Isolated ventricular noncompaction: a case report

Isolated ventricular noncompaction is an extremely rare cardiomyopathy, not fully clarified

Determinants of serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) in the adult population: the role of obesity.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Assessment of serum concentration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) has been suggested as a useful biomarker to indicate activation of innate immune responses to microbial products. We investigated LBP concentrations and associations with demographics, lifestyle factors, and common metabolic abnormalities in adults. We also examined if LBP concentrations were associated with common polymorphisms in genes coding for LBP (rs2232618), CD14 (rs2569190), and TLR4 (rs4986790), the molecules responsible for the innate immune response to LPS, or serum levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) and proinflammatory cytokines. METHODS: Serum LBP was measured with a commercial immunoassay in a random sample of the adult population (n = 420, 45% males, age 18-92 years) from a single municipality. RESULTS: Serum LBP concentrations increased with age (P<0.001) and were higher in individuals who were overweight or obese than in normal-weight individuals (P<0.001). Similarly, LBP concentrations were higher in individuals with metabolic syndrome than in individuals without it (P<0.001). Among metabolic syndrome components, LBP concentrations were independently associated with abdominal obesity (P = 0.002) and low concentrations of HDL-cholesterol (P<0.001). Serum LBP concentrations tended to be independently associated with smoking (P = 0.05), but not with alcohol consumption. Likewise, there was not significant association between LBP concentrations and gene polymorphisms. Concentrations of LBP significantly correlated with serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8), sCD14, and with liver enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: Serum LBP concentrations increased with age. Overweight, obesity, and having metabolic syndrome (particularly, low HDL cholesterol levels) were associated with higher LBP concentrations. These findings are consistent with microbial exposure playing a role in these inflammatory, metabolic abnormalities

C19. Ventilação mecânica prolongada numa UCI respiratória

Os autores tiveram como objectivo avaliar a ventilação mecânica prolongada (VMP) (³ 15 dias) tendo em consideração: - grupos de diagnóstico, gravidade e sobrevivência.De 1990 a 2002 todos os doentes submetidos a ventilação mecânica (VM) admitidos na nossa UCI foram incluídos. Os doentes com VM ³ 15 e 0.05Dos doentes com VMP que tiveram alta (n=236), 13 (5,5%) ficaram dependentes de VM invasiva; 26 (11%) faleceram após 40,1±38 meses e 104 (44%) estavam vivos ao fim de 21±29,9 meses após a alta.Em conclusão os doentes com VMP tiveram uma maior taxa de mortalidade durante o internamento na UCI. apesar de terem APACHE II idênticos. Daqueles que sobreviveram somente 5,5% ficaram dependentes VM invasiva. No follow-up 44% dos doentes com VMP estavam vivos após 21 meses. : Our aim was to evaluate prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) (³ 15 days) in what concerns:- diagnostic groups, severity and survival.During 1990-2002 all mechanically ventilated (MV) patients admitted in the study period were included. MV ³ 15 and 0.05From discharged patients (n=236), 13 (5,5%) were dependent on invasive MV; 26 (11%) died in a 40,1±38 months period and 104 (44%) were alive in 21±29,9 months after discharge.In conclusion in spite of a similar APACHE II, PMV patients had higher ICU mortality rate. From survivors only 5,5% rested dependent on invasive MV. The follow-up of PMV showed a 44% survival rate at more or less 21 months. Key words: prolonged mechanical ventilation, follow-up, Palavras chave: ventilação mecânica prolongada, follow-u

Serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) in relation to common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the LBP, CD14, and TLR4 genes.

<p>Data are medians and interquartile ranges (within parenthesis).</p><p>DNA samples were available for 237–253 out of 420 individuals.</p>*<p>P<0.05 (comparison with the reference category, Mann-Whitney test).</p

Multivariate analysis of factors associated with serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) concentrations: demographic factors, lifestyle factors and body mass.

<p>Linear regression analysis. LBP concentrations (dependent variable) was log₁₀-transformed in order to normalize their distribution. All listed covariates entered the equation. Age was introduced in years and BMI was introduced in kg/m²; the remaining variables were introduced as “1 = present or yes” and “0 = absent or not”. Complete data were available for 419 individuals. The model explained 13.6% of the variability of serum LBP concentrations (R square, 0.136).</p

Serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) in the different age strata.

<p>Horizontal lines represent median values, boxes represent the interquartile range, whiskers represent the range, and dots represent extreme values (higher than the 75^th percentile plus 1.5 times the interquartile range). The P-values (top of the figure) reflect comparisons to the group of 18–30 year-old (Mann-Whitney test). NS, not significant (P>0.05); *, P<0.005.</p

Histogram of serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) in the study population.

<p>Histogram of serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) in the study population.</p

Scatterplot of individual concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and HDL-cholesterol.

<p>Correlation coefficient was obtained with the Spearman’s rank test.</p