Quantification of HIV-RNA from dried blood spots using the Siemens VERSANT(R) HIV-1 RNA (kPCR) assay

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Effects of pidotimod and bifidobacteria mixture on clinical symptoms and urinary metabolomic profile of children with recurrent respiratory infections: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Many preschool children develop recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRI). Strategies to prevent RRI include the use of immunomodulators as pidotimod or probiotics, but there is limited evidence of their efficacy on clinical features or on urine metabolic profile

Lipid-lowering treatment and LDL-C goal attainment in high and very high cardiovascular risk patients: Evidence from the SANTORINI study-The Italian experience

The SANTORINI study is an observational study that enrolled 9602 adult individuals at high or very high cardiovascular (CV) risk across Europe, aimed at providing information on the current status of the management of dyslipidaemias, in light of the most recent 2019 EAS/ESC guidelines. Italy participated in the study with 1977 patients, 1531 (77.4%) of whom were classified at very high CV risk and 446 (22.6%) at high CV risk. Overall, in the Italian population, 79.31% of the patients had a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). At enrolment, the mean level of LDL-C in the total population was 98.4 mg/dL. LDL-C levels were lower in the very high-risk group (94.6 mg/dL) than in the high-risk group (111.4 mg/dL). Considering the therapeutic goals recommended by the most recent 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines (LDL-C <55 mg/dL or <70 mg/dL respectively in very high or high-risk patients, respectively), only 20.3% of the overall study population achieved such goals (19.9% of very high-risk patients and 21.8% of high-risk patients). About one-third of the patients included in the study (32.6%) were not prescribed any therapy, one-third received statin monotherapy (34.4%), and only one-third (33%) were taking combination therapy; these percentages were comparable in the two risk subgroups. Based on the most recent 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines, the use of cholesterol-lowering therapies is not always optimal to achieve the therapeutic goals even in patients with very high CV risk. This means that about 80% of patients are far from the recommended therapeutic goals for their risk category

Modification of HDL3 by mild oxidative stress increases ATP-binding cassette transporter 1-mediated cholesterol efflux

OBJECTIVE: Elevated levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are inversely related to the risk of cardiovascular disease. The anti-atherosclerotic function of HDL is mainly ascribed to its role in reverse cholesterol transport, and requires the integrity of HDL structure. Experimental evidence suggests that the ability of HDL to promote removal of excess cholesterol from peripheral cells is impaired upon oxidation. On the other hand, tyrosylation of HDL enhances its protective function, suggesting that not all forms of modified lipoprotein may be atherogenic. In the present study we investigated the effect of a mild oxidation of HDL(3) on its function as cholesterol acceptor. METHODS AND RESULTS: A mild oxidative stress (induced by 15 min exposure of HDL(3) to 1 microM Cu(++) or to 15-lipoxygenase) caused the formation of pre-beta-migrating particles. Compared to native lipoprotein, mildly modified HDL(3) induced a significant ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1)-mediated increase of cholesterol and phospholipids efflux from J774 macrophages. This effect was abolished by an inhibitor of ABCA1-mediated lipid efflux (glyburide) and was absent in Tangier fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: A mild oxidative modification of HDL(3) may improve its function as cholesterol acceptor, increasing ABCA1-mediated lipid efflux from macrophages, a process that may reduce foam cell formation

Predictive value of HDL function in patients with coronary artery disease: relationship with coronary plaque characteristics and clinical events

BACKGROUND: HDL is endowed with several metabolic, vascular, and immunoinflammatory protective functions. Among them, a key property is to promote reverse cholesterol transport from cells back to the liver. The aim of this study was to estimate the association of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)- and ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-mediated cholesterol efflux (the two major routes for cholesterol efflux to HDL) with the presence, extent, and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), vascular wall remodelling processes, coronary plaque characteristics, and the incidence of myocardial infarction in the different subgroups of patients from the CAPIRE study. METHODS: Patients (n = 525) from the CAPIRE study were divided into two groups: low-risk factors (RF), with 0–1 RF (n = 263), and multiple-RF, with ≥2 RFs; within each group, subjects were classified as no-CAD or CAD based on the segment involvement score (SIS) evaluated by coronary computed tomography angiography (SIS = 0 and SIS > 5, respectively). SR-BI- and ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux were measured using the plasma of all patients. RESULTS: SR-BI-mediated cholesterol efflux was significantly reduced in patients with CAD in both the low-RF and multiple-RF groups, whereas ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux was similar among all groups. In CAD patients, multivariable analysis showed that SR-BI-mediated cholesterol efflux <25(th) percentile predicted cardiovascular outcome (odds ratio 4.1; 95% CI: 1.3–13.7; p = .019), whereas ABCA-1-mediated cholesterol efflux and HDL-C levels significantly did not. Despite this finding, reduced SR-BI-mediated cholesterol efflux was not associated with changes in high-risk plaque features or changes in the prevalence of elevated total, non-calcified, and low-attenuation plaque volume. CONCLUSION: KEY MESSAGES: Increased cholesterol efflux capacity, an estimate of HDL function, is associated with a reduced CVD risk, regardless of HDL-C levels. HDL-C levels are significantly lower in patients with CAD. Lower SR-BI-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity is observed in patients with diffuse coronary atherosclerosis and is associated with the worst clinical outcomes in patients with CAD, independently of atherosclerotic plaque features

Prevalence and management of familial hypercholesterolemia in patients with coronary artery disease: The heredity survey

Background and aims Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) predisposing to premature cardiovascular disease. Its prevalence varies and has been estimated around 1 in 200\u2013500. The Heredity survey evaluated the prevalence of potential FH and the therapeutic approaches among patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD) in which it is less well documented. Methods Data were collected in patients admitted to programs of rehabilitation and secondary prevention in Italy. Potential FH was estimated using Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) criteria. Potential FH was defined as having a total score 65 6. Results Among the 1438 consecutive patients evaluated, the prevalence of potential FH was 3.7%. The prevalence was inversely related to age, with a putative prevalence of 1:10 in those with 8) had the highest percentages of patients after an ACS (75% vs 52.5% in the whole study population). At discharge, most patients were on high intensity statin therapy, but despite this, potential FH group still had a higher percentage of patients with LDL-C levels not at target and having a distance from the target higher than 50%. Conclusions Among patients with established coronary heart disease, the prevalence of potential FH is higher than in the general population; the results suggest that a correct identification of potential FH, especially in younger patients, may help to better manage their high cardiovascular risk

Primary cerebral alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in adult

Primary cerebral rhabdomyosarcomas are very rare and malignant tumors that occur predominantly in the posterior fossa of pediatric patients. We report a rare case of primary cerebral rhabdomyosarcoma located in the supratentorial compartment of a 51 year-old woman together with a review of the pertinent Literature especially regarding the histological diagnosis and pitfalls

Low low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels are associated with reduced risk of arterial occlusive events in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with ponatinib in the real-life. A Campus CML study

36noopenopenCaocci G.; Mulas O.; Capodanno I.; Abruzzese E.; Iurlo A.; Luciano L.; Albano F.; Annunziata M.; Tiribelli M.; Bonifacio M.; Galimberti S.; Castagnetti F.; Sgherza N.; Stagno F.; Gozzini A.; Orlandi E.M.; Luzi D.; Binotto G.; Pregno P.; Fozza C.; Efficace F.; Simula M.P.; Trawinska M.M.; Cattaneo D.; De Gregorio F.; Attolico I.; Stella R.; Scaffidi L.; Barate C.; Gugliotta G.; Scalzulli E.; Elena C.; Pirillo F.; Foa R.; Breccia M.; Nasa G.L.Caocci, G.; Mulas, O.; Capodanno, I.; Abruzzese, E.; Iurlo, A.; Luciano, L.; Albano, F.; Annunziata, M.; Tiribelli, M.; Bonifacio, M.; Galimberti, S.; Castagnetti, F.; Sgherza, N.; Stagno, F.; Gozzini, A.; Orlandi, E. M.; Luzi, D.; Binotto, G.; Pregno, P.; Fozza, C.; Efficace, F.; Simula, M. P.; Trawinska, M. M.; Cattaneo, D.; De Gregorio, F.; Attolico, I.; Stella, R.; Scaffidi, L.; Barate, C.; Gugliotta, G.; Scalzulli, E.; Elena, C.; Pirillo, F.; Foa, R.; Breccia, M.; Nasa, G. L

Pregnancy outcomes and cytomegalovirus DNAaemia in HIV infected pregnant women with CMV

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