Disfunzione endoteliale e rigidità arteriosa nei pazienti con spondilite anchilosante: ruolo dell'accumulo della dimetil-arginina asimmetrica (ADMA): studio esplorativo cross-sectional caso-controllo

Increased incidence of cardiovascular disease has been observed in Ankylosin Spondylitis (AS).Data from the literature suggest that AS patients have an inceased cardiovascular rick profile due to enhanced atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVES: the objectives of this study are to asses plasma asymmetric dimethyl-L- arginine (ADMA) levels, indipendently predict subclinical atherosclerosis, intima-media thicness (IMT) and arterial stifness, marker of sub-clinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: Seventeen As patients were enrolled with 17 healty controls. Were recorded the following parameters:BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index), BASMI ( Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index), BASFI ( Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index) and HAQ-S ( Healt Assessment Questionnaire) , CRP, ESR, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides were measured levels and determination of plasmatic levels of ADMA, SDMA, Arginine, Omocysteine, Cysteine. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by estimation IMT by carotid echography and endothelial dysfunction by flow-mediated dilatation of brachiall artery (FMD). RESULTS: We found significantly increased ADMA in AS group compared with healty controls. No difference was found in arterial stiffness and IMT between the two groups.CONCLUSION: this study show first time a role of elevation to ADMA as a mediator of vascular damage in patients with AS

A Photoprotein in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Measures Ca2+ Mobilization in Cells and in Animals

Exogenous expression of pharmacological targets in transformed cell lines has been the traditional platform for high throughput screening of small molecules. However, exogenous expression in these cells is limited by aberrant dosage, or its toxicity, the potential lack of interaction partners, and alterations to physiology due to transformation itself. Instead, primary cells or cells differentiated from precursors are more physiological, but less amenable to exogenous expression of reporter systems. To overcome this challenge, we stably expressed c-Photina, a Ca2+-sensitive photoprotein, driven by a ubiquitous promoter in a mouse embryonic stem (mES) cell line. The same embryonic stem cell line was also used to generate a transgenic mouse that expresses c-Photina in most tissues. We show here that these cells and mice provide an efficient source of primary cells, cells differentiated from mES cells, including cardiomyocytes, neurons, astrocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, pancreatic islet cells, stably and robustly expressing c-Photina, and may be exploited for miniaturized high throughput screening. Moreover, we provide evidence that the transgenic mice may be suitable for ex-vivo bioimaging studies in both cells and tissues

The Clinical Impact of the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index on the Length of Hospital Stay of Patients with Pulmonary Embolism: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND The Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) is an extensively validated prognostic score, but impact analyses of the PESI on management strategies, outcomes and health care costs are lacking. Our aim was to assess whether the adoption of the PESI for patients admitted to an internal medicine ward has the potential to safely reduce the length of hospital stay (LOS). METHODS We carried out a multicenter randomized controlled trial, enrolling consecutive adult outpatients diagnosed with acute PE and admitted to an internal medicine ward. Within 48 h after diagnosis, the treating physicians were randomized, for every patient, to calculate and report the PESI in the clinical record form on top of the standard of care (experimental arm) or to continue routine clinical practice (standard of care). The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT03002467. RESULTS This study was prematurely stopped due to slow recruitment. A total of 118 patients were enrolled at six internal medicine units from 2016 to 2019. The treating physicians were randomized to the use of the PESI for 59 patients or to the standard of care for 59 patients. No difference in the median LOS was found between the experimental arm (8, IQR 6-12) and the standard-of-care arm (8, IQR 6-12) (p = 0.63). A pre-specified secondary analysis showed that the LOS was significantly shorter among the patients who were treated with DOACs (median of 8 days, IQR 5-11) compared to VKAs or heparin (median of 9 days, IQR 7-12) (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS The formal calculation of the PESI in the patients already admitted to internal medicine units did not impact the length of hospital stay

Estimation of nitrogen volatilisation in the bedded-pack of dairy cow barns

The objective of the study was to measure N volatilisation (NVOL) from bedded-pack dairy cow barns. Feed intake, milk production, bedding material used and meteorological variables were monitored in 3 dairy farms near the town of Arborea (39°46’26” N, 08°34’53” E, 7 m a.s.l.) during one month for each season from summer 2007 to spring 2008. NVOL was measured in the interval between excretion and removal of bedded-packs from barn floors. NVOL was measured using the N (nitrogen) to P (phosphorus) ratio marker method, considering P as an internal non-volatile marker in milk and manure. Nitrogen and P excretion was estimated by nutrient balance as intake minus N and P excreted in milk. NVOL coefficient and bad-pack temperature were almost constant among seasons. The annual mean NVOL in bedded-pack barns was equal to 38.8% of excreted N. Accounting also for the NVOL that occurred in the concrete floor of the feeding and walking areas of the barns, NVOL was 40.7% of N excreted

Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels and atherosclerotic disease in ankylosing spondylitis: a cross-sectional study

Conclusive data about the prevalence of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerotic process in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with respect to the general population are lacking. Elevated plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, have been reported in clinical conditions associated with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerotic disease. We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate plasma ADMA levels and atherosclerotic disease in AS patients. Seventeen consecutive AS patients free of any cardiovascular disease and 17 healthy controls [strictly matched for sex, age (±5 years) and atherosclerotic risk factors] were recruited. Plasma ADMA levels were assessed by capillary electrophoresis. Common carotid artery intima–media thickness (CCA-IMT), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and arterial stiffness (aS) were registered as surrogate markers of atherosclerotic disease. Plasma ADMA levels appeared significantly (p=0.001) higher in AS patients (0.65 ± 0.10 μmoli/L) than in the control subjects (0.54 ± 0.07 μmoli/L) while no statistically significant differences between AS and controls were demonstrated in CCA-IMT, FMD, and aS. AS patients showed increased plasma ADMA levels with respect to control subjects. On the contrary, we were not able to document a significant difference in atherosclerotic process between patients and controls

Intrathecal oligoclonal bands synthesis in multiple sclerosis: is it always a prognostic factor?

Oligoclonal IgM (OCMB) and IgG (OCGB) bands were found to be associated with poor multiple sclerosis (MS) prognosis

Correlation of SpO2/FiO2 and PaO2/FiO2 in patients with symptomatic COVID-19: An observational, retrospective study

Some patients affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) experience acute hypoxemic respiratory failure progressing toward atypical acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aim of the study is to evaluate whether a correlation between ratio of peripheral saturation of oxygen (SpO2) and fraction of inspired oxygen (S/F) and ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen and fraction of inspired oxygen (P/F) exists in COVID-19-related ARDS as already known in classical ARDS. In this multicenter, retrospective, observational study, consecutive, adult (≥ 18 years) patients with symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to different COVID-19 divisions in Italy between March and December 2020 were included. Patients with SpO2 > 97% or missing information were excluded. We included 1,028 patients (median age 72 years, prevalence of males [62.2%]). A positive correlation was found between P/F and S/F (r = 0.938, p < 0.0001). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that S/F accurately recognizes the presence of ARDS (P/F ≤ 300 mmHg) in COVID-19 patients, with a cut-off of ≤ 433% showing good sensitivity and specificity. S/F was also tested against P/F values ≤ 200 and ≤ 100 mmHg (suggestive for moderate and severe ARDS, respectively), the latter showing great accuracy for S/F ≤ 178%. S/F was accurate in predicting ARDS for SpO2 ≥ 92%. In conclusion, our findings support the routine use of S/F as a reliable surrogate of P/F in patients with COVID-19-related ARDS