0000000000801434
AUTHOR
C. Pisano
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs), Their Genetic Variants and miRNA in Mitral Valve Diseases: Potential Biomarker Tools and Targets for Personalized Treatments
Mitral valve diseases (MVD)s, comprising congenital and acquired forms, are characterized by a diverse etiology, pathophysiology, prevalence, and incidence. In industrialized countries, the acquired forms represent 2.5% of all cardiovascular diseases, with a marked augmentation after the age of 65 years. In addition, all forms of MVDs (i.e., degenerative forms) have a difficult clinical management. The major challenge is 'the early diagnosis', and echocardiographic analysis has been shown inappropriate for diagnosing MVD in moderate forms. Thus, there is a strong need to identify more appropriate biomarker tools to diagnose MVDs at early clinical stage before complications occur and worsen …
Impact of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch after Mitral Valve Replacement
Background and aim of the study: The study aim was to determine the impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) on early and late clinical outcomes, left atrial and ventricular remodeling, late tricuspid valve regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients after mitral valve replacement (MVR). Methods: A total of 46 patients (mean age 66 ± 9.3 years) with mitral valve diseases and undergoing isolated MVR was enrolled in the study. The mitral valve effective orifice area (EOA) was determined using the continuity equation and indexed for the patient’s body surface area (EOAi). PPM was defined as EOAi ≤1.2 cm2/m2. PH was defined as a systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) >40 mmH…
Carboplatin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for advanced ovarian cancer. Preliminary activity results of the MITO-2 phase III trial
<i>Background:</i> Based on the efficacy of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in relapsed ovarian cancer, we are conducting a phase III study comparing carboplatin plus either paclitaxel or PLD as first-line therapy in advanced ovarian cancer. Because of limited phase I and II data on PLD plus carboplatin in this setting, we conducted an interim activity analysis. <i>Patients and Methods:</i> Patients with stage 1c-IV epithelial ovarian cancer were randomized to carboplatin AUC 5 plus either paclitaxel 175 mg/m<sup>2</sup> or PLD 30 mg/m<sup>2</sup> every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. The interim activity analysis was planned according to a single…
Notch 1 pathway and EPCs in bicuspid aortic valve: is their interplay involved in the ascending aortic aneurysm onset?
Backgroud_AIM: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is frequently associated with development of ascending aortic aneurysm, even if the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. Here, we investigated if a deregulation of Notch1 signaling pathway and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) number is associated with BAV disease and an early ascending aortic aneurysm (AAA) onset. Methods: To this aim,70 subjects with BAV (M/F 50/20; mean age: 58.8±14.8 years) and 70 subjects with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV)(M/F 35/35; mean age: 69.1±12.8 years), AAA complicated or not, were enrolled. Multiparametric flow cytometry analyses, plasma amount assessments, gene expressions, and tissue protein semiquantitati…