Economic consequences of investing in anti-HCV antiviral treatment from the Italian NHS perspective : a real-world-based analysis of PITER data

OBJECTIVE: We estimated the cost consequence of Italian National Health System (NHS) investment in direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy according to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment access policies in Italy. METHODS: A multistate, 20-year time horizon Markov model of HCV liver disease progression was developed. Fibrosis stage, age and genotype distributions were derived from the Italian Platform for the Study of Viral Hepatitis Therapies (PITER) cohort. The treatment efficacy, disease progression probabilities and direct costs in each health state were obtained from the literature. The break-even point in time (BPT) was defined as the period of time required for the cumulative costs saved to recover the Italian NHS investment in DAA treatment. Three different PITER enrolment periods, which covered the full DAA access evolution in Italy, were considered. RESULTS: The disease stages of 2657 patients who consecutively underwent DAA therapy from January 2015 to December 2017 at 30 PITER clinical centres were standardized for 1000 patients. The investment in DAAs was considered to equal €25 million, €15 million, and €9 million in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. For patients treated in 2015, the BPT was not achieved, because of the disease severity of the treated patients and high DAA prices. For 2016 and 2017, the estimated BPTs were 6.6 and 6.2 years, respectively. The total cost savings after 20 years were €50.13 and €55.50 million for 1000 patients treated in 2016 and 2017, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study may be a useful tool for public decision makers to understand how HCV clinical and epidemiological profiles influence the economic burden of HCV

Organisational LCA for supporting environmental management towards sustainability of production patterns: the case of agricultural machinery

This paper presents and discusses the applicability and the main challenges of the methodology Organisational LCA to an organisation in the sector of agricultural equipment. The main methodological issues related to the modelling of end of life are discussed, together with the possible sinergies and complementarities with the ISO 14001:2015.The O-LCA has proven to be a very useful and complete approach for an organisation, and contributing to make a step towards Sustainable Development Goals, namely \u201cSustainable Production and Consumption Patterns\u201d. By looking both at the product portfolio and at the activities, it provides a global view on the organisation and allows identifying the most effective and efficient interventions to optimise the environmental performances. It is close to the way the organisations are used to deal with the environmental management and, as such, the O-LCA could represent the analytical tools within the already existing management schemes

RNA sequencing of the exercise transcriptome in equine athletes

The horse is an optimal model organism for studying the genomic response to exercise-induced stress, due to its natural aptitude for athletic performance and the relative homogeneity of its genetic and environmental backgrounds. Here, we applied RNA-sequencing analysis through the use of SOLiD technology in an experimental framework centered on exercise- induced stress during endurance races in equine athletes. We monitored the transcriptional landscape by comparing gene expression levels between animals at rest and after competition. Overall, we observed a shift from coding to non-coding regions, suggesting that the stress response involves the differential expression of not annotated regions. Notably, we observed significant post-race increases of reads that correspond to repeats, especially the intergenic and intronic L1 and L2 transposable elements. We also observed increased expression of the antisense strands compared to the sense strands in intronic and regulatory regions (1 kb up- and downstream) of the genes, suggesting that antisense transcription could be one of the main mechanisms for transposon regulation in the horse under stress conditions. We identified a large number of transcripts corresponding to intergenic and intronic regions putatively associated with new transcriptional elements. Gene expression and pathway analysis allowed us to identify several biological processes and molecular functions that may be involved with exercise-induced stress. Ontology clustering reflected mechanisms that are already known to be stress activated (e.g., chemokine-type cytokines, Toll-like receptors, and kinases), as well as \u2018\u2018nucleic acid binding\u2019\u2019 and \u2018\u2018signal transduction activity\u2019\u2019 functions. There was also a general and transient decrease in the global rates of protein synthesis, which would be expected after strenuous global stress. In sum, our network analysis points toward the involvement of specific gene clusters in equine exercise-induced stress, including those involved in inflammation, cell signaling, and immune interactions

Ein Vergleich von Schluckst\uf6rungen nach dreidimensionaler konformaler und intensit\ue4tsmodulierter Strahlentherapie: Ein systematischer Review der \u201cItalian Head and Neck Radiotherapy Study Group\u201d

