A5027061253- Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments
- Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Transplantation: Methods and Outcomes
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies
- ECG Monitoring and Analysis
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
- Cardiac Imaging and Diagnostics
- Cardiac pacing and defibrillation studies
- Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies
- Mast cells and histamine
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Cardiac Ischemia and Reperfusion
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
University of Siena
2015-2024
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese
2021
Agenzia Regionale di Sanità della Toscana
2021
VA NY Harbor Healthcare System
2016
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
2016
New York University
2016
Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara
2016
Indian Immunologicals (India)
2007-2009
University of Milan
2005
oronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). 1Besides direct tissue invasion, SARS-CoV-2 can also elicit an exaggerated host immune response, frequently leading to a cytokine storm, which significantly contributes multiorgan dysfunction. 1 Indeed, high levels of circulating cytokines, particularly interleukin (IL)-6, are commonly found in patients with COVID-19, associating in-hospital death. Accumulating data point...
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Background Systemic inflammation is a strong predictor of atrial fibrillation. A key role for electrical remodeling increasingly recognized, and experimental data suggest that inflammatory cytokines can directly affect connexins resulting in gap‐junction dysfunction. We hypothesized systemic inflammation, regardless its origin, promotes electric vivo, as result cytokine‐mediated changes connexin expression. Methods Results Fifty‐four patients with different diseases elevated C‐reactive...
Increased proinflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are associated with acquired long QT-syndrome (LQTS) in patients systemic inflammation, leading to higher risks for life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia such as Torsades de Pointes. However, the functional and molecular mechanisms of this association not known. In most cases LQTS, target ion channel is human ether-á-go-go-related gene (hERG) encoding rapid component delayed rectifier K current, IKr, which plays a critical...
<h3>Objective</h3> Increasing evidence indicates systemic inflammation as a new potential cause of acquired long QT syndrome (LQTS), via cytokine-mediated changes in cardiomyocyte ion channels. Torsade de pointes (TdP) is life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia occurring patients with LQTS, usually when multiple QT-prolonging factors are simultaneously present. Since classical risk cannot fully explain TdP events number patients, we hypothesised that may represent currently...
Statins are widely used hypocholesterolemic drugs that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway whose biosynthetic end product is cholesterol. In addition to lowering circulating cholesterol, statins perturb composition cell membranes, resulting in disruption lipid rafts, which function as signaling platforms immunoreceptor signaling. Furthermore, by inhibiting protein prenylation, process also dependent on...
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are twice as likely to experience sudden cardiac death compared individuals without RA. Although the underlying mechanisms of this have not been clarified, evidence points effects systemic inflammation on ventricular repolarization. Accordingly, prolongation corrected QT (QTc) interval is more frequent in patients RA also correlating C-reactive protein (CRP) and predicting all-cause mortality. Tocilizumab (TCZ) an anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody...
<h3>Background</h3> Cannabinoids modulate fibrogenesis in scleroderma. Ajulemic acid (AjA) is a non-psychoactive synthetic analogue of tetrahydrocannabinol that can bind the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Recent evidence suggests key role for PPAR-γ fibrogenesis. <h3>Objective</h3> To determine whether AjA murine models <h3>Material and methods</h3> Bleomycin-induced experimental fibrosis was used to assess antifibrotic effects vivo. In addition, efficacy...
Background: During acute infections, the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias is increased, partly because a higher propensity to develop QTc prolongation. Although it generally believed that changes almost exclusively result from concomitant treatment with QT-prolonging antimicrobials, direct effects inflammatory cytokines on repolarization are increasingly recognized. We hypothesized systemic inflammation per se can significantly prolong during via cytokine-mediated in K + channel...
SARS-CoV2-induced direct cytopathic effects against type II pneumocytes are suspected to play a role in mediating and perpetuating lung damage. The aim of this study was evaluate serum KL-6 behavior COVID-19 patients investigate its potential predicting clinical course. Sixty (median age IQR, 65 (52-69), 43 males), hospitalized for at Siena COVID Unit University Hospital, were prospectively enrolled. Twenty-six selected 63 (55-71), 16 males); all them underwent follow-up evaluations,...
Abstract Objective Newborns of mothers positive for anti‐Ro/SSA autoantibodies may develop a series electrocardiographic (EKG) disturbances. Prolongation the corrected QT (QTc) interval was recently reported in significant proportion children with maternally acquired antibodies, concomitant disappearance EKG abnormalities and maternal during first year, suggesting direct, reversible electrophysiologic effect antibodies on ventricular repolarization. On this basis, we investigated whether...
Background— In patients with autoimmune disease, anti-Ro/SSA antibodies (anti-Ro/SSA) are responsible for a novel autoimmune-associated long-QT syndrome by targeting the hERG potassium channel and inhibiting related current ( I Kr ). Because also present in significant proportion of healthy subjects may be associated torsades de pointes (TdP) arrhythmia, we tested hypothesis that represent silent risk factor developing TdP. Methods Results— Twenty-five consecutive who experienced TdP were...