Role of advanced CMR features in identifying a positive genotype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiovascular disease that affects approximately one in 500 people. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has emerged as a powerful tool for the non-invasive assessment of HCM. CMR can accurately quantify the extent and distribution of hypertrophy, assess the presence and severity of myocardial fibrosis, and detect associated abnormalities.

STress computed tomogRaphy perfusion and stress cArdiac magnetic resonance for ThE manaGement of suspected or known coronarY artery disease: resources and outcomes impact.

Background: The aim of this study is to describe resources and outcomes of coronary computed tomography angiography plus Stress CT perfusion (CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP) and stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (Stress-CMR) in symptomatic patients with suspected or known CAD.

Methods: Six hundred and twenty-four consecutive symptomatic patients with intermediate to high-risk pretest likelihood for CAD or previous history of revascularization referred to our hospital for clinically indicated CCTA ​+ ​Stress-CTP or Stress-CMR were enrolled. Stress-CTP scans were performed in 223 patients while 401 patients performed Stress-CMR.

Persimmon Fiber-Rich Ingredients Promote Anti-Inflammatory Responses and the Growth of Beneficial Anti-Inflammatory Firmicutes Species from the Human Colon.

Persimmon fruit processing-derived waste and by-products, such as peels and pomace, are important sources of dietary fiber and phytochemicals. Revalorizing these by-products could help promote circular nutrition and agricultural sustainability while tackling dietary deficiencies and chronic diseases. In this study, fiber-rich fractions were prepared from the by-products of Sharoni and Brilliant Red persimmon varieties.

Dynamic trend of lung fluid movement during exercise in heart failure: From lung imaging to alveolar-capillary membrane function.

Background: In chronic heart failure (HF), exercise-induced increase in pulmonary capillary pressure may cause an increase of pulmonary congestion, or the development of pulmonary oedema. We sought to assess in HF patients the exercise-induced intra-thoracic fluid movements, by measuring plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), lung comets and lung diffusion for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and nitric oxide (DLNO), as markers of hemodynamic load changes, interstitial space and alveolar-capillary membrane fluids, respectively.

Methods And Results: Twenty-four reduced ejection fraction HF patients underwent BNP, lung comets and DLCO/DLNO measurements before, at peak and 1 h after the end of a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test.

Immediate prepectoral breast reconstruction in nipple-sparing mastectomy with Wise-pattern incision in large and ptotic breasts: Our experience and short-term results.

Introduction: Current breast cancer treatment trends advocate nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) as the preferred technique for selected patients. A considerable and ptotic breast is often considered a relative contraindication for NSM due to the increased risk of skin and nipple necrosis.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed for patients who underwent immediate prepectoral breast reconstruction (PPBR) after NSM with Wise-pattern incision between February 2020 and February 2023 at our institution.

Increased prevalence of kidney cysts in individuals carrying heterozygous COL4A3 or COL4A4 pathogenic variants.

Background: Clinical variability among individuals with heterozygous pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in the COL4A3/COL4A4 genes (also called autosomal dominant Alport syndrome or COL4A3/COL4A4-related disorder) is huge; many individuals are asymptomatic or show microhematuria, while others may develop proteinuria and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of simple kidney cysts (KC) in the general population varies according to age, and patients with advanced CKD are prone to have them. A possible association between heterozygous COL4A3, COL4A4 and COL4A5 P/LP variants and KC has been described in small cohorts.

We are what we eat: The role of lipids in metabolic diseases.

Lipids play a fundamental role, both structurally and functionally, for the correct functioning of the organism. In the last two decades, they have evolved from molecules involved only in energy storage to compounds that play an important role as components of cell membranes and signaling molecules that regulate cell homeostasis. For this reason, their interest as compounds involved in human health has been gaining weight.

Characterization of Human Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue and Validation of the Banking Procedure for Autologous Transplantation.

Adipose tissue (AT) is composed of a heterogeneous population which comprises both progenitor and differentiated cells. This heterogeneity allows a variety of roles for the AT, including regenerative functions. In fact, autologous AT is commonly used to repair soft tissue defects, and its cryopreservation could be a useful strategy to reduce the patient discomfort caused by multiple harvesting procedures.

Novel three-dimensional acellular dermal matrix for prepectoral breast reconstruction: First year in review with BRAXON .

Implant-based breast reconstruction is part of breast cancer treatment, and increasingly optimized reconstructive procedures exploit highly biocompatible materials to ensure enhanced aesthetic-functional results. Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are collagen-based materials that made prepectoral implant placement possible, thanks to their bioactive antifibrosis action. Recently, the first three-dimensional ADM, BRAXON , has been produced.

Contribution of Liver and Pancreatic Islet Crosstalk to β-Cell Function/Dysfunction in the Presence of Fatty Liver.

Tissue-to-tissue crosstalk regulates organ function, according to growing data. This phenomenon is relevant for pancreatic β-cells and the liver, as both tissues are involved in glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. The ability to fine-tune regulation and adaptive responses is enabled through communication between pancreatic β-cells and the liver.

Study of the acute and repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity in mice treated with PT-31, a molecule with a potential antipsychotic profile.

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that affects 1% of the world population and is treated with antipsychotics, which may induce important biochemical and hematological alterations. Since it is necessary to verify the safety of new molecules with antipsychotic potential, the present study aimed to evaluate the oral toxicity of PT-31, a putative α-adrenoreceptor agonist, after acute (2000 mg/kg) and repeated doses (28 days) gavage treatment, in three different doses: minimum effective dose in animal models (10 mg/kg), twice the dose (20 mg/kg), and four times the dose (40 mg/kg), as recommended by the OECD guidelines. Balb/C female adult mice were used, and biochemical, hematological, and histopathological analyses were performed.

Why Levosimendan Improves the Clinical Condition of Patients With Advanced Heart Failure: A Holistic Approach.

Background: In advanced heart failure (HF), levosimendan increases peak oxygen uptake (VO). We investigated whether peak VO increase is linked to cardiovascular, respiratory, or muscular performance changes.

Methods And Results: Twenty patients hospitalized for advanced HF underwent, before and shortly after levosimendan infusion, 2 different cardiopulmonary exercise tests: (a) a personalized ramp protocol with repeated arterial blood gas analysis and standard spirometry including alveolar-capillary gas diffusion measurements at rest and at peak exercise, and (b) a step incremental workload cardiopulmonary exercise testing with continuous near-infrared spectroscopy analysis and cardiac output assessment by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Clinical Approach to Vascular Calcification in Patients With Non-dialysis Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease: Mineral-Bone Disorder-Related Aspects.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a very high morbimortality, mainly from cardiovascular origin, and CKD is currently considered in the high- or very high risk- cardiovascular risk category. CKD-mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBDs), including vascular and/or valvular calcifications, are also associated with these poor outcomes. Vascular calcification (VC) is very prevalent (both intimal and medial), even in non-dialysis dependent patients, with a greater severity and more rapid progression.

Extra virgin olive oil improved body weight and insulin sensitivity in high fat diet-induced obese LDLr-/-.Leiden mice without attenuation of steatohepatitis.

Dietary fatty acids play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is associated with insulin resistance (IR). Fatty acid composition is critical for IR and subsequent NAFLD development. Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the main source of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in Mediterranean diets.

Carotenoids from persimmon juice processing.

The aim of this study was the use and revalorization of two persimmon by-products A and B generated in the juice production process. The by-product B resulting from a pectinase enzymatic treatment of peels and pulp to optimize juice extraction was especially suitable for recovery of valuable bioactive carotenoids. The extraction solvents and solvent combinations used were: ethanol, acetone, ethanol/acetone (50:50 v/v) and ethanol/acetone/hexane (25:25:50 v/v/v).

Dermopigmentation of the nipple-areola complex in a dedicated breast cancer centre, following the Treviso Hospital (Italy) LILT model.

Background: Dermopigmentation, also known as medical tattooing, is a complementary technique in the reconstruction of the nipple-areola and an adjuvant procedure to improve colour mismatch. In 2009, tattooing of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) was introduced by Treviso Hospital through a project conducted in cooperation with the local section of the Italian Anti-Cancer League (LILT).

Methods: From 2010 to 2016, 169 patients treated for breast cancer underwent dermopigmentation treatments.

How Patients With Heart Failure Perform Daily Life Activities: An Innate Energy-Saving Strategy.

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise test and 6-minute walking test are frequently used tools to evaluate physical performance in heart failure (HF), but they do neither represent activities of daily living (ADLs) nor fully reproduce patients' symptoms. We assessed differences in task oxygen uptake, both as absolute value and as percentage of peak oxygen consumption (peakVO), ventilation efficiency (VE/VCO ratio), and dyspnea intensity (Borg scale) in HF and healthy subjects during standard ADLs and other common physical actions.

Methods: Healthy and HF subjects (ejection fraction <45%, stable conditions) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test.

Dual-Plane Retro-pectoral Versus Pre-pectoral DTI Breast Reconstruction: An Italian Multicenter Experience.

Background: The use of conservative mastectomies has risen significantly during the last few years. The reconstructive choice of direct-to-implant reconstruction has become more practicable with modern mastectomy techniques. The initial trend in Italian centers was to use dual-plane hybrid reconstruction.

Feasibility study on equine acellular pericardium matrix (APM): A new tool for breast reconstruction.

The advent of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) for lower pole coverage allows immediate reconstructions with improved aesthetic outcomes and faster recovery. This study describes for the first time, the use of a new acellular pericardium matrix (APM) in implant-based breast reconstruction and characterises its safety profile. Equity is a membrane with a natural cross-linked structure with many of the properties of ADMs, but improved resistance and reduced thickness.

Cardiac patient care during a pandemic: how to reorganise a heart failure unit at the time of COVID-19.

To date, the pandemic spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has involved over 100 countries in a matter of weeks, and Italy suffers from almost 1/3 of the dead cases worldwide. In this report, we show the strategies adopted to face the emergency at Centro Cardiologico Monzino, a mono-specialist cardiology hospital sited in the region of Italy most affected by the pandemic, and specifically we describe how we have progressively modified in a few weeks the organization of our Heart Failure Unit in order to cope with the new COVID-19 outbreak. In fact, on the background of the pandemic, cardiovascular diseases still occur frequently in the general population, but we observed consistent reduction in hospital admissions for acute cardiovascular events and a dramatic increase of late presentation acute myocardial infarction.

Cryopreserved fascia lata allograft use in surgical facial reanimation: a retrospective study of seven cases.

Background: Facial palsy treatment comprises static and dynamic techniques. Among dynamic techniques, local temporalis transposition represents a reliable solution to achieve facial reanimation. The present study describes a modification of the temporalis tendon transfer using a cryopreserved fascia allograft.