Long-Term Survival in Patients with Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Surgery: Analysis from a Prospective Cohort Study

9noopenBackground: Post-operative (POP) atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequent in patients who undergo cardiac surgery. However, its prognostic impact in the long term remains unclear. Methods: We followed 1386 patients who underwent cardiac surgery for an average of 10 ± 3 years. According to clinical history of AF before and after surgery, four subgroups were identified: (1) patients with no history of AF and without episodes of AF during the first 30 days after surgery (control or Group 1, n = 726), (2) patients with no history of AF before surgery in whom new-onset POP AF was detected during the first 30 days after surgery (new-onset POP AF or Group 2, n = 452), (3) patients with a history of paroxysmal/persistent AF before cardiac surgery (Group 3, n = 125, including 87 POP AF patients and 38 who did not develop POP AF), and (4) patients with permanent AF at the time of cardiac surgery (Group 4, n = 83). All-cause mortality was the primary outcome of the study. We tested the associations of potential determinants with all-cause mortality using univariable and multivariable statistical analyses. Results: Overall, 473 patients (34%) died during follow-up. After adjustment for multiple confounders, new-onset POP AF (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90-1.89; p = 0.1609), history of paroxysmal/persistent AF before cardiac surgery (HR = 1.33, 95% CI: 0.71-2.49; p = 0.3736), and permanent AF (Group 4) (HR = 1.55, 95% CI 0.82-2.95; p = 0.1803) were not associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality when compared with Group 1 (patients with no history of AF and without episodes of AF during the first 30 days after surgery). In new-onset POP AF patients, oral anticoagulation was not associated with mortality (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.83-1.54; p = 0.4299). Conclusions: In this cohort of patients who underwent different types of heart surgery, POP AF was not associated with an increased risk of mortality. In this setting, the role of long-term anticoagulation remains unclear.openMarazzato, Jacopo; Masnaghetti, Sergio; De Ponti, Roberto; Verdecchia, Paolo; Blasi, Federico; Ferrarese, Sandro; Trapasso, Monica; Spanevello, Antonio; Angeli, FabioMarazzato, Jacopo; Masnaghetti, Sergio; De Ponti, Roberto; Verdecchia, Paolo; Blasi, Federico; Ferrarese, Sandro; Trapasso, Monica; Spanevello, Antonio; Angeli, Fabi

Human interleukin 17–producing cells originate from a CD161+CD4+ T cell precursor

We demonstrate that CD161 is a highly up-regulated gene in human interleukin (IL) 17 T helper cell (Th17) clones and that all IL-17–producing cells are contained in the CD161+ fraction of CD4+ T cells present in the circulation or in inflamed tissues, although they are not CD1-restricted natural killer T cells. More importantly, we show that all IL-17–producing cells originate from CD161+ naive CD4+ T cells of umbilical cord blood, as well as of the postnatal thymus, in response to the combined activity of IL-1β and IL-23. These findings implicate CD161 as a novel surface marker for human Th17 cells and demonstrate the exclusive origin of these cells from a CD161+CD4+ T cell progenitor

A polymorphic variant of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor correlates with male longevity in the Italian population: a genetic study and evaluation of circulating IGF-1 from the "Treviso Longeva (TRELONG)" study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An attenuation of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling has been associated with elongation of the lifespan in simple metazoan organisms and in rodents. In humans, IGF-1 level has an age-related modulation with a lower concentration in the elderly, depending on hormonal and genetic factors affecting the IGF-1 receptor gene (<it>IGF-1R</it>).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In an elderly population from North-eastern Italy (<it>n </it>= 668 subjects, age range 70–106 years) we investigated the <it>IGF-1R </it>polymorphism G3174A (<it>rs2229765</it>) and the plasma concentration of free IGF-1. Frequency distributions were compared using χ²-test "Goodness of Fit" test, and means were compared by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA); multiple regression analysis was performed using JMP7 for SAS software (SAS Institute, USA). The limit of significance for genetic and biochemical comparison was set at α = 0.05.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Males showed an age-related increase in the A-allele of <it>rs2229765 </it>and a change in the plasma level of IGF-1, which dropped significantly after 85 years of age (85+ group). In the male 85+ group, A/A homozygous subjects had the lowest plasma IGF-1 level. We found no clear correlation between <it>rs2229765 </it>genotype and IGF-1 in the females.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings confirm the importance of the <it>rs2229765 </it>minor allele as a genetic predisposing factor for longevity in Italy where a sex-specific pattern for IGF-1 attenuation with ageing was found.</p

The Gaia mission

Gaia is a cornerstone mission in the science programme of the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA). The spacecraft construction was approved in 2006, following a study in which the original interferometric concept was changed to a direct-imaging approach. Both the spacecraft and the payload were built by European industry. The involvement of the scientific community focusses on data processing for which the international Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) was selected in 2007. Gaia was launched on 19 December 2013 and arrived at its operating point, the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, a few weeks later. The commissioning of the spacecraft and payload was completed on 19 July 2014. The nominal five-year mission started with four weeks of special, ecliptic-pole scanning and subsequently transferred into full-sky scanning mode. We recall the scientific goals of Gaia and give a description of the as-built spacecraft that is currently (mid-2016) being operated to achieve these goals. We pay special attention to the payload module, the performance of which is closely related to the scientific performance of the mission. We provide a summary of the commissioning activities and findings, followed by a description of the routine operational mode. We summarise scientific performance estimates on the basis of in-orbit operations. Several intermediate Gaia data releases are planned and the data can be retrieved from the Gaia Archive, which is available through the Gaia home page. http://www.cosmos.esa.int/gai

A new homolid crab, Cherpihomola italica gen. nov., sp. nov. (Decapoda, Brachyura), from the Rupelian of the Ligure Piemontese Basin (Alessandria, northern Italy)

A new genus and species of homolid from lower Oligocene (Rupelian) strata in the Ligure-Piemontese Basin (northern Italy) is introduced. Cherpihomola italica gen. nov., sp. nov. represents the first record of homolids from Oligocene deposits across Europe and extends the palaeogeographical distribution of extinct homolids

Conclusioni in "La securitization dei crediti bancari"

La securitization dei crediti bancari rappresenta sicuramente uno degli aspetti pi\uf9 rilevanti manifestatosi a livello internazionale nel corso degli ultimi decenni in campo finanziario. Il fenomeno \ue8 destinato ad assumere ancora pi\uf9 importanza nel prossimo futuro, quando le potenzialit\ue0 della cartolarizzazione saranno pienamente sfruttate anche in paesi nei quali il numero ed il volume delle operazioni risulta per ora poco significativo, anche per motivi di carattere economico e normativo. L'indagine presentata in questo volume \ue8 in larga misura riferita all'utilizzo della securitization da parte di intermediari bancari. Dopo aver esaminato il meccanismo di funzionamento dell'operazione, i soggetti in essa coinvolti e le forme tecniche pi\uf9 diffuse, vengono presi in considerazione alcuni fattori problematici relativi alla sua implementazione in Italia; Il lavoro procede, quindi, con un'analisi dei benefici economici e gestionali che possono derivare alle banche dalla cartolarizzazione, mettendo li poi a confronto con quelli associati all'impiego dei credit derivatives nel controllo del rischio di credito. Le opportunit\ue0 di crescita della securitization nel nostro Paese, infine, vengono apprezzate anche alla luce delle esperienze maturate in alcuni mercati finanziariamente pi\uf9 evoluti. I contributi che compaiono in questo volume sono stati realizzati da studiosi dell'area bancaria del Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Economia e della Gestione Aziendale dell'Universit\ue0 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

La securitization dei crediti bancari

La securitization dei crediti bancari rappresenta sicuramente uno degli aspetti pi\uf9 rilevanti manifestatosi a livello internazionale nel corso degli ultimi decenni in campo finanziario. Il fenomeno \ue8 destinato ad assumere ancora pi\uf9 importanza nel prossimo futuro, quando le potenzialit\ue0 della cartolarizzazione saranno pienamente sfruttate anche in paesi nei quali il numero ed il volume delle operazioni risulta per ora poco significativo, anche per motivi di carattere economico e normativo. L'indagine presentata in questo volume \ue8 in larga misura riferita all'utilizzo della securitization da parte di intermediari bancari. Dopo aver esaminato il meccanismo di funzionamento dell'operazione, i soggetti in essa coinvolti e le forme tecniche pi\uf9 diffuse, vengono presi in considerazione alcuni fattori problematici relativi alla sua implementazione in Italia; Il lavoro procede, quindi, con un'analisi dei benefici economici e gestionali che possono derivare alle banche dalla cartolarizzazione, mettendo li poi a confronto con quelli associati all'impiego dei credit derivatives nel controllo del rischio di credito. Le opportunit\ue0 di crescita della securitization nel nostro Paese, infine, vengono apprezzate anche alla luce delle esperienze maturate in alcuni mercati finanziariamente pi\uf9 evoluti. I contributi che compaiono in questo volume sono stati realizzati da studiosi dell'area bancaria del Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Economia e della Gestione Aziendale dell'Universit\ue0 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Growth, morphology, and morphometry of human hypertrophic prostate cells treated with suramin in vitro

This work studies the effects of suramin on the growth and morphology of cell strain U285, obtained from human prostate hypertrophic tissue and cultured in vitro. The FRAME cytotoxicity test was performed to evaluate the inhibition of growth induced by suramin. Cells were exposed to suramin at the time of seeding and 24 hours later; neutral red was added with and without suramin. An optical microscope connected to a computer-aided system and a scanning electron microscope were used to study morphological changes induced by suramin. Growth inhibition depends on drug concentration and exposure period. Moreover, the effect of suramin on neutral red uptake is reversible. Suramin 1,000 mu M causes the cells to become spheroid, and they fail to form a monolayer. Our data indicate that the addition of suramin during the lag phase decreases the rate of cell proliferation