Natural history outcome of moderate tricuspid regurgitation with preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: The long-term natural history of moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) patients with preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and without severe left-sided valvular heart disease (VHD) remains ambiguous. We aimed to assess the outcomes of patients with moderate TR, preserved LVEF and without concomitant severe left-sided VHD.

Methods: We evaluated patients diagnosed with moderate TR in our centers between 2012 and 2020.

Long-term survival after adult epilepsy surgery: Mortality and predictors in a large cohort.

Objective: Long-term survival data in adults undergoing surgery for drug-resistant focal epilepsy remain limited. We examined mortality patterns and predictors in a large cohort followed for over 30 years.

Methods: Adults who underwent epilepsy surgery (1990-2022) were analyzed.

Evolution of Surgical Approaches for Trigeminal Schwannomas: A Meta-Regression Analysis from Past to Present.

The surgical management of trigeminal schwannomas (TSs) has evolved considerably, with increasing interest in minimally invasive approaches. We performed a meta-regression analysis to characterise temporal trends in surgical strategies for TS and to explore factors influencing outcomes. This systematic review and meta-regression followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

TRK Inhibitors in Adult and Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Background: High-grade glioma (HGG) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor, with peak incidence in the fifth and sixth decades of life. Although HGG is rare in children, the prognosis remains poor, with a median overall survival (OS) of less than two years. Recently, TRK inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of tumors harboring NTRK gene fusions.

Heart Valve Centre Approach to Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation: Real-World Data and Outcomes.

Background: Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality but remains markedly undertreated. Optimal management strategies and the timing of intervention are still unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 476 patients with isolated symptomatic severe TR treated at our heart valve centre from 2018 to 2023.

Early Stroke Volume Variation After Transcatheter or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Low-Flow Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Little is known about stroke volume index (SVi) change and its prognostic implication in patients with low-flow aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) and conflicting results are present in literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative change in SVi and its impact on outcomes in patients with low-flow severe AS undergoing AVR.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of a high-volume tertiary care center including consecutive patients with low-flow (SVi ≤ 35 mL/m) severe AS who underwent AVR (either surgical or transcatheter) with available comprehensive pre- and post-AVR echocardiographic assessment.

In Vitro Validation of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) as an Effective Countermeasure Against Inflammatory-Mediated Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Background: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is the main contributor to chronic low back pain (LBP), the leading cause of disability worldwide, with a significant impact on the quality of life and health of common people. The etiology of IDD is still unclear, but it has been largely demonstrated the crucial role of inflammation and neuroinflammation in the pathological and degenerative cascade of events characterizing IVD degeneration.

Aim: In this study, we evaluated the potential therapeutic effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on human degenerated IVD (D-IVD) cells collected from patients who underwent discectomy.

Exploring the relationship between dystonia and STN-DBS in Parkinson's disease: insights from a single-centre cohort.

Introduction: Motor side effects may emerge after deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Out of 60 PD patients, we observed 16 patients displaying de novo dystonic symptoms after the implantation and 11 dystonic PD patients without benefit from the stimulation. We hypothesized that a common neural pathway may cause dystonia in both conditions.

Optimal MGMT promoter methylation cut-off to predict better survival in glioblastoma patients undergoing gross-total resection.

Background: O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter percentage of methylation in gliomas has been proved to be the most important predictive factor in temozolomide (TMZ) response. Nevertheless, an agreement about the cut-off to discriminate between a "methylated" and "unmethylated" status has not been reached yet. Many reports have analyzed the correlation between methylated status cut-off and survival, but they lacked sample homogeneity.

Spheno-orbital meningiomas: predictors of recurrence and novel strategies for surgical management.

Objective: Spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOMs) represent approximately 2%-9% of tumors affecting the sphenoid wings. The main challenge in treating these meningiomas is achieving gross-total resection (GTR) due to the hyperostosis, which is pathognomonic. This study explored potential correlations between the recurrence rate of SOM and the extent of resection (EOR) of both the bony tumor portion (BTP) and soft tumor portion (STP).

Prevalence, clinical characterization, management and evolution of bicuspid aortic valve classified according to the 2021 International Consensus Statement in a tertiary care hospital.

Objectives: The 2021 International Consensus for the congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) condition recognizes 3 morphologies of BAV (fused, two-sinus and partial-fusion) and 3 types of aortopathy (ascending, root and extended). The clinical impact of BAV phenotyping on aortopathy evolution has not been evaluated so far. The aims were to assess: (i) prevalence of BAV phenotypes; (ii) frequency of BAV-related aortic valve dysfunction and aortopathy; and (iii) inter-phenotypic differences in aortopathy progression in a real-world population.

Cortico-hippocampal networks underpin verbal memory encoding in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Knowledge of the structural underpinnings of human verbal memory is scarce. Understanding the human verbal memory network at a finer anatomical scale will have important clinical implications for the management of patients with verbal memory impairment. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the contributions of cerebral cortex and hippocampal subfields to verbal memory encoding in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Incidence, predictors, and sex differences in acute coronary syndrome overdiagnosis among patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain.

Background: In the era of high-sensitivity troponin assays, overdiagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has become increasingly common, overriding underdiagnosis and carrying a burden of healthcare issues. This study aimed to assess the incidence, predictors, and sex differences in ACS overdiagnosis among patients presenting with chest pain (CP) to the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Consecutive CP patients presenting at the ED were included.

Reappraising prediction of surgical complexity of non-functioning pituitary adenomas after transsphenoidal surgery: the modified TRANSSPHER grade.

Purpose: Prognostication of surgical complexity is crucial for optimizing decision-making and patient counseling in pituitary surgery. This study aimed to develop a clinical score to predict gross-total resection (GTR) in non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) using externally validated machine-learning (ML) models.

Methods: Clinical and radiological data were collected from two tertiary medical centers.

Diabetic ketoacidosis with central nervous system involvement: Conventional and advanced magnetic resonance neuroimaging findings.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication in children with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1). In rare and severe cases DKA may be complicated by cerebral edema, central brain herniation and cerebral infarctions. We present the magnetic resonance imaging findings in a child with DKA and central nervous system involvement; diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MRI (fMRI) were performed to assess the white matter integrity of sensory pathways and cortical sensory processing.

Quantification of Mitral Regurgitation in Mitral Valve Prolapse by Three-Dimensional Vena Contracta Area: Derived Cutoff Values and Comparison With Two-Dimensional Multiparametric Approach.

Background: Echocardiographic grading of mitral regurgitation (MR) in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is challenging. Three-dimensional (3D) vena contracta area (VCA) has been proposed as a valuable method. However, data defining the cutoff values of severity and validation in the subset of patients with MVP are scarce.