Purpose Dysphagia is one of the most important treatmentrelated side effects in head and neck cancer (HNC), as it can lead to severe life-threating complications such as aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) could reduce swallowing dysfunction by producing a concave dose distribution and reducing doses to the swallowing-related organs at risk (SWOARs). The aim of this study was to review the current literature in order to compare swallowing outcomes between IMRT and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). Methods A search was conducted in the PubMed and Embase databases to identify studies on swallowing outcomes, both clinically and/or instrumentally assessed, after 3DCRT and IMRT. Dysphagia-specific quality of life and objective instrumental data are summarized and discussed. Results A total of 262 papers were retrieved from the searched databases. An additional 23 papers were retrieved by hand-searching the reference lists. Ultimately, 22 papers were identified which discussed swallowing outcomes after 3DCRT and IMRT for HNC. No outcomes from randomized trials were identified. Conclusion Despite several methodological limitations, reports from the current literature seem to suggest better swallowing outcomes with IMRT compared to 3DCRT. Further improvements are likely to result from the increased use of IMRT plans optimized for SWOAR sparing

Vascular Function Is Improved After an Environmental Enrichment Program: The Train the Brain-Mind the Vessel Study

Environmental enrichment may slow cognitive decay possibly acting through an improvement in vascular function. Aim of the study was to assess the effects of a 7-month cognitive, social, and physical training program on cognitive and vascular function in patients with mild cognitive impairment. In a single-center, randomized, parallel-group study, 113 patients (age, 65-89 years) were randomized to multidomain training (n=55) or usual care (n=58). All participants underwent neuropsychological tests and vascular evaluation, including brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid distensibility, and assessment of circulating hematopoietic CD34+ and endothelial progenitor cells. At study entry, an age-matched control group (n=45) was also studied. Compared with controls, patients had at study entry a reduced flow-mediated dilation (2.97±2.14% versus 3.73±2.06%; P=0.03) and hyperemic stimulus (shear rate area under the curve, 19.1±15.7 versus 25.7±15.1×10-3; P=0.009); only the latter remained significant after adjustment for confounders (P=0.03). Training improved Alzheimer disease assessment scale cognitive (training, 14.0±4.8 to 13.1±5.5; nontraining, 12.1±3.9 to 13.2±4.8; P for interaction visit×training=0.02), flow-mediated dilation (2.82±2.19% to 3.40±1.81%, 3.05±2.08% to 2.24±1.59%; P=0.006; P=0.023 after adjustment for diameter and shear rate area under the curve), and circulating hematopoietic CD34+ cells and prevented the decline in carotid distensibility (18.4±5.3 to 20.0±6.6, 23.9±11.0 to 19.5±7.1 Pa-1; P=0.005). The only clinical predictor of improvement of cognitive function after training was established hypertension. There was no correlation between changes in measures of cognitive and vascular function. In conclusion, a multidomain training program slows cognitive decline, especially in hypertensive individuals. This effect is accompanied by improved systemic endothelial function, mobilization of progenitor CD34+ cells, and preserved carotid distensibility

Correction to: Major adverse cardiovascular events in non-valvular atrial fibrillation with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the ARAPACIS study

