Post-COVID-19 sequelae are associated with sustained SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 immune responses.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to widespread post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), affecting multiple body systems. Despite its prevalence, PASC's pathogenesis remains unclear, with hypotheses suggesting viral persistence, immune activation, and autoimmune responses among the pathogenetic mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate T cell memory response in PASC patients, one year post-hospital discharge and correlate it with clinical parameters to identify a potential PASC-associated fingerprint.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: Deciphering Cardiovascular Complications in Systemic Sclerosis.

Cardiac manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are variable and are associated with a poor prognosis, frequently resulting in impaired right ventricular function and heart failure. A high proportion of patients with SSc experience pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), interstitial lung disease, or myocardial involvement, all of which can lead to exercise intolerance. In this context, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a useful tool for diagnosing exercise intolerance, elucidating its pathophysiology, and assessing its prognosis.

Unraveling the Genetic Heartbeat: Decoding Cardiac Involvement in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Cardiomyopathy represents the most important life-limiting condition of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients after the age of 20. Genetic alterations in the DMD gene result in the absence of functional dystrophin protein, leading to skeletal/cardiac muscle impairment. The DMD incidence is one in 5000 live male births.

Impact of a personalized, strike early and strong lipid-lowering approach on LDL-cholesterol levels and cardiovascular outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: Considering the lack of evidence, we evaluated the impact on cardiovascular outcome of the systematic introduction in our institution of a personalized strike early and strong (SES) approach for lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analyzed data from 500 consecutive patients hospitalized across three periods: Period A (N=198, January-June 2019), when the LDL-C goal was <70 mg/dL and a stepwise LLT approach was recommended; Period B (N=180, January-June 2021), when the LDL-C goal was <55 mg/dL and a stepwise approach was recommended; Period C (N=122, January-June 2023), when the LDL-C goal was <55 mg/dL and our SES protocol was implemented. Primary endpoints were achievement of the LDL-C goal during follow-up and one-year incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Safety and efficacy of early initiation of sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors 2 in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aims: Data on the early use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in patients with acute heart failure (HF) are conflicting, and mostly evaluating soft endpoints (i.e., indices of congestion, renal function, ejection fraction, and diuresis).