Dulaglutide and Dapagliflozin Combination Concurrently Improves the Endothelial Glycocalyx and Vascular and Myocardial Function in Patients with T2DM and Albuminuria vs. DPP-4i.

: The association between diabetic nephropathy and arterial elasticity and endothelial function is well established. In this study, we compared the effect of the combination of dulaglutide and dapagliflozin versus DPP-4 inhibitors on the endothelial glycocalyx, arterial stiffness, myocardial function, and albuminuria. : Overall, 60 patients were randomized to combined dulaglutide and dapagliflozin treatment (n = 30) or DPP-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i, n = 30) (ClinicalTrials.

Cardioprotective potential of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, oleocanthal and their combination: Unravelling complementary effects on acute myocardial infarction and metabolic syndrome.

Clinical studies have previously established the role of olive products in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, whilst the identification of the responsible constituents for the beneficial effects is still pending. We sought to assess and compare the cardioprotective potential of oleuropein (OL), hydroxytyrosol (HT), oleocanthal (OC) and oleanolic Acid (OA), regarding Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury (IRI) and CVD risk factors alleviation. The scope of the study was to design a potent and safe combinatorial therapy for high-cardiovascular-risk patients on a bench-to-bedside approach.

The Effect of 4-Month Treatment with Glycocalyx Dietary Supplement on Endothelial Glycocalyx Integrity and Vascular Function in Patients with Psoriasis.

Psoriasis predisposes to cardiovascular dysfunction. We investigated whether glycocalyx dietary supplement (GDS), which contains glycosaminoglycans and fucoidan, improves endothelial glycocalyx and arterial stiffness in psoriatic patients. Fifty participants with psoriasis under biological agents were randomly assigned to GDS (n = 25) or placebo (n = 25) for 4 months.

Six-month supplementation with high dose coenzyme Q10 improves liver steatosis, endothelial, vascular and myocardial function in patients with metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Backround: Metabolic-dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this Randomized Double-blind clinical Trial was to evaluate the effects of coenzyme-Q10 supplementation in patients with MASLD in terms of endothelial, vascular and myocardial function.

Methods: Sixty patients with MASLD were randomized to receive daily 240 mg of coenzyme-Q10 or placebo.

Effects of Liraglutide, Empagliflozin and Their Combination on Left Atrial Strain and Arterial Function.

: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) are cardioprotective drugs. We investigated their effects on left atrial function, a major determinant of cardiac diastolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus. We also explored the association of changes in arterial stiffness with those of the LA strain after treatment.

Association of aortic stiffness early post myocardial infarction with left ventricular remodelling.

Background: Adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling after myocardial infarction is associated with heart failure. We investigated whether aortic stiffness during acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is associated with LV remodelling at long-term follow-up.

Methods: In 109 patients within 48 h of myocardial infarction post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention and after 2 years, we measured: (a) carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), (b) LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and left atrial strain using speckle-tracking echocardiography, (c) PWV/GLS ratio as a surrogate marker of ventricular-arterial interaction, and (d) LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes.

Additive prognostic value of longitudinal myocardial deformation to SCORE2 in psoriasis.

Aims: Psoriasis has been associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. We investigated whether markers of CV function and their change after treatment have a prognostic value for adverse outcomes.

Methods And Results: In a prospective study, at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with biological agents, we assessed in 298 psoriasis patients (i) left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and (ii) carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), to evaluate their prognostic value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including coronary artery disease, stroke, hospitalization for heart failure, and all-cause death over a 4-year follow-up period.

Association of hydroxytyrosol enriched olive oil with vascular function in chronic coronary disease.

Background: Hydroxytyrosol reduces low-density lipoprotein oxidation, contributing to prevention of atherosclerosis progression.

Methods: In a prospective, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 30 chronic coronary artery syndrome (CCAS) patients were randomized to 4 capsules/day, containing 412.5 mg olive oil with 2.

Point of care transthoracic echocardiography for the prediction of post - spinal anesthesia hypotension in elderly patients with cardiac diseases and left ventricular dysfunction : Inferior vena cava and post-spinal anesthesia hypotension in elderly patients.

In elderly patients with cardiac diseases, changes in cardiovascular physiology diminish cardiovascular reserve and predispose to hemodynamic instability after spinal anesthesia; hence, such patients could be at risk of postoperative complications. Additionally, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is used in clinical practice to evaluate cardiovascular hemodynamics. Therefore, we hypothesized that echocardiographic measurements could display significant diagnostic power in the prediction of post - spinal anesthesia hypotension in elderly patients with cardiac diseases and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF).

Cardiac mechanics in response to proteasome inhibition: a prospective study.

Aim: Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) is of paramount importance regarding the function of the myocardial cell. Consistently, inhibition of this system has been found to affect myocardium in experimental models; yet, the clinical impact of UPS inhibition on cardiac function has not been comprehensively examined. Our aim was to gain insight into the effect of proteasome inhibition on myocardial mechanics in humans.

Endothelial Dysfunction Is Associated with Decreased Nitric Oxide Bioavailability in Dysglycaemic Subjects and First-Degree Relatives of Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. We investigated oxidative stress and nitrite/nitrate concentrations at baseline and during postprandial hyperglycaemia in 40 first-degree relatives (FDRs) of diabetic patients with normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results, 40 subjects with abnormal OGTT results (dysglycaemic) and 20 subjects with normal OGTT results (normoglycaemic). Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PCs), nitrite/nitrate plasma levels, the perfused boundary region (PBR—Glycocheck) of the sublingual microvessels, a marker of glycocalyx integrity, coronary flow reserve (CFR) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) were assessed at 0 and 120 min of the OGTT.

Fagerstrom score predicts smoking status six months after hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction: a prospective study.

Background: Fagerstrom score is a validated marker of nicotine addiction in smokers.

Methods: In a prospective study, we investigated a) the predictive value of Fagerstrom score for the smoking status in patients early after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and b) the effectiveness of medically assisted smoking cessation programs in the prevention of relapsing to smoking post discharge. In 103 smokers (58 ± 12 years, 79.

Endothelial glycocalyx integrity in oncological patients.

Background: Cancer is associated with early changes in the cardiovascular system (CV) before overt cardiotoxicity. Endothelial dysfunction is induced by chemotherapeutic regimens but there is no data for endothelial glycocalyx in cancer.

Methods: Sixty-four patients with cancer (65.

Left Atrial Deformation in Heart Failure: A Clinical Update.

Despite left ventricular global longitudinal strain is an eminent and validated marker of cardiovascular disease, assessment of left atrial size and function may have incremental role in diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. Left atrial strain, measured by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, is a non-invasive biomarker for the assessment of left atrial function. This novel marker, has additional value to traditional echocardiography markers of left atrial function such as left atrial diameter and volume for the diagnosis and management of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, atrial fibrillation and valvular disease.

Apremilast Improves Endothelial Glycocalyx Integrity, Vascular and Left Ventricular Myocardial Function in Psoriasis.

The phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor apremilast is used for the treatment of psoriasis. We investigated the effects of apremilast on endothelial glycocalyx, vascular and left ventricular (LV) myocardial function in psoriasis. One hundred and fifty psoriatic patients were randomized to apremilast ( = 50), anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (etanercept; = 50), or cyclosporine ( = 50).

Endothelial glycocalyx and microvascular perfusion are associated with carotid intima-media thickness and impaired myocardial deformation in psoriatic disease.

Psoriatic disease is associated with vascular and myocardial dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate endothelial glycocalyx barrier properties and microvascular perfusion in psoriatic patients, as well as their correlation with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and markers of left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation. We examined 297 psoriatic patients and 150 controls, adjusted for age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors.

Impaired Endothelial Glycocalyx Predicts Adverse Outcome in Subjects Without Overt Cardiovascular Disease: a 6-Year Follow-up Study.

We investigated whether disturbance of glycocalyx integrity is related with increased cardiovascular risk. In 600 healthy subjects, we measured perfused boundary region (PBR), a marker of glycocalyx integrity, in sublingual microvessels with diameter ranging 5-25 µm using a dedicated camera (Sideview Darkfield Imaging). Increased PBR indicates reduced glycocalyx thickness.

Effects of a 12-Month Treatment with Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists, Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors, and Their Combination on Oxidant and Antioxidant Biomarkers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Imbalance between oxidative stress burden and antioxidant capacity is implicated in the course of atherosclerosis among type 2 diabetic patients. We addressed the effects of insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA), sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i), and their combination on levels of oxidant and antioxidant biomarkers. We recruited a total of 160 type 2 diabetics, who received insulin ( = 40), liraglutide ( = 40), empagliflozin ( = 40), or their combination (GLP-1RA+SGLT-2i) ( = 40).

Association of COVID-19 with impaired endothelial glycocalyx, vascular function and myocardial deformation 4 months after infection.

Aims: SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to endothelial and vascular dysfunction. We investigated alterations of arterial stiffness, endothelial coronary and myocardial function markers 4 months after COVID-19 infection.

Methods And Results: In a case-control prospective study, we included 70 patients 4 months after COVID-19 infection, 70 age- and sex-matched untreated hypertensive patients (positive control) and 70 healthy individuals.