Find research datasets worth reusing

Data set from Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Rylski B, Schofer F, Secchi F, Piffaretti G, de Beaufort H, Belvroy V, Bismuth J, Czerny M, Trimarchi S. Prevalence of type III arch configuration in patients with type B aortic dissection. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 Dec 1;56(6):1075-1080. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezz137. Erratum in: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 Dec 1;56(6):1208. PMID: 31038681.

Data set from Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Rylski B, Schofer F, Secchi F, Piffaretti G, de Beaufort H, Belvroy V, Bismuth J, Czerny M, Trimarchi S. Prevalence of type III arch configuration in patients with type B aortic dissection. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 Dec 1;56(6):1075-1080. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezz137. Erratum in: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 Dec 1;56(6):1208. PMID: 31038681.   The abstract: Objectives: Type III aortic arch configuration consistently presents anatomical and biomechanical characteristics which have been associated with an increased risk of type B aortic dissection (TBD). Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of type III arch in patients with TBD and type B intramural haematoma (IMH-B). Methods: A multicentre retrospective analysis was performed on patients with TBD and IMH-B observed between 2002 and 2017. The computed tomographic images were reviewed to identify the type of aortic arch. Exclusion criteria included previous arch surgery, presence of aortic dissection or aneurysm proximal to the left subclavian artery and bovine arches. An ad hoc systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to assess the prevalence of type III arch in non-TBD and non-aneurysmal patients. Results: Two hundred and sixty-one patients with TBD/IMH-B were found to be suitable for the study and were stratified according to aortic arch classification. The ad hoc literature search provided 10 relevant articles, from which a total of 7983 control cases were retrieved. TBD/IMH-B patients were significantly younger than controls [64.3, standard error: 0.74 (62.84-65.76) vs mean pooled age 70.5, standard error: 0.40 (69.71-71.28)]. Patients with TBD/IMH-B presented with a significantly higher prevalence of type III arch [41.0% (107/261) (35.2-47.1)] than controls [16% (1241/7983) (10-22)]. Conclusions: Our data indicate an association between type III arch configuration and the occurrence of TBD/IMH-B. These findings warrant further studies to disclose the potential role of type III arch configuration as an anatomical risk factor for TBD/IMH-B.

Data set from Fantini F, Toso A, Menicanti L, Moroni F, Castelvecchio S. Restrictive filling pattern in ischemic cardiomyopathy: Insights after surgical ventricular restoration. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019 Oct 30:S0022-5223(19)32349-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.09.173. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 31767363.

Data set from Fantini F, Toso A, Menicanti L, Moroni F, Castelvecchio S. Restrictive filling pattern in ischemic cardiomyopathy: Insights after surgical ventricular restoration. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019 Oct 30:S0022-5223(19)32349-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.09.173. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 31767363.   This is the abstract: Objective: To examine factors possibly involved in the resolution or persistence of restrictive filling pattern (RFP) after surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) in a series of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and RFP. Methods: Echocardiography was performed at baseline (pre-SVR), discharge, and follow-up in 43 patients with ICM and RFP (E/A ratio ≥2). Patients were divided into 2 groups based on E/A ratio at discharge: improved (E/A ratio <2; 22 patients) and unchanged (E/A ratio ≥2; 21 patients). Results: The improved group had a significantly increased mean deceleration time (from 137 ± 22 ms to 194 ± 68 ms; P = .002) and mean A wave velocity (from 43 ± 10 cm/s to 92 ± 37 cm/s; P = .001), and decreased E/e' ratio (from 27.7 ± 9.5 to 19.2 ± 7.8; P = .01) after SVR. The unchanged group did not show any significant variations in diastolic parameters. The only significant differences at baseline between the two groups were thinner left ventricle posterior wall and lower relative wall thickness (RWT) in the unchanged group. RWT was the sole baseline parameter independently associated with persistent RFP. Conclusions: RFP was reversed after SVR in 22 of our 43 patients with ICM with a response that remained stable over time, associated with improved New York Heart Association class. RWT was the sole baseline echocardiographic parameter significantly associated with the evolution of RFP after

Data set from Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Romarowski RM, de Beaufort HW, Conti M, Vitale R, Secchi F, Auricchio F, Trimarchi S. The Modified Arch Landing Areas Nomenclature identifies hostile zones for endograft deployment: a confirmatory biomechanical study in patients treated by thoracic endovascular aortic repair†. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 May 1;55(5):990-997. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezy409. PMID: 30535119.

Data set from Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Romarowski RM, de Beaufort HW, Conti M, Vitale R, Secchi F, Auricchio F, Trimarchi S. The Modified Arch Landing Areas Nomenclature identifies hostile zones for endograft deployment: a confirmatory biomechanical study in patients treated by thoracic endovascular aortic repair&dagger;. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 May 1;55(5):990-997. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezy409. PMID: 30535119.   This is the abstract: Objectives: Our goal was to confirm whether the Modified Arch Landing Areas Nomenclature (MALAN) for thoracic endovascular aortic repair, in which each landing area is described by indicating both the proximal landing zone (PLZ) and the type of arch (e.g. 0/I), identifies unfavourable landing zones for endograft deployment in diseased aortas. Methods: Preoperative computed tomography angiography scans of 10 patients scheduled for thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aneurysm or penetrating ulcer of the arch and with a potential hostile PLZ were reviewed. Five had proximal deployment planned in MALAN area 3/III and 5, in MALAN area 2/III. The angulation of each PLZ was calculated. Computational fluid dynamics modelling was used to compute magnitude and orientation of pulsatile displacement forces in each PLZ. Normalized values based on PLZ areas (i.e. equivalent surface traction) were calculated. Results were compared to those obtained in healthy controls stratified by the MALAN. Results: Angulation was severe (>60°) in MALAN areas 3/III and 2/III, which was consistent with the findings obtained in healthy controls. Increased magnitude (P = 0.021) and unfavourable orientation (i.e. orthogonal to the longitudinal aortic axis) of equivalent surface traction (P = 0.011) was also found in these areas compared to the adjacent ones, following the same pattern seen in the controls. Adverse events related to proximal endograft performance were reported in 3/10 cases. Conclusions: This study confirms in diseased aortas initial proof-of-concept findings on the predictive value of the MALAN to identify landing areas with a geometric and haemodynamic environment hostile for thoracic endovascular aortic repair. These adverse biomechanical features may entail an increased risk of dismal endograft performance.

Data set from Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Alaidroos M, Romarowski RM, Secchi F, Righini P, Glauber M, Nano G. Geometric Pattern of Proximal Landing Zones for Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in the Bovine Arch Variant. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2020 May;59(5):808-816. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2019.11.019. Epub 2019 Dec 27. PMID: 31889656.

Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Alaidroos M, Romarowski RM, Secchi F, Righini P, Glauber M, Nano G. Geometric Pattern of Proximal Landing Zones for Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in the Bovine Arch Variant. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2020 May;59(5):808-816. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2019.11.019. Epub 2019 Dec 27. PMID: 31889656.   This is the abstract: Objective: The aim was to investigate whether the "bovine" aortic arch (i.e. arch variant with a common origin of the innominate and left carotid artery (CILCA)) is associated with a consistent geometric configuration of proximal landing zones for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Methods: Anonymised thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans of healthy aortas were reviewed to retrieve 100 cases of CILCA. Suitable cases were stratified according to type 1 and 2 CILCA, and also based on type of arch (I, II, and III). Further processing allowed calculation of angulation and tortuosity of the proximal landing zones. Centre lumen line lengths of each proximal landing zone were measured in a view perpendicular to the centre line. All geometric features were compared with those measured in healthy patients with a standard arch configuration (n = 60). Two senior authors independently evaluated the CT scans, and intra- and interobserver repeatability were assessed. Results: The 100 selected patients (63% male) were 71.4 ± 7.7 years old. Type 1 CILCA (62/100) was more prevalent than type 2 CILCA (38/100), and the two groups were comparable in age (p = .11). Zone 3 presented a severe angulation (i.e. > 60°), which was greater than in Zone 2 (p < .001), and a consistently greater tortuosity than Zone 2 (p = .003). This pattern did not differ between type 1 and type 2 CILCA. A greater tortuosity was also observed in Zone 0, which was related to increased elongation of the ascending aorta (i.e. Zone 0), than the standard configuration. The CILCA had an overall greater elongation, and Zone 2 also was specifically longer. When stratifying by type of arch, reversely from Type III to Type I, the CILCA presented a gradual flattening of its transverse tract, which entailed a consistent progressive elongation (p = .03) and kinking of the ascending aorta, with a significant increase of Zone 0 angulation to even a severe degree (p = .001). Also, from Type III to Type I, Zone 2 presented a progressively shorter length (p = .004), which was associated with increased tortuosity (p < .05). Mean intra- and interobserver differences for angulation measurements were 1.4° ± 6.8° (p = .17) and 2.0° ± 10.1° (p = .19), respectively. Conclusion: CILCA presents a consistent and peculiar geometric pattern compared with standard arch configuration, which provides relevant information for TEVAR planning, and may have prognostic implications.

Data set from Monasky MM, Micaglio E, Vicedomini G, Locati ET, Ciconte G, Giannelli L, Giordano F, Crisà S, Vecchi M, Borrelli V, Ghiroldi A, D'Imperio S, Di Resta C, Benedetti S, Ferrari M, Santinelli V, Anastasia L, Pappone C. Comparable clinical characteristics in Brugada syndrome patients harboring SCN5A or novel SCN10A variants. Europace. 2019 Oct 1;21(10):1550-1558. doi: 10.1093/europace/euz186. PMID: 31292628.

Data set from Monasky MM, Micaglio E, Vicedomini G, Locati ET, Ciconte G, Giannelli L, Giordano F, Crisà S, Vecchi M, Borrelli V, Ghiroldi A, D'Imperio S, Di Resta C, Benedetti S, Ferrari M, Santinelli V, Anastasia L, Pappone C. Comparable clinical characteristics in Brugada syndrome patients harboring SCN5A or novel SCN10A variants. Europace. 2019 Oct 1;21(10):1550-1558. doi: 10.1093/europace/euz186. PMID: 31292628.   This is the abstract: Aims: The Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited disease associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Often, the genetic cause remains undetected. Perhaps due at least in part because the NaV1.8 protein is expressed more in both the central and peripheral nervous systems than in the heart, the SCN10A gene is not included in diagnostic arrhythmia/sudden death panels in the vast majority of cardiogenetics centres. Methods and results: Clinical characteristics were assessed in patients harboring either SCN5A or novel SCN10A variants. Genetic testing was performed using Next Generation Sequencing on genomic DNA. Clinical characteristics, including the arrhythmogenic substrate, in BrS patients harboring novel SCN10A variants and SCN5A variants are comparable. Clinical characteristics, including gender, age, personal history of cardiac arrest/syncope, spontaneous BrS electrocardiogram pattern, family history of sudden death, and arrhythmic substrate are not significantly different between probands harboring SCN10A or SCN5A variants. Conclusion: Future studies are warranted to further characterize the role of these specific SCN10A variants.

Data set from De Carlo M, Testa L, Leoncini M, Nicolini E, Varbella F, Cortese B, Ribichini F, Bartorelli AL, Calabria P, Indolfi C, Tomai F, Loi B, Fischietti D, Tarantini G, Bedogni F, Petronio AS. Two-year clinical outcomes of the "Italian diffuse/multivessel disease absorb prospective registry" (IT-DISAPPEARS). Int J Cardiol. 2019 Sep 1;290:21-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.04.095. Epub 2019 May 3. PMID: 31104821.

Data set from De Carlo M, Testa L, Leoncini M, Nicolini E, Varbella F, Cortese B, Ribichini F, Bartorelli AL, Calabria P, Indolfi C, Tomai F, Loi B, Fischietti D, Tarantini G, Bedogni F, Petronio AS. Two-year clinical outcomes of the "Italian diffuse/multivessel disease absorb prospective registry" (IT-DISAPPEARS). Int J Cardiol. 2019 Sep 1;290:21-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.04.095. Epub 2019 May 3. PMID: 31104821.   This is the abstract: Background: Large prospective studies on the use of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) for diffuse coronary artery disease are lacking. IT DISAPPEARS is a large multicentre prospective registry investigating the short and long-term outcomes of everolimus-eluting BVS in patients with long coronary lesions and/or multivessel coronary artery disease (ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02004730">NCT02004730</a>). We hereby report the 2-year outcomes of the registry. Methods: We enrolled 1002 patients with complex lesions undergoing implantation of 2040 BVS with a prespecified technique including predilation, correct sizing, and postdilation with non-compliant balloons. The primary endpoint was the rate of device-oriented composite endpoint (DOCE), consisting of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI), and ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). Secondary endpoints included: 1) patient-oriented composite endpoint (POCE), consisting of all-cause mortality, all infarctions and all revascularisations; 2) definite/probable scaffold thrombosis. Results: Clinical presentation was an acute coronary syndrome in 59.8% of patients. Total BVS length implanted was 47 ± 22 mm. Postdilation of all scaffolds per patient was performed in 96.8%, while optimal implantation as per study guidelines was applied in 71.4%. Through 2-year follow-up, DOCE occurred in 9.5% of patients (cardiac death 0.6%, target vessel-related MI 5.3%, TLR 6.6%). The rate of POCE was 16.6% and of scaffold thrombosis 1.1%. Female gender, total length of coronary lesions, treatment of bifurcation lesions and use of 2.5 mm scaffolds were independent predictors of DOCE. Conclusions: The 2-year results of IT-DISAPPEARS show that BVS may yield acceptable clinical outcomes in patients with complex coronary lesions when the implantation technique is appropriate.

Data set from Brunetta E, Shiffer D, Mandelli P, Achenza S, Folci M, Zumbo A, Minonzio M, Cairo B, Jacob G, Boccassini L, Puttini PS, Porta A, Furlan R. Autonomic Abnormalities in Patients With Primary Sjogren's Syndrome - Preliminary Results. Front Physiol. 2019 Aug 27;10:1104. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01104. PMID: 31551801; PMCID: PMC6736624.

Data set from Brunetta E, Shiffer D, Mandelli P, Achenza S, Folci M, Zumbo A, Minonzio M, Cairo B, Jacob G, Boccassini L, Puttini PS, Porta A, Furlan R. Autonomic Abnormalities in Patients With Primary Sjogren's Syndrome - Preliminary Results. Front Physiol. 2019 Aug 27;10:1104. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01104. PMID: 31551801; PMCID: PMC6736624.   This is the abstract: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands and extra-glandular organs. There are conflicting reports on the presence of autonomic dysfunction in pSS and no data are available on the functional status of sympathetic outflow to the vessels and baroreceptor [baroreflex sensitivity (BRS)] control mechanisms. We investigated the cardiac (cBRS) and sympathetic (sBRS) baroreceptor modulation in both time and frequency domains and the cardiovascular autonomic profile in pSS patients compared to healthy controls. Autonomic symptoms were quantified by the Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale (COMPASS31) three-item questionnaire. The EULAR Sjogren's syndrome patient reported index (ESSPRI) questionnaire evaluated the magnitude of pSS clinical symptoms, i.e., fatigue, pain, and sicca symptoms. Electrocardiogram, beat-by-beat arterial pressure (AP) and respiratory activity were continuously recorded in 17 pSS patients and 16 healthy controls, while supine and during 75° head-up tilt. In seven patients and seven controls, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured. Spectrum analysis of RR variability provided markers of cardiac vagal modulation (HFRR nu) and sympatho-vagal balance [low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF)]. The power of LF (0.1 Hz) oscillations of systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variability (LFSAP) evaluated the vasomotor response to sympathetic stimulation. Compared to controls, pSS patients scored higher in total COMPASS31 (p < 0.0001) and all ESSPRI subdomains (fatigue, p = 0.005; pain, p = 0.0057; dryness, p < 0.0001). Abnormal scialometry (<1.5 ml/15 min) and Schirmer tests (<5 mm/5 min) were found in pSS patients and salivary flow rate was negatively associated with ESSPRI dryness (p = 0.0014). While supine, pSS patients had lower SEQcBRS index of cardiac baroreceptor sensitivity, higher HFRRnu (p = 0.021), lower LF/HF (p = 0.007), and greater MSNA (p = 0.038) than controls. No differences were observed in LFSAP between groups. During orthostatic challenge, although LFSAP increased similarly in both groups, MSNA was greater in pSS patients (p = 0.003). At rest pSS patients showed lower cBR control and greater parasympathetic modulation. Furthermore, greater sympathetic nerve activity was observed in pSS patients while supine and in response to gravitational challenge. We hypothesized that such enhanced sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity might reflect an attempt to maintain blood pressure in a setting of likely reduced vascular responsiveness.

Data set from Barbic F, Heusser K, Minonzio M, Shiffer D, Cairo B, Tank J, Jordan J, Diedrich A, Gauger P, Zamuner RA, Porta A, Furlan R. Effects of Prolonged Head-Down Bed Rest on Cardiac and Vascular Baroreceptor Modulation and Orthostatic Tolerance in Healthy Individuals. Front Physiol. 2019 Aug 23;10:1061. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01061. PMID: 31507438; PMCID: PMC6716544.

Data set from Barbic F, Heusser K, Minonzio M, Shiffer D, Cairo B, Tank J, Jordan J, Diedrich A, Gauger P, Zamuner RA, Porta A, Furlan R. Effects of Prolonged Head-Down Bed Rest on Cardiac and Vascular Baroreceptor Modulation and Orthostatic Tolerance in Healthy Individuals. Front Physiol. 2019 Aug 23;10:1061. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01061. PMID: 31507438; PMCID: PMC6716544.   This is the abstract: Orthostatic intolerance commonly occurs after prolonged bed rest, thus increasing the risk of syncope and falls. Baroreflex-mediated adjustments of heart rate and sympathetic vasomotor activity (muscle sympathetic nerve activity - MSNA) are crucial for orthostatic tolerance. We hypothesized that prolonged bed rest deconditioning alters overall baroreceptor functioning, thereby reducing orthostatic tolerance in healthy volunteers. As part of the European Space Agency Medium-term Bed Rest protocol, 10 volunteers were studied before and after 21 days of -6° head down bed rest (HDBR). In both conditions, subjects underwent ECG, beat-by-beat blood pressure, respiratory activity, and MSNA recordings while supine (REST) and during a 15-min 80° head-up tilt (TILT) followed by a 3-min -10 mmHg stepwise increase of lower body negative pressure to pre-syncope. Cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS) was obtained in the time (sequence method) and frequency domain (spectrum and cross-spectrum analyses of RR interval and systolic arterial pressure - SAP, variability). Baroreceptor modulation of sympathetic discharge activity to the vessels (sBRS) was estimated by the slope of the regression line between the percentage of MSNA burst occurrence and diastolic arterial pressure. Orthostatic tolerance significantly decreased after HDBR (12 ± 0.6 min) compared to before (21 ± 0.6 min). While supine, heart rate, SAP, and cBRS were unchanged before and after HDBR, sBRS gain was slightly depressed after than before HDBR (sBRS: -6.0 ± 1.1 versus -2.9 ± 1.5 burst% × mmHg-1, respectively). During TILT, HR was higher after than before HDBR (116 ± 4 b/min versus 100 ± 4 b/min, respectively), SAP was unmodified in both conditions, and cBRS indexes were lower after HDBR (α index: 3.4 ± 0.7 ms/mmHg; BRSSEQ 4.0 ± 1.0) than before (α index: 6.4 ± 1.0 ms/mmHg; BRSSEQ 6.8 ± 1.2). sBRS gain was significantly more depressed after HDBR than before (sBRS: -2.3 ± 0.7 versus -4.4 ± 0.4 burst% × mmHg-1, respectively). Our findings suggest that baroreflex-mediated adjustments in heart rate and MSNA are impaired after prolonged bed rest. The mechanism likely contributes to the decrease in orthostatic tolerance.

Data set from Martins de Abreu R, Porta A, Rehder-Santos P, Cairo B, Donisete da Silva C, De Favari Signini É, Sakaguchi CA, Catai AM. Effects of inspiratory muscle-training intensity on cardiovascular control in amateur cyclists. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Dec 1;317(6):R891-R902. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00167.2019. Epub 2019 Oct 9. PMID: 31596110.

Data set from Martins de Abreu R, Porta A, Rehder-Santos P, Cairo B, Donisete da Silva C, De Favari Signini É, Sakaguchi CA, Catai AM. Effects of inspiratory muscle-training intensity on cardiovascular control in amateur cyclists. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Dec 1;317(6):R891-R902. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00167.2019. Epub 2019 Oct 9. PMID: 31596110. This is the abstract: Chronic effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on autonomic function and baroreflex regulation are poorly studied. This study aims at evaluating chronic effects of different IMT intensities on cardiovascular control in amateur cyclists. A longitudinal, randomized, controlled blind study was performed on 30 recreational male cyclists undergoing IMT for 11 wk. Participants were randomly allocated into sham-trained group (SHAM, n = 9), trained group at 60% of the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP60, n = 10), and trained group at critical inspiratory pressure (CIP, n = 11). Electrocardiogram, finger arterial pressure, and respiratory movements were recorded before (PRE) and after (POST) training at rest in supine position (REST) and during active standing (STAND). From the beat-to-beat series of heart period (HP) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP), we computed time domain markers, frequency domain indexes in the low frequency (0.04-0.15 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.15-0.4 Hz) bands, an entropy-based complexity index (CI), and baroreflex markers estimated from spontaneous HP-SAP sequences. Compared with SHAM, the positive effect of MIP60 over the HP series led to the HF power increase during REST (PRE: 521.2 ± 447.5 ms2; POST: 1,161 ± 878.9 ms2) and the CI rise during STAND (PRE: 0.82 ± 0.18; POST: 0.97 ± 0.13). Conversely, the negative effect of CIP took the form of the decreased HP mean during STAND (PRE: 791 ± 71 ms; POST: 737 ± 95 ms). No effect of IMT was visible over SAP and baroreflex markers. These findings suggest that moderate-intensity IMT might be beneficial when the goal is to limit cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity at REST and/or in response to STAND.

Data set from Ranucci M, Bianchi P, Cotza M, Beccaris C, Silvetti S, Isgrò G, Giamberti A, Baryshnikova E. Fibrinogen levels and postoperative chest drain blood loss in low-weight (<10 kg) children undergoing cardiac surgery. Perfusion. 2019 Nov;34(8):629-636. doi: 10.1177/0267659119854246. Epub 2019 Jun 28. PMID: 31250738.

Data set from Ranucci M, Bianchi P, Cotza M, Beccaris C, Silvetti S, Isgrò G, Giamberti A, Baryshnikova E. Fibrinogen levels and postoperative chest drain blood loss in low-weight (<10 kg) children undergoing cardiac surgery. Perfusion. 2019 Nov;34(8):629-636. doi: 10.1177/0267659119854246. Epub 2019 Jun 28. PMID: 31250738.   This is the abstract: Introduction: Low-weight (<10 kg) children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass are prone to dilution and consumption of soluble coagulation factors and fibrinogen. Low levels of fibrinogen may represent a possible cause of severe postoperative chest drain blood loss. The present study investigates the association between post-cardiopulmonary bypass fibrinogen levels and postoperative chest drain blood loss and severe bleeding, aiming to identify possible cut-off values to trigger specific interventions. Methods: Prospective cohort study on 77 patients weighing <10 kg undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Haemostasis and coagulation data were collected before surgery (standard tests and thromboelastometry), after protamine (thromboelastometry) and at the arrival in the intensive care unit (standard tests). The primary outcome variable was severe bleeding (chest drain blood loss >30 ml kg-1/24h). Results: Factors being independently associated with severe bleeding were the international normalized ratio and the fibrinogen levels at the arrival in the intensive care unit. Once corrected for other confounders, fibrinogen levels had an odds ratio of 0.2 (95% confidence interval = 0.011-0.54) per 1 gL-1 for severe bleeding. The discrimination power was fair (area under the curve = 0.770). The best cut-off value was identified at a fibrinogen level of 150 mg dL-1, with a sensitivity of 52%, a specificity of 85% and a positive predictive value of 60% for severe bleeding. Conclusion: Both a prolonged international normalized ratio and low fibrinogen levels were predictive for severe bleeding, underscoring the role of coagulation factors dilution and consumption in this specific patient population.

