Publications by authors named "Pintus G"

Background: Primary aldosteronism can be treated medically but there is no standardised method to evaluate treatment outcomes. We aimed to develop criteria for assessing the outcomes of targeted medical treatment of primary aldosteronism, analyse outcomes across an international cohort, and identify factors associated with a complete treatment response.

Methods: An international panel of 31 primary aldosteronism experts used the Delphi method to reach consensus on the definition of complete, partial, or absent biochemical and clinical outcomes of medical treatment of primary aldosteronism.

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The p53-MDM2 pathway plays a crucial role regulating tumor suppression and is a focal point of cancer research. This literature review delves into the complex interplay between the tumor suppressor protein p53 and its main regulator MDM2, highlighting their interaction and implications in cancer development and progression. The review compiles and summarizes the existing understanding of the biology and regulation of p53 and MDM2, emphasizing their roles in various cellular processes, including cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, apoptosis, and metabolism.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune condition marked by persistent inflammation of the joints and various systemic complications, including endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Oxidative stress is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of RA, potentially exacerbating vascular damage and promoting pro-angiogenic and profibrotic processes. This study aims to investigate the effects of sera from RA patients on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), focusing on the induction of oxidative stress, endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and collagen type I synthesis.

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Extensive efforts have been invested to explicate mechanisms implicated in the onset and progression of CVD. Besides the usual suspects as risk factors (obesity, diabetes, and others), the gut microbiome has emerged as a prominent and essential factor in the pathogenesis of CVD.

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Article Synopsis
  • Atherosclerosis is a serious disease that causes heart problems and is a major reason why people get sick or die around the world.
  • Scientists are learning more about how tiny particles called exosomes, which come from certain immune cells, might make atherosclerosis worse by attracting more harmful cells to the area.
  • Understanding how exosomes work could help us find new ways to treat atherosclerosis and help keep people's hearts healthier.
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Extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly microvesicles (MVs), have gained significant attention for their role as mediators of intercellular communication in both physiological and pathological contexts, including diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the emerging roles of MVs in the pathogenesis of diabetes and associated complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, cardiomyopathy, and neuropathy. MVs, through their cargo of proteins, lipids, mRNAs, and miRNAs, regulate critical processes like inflammation, oxidative stress, immune responses, and tissue remodeling, all of which contribute to the progression of diabetes and its complications.

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Exosomes, a subset of small extracellular vesicles that play a crucial role in intercellular communication, have garnered significant attention for their potential applications in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiomyopathies. Cardiomyopathies, which encompass a spectrum of heart muscle disorders, present complex challenges in diagnosis and management. Understanding the role of exosomes in the etiology of cardiomyopathies such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC), and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may open new possibilities for therapeutic intervention and diagnosis.

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, commonly known as pompia, is a distinctive citrus ecotype native to Sardinia, notable for its unique botanical, phytochemical, and potential health benefits. It holds cultural significance as a traditional food product of Sardinia, recognized by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural Food and Forestry Policies. This comprehensive review examines pompia's traditional uses, taxonomic classification, pomological characteristics, phytochemical profile, and potential health benefits.

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  • Methylmalonic Aciduria (MA) is a rare disorder that leads to toxic methylmalonic acid buildup, causing serious health issues like metabolic crises and kidney damage.
  • A case study of a 39-year-old male with MA and stage IV chronic kidney disease illustrates how a single hemodialysis session effectively treated his acute metabolic crisis after a gastrointestinal infection.
  • Long-term management of MA often requires continuous kidney and/or liver transplantation, with combined liver-kidney transplants offering better outcomes due to reduced acid production and improved kidney function.
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Childhood obesity represents a significant public health concern, imposing a substantial burden on the healthcare system. Furthermore, weight-loss programs often exhibit reduced effectiveness in adults who have a history of childhood obesity. Therefore, early intervention against childhood obesity is imperative.

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  • - Arterial stiffening contributes significantly to age-related cardiovascular diseases through processes like proinflammation, collagen deposition, and calcification, primarily driven by the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
  • - The protein vasorin (VASN) helps regulate TGF-β1's proinflammatory effects, but its levels decrease with age due to activation of the enzyme MMP-2, worsening arterial fibrosis and calcification.
  • - Understanding the interaction between VASN and TGF-β1 could lead to new treatments focused on reducing age-related cardiovascular issues by preventing harmful remodeling in arterial walls.
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Cancer is a major global health challenge, being the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality after cardiovascular disease. The growing economic burden and profound psychosocial impact on patients and their families make it urgent to find innovative and effective anticancer solutions. For this reason, interest in using natural compounds to develop new cancer treatments has grown.

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The exclusion of causes of hypertension is not systematically exploited in clinical practice. Therefore, essential hypertension is consistently presented as the most prevalent 'cause'. The paradox of a condition with unknown causes being described as a common cause of hypertension translates into a diagnosis of essential hypertension in most patients, which precludes the detection of a curable cause of hypertension.

