Citta Di Castello

Researchers are studying ischemic stroke cases in patients who are taking oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythm problems that can cause clots. This study, called ASPERA, aims to understand the characteristics of these stroke cases and to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes related to different secondary prevention strategies to prevent stroke recurrence. The study includes two parts: a retrospective phase (ASPERA-R) and a prospective phase (ASPERA-P), involving multiple centers worldwide. The University of L'Aquila coordinates data collection, analysis, and management. The retrospective part (ASPERA-R) will collect data for 5 years from the study start, with centers having 6 months to enter existing patient data. The prospective part (ASPERA-P) will enroll patients for 2 years after study approval, followed by 5 years of follow-up. Participants must have had an acute ischemic stroke while on oral anticoagulants, with confirmed imaging showing stroke lesions. The study will observe different secondary prevention treatments, including continuing the same anticoagulant or switching therapies, to compare outcomes. Participants undergo baseline assessments of demographics, clinical status, and brain imaging at the time of their stroke. Researchers will track new strokes or transient ischemic attacks at 90 days, 1 year, and 5 years after the initial stroke. They will also monitor safety events like bleeding complications and other major ischemic events such as heart attacks. Data collection includes ongoing clinical evaluations and imaging studies to identify factors linked with stroke recurrence and treatment safety.

Researchers are conducting an observational, prospective, multicenter study in Italian cardiology centers to evaluate how well patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) follow guideline-recommended treatments. The study also aims to assess the safety of these treatments, monitor treatment patterns in patients with acute heart failure, and observe treatment approaches in all chronic heart failure patients regardless of their ejection fraction levels. The study involves two phases of educational interventions and data collection. Initially, healthcare providers will receive education on guideline recommendations and treatment patterns, followed by 3 months of patient data collection or up to 30 consecutive patients with chronic or acute heart failure. After 6 months, treatment modifications and outcomes will be evaluated. Then, a second educational session will highlight gaps between guidelines and practice, followed by another 3 months of data collection. Patients will be followed for 12 months total, with ongoing monitoring of treatment changes and outcomes. Participants will be assessed at enrollment and during the follow-up periods through clinical evaluations and data collection on treatment adherence and safety. The main outcome measured is adherence to guideline-directed medical therapies over 6 months. The study includes evaluations at 6 and 12 months after enrollment, with close monitoring of treatment patterns and patient health status throughout the study duration.

Researchers are evaluating patients who have experienced athero-thrombotic events such as coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral artery disease. The study aims to assess how well patients follow guideline recommendations, particularly focusing on improving cholesterol levels and other modifiable risk factors to reduce the chance of cardiovascular event recurrence. This observational and prospective study takes place across multiple cardiology centers in Italy to represent a broad patient population. The study includes several phases starting with an educational intervention to discuss guideline recommendations for secondary prevention. Following this, data is collected for three months or until 30 patients with documented cardiovascular conditions are enrolled, using a web-based case record form that identifies when guidelines are not followed and records reasons for non-adherence. After six months, primary and secondary outcomes are evaluated. A second educational intervention then shares findings from the first phase to highlight gaps in clinical practice, followed by another three-month data collection period and a further six-month outcome assessment. Finally, all patients are followed for 12 months to monitor longer-term results. Participants provide informed consent and are monitored through data collection forms that track adherence to guidelines and clinical outcomes. The main outcome measured is adherence to cholesterol management guidelines over six months. Additional assessments include adherence to recommendations for other cardiovascular risk factors. Throughout the study, researchers gather data to understand how guideline adherence affects patient health and to identify barriers to following best practices, with continuous follow-up over a year to evaluate sustained effects.

Researchers are evaluating Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low expressing breast cancer. This non-interventional study aims to assess the effectiveness of T-DXd, patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, tolerability, management of adverse drug reactions, and patient experience. The study also collects data on conventional chemotherapy treatments in a disease registry to better understand treatment outcomes in this population. Participants will receive treatment with Trastuzumab deruxtecan or conventional chemotherapy drugs such as capecitabine, eribulin, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, or nab-paclitaxel according to the Summary of Product Characteristics and routine clinical practice. No study drug will be administered by the researchers, as treatments follow physicians' standard care decisions. This approach allows observation of real-world treatment use and outcomes. During the study, patients' treatment timelines and responses will be followed, focusing on the time to next treatment up to 31 months. Researchers will monitor tolerability, adverse drug reactions, and patient-reported experiences. Data collection includes clinical and demographic information, treatment patterns, and outcomes to provide a comprehensive understanding of T-DXd and conventional chemotherapy use in this patient group.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe type of stroke accounting for 10-15% of all strokes but causing about half of stroke-related deaths and disabilities. Many patients with ICH have decreased consciousness when admitted, yet intensive care and neurosurgical treatments are not common. Prior studies in low- and middle-income countries showed that a treatment package including early intensive blood pressure lowering and managing fever and high blood sugar improved outcomes. The I-CATCHER study aims to test a similar structured Care Bundle approach in Sweden, Australia, and other high-income countries to improve treatment and prognosis for patients with spontaneous ICH. This study compares a Care Bundle involving early intensive blood pressure control, reversal of oral anticoagulation within 30 minutes, fever management, blood sugar control, and timely referrals to intensive care or neurosurgery against standard care. The Care Bundle targets specific blood pressure levels depending on initial readings and aims to avoid do-not-resuscitate orders or withdrawal of care for 48 hours. Repeat brain imaging is done as needed. Hospitals are randomized in batches over three phases lasting 18 months each: usual care, randomized evaluation, and post-implementation follow-up, with the entire study rolling out over 2.5 years. Participants are adults aged 18 or older with spontaneous ICH confirmed by imaging and admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset. Patient information, treatments, and outcomes are recorded, including functional status measured by the Utility Weighted modified Rankin Scale at 180 days. The study collects data on various treatments, monitoring, and complications to assess if the Care Bundle improves recovery. Safety and sustainability of the Care Bundle are evaluated through continued hospital participation and follow-up.