Pregnancy and Behçet Syndrome: A Large Retrospective Italian Study.

Introduction: Behçet syndrome (BS) is a multifactorial disorder with several clinical manifestations that occurs during the childbearing age. The relationship between pregnancy and BS has been previously analysed as the pregnancy immunometabolic reprogramming in case of autoinflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases can influence both the course of the disease and the pregnancy outcomes. We aim to analyse the relationship between BS and pregnancy, investigating: (1) the prevalence and clinical characteristics of disease flares during pregnancy and (2) the pregnancy outcomes in a large cohort of Italian patients with BS.

Very Long-Term Follow-Up of Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using Cryoballoon for Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: An 8-Year Multicenter Experience.

Background: Cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation has become an established treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data on long-term outcomes beyond 5 years are scarce. This prospective analysis aimed to evaluate the long-term outcome after cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.

Redox Balance and Inflammatory Response in Follicular Fluids of Women Recovered by SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Anti-COVID-19 Vaccinated: A Combined Metabolomics and Biochemical Study.

To date, not many studies have presented evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infecting the female reproductive system. Furthermore, so far, no effect of the administration of anti-COVID 19 vaccines has been reported to affect the quality of oocytes retrieved from women who resorted to assisted reproduction technology (ART). The FF metabolic profiles of women who had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 before IVF treatments or after COVID-19 vaccination were examined by H NMR.

Fertility specialists' views, behavior, and attitudes towards the use of endometrial scratching in Italy.

Background: Endometrial scratching (ES) or injury is intentional damage to the endometrium performed to improve reproductive outcomes for infertile women desiring pregnancy. Moreover, recent systematic reviews with meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials demonstrated that ES is not effective, data on the safety are limited, and it should not be recommended in clinical practice. The aim of the current study was to assess the view and behavior towards ES among fertility specialists throughout infertility centers in Italy, and the relationship between these views and the attitudes towards the use of ES as an add-on in their commercial setting.

A Pilot Study on Biochemical Profile of Follicular Fluid in Breast Cancer Patients.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer among women in almost all countries worldwide and is one of the oncological pathologies for which is indicated fertility preservation, a type of procedure used to help keep a person's ability to have children. Follicular fluid (FF) is a major component of oocyte microenvironment, which is involved in oocyte growth, follicular maturation, and in communication between germ and somatic cells; furthermore, it accumulates all metabolites during oocytes growth. To obtain information about changes on fertility due to cancer, we aimed at investigating potential biomarkers to discriminate between FF samples obtained from 16 BC patients and 10 healthy women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments.

Are the Follicular Fluid Characteristics of Recovered Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients Different From Those of Vaccinated Women Approaching Fertilization?

The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate if SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection induce observable metabolic effects in follicular fluid of women who are following fertilization (IVF) treatments. The possible impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on fertility and IVF outcome is considered. We have selected for this study: six women vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 infection, five recovered COVID-19 patients, and we used nine healthy women as the control group.

Key characteristics for effective acute pulmonary vein isolation when using a novel cryoballoon technology: insights from the CHARISMA registry.

Purpose: A new cryoballoon (CB) technology (POLARx™; Boston Scientific) for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has recently been introduced. The aim of this study was to evaluate procedural and biophysical parameters resulting in acute PV isolation when using this new CB.

Methods: We assessed the first 69 consecutive patients indicated for AF ablation who underwent PV isolation by means of a novel CB system.

Metabolic changes in follicular fluids of patients treated with recombinant versus urinary human chorionic gonadotropin for triggering ovulation in assisted reproductive technologies: a metabolomics pilot study.

Introduction: The main goal of this retrospective cohort study is the assessment of the effects of administration of recombinant-hCG (r-hCG) versus urinary-hCG (u-hCG) on follicular fluid (FF) composition of women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.

Materials And Methods: We selected 70 patients with infertility attributable to tubal diseases, unexplained infertility, and male factor. Metabolomics analysis of their FFs was performed by H nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) spectroscopy in combination with multivariate analysis to interpret the spectral data.

A randomized controlled trial of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with prolonged atrioventricular interval: the REAL-CRT pilot study.

Aims: A prolonged PR interval is known to be associated with increased mortality and a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF). We tested the hypothesis that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is superior to conventional dual-chamber pacing with algorithms for right ventricular pacing avoidance (DDD-VPA) in preserving systolic and diastolic function and in preventing new-onset AF in patients with normal systolic function, indication for pacing and prolonged atrioventricular conduction (PR interval ≥220 ms).

Methods And Results: We randomly assigned 82 patients with ejection fraction >35%, indication for pacing and PR interval ≥220 ms to CRT or to DDD-VPA.

NMR metabolic profiling of follicular fluid for investigating the different causes of female infertility: a pilot study.

