; for the Incremental Diagnostic Value of Amyloid PET With [ 18 F]-Florbetapir (INDIA-FBP) Working Group IMPORTANCE Cerebral amyloidosis is a key abnormality in Alzheimer disease (AD) and can be detected in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET) ligands. Although amyloid PET has clearly demonstrated analytical validity, its clinical utility is debated. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incremental diagnostic value of amyloid PET with florbetapir F 18 in addition to the routine clinical diagnostic assessment of patients evaluated for cognitive impairment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Incremental Diagnostic Value of Amyloid PET With [ 18 F]-Florbetapir (INDIA-FBP) Study is a multicenter study involving 18 AD evaluation units from eastern Lombardy, Northern Italy, 228 consecutive adults with cognitive impairment were evaluated for AD and other causes of cognitive decline, with a prescan diagnostic confidence of AD between 15% and 85%. Participants underwent routine clinical and instrumental diagnostic assessment. A prescan diagnosis was made, diagnostic confidence was estimated, and drug treatment was provided. At the time of this workup, an amyloid PET/computed tomographic scan was performed, and the result was communicated to physicians after workup completion. Physicians were asked to review the diagnosis, diagnostic confidence, and treatment after the scan. The study was conducted from August 5, 2013, to December 31, 2014. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Primary outcomes were prescan to postscan changes of diagnosis, diagnostic confidence, and treatment. RESULTS Of the 228 participants, 107 (46%) were male; mean (SD) age was 70.5 (7) years. Diagnostic change occurred in 46 patients (79%) having both a previous diagnosis of AD and an amyloid-negative scan (P < .001) and in 16 (53%) of those with non-AD diagnoses and an amyloid-positive scan (P < .001). Diagnostic confidence in AD diagnosis increased by 15.2% in amyloid-positive (P < .001; effect size Cohen d = 1.04) and decreased by 29.9% in amyloid-negative (P < .001; d = −1.19) scans. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine hydrochloride were introduced in 61 (65.6%) patients with positive scan results who had not previously received those drugs, and the use of the drugs was discontinued in 6 (33.3%) patients with negative scan results who were receiving those drugs (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Amyloid PET in addition to routine assessment in patients with cognitive impairment has a significant effect on diagnosis, diagnostic confidence, and drug treatment. The effect on health outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality, remains to be assessed.
Low education and lack of physical activity in late-life may affect the risk for malnutrition in the elderly. Further studies are needed to clarify the cause-effect relationship between lack of physical activity and malnutrition.
The results of the present study suggest that both good cognition and good nutritional status are associated with functional improvement in older persons. However, patients with poor cognition can also improve, depending on their degree of cognitive impairment, and they should not be routinely excluded from rehabilitation.
The Pfizer/BioNtech Comirnaty vaccine (BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19) against SARS-CoV-2 is currently in use in Italy. Antibodies to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to administration are not routinely tested; therefore, two doses may be administered to asymptomatic previously exposed subjects. The aim of this study is to assess if any difference in antibody concentration between subjects exposed and not exposed to SARS-CoV-2 prior to BNT162b2 was present after the first dose and after the second dose of vaccine. Data were retrospectively collected from the clinical documentation of 337 healthcare workers who underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing before and after BNT162b2. Total anti RBD (receptor-binding domain) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2′s spike protein were measured before and 21 days after the first dose, and 12 days after the second dose of BNT162b2. Twenty-one days after the first dose, there was a statistically significant difference in antibody concentration between the two groups, which was also maintained twelve days after the second dose. In conclusion, antibody response after receiving BNT162b2 is greater in subjects who have been previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2 than in subjects who have not been previously exposed to the virus, both after 21 days after the first dose and after 12 days from the second dose. Antibody levels, 21 days after the first dose, reached a titer considered positive by the test manufacturer in the majority of subjects who have been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Evaluating previous infection prior to vaccination in order to give the least effective number of doses should be considered.
Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in western countries and the first cause of mortality in women. Purpose Women generally do not concern about CVD and that represents the main risk for them. Methods Misericordia Hospital, Grosseto, started a Clinic of Health and Gender Medicine on 2017. On the first and third Monday of every month, we evaluate < 60 years patients who are at risk for traditional CVD, depression, early menopause, polycystic ovary, autoimmune and rheumatic disease. On the first visit, medical history, arterial pressure, electrocardiogram, body mass index, waist circumference and lipid profile, were collected. We also supply questionnaires to evaluate diabetes and depression risk by Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and food diary. Two weeks later, a multidisciplinary team (cardiologist-diabetologist-nutritionist-gynecologist-psychiatrist and a nurse) evaluates the patients defining the personal risk profile. Results From 2017 to December 2019, 74 females and 7 males belonging to the target population were examined. Age group: <45(61%), 46-50(26%), 51-60(48%), >60(19%). Clinical characteristics: Hypertension: 64%; Obesity 5%; Unknown dyslipidemia 44%; Risk of diabetes: 39%; Gestational diabetes: 5%; Gestational hypertension: 5% CVD risk: 42%; Depression: 33% Autoimmune disease: 30%. From them 60.5% have needed further investigation. Follow-up is going on. Conclusions according with the literature, more than 50% of the cohort was unconsciously at high risk of CVD. So a multidisciplinary approach is needed in order to frame a complex health status. Thus we established collaboration with patients to improve lifestyles as CVD-prevention's tool. Key messages Cardiovascular disease represent often an hidden health problem, especially in women. Multidisciplinary approach is needed to face CVD.
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