Different Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Patterns of Diseased Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery versus Internal Thoracic Artery.

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation are typically implied in atherosclerosis pathogenesis and progression, especially in coronary artery disease (CAD). Our objective was to investigate the oxidative stress and inflammation burden directly associated with atherosclerotic plaque in patients with stable coronary disease undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Specifically, markers of oxidative stress and inflammation were compared in blood samples obtained from the atherosclerotic left anterior descending artery (LAD) and blood samples obtained from the healthy left internal thoracic artery (LITA), used as a bypass graft, within the same patient.

Different Techniques of Surgical Left Atrial Appendage Closure and Their Efficacy: A Systematic Review.

Background: Atrial fibrillation has been identified as an independent risk factor for thromboembolic events. Since 1948 different surgical techniques have described the feasibility and the rationale of left atrial surgical appendage closure. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the reported patency rates of different surgical techniques.

Sex-Related Differences in Oxidative, Platelet, and Vascular Function in Chronic Users of Heat-not-Burn vs. Traditional Combustion Cigarettes.

Smoking is still a major cardiovascular risk factor, despite many public awareness campaigns and dedicated interventions. Recently, modified risk products (MRP), e.g.

Role of Oxidative Stress and Autophagy in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) pathogenesis and progression include many mechanisms. The authors investigated the role of autophagy, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction in 36 TAA patients and 23 control patients. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed.

A snapshot global survey on side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare professionals and armed forces with a focus on headache.

Background: New messenger RNA (mRNA) and adenovirus-based vaccines (AdV) against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have entered large scale clinical trials. Since healthcare professionals (HCPs) and armed forces personnel (AFP) represent a high-risk category, they act as a suitable target population to investigate vaccine-related side effects, including headache, which has emerged as a common complaint.

Methods: We investigated the side-effects of COVID-19 vaccines among HCPs and AFP through a 38 closed-question international survey.

Impact of chronic use of heat-not-burn cigarettes on oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation: the SUR-VAPES Chronic Study.

Tobacco habit still represents the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Heat-not-burn cigarettes (HNBCs) are considered as an alternative to traditional combustion cigarettes (TCCs) due to the lack of combustion and the absence of combustion-related specific toxicants. The aim of this observational study was to assess the effect of HNBC on endothelial function, oxidative stress and platelet activation in chronic adult TCC smokers and HNBC users.

Von Willebrand factor with increased binding capacity is associated with reduced platelet aggregation but enhanced agglutination in COVID-19 patients: another COVID-19 paradox?

Patients with Coronavirus-associated disease-2019 (COVID-19) display alterations of the hemostatic system and the presence of a prothrombotic status frequently leading to vascular complications. However, the impact of COVID-19 on platelet activity, aggregation and agglutination still needs to be clarified. We measured total levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and vWF binding to the platelet glycoprotein (Gp) complex (GPIb-IX-V), in a cohort of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit of our Institution.

Interplay between Nox2 Activity and Platelet Activation in Patients with Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Prospective Study.

Background: Although preclinical studies highlighted the potential role of NADPH oxidase (NOX) in sepsis, only few studies evaluated the oxidative stress in patients with sepsis and septic shock. The objective of the study is to appraise the oxidative stress status and platelet function in patients with sepsis and septic shock compared to healthy controls.

Methods And Results: Patients with sepsis or septic shock admitted to the hospital Policlinico Umberto I (Sapienza University, Rome) underwent a blood sample collection within 1 hour from admission.

Diet Supplementation, Probiotics, and Nutraceuticals in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Scoping Review.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2) global pandemic is a devastating event that is causing thousands of victims every day around the world. One of the main reasons of the great impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on society is its unexpected spread, which has not allowed an adequate preparation. The scientific community is fighting against time for the production of a vaccine, but it is difficult to place a safe and effective product on the market as fast as the virus is spreading.

A randomized trial comparing the acute coronary, systemic, and environmental effects of electronic vaping cigarettes versus heat-not-burn cigarettes in smokers of combustible cigarettes undergoing invasive coronary assessment: rationale and design of the SUR-VAPES 3 trial.

Background: Traditional combustible cigarette (TCC) smoking remains a major cause of preventable cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Modified risk products (MRP) such as electronic vaping cigarettes (EVC) and heat-not-burn cigarettes (HNBC) may be safer than TCC but may still have detrimental oxidative, platelet and vascular effects of particular importance to people with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We aimed to compare the acute coronary, systemic and environmental effects of two leading MRP in 20 TCC smokers admitted for invasive coronary assessment of CAD and willing to quit or after prior failed quitting attempts.

An overview of cycling as active transportation and as benefit for health.

Active transportation is defined as travelling on foot, by bicycle or other non-motorized means, sometimes in combination with other forms of public transportation, in contrast with the use of motor vehicles. The prevalence of sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity is a growing epidemic in most developed countries that spread over the last three decades; active transportation may be a promising approach to increase physical activity and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases improving cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic health. The health benefits of physical activity in reducing mortality and morbidity have been proved by several publications.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for critically ill patients with coronavirus-associated disease 2019: an updated perspective of the European experience.

Background: Infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), i.e. coronavirus-associated disease 2019 (COVID-2019), may occasionally lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring in the most severe cases extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Profiling the Acute Effects of Modified Risk Products: Evidence from the SUR-VAPES (Sapienza University of Rome-Vascular Assessment of Proatherosclerotic Effects of Smoking) Cluster Study.

Purpose Of Review: Modified risk products (MRP) are promoted as a safer alternative to traditional combustion cigarettes (TCC) in chronic smokers. Evidence for their lower hazardous profile is building, despite several controversies. Yet, it is unclear whether individual responses to MRP differ among consumers.

On the Road to Regeneration: "Tools" and "Routes" Towards Efficient Cardiac Cell Therapy for Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Purpose Of Review: Cardiac regenerative medicine is a field bridging together biotechnology and surgical science. In this review, we present the explored surgical roads to cell delivery and the known effects of each delivery method on cell therapy efficiency. We also list the more recent clinical trials, exploring the safety and efficacy of delivery routes used for cardiac cell therapy approaches.

Deregulation of TLR4 signaling pathway characterizes Bicuspid Aortic valve syndrome.

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is recognized to be a syndrome with a complex and multifaceted pathophysiology. Its progression is modulated by diverse evolutionary conserved pathways, such as Notch-1 pathway. Emerging evidence is also highlighting the key role of TLR4 signaling pathway in the aortic valve pathologies and their related complications, such as sporadic ascending aorta aneurysms (AAA).

Comparative spallation performance of silicone versus Tygon extracorporeal circulation tubing.

Objectives: Reports ranged from mixed to marginal tubing wear and spallation effects as a complication of roller pumps in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Because the rollers constantly compress part of the tubing, we sought to determine whether circuit materials behave differently under a 3-h simulation of CPB.

Methods: Two different tubing materials (silicone and Tygon) were tested with a customized experimental circuit, designed to allow in vitro simulation of CPB with priming volumes, pressures, revolutions per minute and temperatures equivalent to the clinical scenario.

Acute Effects of Heat-Not-Burn, Electronic Vaping, and Traditional Tobacco Combustion Cigarettes: The Sapienza University of Rome-Vascular Assessment of Proatherosclerotic Effects of Smoking ( SUR - VAPES ) 2 Randomized Trial.

Background Little clinical research on new-generation heat-not-burn cigarettes ( HNBC ) in comparison with electronic vaping cigarettes ( EVC ) and traditional tobacco combustion cigarettes ( TC ) has been reported. We aimed to appraise the acute effects of single use of HNBC , EVC, and TC in healthy smokers. Methods and Results This was an independent, cross-over, randomized trial in 20 TC smokers, with allocation to different cycles of HNBC , EVC , and TC .

Deregulation of Notch1 pathway and circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) number in patients with bicuspid aortic valve with and without ascending aorta aneurysm.

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is frequently associated with the development of ascending aortic aneurysm, even if the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. Here, we investigated if a deregulation of Notch1 signaling pathway and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) number is associated with BAV disease and an early ascending aortic aneurysm (AAA) onset. For this purpose, 70 subjects with BAV (M/F 50/20; mean age: 58.

A network meta-analysis of randomized trials and observational studies on left ventricular assist devices in adult patients with end-stage heart failure.

Objectives: The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is an approved treatment option for end-stage heart failure. Several devices have been developed over the years, including 2 newer ones (HeartMate 3 and HeartWare), but an overall comparative analysis has never been performed. We conducted a network meta-analysis of randomized trials on LVAD for adults with end-stage heart failure.

A Typical Immune T/B Subset Profile Characterizes Bicuspid Aortic Valve: In an Old Status?

Bicuspid valve disease is associated with the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm. The molecular mechanisms underlying this association still need to be clarified. Here, we evaluated the circulating levels of T and B lymphocyte subsets associated with the development of vascular diseases in patients with bicuspid aortic valve or tricuspid aortic valve with and without thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Predictors of oxidative stress and vascular function in an experimental study of tobacco versus electronic cigarettes: A post hoc analysis of the SUR-VAPES 1 Study.

Introduction: Use of a conventional cigarette (CC) or electronic cigarette (EC) leads to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, but the impact of other features and their interplay with CCs and ECs have been incompletely appraised. We explored moderators of CC and EC effects on oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: We have conducted an experimental study on CCs and ECs in which repeated indicators of oxidative stress (serum levels of soluble NOX2-derived peptide, nitric oxide bioavailability, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α-III, and vitamin E) and endothelial dysfunction (flow-mediated dilation) were collected in 40 subjects (20 smokers, 20 non-smokers).