listeria monocytogenes

Endophthalmitis due to Listeria monocytogenes is a rare form of listeriosis. Here, we report two cases that occurred in patients with different medical history, a 46-years-old woman with no comorbidities and an elderly man with several comorbidities. There was no history of trauma or surgery in either patient suggesting an endogenous origin. Despite antibiotic treatment, both patients showed poor visual acuity outcomes. Subtyping clinical isolates using whole genome sequencing could allow to characterise Listeria monocytogenes strains involved in rare clinical manifestation, such as in unusual anatomical sites, even in immunocompetent patients

Comparative one-month safety and effectiveness of five leading new-generation devices for transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for aortic stenosis is becoming an appealing alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients and to medical therapy for inoperable ones. Several new-generation TAVI devices have been recently introduced, but comparative analyses are lacking. We aimed to compare 1-month outcomes associated with such five leading new-generation TAVI devices exploiting data collected in the prospective observational RISPEVA (Registro Italiano GISE sull’impianto di Valvola Aortica Percutanea) Study. We queried the dataset of the ongoing RISPEVA study to retrieve baseline, procedural and 1-month outcome details of patients undergoing TAVI with Acurate, Evolut, Portico, Lotus, and Sapien3. Analysis was based on unadjusted and propensity score-adjusted methods. We included 1976 patients, 234 (11.8%) treated with Acurate, 703 (35.6%) with Evolut, 151 (7.6%) with Lotus, 347 (17.6%) with Portico, and 541 (27.4%) with Sapien3. Unadjusted analysis for baseline features highlighted several significant differences, and other discrepancies were found for procedural features. Despite these differences, device and procedural success were similarly high (ranging from 98.0% to 99.4%, p > 0.05). However, procedural valve migration appeared more common with Acurate (p = 0.007), and major bleeding with Sapien3 (p = 0.002). Unadjusted analysis for 1-month outcomes also highlighted significant differences in the composite of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, major vascular complication, major bleeding, or renal failure (favoring Portico, p < 0.001), major vascular complications (favoring Lotus, p < 0.001), renal failure (favoring Portico, p = 0.035), and permanent pacemaker implantation (favoring Acurate, p < 0.001). Propensity score-adjusted analyses showed lower rates of major adverse events with Evolut and Portico (p < 0.05), major vascular complications with Lotus and Portico (p < 0.05), renal failure with Sapien3 (p < 0.05) and permanent pacemaker implantation with Acurate (p < 0.05). In conclusion, new-generation TAVI devices have different profiles of early comparative safety and efficacy. These findings should be taken into account for individualized decision making and patient management

Don Pietro Boifava. Un patriota nel cattolicesimo sociale bresciano

Don Pietro Boifava di Serle (1794-1879), umile e modesto rappresentante del 'basso clero', è uno di quegli uomini che, senza aver detto o scritto nulla sulla storia e sul suo senso, in realtà hanno contribuito in modo quasi unico a farla. Fu un 'militare' occasionale, ma per un valore supremo e fu un cattolico sociale per, nel e col suo popolo. Non fu deputato austriaco e non fu sindaco italiano per puro caso, ma per sua scelta e vocazione. Il suo 'genio' si estrinsecò nel fondere dal basso, nella plebe, questo apparente ossimoro sospeso fra insurrezione ed amore per gli altri, guerra e libertà, pratica concreta e circoscritta ed esiti ideali ed universali. Egli infatti fu al tempo stesso espressione della tradizionale societas christiana e assieme segno dell'avanzante modernità laica. In un contesto, quello bresciano, in cui il sacerdote entrava a far parte di un welfare moderno, sia in collaborazione sia in supplenza con lo Stato, don Pietro, pur con un'attività amministrativa limitata alla sua Serle, fu veramente espressione del 'prete sociale' e interprete della nuova realtà. Parlando con la pratica e non con la teoria, espresse la sua carità in tutti i campi che ar

Presentazione di un caso di infarto miocardico post-traumatico in un calciatore: aspetti anatomo-funzionali e fisiopatologici.

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