Evaluation of Correlations between Genetic Variants and High-Resolution Computed Tomography Patterns in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD). This prospective observational study aimed at the evaluation of any correlation between genetic variants associated with IPF susceptibility and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns. It also aimed at evidencing any differences in the HRTC pattern between the familial and sporadic form at diagnosis and after two years. METHODS: A total of 65 IPF patients (mean age at diagnosis 65 ± 10) were enrolled after having given written informed consent. HRCT and genetic evaluations were performed. RESULTS: A total of 19 familial (mean age 62 ± 15) and 46 sporadic (mean age 70 ± 9) IPF patients were enrolled. A statistically significant difference was evidenced in the HRTC pattern at diagnosis between the two groups. Sporadic IPF patients had a predominantly usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern compared with those patients with familial IPF (60.0% vs. 21.1%, respectively). Moreover, familial IPF patients had more alternative diagnoses than those with sporadic IPF (31.6% vs. 2.2%, respectively). Furthermore, there was a slight increase in the typical UIP pattern in the familial IPF group at two years from diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic factors play a pivotal role in the risk of developing IPF. However, further studies are required to clarify how these genetic factors may guide clinical treatment decisions.

Endovascular Interventional Radiology of the Urogenital Tract.

Interventional radiology of the male urogenital system includes percutaneous and endovascular procedures, and these last consist mostly of transcatheter arterial embolizations. At the kidney level, arterial embolizations are performed mainly for palliative treatment of parenchymal tumors, for renal traumas and, less frequently, for arteriovenous fistulas and renal aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms. These latter may often require emergency intervention as they can cause renal or peri-renal hematomas or significant hematuria. Transcatheter arterial embolization is also an effective therapy for intractable severe bladder hematuria secondary to a number of neoplastic and inflammatory conditions in the pelvis, including unresectable bladder cancer and radiation-induced or cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. Endovascular interventional procedures for the penis are indicated for the treatment of post-traumatic priapism. In this article, we review the main endovascular radiological interventions of the male urogenital system, describing the technical aspects, results, and complications of each procedure at the various anatomical districts.

Burden of ventricular arrhythmias at 12-lead 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring in middle-aged endurance athletes versus sedentary controls.

BACKGROUND: Whether prolonged and intense exercise increases the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in middle-aged athletes remains to be established. DESIGN: Prospective, case-control. METHODS: We studied 134 healthy competitive athletes >30 years old (median age 45 (39-51) years, 83% males) who had been engaged in 9 ± 2 h per week of endurance sports activity (running, cycling, triathlon) for 13 ± 4 consecutive years. One hundred and thirty-four age- and gender-matched individuals served as controls. Both groups underwent 12-lead 24-h ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring, which included a training session in athletes. Ventricular arrhythmias were evaluated in terms of number, complexity (i.e. couplet, triplet or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia), exercise-inducibility and morphology. RESULTS: Thirty-five (26%) athletes and 31 (23%) controls showed >10 isolated premature ventricular beats or ≥1 complex ventricular arrhythmia ( p = 0.53). Athletes with ventricular arrhythmias were older (median 48 versus 43 years old, p = 0.03) but did not differ with regard to hours of training and years of activity compared with athletes without ventricular arrhythmias. Ten (7%) athletes and six (5%) controls showed >500 premature ventricular beats/24 h ( p = 0.30): the most common ventricular arrhythmia morphologies were infundibular (six athletes and five controls) and fascicular (two athletes and one control). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias at 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring did not differ between middle-aged athletes and sedentary controls and was unrelated to the amount and duration of exercise. These findings do not support the hypothesis that endurance sports activity increases the burden of ventricular arrhythmias. Among individuals with frequent premature ventricular beats, the predominant ectopic QRS morphologies were consistent with the idiopathic and benign nature of the arrhythmia.

Ventricular Arrhythmias in Young Competitive Athletes: Prevalence, Determinants, and Underlying Substrate.

BACKGROUND: Whether ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) represent a feature of the adaptive changes of the athlete's heart remains elusive. We aimed to assess the prevalence, determinants, and underlying substrates of VAs in young competitive athletes. METHOD AND RESULTS: We studied 288 competitive athletes (age range, 16-35 years; median age, 21 years) and 144 sedentary individuals matched for age and sex who underwent 12-lead 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. VAs were evaluated in terms of number, complexity (ie, couplet, triplet, or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia), exercise inducibility, and morphologic features. Twenty-eight athletes (10%) and 13 sedentary individuals (11%) showed >10 isolated premature ventricular beats (PVBs) or ≥1 complex VA (P=0.81). Athletes with >10 isolated PVBs or ≥1 complex VA were older (median age, 26 versus 20 years; P=0.008) but did not differ with regard to type of sport, hours of training, and years of activity compared with the remaining athletes. All athletes with >10 isolated PVBs or ≥1 complex VA had a normal echocardiographic examination; 17 of them showing >500 isolated PVBs, exercise-induced PVBs, and/or complex VA underwent additional cardiac magnetic resonance, which demonstrated nonischemic left ventricular late gadolinium enhancement in 3 athletes with right bundle branch block PVBs morphologic features. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of >10 isolated PVBs or ≥1 complex VA at 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring did not differ between young competitive athletes and sedentary individuals and was unrelated to type, intensity, and years of sports practice. An underlying myocardial substrate was uncommon and distinctively associated with right bundle branch block VA morphologic features.