Host galaxies of merging compact objects: mass, star formation rate, metallicity, and colours

Characterizing the properties of the host galaxies of merging compact objects provides essential clues to interpret current and future gravitational-wave detections. Here, we investigate the stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), metallicity, and colours of the host galaxies of merging compact objects in the local Universe by combining the results of MOBSE population-synthesis models together with galaxy catalogues from the EAGLE simulation. We predict that the stellar mass of the host galaxy is an excellent tracer of the merger rate per galaxy n(GW) of double neutron stars (DNSs), double black holes (DBHs), and black hole-neutron star binaries (BHNSs). We find a significant correlation also between n(GW) and SFR. As a consequence, n(GW) correlates also with the r-band luminosity and with the g-r colour of the host galaxies. Interestingly, greater than or similar to 60 per cent, greater than or similar to 64 per cent, and greater than or similar to 73 per cent of all the DNSs, BHNSs, and DBHs merging in the local Universe lie in early-type galaxies, such as NGC 4993. We predict a local DNS merger rate density of similar to 238 Gpc(-3) yr(-1) and a DNS merger rate similar to 16-121 Myr(-1) for Milky Way-like galaxies. Thus, our results are consistent with both the DNS merger rate inferred from GW170817 and the one inferred from Galactic DNSs

Dynamics of black hole-neutron star binaries in young star clusters

Young star clusters are likely the most common birthplace of massive stars across cosmic time and influence the formation of compact binaries in several ways. Here, we simulate the formation of black hole-neutron star binaries (BHNSs) in young star clusters, by means of the binary population synthesis code MOBSE interfaced with the N-body code NBODY6++GPU. BHNSs formed in young star clusters (dynamical BHNSs) are significantly more massive than BHNSs formed from isolated binaries (isolated BHNSs): ~40 per cent of the dynamical BHNS mergers have a total mass of > 15 M0, while only ~0.01 per cent of the isolated BHNS mergers have mass in excess of this value. Hence, our models strongly support a dynamical formation scenario for GW190814, given its total mass of ~26 M0, if this event is a BHNS merger. All our dynamical BHNSs are ejected from their parent star cluster before they reach coalescence. Thus, a significant fraction of BHNS mergers occurring in the field might have originated in a young star cluster. The mass spectrum of BHNS mergers from gravitational-wave detections will provide a clue to differentiate between dynamical and isolated formation of BHNSs

Compact object mergers: exploring uncertainties from stellar and binary evolution with SEVN

Population-synthesis codes are an unique tool to explore the parameter space of massive binary star evolution and binary compact object (BCO) formation. Most population-synthesis codes are based on the same stellar evolution model, limiting our ability to explore the main uncertainties. Our code SEVN overcomes this issue by interpolating the main stellar properties from a set of pre-computed evolutionary tracks. With SEVN, we evolved $1.2\times10^9$ binaries in the metallicity range $0.0001\leq Z \leq 0.03$, exploring a number of models for electron-capture, core-collapse and pair-instability supernovae, different assumptions for common envelope, stability of mass transfer, quasi-homogeneous evolution and stellar tides. We find that stellar evolution has a dramatic impact on the formation of single and binary compact objects. Just by slightly changing the overshooting parameter ($\lambda_{\rm ov}=0.4,0.5$) and the pair-instability model, the maximum mass of a black hole can vary from $\approx{60}$ to $\approx{100}\ \mathrm{M}_\odot$. Furthermore, the formation channels of BCOs and the merger efficiency we obtain with SEVN show significant differences with respect to the results of other population-synthesis codes, even when the same binary-evolution parameters are used. For example, the main traditional formation channel of BCOs is strongly suppressed in our models: at high metallicity ($Z\gtrsim{0.01}$) only $<20$% of the merging binary black holes and binary neutron stars form via this channel, while other authors found fractions $>70$%. The local BCO merger rate density of our fiducial models is consistent with the most recent estimates by the LIGO--Virgo--KAGRA collaboration.Comment: Submitted to MNRAS, comments welcome! The SEVN code is available at https://gitlab.com/sevncodes/sevn.git. All the data underlying this article are available in Zenodo at the link https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7260771. All the Jupyter notebooks used to produce the plots in the paper are available in the gitlab repository https://gitlab.com/iogiul/iorio22_plot.gi

Exercise and Protein Intake: A Synergistic Approach against Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia, the age-dependent loss of muscle mass and function/strength, is increasingly recognized as a major risk factor for adverse outcomes in frail older people. As such, the skeletal muscle is a relevant target for interventions aimed at preventing or postponing the occurrence of negative health-related events in late life. The association among physical inactivity, insufficient intake of energy and protein, and poor muscle health in older adults suggests that physical exercise and targeted nutritional supplementation may offer substantial therapeutic gain against sarcopenia and its negative correlates. This view is supported by observational studies as well as by small-scale clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the available evidence on the beneficial effects of behavioral interventions on sarcopenia. We also briefly describe how the knowledge gathered so far has been used to design the "Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty IN older people: multicomponenT Treatment strategies" (SPRINTT) project. The randomized clinical trial conducted within SPRINTT will provide robust evidence on the effectiveness of exercise and nutrition at preventing negative outcomes associated with sarcopenia and physical frailty

Association between plasma omentin-1 levels in type 2 diabetic patients and peripheral artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Type-2 diabetes mellitus is one of the major risk factors of atherosclerosis, particularly in peripheral artery disease (PAD). Several studies have documented a correlation between omentin-1 serum levels, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. However, a clear link between circulating omentin-1 and PAD in diabetic patients has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of omentin-1 in PAD in type-2 diabetic patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed omentin-1 serum levels by ELISA in 600 type-2 diabetic patients with (n = 300) and without (n = 300) PAD at Fontaine's stage II, III, or IV. RESULTS: We found that omentin-1 serum levels were significantly lower in diabetic patients with PAD than in diabetic controls (29.46 vs 49.24 ng/mL, P &lt; 0.001) and that the levels gradually decreased in proportion to disease severity (P &lt; 0.05). The association between omentin-1 levels and PAD remained significant after adjusting for major risk factors in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that omentin-1 is reduced in type 2 diabetic patients with PAD and that omentin-1 levels are related to disease severity

Treatment decision-making of secondary prevention after venous thromboembolism. data from the real-life START2-POST-VTE register

Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) should receive a decision on the duration of anticoagulant treatment (AT) that is often not easy to make. Sixteen Italian clinical centers included patients with recent VTE in the START2-POST-VTE register and reported the decisions taken on duration of AT in each patient and the reasons for them. At the moment of this report, 472 (66.9%) of the 705 patients included in the registry were told to stop AT in 59.3% and to extend it in 40.7% of patients. Anticoagulant treatment lasted ≥3 months in &gt;90% of patients and was extended in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis because considered at high risk of recurrence or had thrombophilic abnormalities. d-dimer testing, assessment of residual thrombus, and patient preference were also indicated among the criteria influencing the decision. In conclusion, Italian doctors stuck to the minimum 3 months AT after VTE, while the secondary or unprovoked nature of the event was not seen as the prevalent factor influencing AT duration which instead was the result of a complex and multifactorial evaluation of each patient

Sex and Gender Differences in Ischemic Heart Disease: Endocrine Vascular Disease Approach (EVA) Study Design

Improvements in ischemic heart disease (IHD) management have been unbalanced between sexes, with coronary microvascular dysfunction considered the likely underlying reason. The Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) is an observational study (Clinicaltrial.gov NCT02737982) aiming to assess sex and gender interactions between coronary circulation, sexual hormones, and platelet function. Consecutive patients with IHD undergoing coronary angiography will be recruited: (1) to assess sex and gender differences in angiographic reperfusion indexes; (2) to evaluate the effects of estrogen/androgen on sex-related differences in myocardial ischemia; (3) to investigate the platelet biology differences between men and women with IHD; (4) to verify sex- and gender-driven interplay between response to percutaneous coronary intervention, platelets, sex hormones, and myocardial damage at baseline and its impact on 12-month outcomes. The integration of sex and gender in this translational project on IHD will contribute to the identification of new targets for further innovative clinical interventions

New semiquantitative ultrasonographic score for peripheral arterial disease assessment and its association with cardiovascular risk factors

The data concerning the distribution, extent and progression of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), as well as its association with traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, have generally been obtained from studies of patients in advanced stages of the disease undergoing surgical or endovascular treatment. In this study, we have introduced a new semiquantitative ultrasonographic score (ultrasonographic lower limb atherosclerosis (ULLA) score) that is able to categorize lower limb atherosclerotic lesions at all stages of PAD. We then associated these ultrasonographic categories with a CV risk profile. We enrolled 320 consecutive subjects with symptoms suggestive of PAD or with known CV risk factors referring to our angiology unit between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015 for ultrasonographic evaluation of the lower limb arteries. Femoropopliteal and run-off segments were categorized together and separately based on their ultrasonographic characteristics. In univariate and multivariate analyses, the ULLA scores were significantly associated with the main CV risk factors, that is, age, male gender, cigarette smoking, arterial hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, sedentary lifestyle, previous CV events and family history of CV disease, and also confirming the specific association of single risk factors with different segments of lower limb arteries. The proposed ULLA score enables a complete evaluation of the entire lower limb atherosclerotic burden, extending the results concerning the association of PAD with CV risk factors to all stages of the disease, including the early stages. It can be feasible that this new score will facilitate better evaluation of the progression of PAD and its prospective role in CV risk stratification

Fetuin-A Induces Cytokine Expression and Suppresses Adiponectin Production

BACKGROUND: The secreted liver protein fetuin-A (AHSG) is up-regulated in hepatic steatosis and the metabolic syndrome. These states are strongly associated with low-grade inflammation and hypoadiponectinemia. We, therefore, hypothesized that fetuin-A may play a role in the regulation of cytokine expression, the modulation of adipose tissue expression and plasma concentration of the insulin-sensitizing and atheroprotective adipokine adiponectin. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Human monocytic THP1 cells and human in vitro differenttiated adipocytes as well as C57BL/6 mice were treated with fetuin-A. mRNA expression of the genes encoding inflammatory cytokines and the adipokine adiponectin (ADIPOQ) was assessed by real-time RT-PCR. In 122 subjects, plasma levels of fetuin-A, adiponectin and, in a subgroup, the multimeric forms of adiponectin were determined. Fetuin-A treatment induced TNF and IL1B mRNA expression in THP1 cells (p<0.05). Treatment of mice with fetuin-A, analogously, resulted in a marked increase in adipose tissue Tnf mRNA as well as Il6 expression (27- and 174-fold, respectively). These effects were accompanied by a decrease in adipose tissue Adipoq mRNA expression and lower circulating adiponectin levels (p<0.05, both). Furthermore, fetuin-A repressed ADIPOQ mRNA expression of human in vitro differentiated adipocytes (p<0.02) and induced inflammatory cytokine expression. In humans in plasma, fetuin-A correlated positively with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker of subclinical inflammation (r = 0.26, p = 0.01), and negatively with total- (r = -0.28, p = 0.02) and, particularly, high molecular weight adiponectin (r = -0.36, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: We provide novel evidence that the secreted liver protein fetuin-A induces low-grade inflammation and represses adiponectin production in animals and in humans. These data suggest an important role of fatty liver in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis