Clinical trials

This is a retrospective, observational, study evaluating circulating thyroid hormone profiles in patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD stages G4-G5, non-dialysis). The study includes one cohort of patients with non-ADPKD CKD and a second including a matched subset of patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) at the same CKD stage,. For the non-ADPKD CKD group, serum and urine samples will be retrieved from the certified biobank of the Centro Daccò (Mario Negri IRCCS). For the ADPKD group, analyses will be performed exclusively using existing clinical and laboratory data available within the REORIENTED study database. Laboratory measurements will be performed on stored biological samples from the non-ADPKD CKD group to assess thyroid hormones (rT3, fT3, tT3, fT4, tT4, and TSH). Clinical and laboratory data for both cohorts will be obtained from the respective study databases and linked within a predefined temporal window relative to sample collection (where applicable).

The Emergency Department represents the main entry point to the hospital and a key setting for the management of urgent healthcare needs in the population. To date, the assessment of care quality has mainly focused on organizational aspects, with limited structured tools to systematically measure clinical and care processes. Overcrowding and limited resources make dedicated data collection unsustainable; therefore, it is necessary to rely on data already available from routine healthcare information systems. In this context, the study aims to assess the feasibility of using these data to construct quality indicators, as well as to evaluate their availability and reliability across participating centers. The study will also analyze variability in indicators among participating Emergency Departments, with the goal of identifying differences in care processes and potential areas for improvement.

Mild TBI is one of the main causes of admission to the Emergency Department (ED). Brain computed tomography (CT) is one of the most widely used diagnostic tools to assess the presence of intracranial lesions. However, in Western countries, 85-95% of CT scans performed in the ED for mild TBI are negative. It is therefore conceivable that a significant number of CTs could be avoided by a more careful use of this exam. On the other hand, excessive use of CT exposes patients to unnecessary radiation, increases healthcare costs and slows down the management of patients in the ED. This study aims to analyze the variability in the use of CT in mild TBI in Italian EDs, validate the scores designed to help the physician decide when to use it and develop a model that predicts the medium-term outcome of patients with mild head trauma.

The aim of this study is to develop, study and validate a rigorous and sustainable method for assessing the clinical appropriateness of the decision taken in the Emergency Department to admit or not to admit patients.

An emergency department (ED) is a healthcare service that provides the first clinical assessment and treatment to patients with various acute conditions. These departments, however, are often overwhelmed by the large volume of patients. As a consequence, ED crowding has become a global concern and has been correlated to reduced timeliness and effectiveness of care and increased patient mortality. Concerning input, 20% to 30% of patients are brought to the ED by ambulance; the remaining are self-presenting for the vast majority. Notably, non-urgent conditions characterize a high proportion of all ED visits worldwide, and almost all of these visits involve self-presenting patients. Increasing the awareness of these patients about the mandate of EDs and the real-time situation of the neighboring emergency departments has the potential to reduce the self-presentation of patients with minor, non-urgent conditions. Such patient empowerment can be achieved through a dashboard. Concerning throughput, working in the ED requires emergency physicians and nurses to treat many patients at once while maintaining situational awareness of the surroundings. This is especially true for the head of the department, but it also holds for all physicians. It can be crucial, for example, for physicians to know if there is a bottleneck in the flow of the entire patient care process, such as a particularly high average waiting time for radiology reporting or cardiologic consultation. The availability of this information allows countermeasures to be put in place to regain efficiency. All this can be achieved through dedicated dashboards automatically fed from various information system. In addition, appropriate dashboards also enable health policymakers to monitor specific epidemiological phenomena, such as the emergence of certain infectious diseases, in a timely manner.

The peer-to-peer comparison means center-to-center comparison, which requires adjusting for possible differences among centers to be fair and convincing. The first step to reach this goal is to develop a predictive model that accurately estimates each patient's probability of being admitted, starting from clinical conditions and boundary variables. Such a model would make it possible to calculate, for each ED, the expected hospitalization rate; that is, the hospitalization rate that would have been observed if the ED had behaved like the average of the EDs that provided the data to build the model itself. Comparing the observed hospitalization rate in the single ED with the expected rate derived from the model provides a rigorous method of comparing the department with the average performance, taking into account the characteristics of the patients treated and the conditions under which the ED operated. In other words, the predictive model represents the benchmark against which each ED is evaluated.

The goal of this retrospective cohort study is to develop and validate a language model that can interpret the contents of emergency department electronic medical records and extract relevant information for research purposes in all adult patients who arrived at the participating emergency departments in a three-year period. The main question it aims to answer is: is the language model able to interpret the contents of emergency department electronic medical records and extract the requested information from them so that it can be used to make accurate analyses and predictions? The study is retrospective and data will be extracted automatically from the medical health records.

The main aim of this study is to realize a system of continuous evaluation of healthcare quality in semi-intensive care units.

The MIRACLE study aims to investigate age-related mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) release, inflammation, and cellular senescence in adult participants across three age groups. Skin-derived fibroblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) will be isolated from skin biopsy and blood samples to characterize age-related cellular and molecular changes and to test experimental therapeutic strategies identified in preclinical studies. Serum, plasma, and whole-blood RNA will be used for protocol-defined analyses of circulating inflammatory mediators and systemic transcriptional signatures related to inflammation, type I interferon activation, mitochondrial stress response, immune aging, and senescence-associated pathways.

This is an observational study intended to track the course of the primary membranous nephropathy disease in real-world clinical practice. The study will primarily assess the long-term outcomes of patients with primary membranous nephropathy in the context of advances in treatment options.

This project aims to identify, through RNA-Seq technology, the genetic alterations underlying undiagnosed rare diseases in pediatric and adult patients with early onset and with negative WES. * Objective 1: Set up and validate techniques. Set-up and validation of the transcriptome analysis protocol in healthy subjects and in patients with known splicing alterations and/or altered RNA expression. * Objective 2: Diagnostic phase. Study of splicing alterations and RNA levels in cultured fibroblasts obtained from skin biopsies of patients with rare genetic diseases and negative exome. Exploratory goals * Compare the RNA expression profile obtained from skin biopsy-derived fibroblasts with the RNA expression profile from blood. The most relevant results will be validated in qRT-PCR. * To analyze the transcriptional and protein profile heterogeneity in skin-derived fibroblasts in enrolled subjects. To explore the effects of genetic (from WES) and transcriptional (from RNA-seq) alterations in participants' plasma and serum. Healthy controls Five healthy subjects will be recruited from the staff of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research. The coded samples will be used to set up the method of isolation and culture of skin fibroblasts and RNA-Seq. Validation group For the set-up and validation of the skin fibroblast isolation and RNA-Seq procedure, ten adult patients with known diagnosis and with alterations in RNA levels and/or splicing will be recruited as positive controls. Patients who meet the requirements described above will be contacted by the doctors of the Daccò Center for an interview explaining the project. Those who agree to participate in the study will be asked to sign the informed consent before proceeding with the experimental part. "Discovery/Exploration" group The exploration cohort will be composed of 30 symptomatic undiagnosed patients with suspected genetic disease (children and adults with infantile onset) belonging to the Clinical Center of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research and for whom WES investigations did not reveal causative genetic alterations.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most frequent cause of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in adults. The majority of MN patients show detectable circulating antibodies against the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R). Infusion of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies results in a profound depletion of B-cells, which are thought to be responsible for anti-PLA2R production. B-cell depletion is followed by NS remission in 70% of cases. Limited evidence highlighted that differences in the B- and T-cell compartments may exist between responders and non-responders. Owing to the non-homogenous efficacy of anti-CD20 treatment, investigators hypothesize that in MN patients who experience NS remission after B-cell depleting therapy, autoreactive B-cells may be mostly circulating, whereas in patients who do not respond to the same treatment, autoreactive B-cells may chiefly reside into secondary lymphoid organs - and thus be more resistant to the drug action. Researchers will therefore extensively analyze the circulating immune repertoire of MN patients before and after the infusion of B-cell lineage depleting agents, assessing the presence of circulating PLA2R autoreactive B cells from appropriately stratified responder and non-responder patients. Patients and healthy controls will be enrolled in this study. Patients will be stratified according to gender, anti-PLA2R status, type of B-cell lineage depleting agent received and response to treatment.

This is a pragmatic phase 2 study to determine the proportion of patients with ER+ (≥10%)/HER2- EBC in whom neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be replaced by NET plus abemaciclib based on the results of the ODX RS obtained in the initial diagnostic biopsy and according to the MDT decision and to evaluate the proportion of patients undergoing breast conservative surgery and/or sentinel node biopsy

The CONFUCIUS project aims to establish a personalised medicine framework for MN patients by integrating pharmacogenomics with other -omics technologies in order to identify biomarkers that predict response to RTX, ultimately enabling optimized treatment selection. Using a multiomics approach, we will analyse genetic variants, serum and kidney proteomics, and serum metabolomics profiles from a well-characterised retrospective cohort of MN patients to uncover predictive biomarkers of RTX response. This is a non-pharmacological interventional study, conducted on biological samples from patients stored in the local biobank and on samples from healthy volunteers, which will be collected and subsequently stored in the biobank.

This is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm Phase II clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and immunological effects of obinutuzumab in adult patients with multi-relapsing, rituximab-dependent steroid-sensitive NS. Obinutuzumab is a glycoengineered, humanized type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that was initially developed to overcome rituximab resistance in B-cell malignancies. Obinutuzumab induced a longer and deeper B cell depletion than rituximab being able to deplete B cells in lymphoid tissue other than peripheral blood, as shown in both animal models and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or kidney transplantation. Notably, obinutuzumab was found to be more efficient than rituximab in inducing B-cell cytotoxicity in-vitro, especially on naïve (IgD+CD27-) and switched (IgD-CD27+) memory B cells. This is a clinically relevant finding, because memory B cells are known to be associated with the risk of relapse after rituximab treatment in children with nephrotic syndrome. A recent retrospective study in 41 children \[median (IQR) age: 10.6 (8.5-14.29) years\] with steroid-dependent or frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome, showed that treatment with obinutuzumab achieved B-cell depletion and sustained remission in 38 (93%) and 28 (68%) children at 12 and 24 months after treatment, respectively. Treatment was safe and well tolerated. Moreover, preliminary data indicate that obinutuzumab treatment can achieve complete or partial remission of the nephrotic syndrome in the large majority of adult participants with membranous nephropathy refractory to different immunosuppressive medications including rituximab, and even the human type 1 anti-CD20 antibody ofatumumab or the anti-CD38 antibody felzartamab (NCT05050214). Notably, obinutuzumab treatment achieved B-cell depletion and proteinuria reduction in all treated participants and persistent circulating anti-PLA2R antibody depletion in all participants with PLA2R-related disease even during the recovery of circulating B cells (NCT05050214). Conceivably, obinutuzumab could achieve remission of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome by inducing profound and sustained B-cell depletion, thereby inhibiting the production of anti-podocyte autoantibodies or the production of still unknown B-cell derived nephritogenic mediators and autoantibodies. Thus, whether obinutuzumab treatment may achieve persistent remission also in adult participants with multi-relapsing, rituximab-dependent nephrotic syndrome, as previously reported in children, and as already observed in adult participants with refractory membranous nephropathy (NCT05050214), and whether this effect is associated with delayed recovery of switched memory B cells and emergence of B cells with a naïve phenotype as well as sustained reduction or depletion of circulating anti-podocyte antibodies is worth investigating. In parallel to the evaluation of the phenotype of repopulating B cells, we will evaluate serum levels of the B-cell activating factor (BAFF). BAFF is a cytokine that orchestrates peripheral tolerance of B cells and promotes the survival of autoreactive B cells escaping central tolerance mechanisms. In participants with autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, the relapse of disease activity after rituximab treatment has been associated with compensatory elevation of the B cell-activating factor BAFF levels. Elevated BAFF levels at baseline or during the follow-up may explain the resistance or dependency to anti-CD20 depleting antibodies in participants with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

This is a proof-of-concept single-centre prospective longitudinal interventional study performed in AVF patients under HD treatment at the Nephrology and Dialysis Department of the ASST-Papa Giovanni XXIII (Bergamo, Italy), involving the recording of AVF sounds by the AVF-MONITOR wearable prototype device. Participants will undergo a screening and enrollment visit, then follow-up visits for AVF sounds registration will be conducted once a week for all participants, prior to dialysis session, over a period of 8 weeks.

Hyperlipidemia is the main driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), both through direct effects and as trigger of the chronic inflammation behind a cardiovascular health-to-disease transition. While lipid-lowering is an effective way to reduce the ASCVD risk, the residual risk remains high. In addition, a substantial proportion of ASCVD events occur in the absence of overt hyperlipidemia. Several lines of evidence ranging from experimental models to population studies and interventional clinical trials support chronic inflammation as the causal residual risk of CVD. The CVD risk-associated lipid classes contain fatty acids that can be liberated and metabolized into both inflammation-promoting as well as inflammation-resolving drivers, providing the rationale for focusing on this balance in the present project. Above all, the omega-3 fatty acid class can resolve inflammation but the potential impact is currently largely underestimated in CVD preventive recommendations. As cardiovascular preventive measures ease the burden placed on the individual, population, and on the health care system, it is critical to raise public awareness for chronic inflammation as a causative and modifiable cardiovascular risk factor and to provide tools for how to control and monitor it. As an alternative to marine sources, principally eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and less docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can be endogenously produced from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) found in plant oils. Secondarily the possibility to increase the consumption of vegetable oil may possibly decrease the environmental impacts of an intensive fishing and consecutive marine system imbalance. The overarching objective of CARE-IN-HEALTH is to assess if PUFAs may contribute to the resolution of the chronic lipid-driven/-regulated vascular inflammation in order to develop and test, in a real-life setting, tools for use in health care and by citizens to stay healthy by an adequate resolution of the chronic inflammation. The primary objective of the present study is to compare the effect on a lipid/inflammation-derived risk score of diets supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of animal or vegetal origin with a nonenriched diet. The secondary objectives are a) to assess the acceptance of supplementation of diet with animal-derived or plant-derived PUFAs; b) to improve circulating lipid, inflammatory glycemic profile based on serial measurements of circulating biomarkers by means of PUFA supplementation. The study aims to identify a blueprint for how to control lipid-driven chronic inflammation by simple dietary interventions. Study population Participants to be considered for eligibility in the trial are adults aged \>55 y, of both sexes (\>=40% women), at moderate to high cardiovascular risk. The inclusion criteria are: Eligible participants will be at moderate to high SCORE2, SCORE2-OP and SCORE2-Diabetes risk level. Non-eligible subjects will be those with: * cardiovascular disease, * established atherosclerotic vascular disease involving the coronary, peripheral, carotid, or aortic territories (identified by computerized tomography (CT) of coronary arteries, MRI, carotid or peripheral ultrasound imaging), * chronic treatment with n-3 PUFA containing products (i.e., Vazkepa) or fibrates, * a condition that interferes with the possibility to follow the dietary intervention, such as fish allergy or being a vegan, * significant liver dysfunction, * participation in another intervention clinical study. Participants will be centrally randomized by a web-based system to one of the 3 diets: 1) supplementation with 4 grams n-3 PUFAs (containing 2262.5 mg DHA plus 1739.1 mg EPA), 2) diet enriched with n-3 PUFAs of vegetable origin (Camelina Sativa Oil) + vitamin E 24 mg, and 3) regular uncontrolled diet + vitamin E 24 mg. The daily intake of 10 grams of ALA for participants randomized to Camelina Sativa Oil is equivalent to approximately 1500 mg of n-3 PUFAs. Fish oil and Camelina Sativa oil will be administered as liquid oils for the duration of 12 weeks. The addition of vitamin E is aimed at supplementing the same amount of this vitamin to participants. Eligible participants will undergo a clinical visit when also a blood sample will be taken at baseline and at 12 weeks follow-up. The main analysis will be performed according to a per protocol approach, therefore only participants compliant with study treatments will be included in the analysis. Primary objective: to compare the effect on a lipid/inflammation-derived risk score, based on circulating molecules, of diets enriched with PUFA of animal or vegetal origin with a non-enriched diet. Secondary objectives: a) to assess the acceptance of supplementation of diet with animal-derived or plant-derived PUFAs; b) to improve circulating lipidic/glycemic inflammatory profile. All 324 participants enrolled in the trial will have blood samples taken twice (at baseline and 12 weeks),

Aim of this phase 2 study is to explore the safety and efficacy of thoracic re-irradiation +/- SBRT to oligometastases (\<3) followed after an interval of 2 weeks by durvalumab and ceralasertib for patients with thoracic relapses +/- oligometastases after PACIFIC or PACIFIC-like (concurrent or sequential chemo-radiotherapy followed by maintenance durvalumab) regimens.

This is a multicentre and multi-national non-pharmacological, uncontrolled interventional study conducted in a clinical practice setting in DKD patients with CKD stages 1 to 3 with moderate or severe risk of renal function decline in chronic treatment with SGLT2i. The main aim of the study is to assess the independent role of baseline individual mpMRI markers (hemodynamic, oxygenation, microstructure, perfusion, and fat fraction) and biochemical markers of MMP-related pathways (MMP-10 and TIMP-1) in the prediction of chronic eGFR decline in the above mentioned patients who are on chronic SGLT2i therapy.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is a rare disease characterized by rupture of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), and thrombotic occlusion of small vessels (thrombotic microangiopathy), with prevalent involvement of the kidneys. SEU, in its typical form is caused by gastrointestinal infection with Escherichia coli. The atypical form of SEU (aSEU), which is not caused by an Escherichia coli infection, is a very rare disease that may have a genetic origin; it affects both children and adults and may occur in a sporadic or familial form. Many studies have shown that about 60% of cases of atypical HUS are associated with genetic abnormalities of the complement system (particularly the so-called "alternative pathway"), which is a key part of the immune system for responding to infection. Complement consists of a series of proteins that, when activated, create a so-called "cascade," which leads to the elimination of the infectious agent, either directly or through other cells. Complement is finely regulated in such a way as to prevent damage to healthy cells in one's own body. Genetic defects in some of these complement regulatory proteins cause reduced protection of the endothelial surface (thus the vessel wall) against complement activation. Recently, new mutations have been described in a gene unrelated to the complement pathway, the DKGE gene, which codes for the intracellular isoform of diacylglycerol kinase . In these patients, small renal vessel occlusion appears to occur as a result of altered endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis through mechanisms apparently unrelated to complement activation. However, to date these mechanisms are poorly studied. Throughout the entire project statistical methods will be applied to optimize the characterization of the abnormalities in phenotype and function of iPSC-EC derived from aHUS patients with either DGKE or MCP genetic abnormalities as compared with control iPSC-EC, including identifying potential drugs that could correct the abnormalities

Phase II/III multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) in subjects living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Primary study aim: The clinical objective consists of assessing the efficacy of ALCAR (two different dosages will be tested: 1.5g/day and 3g/day) on the progression of functional disability (loss of self-sufficiency), as measured by the ALSFRS-R scale. Secondary study aims: 1. The effect of ALCAR treatment on different clinical aspects: functional decline as measured by ALSFRS-R total score; the decline of forced vital capacity (FVC); quality of life as measured by ALSAQ-40 scale; cognitive function as measured by Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) scale; survival (being alive and without tracheostomy). 2. To measure the effects of ALCAR treatment on disease biomarkers potentially involved in the drug's mechanisms of action. These include PGC-1 alpha, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), acetyl cyclophilin A (acetyl-PPIA), neurofilament light chain (NFL), creatine kinase (CK), Musclin/osteocrin, MyomiRNA (MiR-206), Uric acid, Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), 4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE). 3. The tolerability and safety of ALCAR treatment by identifying unexpected adverse events. Study population: 246 subjects will be enrolled on one Australian and ten Italian ALS sites. Inclusion criteria: subjects aged 18+ years with a diagnosis of ALS according to Gold Coast Criteria; disease duration \<24 months; satisfactory bulbar and spinal function (self-sufficiency evaluated by a score 3+ on the ALSFRS-R for swallowing, cutting food and handling utensils, and walking); satisfactory respiratory function (FVC ≥80% of predicted); documented progression of symptoms as measured by the ALSFRS-R scale. Disease progression rate (DFS) must be\>= 0.33. DFS =(48- ALSFRS-R at screening)/months from onset to screening, treatment with Riluzole in the last four weeks. Exclusion criteria: antecedent polio infection; other motor neuron disease; involvement of other systems possibly determining a functional impairment; other severe clinical conditions; unwillingness or inability to take riluzole; previous use of ALCAR for any reason; inability to understand and comply with the study requirements, and to give written informed consent personally or via their legally authorized representative. All eligible participants will be randomized to receive ALCAR (1,5 or 3 g/day) or placebo in addition to riluzole 50 mg b.i.d. Permuted block (with a block size of 6), 1:1:1 centralized randomization scheme will be used. The overall treatment duration will be 48 weeks. After enrolment, each participant will be followed up until death. Eligible subjects will be seen after 4, 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks. At each visit, a general assessment will be made, including vital signs, body mass index (BMI), neurological examination (including quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the motor system), comorbidity, concomitant treatments and adverse events. Blood samples will be collected at baseline -Day 1 (randomization)-, 4, 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks to test biomarkers. Functional disability will be assessed at each visit using the ALS-FRS-R scale. The respiratory function will be assessed using a spirometer to measure FVC before starting treatment (baseline visit) and at 4, 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks. Cognitive function will be evaluated at baseline, weeks 24 and 48, using ECAS scale. Health-related quality of life, measured by the ALSAQ-40, will be tested at baseline, 24 and 48 weeks. Compliance will be tested by the local investigators, counting unused packages at each follow-up visit. Pre-planned statistical analyses will be done on Intention-to-treat and Per-protocol (PP) populations. The statistical plan will include descriptive statistics and a comparison of the proportions of self-sufficient participants at week 48 using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test for the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints measured by numerical scores obtained from clinical scales will be analyzed using repeated measures mixed models, while biomarkers using repeated measures ANOVA. Time-to-event endpoints, such as survival and the probability of remaining self-sufficient over 48 weeks, will be analyzed with Kaplan-Meier curves. The number of adverse events and serious adverse events after 48 weeks will be compared between treatment arms.

Preclinical studies suggest that argon (Ar) might diminish the neurological and myocardial damage after any hypoxic-ischemic insult. Indeed, Ar has been tested in different models of ischemic insult, at concentrations ranging from 20% up to 80%. Overall, Ar emerged as a protective agent on cells, tissues and organs, showing less cell death, reduced infarct size and faster functional recovery. More specifically, encouraging data has been reported in animal studies on cardiac arrest (CA) in which a better and faster neurological recovery was achieved when Ar was used in the post-resuscitation ventilation. More importantly, these benefits have been replicated in different studies, enrolling both small and large animals. Finally, ventilation with Ar in O2 has been demonstrated to be safe both in animals and humans. Based on this evidence, a clinical translation is advocated. Thus, the CardioPulmonary resuscitation with Argon - CPAr trial has been conceived. The trial initially started as phase I-II trial to specifically address the question about the safety of the post resuscitation Ar-treatment. The available data on the first 30 randomized patients, evaluated by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), were considered absolutely reassuring with regard to the safety of the experimental treatment. In this perspective, the DSMB supported the continuation of the study as a phase II trial, maintaining the study protocol in all its aspects. Thus, the aim of the CPAr trial is now to evaluate efficacy in reducing post-CA neurological injury of Ar/O2 ventilation in patients resuscitated from CA.

This is an interventional, multicenter, prospective study involving healthy volunteers, to primarily assess the reproducibility of multiparametric renal MRI on 1.5T scanners. The study is also aimed at assessing possible differences in renal MRI reproducibility on 1.5T MRI scanners by sex and age, and assessing possible differences in renal MRI reproducibility across field strengths (1.5T vs 3T) in the subgroup of subjects enrolled in both RESPECT clinical study and in the current subproject.

This is a single-center observational study aimed at setting up and testing new ultrasound vascular imaging protocols, conducted exclusively for research purposes. The study will perform US examinations in 60 subjects. The subjects enrolled in the study will be examined the first time and will then provide consent to be examined again in the future if needed. The primary aim of this study is to set-up and test new advanced US protocol for the arm and cerebral blood vessels The secondary objectives will be: * Define ranges of normality/reference values of US-based parameters to be compared with pathological values. * Evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of the acquired US measurements. * Evaluate the correlation between age and the acquired US measurements. * Evaluate the correlation between gender and the acquired US measurements.

This is a phase III, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center, pilot trial, aimed at assessing whether treatment with the oral potassium binder patiromer as compared to placebo allows withdrawal or down-titration of potassium dietary restriction without increasing the risk of hyperkalemia in chronic dialysis patients.