Exploring Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 and -4 mRNA Expression and Their Receptor Assessment in a Dynamic Model of Vascular Calcification.

Background: Vascular calcification (VC) is a dynamic, tightly regulated process driven by cellular activity and resembling the mechanisms of bone formation, with specific molecules playing pivotal roles in its progression. We aimed to investigate the involvement of the bone morphogenic proteins (, , , and ) system in this process. Our study used an advanced in vitro model that simulates the biological environment of the vascular wall, assessing the ability of a phosphate mixture to induce the osteoblastic switch in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs).

Precision sampling of discrete sites identified during in-vivo functional testing in the mammalian heart.

Ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI) originate from discrete areas within the MI border zone (BZ), identified during functional electrophysiology tests. Accurate sampling of arrhythmogenic sites for ex-vivo study remains challenging, yet is critical to identify their tissue, cellular and molecular signature. In this study, we developed, validated, and applied a targeted sampling methodology based on individualized 3D prints of the human-sized pig heart.

The role of TandemHeart combined with ProtekDuo as right ventricular support device: A simulation approach.

Background And Objective: Right ventricular failure increases short-term mortality in the setting of acute myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, advanced left-sided heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Percutaneous and surgically implanted right ventricular assist devices (RVAD) have been investigated in different clinical settings. The use of the ProtekDuo™ is currently a promising approach due to its features such as groin-free approach leading to early mobilisation, easy percutaneous deployment, compatibility with different pumps and oxygenators, and adaptability to different configurations.

MicroRNA Profiling as a Predictive Indicator for Time to First Treatment in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Insights from the O-CLL1 Prospective Study.

A "watch and wait" strategy, delaying treatment until active disease manifests, is adopted for most CLL cases; however, prognostic models incorporating biomarkers have shown to be useful to predict treatment requirement. In our prospective O-CLL1 study including 224 patients, we investigated the predictive role of 513 microRNAs (miRNAs) on time to first treatment (TTFT). In the context of this study, six well-established variables (i.

Effect of early administration of tetracosactide on mortality and host response in critically ill patients requiring rescue surgery: a sensitivity analysis of the STOPSHOCK phase 3 randomized controlled trial.

Background: Undifferentiated shock is recognized as a criticality state that is transitional in immune-mediated topology for casual risk of lethal microcirculatory dysfunction. This was a sensitivity analysis of a drug (tetracosactide; TCS10) targeting melanocortin receptors (MCRs) in a phase 3 randomized controlled trial to improve cardiovascular surgical rescue outcome by reversing mortality and hemostatic disorders.

Methods: Sensitivity analysis was based on a randomized, two-arm, multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial.

Type-specific inflammatory responses of vascular cells activated by interaction with virgin and aged microplastics.

Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as a major environmental problem due to their ubiquitous presence in ecosystems and bioaccumulation in food chains. Not only humans are continuously exposed to these pollutants through ingestion and inhalation, but recent findings suggest they may trigger vascular inflammation and potentially worsen the clinical conditions of cardiovascular patients. Here we combine headspace analysis by needle trap microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-NTME-GC-MS) and biological assays to evaluate the effects of polystyrene, high- and low-density polyethylene MPs on phenotype, metabolic activity, and pro-inflammatory status of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) the most prominent cells in vascular walls.

Phenotype and outcomes according to loop diuretic use in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Aims: The use of loop diuretics in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is less frequent compared with heart failure. The clinical and prognostic characteristics of PAH patients according to loop diuretic use remain unexplored. In this study, we retrospectively analysed the characteristics and survival of PAH patients requiring different doses of loop diuretics.

Modelling and Simulation of the Combined Use of IABP and Impella as a Rescue Procedure in Cardiogenic Shock: An Alternative for Non-Transplant Centres?

The treatment of critically ill patients remains an evolving and controversial issue. Mechanical circulatory support through a percutaneous approach for the management of cardiogenic shock has taken place in recent years. The combined use of IABP and the Impella 2.

Recent advances and current limitations of available technology to optically manipulate and observe cardiac electrophysiology.

Optogenetics, utilising light-reactive proteins to manipulate tissue activity, are a relatively novel approach in the field of cardiac electrophysiology. We here provide an overview of light-activated transmembrane channels (optogenetic actuators) currently applied in strategies to modulate cardiac activity, as well as newly developed variants yet to be implemented in the heart. In addition, we touch upon genetically encoded indicators (optogenetic sensors) and fluorescent dyes to monitor tissue activity, including cardiac transmembrane potential and ion homeostasis.

Development and validation of AI-based triage support algorithms for prevention of intradialytic hypotension.

Background: Intradialytic hypotension remains one of the most recurrent complications of dialysis sessions. Inadequate management can lead to adverse outcomes, highlighting the need to develop personalized approaches for the prevention of intradialytic hypotension. Here, we sought to develop and validate two AI-based risk models predicting the occurrence of symptomatic intradialytic hypotension at different time points.

Medium-term and long-term renal function changes with direct oral anticoagulants in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease frequently coexist in the elderly. Warfarin-like drugs (WLDs) may be associated with a relatively greater decrease of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as compared to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), but there is no evidence on the medium- and long-term changes. To further elucidate this issue in elderly patients with AF, we investigated the renal function deterioration in the two groups of the study (DOACs or WLDs).

Long-term Effectiveness and Safety of Upadacitinib for Atopic Dermatitis in a Real-world Setting: An Interim Analysis Through 48 Weeks of Observation.

Background: Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, including upadacitinib, have been recently approved for the treatment of moderate-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and real-world data on upadacitinib effectiveness and safety are limited. This interim analysis aimed to assess effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib throughout 48 weeks of observation in a real-world adult AD population.

Methods: This prospective study collected data on adult patients affected by moderate-to-severe AD and treated with upadacitinib at the dosage of either 15 mg or 30 mg daily based on the physician decision.

Optogenetic manipulation of cardiac repolarization gradients using sub-threshold illumination.

Mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias are typically driven by abnormalities in cardiac conduction and/or heterogeneities in repolarization time (RT) across the heart. While conduction slowing can be caused by either electrophysiological defects or physical blockade in cardiac tissue, RT heterogeneities are mainly related to action potential (AP) prolongation or abbreviation in specific areas of the heart. Importantly, the size of the area with altered RT and the difference between the short RT and long RT (RT gradient) have been identified as critical determinators of arrhythmogenicity.

IABP versus Impella Support in Cardiogenic Shock: "In Silico" Study.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is part of a clinical syndrome consisting of acute left ventricular failure causing severe hypotension leading to inadequate organ and tissue perfusion. The most commonly used devices to support patients affected by CS are Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP), Impella 2.5 pump and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Effectiveness of biosimilar pegfilgrastim in patients with multiple myeloma after high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the main indication for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Novel supportive therapies (e.g.

Performance of risk stratification scores and role of comorbidities in older vs younger patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Risk scores are important tools for the prognostic stratification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Their performance and the additional impact of comorbidities across age groups is unknown.

Methods: Patients with PAH enrolled from 2001 to 2021 were divided in ≥65 years old vs <65 years old patients.

Evaluation of Different Cannulation Strategies for Aortic Arch Surgery Using a Cardiovascular Numerical Simulator.

Aortic disease has a significant impact on quality of life. The involvement of the aortic arch requires the preservation of blood supply to the brain during surgery. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is an established technique for this purpose, although neurological injury remains high.

Comparative Effectiveness of Combined IgM-Enriched Immunoglobulin and Extracorporeal Blood Purification Plus Standard Care Versus Standard Care for Sepsis and Septic Shock after Cardiac Surgery.

Background: The combination of surgery, bacterial spread-out, and artificial cardiopulmonary bypass surfaces results in a release of key inflammatory mediators leading to an overshooting systemic hyper-inflammatory condition frequently associated with compromised hemodynamics and organ dysfunction. A promising approach could be extracorporeal blood purification therapies in combination with IgM enriched immunoglobulin. This approach might perform a balanced control of both hyper and hypo-inflammatory phases as an immune-modulating intervention.

CARDIOSIM: The First Italian Software Platform for Simulation of the Cardiovascular System and Mechanical Circulatory and Ventilatory Support.

This review is devoted to presenting the history of the CARDIOSIM software simulator platform, which was developed in Italy to simulate the human cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The first version of CARDIOSIM was developed at the Institute of Biomedical Technologies of the National Research Council in Rome. The first platform version published in 1991 ran on a PC with a disk operating system (MS-DOS) and was developed using the Turbo Basic language.