Reduction of inappropriate shock rate through signal filtering (smart-pass) in patients with implantable subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICD) are effective in protecting patients against sudden death but expose them to a higher risk of inappropriate shock (IAS). We performed a systematic search of studies published between January 2010 and December 2019 assessing IAS due to cardiac oversensing by the selection process (PRISMA) and identified 17 eligible articles. Fifteen studies were observational, and two studies were retrospective.

How should we differentiate hypoglycaemia in non-diabetic patients?

Hypoglycaemic syndromes are rare in apparently healthy individuals and their diagnosis can be a difficult challenge for clinicians as there are no shared guidelines that suggest how to approach patients with a suspect hypoglycaemic disorder. Since hypoglycaemia symptoms are common and nonspecific, it's necessary to document the Whipple Triad (signs and/or symptoms compatible with hypoglycaemia; relief of symptoms following glucose administration; low plasma glucose levels) before starting any procedure. Once the triad is documented, a meticulous anamnesis and laboratory tests (blood glucose, insulin, proinsulin, C-peptide, β-hydroxybutyrate and anti-insulin antibodies) should be performed.

Endothelial Dysfunction and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction-An Updated Review of the Literature.

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome consisting of typical symptoms and signs due to structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart, resulting in elevated intracardiac pressures and/or inadequate cardiac output. The vascular system plays a crucial role in the development and progression of HF regardless of ejection fraction, with endothelial dysfunction (ED) as one of the principal features of HF. The main ED manifestations (i.

3-Day food record: efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the 3-day food records in monitoring and enhancing dietary habits among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A total of 49 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled, with 38 completing the study. Participants were instructed to record their food intake over 3 consecutive days every 2 months.

Stem cell therapy in sports medicine: current applications, challenges and future perspectives.

Stem cells have demonstrated significant potential for tissue repair and regeneration, making them a promising therapeutic avenue in sports medicine. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on the application of stem cells in sports medicine. We will discuss the types of stem cells used, their mechanisms of action, and the clinical outcomes of stem cell therapy in different sports-related injuries.

Cardiovascular Side Effects of Anthracyclines and HER2 Inhibitors among Patients with Breast Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Stepwise Approach for Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment.

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases (CVD) are a major cause of long-term morbidity and mortality affecting life expectancy amongst cancer survivors. In recent years, because of the possibility of early diagnosis and the increased efficacy of neo-adjuvant and adjuvant systemic treatments (targeting specific molecular pathways), the high percentage of survival from breast cancer led CVD to become the first cause of death among survivors. Therefore, it is mandatory to adopt cardioprotective strategies to minimize CV side effects and CVD in general in breast cancer patients.

Ultrasound during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Approach.

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2) rapidly spread worldwide as COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019), causing a costly and deadly pandemic. Different pulmonary manifestations represent this syndrome's most common clinical manifestations, together with the cardiovascular complications frequently observed in these patients. Ultrasound (US) evaluations of the lungs, heart, and lower limbs may be helpful in the diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis of patients with COVID-19.

Alert-LDL-2: adherence to guidelines and goals attainment in the treatment of diabetic patients with dyslipidemia.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with a cluster of lipid and apolipoprotein abnormalities which increase the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence to guidelines-oriented dyslipidemia treatment in diabetic patients and to assess the efficacy of a territorial goal-oriented program.

Methods: One thousand seventy-one diabetic patients at very high cardiovascular risk were enrolled in this prospective study.

Multimodality Imaging Approach to Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) refers to the spontaneous separation of the layers of the vessel wall caused by intramural hemorrhage, with or without an intimal tear. The "typical" SCAD patient is a middle-aged woman with few traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and it's frequently associated with pregnancy. Because of its low incidence, its pathophysiology is not fully understood.

Effects of three-months folate supplementation on early vascular abnormalities in hyperhomocysteinemic patients with epilepsy.

Background: Epilepsy has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Anti-seizure medication (ASM) may contribute to vascular risk by several mechanisms, including increased homocysteine levels. This study aims to assess the global vascular burden in hyperhomocysteinemic people with epilepsy (PWE) on long-term ASM before and after folic acid supplementation and in subgroups of PWE treated with single enzyme-inducing or single non-enzyme inducing ASM.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle-A Report from Italy.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, especially in the first wave of pandemic (March 2020), sedentary lifestyle and calorie intake increase in children became considerably more prevalent. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate changes in children's weights and nutritional habits during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. In this cross-sectional observational study, for 3 years, as part of the corporate wellness program (2019-2021) in Emilia Romagna region of Italy, anthropometric data of Ferrari car company employers' children were collected, analyzed, and compared.

Effects of Exercise on Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: An Updated Review of Literature.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents the most common HF phenotype of patients aged > 65 years, with an incidence and a prevalence that are constantly growing. The HFpEF cardinal symptom is exercise intolerance (EI), defined as the impaired ability to perform physical activity and to reach the predicted age-related level of exercise duration in the absence of symptoms—such as fatigue or dyspnea—and is associated with a poor quality of life, a higher number of hospitalizations, and poor outcomes. The evidence of the protective effect between exercise and adverse cardiovascular outcomes is numerous and long-established.

Limited diagnostic value of questionnaire-based pre-participation screening algorithms: a "risk-exposed" approach to sports activity.

Background: Several pre-participation screening algorithms (PPSAs) have been proposed to assess sports eligibility in different populations. They are usually based on self-administered questionnaires, without further medical assessment if no risk factors are documented. The Med-Ex "Formula Benessere" worksite program includes a complete cardiovascular (CV) screening for all participants.

The complex relationship between physical activity and diabetes: an overview.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a widespread condition, representing a challenging disease to manage. Exercise is being increasingly recommended as part of the therapeutic regimen for DM but the management of different forms of physical activity is difficult for individuals with diabetes, trainers, and physicians. Regular exercise can improve health and well-being, helping individuals to achieve their target lipid profile, body composition, cardio-respiratory fitness, and glycemic goals.

ALERT-LDL: adherence to guidelines in the treatment of patients with dyslipidemia.

The association between LDL-c levels and cardiovascular outcomes suggests tailoring lipid-lowering therapies according to total cardiovascular risk. We aimed to evaluate the adherence to guidelines-oriented dyslipidaemia's treatment in an outpatient population referring to ARCA cardiologists, and assess the efficacy of treatment's optimization for each specific level of risk. Three thousand seventy-five patients enrolled in this prospective study were classified according to cardiovascular risk category, and their therapies were optimized.

Can pulse wave velocity (PWV) alone express arterial stiffness? A neglected tool for vascular function assessment.

Arterial stiffness, defined as the rigidity of the arterial wall, is the consequence of vascular aging and is associated with the full spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) is the gold standard method for arterial stiffness evaluation: it measures the velocity of the arterial pulse along the thoracic and abdominal aorta alongside arterial distensibility. Its value rises as stiffness progresses.

Beneficial Metabolic Effect of a Nutraceuticals Combination (Monacolin K, Yeasted Red Rice, Polyphenolic Extract of Annurca Apple and Berberine) on Acquired Hypercholesterolemia: A Prospective Analysis.

Hypercholesterolemia represents a serious public health problem as it significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Its treatment with statin is limited by costs, side effects, and drugs interactions. Nutraceuticals appear to have an important metabolic effect on cholesterol reduction as well as on body weight and glycemia.