Combined Forward-Backward Asymmetry Measurements in Top-Antitop Quark Production at the Tevatron

The CDF and D0 experiments at the Fermilab Tevatron have measured the asymmetry between yields of forward- and backward-produced top and antitop quarks based on their rapidity difference and the asymmetry between their decay leptons. These measurements use the full data sets collected in proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt s =1.96$ TeV. We report the results of combinations of the inclusive asymmetries and their differential dependencies on relevant kinematic quantities. The combined inclusive asymmetry is $A_{\mathrm{FB}}^{t\bar{t}} = 0.128 \pm 0.025$. The combined inclusive and differential asymmetries are consistent with recent standard model predictions

CHA2DS2-VASc and R2CHA2DS2-VASc scores predict mortality in high cardiovascular risk population

Background: The CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score, widely used to estimate cardioembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), appears to be useful also in predicting vascular adverse events and death in different sets of patients without AF. The R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score, which includes renal impairment, allows a better prediction of death and thromboembolism in patients without AF. The aims of our study were to assess, in a large sample of patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk, (i) the correlation between CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc and R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc with all-cause mortality, and (ii) to compare the performances of CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc and R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc in predicting all-cause mortality.Methods: In this single-centre prospective observational study, conducted at the Research Hospital 'Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza' between June 2016 and December 2018, 1017 CV patients at high risk of undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled.Results: CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc and R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc scores significantly associated with all-cause mortality. For each one-point increase in CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc or R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc scores, mortality increased by almost 1.5-fold. The R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score (C-statistic = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.65-76) outperformed the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score (C-statistic = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.61-0.71) in predicting 4-year mortality (delta C-statistic = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.02-0.07). The better predictive ability of the R-CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score was also demonstrated by an IDI = 0.027 (95% CI = 0.021-0.034, p <.00001) and a relative IDI = 62.8% (95% CI = 47.9%-81.3%, p <.00001). The R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score correctly reclassified the patients with a NRI = 0.715 (95% = 0.544-0.940, p <.00001).Conclusions: The CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc and R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc scores are useful predictors of all-cause mortality in subjects at high CV risk, with the R(2)CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score being the best performer

Takotsubo Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Does a Link Exist?

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COVID-19 as a Paradigmatic Model of the Heterogeneous Disease Presentation in Older People: Data from the GeroCovid Observational Study

COVID-19 may have a heterogeneous onset, especially in older age. However, whether and how COVID-19 signs and symptoms may present and aggregate together according to sociodemographic and health factors is unclear, as well as their prognostic value. This study included 981 COVID-19 inpatients who participated in the GeroCovid Observational study. Signs/symptoms at disease onset, sociodemographic, health, cognitive status, and mobility were systematically recorded. Clusters of signs/symptoms were identified through agglomerative hierarchical clustering. The associations of single signs/symptoms and symptom clusters with longer hospitalization (>= 16 days) and in-hospital mortality were explored through logistic and Cox regressions. The signs/symptoms most reported in our sample (age 78.3 +/- 9.39 years; 49.4% women) were fever (62.5%), cough (45.5%), and dyspnea (62.7%). Atypical symptoms were reported by up to one-third of patients, and delirium by 9.1%. Atypical symptoms were more frequent with advancing age and with lower pre-COVID-19 cognitive and mobility levels. Older men more likely reported respiratory symptoms than women. Dyspnea (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-2.12), tachypnea (HR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.14-2.07), low oxygen saturation (HR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.32-2.88) and delirium (HR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.13-2.28) were associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Four symptom clusters were identified. Compared with the mild respiratory symptoms cluster, the severe clinical impairment cluster was associated with higher mortality (HR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.58-4.18). The severe clinical impairment and aspecific symptoms clusters were associated with longer hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.56-3.63, and OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.08-2.83, respectively). Multiple health aspects influence COVID-19 clinical presentation. A symptom clusters approach may help predict adverse health outcomes in older patients. In addition to respiratory symptoms, delirium is independently associated with mortality risk.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04379440)