Atrial cardiomyopathy: new pathophysiological and clinical aspects.

Atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM) is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to the development and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation (AF), a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia with significant clinical implications. ACM involves complex structural, electrical, and functional remodeling of the atrial myocardium, driven by various pathological conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, and obesity. Key mechanisms include atrial fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which collectively contribute to the pro-arrhythmic and pro-thrombotic state associated with AF.

Pediatric ultrasound on YouTube: a multicenter quality assessment and ten practical recommendations.

Background: Digital communication is increasingly influencing the way medical knowledge is accessed and shared, particularly in pediatrics. Among various platforms, YouTube has emerged as a major source of health-related information, not only for healthcare professionals but also for the general population. However, the open nature of social media raises concerns about the consistency, reliability, and educational quality of the content shared.

Metoprolol disrupts inflammatory response of human cardiomyocytes via β-arrestin2 biased agonism and NF-κB signaling modulation.

Aims: Recent evidence supports non-class cardioprotective effects of metoprolol against neutrophil-mediated ischemia-reperfusion injury during exacerbated inflammation. Whether metoprolol exerts direct anti-inflammatory effect on cardiomyocytes is unknown. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the direct anti-inflammatory effects of metoprolol in a cellular model of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiCMs) and to explore the role of β-arrestin2 (β-ARR2) biased agonism signaling pathway.

Training and learning ultrasound: survey on a sample of Italian students, impact and role inside the core curriculum of degree courses in medicine and surgery.

Purpose: Ultrasound is essential in the clinical practice of many medical specialties due to non-invasiveness, rapidity of examination, low costs and simplicity. Many specialized companies and universities pointed out its potential as a teaching tool for medical students. The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of an ultrasound course on a sample of students attending the fourth, fifth and sixth year of the degree course in Medicine, highlighting changing in satisfaction and preparation.

Quantitative ultrasound fatty liver evaluation in a pediatric population: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging of liver proton density fat fraction.

Background: Biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis, the leading cause of pediatric chronic liver disease; however, its costs call for less invasive methods.

Objective: This study examined the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for the assessment of liver fat content in a pediatric population, using magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 36 patients.

The Leading Role of Brain and Abdominal Radiological Features in the Work-Up of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis in Children: An Up-To-Date Review.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis (NMDARe) is the most common cause of nonviral encephalitis, mostly affecting young women and adolescents with a strong female predominance (F/M ratio of around 4:1). NMDARe is characterized by the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies against NMDARs, even though its pathophysiological mechanisms have not totally been clarified. The clinical phenotype of NMDARe is composed of both severe neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including generalized seizures with desaturations, behavioral abnormalities, and movement disorders.

Ultrasound imaging of the axilla.

Axilla is a pyramidal-in-shape "virtual cavity" housing multiple anatomical structures and connecting the upper limb with the trunk. To the best of our knowledge, in the pertinent literature, a detailed sonographic protocol to comprehensively assess the axillary region in daily practice is lacking. In this sense, the authors have briefly described the anatomical architecture of the axilla-also using cadaveric specimens-to propose a layer-by-layer sonographic approach to this challenging district.

SIUMB recommendations on the use of ultrasound in neoplastic lesions of the gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract.

Extrahepatic biliary tract and gallbladder neoplastic lesions are relatively rare and hence are often underrepresented in the general clinical recommendations for the routine use of ultrasound (US). Dictated by the necessity of updated summarized review of current literature to guide clinicians, this paper represents an updated position of the Italian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (SIUMB) on the use of US and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in extrahepatic biliary tract and gallbladder neoplastic lesions such as extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder adenocarcinoma, gallbladder adenomyomatosis, dense bile with polypoid-like appearance and gallbladder polyps.

Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality Related to Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a cardiovascular (CV) risk factor is debated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the CV morbidity and mortality related to NAFLD in the general population, and to determine whether CV risk is comparable between lean and non-lean NAFLD phenotypes. We searched multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, for observational studies published through 2022 that reported the risk of CV events and mortality.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease in the world and represents a clinical-histopathologic entity where the steatosis component may vary in degree and may or may not have fibrotic progression. The key concept of NAFLD pathogenesis is excessive triglyceride hepatic accumulation because of an imbalance between free fatty acid influx and efflux. Strong epidemiological, biochemical, and therapeutic evidence supports the premise that the primary pathophysiological derangement in most patients with NAFLD is insulin resistance; thus the association between diabetes and NAFLD is widely recognized in the literature.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System: Lights and shadows in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocellular carcinoma diagnosis.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is considered a secondary examination compared to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), due to the risk of misdiagnosing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The introduction of CEUS Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (CEUS LI-RADS) might overcome this limitation. Even though data from the literature seems promising, its reliability in real-life context has not been well-established yet.

Survival and late effects of hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with thalassemia major.

In this retrospective study, we evaluated long-term survival and late effects in 137 patients affected by thalassemia major (TM) who received an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Median age at HCT was 10.1 years.

Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction: What Do We Know?

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), or long COVID syndrome, is emerging as a major health issue in patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Symptoms commonly experienced by patients include fatigue, palpitations, chest pain, dyspnea, reduced exercise tolerance, and "brain fog". Additionally, symptoms of orthostatic intolerance and syncope suggest the involvement of the autonomic nervous system.

Real-Time Monitoring of Levetiracetam Effect on the Electrophysiology of an Heterogenous Human iPSC-Derived Neuronal Cell Culture Using Microelectrode Array Technology.

Levetiracetam (LEV) is a broad-spectrum and widely used antiepileptic drug that also has neuroprotective effects in different neurological conditions. Given its complex interaction with neuronal physiology, a better comprehension of LEV effects on neurons activity is needed. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) represent an advanced technology for the non-invasive study of electrophysiological activity of neuronal cell cultures.

Chemical and Biological Molecules Involved in Differentiation, Maturation, and Survival of Dopaminergic Neurons in Health and Parkinson's Disease: Physiological Aspects and Clinical Implications.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by a specific and progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and dopamine, causing motor dysfunctions and impaired movements. Unfortunately, available therapies can partially treat the motor symptoms, but they have no effect on non-motor features. In addition, the therapeutic effect reduces gradually, and the prolonged use of drugs leads to a significative increase in the number of adverse events.

Decellularized Extracellular Matrices and Cardiac Differentiation: Study on Human Amniotic Fluid-Stem Cells.

Cell therapy with a variety of stem populations is increasingly being investigated as a promising regenerative strategy for cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Their combination with adequate scaffolds represents an improved therapeutic approach. Recently, several biomaterials were investigated as scaffolds for CV tissue repair, with decellularized extracellular matrices (dECMs) arousing increasing interest for cardiac tissue engineering applications.

Migration of calcium deposit over the biceps brachii muscle, a rare complication of calcific tendinopathy: Ultrasound image and treatment.

Calcific tendinopathy is characterized by the deposition of calcium, mostly hydroxyapatite crystals, in tendons. Women are more frequently affected than men, with prevalence in the fourth and fifth decades of life. This condition has been reported between 2.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis and cardiovascular disease: a land of confusion.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) can be defined as acute inflammatory disease of the gallbladder without evidence of gallstones. The first case was reported in 1844 by Duncan et al.; however, some cases may have been missed previously in view of the complexity of the diagnosis.