On Spanish Dvandva and its restrictions

As noted by Bauer, real dvandva compounds –that is, coordinative compounds that properly express the aggregation of two different entities, not the intersection of properties in one entity– are extremely rare in English or Spanish. This article explores the empirical domain of dvandva compounding in Spanish, and notes that they are productive when not used as heads within their phrases. We propose that the explanation for this is that Spanish can only productively build dvandva compounds using flat structures without internal hierarchy. This causes the compound to look externally for a head noun that defines the interpretation of the relation established between the two members of the dvandva. The proposal also explains why proper names is preferred in dvandva compounding, given that they do not denote properties

Type 1 diabetes and COVID-19: the "Lockdown effect"

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect the lockdown imposed during COVID-19 outbreak on the glycemic control of people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) using Con- tinuous (CGM) or Flash Glucose Monitoring (FGM). Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed glucose reading obtained by FGM or CGM in T1D subjects. Sensor data from 2 weeks before the lockdown (Period 0, P0), 2 weeks immediately after the lockdown (period 1, P1), in mid-lockdown (Period 2, P2) and immedi- ately after end of lockdown (Period 3, P3) were analyzed. Results: The study included 63 T1D patients, (FGM: 52, 82%; CGM:11, 18%). Sensor use (91%) were slightly reduced. Despite this reduction, Time in Range increased in P1 (62%), P2 (61%) and P3 (62%) as compared to P0 (58%, all p < 0.05 or less) with concomitant reduction in the Time Above Range (P0: 38%; P1: 34%, P2: 34%, P3: 32%, all p < 0.05 or less vs. P0). Average glu- cose and GMI improved achieving statistical difference in P3 (165 vs. 158 mg/dl, p = 0.040 and 7.2% (55 mmol/mol) vs. 7.0% (53 mmol/mol), p = 0.016) compared to P0. Time Below Range (TBR) and overall glucose variability remained unchanged. Bi-hourly analysis of glu- cose profile showed an improvement particularly in the early morning hours. Conclusions: In T1D subjects with good glycemic control on CGM or FGM, the lockdown had no negative impact. Rather a modest but significant improvement in glycemic control has been recorded, most likely reflecting more regular daily life activities and reduces work- related distress

Discordant Effect of IFN-ß1a Therapy on Anti-IFN Antibodies and Thyroid Disease Development in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Interferon-beta1b (IFN-beta1b) therapy is associated with a relatively high risk of developing thyroid disease. IFN-beta1a is regarded as less immunogenic than IFN-beta1b because of its structural homology to natural IFN-beta. We assessed the effect of 1 year of IFN-beta1a treatment on thyroid function and autoimmunity in 14 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The results were compared with those obtained in a series of 31 MS patients treated with IFN-beta1b. The prevalence of positive binding antibody (BAb) titer and neutralizing (NAb) anti-IFN antibody titer in the two groups was also assessed. The BAb and NAb positivity rate in IFN-beta1a-treated patients was significantly lower than in the group submitted to IFN-beta1b therapy (7% vs. 84% and 0% vs. 30%, respectively). Although the incidence of thyroid dysfunction was slightly higher in IFN-beta1b-treated patients than in those undergoing IFN-beta1a treatment (33% vs. 23%, respectively), it did not reach statistical significance. Thyroid disease was unrelated to the presence of positive serum BAb or NAb titer in both the group undergoing IFN-beta1a therapy and in that treated with IFN-beta1b. In both groups, thyroid disease developed mostly in women (71%) against a background of preexisting thyroiditis and a diffuse hypoechoic ultrasound thyroid pattern (80%). IFN-beta1a treatment was associated with a significantly lower prevalence of both BAb and NAb-positive titers than was IFN-beta1b. Conversely, thyroid disease was similar and unrelated to the presence of positive anti-IFN-beta antibody titer. Therefore, routine thyroid assessment may be advised during IFN-beta1a treatment, especially in patients with preexisting thyroiditis

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on glucose control of elderly people with type 2 diabetes in Italy

Aims: to evaluate the effect of home confinement related to COVID-19 lockdown on metabolic control in subjects with T2DM in Italy. Methods: we evaluated the metabolic profile of 304 individuals with T2DM (65% males; age 69 ± 9 years; diabetes duration 16 ± 10 years) attending our Diabetes Unit early at the end of lockdown period (June 8 to July 7, 2020) and compared it with the latest one recorded before lockdown. Results: There was no significant difference in fasting plasma glucose (8.6 ± 2.1 vs 8.8 ± 2.5 mmol/L; P = 0.353) and HbA1c (7.1 ± 0.9 vs 7.1 ± 0.9%; P = 0.600) before and after lockdown. Worsening of glycaemic control (i.e., ΔHbA1c ≥ 0.5%) occurred more frequently in older patients (32.2% in > 80 years vs 21.3% in 61-80 years vs 9.3% in < 60 years; P = 0.05) and in insulin users (28.8 vs 16.5%; P = 0.012). On multivariable analysis, age > 80 years (OR 4.62; 95%CI: 1.22-16.07) and insulin therapy (OR 1.96; 95%CI: 1.10-3.50) remained independently associated to worsening in glycaemic control. Conclusions: Home confinement related to COVID-19 lockdown did not exert a negative effect on glycaemic control in patients with T2DM. However, age and insulin therapy can identify patients at greatest risk of deterioration of glycaemic control

Early abnormalities of left ventricular myocardial characteristics associated with subclinical hyperthyroidism

The aim of the present study was to analyze heart function in subclinical hyperthyroidism (sHT) in otherwise healthy subjects by new methods using intramyocardial ultrasonic techniques. Twenty-four newly diagnosed and untreated sHT patients (20 women, 4 men; mean age: 42+/-4 yr) and 24 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were studied. All subjects were submitted to conventional 2D color-Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging (PWTDI) for the analysis of diastolic function, color Doppler myocardial imaging (CDMI) for the analysis of regional strain and strain rate (SR) expression of regional myocardial deformability, and to integrated backscatter (IBS) for the evaluation of intrinsic contractility and tissue characterization. Regional myocardial systolic strain findings were significantly higher in sHT patients when compared with controls (p<0.001). Considering diastolic SR, the early phase of diastolic SR was compromised in sHT subjects as compared with controls (p<0.001). Cyclic variation index (CVI), expression of intrinsic contractility, was significantly higher in sHT subjects in comparison with controls (p<0.0001). IBS values were comparable between the 2 study groups. In conclusion, the present study suggests that in patients with sHT early systolic hyperdeformability and hypercontractility are present, together with impairment of both active and passive phases of diastole. On the contrary, no left ventricular hypertrophy or other structural alterations are documented

Early textural and functional alterations of left ventricular myocardium in mild hypothyroidism

The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiac function and texture in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT) both by conventional and new ultrasonic intramyocardial tissue techniques. sHT was characterized by normal serum free tetraiodotironine and free triiodotironine levels and slightly increased serum TSH level. Twenty-four patients affected by sHT and 24 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were studied. All subjects were submitted to conventional two-dimensional (2D)-color Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging (PWTDI) for the analysis of the diastolic function, color Doppler myocardial imaging (CDMI) for the analysis of regional strain and strain-rate and integrated backscatter (IBS) for the evaluation of intrinsic contractility and tissue characterization. The results of the present study were: (a) the detection in sHT subjects of a lower cyclic variation index (CVI) indicating an altered myocardial intrinsic contractility; (b) a higher ultrasonic myocardial reflectivity indicating an altered myocardial texture; (c) the detection of lower systolic strain and strain-rate indicating an alteration of myocardial regional deformability; (d) an initial impairment of left ventricular diastolic function indicated by a decrease of peak E mitral flow velocity and an increase of peak A mitral flow velocity. All parameters studied with conventional 2D-echo in sHT patients were comparable with controls, except for a mild alteration in diastolic function. A significant correlation among systo-diastolic modifications detected by CDMI and IBS and serum TSH levels were found. The CVI at septum, the PWDTI S-peak wave and the systolic strain at septum were inversely related to the serum TSH levels. In conclusion, the new intramyocardial ultrasonic techniques confirm and extend the previous knowledge on the effect of the sHT on the heart, allowing the detection of early ultrastructural and regional functional systolic and diastolic abnormalities