Mannitol for bowel preparation: Efficacy and safety results from the SATISFACTION randomised clinical trial.

Background: Bowel preparation represents a significant issue to high-quality colonoscopy. Oral mannitol requires a single dose, is of low volume, and has a pleasant taste and rapid action.

Aims: This SATISFACTION study compared single-dose (same day) oral mannitol 100 g/750 mL with standard split-dose PEG-ASC2 L (MoviPrep®).

Sequencing of NOTCH1 gene in an Italian population with bicuspid aortic valve: Preliminary results from the GISSI OUTLIERS VAR study.

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) formation is genetically determined, with reduced penetrance and variable expressivity. NOTCH1 is a proven candidate gene and its mutations have been found in familial and sporadic cases of BAV.

Methods: 66 BAV patients from the GISSI VAR study were genotyped for the NOTCH1 gene.

A novel echocardiographic method closely agrees with cardiac magnetic resonance in the assessment of left ventricular function in infarcted mice.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is the gold standard for left ventricular (LV) function assessment in small rodents and, though echocardiography (ECHO) has been proposed as an alternative method, LV volumes may be underestimated when marked eccentric remodeling is present. In the present study we described a novel echocardiographic method and we tested the agreement with CMR for LV volumes and ejection fraction calculation in mice with experimental myocardial infarction. Sham-operated and infarcted mice, subjected to Coronary Artery Ligation, underwent ECHO and CMR.

High-sensitivity troponin T, NT-proBNP and glomerular filtration rate: A multimarker strategy for risk stratification in chronic heart failure.

Background: In a recent individual patient data meta-analysis, high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) emerged as robust predictor of prognosis in stable chronic heart failure (HF). In the same population, we compared the relative predictive performances of hs-TnT, N-terminal fraction of pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for prognosis.

Methods And Results: 9289 patients (66 ± 12 years, 77% men, 85% LVEF <40%, 60% ischemic HF) were evaluated over a 2.

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: A multicenter randomised trial comparing two strategies for guiding prevention with enalapril: The International CardioOncology Society-one trial.

Background: Troponin changes over time have been suggested to allow for an early diagnosis of cardiac injury ensuing cancer chemotherapy; cancer patients with troponin elevation may benefit of therapy with enalapril. It is unknown whether a preventive treatment with enalapril may further increase the benefit.

Methods: The International CardioOncology Society-one trial (ICOS-ONE) was a controlled, open-label trial conducted in 21 Italian hospitals.

Treatment with insulin is associated with worse outcome in patients with chronic heart failure and diabetes.

Aims: Up to one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus and heart failure (HF) are treated with insulin. As insulin causes sodium retention and hypoglycaemia, its use might be associated with worse outcomes.

Methods And Results: We examined two datasets: 24 012 patients with HF from four large randomized trials and an administrative database of 4 million individuals, 103 857 of whom with HF.

Prognostic Value of Secretoneurin in Patients With Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: Data From the Albumin Italian Outcome Sepsis Study.

Objectives: Secretoneurin directly influences cardiomyocyte calcium handling, and circulating secretoneurin levels seem to improve risk prediction in patients with myocardial dysfunction by integrating information on systemic stress, myocardial function, and renal function. Accordingly, in this study, we hypothesized that secretoneurin would improve risk prediction in patients with sepsis and especially in patients with septic shock as these patients are more hemodynamically unstable.

Design: Multicenter, interventional randomized clinical trial.

Prognostic Value of High-Sensitivity Troponin T in Chronic Heart Failure: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Background: Most patients with chronic heart failure have detectable troponin concentrations when evaluated by high-sensitivity assays. The prognostic relevance of this finding has not been clearly established so far. We aimed to assess high-sensitivity troponin assay for risk stratification in chronic heart failure through a meta-analysis approach.

Platelet Drop and Fibrinolytic Shutdown in Patients With Sepsis.

Objective: Thrombocytopenia is the most common hemostatic disorder during sepsis and is associated with high mortality. We examined whether fibrinolytic changes precede incident thrombocytopenia and predict outcome in patients with severe sepsis.

Design: Nested study from the multicenter, randomized, controlled trial on the efficacy of albumin replacement in severe sepsis or septic shock (the Albumin Italian Outcome Sepsis trial).

Circulating microRNA-132 levels improve risk prediction for heart failure hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aims: Non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) are critically involved in cardiovascular pathophysiology. Since they are measurable in most body fluids, they have been proposed as circulating biomarkers. We examined the prognostic value of a specific candidate miRNA in a large cohort of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) enrolled in a multicentre clinical trial.

Pentraxin 3 in patients with severe sepsis or shock: the ALBIOS trial.

Background: The long pentraxin PTX3 is a key component of the humoral arm of innate immunity related to sepsis severity and mortality. We evaluated the clinical and prognostic significance of circulating PTX3 in the largest cohort ever reported of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Materials And Methods: Plasma PTX3 was measured on days 1, 2 and 7 after randomization of 958 patients to albumin or crystalloids for fluid resuscitation in the multicentre Albumin Italian Outcome Sepsis (ALBIOS) trial.

A low plasma 1,25(OH) vitamin D/PTH (1-84) ratio predicts worsening of renal function in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Dysregulation of the vitamin D system promotes renal dysfunction and has direct detrimental effects on the heart. Progressive deterioration of renal function is common in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and is invariably associated with unfavorable outcomes which can be improved by early identification and timely interventions. We examined the relation between two plasma markers of vitamin D metabolism and worsening of renal function (WRF) in a large cohort of patients with chronic HF.

Elevated plasma heparin-binding protein is associated with early death after resuscitation from cardiac arrest.

Background: An intense systemic inflammatory response is observed following reperfusion after cardiac arrest. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a granule protein released by neutrophils that intervenes in endothelial permeability regulation. In the present study, we investigated plasma levels of HBP in a large population of patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.