Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) represents a global healthcare issue affecting the emotional and life quality of breast cancer survivors significantly. The clinical presentation is characterized by swelling of the affected upper limb, that may be accompanied by atrophic skin findings, pain and recurrent cellulitis. Cardinal principles of lymphedema management are the use of complex decongestive therapy and patient education. Recently, new microsurgery procedures have been reported with interesting results, bringing in a new opportunity to care postmastectomy lymphedema. However, many aspects of the disease are still debated in the medical community, including clinical examination, imaging techniques, patient selection and proper treatment. Here we will review these aspects and the current literature.
Adherence to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is essential for preventing and managing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Participation in CR reduces all-cause mortality by 27% and cardiac deaths by 31% and lowers rehospitalization rates while also improving functional capacity and quality of life. However, many patients do not start, complete, or maintain CR, resulting in reduced functional abilities, a higher risk of recurring events, and poorer long-term outcomes. This narrative review summarizes patterns of adherence to exercise and CR in CVD, with a specific focus on sex- and gender-related differences in referral, participation, and completion. We synthesize evidence on biological, psychological, and social barriers that limit engagement and describe emerging strategies, such as technology-enabled and home-based programs, multidisciplinary care, and family-centered models, to enhance adherence. Finally, we propose a practical, gender-aware framework for CR design and delivery that can be adjusted and evaluated across diverse healthcare settings to guide clinical practice and future research.
(1) Background: Assessment of right ventricular (RV) function has become increasingly important in echocardiography due to its prognostic significance in cardiac and systemic diseases. (2) Objectives: Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) and Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI S′) are commonly used methods to assess RV function. The aim of this study was to compare the reproducibility of TAPSE and TDI S′ among experienced operators. (3) Methods: A study was conducted on 100 consecutive patients with systemic sclerosis undergoing echocardiography evaluation screening for pulmonary hypertension. Standardized echocardiography images were acquired using a Philips EPIQ system (Philips Healthcare, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), measuring TAPSE and TDI S′. Five operators independently analyzed the images, with each blinded to the results. Exclusion criteria included pathological TAPSE or TDI S′ values, as well as indirect echocardiography signs of pulmonary hypertension. (4) Results: The study’s results indicate that there was superior inter-operator agreement for TDI S′ (ICC = 0.891) compared to TAPSE (ICC = 0.47). The mean TAPSE measurements ranged from 23.49 mm to 23.99 mm, while TDI S′ values ranged from 12.16 cm/s to 12.35 cm/s, with TDI S′ showing narrower confidence intervals. (5) Conclusions: Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular (RV) function is crucial in clinical practice. Tissue Doppler imaging-derived systolic velocity (TDI S′) demonstrated superior reproducibility compared to tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) in evaluating RV function. This enhanced reproducibility supports the routine incorporation of TDI S′ as a highly reproducible parameter within a multiparametric assessment framework.
1 November 2018 in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open