none372In the original publication, one of the ARAPACIS collaborators Dr. “Leonardo Di Gennaro” name has been erroneously mentioned as “Leonardo De Gennaro”.noneRaparelli V.; Pastori D.; Pignataro S.F.; Vestri A.R.; Pignatelli P.; Cangemi R.; Proietti M.; Davi G.; Hiatt W.R.; Lip G.Y.H.; Corazza G.R.; Perticone F.; Violi F.; Basili S.; Alessandri C.; Serviddio G.; Palange P.; Greco E.; Bruno G.; Averna M.; Giammanco A.; Sposito P.; DeCristofaro R.; Carulli L.; DiGennaro L.; Pellegrini E.; Cominacini L.; Mozzini C.; Pasini A.F.; Sprovieri M.; Spagnuolo V.; Cerqua G.; Cerasola G.; Mule G.; Barbagallo M.; Lo Sciuto S.; Monteverde A.; Saitta A.; Lo Gullo A.; Malatino L.; Cilia C.; Terranova V.; Pisano M.; Pinto A.; DiRaimondo D.; Tuttolomondo A.; Conigliaro R.; Signorelli S.; DePalma D.; Galderisi M.; Cudemo G.; Galletti F.; Fazio V.; DeLuca N.; Meccariello A.; Caputo D.; DeDonato M.T.; Iannuzi A.; Bresciani A.; Giunta R.; Utili R.; Iorio V.; Adinolfi L.E.; Sellitto C.; Iuliano N.; Bellis P.; Tirelli P.; Sacerdoti D.; Vanni D.; Iuliano L.; Ciacciarelli M.; Pacelli A.; Palazzuoli A.; Cacciafesta M.; Gueli N.; Lo Iacono C.; Brusco S.; Verrusio W.; Nobili L.; Tarquinio N.; Pellegrini F.; Vincentelli G.M.; Ravallese F.; Santini C.; Letizia C.; Petramala L.; Zinnamosca L.; Minisola S.; Cilli M.; Colangelo L.; Falaschi P.; Martocchia A.; Pastore F.; Bertazzoni G.; Attalla El Halabieh E.; Paradiso M.; Lizzi E.M.; Timmi S.; Battisti P.; Cerci S.; Ciavolella M.; DiVeroli C.; Malci F.; DeCiocchis A.; Abate D.; Castellino P.; Zanoli L.; Fidone F.; Mannarino E.; Pasqualini L.; Oliverio G.; Pende A.; Artom N.; Ricchio R.; Fimognari F.L.; Alletto M.; Messina S.; Sesti G.; Arturi F.; Succurro E.; Fiorentino T.V.; Pedace E.; Scarpino P.E.; Carullo G.; Maio R.; Sciacqua A.; Frugiuele P.; Battaglia G.; Atzori S.; Delitala G.; Angelucci E.; Sestili S.; Traisci G.; DeFeudis L.; DiMichele D.; Fava A.; Balsano C.; DeCiantis P.; Desideri G.; Camerota A.; Mezzetti M.; Gresele P.; Vedovati C.; Fierro T.; Puccetti L.; Bertolotti M.; Mussi C.; Boddi M.; Savino A.; Contri S.; Degl'Innocenti G.; Saller A.; Fabris F.; Pesavento R.; Filippi L.; Vedovetto V.; Puato M.; Treleani M.; DeLuca E.; DeZaiacomo F.; Giantin V.; Semplicini A.; Minuz P.; Romano S.; Fantin F.; Manica A.; Stockner I.; Pattis P.; Gutmann B.; Catena C.; Colussi G.; Sechi L.A.; Annoni G.; Bruni A.A.; Castagna A.; Spinelli D.; Miceli E.; Padula D.; Schinco G.; Spreafico S.; Secchi B.; Vanoli M.; Casella G.; Pulixi E.A.; Sansone L.; Serra M.G.; Longo S.; Antonaci S.; Belfiore A.; Frualdo M.; Palasciano G.; Ricci L.; Ventrella F.; Bianco C.; Santovito D.; Cipollone F.; Nicolai S.; Salvati F.; Rini G.B.; Scozzari F.; Muiesan M.L.; Salvetti M.; Bazza A.; Picardi A.; Vespasiani-Gentilucci U.; DeVincentis A.; Cosio P.; Terzolo M.; Madaffari B.; Parasporo B.; Fenoglio L.; Bracco C.; Melchio R.; Gentili T.; Salvi A.; Nitti C.; Gabrielli A.; Martino G.P.; Capucci A.; Brambatti M.; Sparagna A.; Tirotta D.; Andreozzi P.; Ettorre E.; Viscogliosi G.; Servello A.; Musumeci M.; Delfino M.; Giorgi A.; Glorioso N.; Melis G.; Marras G.; Matta M.; Sacco A.; Stellitano E.; Scordo A.; Russo F.; Caruso A.A.; Porreca E.; Tana M.; Ferri C.; Cheli P.; Portincasa P.; Muscianisi G.; Giordani S.; Stanghellini V.; Sabba C.; Mancuso G.; Bartone