LC‐IMPACT: A regionalized life cycle damage assessment method

Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is a lively field of research, and data and models are continuously improved in terms of impact pathways covered, reliability, and spatial detail. However, many of these advancements are scattered throughout the scientific literature, making it difficult for practitioners to apply the new models. Here, we present the LC‐IMPACT method that provides characterization factors at the damage level for 11 impact categories related to three areas of protection (human health, ecosystem quality, natural resources). Human health damage is quantified as disability adjusted life years, damage to ecosystem quality as global species extinction equivalents (based on potentially disappeared fraction of species), and damage to mineral resources as kilogram of extra ore extracted. Seven of the impact categories include spatial differentiation at various levels of spatial scale. The influence of value choices related to the time horizon and the level of scientific evidence of the impacts considered is quantified with four distinct sets of characterization factors. We demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method with an illustrative life cycle assessment example of different fuel options in Europe (petrol or biofuel). Differences between generic and regionalized impacts vary up to two orders of magnitude for some of the selected impact categories, highlighting the importance of spatial detail in LCIA. This article met the requirements for a gold – gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responsivity during adolescence in relation to psychopathic personality traits later in life

Psychopathic personality traits have been linked to low physiological arousal, particularly among high risk and forensic samples. A core indicator of physiological arousal is the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; however, findings of a link between HPA axis functioning and psychopathic personality traits have been inconsistent. Furthermore, given sex differences in both HPA axis responsivity and psychopathic personality traits, the association may be expected to differ between men and women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HPA axis responsivity in mid-adolescence and psychopathic personality traits in early adulthood and determine whether the association was moderated by sex. We examined this link in a general population sample of twins (N = 556). Adolescents participated in a psychosocial stress task during which samples of salivary cortisol were collected (11–15 years) and reported psychopathic personality traits using the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (19–20 years). Multilevel linear regression models were estimated in which psychopathic personality traits (boldness, meanness and disinhibition), and their interactions with sex, were regressed on HPA axis responsivity. The study was pre-registered on the Open Science Framework (osf.io/gs2a8). Preliminary analyses showed that cortisol levels did not increase significantly during the stressor task but decreased during recovery. Results showed that there was no association between HPA axis responsivity in mid-adolescence and psychopathic personality traits in early adulthood. The associations were not moderated by sex. Findings suggest that HPA axis responsivity in mid-adolescence did not serve as a biological marker for psychopathic personality traits among young adults from the general population

Understanding the structural features of symptomatic calcific aortic valve stenosis: A broad-spectrum clinico-pathologic study in 236 consecutive surgical cases

BACKGROUND: With age, aortic valve cusps undergo varying degrees of sclerosis which, sometimes, can progress to calcific aortic valve stenosis (AVS). To perform a retrospective clinico-pathologic investigation in patients with calcific AVS. METHODS: We characterized and graded the structural remodeling in 236 aortic valves (200 tricuspid and 36 bicuspid) from patients with calcific AVS (148 males; average 72years); possible relationships between general/clinical/echocardiographic characteristics and the histopathologic changes were explored. Twenty autopsy aortic valves served as controls. In 40 cases, we also tested the immunohistochemical expression of metalloproteinases and cytokines, and characterized the inflammatory infiltrate. In 5 cases, we cultured cusp stem cells and explored their potential to differentiate into osteoblasts/adipocytes. RESULTS: AVS cusps showed structural remodeling as severe fibrosis (100%), calcific nodules (100%), neoangiogenesis (81%), inflammation (71%), bone metaplasia with or without hematopoiesis (6% and 53%, respectively), adipose metaplasia (16%), and cartilaginous metaplasia (7%). At multivariate analysis, AVS degree and interventricular septum thickness were the only predictors of remodeling (barring inflammation). All the tested metalloproteinases (except MMP-13) and cytokines were expressed in AVS cusps. Inflammation mainly consisted of B and T lymphocytes (CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio 3:1) and plasma cells. AVS changes were mostly different from typical atherosclerosis. Cultured mesenchymal cusp stem cells could differentiate into osteoblasts/adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Structural remodeling in AVS is peculiar and considerable, and is related to the severity of the disease. However, the different newly formed tissues-where "valvular interstitial cells" play a key role-and their well-known slow turnover suggest a reverse structural remodeling improbable

LC-IMPACT: a regionalized life cycle damage assessment method

Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is a lively field of research, and data and models are continuously improved in terms of impact pathways covered, reliability, and spatial detail. However, many of these advancements are scattered throughout the scientific literature, making it difficult for practitioners to apply the new models. Here, we present the LC‐IMPACT method that provides characterization factors at the damage level for 11 impact categories related to three areas of protection (human health, ecosystem quality, natural resources). Human health damage is quantified as disability adjusted life years, damage to ecosystem quality as global species extinction equivalents (based on potentially disappeared fraction of species), and damage to mineral resources as kilogram of extra ore extracted. Seven of the impact categories include spatial differentiation at various levels of spatial scale. The influence of value choices related to the time horizon and the level of scientific evidence of the impacts considered is quantified with four distinct sets of characterization factors. We demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method with an illustrative life cycle assessment example of different fuel options in Europe (petrol or biofuel). Differences between generic and regionalized impacts vary up to two orders of magnitude for some of the selected impact categories, highlighting the importance of spatial detail in LCIA. This article met the requirements for a gold – gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.JRC.D.1-Bio-econom

LC-IMPACT: A regionalized life cycle damage assessment method

Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is a lively field of research, and data and models are continuously improved in terms of impact pathways covered, reliability, and spatial detail. However, many of these advancements are scattered throughout the scientific literature, making it difficult for practitioners to apply the new models. Here, we present the LC-IMPACT method that provides characterization factors at the damage level for 11 impact categories related to three areas of protection (human health, ecosystem quality, natural resources). Human health damage is quantified as disability adjusted life years, damage to ecosystem quality as global species extinction equivalents (based on potentially disappeared fraction of species), and damage to mineral resources as kilogram of extra ore extracted. Seven of the impact categories include spatial differentiation at various levels of spatial scale. The influence of value choices related to the time horizon and the level of scientific evidence of the impacts considered is quantified with four distinct sets of characterization factors. We demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method with an illustrative life cycle assessment example of different fuel options in Europe (petrol or biofuel). Differences between generic and regionalized impacts vary up to two orders of magnitude for some of the selected impact categories, highlighting the importance of spatial detail in LCIA. This article met the requirements for a gold – gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges

Risk of disease relapse, safety and tolerability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with chronic inflammatory neuropathies

Background and purpose: The aim was to evaluate the risk of relapse after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination, and its safety and tolerability, in patients with chronic inflammatory neuropathies. Methods: In this multicenter, cohort and case-crossover study, the risk of relapse associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was assessed by comparing the frequency of relapse in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) patients who underwent or did not undergo vaccination. Frequency of relapse in the 3 months prior to and after vaccination, and safety and tolerability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, were also assessed. Results: In all, 336 patients were included (278 CIDP, 58 MMN). Three hundred and seven (91%) patients underwent SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Twenty-nine patients (9%) did not undergo vaccination. Mild and transient relapses were observed in 16 (5%) patients (13 CIDP, 3 MMN) after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and in none of the patients who did not undergo vaccination (relative risk [RR] 3.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19-52.25). There was no increase in the specific risk of relapse associated with type of vaccine or diagnosis. Comparison with the 3-month control period preceding vaccination revealed an increased risk of relapse after vaccination (RR 4.00, 95% CI 1.35-11.82), which was restricted to CIDP patients (RR 3.25, 95% CI 1.07-9.84). The safety profile of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was characterized by short-term, mild-to-moderate local and systemic adverse events. Conclusions: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in CIDP and MMN patients does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of relapse at the primary end-point, although a slightly increased risk in CIDP patients was found compared to the 3 months before vaccination

Association between migraine and cervical artery dissection the Italian project on stroke in young adults

IMPORTANCE Although sparse observational studies have suggested a link between migraine and cervical artery dissection (CEAD), any association between the 2 disorders is still unconfirmed. This lack of a definitive conclusion might have implications in understanding the pathogenesis of both conditions and the complex relationship between migraine and ischemic stroke (IS). OBJECTIVE To investigate whether a history of migraine and its subtypes is associated with the occurrence of CEAD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A prospective cohort study of consecutive patients aged 18 to 45 years with first-ever acute ischemic stroke enrolled in the multicenter Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults was conducted between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2015. In a case-control design, the study assessed whether the frequency of migraine and its subtypes (presence or absence of an aura) differs between patients whose IS was due to CEAD (CEAD IS) and those whose IS was due to a cause other than CEAD (non-CEAD IS) and compared the characteristics of patients with CEAD IS with and without migraine. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Frequency of migraine and its subtypes in patients with CEAD IS vs non-CEAD IS. RESULTS Of the 2485 patients (mean [SD] age, 36.8 [7.1] years; women, 1163 [46.8%]) included in the registry, 334 (13.4%) had CEAD IS and 2151 (86.6%) had non-CEAD IS. Migraine was more common in the CEAD IS group (103 [30.8%] vs 525 [24.4%], P = .01), and the difference was mainly due to migraine without aura (80 [24.0%] vs 335 [15.6%], P < .001). Compared with migraine with aura, migraine without aura was independently associated with CEAD IS (OR, 1.74; 95%CI, 1.30-2.33). The strength of this association was higher in men (OR, 1.99; 95%CI, 1.31-3.04) and in patients 39.0 years or younger (OR, 1.82; 95%CI, 1.22-2.71). The risk factor profile was similar in migrainous and non-migrainous patients with CEAD IS (eg, hypertension, 20 [19.4%] vs 57 [24.7%], P = .29; diabetes, 1 [1.0%] vs 3 [1.3%], P > .99). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In patients with IS aged 18 to 45 years, migraine, especially migraine without aura, is consistently associated with CEAD. This finding suggests common features and warrants further analyses to elucidate the underlying biologic mechanisms

Screening for Fabry disease in patients with ischaemic stroke at young age: the Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults

reserved85nomixedPoli, L.; Zedde, Marialuisa; Zini, Andrea; Del Sette, Massimo; Lodigiani, Corrado; Spalloni, Alessandra; Di Lisi, Filomena; Toriello, Antonella; Piras, Valeria; Stilo, Cesare; Tomelleri, Giampaolo; Tancredi, Lucia; Paciaroni, Maurizio; Silvestrelli, Giorgio; Adami, Alessandro; Costa, P.; Morotti, A.; De Giuli, V.; Caria, F.; Gamba, Massimo; Malferrari, Giovanni; Simone, Anna Maria; Musolino, Rossella; Giorli, Elisa; Banfi, Elena; Marcheselli, Simona; Rasura, Maurizia; Pugliese, Nicola; Melis, Maurizio; Bovi, Paolo; Padovani, A.; Burlina, A.; Pezzini, A; Del Zotto, Elisabetta; Giossi, Alessia; Sessa, Maria; Gilberti, Nicola; Magoni, Mauro; Ferrazzi, Paola; Librè, Luca; Rota, Lidia Luciana; Patella, Rosalba; Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore; Bramanti, Placido; La Spina, Paolo; Finocchi, Cinzia; Balestrino, Maurizio; Bruno, Chiara; Massucco, Davide; Gandolfo, Carlo; Traverso, Elisabetta; Delodovici, Maria Luisa; Verrengia, Elena Pinuccia; Carimati, Federico; Bono, Giorgio; Dell'Acqua, Maria Luisa; Bigliardi, Guido; Vandelli, Laura; Nichelli, Paolo Frigio; Carletti, Monica; Cerrato, Paolo; Iacoviello, Licia; Di Castelnuovo, Augusto; de Gaetano, Giovanni; Grassi, Mario; Locatelli, Giampiero; Caso, Valeria; D'Amore, Cataldo; Agnelli, Giancarlo; Checcarelli, Nicoletta; Guidotti, Mario; Arnaboldi, Marco; Giacalone, Giacomo; Zanoli, Elisa; Cavallini, Anna; Persico, Alessandra; Micieli, Giuseppe; Chiti, Alberto; Orlandi, Giovanni; Marchi, Piernicola; Lanari, Alessia; Ciccone, Alfonso; Cucurachi, Laura; Bonifati, Marco Domenico; Marcello, NorinaPoli, L.; Zedde, Marialuisa; Zini, Andrea; Del Sette, Massimo; Lodigiani, Corrado; Spalloni, Alessandra; Di Lisi, Filomena; Toriello, Antonella; Piras, Valeria; Stilo, Cesare; Tomelleri, Giampaolo; Tancredi, Lucia; Paciaroni, Maurizio; Silvestrelli, Giorgio; Adami, Alessandro; Costa, P.; Morotti, A.; De Giuli, V.; Caria, F.; Gamba, Massimo; Malferrari, Giovanni; Simone, Anna Maria; Musolino, Rossella; Giorli, Elisa; Banfi, Elena; Marcheselli, Simona; Rasura, Maurizia; Pugliese, Nicola; Melis, Maurizio; Bovi, Paolo; Padovani, A.; Burlina, A.; Pezzini, A; Del Zotto, Elisabetta; Giossi, Alessia; Sessa, Maria; Gilberti, Nicola; Magoni, Mauro; Ferrazzi, Paola; Librè, Luca; Rota, Lidia Luciana; Patella, Rosalba; Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore; Bramanti, Placido; La Spina, Paolo; Finocchi, Cinzia; Balestrino, Maurizio; Bruno, Chiara; Massucco, Davide; Gandolfo, Carlo; Traverso, Elisabetta; Delodovici, Maria Luisa; Verrengia, Elena Pinuccia; Carimati, Federico; Bono, Giorgio; Dell'Acqua, Maria Luisa; Bigliardi, Guido; Vandelli, Laura; Nichelli, Paolo Frigio; Carletti, Monica; Cerrato, Paolo; Iacoviello, Licia; Di Castelnuovo, Augusto; de Gaetano, Giovanni; Grassi, Mario; Locatelli, Giampiero; Caso, Valeria; D'Amore, Cataldo; Agnelli, Giancarlo; Checcarelli, Nicoletta; Guidotti, Mario; Arnaboldi, Marco; Giacalone, Giacomo; Zanoli, Elisa; Cavallini, Anna; Persico, Alessandra; Micieli, Giuseppe; Chiti, Alberto; Orlandi, Giovanni; Marchi, Piernicola; Lanari, Alessia; Ciccone, Alfonso; Cucurachi, Laura; Bonifati, Marco Domenico; Marcello, Norin

Polymyxin-B hemoperfusion in septic patients: analysis of a multicenter registry

Background: In 2010, the EUPHAS 2 collaborative group created a registry with the purpose of recording data from critically ill patients suffering from severe sepsis and septic shock treated with polymyxin-B hemoperfusion (PMX-HP) for endotoxin removal. The aim of the registry was to verify the application of PMX-HP in the daily clinical practice. Methods: The EUPHAS 2 registry involved 57 centers between January 2010 and December 2014, collecting retrospective data of 357 patients (297 in Europe and 60 in Asia) suffering from severe sepsis and septic shock caused by proved or suspected infection related to Gram negative bacteria. All patients received atleast one cycle of extracorporeal endotoxin removal by PMX-HP. Results: Septic shock was diagnosed in 305 (85.4 %) patients. The most common source of infection was abdominal (44.0 %) followed by pulmonary (17.6 %). Gram negative bacteria represented 60.6 % of the pathogens responsible of infection. After 72 h from the first cycle of PMX-HP, some of the SOFA score components significantly improved with respect to baseline: cardiovascular (2.16 \ub1 1.77 from 3.32 \ub1 1.29, p < 0.0001), respiratory (1.95 \ub1 0.95 from 2.40 \ub1 1.06, p < 0.001) and renal (1.84 \ub1 1.77 from 2.23 \ub1 1.62, p = 0.013). Overall 28-day survival rate was 54.5 % (60.4 % in abdominal and 47.5 % in pulmonary infection). Patients with abdominal infection treated with PMX-HP within 24 h from the diagnosis of septic shock had a 28-day survival rate of 64.5 %. Patients showing a significantly cardiovascular improvement after PMX-HP had a 28-survival rate of 75 % in comparison to the 39 % of patients who did not (p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis found the variation of cardiovascular, respiratory and coagulation SOFA to be independent covariates for 28-day survival. In European patients were observed a higher 28-day (58.8 vs. 34.5 %, p = 0.003), ICU (59 vs. 36.7 %, p = 0.006) and hospital survival rate (53.2 vs. 35 %, p = 0.02) than in Asian patients. However, the two populations were highly heterogeneous in terms of source of infection and severity scores at admission. Conclusion: The EUPHAS 2 is the largest registry conducted outside Japan on the clinical use of PMX-HP in septic patients. Data analysis confirmed the feasibility of PMX-HP to treat septic patients in daily clinical practice, showing clinical benefits associated with endotoxin removal without significant adverse events related to the extracorporeal technique