Exosomal miR-17-5p, miR-146a-3p, and miR-223-3p Correlate with Radiologic Sequelae in Survivors of COVID-19-Related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

We investigated the association between circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) potentially involved in the lung inflammatory process and fibrosis development among COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors. At 4 ± 2 months from clinical recovery, COVID-19-related ARDS survivors matched for age, sex, and clinical characteristics underwent chest high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) and were selected based on imaging pattern evolution into fully recovered (N = normal), pulmonary opacities (PO) and fibrosis-like lesions (FL). Based on the previous literature, we performed plasma miRNA profiling of exosomal miRNAs belonging to the NLRP3-inflammasome platform with validated (miR-17-5p, miR-223-3p) and putative targets (miR-146a-5p), miRNAs involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of acute phase cytokines (miR128-3p, miR3168, miR125b-2-3p, miR106a-5p), miRNAs belonging to the NLRP4-inflammasome platform (miR-141-3p) and miRNAs related to post-transcriptional regulation of the fibrosis process (miR-21-5p). miR-17-5p, miR-223-3p, and miR-146a-5p were significantly down-regulated in patients with FL when compared to patients with PO. miR-146a-5p was also down-regulated in patients with FL than in N. The expression of the remaining miRNAs did not differ by group. In patients with long-term pulmonary radiological sequelae following COVID-19-related ARDS, a down-regulation of miR-17-5p, miR-146a-3p, and miR-223-3p correlated to fibrosis development in patients showing persistent hyper-reactivity to inflammatory stimulation. Our results support the hypothesis that NLRP3-Inflammasome could be implicated in the process of fibrotic evolution of COVID-19-associated ARDS.

Prosthetic joint infection diagnosis applying the three-level European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS) approach.

Sensitive and specific tests for the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) are lacking. The aim of this study was to report clinical and microbiological findings of consecutive patients diagnosed with PJI at the University Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, and to validate these diagnoses utilizing the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS) three-level diagnostic approach from 2021. Patients with a PJI diagnosis were included in this study and examined retrospectively. Overall, 133 patients were diagnosed with PJI: mean age 72 years, 54.9% female, and 55.6% with more than one comorbidity. The most frequent involved joints were hip 47% and knee 42%. Aetiology was identified in 88/133 (66.2%): staphylococci resulted the most frequent microorganisms and over 80% (45/54) resulted rifampin susceptible. Applying the EBJIS approach, PJI diagnosis resulted: confirmed in 101 (75.9%), likely in 25 (18.8%), and unlikely in 7 (5.3%). Likely PJIs aetiology was Staphylococcus aureus 11/25, coagulase-negative staphylococci 8/25, Streptococcus agalactiae 3/25, viridans group streptococci 2/25, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1/25. No statistically significant differences were detected among the three diagnosis groups with regard to clinical characteristics with the exception of a higher number of confirmed PJIs occurring < 3 months after implantation. The logistic regression analysis did not disclose any independent predictor of confirmed PJIs. We recommend using all the diagnostic tests available to approach PJI diagnosis, and suggest caution before rejecting PJI diagnosis in the presence of highly virulent microorganisms from a single sample, in patients without sinus tract, and in those receiving antimicrobial at the time microbiologic samples are collected. Study approved by Umbrian Regional Ethical Committee, Perugia, Italy, Prot. N. 23,124/21/ON of 10.27.2021.

Accuracy of home blood pressure measurement: the ACCURAPRESS study - a proposal of Young Investigator Group of the Italian Hypertension Society (Società Italiana dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa).

PURPOSE: Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) might be considered a valid alternative to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for both the diagnosis and management of hypertension. Correct information on how to perform HBPM are crucial for its reliability. The aim of the present survey was to assess if hypertensive patients followed current recommendation on how to correctly perform HBPM measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survey included 30 different items on how to perform the HBPM. It was developed by the 'Young Investigators' group of the Italian Society of Arterial Hypertension (SIIA) and it was administered during the office visit between May 2019 and December 2021. RESULTS: A total of 643 hypertensive patients participated in the study. Main results show that, despite the rate of informed patients was relatively high (71% of the whole population), unacceptable number of patients did not follow indications on how to perform a correct HBPM. Patients who were informed on how to measure home BP had a significantly higher rate of correct position during measurement (78 vs. 22%, p < 0.01), avoidance of talking and moving during measurement (68 vs. 32%, p < 0.0001), and correct number and time interval between two measurements (85 vs. 15%, p < 0.001). More accurate measurements of home BP were associated with less prevalence of carotid plaque. CONCLUSIONS: Correct performance for HBPM is low among patients treated in Italian hypertension centers. These findings shed light on the importance of correct HBPM measurements for the detection of accurate BP values for the proper management of hypertensive patients.