Data set from Ranucci M, de Vincentiis C, Menicanti L, La Rovere MT, Pistuddi V. A gender-based analysis of the obesity paradox in cardiac surgery: height for women, weight for men? Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 Jul 1;56(1):72-78. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezy454. PMID: 30657927.

Data set from Ranucci M, de Vincentiis C, Menicanti L, La Rovere MT, Pistuddi V. A gender-based analysis of the obesity paradox in cardiac surgery: height for women, weight for men? Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 Jul 1;56(1):72-78. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezy454. PMID: 30657927.   This is the abstract: Objectives: In cardiac surgery, obesity is associated with a lower mortality risk. This study aims to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and operative mortality separately in female patients and male patients undergoing cardiac surgery and to separate the effects of weight and height in each gender-based cohort of patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study including 7939 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery was conducted. The outcome measure was the operative mortality. Results: In men, there was a U-shaped relationship between the BMI and the operative mortality, with the lower mortality rate at a BMI of 35 kg/m2. In women, the relationship is J-shaped, with the lower mortality at a BMI of 22 kg/m2. Female patients with obesity class II-III had a relative risk for operative mortality of 2.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-4.81, P = 0.002]. The relationship between weight and mortality rate is a U-shaped bot in men and women, with the lower mortality rate at 100 kg for men and 70 kg for women. Height was linearly and inversely associated with the operative mortality in men and women. After correction for the potential confounders, height, but not weight, was independently associated with operative mortality in women (odds ratio 0.949, 95% CI 0.915-0.983; P = 0.004); conversely, in men, this association exists for weight (odds ratio 1.017, 95% CI 1.001-1.032; P = 0.034), but not height. Conclusions: Contrary to men, in women obesity does not reduce the operative mortality in cardiac surgery, whereas the height seems to be associated with a lower mortality.

Data set from De Maria B, Bari V, Cairo B, Vaini E, Esler M, Lambert E, Baumert M, Cerutti S, Dalla Vecchia L, Porta A. Characterization of the Asymmetry of the Cardiac and Sympathetic Arms of the Baroreflex From Spontaneous Variability During Incremental Head-Up Tilt. Front Physiol. 2019 Apr 2;10:342. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00342. PMID: 31001137; PMCID: PMC6454064.

Data set from De Maria B, Bari V, Cairo B, Vaini E, Esler M, Lambert E, Baumert M, Cerutti S, Dalla Vecchia L, Porta A. Characterization of the Asymmetry of the Cardiac and Sympathetic Arms of the Baroreflex From Spontaneous Variability During Incremental Head-Up Tilt. Front Physiol. 2019 Apr 2;10:342. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00342. PMID: 31001137; PMCID: PMC6454064.   This is the abstract: Hysteresis of the baroreflex (BR) is the result of the different BR sensitivity (BRS) when arterial pressure (AP) rises or falls. This phenomenon has been poorly studied and almost exclusively examined by applying pharmacological challenges and static approaches disregarding causal relations. This study inspects the asymmetry of the cardiac BR (cBR) and vascular sympathetic BR (sBR) in physiological closed loop conditions from spontaneous fluctuations of physiological variables, namely heart period (HP) and systolic AP (SAP) leading to the estimation of cardiac BRS (cBRS) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and diastolic AP (DAP) leading to the estimation of vascular sympathetic BRS (sBRS). The assessment was carried out in 12 young healthy subjects undergoing incremental head-up tilt with table inclination gradually increased from 0 to 60°. Two analytical methods were exploited and compared, namely the sequence (SEQ) and phase-rectified signal averaging (PRSA) methods. SEQ analysis is based on the detection of joint causal schemes representing the HP and MSNA burst rate delayed responses to spontaneous SAP and DAP modifications, respectively. PRSA analysis averages HP and MSNA burst rate patterns after aligning them according to the direction of SAP and DAP changes, respectively. Since cBRSs were similar when SAP went up or down, hysteresis of cBR was not detected. Conversely, hysteresis of sBR was evident with sBRS more negative when DAP was falling than rising. sBR hysteresis was no longer visible during sympathetic activation induced by the orthostatic challenge. These results were obtained via the SEQ method, while the PRSA technique appeared to be less powerful in describing the BR asymmetry due to the strong association between BRS estimates computed over positive and negative AP variations. This study suggests that cBR and sBR provide different information about the BR control, sBR exhibits more relevant non-linear features that are evident even during physiological changes of AP, and the SEQ method can be fruitfully exploited to characterize the BR hysteresis with promising applications to BR branches different from cBR and sBR.

Data set from De Maria B, Bari V, Sgoifo A, Carnevali L, Cairo B, Vaini E, Catai AM, de Medeiros Takahashi AC, Dalla Vecchia LA, Porta A. Concomitant Evaluation of Heart Period and QT Interval Variability Spectral Markers to Typify Cardiac Control in Humans and Rats. Front Physiol. 2019 Nov 29;10:1478. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01478. PMID: 31849718; PMCID: PMC6897045.

Data set from De Maria B, Bari V, Sgoifo A, Carnevali L, Cairo B, Vaini E, Catai AM, de Medeiros Takahashi AC, Dalla Vecchia LA, Porta A. Concomitant Evaluation of Heart Period and QT Interval Variability Spectral Markers to Typify Cardiac Control in Humans and Rats. Front Physiol. 2019 Nov 29;10:1478. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01478. PMID: 31849718; PMCID: PMC6897045.   This is the abstract: The variability of heart period, measured as the time distance between two consecutive QRS complexes from the electrocardiogram (RR), was exploited to infer cardiac vagal control, while the variability of the duration of the electrical activity of the heart, measured as the time interval from Q-wave onset to T-wave end (QT), was proposed as an indirect index of cardiac sympathetic modulation. This study tests the utility of the concomitant evaluation of RR variability (RRV) and QT variability (QTV) markers in typifying cardiac autonomic control of humans under different experimental conditions and of rat groups featuring documented differences in resting sympatho-vagal balance. We considered: (i) 23 healthy young subjects in resting supine position (REST) undergoing head-up tilt at 45° (T45) and 90° (T90) followed by recovery to the supine position; (ii) 9 Wistar (WI) and 14 wild-type Groningen (WT) rats in unstressed conditions, where the WT animals were classified as non-aggressive (non-AGG, n = 9) and aggressive (AGG, n = 5) according to the resident intruder test. In humans, spectral analysis of RRV and QTV was performed over a single stationary sequence of 250 consecutive values. In rats, spectral analysis was iterated over 10-min recordings with a frame length of 250 beats with 80% overlap and the median of the distribution of the spectral markers was extracted. Over RRV and QTV we computed the power in the low frequency (LF, from 0.04 to 0.15 Hz in humans and from 0.2 to 0.75 Hz in rats) band (LFRR and LFQT) and the power in the high frequency (HF, from 0.15 to 0.5 Hz in humans and from 0.75 to 2.5 Hz in rats) band (HFRR and HFQT). In humans the HFRR power was lower during T90 and higher during recovery compared to REST, while the LFQT power was higher during T90. In rats the HFRR power was lower in WT rats compared to WI rats and the LFQT power was higher in AGG than in non-AGG animals. We concluded that RRV and QTV provide complementary information in describing the functioning of vagal and sympathetic limbs of the autonomic nervous system in humans and rats.

