The Dual Burden: Exploring Cardiovascular Complications in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a significant global health challenge, affecting millions of individuals and leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. This review aims to explore the epidemiology, cardiovascular complications, and management strategies associated with CKD, emphasizing the importance of preventing cardiovascular disease and early intervention. CKD is primarily driven by conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, which often coexist and exacerbate renal impairment.

The impact of new onset diabetes on cardiovascular risks in orthotopic liver transplant recipients: findings from the COLT study.

Background: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has greatly improved short-term survival for end-stage liver disease. However, cardiovascular events (CVE) still pose a significant threat to long-term post-transplant health. Aim of this study is to assess the occurrence of long-term cardiovascular events and whether it relates to new-onset diabetes after liver transplantation (NODALT).

Advances in the Insulin-Heart Axis: Current Therapies and Future Directions.

The insulin-heart axis plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in insulin-resistant states, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance disrupts glucose and lipid metabolism, leading to systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and atherogenesis, which contribute to heart failure (HF) and other CVDs. This review was conducted by systematically searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed studies published in the past decade, focusing on therapeutic interventions targeting the insulin-heart axis.

Late Hepatocellular Carcinoma Occurrence in Patients Achieving Sustained Virological Response After Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy: A Matter of Follow-Up or Something Else?

: Despite achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), an unexpected increase in the occurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been observed among HCV-treated patients. This study aims to assess the long-term follow-up of HCV patients treated with DAAs who achieved an SVR to investigate the potential for late-onset HCC. : In this prospective multicenter study, we enrolled consecutive HCV patients treated with DAAs following Italian ministerial guidelines between 2015 and 2018.

Modern Challenges in Type 2 Diabetes: Balancing New Medications with Multifactorial Care.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive beta cell dysfunction, presenting substantial global health and economic challenges. This review explores recent advancements in diabetes management, emphasizing novel pharmacological therapies and their physiological mechanisms. We highlight the transformative impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1RA), which target specific physiological pathways to enhance glucose regulation and metabolic health.

Insulin-Heart Axis: Bridging Physiology to Insulin Resistance.

Insulin signaling is vital for regulating cellular metabolism, growth, and survival pathways, particularly in tissues such as adipose, skeletal muscle, liver, and brain. Its role in the heart, however, is less well-explored. The heart, requiring significant ATP to fuel its contractile machinery, relies on insulin signaling to manage myocardial substrate supply and directly affect cardiac muscle metabolism.

Sex-difference of multifactorial intervention on cardiovascular and mortality risk in DKD: post-hoc analysis of a randomised clinical trial.

Objective: Women with type 2 diabetes experience higher cardiovascular and mortality risk than men possibly because of a sub-optimal cardio-protective treatment. We evaluated whether an intensive multifactorial therapy (MT) produces similar protective effect on development of adverse outcomes in women and men.

Research Design And Methods: Nephropathy in Diabetes type 2 study is an open-label cluster randomized trial comparing the effect of Usual Care (UC) or MT of main cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg, HbA1c < 7%, LDL < 100 mg/dL, and total cholesterol < 175 mg/dL) on cardiovascular and mortality risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Advances in Nanomedicine for Precision Insulin Delivery.

Diabetes mellitus, which comprises a group of metabolic disorders affecting carbohydrate metabolism, is characterized by improper glucose utilization and excessive production, leading to hyperglycemia. The global prevalence of diabetes is rising, with projections indicating it will affect 783.2 million people by 2045.

Left bundle branch pacing and cardiac remodeling in HF patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: epigenetic pathways and clinical outcomes.

Background: Left bundle branch (LBB) pacing could achieve cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients who cannot be resynchronized via the placement of the left ventricle (LV) lead into the coronary sinus. LBB pacing could improve cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients with LBB block who are affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Study Hypothesis: LBB pacing could increase the number of CRT responders and lead to the best clinical outcomes in HF patients with T2DM, inducing cardiac remodeling and improving left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) via microRNA (miR) modulation.

Impact of liver fibrosis on COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Southern Italy.

Background & Aims: SARS-Cov-2 infection manifests as a wide spectrum of clinical presentation and even now, despite the global spread of the vaccine, contagiousness is still elevated. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the impact of liver fibrosis assessed by FIB-4 and liver impairment, assessed by cytolysis indices, on intrahospital mortality in COVID-19 subjects.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study, which involved 23 COVID Hospital Units in Campania Region, Italy.

The Lipid-Lowering Efficacy of a Nutraceutical Combination Including Leucoselect Phytosome, Red Yeast Rice, Policosanol and Folic Acid in Dyslipidaemia Patients: Real-World Insights.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a global health concern and reducing plasma LDL-C levels is a major goal in cardiovascular prevention. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutraceutical formulation including leucoselect phytosome, red yeast rice, policosanol and folic acid on LDL-c levels in patients at low cardiovascular risk with dyslipidemia.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively enrolled all consecutive patients with dyslipidemia at low cardiovascular risk who were unresponsive to diet and physical activity.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events.

Background: Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies. Direct evidence that this risk extends to humans is lacking.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study involving patients who were undergoing carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid artery disease.

Advances in Pharmacological Approaches for Managing Hypercholesterolemia: A Comprehensive Overview of Novel Treatments.

Hypercholesterolemia plays a crucial role in the formation of lipid plaques, particularly with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels, which are linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Controlling blood cholesterol values, specifically reducing LDL-C, is widely recognized as a key modifiable risk factor for decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. Historically, statins, by inhibiting the enzyme β-hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG)-CoA reductase, have been among the most effective drugs.

Saxagliptin/dapagliflozin is non-inferior to insulin glargine in terms of β-cell function in subjects with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults: A 12-month, randomized, comparator-controlled pilot study.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of saxagliptin/dapagliflozin and insulin glargine in people with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).

Methods: In this phase 2b multicentre, open-label, comparator-controlled, parallel-group, non-inferiority study, we randomly assigned 33 people with LADA who had a fasting C-peptide concentration ≥0.2 nmol/L (0.

Impact of Acute Kidney Injury on the COVID-19 In-Hospital Mortality in Octogenarian Patients: Insights from the COVOCA Study.

Background And Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of global public health, with some people suffering more adverse clinical outcomes than others. The aim of this study is to deepen our understanding of the specific impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) on the in-hospital mortality in octogenarian patients with COVID-19.

Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study, which involved 23 COVID-19 hospital units in the Campania Region, Italy.

Efficacy and safety of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors in patients with chronic kidney disease: meta-analysis of phase 3 randomized controlled trials.

Background: Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) are new therapeutic agents for anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated by meta-analysis and meta-regression the efficacy and safety of HIF-PHIs in patients with CKD-related anaemia.

Methods: We selected phase 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing HIF-PHIs and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in dialysis and non-dialysis patients.

Precision Medicine in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Utility and Limitations.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most widespread diseases in Western countries, and its incidence is constantly increasing. Epidemiological studies have shown that in the next 20 years. The number of subjects affected by T2DM will double.

Long-Term Prognosis among COVID-19 Patients: The Predictive Role Played by Hyperinflammation and Arrhythmic Disorders in Fatal Outcome.

Limited data are available on outcomes among COVID-19 patients beyond the acute phase of the disease. All-cause mortality among our COVID-19 patients one year after hospital discharge and factors/conditions associated with death were evaluated. All patients discharged from our COVID center were periodically evaluated by clinical assessment and by digital healthcare registry consultation.

Oxidative Stress in Type 2 Diabetes: Impacts from Pathogenesis to Lifestyle Modifications.

Oxidative stress is a critical factor in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes and its associated complications. The imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the body's antioxidant defence mechanisms leads to cellular damage and dysfunction. In diabetes, chronic hyperglycaemia and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to increased ROS production, further exacerbating oxidative stress.