M.; Calipari D.; Arcidiacono G.; Bellanuova I.; Ferraro M.; Marigliano G.; Cozzolino D.; Lampitella A.; Acri V.; Galasso D.; Mazzei F.; Buratti A.; Galasso S.; Porta M.; Brizzi M.F.; Fattorini A.; Sampietro F.; D'Angelo A.; Manfredini R.; Pala M.; Fabbian F.; Moroni C.; Valente L.; Lopreiato F.; Parente F.; Granata M.; Moia M.; Braham S.; Rossi M.; Pesce M.; Gentile A.; Catozzo V.; Baciarello G.; Cosimati A.; Ageno W.; Rancan E.; Guasti L.; Ciccaglioni A.; Negri S.; Polselli M.; Prisco D.; Marcucci R.; Ferro D.; Perri L.; Saliola M.; DelBen M.; Angelico F.; Baratta F.; Migliacci R.; Porciello G.; Corrao S.; Napoleone L.; Talerico G.; Amoroso D.; Romiti G.F.; Ruscio E.; Toriello F.; Sperduti N.; Todisco T.; DiTanna G.; Sacchetti M.L.; Puddu P.E.; Farcomeni A.; Anzaldi M.; Bazzini C.; Bianchi P.I.; Boari B.; Buonauro A.; Butta C.; Buzzetti E.; Calabria S.; Capeci W.; Caradio F.; Carleo P.; Carrabba M.D.; Castorani L.; Cecchetto L.; Cicco S.; Cimini C.; Colombo B.M.; De Giorgi A.; DeVuono S.; DelCorso L.; Denegri A.; DiGiosia P.; Durante Mangoni E.; Falsetti L.; Forgione A.; Giorgini P.; Grassi D.; Grembiale A.; Hijazi D.; Iamele L.; Lorusso G.; Marchese A.; Marra A.M.; Masala M.; Miceli G.; Montebianco Abenavoli L.; Murgia G.; Naccarato P.; Pattoneri P.; Perego F.; Pesce P.; Piano S.; Pinna M.; Pinto D.; Pretti V.; Pucci G.; Salinaro F.; Salzano A.; Santilli F.; Scarpini F.; Scicali R.; Sirico D.; Suppressa P.; Talia M.; Tassone E.J.; Torres D.; Vazzana N.; Vecchio C.R.; Vidili G.; Vitale F.; Zaccone V.Raparelli, V.; Pastori, D.; Pignataro, S. F.; Vestri, A. R.; Pignatelli, P.; Cangemi, R.; Proietti, M.; Davi, G.; Hiatt, W. R.; Lip, G. Y. H.; Corazza, G. R.; Perticone, F.; Violi, F.; Basili, S.; Alessandri, C.; Serviddio, G.; Palange, P.; Greco, E.; Bruno, G.; Averna, M.; Giammanco, A.; Sposito, P.; Decristofaro, R.; Carulli, L.; Digennaro, L.; Pellegrini, E.; Cominacini, L.; Mozzini, C.; Pasini, A. F.; Sprovieri, M.; Spagnuolo, V.; Cerqua, G.; Cerasola, G.; Mule, G.; Barbagallo, M.; Lo Sciuto, S.; Monteverde, A.; Saitta, A.; Lo Gullo, A.; Malatino, L.; Cilia, C.; Terranova, V.; Pisano, M.; Pinto, A.; Diraimondo, D.; Tuttolomondo, A.; Conigliaro, R.; Signorelli, S.; Depalma, D.; Galderisi, M.; Cudemo, G.; Galletti, F.; Fazio, V.; Deluca, N.; Meccariello, A.; Caputo, D.; Dedonato, M. T.; Iannuzi, A.; Bresciani, A.; Giunta, R.; Utili, R.; Iorio, V.; Adinolfi, L. E.; Sellitto, C.; Iuliano, N.; Bellis, P.; Tirelli, P.; Sacerdoti, D.; Vanni, D.; Iuliano, L.; Ciacciarelli, M.; Pacelli, A.; Palazzuoli, A.; Cacciafesta, M.; Gueli, N.; Lo Iacono, C.; Brusco, S.; Verrusio, W.; Nobili, L.; Tarquinio, N.; Pellegrini, F.; Vincentelli, G. M.; Ravallese, F.; Santini, C.; Letizia, C.; Petramala, L.; Zinnamosca, L.; Minisola, S.; Cilli, M.; Colangelo, L.; Falaschi, P.; Martocchia, A.; Pastore, F.; Bertazzoni, G.; Attalla El