Surfactant-derived protein type B: a new biomarker linked to respiratory failure and lung damage in mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant concern due to its impact on human health, particularly through pneumonia-induced lung damage. Surfactant proteins A and D (SP-A and SP-D) are implicated in COVID-19 lung damage, but the role of surfactant protein B (SP-B) remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre, prospective observational study involving 73 hospitalised COVID-19 pneumonia patients.

Humoral response to anti SARS-CoV2 vaccination at one and seven months is not different in shift workers and non-shift workers.

Since previous studies, mostly performed in healthy adults, show that sleep restriction around time of vaccination impairs antibody response and shift work affects sleep, aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that the antibody response to vaccination is impaired in shift workers, when compared to non-shift workers. Employees (n = 445; mean age 44 ± 11 years; 35 % men) of the Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS (Milan, Italy) were vaccinated against SARS-CoV2 in February 2021 with an mRNA-based vaccine. Antibody titers were assayed 1 and 7 months later.

Role of advanced CMR features in identifying a positive genotype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiovascular disease that affects approximately one in 500 people. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has emerged as a powerful tool for the non-invasive assessment of HCM. CMR can accurately quantify the extent and distribution of hypertrophy, assess the presence and severity of myocardial fibrosis, and detect associated abnormalities.

Symptomatic post COVID patients have impaired alveolar capillary membrane function and high VE/VCO.

Background: Post COVID-19 syndrome is characterized by several cardiorespiratory symptoms but the origin of patients' reported symptomatology is still unclear.

Methods: Consecutive post COVID-19 patients were included. Patients underwent full clinical evaluation, symptoms dedicated questionnaires, blood tests, echocardiography, thoracic computer tomography (CT), spirometry including alveolar capillary membrane diffusion (DM) and capillary volume (Vcap) assessment by combined carbon dioxide and nitric oxide lung diffusion (DLCO/DLNO) and cardiopulmonary exercise test.

Leukocyte cell population data as potential markers of COVID-19 disease characterization.

Background: The usefulness of leukocyte cell population data (CPD) is currently being investigated. In COVID-19 pandemic several reports showed the clinical importance of hematological parameters. Our study aimed to assess CPDs in Sars CoV-2 patients as new disease markers.

Looking into the Kinetics of NT-proBNP and sST2 Changes in Patients with Heart Failure Treated with Sacubitril/Valsartan: A Hint to Different Therapeutic Pathways.

Background And Objective: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and soluble interleukin 1 receptor-like 1 ST2 (sST2) are biomarkers used to grade heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) severity. Both are potential targets of HFrEF treatment, but the first is associated with the patient's hemodynamic status, while the second is more indicative of the inflammatory status and of myocardial fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the kinetics of these biomarkers after treatment with sacubitril/valsartan in HFrEF.

Molecular Characterization of Reactivation and Follow-up in a Case Series of People With HIV.

We characterize infections from blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples in a case series of people with human immunodeficiency virus and Chagas disease. We identify different infecting populations, highlighting the usefulness of real-time polymerase chain reaction for Chagas disease reactivation diagnosis and evaluation of treatment response.

Head-to-head comparison of four COVID-19 vaccines on platelet activation, coagulation and inflammation. The TREASURE study.

Introduction: Studies exploring alterations in blood coagulation and platelet activation induced by COVID-19 vaccines are not concordant. We aimed to assess the impact of four COVID-19 vaccines on platelet activation, coagulation, and inflammation considering also the immunization dose and the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: TREASURE study enrolled 368 consecutive subjects (161 receiving viral vector vaccines -ChAdOx1-S/Vaxzevria or Janssen- and 207 receiving mRNA vaccines -Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech or Spikevax/Moderna).

Impact of Sacubitril/Valsartan on surfactant binding proteins, central sleep apneas, lung function tests and heart failure biomarkers: Hemodynamic or pleiotropism?

Purpose: Little is known about the mechanism underlying Sacubitril/Valsartan effects in patients with heart failure (HFrEF). Aim of the study is to assess hemodynamic vs. non-hemodynamic Sacubitril/Valsartan effects by analyzing several biological and functional parameters.

Spectrum of Rare and Common Genetic Variants in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Patients.

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a rare inherited disorder, whose genetic cause is elusive in about 50-70% of cases. ACM presents a variable disease course which could be influenced by genetics. We performed next-generation sequencing on a panel of 174 genes associated with inherited cardiovascular diseases on 82 ACM probands (i) to describe and classify the pathogenicity of rare variants according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics both for ACM-associated genes and for genes linked to other cardiovascular genetic conditions; (ii) to assess, for the first time, the impact of common variants on the ACM clinical disease severity by genotype-phenotype correlation and survival analysis.

High immature platelet fraction with reduced platelet count on hospital admission. Can it be useful for COVID-19 diagnosis?

Introduction: Health professions are heavily engaged facing the current threat of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Although there are many diagnostic tools, an accurate and rapid laboratory procedure for diagnosing COVID-19 is recommended. We focused on platelet parameters as the additional biomarkers for clinical diagnosis in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED).

Digital PCR for high sensitivity viral detection in false-negative SARS-CoV-2 patients.

Patients requiring diagnostic testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are routinely assessed by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) amplification of Sars-CoV-2 virus RNA extracted from oro/nasopharyngeal swabs. Despite the good specificity of the assays certified for SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection, and a theoretical sensitivity of few viral gene copies per reaction, a relatively high rate of false negatives continues to be reported. This is an important challenge in the management of patients on hospital admission and for correct monitoring of the infectivity after the acute phase.

Prognostic impact of admission high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in acute myocardial infarction patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Background: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) elevation frequently occurs in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and is associated with adverse outcomes. Since diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by an underlying chronic inflammation, hs-CRP may have a different prognostic power in AMI patients with and without DM.

Methods: We prospectively included 2064 AMI patients; hs-CRP was measured at hospital admission.

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Prospective Observational Study.

Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation plays a key role in acute kidney injury (AKI) pathogenesis. We explored the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and AKI in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We prospectively included 2,063 AMI patients in whom hs-CRP was measured at admission.

Troponin I Levels in Asymptomatic Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) represents a situation in which persistently elevated levels of cardiac troponins I (cTnI) are frequently found in the absence of clinically evident cardiac disease. Moreover, the effect of hemodialysis (HD) on cTnI levels is not definitively elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HD on cTnI levels in ESRD patients.

Darunavir-based dual therapy of treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients: analysis from a national multicenter database.

Background: We assessed the virological response of dual therapy with DRV/r, plus raltegravir, maraviroc or etravirine, in virological failure patients and in virologically suppressed patients collected in the Italian Antiretroviral Resistance Database (ARCA).

Material And Methods: The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients remaining free of virological failure (confirmed >50 copies/mL or any change in the regimen). Subjects had a resistance test and at least one follow-up visit.

Darunavir-based dual therapy in HIV experienced patients.

Background: We assessed the virological response of DRV/r-based dual therapy in drug-experienced patients included in the Italian antiretroviral resistance database (ARCA).

Materials And Methods: Patients included in the study were treated with DRV/r in association with raltegravir (RAL), etravirine (ETV) or maraviroc (MAR) following treatment failure(s) and with a resistance test and at least one follow-up visit available. Observation was censored at last visit under dual therapy and survival analysis and proportional hazard models were used, taking virological failure (confirmed >50 c/mL HIV-RNA) as the end-point.

Type I collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 1, 3 and 9 gene polymorphisms in the predisposition to pelvic organ prolapse.

Aim: To evaluate whether the presence of specific polymorphism in the gene promoter of collagen and some matrix metalloproteinases was associated with the risk of developing pelvic organ prolapse.

Methods: A case-control study was carried on 233 women: 137 were cases with ≥ stage II pelvic organ prolapse and 96 were matched controls without pelvic pathologies. Allele and genotype frequencies related to polymorphisms at the Sp1 site of type I collagen and some functional polymorphisms in the promoters of metalloproteinases-1, -3 and -9 have been compared between groups.

High resolution melting analysis to genotype the most common variants in the HFE gene.

Background: High resolution melting (HRM) analysis of PCR amplicons was recently introduced as a closed-tube, rapid, and inexpensive method of genotyping. This study evaluated this system as an option for detecting the three most common mutations in the HFE gene (C282Y, H63D, S65C), accounting for the main form of hereditary haemochromatosis.

Methods: Ninety samples, previously screened by direct sequencing, and 27 controls were used.

CCN2 (CTGF) gene polymorphism is a novel prognostic risk factor for cardiovascular outcomes in hemodialysis patients.

Background: The very high cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity rates in hemodialysis (HD) patients are greatly related to atherosclerosis. CCN2 (connective tissue growth factor/CTGF) is a profibrotic factor that is secreted by endothelial cells, involved in atherogenesis, promoting fibroblast proliferation and matrix production. CCN2 protein is significantly increased in complicated fibrous plaques and enhances monocyte migration into atherosclerotic lesions.

MMP-1 and MMP-3 polymorphism and arrhythmia recurrence after electrical cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Cardiac extracellular matrix structure is largely under the control of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) whose activity maintains a balance between connective tissue synthesis and degradation. MMP gene polymorphisms, by modifying the level of gene expression, may affect atrial structural remodelling and atrial fibrillation recurrence rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between MMP-1 and MMP-3 polymorphisms and arrhythmia recurrence.