Publications by authors named "Nino Cocco"

Cardiac involvement in cancer is increasingly important in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients. A thorough cardiovascular evaluation using multimodal imaging is crucial to assess any direct cardiac involvement from oncological disease progression and to determine the cardiovascular risk of patients undergoing oncological therapies. Early detection of cardiac dysfunction, particularly due to cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, is essential to establish the disease's overall prognostic impact.

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Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) affects right-sided valves and causes significant mortality and morbidity. Even though the pathophysiology of the disease is not entirely understood, it is known that chronic exposure to high levels of circulating serotonin is the main factor responsible for developing valvular heart disease. Cardiac imaging plays a critical role in the management of CHD, so the final diagnosis can be performed through multimodal imaging techniques and the measurement of biomarkers.

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Aims: Our study aims to evaluate the acute remodelling of the tricuspid valve annulus immediately after the tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) by using intraprocedural transoesophageal 3D echocardiography.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 62 consecutive symptomatic patients with at least severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), who underwent T-TEER with the TriClip System between March 2021 and June 2024. The following parameters were assessed using a multiplanar reconstruction analysis performed off-line using a 3D data set: septal-lateral (SL) and antero-posterior (AP) annulus diameters; annulus area; annulus perimeter; and eccentricity index.

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Article Synopsis
  • Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is examined as a predictor for complications in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), with a focus on its impact on intra-annular devices.
  • Patients with high AVC have a higher risk of developing mild to severe paravalvular leak (PVL) and conduction disorders requiring pacemaker implantation, indicating AVC's significant role in post-TAVI outcomes.
  • The study found that higher AVC levels predict poor 30-day clinical outcomes after TAVI, highlighting the importance of assessing AVC to improve patient management.
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As the general population ages, the incidence of degenerative mitral stenosis (MS) among patients has increased. Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) has emerged as a well-established option for mitral rheumatic stenosis with specific characteristics. However, a blank therapeutic space must be filled with the treatment options for degenerative or rheumatic mitral stenosis in patients with many comorbidities and contraindication for valvuloplasty.

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Article Synopsis
  • Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are common challenges in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), making them a significant focus in clinical settings.
  • Despite mixed results from randomized trials on the benefits of recanalizing CTOs, the number of these procedures has notably increased due to advancements in techniques and training.
  • This review aims to summarize the clinical outcomes, technical aspects, and safety concerns related to CTO revascularization to assist clinicians in their daily cath-lab practices.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a temporary heart condition with abnormal wall motion caused by various factors like inflammation, stress hormones, and vascular issues, often mimicking symptoms of a heart attack but typically lacks coronary artery blockage.
  • - Recent studies suggest that TTS and coronary artery disease (CAD) may coexist in some patients, challenging the belief that they are entirely separate conditions and potentially affecting treatment outcomes.
  • - The review aims to explore the complex relationship between TTS and CAD, focusing on shared mechanisms, diagnosis challenges, and effective treatment strategies for both conditions.
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SARS-CoV-2 vaccination offered the opportunity to emerge from the pandemic and, thereby, worldwide health, social, and economic disasters. However, in addition to efficacy, safety is an important issue for any vaccine. The mRNA-based vaccine platform is considered to be safe, but side effects are being reported more frequently as more and more people around the world become treated.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines how different levels of post-procedure cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation relate to incomplete revascularization (IR) in patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • A total of 1,061 patients were evaluated, with 23.4% experiencing IR and over half showing major myocardial injury; higher pre-procedure SYNTAX scores correlated with increased risk for both conditions.
  • Results indicate that patients with IR combined with significant cTn elevation had a notably higher risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) over two years, emphasizing that periprocedural myocardial injury may signal a high-risk group for long-term complications.
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An anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) from the opposite sinus, with an interarterial course, has been associated with an increased risk of myocardial ischemia and sudden death. As the exact pathophysiology of AAOCA is not well understood, the clinical management is also not well defined. With increased use of non-invasive imaging, the diagnosis of AAOCA is increasing and the association of anomalous origin and atherosclerotic disease is becoming a more important topic.

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Background: Computed tomography (CT) is the recommended imaging technique for defining the anatomical suitability for current transcatheter technologies and planning tricuspid valve (TV) intervention. The aim of the Tricuspid Regurgitation IMAging (TRIMA) study was to assess the geometrical characteristics of the TV complex using novel CT parameters.

Methods: This prospective, single-center study enrolled 22 consecutive patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation, who underwent a cardiac CT study dedicated to the right chambers.

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: Post-anti-COVID-19 vaccine lymphadenopathy has recently been described in the literature. In this study, we investigated the multiparametric US findings of patients with post-vaccine lymphadenopathy and compared these findings among different anti-COVID-19 vaccines. : We retrospectively evaluated 24 patients who underwent US between January and May 2021 due to post-anti-COVID-19 lymphadenopathy.

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Vascular anomalies are classified as vascular tumors (VT) and vascular malformations (VM). VTs are divided according to their clinical behavior, while VMs are classified according to their flow characteristics, histopathologic features, and associations with other anomalies. Sonography emerges as the diagnostic imaging method of first choice for assessing abdominal wall disorders and masses, thus representing a valuable tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of abdominal wall VMs.

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Increased stiffness characterizes the early change in the arterial wall with subclinical atherosclerosis. Proteins inducing arterial stiffness in diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia are largely unknown. This study aimed at determining the pattern of protein expression in stiffening aorta of diabetic and hypercholesterolaemic mice.

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Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by transient ventricular dysfunction, classically in its apical and mid segments, in the absence of coronary lesions, and is often observed after intense stressful events and occasionally associated to an acute medical illness. We describe a case of TCM associated with coronary artery disease and triggered by a percutaneous coronary angioplasty. This case highlights the concept that a medical procedure can lead, in certain conditions, to TCM and provides new interesting insights on the pathophysiology of coronary syndromes.

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Adequate plasmatic Vitamin D levels are crucial to maintain calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism both in the general population and in athletes. Correct dietary supply and a regular sun exposure are fundamental for allowing the desired and effective fitness level. Past studies highlighted a scenario of Vitamin D insufficiency among professional soccer players in several countries, especially in North Europe, whilst a real deficiency in athletes is rare.

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Although the early diagnosis and treatment for acute myocardial infarction have improved over the past decades, the morbidity and mortality from coronary artery disease (CAD) remain significant in Europe and worldwide. It is estimated that the majority of people in the developed countries who die suddenly from CAD, have no prior manifestation of disease, and the majority of these individuals are not considered to be at high risk. Accurate identification of individuals at risk of such events before the clinical manifestations is therefore required.

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Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a pathophysiological condition characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), initially due to abnormal pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to endothelial injury. Recent studies confirmed the key role of endothelin (ET)-1 in the vasoconstriction and remodeling of pulmonary microcirculation during PAH. In responders patients, classical treatments for PAH are prostanoids, phosphodiesterase (PDE)-5 inhibitors and endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), which target prostaglandin I2, nitric oxide and endothelin pathways, respectively.

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Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a group of diseases characterized by a progressive increase of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), initially due to abnormal pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to endothelial injury. Recent studies have here confirmed the prominent role of endothelin (ET)-1 in vasoconstriction and remodelling of the pulmonary microcirculation. In patients who are acute-vasoreactive, classical treatments for PAH are calcium channels blockers (CCBs), while drugs targeting the prostacyclin, nitric oxide and endothelin pathways, i.

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Background: The goal of this study was to determine changes in left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function with three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) after percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip system in high-risk surgical patients with moderate to severe or severe secondary mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods: Thirty-two patients with MR undergoing MitraClip were prospectively included. Patients underwent two-dimensional (2D) and 3D transthoracic echocardiography before clip implantation and after 6-month follow-up.

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