Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to fundamentally reshape healthcare delivery, offering unprecedented advancements in diagnostics, treatment personalization, and operational efficiency. However, a growing body of international research reveals a critical “optimism–knowledge gap”: healthcare professionals are enthusiastic about AI’s potential but possess limited technical knowledge and practical experience. This gap compromises the safe and effective implementation of AI tools. The Italian healthcare context presents a unique and amplifying challenge, as it is defined by the stringent “human-in-the-loop” oversight mandated by the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali (Italy’s Data Protection Authority). This legal framework makes clinician competence not just a goal, but a prerequisite for regulatory compliance. Objective: This study aimed to provide an exploratory quantitative assessment of AI awareness, practical application, and understanding of its limitations among a sample of clinicians in Italy. It specifically sought to compare the preparedness of hospital-based clinicians and general practitioners (GPs) and to identify the workforce’s perceived educational needs within this unique legal environment. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to August 2025. Using a non-probability convenience sampling method via professional networks, the survey yielded 362 total responses. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using Chi-square (${\chi }^2$) tests to compare cohort responses on familiarity, practical exposure, knowledge of limitations, and interest in further training. Results: A universal and high demand for education was found, with 89.9% of all respondents being “Moderately” or “Very” interested in learning more about AI. This optimism coexists with dangerously low practical exposure. The gap was most profound among GPs, 44.1% of whom have “Never” used an AI tool—a rate significantly higher than hospital clinicians (34.9%; ${\chi }^2=3.14$, p = 0.045). Furthermore, 32.6% of GPs admitted that they “understand some benefits but not the limitations.” Conclusions: Italian clinicians mirror the global optimism–knowledge gap. These findings underscore the urgent need for structured, continuous education in AI literacy to address ethical and regulatory imperatives within the Italian healthcare system.

Scientists, physicians, and engineers have long endeavored to develop a device capable of replacing the function of the heart. The objective is to create a machine or pump for patients suffering from advanced biventricular heart failure, where survival until transplantation is feasible. These total artificial hearts are designed to sustain the patient until a donor heart becomes available. This review aims to present an overview and historical context of the development of the total artificial heart, analyze the currently utilized devices, and briefly discuss future technological innovations in total artificial heart systems.

Despite ongoing advancements in the field of heart failure, heart transplantation remains the definitive treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. Decades of research, surgical innovation, and progress in transplant immunology have enabled the overcoming of persistent challenges associated with this complex procedure. Since the initial preclinical experiments involving heart transplants in canines and primates, the process has been profoundly transformed through the development of the bioptome for endomyocardial biopsies and the introduction of immunosuppressive therapies. More recently, improvements in the preservation and transportation of donor hearts, as well as the utilization of cell-free DNA for evaluating graft rejection, are laying the groundwork for further advancements in non-invasive rejection diagnosis and the expansion of the donor pool.