42 research outputs found
Doctor-patient care relationship in genetic cardiomyopathies: An exploratory study on clinical consultations
BackgroundThe present study aims to explore the setting of consultation and communication between physicians and patients affected by genetic cardiomyopathies, investigating how the two parts of the therapeutic relationship participate and share information.Methods and results45 adult patients affected by various cardiomyopathies took part in a prospective case study while attending consultations at a cardiologic outpatient clinic constituting an Italian referral centre for cardiomyopathies. A researcher observed the consultations, which were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded and an analysis of setting, type of communication implemented and participation of doctors and patients in terms of word-count and type of questions/answers was carried out. Overall word-count was significantly higher for physicians than for patients (t(44) = 9,506; pConclusionsFindings emphasize patients' need for adequate time and space to share their subjective illness experience with the physician, within an approach informed by the insights and recommendations of Narrative Medicine. These findings are instrumental to improving the specific clinical setting for individuals with genetic cardiomyopathies
ContinuitĂ delle cure e gestione ambulatoriale dei pazienti con malattie primitive del miocardio durante la pandemia COVID-19: lâesperienza della Unit Cardiomiopatie dellâAzienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Careggi
Le misure restrittive imposte dalla pandemia COVID-19 hanno reso necessario una veloce riorganizzazione del lavoro dei sanitari per garantire una continuitĂ delle cure per i pazienti affetti da malattie croniche, spesso cambiando strategie in corso dâopera. Riportiamo un'esperienza nel complesso molto positiva vissuta presso la Unit Cardiomiopatie dellâAzienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Careggi durante il recente lockdown
Incidence of stroke in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in stable sinus rhythm during long-term monitoring.
Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are at increased risk of stroke, but the incidence and factors associated with cardioembolic events in HCM patients without atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unresolved. We determined the incidence of stroke in patients in sinus rhythm (SR) monitored with a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED).
All consecutive patients diagnosed with HCM and referred to CIED implantation with >16 years at diagnosis and â„ 1 year follow-up post CIED implantation were retrospectively reviewed. Severe LA dilatation was defined as â„48 mm. Patients were stratified by rhythm as: Pre-existing AF (AF present prior to CIED); De novo AF (AF present after CIED implantation); SR: no episodes of AF.
Of 1651 patients, 185 (11.2%) implanted with a CIED were included (57% men, age: 54 ± 17 years). Baseline, pre-existing AF was present in 73 (39%) patients. Ischemic stroke was reported in 19 (10.3%, 1.78%/year) patients and was similar across the three groups (2.3%/year vs 1.1%/year vs 0.6%/year in patients in SR vs pre-existing AF vs de novo AF, respectively, p = 0.235). In SR patients, a LADâ„48 mm posed the greatest risk of stroke (Hazard Ratio: 10.03,95% Confidence-Interval 2.79-16.01). At Cox multivariable analysis, after adjustment for oral anticoagulation, LA was independently associated with stroke while rhythm was not.
in HCM patients with CIED long-term monitoring and no prior history of AF, stroke rates were similar in those with de novo AF or stable SR. Severe LA dilatation was a powerful risk factor, irrespective of AF
X-ray Diffraction and Molecular Dynamics Study of Medium-range Order in Ambient and Hot Water
We have developed x-ray diffraction measurements with high energy-resolution
and accuracy to study water structure at three different temperatures (7, 25
and 66 C) under normal pressure. Using a spherically curved Ge crystal an
energy resolution better than 15 eV has been achieved which eliminates
influence from Compton scattering. The high quality of the data allows a
precise oxygen-oxygen pair correlation function (PCF) to be directly derived
from the Fourier transform of the experimental data resolving shell structure
out to ~12 {\AA}, i.e. 5 hydration shells. Large-scale molecular dynamics (MD)
simulations using the TIP4P/2005 force-field reproduce excellently the
experimental shell-structure in the range 4-12 {\AA} although less agreement is
seen for the first peak in the PCF. The Local Structure Index [J. Chem. Phys.
104, 7671 (1996)] identifies a tetrahedral minority giving the
intermediate-range oscillations in the PCF and a disordered majority providing
a more featureless background in this range. The current study supports the
proposal that the structure of liquid water, even at high temperatures, can be
described in terms of a two-state fluctuation model involving local structures
related to the high-density and low-density forms of liquid water postulated in
the liquid-liquid phase transition hypothesis.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Chem. Chem. Phy