Osteoprotegerin levels are associated with liver fat and liver markers in dysmetabolic adults

AIM: This study aimed to determine the association between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), liver fat (LF) content, and other markers of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in dysmetabolic adults. METHODS: Subjects from the NUMEVOX cohort were included if they fulfilled at least one MetS criterion. They then underwent a thorough metabolic and cardiovascular evaluation, including arterial stiffness, atherosclerotic plaques, homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indices and OPG. VAT and LF content were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ultrasound examination of arteries and arterial stiffness were recorded, and age- and gender-adjusted paired correlations calculated. RESULTS: Body mass index, waist circumference and MRI-derived VAT correlated with OPG, whereas abdominal subcutaneous fat did not. OPG levels were strongly correlated with LF content (r=0.25, P=0.003), liver markers such as alanine aminotransferase (r=0.39, P<0.001) and HOMA-IR index (r=0.39, P<0.0001). Plasma OPG also correlated with arterial stiffness and the number of atherosclerotic sites. CONCLUSION: Plasma OPG levels are positively associated with both liver markers and increased LF content, but not with subcutaneous fat in dysmetabolic men. These findings suggest that elevated OPG levels may play a role in the link between fatty liver disease and enhanced cardiovascular risk

Status of the Super-B factory Design

The SuperB international team continues to optimize the design of an electron-positron collider, which will allow the enhanced study of the origins of flavor physics. The project combines the best features of a linear collider (high single-collision luminosity) and a storage-ring collider (high repetition rate), bringing together all accelerator physics aspects to make a very high luminosity of 10$^{36}$ cm$^{-2}$ sec$^{-1}$. This asymmetric-energy collider with a polarized electron beam will produce hundreds of millions of B-mesons at the $\Upsilon$(4S) resonance. The present design is based on extremely low emittance beams colliding at a large Piwinski angle to allow very low $\beta_y^\star$ without the need for ultra short bunches. Use of crab-waist sextupoles will enhance the luminosity, suppressing dangerous resonances and allowing for a higher beam-beam parameter. The project has flexible beam parameters, improved dynamic aperture, and spin-rotators in the Low Energy Ring for longitudinal polarization of the electron beam at the Interaction Point. Optimized for best colliding-beam performance, the facility may also provide high-brightness photon beams for synchrotron radiation applications

Acute kidney disease and renal recovery : consensus report of the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) 16 Workgroup

Consensus definitions have been reached for both acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) and these definitions are now routinely used in research and clinical practice. The KDIGO guideline defines AKI as an abrupt decrease in kidney function occurring over 7 days or less, whereas CKD is defined by the persistence of kidney disease for a period of > 90 days. AKI and CKD are increasingly recognized as related entities and in some instances probably represent a continuum of the disease process. For patients in whom pathophysiologic processes are ongoing, the term acute kidney disease (AKD) has been proposed to define the course of disease after AKI; however, definitions of AKD and strategies for the management of patients with AKD are not currently available. In this consensus statement, the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) proposes definitions, staging criteria for AKD, and strategies for the management of affected patients. We also make recommendations for areas of future research, which aim to improve understanding of the underlying processes and improve outcomes for patients with AKD

SuperB: next-generation e+e- B-factory collider

International audienceThe SuperB international team continues to optimize the design of an electron-positron collider, which will allow the enhanced study of the origins of flavor physics. The project combines the best features of a linear collider (high single- collision luminosity) and a storage-ring collider (high rep- etition rate), bringing together all accelerator physics as- pects to make a very high luminosity of 10^36 cm^−2 sec^−1 . This asymmetric-energy collider with a polarized electron beam will produce hundreds of millions of B-mesons at the Υ(4S) resonance. The present design is based on ex- tremely low emittance beams colliding at a large Piwin- ski angle to allow very low β⋆y without the need for ultra short bunches. Use of crab-waist sextupoles will enhance the luminosity, suppressing dangerous resonances and al- lowing for a higher beam-beam parameter. The project has flexible beam parameters, improved dynamic aperture, and spin-rotators in the Low Energy Ring for longitudinal po- larization of the electron beam at the Interaction Point. Op- timized for best colliding-beam performance, the facility may also provide high-brightness photon beams for syn- chrotron radiation applications

Cardiovasc Diabetol

BACKGROUND: Advanced glycation end-products play a role in diabetic vascular complications. Their optical properties allow to estimate their accumulation in tissues by measuring the skin autofluorescence (SAF). We searched for an association between SAF and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) incidence in subjects with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) during a 7 year follow-up. METHODS: During year 2009, 232 subjects with T1D were included. SAF measurement, clinical [age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities] and biological data (HbA1C, blood lipids, renal parameters) were recorded. MACE (myocardial infarction, stroke, lower extremity amputation or a revascularization procedure) were registered at visits in the center or by phone call to general practitioners until 2016. RESULTS: The participants were mainly men (59.5%), 51.5 +/- 16.7 years old, with BMI 25.0 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2), diabetes duration 21.5 +/- 13.6 years, HbA1C 7.6 +/- 1.1%. LDL cholesterol was 1.04 +/- 0.29 g/L, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rates (CKD-EPI): 86.3 +/- 26.6 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Among these subjects, 25.1% were smokers, 45.3% had arterial hypertension, 15.9% had elevated AER (>/= 30 mg/24 h), and 9.9% subjects had a history of previous MACE. From 2009 to 2016, 22 patients had at least one new MACE: 6 myocardial infarctions, 1 lower limb amputation, 15 revascularization procedures. Their SAF was 2.63 +/- 0.73 arbitrary units (AU) vs 2.08 +/- 0.54 for other patients (p = 0.002). Using Cox-model, after adjustment for age (as the scale time), sex, diabetes duration, BMI, hypertension, smoking status, albumin excretion rates, statin treatment and a previous history of MACE, higher baseline levels of SAF were significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE during follow-up (HR = 4.13 [1.30-13.07]; p = 0.02 for 1 AU of SAF) and Kaplan-Meier curve follow-up showed significantly more frequent MACE in group with SAF upper the median (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: A high SAF predicts MACE in patients with T1D

Cauda equina syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis - Anatomical, diagnostic, and therapeutic considerations

This article describes a case of cauda equina syndrome associated with ankylosing spondylitis, and reviews 28 additional cases in the literature. The neurological symptoms appear late in the evolution of spondylitis, when it is at an inactive stage. The diagnosis is easily confirmed by myelography, with water-soluble contrast and performed in a supine position, and by computerized tomography (CT) scan of the lumbar spine. The typical features are a dilated lumbar sac with multiple dorsal diverticula. The pathogenesis of this entity remains the subject of speculation. Arachnoiditis with subsequent adhesions is the most likely explanation. No treatment has proved helpful so far. Surgery is not indicated. © 1981 Springer-Verlag.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Almotriptan and its combination with aceclofenac for migraine attacks: a study of efficacy and the influence of auto-evaluated brush allodynia.

Early treatment and combining a triptan with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) are thought to improve outcome during migraine attacks, possibly by counteracting the negative influence of cutaneous allodynia. The aim of this multicentre, double-blind pilot study was to evaluate the prevalence of brush allodynia and its relative influence on the efficacy of a triptan-NSAID combination compared with headache intensity at the time of treatment. In a randomized, cross-over design, 112 migraineurs treated two moderate or severe attacks with almotriptan 12.5 mg combined with either aceclofenac 100 mg or placebo. Patients used a 2-cm brush to assess cutaneous allodynia. Allodynia was reported in 34.4% of attacks. The almotriptan-aceclofenac combination was numerically superior to triptan-placebo on 2-24-h sustained pain-free (P = 0.07), 2-h pain-free (P = 0.07) and headache recurrence (P = 0.05) rates, but not on 1-h headache relief. Allodynia numerically reduced treatment success overall, but this effect was not significant for the primary outcome measures. Headache intensity had a significant negative influence on 1-h relief in both attacks (P = 0.0001 and 0.0008, chi(2)) and on 2-24-h sustained pain-free rates in triptan-placebo-treated attacks (P = 0.013). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that headache intensity at treatment intake, rather than allodynia, significantly influenced most outcome measures, predominantly so in attacks treated with almotriptan and aceclofenac. In the latter, severe compared with moderate headache intensity reduced the likelihood of achieving the primary efficacy end-points [odds ratios (OR) 0.12 and 0.33], whereas allodynia was not a significant explanatory variable (OR 0.76 and 0.65). The results apply to the protocol used here and need to be confirmed in larger studies using quantitative sensory testing

Pathogénie et traitement de la sclérose en plaques. Revue et résultats personnels.

English AbstractJournal ArticleSCOPUS: NotDefined.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe