Editor's Picks

Open Access Review
Aging of the vascular system: proposal of preventive intervention with known natural substances
Our cells and, therefore, our organism, need energy to function at their best, which is mainly produced by mitochondria. These intracellular organelles generate energy from food macromolecules across the Krebs cycle by oxidative phosphorylation. Energy is developed by converting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). It is essential, for adequate mitochondrial energy production in the form of ATP, to have the right number of well-functioning mitochondria and the right amount of oxygen (O2) available. Unfortunately, the aging process and the chronic diseases that arise over the years are associated with a reduction in the number of mitochondria and their insufficient functioning. Among the chronic diseases related to significant damage of the arteries with a reduction in the supply of O2, there is atherosclerosis, where the process of atherothrombosis occurs. To keep our organs well-functioning despite aging, we must therefore protect our mitochondria and arteries. This can be achieved by intervening early in prevention with a lifestyle correction and diet integration with effective natural substances or, in some cases, with drugs. Among the many natural substances that have good scientific support, we have chosen four that have demonstrated benefits in the absence of side effects and that we know best: quercetin and pyrroloquinoline quinone to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, while L-arginine and nattokinase to protect the arteries from atherothrombosis.
Open Access Mini Review
Endurance sport and atrial fibrillation: a mini-review of a complex relationship
Scientific evidence seems to indicate that, in males, intense and prolonged endurance sport can favor the onset of atrial fibrillation. A plausible explanation may be the impact that intense endurance sports produce on the three vertices of Coumel’s triangle. However, genetics is probably also involved in translating this impact into an arrhythmic phenotype. On a management level, the first task of the cardiologist is to exclude the presence of structural heart disease, channelopathy, endocrine and/or electrolyte disorders, and substance use. As for the treatment of arrhythmia, the “CARE” paradigm proposed by the latest ESC guidelines should probably be accompanied by detraining, although this suggestion is often rejected by the athlete. Anticoagulant therapy, where indicated, must take into account the risk of trauma that the sport entails, even if the particular pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics of DOACs should allow training/competition to take place when the anticoagulant effect of the previous administration has completely or almost completely worn off.
Open Access Review
Comparison of short-term and long-term effects of peroral L-carnitine intake: clinical implications of elevated TMAO levels in cardiovascular complications
L-Carnitine (LC) is integral to energy production and fatty acid metabolism, facilitating the transport of long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for β-oxidation. It modulates metabolic pathways, including pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, proteolysis, and protein synthesis, while also having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. LC can be commonly applied to win the battle against HIV and cancer cachexia. Also, it can be recruited with the aim of improving physical and cognitive functions in athletes and the elderly. Despite these benefits, long-term LC administration has been associated to cardiovascular risks due its conversion to trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) by the gut microbiota. Elevated TMAO levels are linked to atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Managing TMAO levels using dietary treatments and gut microbiota-targeting techniques, such as probiotics, may reduce these risks. This comprehensive review presents the state-of-the-art information on LC’s dual role, emphasizing the balance between its therapeutic potential and the risks of prolonged supplementation. It aims to guide clinicians and researchers in optimizing LC’s benefits while addressing its long term cardiovascular safety concerns.

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Open Access Review
Comparison of short-term and long-term effects of peroral L-carnitine intake: clinical implications of elevated TMAO levels in cardiovascular complications
Harsahaj Singh Wilkhoo ... Adnan Akhtar Shaikh
Published: February 10, 2025 Explor Cardiol. 2025;3:101250
11998 272 2
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Who is the author: genuine, honorary, ghost, gold, and fake authors?
Eugenio Picano
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Open Access Review
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Maria Możdżan ... Karina Wierzbowska-Drabik
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Open Access Review
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This article belongs to the special issue Multimodality Imaging in Ischemic Heart Disease
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Open Access Review
Laboratory markers of metabolic syndrome
Filipa Morgado ... Leonel Pereira
Published: June 24, 2024 Explor Cardiol. 2024;2:114–133
This article belongs to the special issue Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Aging
7280 166 4
Open Access Review
Epigenetic mechanisms linking pregnancy complications to cardiovascular disease in offspring
Kazim Raza Talpur ... Muhammad Waleed Abdullah
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3903 284 0
Open Access Editorial
Who is a reviewer? The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly phenotypes
Eugenio Picano
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Open Access Review
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Paolo G. Pino ... Federico Nardi
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5918 277 0
Open Access Review
Oxidized low-density lipoproteins and their contribution to atherosclerosis
Abdullatif Taha Babakr
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This article belongs to the special issue Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Aging
6843 277 1
Open Access Review
Comparison of short-term and long-term effects of peroral L-carnitine intake: clinical implications of elevated TMAO levels in cardiovascular complications
Harsahaj Singh Wilkhoo ... Adnan Akhtar Shaikh
Published: February 10, 2025 Explor Cardiol. 2025;3:101250
11998 272 2
Open Access Editorial
Who is the author: genuine, honorary, ghost, gold, and fake authors?
Eugenio Picano
Published: May 13, 2024 Explor Cardiol. 2024;2:88–96
10673 198 7
Open Access Review
Noninvasive identification and therapeutic implications of supernormal left ventricular contractile phenotype
Yi Wang, Lixue Yin
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Open Access Review
Laboratory markers of metabolic syndrome
Filipa Morgado ... Leonel Pereira
Published: June 24, 2024 Explor Cardiol. 2024;2:114–133
This article belongs to the special issue Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Aging
7280 166 4
Open Access Original Article
Normal physiologic coronary flow velocity gradient across the left anterior descending artery in healthy asymptomatic subjects
Fausto Rigo ... Maurizio Agnoletto
Published: August 31, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:42–48
3391 41 3
Open Access Review
Toxic metals in pregnancy and congenital heart defects. Insights and new perspectives for a technology-driven reduction in food sources
Francesca Gorini, Alessandro Tonacci
Published: November 13, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:114–140
This article belongs to the special issue Environmental Cardiology
4349 52 3
Open Access Commentary
Low-doses ionizing radiation exposure: an emerging causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease
Maria Grazia Andreassi
Published: December 11, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:141–147
This article belongs to the special issue Environmental Cardiology
3341 27 3

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