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  • * The virus re-emerged in 2007, leading to outbreaks in various regions including Italy, where the first case was documented in a wild boar in January 2022, eventually spreading to pig farms by mid-2023.
  • * The report highlights the response to ASF outbreaks in Lombardy, focusing on epidemiological investigations and measures taken to minimize economic impacts on the pig industry, in compliance with national and European regulations.
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  • Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are special RNA molecules that don't make proteins but play important roles in regulating biological processes and diseases like cancer.
  • MicroRNAs (like miR-21) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key ncRNAs involved in cancer, where miR-21 can promote tumor growth and spread.
  • Some lncRNAs interact with miR-21 and can help prevent tumor growth by acting as "sponges" to reduce its effect, showing that both types of RNA work together in cancer development.
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Background: Current guidelines and consensus documents recommend withdrawal of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) before primary aldosteronism (PA) subtyping by adrenal vein sampling (AVS), but this practice can cause severe hypokalemia and uncontrolled high blood pressure. Our aim was to investigate if unilateral PA can be identified by AVS during MRA treatment.

Methods: We compared the rate of unilateral PA identification between patients with and without MRA treatment in large data sets of patients submitted to AVS while off renin-angiotensin system blockers and β-blockers.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hypertension is a serious condition that can lead to big health problems like heart attacks and strokes, and it's expected that 1.5 billion people will have it by 2025.
  • The causes of hypertension are complex and involve a variety of biological processes, including genes and certain molecules that can affect how our bodies respond to medications.
  • This review focuses on how specific tiny molecules called microRNA might influence the effectiveness of drugs used to treat high blood pressure, helping us understand how these medicines work better.
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The oxidative-stress-elicited deterioration of chondrocyte function is the initial stage of changes leading to the disruption of cartilage homeostasis. These changes entail a series of catabolic damages mediated by proinflammatory cytokines, MMPs, and aggrecanases, which increase ROS generation. Such uncontrolled ROS production, inadequately balanced by the cellular antioxidant capacity, eventually contributes to the development and progression of chondropathies.

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The identification of circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (ED), a precursor to atherosclerosis, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) would facilitate early risk stratification and prevention strategies. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has emerged as a potential biomarker of oxidative stress, ischemia, and ED. However, studies examining the relationship between IMA and ED in RA patients are lacking.

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Background: In 2020, the emergence of the new Coronavirus has put health professionals under enormous pressure, as they had to work in difficult and often disadvantaged situations. Prevention of symptoms such as stress, anxiety and burnout therefore become important health management goals.

Aim: The aim of this pilot cross-sectional study was to assess the reliability and feasibility of a tool on Occupational Health Nurses after a Pandemic Period such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Salute Oc-cupazionale negli Infermieri in Periodo Pandemico Covid19 - SOIC) that aims to assess the occupational health and psychological wellbeing of nurses during periods of health crisis.

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Obesity is a growing pandemic with an increasing risk of inducing different cancer types, including breast cancer. Adipose tissue is proposed to be a major player in the initiation and progression of breast cancer in obese people. However, the mechanistic link between adipogenicity and tumorigenicity in breast tissues is poorly understood.

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New evidence continues to accumulate regarding a significant association between excessive inflammation and dysregulated immunity (local and systemic) and the risk of cardiovascular events in different patient cohorts. Whilst research has sought to identify novel atheroprotective therapies targeting inflammation and immunity, several marketed drugs for rheumatological conditions may serve a similar purpose. One such drug, methotrexate, has been used since 1948 for treating cancer and, more recently, for a wide range of dysimmune conditions.

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  • The study focuses on evaluating a new fluorescence-based rapid test for measuring TSH levels, comparing results from three different blood collection methods: fingerstick, venepuncture whole-blood, and serum.
  • Finecare™ testing showed high sensitivity (90.5% for serum; 95.2% for whole-blood) and specificity (96.3% for serum; 97.5% for whole-blood) when compared to a reliable reference method, CobasPro-c503.
  • Excellent agreement and strong correlation between Finecare™ results and CobasPro-c503 indicate the potential effectiveness of this POCT for diagnosing thyroid issues in various sample types.
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Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a feared component in over 200 interstitial pulmonary diseases, which are characterized by increased alveolar wall thickness, excessive scarring, and aberrant extracellular matrix restructuring that, ultimately, affect lung compliance and capacity. As a result of its broad range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and many others, resveratrol has been shown to be an effective treatment for respiratory system diseases, including interstitial lung disease, infectious diseases, and lung cancer. This work reviews the known molecular therapeutic targets of resveratrol and its potential mechanisms of action in attenuating PF in respiratory diseases, including cancer, COVID-19, interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) of known etiologies, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, and ILDs associated with systemic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, Schrödinger's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and pulmonary hypertension.

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An intricate interplay between genetic and environmental factors contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications. Therefore, it is not surprising that the epigenome also plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of T2D. Hyperglycemia can indeed trigger epigenetic modifications, thereby regulating different gene expression patterns.

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