Data set from Laforgia P, Bandera F, Alfonzetti E, Guazzi M. Exercise chronotropic incompetence phenotypes the level of cardiovascular risk and exercise gas exchange impairment in the general population. An analysis of the Euro-EX prevention trial. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2020 Mar;27(5):526-535. doi: 10.1177/2047487319863506. Epub 2019 Jul 25. PMID: 31345056.

Data set from Laforgia P, Bandera F, Alfonzetti E, Guazzi M. Exercise chronotropic incompetence phenotypes the level of cardiovascular risk and exercise gas exchange impairment in the general population. An analysis of the Euro-EX prevention trial. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2020 Mar;27(5):526-535. doi: 10.1177/2047487319863506. Epub 2019 Jul 25. PMID: 31345056.   This is the article: Background: Chronotropic insufficiency (CI) is defined as the inability of the heart to increase its rate commensurate with increased demand. Exercise CI is an established predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate how exercise CI phenotypes different levels of cardiovascular risk and how it may better perform in defining cardiovascular risk when analysed in the context of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)-derived measures and standard echocardiography in a healthy population with variable cardiovascular risk profile. Methods: Apparently healthy individuals (N = 702, 53.8% females) with at least one major cardiovascular risk factor (MCVRF; hypertension, diabetes, tabagism, dyslipidaemia, body mass index > 25), enrolled in the Euro-EX prevention trial, underwent CPET. CI was defined as the inability to reach 80% of the chronotropic index, that is, the ratio of peak heart rate - rest heart rate/peak heart rate - age predicted maximal heart rate (AMPHR: 220 - age), they were divided into four groups according to the heart rate reserve (<80%>) and respiratory gas exchange ratio (RER; < 1.05>) as a marker of achieved maximal performance. Subjects with a RER < 1.05 (n = 103) were excluded and the final population (n = 599) was divided into CI group (n = 472) and no-CI group (n = 177). Results: Compared with no-CI, CI subjects were more frequently females with a history of hypertension in a high rate. CI subjects also exhibited a significantly lower peak oxygen uptake (VO2) and circulatory power and an echocardiographic pattern indicative of higher left atrial volume index and left ventricular mass index. An inverse stepwise relationship between heart rate reserve and number of MCVRFs was observed (one MCVRF: 0.71 ± 0.23; two MCVRFs: 0.68 ± 0.24, three MCVRFs: 0.64 ± 0.20; four MCVRFs: 0.64 ± 0.23; five MCVRFs: 0.57 ± 18; p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis the only variable found predicting CI was peak VO2 (p < 0.05; odds ratio 0.91; confidence interval 0.85-0.97). Conclusions: In a population of apparently healthy subjects, exercise CI is common and phenotypes the progressive level of cardiovascular risk by a tight relationship with MCVRFs. CI patients exhibit some peculiar abnormal exercise gas exchange patterns (lower peak VO2 and exercise oscillatory ventilation) and echo-derived measures (higher left atrium size and left ventricle mass) that may well anticipate evolution toward heart failure.

Data set from De Maria B, Bari V, Cairo B, Vaini E, Martins de Abreu R, Perseguini NM, Milan-Mattos J, Rehder-Santos P, Minatel V, Catai AM, Dalla Vecchia LA, Porta A. Cardiac baroreflex hysteresis is one of the determinants of the heart period variability asymmetry. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Oct 1;317(4):R539-R551. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00112.2019. Epub 2019 Jul 31. PMID: 31365303.

Data set from De Maria B, Bari V, Cairo B, Vaini E, Martins de Abreu R, Perseguini NM, Milan-Mattos J, Rehder-Santos P, Minatel V, Catai AM, Dalla Vecchia LA, Porta A. Cardiac baroreflex hysteresis is one of the determinants of the heart period variability asymmetry. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Oct 1;317(4):R539-R551. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00112.2019. Epub 2019 Jul 31. PMID: 31365303.   This is the abstact: In heart period (HP) variability (HPV) recordings the percentage of negative HP variations tends to be greater than that of positive ones and this pattern is referred to as HPV asymmetry (HPVA). HPVA has been studied in several experimental conditions in healthy and pathological populations, but its origin is unclear. The baroreflex (BR) exhibits an asymmetric behavior as well given that it reacts more importantly to positive than negative arterial pressure (AP) variations. We tested the hypothesis that the BR asymmetry (BRA) is a HPVA determinant over spontaneous fluctuations of HP and systolic AP (SAP). We studied 100 healthy subjects (age from 21 to 70 yr, 54 men) comprising 20 subjects in each age decade. Electrocardiogram and noninvasive AP were recorded for 15 min at rest in supine position (REST) and during active standing (STAND). The HPVA was evaluated via Porta's index and Guzik's index, while the BRA was assessed as the difference, and normalized difference, between BR sensitivities computed over positive and negative SAP variations via the sequence method applied to HP and SAP variability. HPVA significantly increased during STAND and decreased progressively with age. BRA was not significantly detected both at REST and during STAND. However, we found a significant positive association between BRA and HPVA markers during STAND persisting even within the age groups. This study supports the use of HPVA indexes as descriptors of BRA and identified a challenge soliciting the BR response like STAND to maximize the association between HPVA and BRA mar

Data set from Ciconte G, Santinelli V, Vicedomini G, Borrelli V, Monasky MM, Micaglio E, Giannelli L, Negro G, Giordano F, Mecarocci V, Mazza BC, Locati E, Anastasia L, Calovic Z, Pappone C. Non-invasive assessment of the arrhythmogenic substrate in Brugada syndrome using signal-averaged electrocardiogram: clinical implications from a prospective clinical trial. Europace. 2019 Dec 1;21(12):1900-1910. doi: 10.1093/europace/euz295. PMID: 31647530.

Data set from Ciconte G, Santinelli V, Vicedomini G, Borrelli V, Monasky MM, Micaglio E, Giannelli L, Negro G, Giordano F, Mecarocci V, Mazza BC, Locati E, Anastasia L, Calovic Z, Pappone C. Non-invasive assessment of the arrhythmogenic substrate in Brugada syndrome using signal-averaged electrocardiogram: clinical implications from a prospective clinical trial. Europace. 2019 Dec 1;21(12):1900-1910. doi: 10.1093/europace/euz295. PMID: 31647530.   This is the abstract: Aims: Brugada syndrome (BrS) represents a major cause of sudden cardiac death in young individuals. The risk stratification to forecast future life-threatening events is still controversial. Non-invasive assessment of late potentials (LPs) has been proposed as a risk stratification tool. However, their nature in BrS is still undetermined. The purpose of this study is to assess the electrophysiological determinants of non-invasive LPs. Methods and results: Two hundred and fifty consecutive patients with (Group 1, n = 96) and without (Group 2, n = 154) BrS-related symptoms were prospectively enrolled in the registry. Signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) was performed in all subjects before undergoing epicardial mapping. Group 1 patients exhibited larger arrhythmogenic substrates (AS; 5.8 ± 2.8 vs. 2.6 ± 2.1 cm2, P < 0.001) with more delayed potentials (220.4 ± 46.0 vs. 186.7 ± 42.3 ms, P < 0.001). Late potentials were present in 82/96 (85.4%) Group 1 and in 31/154 (20.1%) Group 2 individuals (P < 0.001). Patients exhibiting LPs had more frequently a spontaneous Type 1 pattern (30.1% vs. 10.9%, P < 0.001), SCN5A mutation (34.5% vs. 21.2%, P = 0.02), and exhibited a larger AS with longer potentials (5.8 ± 2.7 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7 cm2; 231.2 ± 37.3 vs. 213.8 ± 39.0 ms; P < 0.001, respectively). Arrhythmogenic substrate dimension was the strongest predictor of the presence of LPs (odds ratio 1.9; P < 0.001). An AS area of at least 3.5 cm2 identified patients with LPs (area under the curve 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.843-0.931; P < 0.001) with a sensitivity of 86%, specificity 88%, positive predictive value 85%, and negative predictive value 89%. Conclusion: The results of this study support the role of the epicardial AS as an electrophysiological determinant of non-invasive LPs, which may serve as a tool in the non-invasive assessment of the BrS substrate, as SAECG-LPs could be considered an expression of the abnormal epicardial electrical activity. ClinicalTrials.gov number (<a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02641431">NCT02641431</a>; <a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT03106701">NCT03106701</a>).

data set from Mollica G, Senesi P, Codella R, Vacante F, Montesano A, Luzi L, Terruzzi I. L-carnitine supplementation attenuates NAFLD progression and cardiac dysfunction in a mouse model fed with methionine and choline-deficient diet. Dig Liver Dis. 2020 Mar;52(3):314-323. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2019.09.002. Epub 2019 Oct 10. PMID: 31607566.

data set from Mollica G, Senesi P, Codella R, Vacante F, Montesano A, Luzi L, Terruzzi I. L-carnitine supplementation attenuates NAFLD progression and cardiac dysfunction in a mouse model fed with methionine and choline-deficient diet. Dig Liver Dis. 2020 Mar;52(3):314-323. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2019.09.002. Epub 2019 Oct 10. PMID: 31607566.   This is the abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disorder. NAFLD, associated lipotoxicity, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and altered mitochondrial metabolism, is responsible for systemic inflammation, which contributes to organ dysfunction in extrahepatic tissues, including the heart. We investigated the ability of L-carnitine (LC) to oppose the pathogenic mechanisms underlying NAFLD progression and associated heart dysfunction, in a mouse model of methionine-choline-deficient diet (MCDD). Mice were divided into three groups: namely, the control group (CONTR) fed with a regular diet and two groups fed with MCDD for 6 weeks. In the last 3 weeks, one of the MCDD groups received LC (200 mg/kg each day) through drinking water (MCDD + LC). The hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative stress decreased after LC supplementation, which also reduced hepatic fibrosis via modulation of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), peroxisome-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and nuclear factor kappa B (NfƙB) expression. LC ameliorated systemic inflammation, mitigated cardiac reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and prevented fibrosis progression by acting on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1-2 (ERK1-2), and αSMA. This study confirms the existence of a relationship between fatty liver disease and cardiac abnormalities and highlights the role of LC in controlling liver oxidative stress, steatosis, fibrosis, and NAFLD-associated cardiac dysfunction.

Data set from Pappone C, Mecarocci V, Manguso F, Ciconte G, Vicedomini G, Sturla F, Votta E, Mazza B, Pozzi P, Borrelli V, Anastasia L, Micaglio E, Locati E, Monasky MM, Lombardi M, Calovic Z, Santinelli V. New electromechanical substrate abnormalities in high-risk patients with Brugada syndrome. Heart Rhythm. 2020 Apr;17(4):637-645. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2019.11.019. Epub 2019 Nov 19. PMID: 31756528.

Data set from Pappone C, Mecarocci V, Manguso F, Ciconte G, Vicedomini G, Sturla F, Votta E, Mazza B, Pozzi P, Borrelli V, Anastasia L, Micaglio E, Locati E, Monasky MM, Lombardi M, Calovic Z, Santinelli V. New electromechanical substrate abnormalities in high-risk patients with Brugada syndrome. Heart Rhythm. 2020 Apr;17(4):637-645. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2019.11.019. Epub 2019 Nov 19. PMID: 31756528.   This is the abstract: Background: The relationship between the typical electrocardiographic pattern and electromechanical abnormalities has never been systematically explored in Brugada syndrome (BrS). Objectives: The aims of this study were to characterize the electromechanical substrate in patients with BrS and to evaluate the relationship between electrical and mechanical abnormalities. Methods: We enrolled 50 consecutive high-risk patients with BrS (mean age 42 ± 7.2 years), with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation for primary or secondary prevention of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation [VT/VF]), undergoing substrate mapping and ablation. Patients underwent 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography with 3D wall motion/deformation quantification and electroanatomic mapping before and after ajmaline administration (1 mg/kg in 5 minutes); 3D mechanical changes were compared with 50 age- and sex-matched controls. The effect of substrate ablation on electromechanical abnormalities was also assessed. Results: In all patients, ajmaline administration induced Brugada type 1 pattern, with a significant increase in the electrical substrate (P < .001), particularly in patients with previous spontaneous VT/VF (P = .007). Induction of Brugada pattern was associated with lowering of right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (P < .001) and worsening of 3D RV mechanical function (P < .001), particularly in the anterior free wall of the RV outflow tract, without changes in controls. RV electrical and mechanical abnormalities were highly correlated (r = 0.728, P < .001). By multivariate analysis, only the area of RV dysfunction was an independent predictor of spontaneous VT/VF (odds ratio 1.480; 95% confidence interval 1.159-1.889; P = .002). Substrate ablation abolished both BrS-electrocardiographic pattern and mechanical abnormalities, despite ajmaline rechallenge. Conclusion: BrS is an electromechanical disease affecting the RV. The typical BrS pattern reflects an extensive RV arrhythmic substrate, driving consistent RV mechanical abnormalities. Substrate ablation abolished both Brugada pattern and mechanical abnormalities.

Data set from Ferrulli A, Macrì C, Terruzzi I, Massarini S, Ambrogi F, Adamo M, Milani V, Luzi L. Weight loss induced by deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in obesity: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2019 Aug;21(8):1849-1860. doi: 10.1111/dom.13741. Epub 2019 May 15. PMID: 30957981.

Data set from Ferrulli A, Macrì C, Terruzzi I, Massarini S, Ambrogi F, Adamo M, Milani V, Luzi L. Weight loss induced by deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in obesity: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2019 Aug;21(8):1849-1860. doi: 10.1111/dom.13741. Epub 2019 May 15. PMID: 30957981.   This is the abstract: Aim: To test the hypothesis that deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) reduces food craving and causes weight loss via neuromodulation. Materials and methods: This pilot study was designed as a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. A total of 33 obese people (nine men, 24 women, mean age 48.1 ± 10.6 years, body mass index [BMI] 36.9 ± 4.7 kg/m2 ) were randomized and completed the study: 13 participants underwent a 5-week treatment with high-frequency (HF) dTMS (18 Hz; HF group), 10 were treated with low-frequency (LF) dTMS (1 Hz; LF group), and 10 were sham-treated (sham group). Food craving, and metabolic and neuro-endocrine variables were evaluated at baseline, after the 5-week treatment, and at follow-up visits (1 month, 6 months, 1 year after the end of treatment). Results: The mixed-model analysis for repeated measures showed a significant interaction of time and groups for body weight (P = 0.001) and BMI (P = 0.001), with a significant body weight (-7.83 ± 2.28 kg; P = 0.0009) and BMI (-2.83 ± 0.83, P = 0.0009) decrease in the HF versus the sham group. A decreasing trend in food craving in the HF versus the LF and sham groups (P = 0.073) was observed. A significant improvement of metabolic and physical activity variables was found (P < 0.05) in the HF group. Conclusions: We demonstrated the safety and efficacy of dTMS, in addition to physical exercise and a hypocaloric diet, in reducing body weight for up to 1 year in obese people. We hypothesize that a possible mechanism of HF dTMS treatment is modulation of the dopaminergic pathway and stimulation of physical activity.

Data set from Nano G, Muzzarelli L, Malacrida G, Righini PC, Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Mazzaccaro D. Endovascular repair of thoracic and thoraco-abdominal aortic lesions. Ann Ital Chir. 2019;90:191-200. PMID: 31354152.

Data set from Nano G, Muzzarelli L, Malacrida G, Righini PC, Marrocco-Trischitta MM, Mazzaccaro D. Endovascular repair of thoracic and thoraco-abdominal aortic lesions. Ann Ital Chir. 2019;90:191-200. PMID: 31354152.   This is the abstract: Background: We report our "real-world" experience of endovascular repair of thoracic/thoraco-abdominal aortic lesions in patients treated from May 2002 to May 2017. Methods: Data of all consecutive treated patients were retrospectively collected in a database and analyzed. Patients were divided into 4 groups: atherosclerotic thoracic/thoraco-abdominal aneurysms (TAA/TAAA) and floating thrombus (group A); acute complicated type B dissection (TBD), penetrating aortic ulcers (PAU) and intra-mural hematomas (IMH) in group B; chronic TBD evolving in TAA (group C); traumatic injuries (group D). Mortality, reinterventions and occurrence of neurological complications, both at 30 days and in the long term, were analyzed as primary outcomes for each group. Results: Ninety-four patients were treated complessively, most for a TAA (55.3%). Thirty-days deaths and neurological complications were observed in group A only (5 cases each, 5.3%). A reintervention was necessary in 6 patients (6.4%) of group A. At 5 years, in group A survival was 62.8%±6.3% and freedom from neurological complication was 88.3%±4.2%. Neither deaths nor neurological complications were recorded in the other groups. No late aortic ruptures were recorded. Freedom from reintervention in group A was 54.7%±7.6% at 5 years and a reintervention was needed in all patients of group D. Overall, the main cause for reintervention was a type I endoleak. Conclusions: The endovascular repair of thoracic/thoraco-abdominal aortic lesions had acceptable mortality and neurological complication rates, both at 30 days and in the long term. Reinterventions in the long term occurred more frequently after TAA/TAAA and traumatic injuries, and were mainly required for a type I endoleak.