Association between Ideal Cardiovascular Health and aortic stiffness in Italian adolescents. The MACISTE study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ideal Cardiovascular Health (ICH), defined as optimal levels of cardiovascular (CV) health factors and behaviors, has been reported to be very low in adults and children, with consequent several negative health outcomes and higher CV risk. The present study investigated the burden of ICH among Italian adolescents and its association with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV). METHODS AND RESULTS: 387 healthy adolescents (mean age 17.1 ± 1.4 years) attending the "G. Donatelli" High School in Terni, Italy, were evaluated. ICH was assessed through clinical evaluation, laboratory measures and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Cf-PWV was measured by arterial tonometry (SphygmoCor). For each ICH metric, a score of 2 was assigned for ideal levels, 1 for intermediate, and 0 for poor. All subjects showed at least one ICH metric, whereas none showed all ICH 7 metrics. The average number of ICH metrics was 4.3 ± 1.1. The highest rates were observed for fasting blood glucose (98%), whereas an ideal healthy diet was achieved only by 8% of subjects. The Cf-PWV was inversely and linearly associated with the sum of ICH metrics (p = 0.03) and the ICH score (p < 0.01). At the multivariate analysis, the association between ICH score and cf-PWV remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and other confounders (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: ICH is relatively uncommon among Italian adolescents and inversely related to cf-PWV. Our results showed a detrimental association between CV unhealthy factors and behaviors with increased aortic stiffness, which starts developing at an early stage of the lifespan.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Italy.

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are burdened by high mortality and morbidity, being responsible for half of the deaths in Europe. Although hypertension is recognized as the most important CV risk factor, hypertension awareness, and blood pressure (BP) control are still unsatisfactory. In 2017 and 2018, respectively >10 000 and >5000 individuals took part in the May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign in Italy, of whom 30.6% and 26.3% were found to have high BP, respectively. To raise public awareness on the importance of hypertension and to collect BP data on a nation-wide scale in Italy. In the frame of the MMM campaign, an opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 years was carried out in May 2019. BP measurement, the definition of hypertension, and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. Screening was conducted in multiple sites by health personnel. Among the 10 182 people screened (females: 52.3%, mean age 58 ± 16years) mean BP was 127/78 mmHg, and 3171 (31.1%) participants had arterial hypertension, of whom 62.1% were aware of being hypertensive. Diabetes, body mass index >25 kg/m2 were associated with higher BP and previous myocardial infarction with lower BP. For the third consecutive year we collected a nation-wide snapshot of BP control in a large sample of individuals. The high participation, with some yearly fluctuations likely due to the limitations of the sampling technique, confirms the power of this kind of health campaign in reaching a significant number of people to raise awareness on health topics.

Regulatory Requirements For Medical Devices And Vascular Ageing: An Overview.

The development and use of medical devices are subject to regulations and approval activities to enter the market. These are mandatory for manufacturers and have important implications for all involved professionals. In fact, the innovation process, starting from a clinical need, includes the identification of a solution and its implementation, and requires taking into account crucial aspects according to regulatory requirements in each phase. These include exemplary validation or risk management. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of some key aspects of regulation and their implementation in medical devices for vascular ageing assessment. In particular, regulatory scenarios in Europe, Australia and the United States of America are described and examples of marketed medical devices for vascular ageing assessment are provided. Strong and active links among industry, research, clinical experts and governments adds value for the community, requiring the ability to communicate between different skills and backgrounds: this multidisciplinary and multi-partner collaboration can speed up the innovation process and can increase the system's efficiency related to both social and ethical impact.

Sex and Gender Aspects in Vascular Ageing - Focus on Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Outcomes.

Sex and gender are important modifiers of cardiovascular system physiology, pathophysiology, and disease development. The atherosclerosis process, together with the progressive loss of arterial elasticity with age, is a major factor influencing the development of overt cardiovascular, renal, and cerebrovascular disease. While differences between women and men in epidemiology and pathophysiology of vascular ageing are increasingly reported, sex-disaggregated data are still scarcely available for prospective studies. A better knowledge of sex differences in physiological ageing as well as in disease-related changes in vascular ageing trajectories is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment. This review presents key concepts and knowledge gaps identified in vascular ageing due to gonadal function, vascular physiology, pathophysiology, psychosocial factors, pregnancy, and prognostic relevance. Gender roles determine the effectiveness of any cardiovascular preventive strategy and acceptance for non-invasive or invasive diagnostics and therapeutics. Gender differences in health behaviour, also due to sociocultural norms conditioned by society, contribute to behaviours that may lead to premature arterial vascular ageing. These include differences in risk behaviours like smoking, diet, exercise, and in stress, but also conditions such as housing, noise pollution, poverty, disability, and any kind of stigmatisation. The VascAgeNet Gender Expert Group aims to advance the use of non-invasive vascular ageing measures in routine clinical settings by providing facts to fill in the gaps concerning sex and gender differences at each step of this process, and to search for solutions.

Efficacy of a nutraceutical combination on lipid metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome: a multicenter, double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Nutraceuticals represent a new therapeutic frontier in the treatment of metabolic syndrom (MetS) and related cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of Armolipid Plus (AP) (berberine 500 mg, red yest rice, monacolin K 3 mg and policosanol 10 mg) on insulin resistance, lipid profile, particularly on small and dense LDL cholesterol (sdLDL-C), representing the most atherogenic components, as well as its effects on high sensitivity C-reactive protein, a notable marker of cardiovascular risk, blood pressure and cardiac remodeling in subjects affected by MetS, with left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS: The study was a prospective, multi-center, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. One hundred and fifty eight patients, aged between 28 and 76 years old, were enrolled and randomized to receive either one tablet of AP or placebo (PL) once daily for 24 weeks. Anthropometric and vital parameters, total cholesterol (tot-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceridemia (TG), non-HDL cholesterol (NHDL-C) and sdLDL-C were evaluated. RESULTS: After 24 weeks of treatment, the analysis performed on 141 subjects (71 in AP arm and 70 in PL arm), showed a significant improvement of lipid profile in the AP group, with reduction in tot-C (- 13.2 mg/dl), LDL-C (- 13.9 mg/dl) and NHDL-C (- 15.3 mg/dl) and increase in HDL-C (+ 2.0 mg/dl). These changes were equally significant compared with placebo (tot-C: AP - 13.2 mg/dL vs PL + 2.7 mg/dL, p < 0.01; LDL-C: AP -13.9 mg/dl vs PL + 1.5 mg/dl, p < 0.01; NHDL-C: AP -15.3 mg/dl vs PL + 2.8 mg/dl, p < 0.01), Although no significant difference was observed between the two arms in the reduction of HDL-C nevertheless it increased significantly in the AP group (AP + 2 mg/dL p < 0.05, PL 0.13 mg/dL). CONCLUSION: The results of this study, applicable to a specific local population show that, in a population of subjects affected by MetS, treatment with AP improves the lipid profile and the most atherogenic factors, thus suggesting a reduction in the risk of development and progression of atherosclerosis, particularly in subjects with high atherogenic risk, due to the presence of sdLDL-C.

Sex- and gender-related prevalence, cardiovascular risk and therapeutic approach in metabolic syndrome: A review of the literature.

Metabolic syndrome (MS), a cluster of metabolic abnormalities linked to insulin-resistance and abdominal obesity, is associated with an increased risk of Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular (CV) disease. Its prevalence is high, affecting 20%-30% of the general population, and increases with age in a sex-specific manner: in fact, while below 50 years it is slightly higher in men, it reverses after 50 years. The pronounced age-related increase in the prevalence of MS in women occurs as the result of several factors, which may be classified into sex- and gender-related factors. Sex-related factors, linked to genetical and biological pathways, are mainly driven by hyperandrogenism, insulin-resistance, and the associated increase in abdominal obesity and HDL-cholesterol reduction occurring after menopause. Gender-related factors are sensitive to social and cultural behaviors, dietary habits and psychosocial factors. Women are more prone than men to develop MS in response to work stress and low socio-economic status. Sex and gender differences in the prevalence of MS may translate in different CV risk associated. Prospective studies suggest that the CV risk in women with MS is not only equal but also superior to the CV risk of men with MS. This difference is mostly attenuated when adjusting for the presence of overt DM. Despite similar odds for CV events, the number of CV events may be higher in elderly women because of the higher prevalence of MS compared to men in this age group. Men and women may also have a differential response to treatments for MS, such as lifestyle measures and weight loss. Recent observations suggest that men are better responders than women to non-pharmaceutical therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence of MS, although this should be confirmed in large-scale studies. The present review describes the impact of sex and gender on the prevalence, clinical presentation, prognostic significance and treatment of the MS. Attention to gender specificities should be a mandatory pre-requisite of clinical and epidemiological research on MS and CV disease, for a better knowledge and development of health strategies.

