H@H: A telemedicine suite for de-hospitalization of chronic disease patients

H@H (Health at Home) is a web based monitoring system for de-hospitalization of patients suffering from chronic diseases, ensuring continuous assistance by monitoring, interaction and home therapy. Patients can greatly benefit from continuous in home monitoring of vital status via a patient monitoring system that integrates vital sign sensors, video communication with physicians and medical gases supply. The system is able to detect emergencies and activate a remote team for on site intervention, furthermore patients can require medical consultations at any times. © 2010 IEEE

Incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Puglia (South Italy) from 2002 to 2008

Incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Puglia (South Italy) from 2002 to 200

Thesaurus PICO 4.3.0 - 2011/02/28

thesaurus SKOS per la soggettazione di risorse culturali, adottato dal portale www.culturaitalia.i

Association of Biomarkers with Serious Cardiac Adverse Events during Abiraterone Acetate Treatment in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND: Abiraterone acetate is an effective drug for castration-resistant prostate cancer, but cardiac serious adverse events (SAEs) may occur. We studied their association with N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and troponin T (TnT) during abiraterone therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a single institution, 17 patients were treated with abiraterone acetate 1 g daily with concomitant prednisone and then switched to dexametasone plus canrenone. Blood samples for PSA, NT-proBNP, and TnT were obtained at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: Five patients (29.4%) experienced G3 to 4 cardiac SAEs after a median of 13 weeks (range, 9-32), including pulmonary edema, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, sinus bradycardia with syncope, and pulmonary edema. At baseline, 4 weeks, and 3 months, median NT-proBNP and TnT levels were higher in patients with subsequent cardiac SAEs (P= .03 and P= .04 for NT-proBNP and TnT at 3 months, respectively). After switching to dexametasone and introducing canrenone, no additional cardiac SAEs were noted. Overall response rate was 67%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a higher than expected risk of cardiac SAEs during abiraterone treatment which may well be due to the small sample size and the unrestricted entry criteria. However, baseline and frequent NT-proBNP and TnT monitoring predicted a higher risk for cardiac SAE. Larger studies should confirm our findings

Testimonianze della cultura ebraica: ricerca, valorizzazione, digitale. Il progetto Judaica Europeana

Il volume raccoglie gli atti di un recente, vivace, convegno spiccatamente multi-disciplinare, ideato per riflettere sulle ricadute scientifiche e didattiche del progetto Judaica Europeana, promosso per raccogliere le testimonianze della cultura ebraica come ulteriore fonte del portale web europeo della Commissione europea. Il volume documenta il possibile e fruttuoso dialogo tra studiosi di vari ambiti disciplinari, impegnati nella ricerca scientifica come nell'attivit\ue0 di tutela e promozione culturale, nella convinzione che ricerca e valorizzazione (anche nello specifico della cultura ebraica) siano assolutamente inscindibili. La prima parte del volume raccoglie indagini che, interrogandosi prima di tutto sullo statuto dei cosiddetti Jewish studies, dimostrano come la cultura ebraica possa essere analizzata attraverso una straordinaria variet\ue0 di fonti, dirette o indirette. La seconda parte discute \u2013 anche dal punto di vista metodologico e attraverso diverse best practice - le possibilit\ue0 di socializzare, divulgare e ri/usare le conoscenze acquisite nella pratica della ricerca e della tutela dei beni culturali, anche alla luce delle pi\uf9 aggiornate tecnologie digitali

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and prevention of sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

CONTEXT: Recently, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been promoted for prevention of sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the effectiveness and appropriate selection of patients for this therapy is incompletely resolved. OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between clinical risk profile and incidence and efficacy of ICD intervention in HCM. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Multicenter registry study of ICDs implanted between 1986 and 2003 in 506 unrelated patients with HCM. Patients were judged to be at high risk for sudden death; had received ICDs; underwent evaluation at 42 referral and nonreferral institutions in the United States, Europe, and Australia; and had a mean follow-up of 3.7 (SD, 2.8) years. Measured risk factors for sudden death included family history of sudden death, massive left ventricular hypertrophy, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia on Holter monitoring, and unexplained prior syncope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Appropriate ICD intervention terminating ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. RESULTS: The 506 patients were predominately young (mean age, 42 [SD, 17] years) at implantation, and most (439 [87%]) had no or only mildly limiting symptoms. ICD interventions appropriately terminated ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation in 103 patients (20%). Intervention rates were 10.6% per year for secondary prevention after cardiac arrest (5-year cumulative probability, 39% [SD, 5%]), and 3.6% per year for primary prevention (5-year probability, 17% [SD, 2%]). Time to first appropriate discharge was up to 10 years, with a 27% (SD, 7%) probability 5 years or more after implantation. For primary prevention, 18 of the 51 patients with appropriate ICD interventions (35%) had undergone implantation for only a single risk factor; likelihood of appropriate discharge was similar in patients with 1, 2, or 3 or more risk markers (3.83, 2.65, and 4.82 per 100 person-years, respectively; P = .77). The single sudden death due to an arrhythmia (in the absence of advanced heart failure) resulted from ICD malfunction. ICD complications included inappropriate shocks in 136 patients (27%). CONCLUSIONS: In a high-risk HCM cohort, ICD interventions for life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias were frequent and highly effective in restoring normal rhythm. An important proportion of ICD discharges occurred in primary prevention patients who had undergone implantation for a single risk factor. Therefore, a single marker of high risk for sudden death may be sufficient to justify consideration for prophylactic defibrillator implantation in selected patients with HCM

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and prevention of sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Context Recently, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been promoted for prevention of sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the effectiveness and appropriate selection of patients for this therapy is incompletely resolved. Objective To study the relationship between clinical risk profile and incidence and efficacy of ICD intervention in HCM. Design, Setting, and Patients Multicenter registry study of ICDs implanted between 1986 and 2003 in 506 unrelated patients with HCM. Patients were judged to be at high risk for sudden death; had received ICDs; underwent evaluation at 42 referral and nonreferral institutions in the United States, Europe, and Australia; and had a mean follow-up of 3.7 (SD, 2.8) years. Measured risk factors for sudden death included family history of sudden death, massive left ventricular hypertrophy, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia on Holter monitoring, and unexplained prior syncope. Main OutcomeMeasure Appropriate ICD intervention terminating ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Results The 506 patients were predominately young (mean age, 42 [SD, 17] years) at implantation, and most (439 [87%]) had no or only mildly limiting symptoms. ICD interventions appropriately terminated ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation in 103 patients (20%). Intervention rates were 10.6% per year for secondary prevention after cardiac arrest (5-year cumulative probability, 39% [SD, 5%]), and 3.6% per year for primary prevention (5-year probability, 17% [SD, 2%]). Time to first appropriate discharge was up to 10 years, with a 27% (SD, 7%) probability 5 years or more after implantation. For primary prevention, 18 of the 51 patients with appropriate ICD interventions (35%) had undergone implantation for only a single risk factor; likelihood of appropriate discharge was similar in patients with 1, 2, or 3 or more risk markers (3.83, 2.65, and 4.82 per 100 person-years, respectively; P=.77). The single sudden death due to an arrhythmia (in the absence of advanced heart failure) resulted from ICD malfunction. ICD complications included inappropriate shocks in 136 patients (27%). Conclusions In a high-risk HCM cohort, ICD interventions for life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias were frequent and highly effective in restoring normal rhythm. An important proportion of ICD discharges occurred in primary prevention patients who had undergone implantation for a single risk factor. Therefore, a single marker of high risk for sudden death may be sufficient to justify consideration for prophylactic defibrillator implantation in selected patients with HCM