Effects of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor on bone marrow morphology following cyclophosphamide induced neutropenia in rats

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor is a glycoprotein that stimulates synthesis of granulocytes, especially of neutrophiles. It can be used to correct myelosupression associated with long-term chemotherapy or in the treatment of neutropenia. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of G-CSF on bone marrow after cyclophosphamide induced neutropenia in rats. The study was conducted on 24 female Wistar rats divided in 3 experimental groups; the control group, group of cyclophoshamide treated animals and the group of animals that were treated with Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor after neutropenia induction with cyclophosphamide. Cytological exam of bone marrow aspirates and histological exam from sternal bone marrow were realized using routine techniques. Examination of the aspirates taken from the femoral bone marrow and of the histological sections taken from the sternum showed a dramatic reduction in the number of myeloid precursors in individuals of group 2 which have been subjected to cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression, while the administration of G-CSF to the individuals of group 3 induced marked proliferation of the myeloid precursor cells, correcting the myelosuppressive effect of the cyclophosphamide In conclusion, G-CSF can be used for the stimulation and mobilization of myeloid progenitor cells from the bone marrow

Earlier is Better. New Options for Acute Heart Failure: When, Who, How Much?

Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem characterised by a high rate of hospitalisation and death. The risk is maximal for patients admitted with acute heart failure (AHF). New therapies with solid proof of mortality reduction in both groups of patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction (EF) are now available (valsartan/sacubitril and SGLT2 inhibitors)

Determining Attribute—Response Relationships of Soils under Different Land Uses: A Case Study

Soil researchers are interested in a gaining better understanding of the soil system state by analyzing its properties and their dynamics in time as well as in relation to land use change. Tilled, abandoned, and forest soils were assessed regarding attribute–response relationships for the bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), volumetric moisture (θv), and penetration resistance (PR) with the use of the interquartile ratio (IRI) integrated into a resilience formula and Shannon entropy indices. The IRI results differentiated soil properties according to agrotechnics (wheel track vs. between wheels) and the state of the system (tilled vs. abandoned vineyard). Entropy (En) indicated a high level of uncertainty for PR. The linear regression applied to the pairs of BD-TP, TP-θv, and PR-θv showed better results for the IRI weight (IRIweight) compared to the entropy weight (Enweight) for the soil between the wheels. The soil of the abandoned vineyard showed a faster tendency toward resilience that was more pronounced in the tilled wheel tracks than in the area between the wheels. The IRI can thus be an alternative to entropy in the evaluation of the response of some soil properties according to their use. When integrated into a resilience formula, the IRI can estimate the dynamics of soil properties for abandoned land compared to reference soil

Epidemiological Characteristics and Mortality Risk Factors Comparison in Dialysis and Non-Dialysis CKD Patients with COVID-19—A Single Center Experience

(1) Background: Despite some controversies between studies, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a negative impact on COVID-19 outcomes, with patients presenting a higher mortality risk than in the general population. Studies have shown an association between COVID-19 severe cases and different inflammatory biomarkers. The aim of this study was to emphasize the epidemiological characteristics of CKD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and to determine if the risk of mortality, and the severity of this infection might be influenced by different parameters. (2) Methods: Our retrospective study included CKD patients with COVID-19—362 in the non-dialysis group and 132 in the dialysis group. (3) Results: There were significant statistical differences between our groups regarding age (p < 0.001), hemoglobin (p < 0.001), interleukin-6 (p < 0.001), serum albumin (p = 0.016), procalcitonin (p = 0.002), ferritin (p < 0.001), and of course serum creatinine (p < 0.001). Even if the risk of death was higher in the dialysis group (Exp(b) = 1.839), the survival proportions were similar in both groups. (4) Conclusions: High values of hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and LDH at admission, age, length of hospital stay ≤ 10 days, and a pulmonary impairment > 25% are responsible for an adverse outcome in non-dialysis and dialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19

Serum Lactate, an Independent Prognostic Marker in Normotensive Patients With Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Serum lactate, a marker of tissue hypoxia, is an important prognostic factor in sepsis, trauma, and cardiogenic shock. Data on the direct correlation of serum lactate and in-hospital mortality in normotensive acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APE) patients, however, remains scarce

Unraveling the Efficacy of Therapeutic Interventions for Short Cervix: Insights from a Retrospective Study for Improved Clinical Management

Background and Objectives: Preterm birth (PTB) is associated with important neonatal mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the average treatment effects on the treated and the efficacity of various therapeutic interventions for PTB in a cohort of patients with singleton pregnancies and short cervical lengths. Materials and Methods: This observational retrospective study included 1146 singleton pregnancies at risk of PTB that were segregated into the following groups: intravaginal progesterone (group 1), Arabin pessary (group 2), McDonald cerclage (group 3), intravaginal progesterone and Arabin pessary (group 4), and intravaginal progesterone and cerclage (group 5). Their treatment effects were evaluated and compared. Results: All evaluated therapeutic interventions significantly reduced the occurrence of late and early preterm births. The risk of late and early PTB was lowered for those pregnant patients who received progesterone and pessaries or progesterone and cerclage in comparison with those who received only progesterone. The extremely PTB risk of occurrence was significantly lowered only by the administration of progesterone in association with cervical cerclage in comparison with progesterone monotherapy. Conclusions: The combined therapeutic interventions had the highest efficacy in preventing preterm birth. An individualized evaluation is needed to establish the best therapeutic approach in particular cases

Correction to: Comparative effectiveness and safety of non-vitamin K antagonists for atrial fibrillation in clinical practice: GLORIA-AF Registry

International audienceIn this article, the name of the GLORIA-AF investigator Anastasios Kollias was given incorrectly as Athanasios Kollias in the Acknowledgements. The original article has been corrected

Patterns of oral anticoagulant use and outcomes in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation: a post-hoc analysis from the GLORIA-AF Registry

Background: Previous studies suggested potential ethnic differences in the management and outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF). We aim to analyse oral anticoagulant (OAC) prescription, discontinuation, and risk of adverse outcomes in Asian patients with AF, using data from a global prospective cohort study. Methods: From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase II-III (November 2011-December 2014 for Phase II, and January 2014-December 2016 for Phase III), we analysed patients according to their self-reported ethnicity (Asian vs. non-Asian), as well as according to Asian subgroups (Chinese, Japanese, Korean and other Asian). Logistic regression was used to analyse OAC prescription, while the risk of OAC discontinuation and adverse outcomes were analysed through Cox-regression model. Our primary outcome was the composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The original studies were registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01468701, NCT01671007, and NCT01937377. Findings: 34,421 patients were included (70.0 ± 10.5 years, 45.1% females, 6900 (20.0%) Asian: 3829 (55.5%) Chinese, 814 (11.8%) Japanese, 1964 (28.5%) Korean and 293 (4.2%) other Asian). Most of the Asian patients were recruited in Asia (n = 6701, 97.1%), while non-Asian patients were mainly recruited in Europe (n = 15,449, 56.1%) and North America (n = 8378, 30.4%). Compared to non-Asian individuals, prescription of OAC and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) was lower in Asian patients (Odds Ratio [OR] and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 0.23 [0.22-0.25] and 0.66 [0.61-0.71], respectively), but higher in the Japanese subgroup. Asian ethnicity was also associated with higher risk of OAC discontinuation (Hazard Ratio [HR] and [95% CI]: 1.79 [1.67-1.92]), and lower risk of the primary composite outcome (HR [95% CI]: 0.86 [0.76-0.96]). Among the exploratory secondary outcomes, Asian ethnicity was associated with higher risks of thromboembolism and intracranial haemorrhage, and lower risk of major bleeding. Interpretation: Our results showed that Asian patients with AF showed suboptimal thromboembolic risk management and a specific risk profile of adverse outcomes; these differences may also reflect differences in country-specific factors. Ensuring integrated and appropriate treatment of these patients is crucial to improve their prognosis. Funding: The GLORIA-AF Registry was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH