A 30 year-long adventure

Nicola, Professor Nicola di Paolo, head of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation at S. Maria della Scala hospital in Siena (in Piazza del Duomo at number 2) (Fig. 1), is the real and only culprit!!

In the mid-eighties, I joined the Nephrology and Dialysis division in Siena, which later relocated to the Policlinico “Le Scotte.” It was difficult to resist the magnetic presence of Nicola, Prof. Di Paolo, who had already forged a strong nephrological alliance with Prof. Umberto Buoncristiani, creating the Siena-Perugia axis that brought together nephrologists and specialized nurses.

Nicola was an undisputed master of nephrology and dialysis, a born inventor, and a visionary clinician who came up with innovative ideas daily—perhaps even in his sleep. Among his boldest notions, I believe, was his choice to see me as his successor in the Giornale di Tecniche Nefrologiche e Dialitiche (GTND, il Giornale), which he founded with Umberto Buoncristiani in January 1989.

In 1997, I proposed launching and editing a regular column titled The TN&D Point of View, which ran successfully for 11 years until 2006. GTND was initially published by Wichtig Editore, a Milan-based publishing house founded by Prof. Diego Brancaccio, a man of immense cultural and professional depth. I hold in great affection the individuals who supported and guided me in my early days and throughout my tenure as editor: among them, Nella Bini, Laura Sartori, and Simonetta Campori, with whom I collaborated fruitfully and frequently over many years.

At the start of the new millennium, well before Nicola appointed me as Editor in 2005 alongside himself, Umberto Buoncristiani, and Enzo Gaggiotti, I proposed The Supplements of GTND, followed by Special Issues, each dedicated to a specific nephrological topic and authored by a carefully selected panel of experts. These supplements were published quarterly, aiming to attract the attention and collaboration of nephrologists, nurses, and dialysis technicians while differentiating the journal from other nephrology publications, including the Italian Journal of Nephrology.

These supplements generated great interest, as they were a novelty at the time. They were published online on the Italian Society of Nephrology (SIN) website (Minutes of the C.D.-SIN, 22/5/01, Vicenza, GIN 2001; 5:623-6, point 10, letter G). SIN dedicated a special section titled The great investigations in Italian nephrology, accompanied by a discussion forum on the SOCISIN mailing list. Over time, thanks to their quality, the supplements received endorsements from SIN Study Groups, starting with the GdS Peritoneal Dialysis. The strengthened collaboration between SIN and GTND was further solidified when, from 2006 to 2012, GTND was officially recognized as one of SIN’s journals, alongside Giornale Italiano di Nefrologia and Journal of Nephrology.

In 2006, Nicola officially appointed me as Editor-in-Chief of GTND, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey that will last until 2025. Many esteemed colleagues, friends, and authors contributed to the journal over the years. Though I attempted to document their names to one day extend my gratitude, the task proved overwhelming. The list in Table 1 includes many prominent figures in Italian nephrology, though it is inevitably incomplete. I sincerely apologize to those not mentioned but who nonetheless have my deepest gratitude.

My multidisciplinary interests led to valuable collaborations with various associations. The first was with the Italian Association of Polycystic Kidney Disease (AIRP), led by the highly skilled and dedicated Luisa Sternfeld-Pavia, a long-time friend and strong supporter of the journal. This was followed by partnerships with ANED (National Association of Hemodialysis and Dialysis Patients), which, under the visionary guidance of Giuseppe Vanacore, found a platform for active contribution, and SIAN (Society of Nephrology Area Nurses), which, thanks to the dedication of Cinzia Fabbri, Mara Canzi, Marisa Pegoraro and Maria Pia Zito, enriched the journal with valuable insights. I also want to acknowledge the Italian Anderson-Fabry Association, with which we maintained a fruitful collaboration for several years.

As the years passed, the journal evolved through various editorial transformations. Giulio Zuanetti successfully transitioned GTND to an international audience before bringing it back to Italy with renewed vigor under the name Giornale di Clinica Nefrologica e Dialisi (GCND). The journal continued to thrive under the stewardship of AboutScience, maintaining its high standards under the meticulous guidance of Lucia Steele, who upheld the legacy of excellence established by her predecessors.

A particularly meaningful initiative for me was the promotion of narrative nephrology. In 2017, the passing of Prof. Quirino Maggiore—a mentor in both nephrology and life—inspired me to establish the Quirino Maggiore National Competition for Fiction, Poetry, and Photography in Nephrology, Dialysis, and Transplantation. Thanks to the unwavering support of major sponsors, including ANED and the non-profit S.M. Annunziata in Florence (Prof. Maggiore’s last place of work), this annual event continues to flourish. GCND embraced this initiative, launching a dedicated Narrative Nephrology column.