Halabieh, E.; Paradiso, M.; Lizzi, E. M.; Timmi, S.; Battisti, P.; Cerci, S.; Ciavolella, M.; Diveroli, C.; Malci, F.; Deciocchis, A.; Abate, D.; Castellino, P.; Zanoli, L.; Fidone, F.; Mannarino, E.; Pasqualini, L.; Oliverio, G.; Pende, A.; Artom, N.; Ricchio, R.; Fimognari, F. L.; Alletto, M.; Messina, S.; Sesti, G.; Arturi, F.; Succurro, E.; Fiorentino, T. V.; Pedace, E.; Scarpino, P. E.; Carullo, G.; Maio, R.; Sciacqua, A.; Frugiuele, P.; Battaglia, G.; Atzori, S.; Delitala, G.; Angelucci, E.; Sestili, S.; Traisci, G.; Defeudis, L.; Dimichele, D.; Fava, A.; Balsano, C.; Deciantis, P.; Desideri, G.; Camerota, A.; Mezzetti, M.; Gresele, P.; Vedovati, C.; Fierro, T.; Puccetti, L.; Bertolotti, M.; Mussi, C.; Boddi, M.; Savino, A.; Contri, S.; Degl'Innocenti, G.; Saller, A.; Fabris, F.; Pesavento, R.; Filippi, L.; Vedovetto, V.; Puato, M.; Treleani, M.; Deluca, E.; Dezaiacomo, F.; Giantin, V.; Semplicini, A.; Minuz, P.; Romano, S.; Fantin, F.; Manica, A.; Stockner, I.; Pattis, P.; Gutmann, B.; Catena, C.; Colussi, G.; Sechi, L. A.; Annoni, G.; Bruni, A. A.; Castagna, A.; Spinelli, D.; Miceli, E.; Padula, D.; Schinco, G.; Spreafico, S.; Secchi, B.; Vanoli, M.; Casella, G.; Pulixi, E. A.; Sansone, L.; Serra, M. G.; Longo, S.; Antonaci, S.; Belfiore, A.; Frualdo, M.; Palasciano, G.; Ricci, L.; Ventrella, F.; Bianco, C.; Santovito, D.; Cipollone, F.; Nicolai, S.; Salvati, F.; Rini, G. B.; Scozzari, F.; Muiesan, M. L.; Salvetti, M.; Bazza, A.; Picardi, A.; Vespasiani-Gentilucci, U.; Devincentis, A.; Cosio, P.; Terzolo, M.; Madaffari, B.; Parasporo, B.; Fenoglio, L.; Bracco, C.; Melchio, R.; Gentili, T.; Salvi, A.; Nitti, C.; Gabrielli, A.; Martino, G. P.; Capucci, A.; Brambatti, M.; Sparagna, A.; Tirotta, D.; Andreozzi, P.; Ettorre, E.; Viscogliosi, G.; Servello, A.; Musumeci, M.; Delfino, M.; Giorgi, A.; Glorioso, N.; Melis, G.; Marras, G.; Matta, M.; Sacco, A.; Stellitano, E.; Scordo, A.; Russo, F.; Caruso, A. A.; Porreca, E.; Tana, M.; Ferri, C.; Cheli, P.; Portincasa, P.; Muscianisi, G.; Giordani, S.; Stanghellini, V.; Sabba, C.; Mancuso, G.; Bartone, M.; Calipari, D.; Arcidiacono, G.; Bellanuova, I.; Ferraro, M.; Marigliano, G.; Cozzolino, D.; Lampitella, A.; Acri, V.; Galasso, D.; Mazzei, F.; Buratti, A.; Galasso, S.; Porta, M.; Brizzi, M. F.; Fattorini, A.; Sampietro, F.; D'Angelo, A.; Manfredini, R.; Pala, M.; Fabbian, F.; Moroni, C.; Valente, L.; Lopreiato, F.; Parente, F.; Granata, M.; Moia, M.; Braham, S.; Rossi, M.; Pesce, M.; Gentile, A.; Catozzo, V.; Baciarello, G.; Cosimati, A.; Ageno, W.; Rancan, E.; Guasti, L.; Ciccaglioni, A.; Negri, S.; Polselli, M.; Prisco, D.; Marcucci, R.; Ferro, D.; Perri, L.; Saliola, M.; Delben, M.; Angelico, F.; Baratta, F.; Migliacci, R.; Porciello, G.; Corrao, S.; Napoleone, L.; Talerico, G.; Amoroso, D.; Romiti, G. F.; Ruscio, E.; Toriello, F.; Sperduti, N.; Todisco, T.; Ditanna, G.; Sacchetti, M. L.; Puddu, P. E.; Farcomeni, A.; Anzaldi, M.; Bazzini, C.; Bianchi, P. I.; Boari, B.; Buonauro, A.; Butta, C.; Buzzetti, E.; Calabria, S.; Capeci, W.; Caradio, F.; Carleo, P.; Carrabba, M. D.; Castorani, L.; Cecchetto, L.; Cicco, S.; Cimini, C.; Colombo, B. M.; De Giorgi, A.; Devuono, S.; Delcorso, L.; Denegri, A.; Digiosia, P.; Durante Mangoni, E.; Falsetti, L.; Forgione, A.; Giorgini, P.; Grassi, D.; Grembiale, A.; Hijazi, D.; Iamele, L.; Lorusso, G.; Marchese, A.; Marra, A. M.; Masala, M.; Miceli, G.; Montebianco Abenavoli, L.; Murgia, G.; Naccarato, P.; Pattoneri, P.; Perego, F.; Pesce, P.; Piano, S.; Pinna, M.; Pinto, D.; Pretti, V.; Pucci, G.; Salinaro, F.; Salzano, A.; Santilli, F.; Scarpini, F.; Scicali, R.; Sirico, D.; Suppressa, P.; Talia, M.; Tassone, E. J.; Torres, D.; Vazzana, N.; Vecchio, C. R.; Vidili, G.; Vitale, F.; Zaccone, V

