Advances in Cardiovascular Multimodality Imaging in Patients with Marfan Syndrome.

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetic disorder affecting connective tissue, often leading to cardiovascular complications such as aortic aneurysms and mitral valve prolapse. Cardiovascular multimodality imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of MFS patients. This review explores the advancements in echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and nuclear medicine techniques in MFS.

Rate of Perceived Exertion Based on Repetitions in Reserve Versus Percentage of One-Repetition Maximum for Resistance Training Prescription in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study.

The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy of the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale based on the number of repetitions in reserve (RIR) before exhaustion for the prescription of resistance training in cardiac rehabilitation and to compare it to the percentage of estimated one-repetition maximum (1RM) prescription method. Sixteen male patients (age 60 ± 8) with history of coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to two resistance training rehabilitation protocols lasting nine weeks and consisting of three sessions per week, with the same exercise selection, number of sets and repetitions, and rest periods, but different load prescription method (RPE vs. %1RM).

Acute Changes in Myocardial Work during Isometric Exercise in Hypertensive Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Case-Control Study.

The acute hemodynamic response to isometric exercise in hypertensive patients' ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess acute changes in left ventricular myocardial work (MW) during isometric bilateral knee extension in patients with IHD. Twenty stable hypertensive patients with IHD and ten healthy, age-matched controls (HC) were enrolled.

Addition of Bempedoic Acid to Statin-Ezetimibe versus Statin Titration in Patients with High Cardiovascular Risk: A Single-Centre Prospective Study.

Reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) below recommended thresholds is a core component of cardiovascular prevention strategies. We hypothesized that the addition of bempedoic acid to patients already on statin-ezetimibe therapy was more effective than titrating the statin dose in reducing LDL-C. The study enrolled 120 patients at high cardiovascular risk and with LDL-C above 70 mg/dL.

Exercise training for patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. A narrative review.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a significant global health challenge, accounting for up to 50% of all heart failure cases and predominantly affecting the elderly and women. Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies, HFpEF's complexity poses substantial challenges in management, particularly due to its high comorbidity burden, including renal failure, atrial fibrillation, and obesity, among others. These comorbidities not only complicate the pathophysiology of HFpEF but also exacerbate its symptoms, necessitating a personalized approach to treatment focused on comorbidity management and symptom alleviation.

The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Cognitive and Physical Skills in Basketball and Soccer Players.

As athletes pursue excellence, training techniques continue to advance, making structured physical activity an essential tool for enhancing performance. To optimize athletic performance in modern competitive sports, the balance of physical performance and mental clarity is required. This study seeks to examine the effects of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on cognitive and physical skills in basketball and soccer players.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Professional Football Players during Competitive Season of Italian First Division (Serie A).

Background: Data in the literature have demonstrated the crucial role that vitamin D plays in the human organism, and recent studies also emphasize this essential role of vitamin D in athletes. Indeed, vitamin D acts on the skeletal muscles and plays a fundamental role in numerous physiological processes involved in immune function. Many factors such as sun exposure, skin tone, body mass index and chronic illness affect vitamin D levels.

Stereotactic radiotherapy for managing ovarian cancer oligoprogression under poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi).

Objective: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) have become a new standard of care for the maintenance treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining stereotactic body radiotherapy with PARPi continuation as a strategy to treat ovarian cancer oligoprogression on PARPi.

Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective study including ovarian cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy and PARPi continuation for oligoprogression under PARPi maintenance therapy between June 2012 and May 2023 in three Italian centers.

Hepatitis Delta Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a compact, enveloped, circular RNA virus that relies on hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope proteins to initiate a primary infection in hepatocytes, assemble, and secrete new virions. Globally, HDV infection affects an estimated 12 million to 72 million people, carrying a significantly elevated risk of developing cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to an HBV mono-infection. Furthermore, HDV-associated HCC often manifests at a younger age and exhibits more aggressive characteristics.

Changes in left atrial function following two regimens of combined exercise training in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: a pilot study.

Purpose: Left atrial dysfunction has shown to play a prognostic role in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and is becoming a therapeutic target for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The effects of exercise training on the atrial function in patients with ICM have been poorly investigated. In the present study, we assessed the effects of a 12-week combined training (CT) program on the left atrial function in patients with ICM.

Assessing Genomic Mutations in SARS-CoV-2: Potential Resistance to Antiviral Drugs in Viral Populations from Untreated COVID-19 Patients.

Naturally occurring SARS-CoV-2 variants mutated in genomic regions targeted by antiviral drugs have not been extensively studied. This study investigated the potential of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex subunits and non-structural protein (Nsp)5 of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) to accumulate natural mutations that could affect the efficacy of antiviral drugs. To this aim, SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences isolated from 4155 drug-naive individuals from southern Italy were analyzed using the Illumina MiSeq platform.

Exploring the interplay between metabolic power and equivalent distance in training games and official matches in soccer: a machine learning approach.

This study aimed to explore the interplay between metabolic power (MP) and equivalent distance (ED) and their respective roles in training games (TGs) and official soccer matches. Furthermore, the secondary objective was to investigate the connection between external training load (ETL), determined by the interplay of metabolic power and equivalent distance, and internal training load (ITL) assessed through HR-based methods, serving as a measure of criterion validity. Twenty-one elite professional male soccer players participated in the study.

Acute Changes on Left Atrial Function during Incremental Exercise in Patients with Heart Failure with Mildly Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Case-Control Study.

Background: the aim of this study was to assess acute changes in left atrial (LA) function during incremental aerobic exercise in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) in comparison to healthy subjects (HS).

Methods: twenty patients with established HFmrEF were compared with 10 HS, age-matched controls. All subjects performed a stepwise exercise test on a cycle ergometer.

The Improvement of Left Atrial Function after Twelve Weeks of Supervised Concurrent Training in Patients with Heart Failure with Mid-Range Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Study.

Left atrial dysfunction is associated with exercise intolerance and poor prognosis in heart failure (HF). The effects of exercise training on atrial function in patients with HF with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of a supervised concurrent training (SCT) program, lasting 12 weeks, on left atrial function of patients with HFmrEF.

Mitochondrial DNA is a target of HBV integration.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may integrate into the genome of infected cells and contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the role of HBV integration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development remains unclear. In this study, we apply a high-throughput HBV integration sequencing approach that allows sensitive identification of HBV integration sites and enumeration of integration clones.

The role of iron deficiency in heart failure.

Iron is an essential micronutrient for several physiological processes in the body beyond erythropoiesis. Iron deficiency (ID) is a common comorbidity observed in about 50% of patients with stable heart failure (HF) irrespective of the left ventricular function. The presence of ID is often as a multi-factorial condition, and it is associated with exercise intolerance, reduced quality of life, increased hospitalization rate, and mortality risk regardless of anaemia.

Chronic heart failure: the role of di vericiguat.

The introduction of multiple new pharmacological agents over the past three decades in the field of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has led to reduced rates of mortality and hospitalizations, and consequently, the prevalence of HFrEF has increased, and up to 10% of patients progress to more advanced stages, characterized by high rates of mortality and hospitalizations and poor quality of life. Vericiguat, a novel oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, has proved effective in patients with HFrEF who had recently been hospitalized or had received intravenous diuretic therapy. In these patients, vericiguat reduced the primary outcome of death from cardiovascular causes or first hospitalization for heart failure in comparison with placebo.

Effects of Concurrent, Within-Session, Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Training on Functional Capacity and Muscle Performance in Elderly Male Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: The best format of exercise training (ET) in the setting of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is still to be defined. Current guidelines recommend aerobic exercises, such as running and cycling, including some sessions per week of resistance exercise.

Aim: The aim of this study was to address the effectiveness of a concurrent exercise training program utilizing a circuit of sequential endurance and resistance exercises on functional capacity and muscular strength in patients with CHF.

Concurrent Aerobic Plus Resistance Training Elicits Different Effects on Short-Term Blood Pressure Variability of Hypertensive Patients in Relation to Their Nocturnal Blood Pressure Pattern.

: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week concurrent training (CT) (i.e., aerobic plus resistance exercise) on short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) and BP values in hypertensive patients with non-dippper BP nocturnal pattern and underlying coronary artery disease.