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Many studies have pointed out that inflammation plays a pivotal role in pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) because several inflammatory molecules impair the endothelial functions in the coronary circulation and promote atherothrombotic events. Recently, many clinical/experimental evidences indicate that elevated plasma levels of uric acid (UA) might be considered a risk factor for developing ACS. It has been reported that elevated UA doses impair physiologic functions of endothelial cells, shifting them toward a pro atherothrombotic phenotype. In the present manuscript, we investigated the relationship between UA plasma levels, inflammatory burden, and extension of coronary atherosclerotic disease in patients with ACS. Patients with a clinical presentation of ACS (ST-elevated and non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction) admitted to the Vanvitelli Catheterization Laboratory at Monaldi Hospital in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemia, were retrospectively analyzed. Biochemical profile, type of ACS presentation, as well as extension of coronary atherosclerosis were assessed. A total of 132 ACS patients were included in the analysis, and grouped into 3 tertiles according to the UA values (UA < 4.72 mg/dl, UA between 4.72 and 6.15 mg/dl, and UA > 6.15 mg/dl). Patients with UA plasma levels ≥ 6.15 mg/dL showed higher levels of C-reactive protein (mean of 5.1 mg/dL) as compared to patients with lower UA plasma levels. Moreover, the former group of patients showed higher levels of cardiac troponin and CPK, and presented more often with multivessel disease and complex coronary stenosis (type C of Ellis classification). Even though monocentric and with limited sample size, the present study shows that plasma levels of UA and hs-CRP are elevated in ACS patients and are associated with a more severe coronary disease, suggesting a potential role of UA in the pathophysiology of acute coronary events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several lines of evidence have clearly indicated that inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis and of its thrombotic complications such as acute coronary syndromes or ischemic stroke. Thus, it has been postulated that the use of anti-inflammatory agents might be extremely useful to improve cardiovascular outcome. Recently, increasing attention has been reserved to one of the oldest plant-derived drugs still in use in clinical practice, colchicine that has been used as drug to treat inflammatory diseases such gout or Mediterranean fever. To date, current guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology have included colchicine as first line choice for treatment of acute and recurrent pericarditis. Moreover, several studies have investigated its role in the clinical scenarios of cardiovascular disease including chronic and acute coronary syndromes with promising results. In this review, starting from a description of the mechanism(s) involved behind its anti-inflammatory effects, we give an overview on its potential effects in atherothrombosis and finally present an updated overview of clinical evidence on the role of this drug in cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of ischemic events carried by different clusters of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in the setting of secondary prevention is not definite and the association between DM and bleeding complications is controversial. We explored these issues in the START-ANTIPLATELET, a multicenter Italian registry including acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Study outcome was 1-year incidence of the net composite endpoint including major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or any bleeding and its individual components across different DM strata (no DM, DM with or without insulin). Out of 951 patients, 20.0% had diabetes not on insulin and 2.5% had diabetes on insulin. The rate of the net composite endpoint was highest in patients receiving insulin (39.4 per 100 person-years vs 11.7 in diabetic patients not on insulin vs 14.0 in those without DM; p = 0.007). In DM, the higher risk of MACE was regardless of insulin use (p = 0.36). Conversely, the increase in bleeding complications was limited to patients on insulin (Hazard Ratio 2.31, 95% CI 0.93-5.71 vs no DM; p = 0.0105 across DM strata). On top of aspirin, the rates of the net composite endpoint were similar with ticagrelor/prasugrel or clopidogrel irrespective of DM status (p for interaction 0.63). In conclusion, in ACS patients, type 2 DM enhances the risk of MACE regardless of the DM cluster, whereas the propensity to bleeding related to DM seems confined to insulin-treated patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiotepa is an alkylating compound with an antineoplastic and myeloablative activity and can mimic the effect of radiation. However, it is unknown whether this new regimen could safely replace the longestablished ones. This retrospective matched-pair analysis evaluated the outcome of adults with acute myeloid leukaemia in first complete remission who received myeloablative conditioning either with a thiotepa-based (n = 121) or a cyclophosphamide/total body irradiation-based (TBI; n = 358) regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an HLA-matched sibling or an unrelated donor. With a median follow-up of 44 months, the outcome was similar in both groups. Acute graft-versus-host disease grade II-IV was observed in 25% after thiotepa-containing regimen versus 35% after TBI (P = 0.06). The 2-yr cumulative incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease was 40.5% for thiotepa and 41% for TBI (P = 0.98). At 2 yrs, the cumulative incidences of non-relapse mortality and relapse incidence were 23.9% (thiotepa) vs. 22.4% (TBI; P = 0.66) and 17.2% (thiotepa) vs. 23.3% (TBI; P = 0.77), respectively. The probabilities of leukaemia-free and overall survival at 2 yrs were not significantly different between the thiotepa and TBI groups, at 58.9% vs. 54.2% (P = 0.95) and 61.4% vs. 58% (P = 0.72), respectively. Myeloablative regimens using