Observed versus predicted cardiovascular events and all-cause death in HIV infection: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the applicability of an algorithm predicting 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) generated in the setting of the Framingham Heart Study to a real-life, contemporary Italian cohort of HIV-positive subjects. METHODS: The study was an observational longitudinal cohort study. The probability for 10-year CVD events according to the Framingham algorithm was assessed in 369 consecutive HIV-positive participants free from overt CVD enrolled in 2004, who were followed for a median of 10.0 years (interquartile range, 9.1-10.1). Cardiovascular events included myocardial infarction, hospitalized heart failure, revascularized angina, sudden cardiac death, stroke, peripheral arterial disease. RESULTS: Over 3097 person-years of observation, we observed a total of 34 CVD events, whereas Framingham algorithm predicted the occurrence of 34.3 CVD events. CVD event rate was 11.0/1000 person-years of follow-up. In a receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, Framingham risk equation showed an excellent predictive value for incident CVD events (c-statistics, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.90). In a multivariable Cox analysis, age, smoking and diabetes were independent predictors of CVD events. All-cause death rate was 20.0/1000 person-years of follow-up (n = 62 deaths). Causes of death included liver diseases (18), malignancies (14), AIDS-related (11); cardiovascular (9) and others (10). In a Cox analysis, age, AIDS diagnosis and chronic hepatitis were independent predictors of death. CONCLUSIONS: Observed CVD events in HIV-infected patients were well predicted by Framingham algorithm. Established major CVD risk factors are the strongest determinants of CVD morbidity in an Italian contemporary cohort of HIV-positive subjects. Interventions to modify traditional risk factors are urgently needed in HIV people.

Standards for the Implementation, Analysis, Interpretation, and Reporting of 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Recommendations of the Italian Society of Hypertension.

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is recognized as a reference tool for accurately diagnosing hypertension. Until a few years ago, this technique was restricted to use by specialists. Recently, however, due to the need for wider availability and thanks to technological innovation, simplification of analysis processes, and increasing recognition of the importance of this tool for the diagnosis of hypertension, ABPM is now also being used in non-specialist settings. In such settings, ABPM is used with a two-pronged approach: (i) independently by a general practitioner with the possibility of specialist supervision for particular and complex cases; (ii) in the non-medical setting (community pharmacies, home care services, etc.) where the healthcare provider is trained in the proper use of the technique, with the understanding a physician must be responsible for the final clinical reporting. Unfortunately, due to the increasingly wide diffusion of ABPM, there has been considerable confusion about management roles and responsibilities in recent years. To clarify competencies and roles and standardize the processes related to the technique's implementation and proper management, experts of the Blood Pressure Monitoring Working Group of the Italian Society of Hypertension have drafted this document with the aim of providing a quick and easy reference guide for training healthcare professionals in the field.

Atrial Fibrillation and Early Vascular Aging: Clinical Implications, Methodology Issues and Open Questions-A Review from the VascAgeNet COST Action.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, is associated with adverse CV outcomes. Vascular aging (VA), which is defined as the progressive deterioration of arterial function and structure over a lifetime, is an independent predictor of both AF development and CV events. A timing identification and treatment of early VA has therefore the potential to reduce the risk of AF incidence and related CV events. A network of scientists and clinicians from the COST Action VascAgeNet identified five clinically and methodologically relevant questions regarding the relationship between AF and VA and conducted a narrative review of the literature to find potential answers. These are: (1) Are VA biomarkers associated with AF? (2) Does early VA predict AF occurrence better than chronological aging? (3) Is early VA a risk enhancer for the occurrence of CV events in AF patients? (4) Are devices measuring VA suitable to perform subclinical AF detection? (5) Does atrial-fibrillation-related rhythm irregularity have a negative impact on the measurement of vascular age? Results showed that VA is a powerful and independent predictor of AF incidence, however, its role as risk modifier for the occurrence of CV events in patients with AF is debatable. Limited and inconclusive data exist regarding the reliability of VA measurement in the presence of rhythm irregularities associated with AF. To date, no device is equipped with tools capable of detecting AF during VA measurements. This represents a missed opportunity to effectively perform CV prevention in people at high risk. Further advances are needed to fill knowledge gaps in this field.

Prevalence, Clustering, and Current Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Upon First Referral to Hypertension Specialists: the APPROACH Study.

INTRODUCTION: Several observational studies have been conducted to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive patients; however, none has yet investigated prevalence, clustering, and current management of cardiovascular risk factors upon first referral to hypertension specialists, which is the aim of the present study. METHODS: Consecutive adult outpatients with essential/secondary hypertension were included at the time of their first referral to hypertension specialists at 13 Italian centers in the period April 2022-2023 if they had at least one additional major cardiovascular risk factor among LDL-hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes, and cigarette smoking. Prevalence, degree of control, and current management strategies of cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 255 individuals were included, 40.2% women and 98.4% Caucasian. Mean age was 60.3±13.3 years and mean blood pressure [BP] was 140.3±17.9/84.8±12.3 mmHg). Most participants were smokers (55.3%), had a sedentary lifestyle (75.7%), suffered from overweight/obesity (51%) or high LDL-cholesterol (41.6%), had never adopted strategies to lose weight (55.7%), and were not on a low-salt diet (57.4%). Only a minority of patients reported receiving specialist counseling, and 27.9% had never received recommendations to correct unhealthy lifestyle habits. Nearly 90% of individuals with an estimated high/very high cardiovascular risk profile did not achieve recommended LDL-cholesterol targets. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with hypertension, both pharmacological and lifestyle therapeutic advice are yet to improve before referral to hypertension specialists. This should be considered in the primary care setting in order to optimize cardiovascular risk management strategies.

Unified Language for Knowledge Dissemination: The Vascular Ageing Glossary, an Initiative by VascAgeNet.

Objectives: In general, a terminology shared and agreed by different stakeholders is important to facilitate communication and cooperation. This holds true in the field of vascular ageing for the benefit of global cardiovascular health. The need to promote a common language and understanding across this area was recognised by VascAgeNet, a collaborative network with relevant and diverse expertise in the vascular ageing field, supported by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology. To contribute to the spread of unified terms in the vascular ageing field, a glossary was created by VascAgeNet and this paper describes the systematic process used for its development. Methods: An initial list of terms and preliminary definitions were collated from the network. A dedicated team was created to design the glossary development process, to facilitate its implementation and to maximise outreach and dissemination. The key steps of the process were to determine: (1) the target audience; (2) a list of priority terms; (3) a template structure for definitions; (4) methods for collecting feedback and (5) the dissemination plan. Results: An implementation strategy was provided for each key step and shared within the network; main decisions were agreed by all members of the glossary team. Small groups of definitions were released on a regular basis within a pilot phase including 19 terms (status: 05.09.2023) that were published openly at https://vascagenet.eu/official-glossary. Conclusions: The strategy for creating the first Vascular Ageing Glossary has been successfully designed and developed within VascAgeNet. A pilot phase covering the first publicly available terms was completed. The glossary is a living document, available to the scientific community, which aims to unify the vascular ageing language. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44200-023-00041-5.

Developing technologies to assess vascular ageing: a roadmap from VascAgeNet.

Vascular ageing is the deterioration of arterial structure and function which occurs naturally with age, and which can be accelerated with disease. Measurements of vascular ageing are emerging as markers of cardiovascular risk, with potential applications in disease diagnosis and prognosis, and for guiding treatments. However, vascular ageing is not yet routinely assessed in clinical practice. A key step towards this is the development of technologies to assess vascular ageing. In this Roadmap, experts discuss several aspects of this process, including: measurement technologies; the development pipeline; clinical applications; and future research directions. The Roadmap summarises the state of the art, outlines the major challenges to overcome, and identifies potential future research directions to address these challenges.

Early and prolonged glutathione infusion favorably impacts length of hospital stay in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients: a subanalysis of the GSH2014 Trial.

BACKGROUND: Developing strategies aimed to shorten the length of stay (LOS) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a healthcare goal to be pursued. We carried out a subanalysis of the GSH 2014 Trial to assess the potentiality of glutathione sodium salt infusion to impact on LOS. METHODS: 100 consecutive patients with STEMI, aged more than 18 years and referred to the three enrolling centers for primary angioplasty (p-PCI), were asked to participate to the GSH 2014 Trial. Fifty patients were randomized to treatment group and fifty to placebo; treatment consisted into an intravenous infusion of glutathione sodium salt over 10 minutes before p-PCI; after interventions, glutathione was infused at the same doses at 24, 48 and 72 h elapsing time. A stepwise linear multivariate model was built in order to assess independent predictors of LOS. RESULTS: Subjects receiving infusion of glutathione sodium salt had a significantly lower LOS than subjects receiving placebo (8.6±3 vs. 10.8±4 days, P=0.006). At multivariate analysis, the randomization to GSH group was negatively associated with length of stay (ß±SEß -1.64±0.74, cumulative R2 0.43, P=0.03) independently from age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, number of treated vessels, infarct-related coronary artery (left anterior descending artery as reference) and enrolment hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this subanalysis support the hypothesis that an early and prolonged glutathione sodium salt administration, as antioxidant therapy to patients with STEMI, may favorably impact on LOS. Further studies with larger sample size are necessary to confirm these data.

Developing a Questionnaire on Knowledge, Perceptions and Application of Vascular-Aging Measurements.

BACKGROUND: Vascular age (VA) is independent and chronological age for assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, tools for the implementation of VA are currently lacking. We aimed to develop a questionnaire to assess the current knowledge gaps related to VA and barriers to its implementation in routine practice. METHODS: Using a stepwise mixed-method approach, a quantitative questionnaire was constructed in four phases: (1) basic item generation and the development of a semi-qualitative questionnaire (SQQ); (2) dissemination to the VascAgeNet extended network and an analysis of the semi-qualitative questionnaire responses; (3) the development of a quantitative questionnaire (QQ); and (4) an assessment of the content and face validity and internal reliability in an additional sample. RESULTS: Based on six main topics initially identified through an expert panel, a SQQ was developed and disseminated. Finally, a 22-item QQ was developed, with questions grouped around three main themes: knowledge of VA and its risk factors; perceptions and beliefs regarding the importance and contribution of VA to risk classification; and the application of VA measurements in clinical and research practice and its potential limitations (Cronbach's alpha between 0.920 and 0.982 for all three categories). CONCLUSION: We report the development of a QQ on VA addressed to both clinicians and non-clinicians aiming to assess their knowledge, perceptions and application of VA measurements.

The Combined Treatment of Glutathione Sodium Salt and Ascorbic Acid for Preventing Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Primary PCI: A Hypothesis to Be Validated.

The occurrence of Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (CA-AKI) in patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) has a negative impact on the length of hospital stay and mortality. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) release, along with vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion, play a key role in its development. To date, there is still no validated prophylactic therapy for this disease. The use of antioxidants, based on experimental and clinical studies, looks promising. Taking into consideration previous literature, we speculate that an early, combined and prolonged intravenous administration of both Glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid in STEMI patients undergoing primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (pPCI) may be of value in counteracting the occurrence of CA-AKI. We aimed at evaluating this hypothesis by applying a multicenter research protocol, using a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial design. The primary endpoint will be to test the efficacy of this combined antioxidant therapy in reducing the occurrence of renal damage, in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with pPCI. Furthermore, we will investigate the effect of the study compounds on changes in oxidative stress markers and platelet activation levels through bio-humoral analyses.

Unraveling Barriers to a Healthy Lifestyle: Understanding Barriers to Diet and Physical Activity in Patients with Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases.

Although the important contribution of nutrition and physical activity to people's health is known, it is equally well known that there are many barriers to adherence to healthy habits (i.e., of an organizational, economic, and/or psychological nature) experienced by the general population, as well as by people with non-communicable diseases. Knowledge of these barriers seems essential to the implementation of the activities and strategies needed to overcome them. Here, we aim to highlight the most frequent barriers to nutrition and exercise improvement that patients with chronic-degenerative diseases experience. Drawing from the Pubmed database, our analysis includes quantitative or mixed descriptive studies published within the last 10 years, involving adult participants with non-communicable diseases. Barriers of an organizational nature, as well as those of an environmental, economic, or psychological nature, are reported. The study of patients' barriers enables healthcare and non-health professionals, stakeholders, and policymakers to propose truly effective solutions that can help both the general population and those with chronic pathologies to adhere to a healthy lifestyle.