Publications by authors named "Gioia G"

Endurance sports have witnessed an increase in female participation, demanding a constant and evolving reassessment of the specific physiological and health implications of female athletes. In the present review, we analyze cardiovascular, hematological adaptations and anthropometry and hormonal fluctuations highlighting sex-specific differences in response to exercise, with estrogen playing a fundamental role in modulating body composition and metabolic processes. Nutritional aspects, in particular energy availability, macronutrient distribution and hydration, are fundamental in supporting training demands and menstrual function.

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Introduction: Carotid IMT is a recognized marker for early atherosclerotic changes and a predictor of future CV events. Previous studies showed 11% increased risk of myocardial infarction with each 0.1 mm incremental increase of carotid IMT.

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Cardiovascular (CV) disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, highlighting the necessity of understanding its underlying molecular and pathophysiological pathways. Conversely, physical activity (PA) and exercise are key strategies in reducing CV event risks. Detecting latent CV conditions in apparently healthy individuals, such as athletes, presents a unique challenge.

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The present study aims at providing reference values from the general pediatric population for the German version of the 21-item self-report post version of the Postconcussion Symptom Inventory for adolescents aged 13-17 years (PCSI-SR13) following pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI). A total of N = 950 adolescents completed an adapted version of the PCSI-SR13. Prior to establishing reference values using percentiles, psychometric properties (i.

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Introduction: Abnormal blood pressure response to exercise (ABPR) in athletes is considered a risk for incident hypertension, conferring a higher cardiovascular risk profile. We sought to describe the clinical cardiovascular features of athletes with ABPR and, moreover, the relationship of ABPR with occurrence of exercise-induced ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs).

Methods And Results: We enrolled 1460 elite athletes (56.

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Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a growing global public health concern that is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events, even in athletes. The lipid accumulation product (LAP) index and cardiometabolic index (CMI) have been shown to be efficient markers of MS in the general population; its applicability in athletes has not been discussed yet. We aimed to assess the role of LAP and CMI in predicting MS in athletes.

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Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for over 9 million deaths annually. The prevalence of CAD continues to rise, driven by ageing and the increasing prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Current clinical guidelines emphasize the importance of functional tests in the diagnostic pathway, particularly for assessing the presence and severity of ischemia.

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Control over symptoms postconcussion is central to an active self-directed recovery process. Therefore, assessing a patient's confidence in controlling their symptoms and facilitating their concussion recovery is an important component of treatment. Previously, no measures existed to assess symptom-specific self-efficacy (SE) in pediatric concussion recovery.

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The interventional treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) has undergone significant improvements thanks to technological innovations. Nowadays, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is the standard of care for the treatment of CAD. Nevertheless, the non-negligible incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and suboptimal results in various anatomical settings has led to the development of drug-coated balloons (DCBs).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed cardiac differences among Olympic athletes based on their foot racing discipline (sprints, middle, and long distances), focusing on morpho-functional parameters.
  • In total, 140 athletes were categorized into four groups based on their racing distances and underwent screenings including echocardiography and exercise stress tests.
  • Results indicated that sprinters and 400m runners generally had normal heart geometry, while middle and long-distance runners displayed significant eccentric cardiac remodeling, highlighting how training intensity and distance affect heart structure.
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Article Synopsis
  • Athletes often show changes in their electrocardiograms (ECGs) due to heart adaptations from regular training, known as the athlete's heart, but these changes can sometimes mimic heart disease signs.
  • Misdiagnosis can lead to serious consequences, including sudden cardiac death, which is a major risk for young athletes.
  • This review aims to help cardiologists and sports doctors differentiate between normal exercise-related ECG changes and those indicating potential heart problems, guiding further investigations when needed.
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Aims: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has a growing role in evaluating athletes' hearts. Mapping techniques provide added value for tissue characterization, but data on athletes and sports disciplines are lacking. To describe native mapping values in a cohort of Olympic athletes and evaluate the influence of sports discipline and sex.

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Metabolic reprogramming drives inflammatory activity in macrophages, including microglia, with Krebs cycle (KC) intermediates playing a crucial role as signaling molecules. Here, we show that the bioenergetic profile of LPS-activated human microglialclone 3 cell line (HMC3) is characterized by high levels of glycolysis and mitochondrial (mt) respiration, and the treatment with KC derivatives, namely dimethyl-fumarate (DMF) and itaconate (ITA), almost restores normal metabolism. However, despite comparable bioenergetic and anti-inflammatory effects, the mt hyper-activity was differentially modulated by DMF and ITA.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Physical activity is generally beneficial for heart health, but recent research indicates that high-volume endurance exercise might actually worsen coronary atherosclerosis, leading to concerns in treating coronary artery disease (CAD) in athletes.
  • - CAD is a major cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes over 35, prompting studies to assess the prevalence of CAD in this group and its implications for health outcomes.
  • - While earlier beliefs suggested that coronary plaques in elite athletes were harmless, recent studies challenge this view, highlighting potential risks associated with exercise-induced coronary calcification and the need for better evaluation and management strategies.
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Background: Supraventricular extra beats (SVEB) are frequently observed in athletes but data on significance, prognostic role and correlation with cardiac remodeling are contrasting. It is uncertain whether SVEB may indicate the development of more complex arrhythmias and the need for closer monitoring is undetermined. The aim was to assess the prevalence and clinical significance of BESV in Olympic athletes of different sporting disciplines, evaluating potential correlations with cardiac remodeling and clinical features.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A marathon runner underwent preparticipation screening, showing abnormal heart activity during exercise testing and confirmed scar tissue in the heart through advanced imaging techniques.
  • * Echocardiography serves as an essential and cost-effective initial diagnostic tool for athletes, guiding further tests like cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) when abnormalities are found.
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Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common cause of hospital admission worldwide and several risk scores have been developed to predict clinically relevant outcomes. Despite the geriatric population being a high-risk group, age is often overlooked in the assessment of many risk scores. In this study we aimed to compare the predictive accuracy of six pre-endoscopic risk scoring systems in a geriatric population hospitalised with UGIB.

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  • Conventional bacterial diagnostics for dairy cows often rely on culture techniques, but these methods lack empirical support and primarily follow outdated guidelines from the National Mastitis Council.
  • The study investigated how different concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO) affect the growth of bacterial isolates, showing that while CO enhances growth detection in the early days of incubation, by day 10, all conditions yielded similar growth results.
  • Findings suggest that expanding the accepted range for CO concentrations during bacterial cultures could improve efficiency, and that the recommended protocols may need to be updated to reflect the absence of CO's critical role in longer incubations.
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Bedding materials are aimed at providing a safe and comfortable resting environment for cows. Control of pathogen proliferation in these substrates is crucial to prevent intramammary infections in dairy cows, as these can significantly impact milk quality, cow health, and farm productivity. This is particularly relevant in the case of organic bedding substrates, including manure-derived materials.

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Sudden cardiac death (SCD) prevention in cardiomyopathies such as hypertrophic (HCM), dilated (DCM), non-dilated left ventricular (NDLCM), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) remains a crucial but complex clinical challenge, especially among younger populations. Accurate risk stratification is hampered by the variability in phenotypic expression and genetic heterogeneity inherent in these conditions. This article explores the multifaceted strategies for preventing SCD across a spectrum of cardiomyopathies and emphasizes the integration of clinical evaluations, genetic insights, and advanced imaging techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in assessing SCD risks.

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Background: Previous studies demonstrated that variations of fT3, even within the euthyroid range, can influence cardiac function. Our aim was to investigate whether thyroid hormones, even within the euthyroid range, are associated with the magnitude of exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in Olympic athletes.

Methods: We evaluated 1342 Olympic athletes (mean age 25.

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The term microplastics (MPs) describes a heterogeneous mixture of particles that can vary in size, color, and shape. Once released into the environment, MPs have various toxicological and physical effects on wildlife. The Song Thrush () is a migratory species, staying in Italy in late autumn and winter.

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The progressive aging of the population has led to a rise in geriatric pathologies, with sarcopenia, characterized by muscle mass and function loss, becoming a crucial prognostic indicator. This study investigates sarcopenia in elderly hospitalized patients with advanced chronic liver disease (cirrhotic) and non-liver disease patients, comparing their prevalence and exploring correlations with anthropometric and biochemical factors. The cohort of 115 patients, including 50 cirrhotic and 65 non-cirrhotic individuals, exhibited significant comorbidities and a mean age of 78.

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Objective: To determine how football head impacts are influenced by self-efficacy (SE), helmetless tackling intervention participation (IP), and years of experience (YE) playing football.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Three high schools.

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