Another crucial development, supported by AboutScience, was the creation of the GCND for the Planet column (Fig. 3), which highlighted the impact of environmental protection on patient health. Launched in 2020 under the leadership of Franco Bergesio, this initiative aligned with the newly established SIN Project Group on environmental sustainability, which we co-founded.

I am also deeply grateful for the opportunity to oversee a column on transplantation, curated by another of my mentors, Prof. Maurizio Salvadori, and I take great pride in our latest endeavor: a column dedicated to Gender Nephrology, pioneered with passion and vision by Anna Laura Fantuzzi and her team, with the goal of engaging the national nephrology community.

Reflecting on nearly 30 years with GCND, I recall moments of triumph, achieving goals once thought unattainable, as well as moments of adversity, particularly during the transition to an English publisher when we struggled to preserve the journal’s mission. Unlike many other nephrology journals, GCND always sought to maintain a distinct identity.

Looking back, I am deeply grateful to all those who supported me through my nephrological pursuits—publishers, editors, authors, colleagues, and the many presidents and secretaries of SIN who upheld the journal’s mission. I fondly refer to il Giornalino as one would a cherished child, nurtured with unwavering belief in its purpose. I hope that GCND has, over the years, served as a valuable resource for professional growth, knowledge-sharing, and above all, a tool to support the nephrology community and the patients who rely on it.

As I conclude this chapter of my career, I take solace in knowing that GCND is in excellent hands. My dear friend Carlo Maria Alfieri now takes the helm, bringing fresh enthusiasm and vision. I am confident that he will innovate and elevate the journal even further, and I look forward to witnessing the exciting new directions it will take.

A Albertazzi Alberto, Alfieri Carlo Maria, Alloatti Sandro, Aloisi Mauro, Altamura Paolo, Altieri Paolo, Amici Gianpaolo, Amore Alessandro, Andreucci Michele, Andreucci Vittorio Emanuele, Andrulli Simone, Arcari Giuseppe, Aucella Filippo

B Bacchini Giuseppe, Baggio Bruno, Bajardi Pietro, Bandini Sandro, Barbera Giovanni, Barracca Antonio, Basile Carlo, Battaglia Yuri, Bellasi Antonio, Benci Luca, Berardinelli Luisa, Bergesio Franco, Bertoli Volmer Silvio, Bertoni Elisabetta, Betterle Corrado, Biagini Marco, Bolasco Piergiorgio, Boletta Alessandra, Bonofiglio Renzo, Bonforte Giuseppe, Bonomini Mario, Bonucchi Decenzio, Bolignano Davide, Bonomini Mario, Borghi Loris, Bossini Nicola, Brandi Maria Luisa, Brioni Elena, Brunetto Maurizia Rossana, Brunori Giuliano, Buccianti Gherardo, Buemi Michele, Buoncristiani Umberto, Burra Patrizia, Burrai Francesco, Busnach Ghil, Buzzi Laura

C Cabiddu Gianfranca, Camerini C., Campisi C., Canarini Giovanni, Canavese Caterina, Cantaluppi Vicenzo, Capitanini Alessandro, Caputo Flavia, Capotondo Luigi, Cara Milena, Carbonari Luciano, Cardillo Massimo, Carini Marco, Casati Giorgio, Casino G. Francesco, Castellano Giuseppe, Castellino Santino, Catizone Luigi, Caudarella Renata, Cavatorta Fosco, Cerrai Tiziano, Cherubini Chiara, Cifarelli Mario, Cirami Calogero, Cirillo Massimo, Cocchi Roberto, Colasanti Giuliano, Colturi Carla, Colussi Giacomo, Conz Pietro Antonio, Coppo Rosanna, Corciulo Roberto, Cornacchiari Maria, Corrado Vitale, Corsi Alessandro, Cozzolino Mario, Crepaldi Carlo, Croppi Emanuele, Cupisti Adamasco

D D’Amico Giuseppe, D’Alessandro Claudia, Dal Canton Antonio, Dello Strologo Luca, De Palo Tommaso, De Pascalis Antonio, De Paolis Paolo, De Vecchi Amedeo, Dell’Aquila Roberto, Di Giulio Salvatore, Di Liberato Lorenzo, Di Luca Marina, Di Lullo Luca, Di Napoli Anteo, Di Paolo Nicola, Dorigo Elena, Drudi Francesco, Duro Giovanni, Dusso Adriana

E Edefonti Alberto, Emma Francesco, Esposito Pasquale

F Fabrizi Fabrizio, Fantuzzi Anna Laura, Fatuzzo Pasquale, Feriani Mariano, Feriozzi Sandro, Ferraro Pietro Manuel, Ferro Giuseppe, Fiaccadori Enrico, Fiorini Fulvio, Floccari Fulvio, Fogazzi Giovanni, Forneris Giacomo, Francesco Franco, Frascà Giovanni M.

G Gabella Paolo, Gaggiotti Enzo, Gai Massimo, Galassi Andrea, Galli Emilio, Galli Franco, Galli Sandro, Gallieni Maurizio, Gambaro Giovanni, Garosi Guido, Geatti Sandro, Gernone Giuseppe, Gesualdo Loreto, Giordana Guido, Giachino Giuliano, Giannattasio Michele, Gonella Marco, Gori Francesca, Gotti Eliana, Gregorini Maria Cristina, Grossi Paolo A., Guastoni Carlo

I Iadarola Gian Maria

L La Greca Giuseppe, La Milia Vincenzo, La Rosa Roberto, Libatta Carmelo, Limardo Monica, Limido Aurelio, Locatelli Francesco, Logias Francesco, Lodi Massimo, Lomonte Carlo, Lovaria Andrea, Lupo Antonio

M Maffei Stefano, Maiorca Rosario, Magistroni Riccardo, Maggiore Quirino, Maggiore Umberto, Malaguti Moreno, Malberti Fabio, Malmusi Giulio, Manca Oscar, Mancini Elena, Mandolfo Salvatore, Mandrioli Marcora, Manè Paolo, Manili Luigi, Marangella Martino, Marinangeli Giancarlo, Mastrangelo Francesco, Mazzaferro Sandro, Meola Mario, Memoli Bruno, Mereu M. Cristina, Meschi Tiziana, Messa Piergiorgio, Michelassi Stefano, Mignani Renzo, Minetti Enrico Eugenio, Minetti Luigi, Montanaro Domenico, Montini Giovanni, Moriconi Luigi, Morosetti Massimo, Mosconi Giovanni

N Nanni Costa Alessandro, Napoli Marcello, Neri Loris, Nichelatti Michele, Nordio Maurizio, Nouvenne Antonio

P Pacitti Alfonso, Panella Vincenzo, Panarello Giacomo, Paris Valentina, Passalacqua Stefano, Pasquali Marzia, Pasquali Sonia, Pegoraro Marisa, Perfumo Francesco, Pertosa Giovanni, Petrarulo Francesco, Piccoli Giorgina Barbara, Pieruzzi Federico, Pinciaroli Angela Rosa, Pisani Antonio, Pizzarelli Francesco, Ponticelli Claudio, Pontremoli Roberto, Postorino Maurizio, Pozzato Marco, Pozzi Claudio, Procaccini Deni Aldo

Q Quglia Marco, Quarello Francesco, Quintaliani Giuseppe

R Rampino Teresa, Ramunni Alfonso, Remuzzi Giuseppe, Rigatti Patrizio, Rindi Paolo, Rivera Rodolfo, Rizzo Gaetano, Roccatello Dario, Rombolà Giuseppe, Ronco Claudio, Rosati Alberto, Rotondi Silverio, Rotunno Michele, Rubbiani Elisabetta, Ruggieri Giancarlo, Rugiu Carlo, Russo Domenico, Russo Roberto

S Salomone Mario, Salvadori Maurizio, Sandrini Silvio, Santarelli Stefano, Santoro Antonio, Santoro Domenico, Scanziani Renzo, Schena Antonio, Schena Francesco Paolo, Scolari Francesco, Segoloni Paolo, Sessa Aurelio, Simeoni Pier Giorgio, Sisca Sergio, Sparacino Vito, Spinsanti Sandro, Splendiani Giorgio, Stefoni Stefano, Sternfeld-Pavia Luisa, Sterpellone Luciano, Stratta Piero, Strazzullo Pasquale

T Tasca Andrea, Tazza Luigi, Teatini Ugo, Terribile Maurizio, Tesio Franco, Timio Mario, Tobaldini Stefania, Tomassini Carlo Rinaldo, Toccafondi Alessandro, Tosi Pierluigi, Trinchieri Alberto

V Vanacore Giuseppe, Verrina Enrico, Vezzosi Giuseppe, Viazzi Francesca, Viglino Giusto, Vinti Valentina, Virga Giovambattista, Virgilio Michele

Z Zampieron Alessandra, Zattoni Filiberto, Zaza Gianluigi, Zignego Anna Linda, Zoccali Carmine, Zucchelli Pietro Carlo