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Food supply in the Mediterranean area has been recently modified by big retail distribution; for instance, industrial retail has favored shipments of groceries from regions that are intensive producers of mass food, generating a long supply chain (LSC) of food that opposes short supply chains (SSCs) that promote local food markets. However, the actual functional role of food retail and distribution in the determination of the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been studied hitherto. The main aim of this study was to test the effects of food chain length on the prevalence of MetS in a population accustomed to the Mediterranean diet. We conducted an observational study in Southern Italy on individuals adhering to the Mediterranean diet. We examined a total of 407 subjects (41% females) with an average age of 56 ± 14.5 years (as standard deviation) and found that being on the Mediterranean diet with a SSC significantly reduces the prevalence of MetS compared with the LSC (SSC: 19.65%, LSC: 31.46%; p: 0.007). Our data indicate for the first time that the length of food supply chain plays a key role in determining the risk of MetS in a population adhering to the Mediterranean diet.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency and increased cardiovascular risk (CVR) association is still debated. The vitamin D (VitD)-dependent parathyroid hormone (PTH) is considered as the possible actuator of VitD effects on CVR. To investigate the association of CVR, PTH and VitD, we carried out blood pressure measurements and blood samples and collected information on dietary habits, anamnestic, clinical and metabolic data of 451 participants in the Salerno area (Southern Italy) during the World Hypertension Day (17 May). CVR was calculated according to the Framingham CVR charts. The overall population mean age was 51.6 ± 0.7 years, and female sex was slightly prevalent (55%). VitD deficiency (

It is known that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a higher risk of coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death. Abnormalities in cardiac geometry appear to be involved in the setting of the cardiovascular risk, but it has never been specifically investigated in RA. We enrolled 44 patients with RA compared to 131 subjects without RA (normal, N): The RA aged between 18 and 70 years (mean 48.3 ± 2.1), 25 females, BMI 27.6 ± 0.9; N, of equal age (48.6 ± 1.2, n.s.), included 80 females (BMI 26.7 ± 0.2, ns). Cardiac Ultrasounds showed an increase of the diameter of the left ventricle but not in the septum with reduction of relative wall thickness (RWT) in the RA population compared to N. Relative wall thickness inversely correlates with biochemical parameters of inflammatory response (gamma globulin, p

The introduction of fixed combination of ACEi+CCB (Fixed) has significantly increased patients compliance and adherence to therapy. At the moment, however, there are no data suggesting the better control of once-daily fixed (Fixed) over free doses in separate administrations combination therapy in hypertensives. In a population of 39 consecutive outpatient patients referred to the departmental Hypertension clinic of the University Hospital of Salerno Medical School with the first diagnosis of arterial hypertension, we tested the hypothesis that the Fixed achieve a better control of blood pressure than the Free combination. Patients were randomized to either strategy and after 3 months patients underwent a clinical assessment to evaluate the antihypertensive effect. The two groups, matched for anthropometric and clinical parameters, received Amlodipine (5–10 mg/daily) and Perindopril (5–10 mg/daily). Perindopril and Amlodipine doses did not significantly differ between the two groups. After 3 months BP control was improved in both groups and BP targets were similarly reached in both groups (SBP; Fixed: 61.54%; Free 69.23%; n.s. DPB; Fixed: 80.77%; Free 84.62%; n.s.). The reduction in systolic blood pressure was similar in both groups (Fixed:7.64±2.49%; Free: 7.81±4.00%, n.s.), while the reduction of diastolic blood pressure was greater in the Fixed group (Fixed: 14.22±2.03%; Free: 4.92±5.00%, p

Introduction: Less than 40% of hypertensive on antihypertensive treatment have pressure Methods: To verify the impact of home care strategy to improve pressure control, from February 1 to March 31 2016 we selected patients who accessed the Outpatient Clinic for Hypertension at the AOU San Giovanni e Ruggi in Salerno, those with 1) poor BP control >140 and/or DBP>90 mmHg) after at least three follow-up visits in the last year, 2) optimal drug therapy, 3) poor adherence to therapy, 4) at least one concurrently treated chronic condition. Patients who signed informed consent received “Beyond Silos” home care program, including a weekly nurse access, for four weeks, and telemonitoring through 3G-connected devices of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, heart rate (HR) and body weight measuring and Oxygen Saturation. Each patient was instructed to scheduled self-assesment of the above parameters that were stored on the Local Health Authority server of Salerno. Treatment compliance was verified weekly by the nurse through drug blister count. After 4 weeks, patients were evaluated at the hospital premises. Results: We selected seven patients (M/F=5/2; age 73.4 ± 2.3 years). In this population BP control that went from ambulatory SBP/DBP 155±5/74±4mmHg to 111±1.7/95.9±2.7mmHg, p Conclusion: Our data show that patients with a hitory of loose BP control despite optimal therapy can achieve controlled BP through Beyond Silos home care program within a month. This suggest that strategies of ICT based home care might represent a real breackthrough in the management of chronic conditions, in particular for multimorbid, poor compliant patients. Future large scale studies are needed for assessing long term effects on cardiovascular outcome.