Publications

Ketone bodies are molecules produced from fatty acids in the liver that act as energy carriers to peripheral tissues when glucose levels are low. Carbohydrate- and calorie-restricted diets, known to increase the levels of circulating ketone bodies, have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their potential health benefits in several diseases. Specifically, increasing ketones through dietary modulation has been reported to be beneficial for cardiovascular health and to improve glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance. Interestingly, although excessive production of ketones may lead to life-threatening ketoacidosis in diabetic patients, mounting evidence suggests that modest levels of ketones play adaptive and beneficial roles in pancreatic beta cells, although the exact mechanisms are still unknown. Of note, Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been shown to increase the levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), the most abundant ketone circulating in the human body, which may play a pivotal role in mediating some of their protective effects in cardiovascular health and diabetes. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the scientific literature and presents an analysis of the effects of ketone bodies on cardiovascular pathophysiology and pancreatic beta cell function. The evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies indicates that exogenous ketones may have significant beneficial effects on both cardiomyocytes and pancreatic beta cells, making them intriguing candidates for potential cardioprotective therapies and to preserve beta cell function in patients with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) represent a deep revolution of the therapeutic approach to heart failure (HF), preventing its insurgence but also improving the management of the disease and slowing its natural progression. To date, few studies have explored the effectiveness of SGLT2i and, in particular, Dapagliflozin in a real-world population. Therefore, in this observational prospective study, we evaluated Dapagliflozin's effectiveness in a real-world HF population categorized in the different hemodynamic profiles.

METHODS: From January 2022 to June 2023, we enrolled 240 patients with chronic HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) on optimal medical therapy, according to 2021 ESC guidelines, that added treatment with Dapagliflozin from the HF Clinics of 6 Italian University Hospitals. Clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic parameters were collected before and after 6 months of Dapagliflozin introduction. Moreover, the HFrEF population was classified according to hemodynamic profiles (A: SV ≥ 35 ml/m2; E/e' < 15; B: SV ≥ 35 ml/m2; E/e' ≥ 15; C: SV < 35 ml/m2; E/e' < 15; D: SV < 35 ml/m2; E/e' ≥ 15). Then, we compared the Dapagliflozin population with two retrospective HF cohorts, hereinafter referred to as Guide Line 2012 (GL 2012) group and Guide Line 2016 (GL 2016) group, in accordance with the HF ESC guidelines in force at the time of patients enrolment. Precisely, we evaluated the changes to baseline in clinical, functional, biochemical, and echocardiographic parameters and compared them to the GL 2012 and GL 2016 groups.

RESULTS: Dapagliflozin population (67.18 ± 11.11 years) showed a significant improvement in the echocardiographic and functional parameters (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], LV end-diastolic volume [LVEDV], LVEDV index, stroke volume index [SVi], left atrium volume index [LAVi], filling pressure [E/e' ratio], tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [TAPSE], tricuspid annular S' velocity [RVs'], fractional area change [FAC], inferior vena cava [IVC diameter], pulmonary artery systolic pressure [sPAP], NYHA class, and quality of life) compared to baseline. In particular, TAPSE and right ventricle diameter (RVD1) ameliorate in congestive profiles (B and D); accordingly, the furosemide dose significantly decreased in these profiles. Comparing the three populations, the analysis of echocardiographic parameters (baseline vs follow-up) highlighted a significant decrease of sPAP in the Dapagliflozin population (p < 0.05), while no changes were recorded in the GL 2012 and GL 2016 population. Moreover, at the baseline evaluation, the GL 2012 and 2016 groups needed a higher significant dose of furosemide compared to Dapagliflozin group. Finally, Dapagliflozin patients had significantly fewer rehospitalizations (1.25%) compared with the other two groups (GL 2012 18.89%, p 0.0097; GL 2016 15.32%, p 0.0497).

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that Dapagliflozin is rapidly effective in an HFrEF real-world population; furthermore, the more significant effect is recorded in HFrEF patients with a congestive profile (B and D), supporting the introduction of Dapagliflozin in patients with a congestive profile and a worse prognosis. In conclusion, our data suggest evaluating the patient's hemodynamic state beyond LVEF in HFrEF.

A recent presidential advisory from the AHA has introduced the term cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome to describe the complex interplay among these health conditions. The aim of our study was to compare the prevalence of concurrent CKM syndrome components before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify associated risk factors. We conducted a study utilizing data from a real-world population obtained from a primary care database. The study cohort comprised a closed group followed over a 6-year period (2017-2022). A total of 81,051 individuals were included: 32,650 in the pre-pandemic period and 48,401 in the 2020-2022 triennium. After propensity-score matching for sex, age, and BMI, the study included 30,511 individuals for each period. A total of 3554 individuals were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the pre-pandemic period, compared to 7430 during the pandemic. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity displayed significant increases in prevalence during the pandemic, and prediabetes had a particularly sharp rise of 170%. Age-stratified analyses revealed a higher burden of CKM conditions with advancing age. Our findings indicate a substantial increase in the prevalence of CKM syndrome conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly half of the patients exhibiting one or more CKM syndrome components.

Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a protein crucial for cellular stress response and survival, particularly in the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Unlike traditional neurotrophic factors, MANF primarily regulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and protects cells by reducing ER stress-induced apoptosis. MANF operates both inside and outside cells, influencing key pathways like JAK/STAT and NF-κB to enhance cell survival during stress. Beyond its neuroprotective role, MANF is also vital in cardiovascular protection, mitigating damage by reducing inflammation and maintaining cellular function. Elevated MANF levels have been observed in patients experiencing myocardial infarction and murine models of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, highlighting its importance in these conditions. Overexpression of MANF in cardiomyocytes reduces ER-stress-induced cell death, while its depletion worsens this effect. Treatment with recombinant MANF (rMANF) has been shown to improve cardiac function in mice with I/R injury by decreasing infarct size and inflammation. Research also indicates that alterations in the α1-helix region of MANF can impact its structure, expression, secretion, and overall function. Given its protective effects and involvement in critical signaling pathways, MANF is being explored as a potential therapeutic target for ER stress-related diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular conditions like myocardial I/R injury.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies conducted in COVID-19 survivors suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia. However, it remains unclear whether this augmented risk is confirmed in the general population and how this phenomenon is impacting the overall burden of cardiometabolic diseases.

METHODS: To address these aspects, we conducted a 6-year longitudinal study to examine the broader effects of COVID-19 on dyslipidemia incidence within a real-world population (228,266 subjects) residing in Naples, Southern Italy. The pre-COVID-19 and the COVID-19 groups were balanced for demographic and clinical factors using propensity score matching.

RESULTS: Our analysis spans over a period of three years during the pandemic (2020-2022), comparing dyslipidemia incidence with pre-pandemic data (2017-2019), with a follow-up time of at least 1,095 days corresponding to 21,349,215 person-years. During the COVID-19 period we detected an increased risk of developing any dyslipidemia when compared with the pre-COVID-19 triennium (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.19-1.39). Importantly, these estimates were adjusted for comorbidities by a multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data reveal a notable rise in dyslipidemia incidence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting to establish specialized clinical monitoring protocols for COVID-19 survivors to mitigate the risk of dyslipidemia development.