Final report on dissemination, regulation, standardization, exploitation & training : D6.3

In D6.1 deliverable project dissemination, exploitation and training plans, as well as standardization & regulatory approach strategy was presented. The D6.2 reported on the necessary updates of these strategies and the actions taken by the partners in line with them, as well as the obtained results. In this D6.3 deliverable, a full set of project dissemination activities, standardization & regulatory contributions as well as an operator’s “cook book” outlining steps necessary for full deployment of ON functionality and services, are presented.Deliverable D6.3 del projecte OneFITPostprint (author’s final draft

Results analysis and validation - D5.3

Deliverable D5.3 del projecte OneFITPostprint (author’s final draft

Performance evaluation of synergic operation of algorithms enabling opportunistic networks - D4.3

Deliverable D4.3 del projecte OneFITPreprin

Thermogenic capacity of human white-fat: the actual picture

Presented at the 9th Greek Conference of Biochemistry and Physiology of Exercise, Thessaloniki, Greece, 18–20 October 2019Cold exposure and exercise may increase thermogenic capacity of white adipose tissue (WAT), which could subsequently enhance energy expenditure and body weight loss. We aimed to identify possible alterations in uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)—the main biomarker of thermogenic activation—in human WAT due to both cold exposure and exercise, as well as the link between environmental temperature and thermogenic capacity of human WAT. MATERIAL & METHOD: We conducted four human experimental studies and two systematic reviews and meta-analyses—PROSPERO registration CRD42019120116, CRD42019120213. RESULTS: UCP1 mRNA was higher in winter than in summer [t(30) = 2.232, p = 0.03] in human WAT and our meta-analysis showed a main effect of cold exposure on human UCP1 mRNA [standard mean difference (Std-md) = 1.81, confidence interval (CI) = 0.50–3.13, p = 0.007]. However, UCP1 mRNA/protein expressions displayed no associations with %fat mass or BMI (p > 0.05, Cohen’s f2 < 0.20). Both a 2-hour cooling and a non-cooling protocol preceding the positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) measurements revealed no association between environmental temperature and standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of human WAT, as well as no mean differences in SUVmax-WAT-activity between winter and summer. An 8-week exercise program had no effect on UCP1 of human WAT or on body composition. Our meta-analysis also revealed: (a) no effect of chronic exercise on human UCP1 mRNA, (b) a main effect of chronic exercise on UCP1 protein concentrations (Std-md = 0.59, CI = 0.03–1.16, p = 0.04) and UCP1 mRNA (Std-md = 1.76, CI = 0.48–3.04, p = 0.007) in WAT of normal diet animals, c) a main effect of chronic exercise on UCP1 mRNA (Std-md = 2.94, CI = 0.24–5.65, p = 0.03) and UCP1 protein concentrations (Std-md = 2.06, CI = 0.07–4.05, p = 0.04) of high-fat diet animals. CONCLUSIONS: Cold exposure represents a main stimulus for increased thermogenic capacity in human white adipocytes; however, this may have no impact on body weight loss. Chronic exercise may represent no major stimulus for UCP1 induced in human white adipocytes, while in animals it increases UCP1 gene independently of their diet. Therefore, evidence from animal studies regarding UCP1 gene activation in white adipocytes may not be applicable in humans. Finally, the identification of human WAT thermogenic capacity via PET/CT examination may be optimal with both a cooling and a non-cooling protocol.Published onlin

A diachronic take on the Source–Goal asymmetry: evidence from inner Asia Minor Greek

peer reviewe

Cardioprotective effect of metoprolol and enalapril in doxoroubicin-treated lymphoma patients

Background: Doxorubicin is the most potent and efficacious antineoplastic agent. However, the severe cardiotoxic effects of the anthracyclines limit their beneficial effect on survival in cancer patients. We designed this randomized trial to investi-gate the possible cardioprotective effects of metoprolol (b-adrenergic antagonist) and enalapril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) combined with doxorubi-cin-based chemotherapy in patients with lymphoma.Subjects and methods: Patients with lymphoma were randomly assigned to re-ceive doxorubicin-based chemotherapy with metoprolol (group 1) or enalapril (group 2) or no additional treatment (group 3). Doppler echocardiographic exami-nations were performed and repeated measurements of left ventricular function were recorded. The primary end-points were: 1) the occurrence of doxorubicin-induced clinical or subclinical cardiotoxicity in lymphoma patients during the first year of chemotherapy (early cardiotoxicity), after concomitant administration with metoprolol or enalapril or no concomitant treatment and 2) the incidence of late cardiotoxicity (>1 year of follow-up including treatment period). Clinical cardiotoxic-ity was defined as the presence of congestive heart failure. Subclinical cardiotoxic-ity was classed as: 1) a difference of 10% between the left ventricular injection fraction values at each visit and the baseline value, and left ventricular ejection fraction 1χρόνο από την έναρξη της χημειοθεραπείας με δοξορουβικίνη). Ως κλινική καρδιοτοξικότητα ορίστηκε η παρουσία συμφορητικής καρδιακής ανεπάρκειας. Ως υποκλινική καρδιοτοξικότητα ορίστηκε: 1) η ελάττωση του κλάσματος εξώθησης της αριστερής κοιλίας (LVEF) > 10% ανάμεσα σε δύο μετρήσεις και με τιμή κλάσματος εξώθησης (EF) στη δεύτερη μέτρηση <50% (καρδιακό συμβάν) και 2) μια αλλαγή στις συστολικές και διαστολικές παραμέτρους της αριστερής κοιλίας σε σχέση με τις παραμέτρους πριν από την έναρξη της ΧΜΘ.Αποτελέσματα: 125 ασθενείς ολοκλήρωσαν τη μελέτη (65 άνδρες), μέσης ηλικίας 49 έτη (± SD 17,85 έτη). Σαράντα δύο ασθενείς τυχαιοποιήθηκαν στην ομάδα 1, 43 ασθενείς στην ομάδα 2 και 40 ασθενείς στην ομάδα 3. Ο μέσος χρόνος παρακολούθησης των ασθενών ήταν 31 μήνες (SD ± 17.7 μήνες). Εκατόν εννέα ασθενείς συμπλήρωσαν 1 χρόνο παρακολούθησης (πρώιμη καρδιοτοξικότητα), 64 ασθενείς 2 χρόνια και 45 ασθενείς 3 χρόνια. Συμφορητική καρδιακή ανεπάρκεια παρουσιάστηκε σε 6 (4,8%) ασθενείς. Ένας ασθενής είχε λάβει μετοπρολόλη, 2 είχαν λάβει εναλαπρίλη και 3 δεν είχαν λάβει καμία θεραπεία (χ2=1.178, p=0.555). Είκοσι ασθενείς (16%) εμφάνισαν καρδιοτοξικότητα κατά τη διάρκεια του 1ου χρόνου παρακολούθησης (πρώιμη καρδιοτοξικότητα) και 8 ασθενείς (7.3%) μετά τον 1ο χρόνο παρακολούθησης (όψιμη καρδιοτοξικότητα). Δε βρέθηκε συσχέτιση ανάμεσα στην παρουσία καρδιοτοξικότητας και: 1. θεραπείας με μετοπρολόλη ή εναλαπρίλη, 2. τύπου λεμφώματος, 3. φύλου, 4. ηλικίας, 5. καπνίσματος, 6. δείκτη μάζας σώματος. Ο μέσος όρος όλων των υπερηχοκαρδιογραφικών μεταβλητών (συστολικών και διαστολικών) ανάμεσα στις 3 ομάδες δε διέφερε στατιστικά σημαντικά κατά τη διάρκεια του 1ου χρόνου παρακολούθησης των ασθενών. Παρόμοια ήταν τα ευρήματα και για την υπόλοιπη περίοδο παρακολούθησης των ασθενών. Όμως το κλάσμα E/A της διαστολικής λειτουργίας της αριστερής κοιλίας ήταν στατιστικά σημαντικά αυξημένο στην ομάδα της μετοπρολόλης 30 και 42 μήνες μετά την έναρξη της θεραπείας (p=0.003 και p=0.005 αντίστοιχα). Οι 17 ανεπιθύμητες ενέργειες οι οποίες καταγράφηκαν διανεμήθηκαν ομοιόμορφα και στις 3 ομάδες. Η μετοπρολόλη και η εναλαπρίλη ήταν καλά ανεκτές.Συμπεράσματα: Η δοξορουβικίνη στις συνιστώμενες θεραπευτικές δόσεις σε ασθενείς με λέμφωμα δεν επηρέασε τη συστολική λειτουργία της αριστερής κοιλίας στην πρώιμη και όψιμη φάση της θεραπείας. Η μετοπρολόλη έδειξε ότι μπορεί να έχει θετική επίδραση στη διαστολική λειτουργία της αριστερής κοιλίας πολύ όψιμα

Serial serum procalcitonin changes in the prognosis of acute stroke

Inflammatory response is a principal early component in the pathophysiology of stroke [1]. Serum procalcitonin (PCT)-a marker of septicemia and infection severity [2]-has also been proposed as an indicator of systemic inflammatory response in noninfectious situations [3,4]. As no data exist thus far on PCT in stroke, this study aimed to evaluate serum PCT changes in the acute stroke setting, and to correlate them with clinical and laboratory parameters and patient\u27s outcome

Polymorphisms of fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 gene in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis

Aim: The chemokine fractalikine is expresses in vascular endothelium, exerting a pro-atherogenic effect. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the CX3CR1 gene (T280M and V2491) affect fractalkine receptor expression and function. We aimed to assess the prevalence of CX3CR1 polymorphisms and the asociation with ischemic cerebrovascular attacts in a cohort of carotid atheromatous disease patients and age-matched controls. Methods: Using PCR-RFLP, we analyzed allelotypes for T280M and V249I in 150 patients with and 151 controls without carotid atherosclerosis assessed using carotid duplex ultrasound; the sugjects were patients admitted for any reason to a tertiary hospital. Genotype data were compared with modifiable risk factors for cerebrovascular disease and the reason for admission, using ischemic stroke as an endpoint. Stroke types associated with carotid atherosclerosis were analysed separately. Results: The M280 allelic frequency was lower among carotid atherosclerosis patients than controls (0.15 versus 0.23, adjusted OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.30-0.74). Absence of M280 allele was an independent factor associated with carotid atherosclerosis (OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.92-7.14), strongers than hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes and cigarette smoking. The I249 allele was also under-represented in carotid atherosclerosis; this was not statistically significant. T280M and V249I genotypes were not associated with admission due to ischemic stroke of the large vessel subtype (TOAST classification, 73 episodes), whereas carotid atherosclerosis, previous ischemic event, age, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and cigarette smoking were all independently associated. Conclusions: The M280 fractalkine receptor gene allele is associated with a lower risk of carotid atheromatous disease, independent from the modifiable cerebrovascular risk factors