Improved Carbohydrate Metabolism After Bariatric Surgery Raises Antioxidized LDL Antibody Levels in Morbidly Obese Patients

OBJECTIVE—Antioxidized LDL (anti-oxLDL) antibodies have recently been suggested to be protective against the development of diabetes. We measured the changes in anti-oxLDL antibody levels in the inverse situation of improvement in carbohydrate metabolism

Plasma 24S-hydroxycholesterol levels in elderly subjects with late onset Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In central nervous system cholesterol cannot be degraded but is secreted into circulation predominantly in the form of its polar metabolite 24(<it>S</it>)-hydroxycholesterol (24S-OH-Chol). Some studies suggested an association between 24S-OH-Chol metabolism and different neurological diseases including dementia. A possible decrease in 24S-OH-Chol plasma levels has been reported late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and vascular dementia (VD), but results of previous studies are partially contradictory.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>By high-speed liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry we evaluated the plasma levels of 24S-OH-Chol in a sample of 160 older individuals: 60 patients with LOAD, 35 patients with VD, 25 subjects affected by cognitive impairment no-dementia (CIND), and 40 (144 for genetics study) cognitively normal Controls. We also investigated the possible association between PPARgamma Pro12Ala polymorphism and dementia or 24S-OH-Chol levels.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with Controls, plasma 24S-OH-Chol levels were higher in LOAD and lower in VD; a slight not-significant increase in CIND was observed (ANOVA p: 0.001). A positive correlation between 24S-OH-Chol/TC ratio and plasma C reactive protein (CRP) levels was found in the whole sample, independent of possible confounders (multiple regression p: 0.04; r²: 0.10). This correlation was strong in LOAD (r: 0.39), still present in CIND (r: 0.20), but was absent in VD patients (r: 0.08). The PPARgamma Pro12Ala polymorphism was not associated with the diagnosis of LOAD, VD, or CIND; no correlation emerged between the Ala allele and 24S-OH-Chol plasma levels.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that plasma 24S-OH-Chol levels might be increased in the first stages of LOAD, and this phenomenon might be related with systemic inflammation. The finding of lower 24S-OH-Chol concentrations in VD might be related with a more advanced stage of VD compared with LOAD in our sample, and/or to different pathogenetic mechanisms and evolution of these two forms of dementia.</p

Electrocardiographic signs of asymptomatic coronary artery disease in aging women with normal glucose tolerance.

abstract - comunicatio

Hypothyroidism prevalence in dyslipidemic females.

abstract - comunicatio

Schizophrenia in real life: courses, symptoms and functioning in an Italian population.

Background: In the general belief, schizophrenia is associated with the concepts of seriousness, incurability, dangerousness: this is incorrect. In recent decades, the interest in course studies increased and different trends emerged, not necessarily chronic, with the possibility of remission. The plan of this research was to draw a picture of the schizophrenia syndrome in a specific geographic area, in the past and at present time: this allows to detect needs, weaknesses and strengths, for a better planning of future interventions. Methods: The course of all cases diagnosed as schizophrenia (N = 1,759) in the period 1978–2008, was retrospectively studied in the entire population of an Italian province by observing, for a mean period of 12 years per person, age at first psychiatric consultation, number and length of admissions for both acute symptoms and residential-rehabilitation programs, number of interventions in outpatients. The cases under treatment (N = 842), were evaluated in terms of symptoms, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and in terms of functioning, using the Personal and Social Functioning Scale. Results: The disease course differs significantly between genders: males have an earlier age at first consultation (about 7 years earlier), higher admission rates, greater number of outpatient interventions and personal and social functioning significantly worse. Hospitalization resulted often unnecessary: 23.1% of cases were never hospitalized and 67.2% spent less than one week per year in hospital. A quarter of the cases meets the international criteria for remission and more than 75% are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic; only 5.3% of cases shows severe symptoms. However, Personal and Social Functioning highlights, in about 1/3 of cases, relevant or serious problems mainly in Work and Relationships areas, whilst Aggressiveness is a serious problem only in 9%. Conclusions: In this population, schizophrenia in real life shows great individual variability in course, symptoms and functioning: in most cases nowadays it appears a less severe and chronic disease than in the past, but further improvements are needed on disability prevention and social inclusion

Schizophrenia in real life: courses, symptoms and functioning in an Italian population

Abstract Background In the general belief, schizophrenia is associated with the concepts of seriousness, incurability, dangerousness: this is incorrect. In recent decades, the interest in course studies increased and different trends emerged, not necessarily chronic, with the possibility of remission. The plan of this research was to draw a picture of the schizophrenia syndrome in a specific geographic area, in the past and at present time: this allows to detect needs, weaknesses and strengths, for a better planning of future interventions. Methods The course of all cases diagnosed as schizophrenia (N = 1,759) in the period 1978–2008, was retrospectively studied in the entire population of an Italian province by observing, for a mean period of 12 years per person, age at first psychiatric consultation, number and length of admissions for both acute symptoms and residential-rehabilitation programs, number of interventions in outpatients. The cases under treatment (N = 842), were evaluated in terms of symptoms, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and in terms of functioning, using the Personal and Social Functioning Scale. Results The disease course differs significantly between genders: males have an earlier age at first consultation (about 7 years earlier), higher admission rates, greater number of outpatient interventions and personal and social functioning significantly worse. Hospitalization resulted often unnecessary: 23.1% of cases were never hospitalized and 67.2% spent less than one week per year in hospital. A quarter of the cases meets the international criteria for remission and more than 75% are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic; only 5.3% of cases shows severe symptoms. However, Personal and Social Functioning highlights, in about 1/3 of cases, relevant or serious problems mainly in Work and Relationships areas, whilst Aggressiveness is a serious problem only in 9%. Conclusions In this population, schizophrenia in real life shows great individual variability in course, symptoms and functioning: in most cases nowadays it appears a less severe and chronic disease than in the past, but further improvements are needed on disability prevention and social inclusion.</p

Fibrinolytic and coagulation factors in very old subjects: Association with lipoprotein profile and anthropometric variables

BACKGROUND: We evaluated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), factor VII activity (FVII), and fibrinogen in a sample of octo-nonagenarians. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship of these fibrinolytic and coagulation parameters with lipoprotein profile and anthropometric variables in the absence or presence of disability. METHODS: We enrolled a population of 162 octo-nonagenarians, divided in two groups on the basis of presence or absence of disability in the activity of daily living (ADL). All the anthropometric determinations were carried out according to standardized methods. Blood samples for hemostatic and lipid determinations were collected after overnight fasting and resting. RESULTS: PAI-1 activity and fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in disabled (DIS) compared to free-living (FL) adults, whereas FVII did not show differences in the two groups. PAI-1 activity and FVII positively correlated to anthropometric parameters (body mass index, subscapular and tricipital skinfold thickness) in both DIS and FL. No correlations were found between fibrinogen and other variables in FL, whereas a negative relation with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels emerged in DIS. FVII was positively related with total cholesterol low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B in both FL and DIS. CONCLUSIONS: In a sample of octo-nonagenarians, PAI-1 activity and FVII show a significant correlation with several anthropometric and lipoprotein parameters, suggesting that these variables are strongly associated with body composition and lipid metabolism independent from age and disability. DIS presented higher PAI-1 and fibrinogen levels; this observation may take in account the high prevalence of vascular diseases and also occult inflammation, which are known to affect these parameters

Factors influencing plasma homocysteine levels in type 2 diabetes

The mechanisms by which hyperhomocysteinemia may promote atherosclerosis in diabetic patients are poorly understood. In conclusion, the present study suggests that in type 2 diabetes, plasma homocysteine levels are influenced by both the duration of disease and metabolic c o n t rol; nevertheless, mild hyperhomocysteinemia still emerges as a major risk factor for CHD, in agreement with pre v ious observation