568 research outputs found
Inverse PCR and quantitative PCR as alternative methods to Southern blotting analysis to assess transgene copy number and characterize the integration site in transgenic woody plants
Serum Cystatin C for the diagnosis of acute Kidney Injury in Patients Admitted in the Emergency Department
BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) at emergency department (ED) is a challenging issue. Current diagnostic criteria for AKI poorly recognize early renal dysfunction and may cause delayed diagnosis. We evaluated the use of serum cystatin C (CysC) for the early and accurate diagnosis of AKI in patients hospitalized from the ED.
METHODS: In a total of 198 patients (105 males and 93 females), serum CysC, serum creatinine (sCr), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after presentation to the ED. We compared two groups according to the presence or absence of AKI.
RESULTS: Serial assessment of CysC, sCr, and eGFR was not a strong, reliable tool to distinguish AKI from non-AKI. CysC > 1.44 mg/L at admission, both alone (Odds Ratio = 5.04; 95%CI 2.20-11.52; P < 0.0002) and in combination with sCr and eGFR (Odds Ratio = 5.71; 95%CI 1.86-17.55; P < 0.002), was a strong predictor for the risk of AKI.
CONCLUSIONS: Serial assessment of CysC is not superior to sCr and eGFR in distinguishing AKI from non-AKI. Admission CysC, both alone and in combination with sCr and eGFR, could be considered a powerful tool for the prediction of AKI in ED patients
Identification of subgroups of early breast cancer patients at high risk of nonadherence to adjuvant hormone therapy: results of an italian survey.
The aim of this study was the identification of subgroups of patients at higher risk of nonadherence to adjuvant
hormone therapy for breast cancer. Using recursive partitioning and amalgamation (RECPAM) analysis, the
highest risk was observed in the group of unmarried, employed women, or housewives. This result might be
functional in designing tailored intervention studies aimed at improvement of adherence.
Background: Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (HT) is suboptimal among breast cancer patients. A high rate
of nonadherence might explain differences in survival between clinical trial and clinical practice. Tailored interventions
aimed at improving adherence can only be implemented if subgroups of patients at higher risk of poor adherence are
identified. Because no data are available for Italy, we undertook a large survey on adherence among women taking
adjuvant HT for breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients were recruited from 10 cancer clinics in central Italy.
All patients taking HT for at least 1 year were invited, during one of their follow-up visit, to fill a confidential questionnaire.
The association of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of participants with adherence was
assessed using logistic regression. The RECPAM method was used to evaluate interactions among variables and to
identify subgroups of patients at different risk of nonadherence. Results: A total of 939 patients joined the study and
18.6% of them were classified as nonadherers. Among possible predictors, only age, working status, and switching
from tamoxifen to an aromatase inhibitor were predictive of nonadherence in multivariate analysis. RECPAM analysis
led to the identification of 4 classes of patients with a different likelihood of nonadherence to therapy, the lowest being
observed in retired women with a low level of education, the highest in the group of unmarried, employed women, or
housewives. Conclusion: The identification of these subgroups of “real life” patients with a high prevalence of
nonadherers might be functional in designing intervention studies aimed at improving adherenc
KIR-HLA Genotypes in HIV-Infected Patients Lacking Immunological Recovery despite Effective Antiretroviral Therapy
BACKGROUND: In HIV-infected individuals, mechanisms underlying unsatisfactory immune recovery during effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) have yet to be fully understood. We investigated whether polymorphism of genes encoding immune-regulating molecules, such as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and their ligands class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA), could influence immunological response to cART. METHODS: KIR and HLA frequencies were analyzed in 154 HIV-infected and cART-treated patients with undetectable viral load divided into two groups: 'immunological non responders' (INR, N = 50, CD4(+) T-cell count <200/mm(3)) and full responders (FR, N = 104, CD4(+) T-cell count >350/mm(3)). Molecular KIR were typed using polymerase chain reaction-based genotyping. Comparisons were adjusted for baseline patient characteristics. RESULTS: The frequency of KIR2DL3 allele was significantly higher in FR than in INR (83.7% vs. 62%, P = 0.005). The functional compound genotype HLA-C1(+)/KIR2DL3(+), even at multivariable analysis, when adjusted for nadir CD4(+) T-cell count, was associated with reduced risk of INR status: odds ratio (95% Confidence Intervals) 0.34 (0.13-0.88), P = 0.03. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced presence of the inhibitory KIR2DL3 genotype detected in INR might provoke an imbalance in NK function, possibly leading to increased immune activation, impaired killing of latently infected cells, and higher proviral burden. These factors would hinder full immune recovery during therapy
Acute ischemic STROKE – from laboratory to the Patient’s BED (STROKELABED): A translational approach to reperfusion injury. Study Protocol
Cerebral edema (CE) and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) are frequent and unpredictable events in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), even when an effective vessel recanalization has been achieved. These complications, related to blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, remain difficult to prevent or treat and may offset the beneficial effect of recanalization, and lead to poor outcomes. The aim of this translational study is to evaluate the association of circulating and imaging biomarkers with subsequent CE and HT in stroke patients with the dual purpose of investigating possible predictors as well as molecular dynamics underpinning those events and functional outcomes. Concurrently, the preclinical study will develop a new mouse model of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and recanalization to explore BBB alterations and their potentially harmful effects on tissue. The clinical section of the study is based on a single-center observational design enrolling consecutive patients with AIS in the anterior circulation territory, treated with recanalization therapies from October 1, 2015 to May 31, 2020. The study will employ an innovative evaluation of routine CT scans: in fact, we will assess and quantify the presence of CE and HT after stroke in CT scans at 24 h, through the quantification of anatomical distortion (AD), a measure of CE and HT. We will investigate the relationship of AD and several blood biomarkers of inflammation and extracellular matrix, with functional outcomes at 3 months. In parallel, we will employ a newly developed mouse model of stroke and recanalization, to investigate the emergence of BBB changes 24 h after the stroke onset. The close interaction between clinical and preclinical research can enhance our understanding of findings from each branch of research, enabling a deeper interpretation of the underlying mechanisms of reperfusion injury following recanalization treatment for AIS
Essential Oil from Origanum vulgare Completely Inhibits the Growth of Multidrug-Resistant Cystic Fibrosis Pathogens.
Essential oils (EOs) are known to inhibit the growth of a wide range of microorganisms. Particularly interesting is the possible use of EOs to treat multidrug-resistant cystic fibrosis (CF) pathogens. We tested the essential oil (EO) from Origanum vulgare for in vitro antimicrobial activity, against three of the major human opportunistic pathogens responsible for respiratory infections in CF patients; these are methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Achromobacter xylosoxidans. Antibiotic susceptibility of each strain was previously tested by the standard disk diffusion method. Most strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics and could be defined as multi-drug-resistant (MDR). The antibacterial activity of O. vulgare EO (OEO) against a panel of 59 bacterial strains was evaluated, with MIC and MBC determined at 24, 48 and 72 hours by a microdilution method. The OEO was effective against all tested strains, although to a different extent. The MBC and MIC of OEO for S. aureus strains were either lower or equal to 0.50%, v/v, for A. xylosoxidans strains were lower or equal to 1% and 0.50%, v/v, respectively; and for S. maltophilia strains were lower or equal to 0.25%, v/v. The results from this study suggest that OEO might exert a role as an antimicrobial in the treatment of CF infections
Small vessel disease and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction after ischaemic stroke
Abstract
Introduction: Although pathogenesis of small vessel disease is poorly understood, increasing evidence suggests that
endothelial dysfunction may have a relevant role in development and progression of small vessel disease. In this crosssectional
study, we investigated the associations between imaging signs of small vessel disease and blood biomarkers of
endothelial dysfunction at two different time points in a population of ischaemic stroke patients.
Patients and methods: In stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis, we analysed blood levels of von
Willebrand factor, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth
factor. Three reviewers independently assessed small vessel disease features using computed tomography. At baseline
and 90 days after the index stroke, we tested the associations between single and combined small vessel disease features
and levels of blood biomarkers using linear regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoke.
Results: A total of 263 patients were available for the analysis. Mean age (SD) was 69 (13) years, 154 (59%) patients were
male.We did not find any relation between small vessel disease and endothelial dysfunction at baseline. At 90 days, leukoaraiosis
was independently associated with intercellular adhesionmolecule-1 (b¼0.21; p¼0.016) and vascular cell adhesionmolecule-
1 (b¼0.22; p¼0.009), and lacunes were associated with vascular endothelial growth factor levels (b¼0.21; p¼0.009)
whereas global small vessel disease burden was associated with vascular endothelial growth factor (b¼0.26; p¼0.006).
Discussion: Leukoaraiosis and lacunes were associated with endothelial dysfunction, which could play a key role in
pathogenesis of small vessel disease
Detrimental effects of ocean acidification on the economically important Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum)
The mean predicted decrease of 0.3-0.4 pH units in the global surface ocean by the end of the century has prompted urgent research to assess the potential effects of ocean acidification on the marine environment, with strong emphasis on calcifying organisms. Among them, the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum) is expected to be particularly susceptible to acidification effects, due to the elevated solubility of its Mg-calcite skeleton. This, together with the large overexploitation of this species, depicts a bleak future for this organism over the next decades. In this study, we evaluated the effects of low pH on the species from aquaria experiments. Several colonies of C. rubrum were long-term maintained for 314 days in aquaria at two different pH levels (8.10 and 7.81, pHT). Calcification rate, spicule morphology, major biochemical constituents (protein, carbohydrates and lipids) and fatty acids composition were measured periodically. Exposure to lower pH conditions caused a significant decrease in the skeletal growth rate in comparison with the control treatment. Similarly, the spicule morphology clearly differed between both treatments at the end of the experiment, with aberrant shapes being observed only under the acidified conditions. On the other hand, while total organic matter was significantly higher under low pH conditions, no significant differences were detected between treatments regarding total carbohydrate, lipid, protein and fatty acid composition. However, the lower variability found among samples maintained in acidified conditions relative to controls, suggests a possible effect of pH decrease on the metabolism of the colonies. Our results show, for the first time, evidence of detrimental ocean acidification effects on this valuable and endangered coral species
Changes of energy fluxes in marine animal forests of the Anthropocene: factors shaping the future seascape
Climate change is already transforming the seascapes of our oceans by changing the energy availability and the metabolic rates of the organisms. Among the ecosystem-engineering species that structure the seascape, marine animal forests (MAFs) are the most widespread. These habitats, mainly composed of suspension feeding organisms, provide structural complexity to the sea floor, analogous to terrestrial forests. Because primary and secondary productivity is responding to different impacts, in particular to the rapid ongoing environmental changes driven by climate change, this paper presents some directions about what could happen to different MAFs depending on these fast changes. Climate change could modify the resistance or resilience of MAFs, potentially making them more sensitive to impacts from anthropic activities (i.e. fisheries and coastal management), and vice versa, direct impacts may amplify climate change constraints in MAFs. Such changes will have knock-on effects on the energy budgets of active and passive suspension feeding organisms, as well as on their phenology, larval nutritional condition, and population viability. How the future seascape will be shaped by the new energy fluxes is a crucial question that has to be urgently addressed to mitigate and adapt to the diverse impacts on natural systems.Funding Agency
European Union (EU)
327845
ICTA "Unit of Excellence" (MinECo)
MDM2015-0552
CALMED project
CTM2016-79547-R
AGAUR Generalitat de Catalunya (MERS)
2017 SGR 1588
National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Unbalanced metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases ratios predict hemorrhagic transformation of lesion in ischemic stroke patients treated with thrombolysis: Results from the MAGIC study
Background Experimentally, metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a detrimental role related to severity of ischemic brain lesions. Both MMPs activity and function in tissues reflect the balance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We aimed to evaluate the role of MMPs/TIMPs balance in the setting of rtPA treated stroke patients Methods Blood was taken before and 24-hours after rtPA from 327 patients (mean age 68 years, median NIHSS 11) with acute ischemic stroke. Delta median values of each MMP/TIMP ratio [(post rtPA MMP/TIMP-baseline MMP/TIMP)/(baseline MMP/TIMP)] were analyzed related to symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) according to NINDS criteria, relevant hemorrhagic transformation (HT) defined as hemorrhagic infarction type 2 or any parenchimal hemorrhage, stroke subtypes (according to Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project) and 3-month death. The net effect of each MMP/TIMP ratio was estimated by a logistic regression model including major clinical determinants of outcomes Results Adjusting for major clinical determinants, only increase in MMP9/TIMP1 and MMP9/TIMP2 ratios remained significantly associated with sICH (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.67 [1.17 – 2.38], p = 0.005; 1.74 [1.21 – 2.49], p=0.003 respectively). Only relative increase in MMP9/TIMP1 ratio proved significantly associated with relevant HT (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.74 [1.17 – 2.57], p=0.006) with a trend towards significance for MMP9/TIMP2 ratio (p=0.007).Discussion Our data add substantial clinical evidence about the role of MMPs/TIMPs balance in rtPA treated stroke patients. These results may serve to generate hypotheses on MMPs inhibitors to be administered together with rtPA in order to counteract its deleterious effect
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