Introduction: Several metabolomics studies have correlated follicular fluid (FF) metabolite composition with oocyte competence to fertilization, embryo development and pregnancy but there is a scarcity of research examining the metabolic effects of various gynaecological diseases.

Objectives: In this study we aimed to analyze and correlate the metabolic profile of FF from women who were following in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments with their different infertility pathologies.

Methods: We selected 53 women undergoing IVF who were affected by: tubal diseases, unexplained infertility, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

NMR metabolomics study of follicular fluid in women with cancer resorting to fertility preservation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible application of metabolomics to identify follicular fluid changes in cancer patients undergoing fertility preservation. Although metabolomics have been applied already in cancer studies, this is the first application on follicular fluid of cancer patients.

Methods: We selected for the study ten patients with breast cancer and lymphoma who resorted to oocyte cryopreservation to preserve fertility and ten healthy women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments.

Safety and efficacy of atrial fibrillation ablation guided by Ablation Index module.

Purpose: Reconnection of pulmonary veins (PVs) remains common following radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Ablation Index (AI) is a novel ablation quality marker that incorporates stability, contact force (CF), time, and power in a weighted formula. Its use seems to improve lesion durability.

Adherence to 2016 European Society of Cardiology guidelines predicts outcome in a large real-world population of heart failure patients requiring cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Professional guidelines are based on the best available evidence. However, patients treated in clinical practice may differ from those included in reference trials.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in a large population of patients implanted with a CRT device stratified in accordance with the 2016 European heart failure (HF) guidelines.

Incidence, predictors, and impact on outcome of increased left ventricular latency in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Purpose: Latency during left ventricle (LV) pacing has been suggested as a potential cause of ineffectual biventricular pacing. We assessed the incidence, predictors, and impact on outcome of increased LV latency in 274 patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: On implantation, the latency interval was defined as the shortest stimulus-to-QRS onset interval in any lead of the 12-lead ECG.

Maximization of interventricular conduction time by means of quadripolar leads for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Purpose: Identifying the left ventricular (LV) site associated with the maximum spontaneous interventricular conduction time (right ventricle (RV)-to-LV interval) has proved to be an effective strategy for optimal LV pacing site selection in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The aim of our study was to determine whether quadripolar LV lead technology allows RV-to-LV interval maximization.

Methods: We enrolled 108 patients undergoing implantation of a CRT system using an LV quadripolar lead and 114 patients who received a bipolar lead.

GnRH antagonist administered twice the day before hCG trigger combined with a step-down protocol may prevent OHSS in IVF/ICSI antagonist cycles at risk for OHSS without affecting the reproductive outcomes: a prospective randomized control trial.

Purpose: The purpose this study is to investigate whether a double antagonist dose (0.25 mg/12 h) administered the day before hCG trigger is effective in preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in GnRH antagonist IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles at risk for OHSS.

Methods: This is a prospective randomized control study, conducted from November 2012 to January 2016.

Safety and efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation using a surround flow catheter with contact force measurement capabilities: A multicenter registry.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is the cornerstone of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Surround flow and contact force (CF) measurement capabilities might enhance procedure efficacy and safety. We report on the safety and midterm efficacy of a novel ablation catheter for PV isolation in patients with AF.

Effect of left atrial volume and pulmonary vein anatomy on outcome of nMARQ™ catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: Left atrial volume (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy may potentially relate to technical challenges in achieving stable and effective catheter position in case of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation by means of "one-shot" catheters. The aim of this study was to investigate whether LA volume and PV anatomy, evaluated by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) prior to ablation, predict acute and midterm outcome of AF ablation by nMARQ™.

Methods: We included 75 patients (mean age 58 ± 11 years, 67 % male) with symptomatic paroxysmal AF.

Inducibility of ventricular arrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia recurrences in patients with implantable defibrillator.

Introduction: We evaluated the potential ability of the electrophysiological (EP) inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias to predict the likelihood of appropriate ICD intervention over the long-term in ischemic and nonischemic patients with current primary prevention indications for ICD implantation.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2008, 206 consecutive heart failure patients who were candidates for ICD implantation for the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death according to standard indications underwent EP testing, usually on ICD implantation.

Results: On EP testing, 15 (7%) patients had inducible monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) and 14 (7%) ventricular fibrillation (VF).

Safety and efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation using a circular, open-irrigated mapping and ablation catheter: A multicenter registry.

Background: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is the cornerstone of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). "Single-shot" ablation devices have been recently engineered.

Objectives: We report on the safety and efficacy of a novel ablation catheter for PV isolation in patients with AF.

Interlead anatomic and electrical distance predict outcome in CRT patients.

Background: The implantation strategy appears to play a pivotal role in determining response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the association between anatomic and electrical interlead distance and clinical outcome after CRT implantation.

Methods: We included 216 first-time CRT recipients with left bundle branch block and sinus rhythm.