GLP-1 receptor agonists and reduction of cardiometabolic risk: Potential underlying mechanisms
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic condition with an elevated impact on cardiovascular (CV) risk. The innovative therapeutic approaches for T2DM - incretin-based therapies (IBTs), including glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, have become popular and more widely used in recent years. The available scientific data from clinical studies and clinical practice highlights their beyond glucose-lowering effects, which is achieved without any increase in hypoglycaemia. The former effects include reduction in body weight, lipids, blood pressure, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and subclinical atherosclerosis, thus reducing and potentially pr…
Frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in older adults: findings from the subclinical atrial fibrillation and risk of ischemic stroke (SAFARIS) study
Abstract Background Prolonged monitoring of cardiac rhythm has been used in patients with symptomatic arrhythmias and to assess for atrial fibrillation (AF) after cryptogenic stroke, but not in the general population and especially in older adults. Purpose To evaluate the frequency of arrhythmias in a community-based cohort of older adults through 14-days continuous cardiac monitoring using a patch-based device. Methods Cardiac rhythm was analyzed in 533 participants free of AF and congestive heart failure (CHF) from the tri-ethnic (white, black, Hispanic) Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke (SAFARIS) study. AF, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT, defined as 4 beats o…
Phenotyping normal kidney function in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional multicentre study
AimsType 2 diabetes (T2D) accelerates the decline in glomerular function; however, some individuals do not develop chronic kidney disease despite advanced age and long-lasting T2D. We aimed to phenotype patients with T2D aged 80years or older who presented with a fully preserved kidney function.MethodsFrom an Italian population of 281,217 T2D outpatients, we collected data on demographics, anthropometrics, diabetes duration, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, lipids, liver enzymes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albumin excretion rate (AER), chronic complications, and medication use. We primarily compared patients with a fully preserved kidney function (eGFR>90ml/min/1.73m(2) and …
Frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in older adults: Findings from the Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke (SAFARIS) study
BACKGROUND: Prolonged monitoring of cardiac rhythm has been used to screen for subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF); little is known about other arrhythmias in the general population, especially in the elderly, who are at higher risk of arrhythmias. METHODS: We evaluated the frequency of arrhythmias in the tri-ethnic (white, Black, Hispanic), community-based Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke (SAFARIS) study using a patch-based recorder for up to 14 days in 527 participants free of AF, congestive heart failure (CHF) or history of stroke. Differences according to gender, age, ethnicity and presence of hypertension, diabetes and pertinent ECG and echocardiographic var…
O069. Menstrual cycle affects cortical excitability differently in females with migraine and in healthy controls: a new perspective by cross modal sound induced flash illusions
The sound-induced flash illusions (SIFI) represent a valid tool to explore multimodal perception and are critically dependent on visual and acoustic cortical excitability [1, 2]. In a previous study [3], we observed a significant reduction of illusions in migraine patients with respect to healthy controls, probably due to a condition of visual cortex hyperexcitability. Aim of the present study was to evaluate SIFI perceptions in healthy women and patients with menstrual migraine and to describe the effects of cyclical change of steroid hormones and cortical responsiveness.
Natural approaches in metabolic syndrome management
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized as a group of cardiometabolic risk factors that raise the risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes mellitus and stroke. Treatment strategies include pharmacologic interventions and supplementary (or "alternative") treatments. Nutraceuticals are derived from food sources (isolated nutrients, dietary supplements and herbal products) that are purported to provide health benefits, in addition to providing basic nutritional value. Nutraceuticals are claimed to prevent chronic diseases, improve health, delay the aging process, increase life expectancy, and support the structure and function of the body. The study of the benefici…
Effect of hypertension and diabetes on subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in a predominantly elderly population-based cohort
The effects of estradiol levels on crossmodal perception: a study on the sound induced flash illusion in healthy and menstrually related migraine individuals
Abstract Objective The sound-induced flash illusion (SIFI) is a valid paradigm to study multisensorial perception. In the “fission” SIFI, multiple flashes are perceived when observing a single flash paired with two or more beeps. SIFI is largely dependent on visual and acoustic cortex excitability; in migraine, dysfunctional cortical excitability affects SIFI perception. Since estrogen peak occurring during ovulation can increase neuronal excitability, the present study aims to verify whether cortical excitability shifts linked to the menstrual cycle could influence SIFI. Methods In a comparative prospective study, we tested the effect of estrogens on crossmodal perception using the SIFI. W…