Frequency of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is significantly related to adverse clinical outcomes in patients at high risk of cardiovascular events. In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), data on LVH, that is, prevalence and determinants, are inconsistent mainly because of different definitions and heterogeneity of study populations. We determined echocardiographic-based LVH prevalence and clinical factors independently associated with its development in a prospective cohort of patients with non-valvular (NV) AF. From the "Atrial Fibrillation Registry for Ankle-brachial Index Prevalence Assessment: Collaborative Italian Study" (ARAPACIS) population, 1,184 patients with NVAF (mean age 72 \ub1 11 years; 56% men) with complete data to define LVH were selected. ARAPACIS is a multicenter, observational, prospective, longitudinal on-going study designed to estimate prevalence of peripheral artery disease in patients with NVAF. We found a high prevalence of LVH (52%) in patients with NVAF. Compared to those without LVH, patients with AF with LVH were older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and previous myocardial infarction (MI). A higher prevalence of ankle-brachial index 640.90 was seen in patients with LVH (22 vs 17%, p = 0.0392). Patients with LVH were at significantly higher thromboembolic risk, with CHA2DS2-VASc 652 seen in 93% of LVH and in 73% of patients without LVH (p <0.05). Women with LVH had a higher prevalence of concentric hypertrophy than men (46% vs 29%, p = 0.0003). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that female gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.80, p <0.0001), age (OR 1.03 per year, p <0.001), hypertension (OR 2.30, p <0.001), diabetes (OR 1.62, p = 0.004), and previous MI (OR 1.96, p = 0.001) were independently associated with LVH. In conclusion, patients with NVAF have a high prevalence of LVH, which is related to female gender, older age, hypertension, and previous MI. These patients are at high thromboembolic risk and deserve a holistic approach to cardiovascular prevention