title: Reply.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, S. Croce Hospital, Via M. Coppino 26, 12100 Cuneo, Italy. Electronic address: fabarili@libero.it.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barili
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pacini
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cardiac Surgery and Translational Research, IRCCS Policlinico S. Donato, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parolari