Neutrophil adherence within the gastric microcirculation is thought to be a major step in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal damage induced by indomethacin. Pentoxifylline, a methylxanthine derivative, prevents leukocyte adherence to vascular endothelium and protects organs from shock by reducing tumour necrosis factor a (TNFa) concentrations. Rats were treated with 20 mg/kg oral indomethacin, pretreated with vehicle or with four different doses of pentoxifylline intraperitoneally, and killed after three hours.

Laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) has been recently applied to pancreas in animal models for ablation purpose. Assessment of thermal effects due to the laser-pancreatic tissue interaction is a critical factor in validating the procedure feasibility and safety. A mathematical model based on bioheat equation and its experimental assessment was developed. The LITT procedure was performed on 40 ex vivo porcine pancreases, with an Nd:YAG (1064 nm) energy of 1000 J and power from 1.5 up to 10 W conveyed by a quartz optical fiber with 300 μm diameter. Six fiber Bragg grating sensors have been utilized to measure temperature distribution as a function of time at fixed distances from the applicator tip within pancreas undergoing LITT. Simulations and experiments show temperature variations Δ T steeply decreasing with distance from the applicator at higher power values: at 6 W, ∆T > 40 °C at 5 mm and Δ T is approximately equal to 5 °C at 10 mm. Δ T nonlinearly increases with power close to the applicator. Ablated and coagulated tissue volumes have also been measured and experimental results agree with theoretical ones. Despite the absence of data in the current literature on pancreas optical parameters, the model allowed a quite good prediction of thermal effects. The prediction of LITT effects on pancreas is necessary to assess laser dosimetry.

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Background A large proportion of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop severe respiratory failure requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and about 80% of them need mechanical ventilation (MV). These patients show great complexity due to multiple organ involvement and a dynamic evolution over time; moreover, few information is available about the risk factors that may contribute to increase the time course of mechanical ventilation. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the risk factors associated with the inability to liberate COVID-19 patients from mechanical ventilation. Due to the complex evolution of the disease, we analyzed both pulmonary variables and occurrence of non-pulmonary complications during mechanical ventilation. The secondary objective of this study was the evaluation of risk factors for ICU mortality. Methods This multicenter prospective observational study enrolled 391 patients from fifteen COVID-19 dedicated Italian ICUs which underwent invasive mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia. Clinical and laboratory data, ventilator parameters, occurrence of organ dysfunction, and outcome were recorded. The primary outcome measure was 28 days ventilator-free days and the liberation from MV at 28 days was studied by performing a competing risks regression model on data, according to the method of Fine and Gray; the event death was considered as a competing risk. Results Liberation from mechanical ventilation was achieved in 53.2% of the patients (208/391). Competing risks analysis, considering death as a competing event, demonstrated a decreased sub-hazard ratio for liberation from mechanical ventilation (MV) with increasing age and SOFA score at ICU admission, low values of PaO2/FiO2 ratio during the first 5 days of MV, respiratory system compliance (CRS) lower than 40 mL/cmH2O during the first 5 days of MV, need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and cardiovascular complications. ICU mortality during the observation period was 36.1% (141/391). Similar results were obtained by the multivariate logistic regression analysis using mortality as a dependent variable. Conclusions Age, SOFA score at ICU admission, CRS, PaO2/FiO2, renal and cardiovascular complications, and late-onset VAP were all independent risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19. Trial registration NCT04411459

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Background and aim: Optical diagnosis (OD) of colonic polyps is poorly reproducible outside high-volume referral centres. Present study aimed to assess whether real-time AI-assisted OD is accurate enough to implement the leave-in-situ strategy for diminutive (5mm) rectosigmoid (DRSPs) polyps. Methods: Consecutive colonoscopy outpatients with 5mm) rectosigmoid (DRSPs) polyps. Methods: Consecutive colonoscopy outpatients with >1 DRSP were included. DRSPs were categorized as adenomas or non-adenomas by the endoscopist, with different expertise in OD, with the assistance of real-time AI system (CADEYE, Fujifilm Co., Tokyo-Japan). Primary study endpoint was >90% negative predictive value (NPV) for adenomatous histology in high-confidence AI-assisted OD of DRSPs (Preservation and Incorporation of Valuable endoscopic Innovations (PIVI-1) threshold), with histopathology as reference standard. The agreement between optical- and histology-based post-polypectomy surveillance intervals (>90%, PIVI-2 threshold) was also calculated according to European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and United States Multi-Society Task Force (USMSTF) guidelines. Results: Overall 596 DRSPs were retrieved for histology in 389 patients; AI-assisted high-confidence OD was made in 92.3%. The NPV of AI-assisted OD for DRSPs (PIVI-1) was 91.0% (95%CI [87.1-93.9]%). PIVI-2 threshold was met in 97.4% (95%CI [95.7-98.9]%) and 92.6% (95%CI [90.0-95.2]%) of patients according to ESGE and USMSTF, respectively. The AI-assisted OD accuracy was significantly lower for non-experts (82.3%; 95% CI [76.4-87.3]%) than for experts (91.9%; 95%CI [88.5-94.5]%), however non-experts in OD quickly approached experts’ performances over time. Conclusion: AI-assisted OD matches the required PIVI thresholds. However, this does not offset the need for a high-level confidence and expertise by the endoscopist. The AI system seems to be useful especially for non-experts.

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Purpose The onset of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic in Italy induced a dramatic increase in the need for intensive care unit (ICU) beds for a large proportion of patients affected by COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aim of the present study was to describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 90 days after ICU discharge in a cohort of COVID-19 patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation and to compare it with an age and sex-matched sample from the general Italian and Finnish populations. Moreover, the possible associations between clinical, demographic, social factors, and HRQoL were investigated. Methods COVID-19 ARDS survivors from 16 participating ICUs were followed up until 90 days after ICU discharge and the HRQoL was evaluated with the 15D instrument. A parallel cohort of age and sex-matched Italian population from the same geographic areas was interviewed and a third group of matched Finnish population was extracted from the Finnish 2011 National Health survey. A linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate potential associations between the evaluated factors and HRQoL. Results 205 patients answered to the questionnaire. HRQoL of the COVID-19 ARDS patients was significantly lower than the matched populations in both physical and mental dimensions. Age, sex, number of comorbidities, ARDS class, duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, and occupational status were found to be significant determinants of the 90 days HRQoL. Clinical severity at ICU admission was poorly correlated to HRQoL. Conclusion COVID-19-related ARDS survivors at 90 days after ICU discharge present a significant reduction both on physical and psychological dimensions of HRQoL measured with the 15D instrument. Trial Registration: NCT04411459. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11136-021-02865-7.