Organization and Activity of Italian Echocardiographic Laboratories: A Survey of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging.

Background: The Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SIECVI) conducted a national survey to understand better how different echocardiographic modalities are used and accessed in Italy.

Methods: We analyzed echocardiography laboratory activities over a month (November 2022). Data were retrieved via an electronic survey based on a structured questionnaire, uploaded on the SIECVI website.

Imaging of Cardiac Masses: An Updated Overview.

Studying cardiac masses is one of the most challenging tasks for cardiac imagers. The aim of this review article is to focus on the modern imaging of cardiac masses proceeding through the most frequent ones. Cardiac benign masses such as myxoma, cardiac papillary fibroelastoma, rhabdomyoma, lipoma, and hemangioma are browsed considering the usefulness of most common cardiovascular imaging tools, such as ultrasound techniques, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and in the diagnostic process.

Aesthetic compatibility assessment of consolidants for wall paintings by means of multivariate analysis of colorimetric data.

Background And Methods: Wall paintings and architectural surfaces in outdoor environments are exposed to several physical, chemical and biological agents, hence they are often treated with different products to prevent or slow down their deterioration. Among the factors that have to be taken into account in the selection of the most suitable treatment for decorated surfaces, the aesthetic compatibility with the substrate is of great importance in the cultural heritage field; minimizing colour variation after treatment application is a crucial issue in particular for painted surfaces. In the framework of the European Project Nanomatch the color variation induced on wall painting mock-ups by the two innovative consolidants (calcium alkoxides) developed was evaluated using colorimetry in comparison with two traditional products.

Statin intolerance in heterozygous familial hypercolesterolemia with cardiovascular disease: After PCSK-9 antibodies what else?

Background Familial hypercholesterolemia is the elective clinical condition that deserves the maximal personalisation in lipid-lowering therapy, especially in the presence of statin intolerance. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors represent a promising approach to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Methods We enrolled 18 patients (mean age 62 ± 8 years, 72% men) affected by heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease, with a history of statin intolerance assigned to PCSK9 inhibitors.