Impact of insulin resistance on cardiac and vascular function.

Background Insulin resistance (IR), constitutes an important cardiovascular risk factor and can cause ischemic heart disease. It can lead to left ventricular dysfunction with a mechanism independent of ischemic heart disease and it is closely associated with impaired vascular function. The aim of our study was to explore the impact of IR on cardiac and vascular function, in patients with cardiovascular risk factors but angiographically undamaged coronary arteries. Methods We studied 32 patients (62.06 ± 11.19 years) with cardiovascular risk factors. All patients underwent coronary angiography, echocardiography, Doppler ultrasound of carotid arteries and laboratory tests. Exclusion criteria …

Association between asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis and degenerative aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Degenerative aortic stenosis shows similarities with atherosclerosis. To confirm the hypothesis that aortic stenosis is an "atherosclerosis-like" disease, we investigated the association between degenerative aortic stenosis and atherosclerosis of carotid arteries. METHODS: We studied 270 consecutive patients, 135 with degenerative aortic stenosis (trans-aortic peak velocity ≥ 2 m/sec) and other 135 subjects without aortic valve disease. All patients underwent echocardiography and ultrasound scan of the supra-aortic trunks to assess the presence of plaque and/or intima-media thickening (IMT). RESULTS: Atherosclerosis of carotid arteries (IMT and plaque) was significantly more freq…

Supplemental Material, sj-doc-1-ear-10.1177_0145561320981447 - Alteration of Smell and Taste in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients in Sicily, Italy

Supplemental Material, sj-doc-1-ear-10.1177_0145561320981447 for Alteration of Smell and Taste in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients in Sicily, Italy by Maria Rita Bianco, Domenico M. Modica, Gaetano D. Drago, Alfio Azzolina, Gianfranco Mattina, Massimo De Natale, Giuseppe Rossi, Marta Amata, Gaspare Canzoneri, Giovanni Manganaro, Francesco Di Gregorio, Rosario Russo, Salvatore Pricoco, Vincenzo Saita and Eugenia Allegra in Ear, Nose & Throat Journal

SINDROME METABOLICA ED ATEROSCLEROSI PRECLINICA CAROTIDEA IN UNA POPOLAZIONE GIOVANE CON ALTERATO STILE DI VITA

RELAZIONE FRA I LIVELLI EMATICI DI PCR, FIBRINOGENO C E MMP-9 E DIFFERENTI PATTERN CLINICI DELL'ARITMIA

Alteration of Smell and Taste in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients in Sicily, Italy

Objectives: Alteration of smell and taste has been reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The incidence and clinical-symptomatic manifestation of COVID-19 is different between northern and southern Italy. This study aims to evaluate the onset of alteration of smell and taste in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients in Sicily (extreme south of Italy). Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was performed on asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) from May 1 to May 15, 2020. A questionnaire was used for evaluating the prevalence of smell and taste disorders in COVID-19 patients befor…