Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

About: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart is a education organization based out in Milan, Lombardia, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 13592 authors who have published 31048 publications receiving 853961 citations.

The role for high flow nasal cannula as a respiratory support strategy in adults: a clinical practice guideline

Abstract: Purpose: High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a relatively recent respiratory support technique which delivers high flow, heated and humidified controlled concentration of oxygen via the nasal route. Recently, its use has increased for a variety of clinical indications. To guide clinical practice, we developed evidence-based recommendations regarding use of HFNC in various clinical settings. Methods: We formed a guideline panel composed of clinicians, methodologists and experts in respiratory medicine. Using GRADE, the panel developed recommendations for four actionable questions. Results: The guideline panel made a strong recommendation for HFNC in hypoxemic respiratory failure compared to conventional oxygen therapy (COT) (moderate certainty), a conditional recommendation for HFNC following extubation (moderate certainty), no recommendation regarding HFNC in the peri-intubation period (moderate certainty), and a conditional recommendation for postoperative HFNC in high risk and/or obese patients following cardiac or thoracic surgery (moderate certainty). Conclusions: This clinical practice guideline synthesizes current best-evidence into four recommendations for HFNC use in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure, following extubation, in the peri-intubation period, and postoperatively for bedside clinicians.

Treatment of refractory chronic GVHD with rituximab: a GITMO study.

Abstract: The anti-CD20 chimaeric monoclonal antibody Rituximab has recently been shown to induce significant clinical response in a proportion of patients with refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). We now report 38 patients, median age 48 years (22-61), receiving Rituximab for refractory cGVHD, assessed for clinical response and survival. Median duration of cGVHD before Rituximab was 23 months (range 2-116), the median number of failed treatment lines was 3 (range 1 to > or =6) and the median follow-up after Rituximab was 11 months (1-88). Overall response rate was 65%: skin 17/20 (63%), mouth 10/21 (48%), eyes 6/14 (43%), liver 3/12 (25%), lung 3/8 (37.5%), joints 4/5, gut 3/4, thrombocytopaenia 2/3, vagina 0/2, pure red cell aplasia 0/1 and, myasthenia gravis 1/1. During the study period 8/38 died: causes of death were cGVHD progression (n=3), disease relapse (n=1), infection (n=3), sudden death (n=1). The actuarial 2 year survival is currently 76%. We confirm that Rituximab is effective in over 50% of patients with refractory cGVHD and may have a beneficial impact on survival.

CEO Compensation, Family Control and Institutional Investors in Continental Europe

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of family control and institutional investors on CEO pay packages in Continental Europe, using a large data set of 915 listed firms with 4,045 firm-year observations from 14 countries over the period 2001-2008. We find that family control curbs the level of CEO total compensation which includes both cash and equity-based compensation. This effect is particularly accentuated in firms with family CEOs, indicating that controlling families do not use CEO compensation to expropriate wealth from minority shareholders. We also find that the impact of institutional ownership on CEO compensation varies depending on whether institutional investors are foreign or domestic. Our results show that domestic institutional investors play an active role in determining the level of CEO compensation by increasing the pay-for-performance sensitivity, while foreign institutional ownership increase CEO total compensation without aligning pay with performance. We also provide evidence that institutional investors partially counterbalance the negative effect of family control on CEO compensation, especially in family firms with professional CEOs, and increase the level of CEO total compensation.

A multicenter multinational study of abdominal candidiasis: epidemiology, outcomes and predictors of mortality

Abstract: Clinical data on patients with intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) is still scarce. We collected data from 13 hospitals in Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Greece over a 3-year period (2011–2013) including patients from ICU, medical, and surgical wards. A total of 481 patients were included in the study. Of these, 27 % were hospitalized in ICU. Mean age was 63 years and 57 % of patients were male. IAC mainly consisted of secondary peritonitis (41 %) and abdominal abscesses (30 %); 68 (14 %) cases were also candidemic and 331 (69 %) had concomitant bacterial infections. The most commonly isolated Candida species were C. albicans (n = 308 isolates, 64 %) and C. glabrata (n = 76, 16 %). Antifungal treatment included echinocandins (64 %), azoles (32 %), and amphotericin B (4 %). Septic shock was documented in 40.5 % of patients. Overall 30-day hospital mortality was 27 % with 38.9 % mortality in ICU. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age (OR 1.05, 95 % CI 1.03–1.07, P < 0.001), increments in 1-point APACHE II scores (OR 1.05, 95 % CI 1.01–1.08, P = 0.028), secondary peritonitis (OR 1.72, 95 % CI 1.02–2.89, P = 0.019), septic shock (OR 3.29, 95 % CI 1.88–5.86, P < 0.001), and absence of adequate abdominal source control (OR 3.35, 95 % CI 2.01–5.63, P < 0.001) were associated with mortality. In patients with septic shock, absence of source control correlated with mortality rates above 60 % irrespective of administration of an adequate antifungal therapy. Low percentages of concomitant candidemia and high mortality rates are documented in IAC. In patients presenting with septic shock, source control is fundamental.