The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) is characterised by a heterogeneous clinical presentation, a complex pathophysiology and a wide range of imaging findings, depending on disease severity and time course. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of hospitalized patients with proven SARS-CoV-2 infection, clinical signs of COVID-19 and computed tomography (CT) scan-proven pulmonary involvement, in order to identify relationships between clinical, serological, imaging data and disease outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Clinical and serological records of patients admitted to two COVID-19 Units of the Abruzzo region in Italy with proven SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary involvement investigated with CT scan, assessed at the time of admission to the hospital, were retrospectively evaluated. Sixty-one patients (22 females and 39 males) of median age 65 years were enrolled. Fifty-six patients were discharged while death occurred in 5 patients. None of the lung abnormalities detected by CT was different between discharged and deceased patients. No differences were observed in the features and extent of pulmonary involvement according to age and gender. Logistic regression analysis with age and gender as covariates demonstrated that ferritin levels over the 25th percentile were associated with the involvement of all 5 pulmonary lobes (OR = 14.5, 95% CI 2.3–90.9, p = 0.004), the presence of septal thickening (OR = 8.2, 95% CI 1.6–40.9, p = 0.011) and the presence of mediastinal lymph node enlargement (OR = 12.0, 95% CI 1.1–127.5, p = 0.039) independently of age and gender. We demonstrated that ferritin levels over the 25th percentile are associated with a more severe pulmonary involvement, independently of age and gender and not associated with disease outcomes. The identification of reliable biomarkers in patients with COVID-19 may help guiding clinical decision, tailoring therapeutic approaches and ultimately improving the care and prognosis of patients with this disease.

Highlights COVID-19 poses an additional burden on pre-existing cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation-related hypercoagulability can be dramatic. Monitor electrocardiograms, electrolytes, coagulation, and congestion in severe COVID-19. Discontinuing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors is not supported by evidence and could be detrimental.

Experimental and clinical evidence reported that some polyphenol-rich natural products may offer opportunities for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, due to their biological properties. Natural products have been suggested to modulate carbohydrate metabolism by various mechanisms, such as restoring β-cell integrity and physiology and enhancing insulin-releasing activity and glucose uptake. Endothelium is fundamental in regulating arterial function, whereas insulin resistance plays a pivotal role in pathophysiological mechanisms of prediabetic and diabetic states. Glucose and insulin actions in the skeletal muscle are improved by insulin-dependent production of nitric oxide, favoring capillary recruitment, vasodilatation, and increased blood flow. Endothelial dysfunction, with decreased nitric oxide bioavailability, is a critical step in the development of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, insulin resistance has been described, at least in part, to negatively affect endothelial function. Consistent with this, conditions of insulin resistance are usually linked to endothelial dysfunction, and the exposure of the endothelial cells to cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia is associated with reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, resulting in impaired endothelial-dependent vasodilatation. Moreover, endothelial dysfunction has been described as an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk and events. Cocoa and cocoa flavonoids may positively affect the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction with possible benefits in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases.

The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) is characterised by a heterogeneous clinical presentation, a complex pathophysiology and a wide range of imaging findings, depending on disease severity and time course. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of hospitalized patients with proven SARS-CoV-2 infection, clinical signs of COVID-19 and computed tomography (CT) scan-proven pulmonary involvement, in order to identify relationships between clinical, serological, imaging data and disease outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Clinical and serological records of patients admitted to two COVID-19 Units of the Abruzzo region in Italy with proven SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary involvement investigated with CT scan, assessed at the time of admission to the hospital, were retrospectively evaluated.Sixty-one patients (22 females and 39 males) of median age 65 years were enrolled. Fifty-six patients were discharged while death occurred in 5 patients. None of the lung abnormalities detected by CT was different between discharged and deceased patients. No differences were observed in the features and extent of pulmonary involvement according to age and gender. Logistic regression analysis with age and gender as covariates demonstrated that ferritin levels over the 25th percentile were associated with the involvement of all 5 pulmonary lobes (OR=14.5, 95% CI=2.3-90.9, p=0.004), the presence of septal thickening (OR=8.2, 95% CI=1.6-40.9, p=0.011) and the presence of mediastinal lymph node enlargement (OR=12.0, 95% CI=1.1-127.5, p=0.039) independently of age and gender.We demonstrated that ferritin levels over the 25th percentile are associated with a more severe pulmonary involvement, independently of age and gender and not associated with disease outcomes. The identification of reliable biomarkers in patients with COVID-19 may help guiding clinical decision, tailoring therapeutic approaches and ultimately improving the care and prognosis of patients with this disease.

High blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular events worldwide. Clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that cocoa-rich products reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to this, cocoa has a high content in polyphenols, especially flavanols. Flavanols have been described to exert favorable effects on endothelium-derived vasodilation via the stimulation of nitric oxide-synthase, the increased availability of l-arginine, and the decreased degradation of NO. Cocoa may also have a beneficial effect by protecting against oxidative stress alterations and via decreased platelet aggregation, decreased lipid oxidation, and insulin resistance. These effects are associated with a decrease of blood pressure and a favorable trend toward a reduction in cardiovascular events and strokes. Previous meta-analyses have shown that cocoa-rich foods may reduce blood pressure. Long-term trials investigating the effect of cocoa products are needed to determine whether or not blood pressure is reduced on a chronic basis by daily ingestion of cocoa. Furthermore, long-term trials investigating the effect of cocoa on clinical outcomes are also needed to assess whether cocoa has an effect on cardiovascular events. A 3 mmHg systolic blood pressure reduction has been estimated to decrease the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. This paper summarizes new findings concerning cocoa effects on blood pressure and cardiovascular health, focusing on putative mechanisms of action and "nutraceutical " viewpoints.

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Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) physiologically regulates both angiogenesis and osteogenesis, but its application in bone tissue engineering led to contradictory outcomes. A poorly understood aspect is how VEGF dose impacts the coordination between these two processes. Taking advantage of a unique and highly tunable platform, here we dissected the effects of VEGF dose over a 1,000-fold range in the context of tissue-engineered osteogenic grafts. We found that osteo-angiogenic coupling is exquisitely dependent on VEGF dose and that only a tightly defined dose range could stimulate both vascular invasion and osteogenic commitment of progenitors, with significant improvement in bone formation. Further, VEGF dose regulated Notch1 activation and the induction of a specific pro-osteogenic endothelial phenotype, independently of the promotion of vascular invasion. Therefore, in a therapeutic perspective, fine-tuning of VEGF dose in the signaling microenvironment is key to ensure physiological coupling of accelerated vascular invasion and improved bone formation.

Objective. The relationship between dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean diet, and rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) has been increasingly assessed but data on patients with established primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is lacking. The aim of the study was to explore the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and its relationship with metabolic and inflammatory features in a cohort of patients with pSS. Methods. Demographic, clinical and serological data, including anthropometric parameters and cardiovascular (CV) disease risk factors/events among others were collected from 91 pSS patients. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet over the previous 12 months was assessed with the 14-item PREvencion con DIeta MEDiterranea (PRED-IMED) tool and the 28-item Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index. Results. According to the PREDIMED score 29 (31%) patients had a good adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, 57 (61%) a medium adherence and only 7 (8%) a poor adherence. No difference could be identified across groups with regard to demographic data, disease activity, CV risk factors or other parameters. With regard to the MEDLIFE, the total of blocks 1 and 2, that are related to Mediterranean foods and dietary habits, did not correlate with the total of block 3 (related to other healthy habits such as physical activity), meaning that the patients adhering the most to the Mediterranean Diet not necessarily had an overall healthy lifestyle. The PREDIMED score was inversely correlated with disease activity, as measured by p= 0.009) and p=0.01). Fish consumption was associated with lower prevalence of hypertension. Conclusion.Adherence to the Mediterranean diet, with particular attention to fish consumption, may be beneficial on various domains in pSS, such as the CV system and the inflammatory environment, and as such should be recommended to patients with this disease.