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In the context of hospitalization for acute heart failure (AHF), patients' characteristics and outcome depending on the department of management (cardiologic or cardiogeriatric) are unknown. The aims of this study were to determine the profile and the outcome (rehospitalizations at 90 days) of patients hospitalized for HF in the Val de Marne area, a district in the suburbs of Paris, depending on whether they were hospitalized in cardiology or in a specific cardiogeriatric centre; and to analyze the modes and the precipitating factors triggering rehospitalizations in the two type of centre. We conducted the ICREX-94 observatory within seven French cardiologic departments and three specific cardiogeriatric departments in the Val de Marne district, France. 308 patients were hospitalized for AHF between October 2017 and January 2019. During the 3 months following discharge, 52 (17%) patients were rehospitalized for AHF. Compared with patients hospitalized in cardiogeriatric centre, patients from cardiologic department were younger (P < 0.001), with better autonomy (living less often alone or in institution) (P < 0.001), less often depressive (P < 0.001), with less often major neurocognitive disorder (P < 0.001), had worse Human Development Index (HDI, P < 0.001), and had more frequent amyloidosis diagnosed (P < 0.001). There was no difference for the outcome whether patients were discharged from a cardiologic or a cardiogeriatric centre. The more frequent precipitating factors underlying AHF decompensation between the first and second hospitalization were an arrhythmia, infection and very severe patients. Compared to cardiogeriatric centres, AHF patients discharged from cardiologic centers had clinical differences, but we found that they had the same prognosis regarding AHF rehospitalization at 90 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In potential living kidney donors, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is often evaluated from the creatinine clearance (Ccr) or is predicted using formulas based on serum creatinine (SCr) or cystatin C (SCys) concentration. Ultrasonography is used to evaluate renal structure and dimensions. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of estimation of GFR from echographic renal dimensions in 66 potential live kidney donors (46 women and 20 men; age range, 25–73 years). The GFR was measured as the renal clearance of technetium 99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid. The GFR was also estimated from the SCr concentration using the Cockcroft-Gault (CG-Ccr) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD-GFR) formulas and from SCys (Cys-GFR). Renal diameters were measured using conventional gray-scale renal ultrasound to estimate total and parenchymal renal volume using ellipsoid formulas. The GFR was predicted from renal dimensions on the basis of their relationship to measured GFR. Estimates of GFR obtained using renal volume more close correlated with measured GFR than did CG-Ccr, MDRD-GFR, or Cys-GFR. The mean difference from measured GFR was null. The GFR estimated from renal volume demonstrated better agreement with measured GFR and a lower prediction error vs values from the other prediction formulas (18.3 vs 22–34 mL/min). The GFR values predicted from renal volume were quite accurate as indicators of GFR less than 80 mL/min. In potential living kidney donors, sonographic renal volume provided more accurate estimates of GFR, with lower prediction error, compared with formulas based on SCr or SCys. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a research study about the role of beta-glucan in the treatment of women with recurrent vulvar candidiasis or previously treated with diathermocoagulation (DTC) for human papillomavirus (HPV)-correlated lesions and in the reparative process of epidermis. The women subjects in this study were recruited at the U.S. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital of Rome. Results showed five percent and three percent of recurrence of candidiasis or lesions secondary to HPV infection in both study groups.

References: Several studies have shown a relationship between BISH and cerebrovascular events, but no studies have investigated a relationship with cognitive function. The aim was to assess the cognitive function in the elderly with recent BISH. According to WHO Guidelines (1999), we selected 10 elderly normotensives, 10 elderly with recently diagnosed (<2 years) BISH, and 10 elderly with recently diagnosed (<2 years) isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). They were submitted to 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) and to cognitive assessment by mini mental state examination (MMSE) and the recording of brain ERP, of type N2 and P300. The elderly with BISH, compared to normotensives, showed N2 wave latency values significantly higher, but similar P300 potential latency values and MMSE scores. The elderly with ISH showed N2 and P300 latency significantly higher than the normotensives. The gradual increase of the ERP latency values of the BISH and ISH elderly, in comparison to the normotensives, seems to indicate a gradual alteration of the cognitive processes related to the increase of BP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]