combinations including thiotepa can provide satisfactory outcomes, but the optimal conditioning remains unclear for the individual patient in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental cysts are very rare lesions occurring in the retrorectal space, and include epidermoid, dermoid, tailgut cysts and teratomas. There is little information on their natural history and biologic behavior, although a recent paper reported a greater incidence of malignant transformation than previously thought. The diagnosis requires high-resolution imaging, and complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice. In this paper we analyzed short- and long-term results of surgical excision of six retrorectal developmental cysts observed at our institution over a period of 11 years. All patients were women, three were referred with an infected perineal fistula/pelvic abscess after having undergone drainage surgery elsewhere. In these three patients, excision was attempted through a trans-perineal approach, which was technically demanding and ultimately incomplete because of the intense surrounding inflammation. Multiple re-interventions were required for tumor recurrence, and two of them still present an occasional perineal discharge. In the other three patients, a trans-perineal or trans-anal route was employed according to tumor location, without any recurrence at a median follow-up of 118.5 months. Final pathologic diagnosis included five tailgut cysts and one teratoma. This paper shows that the treatment of developmental cysts may be very challenging, especially when they are associated with a concomitant fistula/abscess and are not correctly diagnosed at presentation. In our experience, healing was finally achieved in four patients out of six. All the lesions were benign, and no malignant transformation was observed during follow-up, even in tumors partially resected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staging and monitoring of multiple myeloma (MM) is mainly based on monoclonal component quantification; the absence of such a parameter renders difficult follow up of patients with nonsecretory MM (nsMM). In this study our aims were to determine the specificity and sensitivity of Tc99m-sestaMIBI scintigraphy at diagnosis and during follow up of nsMM patients. Nine nsMM patients were prospectively studied at diagnosis and during treatment for a mean time of 33 months (range: 12–65+). Tc99m-sestaMIBI (MIBI) scintigraphy was compared to conventional imaging (CI: X ray with CAT or NMR details) at diagnosis and during follow up. At diagnosis, CI and MIBI were concordant in three patients; CI showed more focal lesions than MIBI in four patients, while MIBI revealed more focal lesions than CI in two patients. During the follow up, MIBI uptake was normal in the four patients who achieved remission. Five patients did not achieve remission: CI and MIBI were concordant in three, while MIBI was falsely negative in two patients. In conclusion, Tc99m-sestaMIBI scintigraphy has high sensitivity (no false positive cases) and 78% specificity (2/9 false negative cases) in tracing active nsMM lesions; it should be considered complementary to CI for monitoring this rare disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian failure is a frequent complication occurring after haematopoietic stem cell transplantion (SCT), which is generally ascribed to radiation treatment and antiblastic alkylating agents.Methods: Ovarian morphology and function were studied in reproductive age women 12-24 months after allogeneic SCT (n = 23) received from an HLA identical sibling, or autologous SCT (n = 22). Thirteen allo-transplanted women were suffering from chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).Results: Menstrual cycles recovered in two and four women in the allo- and auto-SCT groups respectively, being associated with younger age and longer period elapsed from transplant. There was no difference in previous use of alkylating agents between allo- and auto-transplantation, while corticosteroid treatment was longer and more recent in the allo-SCT group. Significantly higher gonadotrophin levels and lower estradiol were seen in the combined group of patients than in controls. In allo-transplanted women, androgens were also significantly lower than in controls. Ovarian and uterine volumes were lower in patients than in controls, and in the allo- than in the auto-transplanted women. Within the allo-SCT group, endocrine function and ovarian and uterine volumes were significantly lower in the patients suffering from cGVHD.Conclusions: Ovarian failure in SCT recipients is likely to be caused principally by myelo-ablative treatments, but the condition of gonadal and androgen insufficiency can be worsened by an altered immunomodulation in allogeneic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the case report concerning the treatment of multiple myeloma with conventional chemotherapy. Administration of cyclophosphamide pulses in patients with multiple myeloma; Identification of adult age affected by the disease; Response and tolerance of patients to the treatment.

Elderly patients with untreated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, n = 47) tested the feasibility of out-patient consolidation therapy and post-consolidation treatment (for patients aged < 71 years) with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). Overall, 13 patients out of 24 (51%) who achieved complete remission (CR) were eligible for further treatment after consolidation. Five patients were primed with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF); a suitable number of CD34+ cells were harvested in three patients and were actually autotransplanted. The toxicity of APBSCT was negligible. Psychosocial problems impaired treatment of some patients on an out-patient basis. Resistant disease, toxicity and logistic problems reduced the number of patients to whom this procedure could actually be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the treatment of patients with cardiac immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis through mobilization of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells.