Clinical conditions responsible for hyperviscosity and skin ulcers complications

In this brief review, we have examined some clinical conditions that result to be associated to an altered hemorheological profile and at times accompanied by skin ulcers. This skin condition may be observed in patients with the following condtions, such as primary polycythemic hyperviscosity (polycythemia, thrombocytemia) treated with hydroxyurea, primary plasma hyperviscosity (multiple myeloma, cryoglobulinemia, cryofibrinogenemia, dysfibrinogenemia, and connective tissue diseases), primary sclerocythemic hyperviscosity (hereditary spherocytosis, thalassemia, and sickle cell disease). In addition, it may be present in patients with secondary hyperviscosity conditions such as diabetes mell…

Interrelation between macrorheological variables and insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome

Essential Hypertension: Elastase, Nitric Oxide Metabolites and Oxidative Status.

Erythrocyte rheology in diabetes mellitus and hypertension

Pathophysiology of polymorphonuclear leukocyte in arterial hypertension

This review shows how polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) play a pivotal role in the development of the organ injury that is associated with arterial hypertension. Elevated white blood cell count and higher levels of PMNs activation are risk factors for arterial hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Spontaneously activated PMNs release proinflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species, which have negative effects on vascular tone and on their adhesion to the endothelium. The oxidative stress in hypertensive PMNs is revealed by increased NADPH-oxidase production and lipid peroxidation and by decreased cytosolic and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase concentrations. The overexpression of…

Plasma Viscosity and NLR in Young Subjects with Myocardial Infarction: Evaluation at the Initial Stage and at 3 and 12 Months

In the “Sicilian study on juvenile myocardial infarction,” we had evaluated plasma viscosity (PV) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the age of ⩽45 years. Now, we examined the relationship between these 2 parameters in 120 subjects (109 men and 11 women) aged ⩽45 years with recent AMI. The patients were classified according to the number of cardiovascular risk factors, the electrocardiographic criteria (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]), and the extent of coronary stenosis, evaluated with coronary angiography. On fasting venous blood, we measured PV at the sh…

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content at baseline and after activation in essential hypertension

Obiective: To examine in essential hypertension (EH) the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content at baseline and after in vitro activation. Subjects and methods: In 45 hypertensive subjects (27 men and 18 women; mean age 45.8 +/- 11.3 years) we evaluated the PMN membrane fluidity, obtained by labeling PMNs with 1-[4-(trimethyImino)phenyl]-6phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) and considering the TMA-DPH polarization degree, inversely related to the membrane fluidity, and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content, obtained by marking PMNs with Fura 2-AM. These PMN parameters were examined at baseline and after in vitro activation (prolonged for 5 min) with two agents…

Persistence of High Plasma Elastase Level in Young Subjects With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Iperviscosita' sclerocitemica da alterazioni congenite della membrana eritrocitaria

Calculated Whole Blood Viscosity and Albumin/Fibrinogen Ratio in Patients with a New Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma: Relationships with Some Prognostic Predictors

Background: In this single center study, we retrospectively evaluated the calculated hemorheological profile in patients with a new diagnosis of multiple myeloma, with the aim to evaluate possible relationships with some prognostic predictors, such as ISS, albumin levels, beta2-microglobulin, red cell distribution width, and bone marrow plasma cell infiltration. Methods: In a cohort of 190 patients, we examined the calculated blood viscosity using the de Simone formula, and the albumin/fibrinogen ratio as a surrogate of erythrocyte aggregation, and then we related these parameters to prognostic factors, using the Kruskal–Wallis and the Mann–Whitney tests, respectively. Results: From our ana…

Esercizio fisico ed emoreologia

La microangiopatia diabetica

Protein oxidation in a group of subjects with metabolic syndrome.

Abstract Aims To examine the protein oxidation, marker of the oxidative stress, in metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods We enrolled 106 subjects (45 women and 61 men) with MS of which 43 (14 women and 27 men) were with diabetes mellitus and 63 (31 women and 32 men) were without diabetes mellitus, and 54 subjects (19 women and 35 men) as control group. The protein oxidation, expressed as carbonyl groups, was measured by an enzyme-like immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (BioCell PC test kit, Enzo Life Sciences AG, Switzerland). Results In the whole group of MS subjects, in comparison with control group, a significant increase in carbonyl groups was present. The same datum was also evident between co…

Emoreologia ed ipertensione

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease subdivided according to the extent.

An abnormal activation state of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) plays a key role in organ injury induced by vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content can be considered markers of PMN activation. In this research we evaluated the PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in VAD subjects with and without type 2 DM and examined the association between these parameters and the mono- or polyvascular localization. We enrolled 155 VAD subjects, including 92 non-diabetic (group A: mean age 63.6 +/- 9.2 years) and 63 diabetic patients (group B: mean age 65.4 +/- 7.8 years). Among group A 63 patients had monovascular …

Lipid Peroxidation, Nitric Oxide Metabolites, and Their Ratio in a Group of Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome

Our aim was to evaluate lipid peroxidation, expressed as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite + nitrate) expressed asNOx, and TBARS/NOxratio in a group of subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). In this regard we enrolled 106 subjects with MS defined according to the IDF criteria, subsequently subdivided into diabetic (DMS) and nondiabetic (NDMS) and also into subjects with a low triglycerides/HDL-cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) index or with a high TG/HDL-C index. In the entire group and in the four subgroups of MS subjects we found an increase in TBARS andNOxlevels and a decrease in TBARS/NOxratio in comparison with normal controls. Regarding all these …

Behaviour of the erythrocyte deformability and nitric oxide metabolites in unprofessional athletes

Correlation between markers of oxidative status and plasma elastase in juvenile myocardial infarction.

Red cell Ca2+ content (total and cytosolic) and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in several clinical conditions

Hemorheological pattern in different groups of athletes submitted to cardio-pulmonary exercise test

Behaviour of carbonyl groups in several clinical conditions: Analysis of our survey

Protein carbonylation is a marker of oxidative protein damage, that is likely involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein carbonyl (PC) groups in different clinical conditions. It included different groups of subjects: 81 trained subjects; 23 subjects with mild essential hypertension; 31 middle-aged subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS); 106 subjects with MS not selected for age (subdivided into two subgroups, with and without diabetes mellitus); 91 obese adults subdivided in two subgroups (BMI 30-35 Kg/m2 and BMI > 35 kg/m2); 48 subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) subdivided in accordance with the apnea/hypopnea i…

Acute ischemic stroke: leukocytes properties at the initial stage and after 30 days

Platelet membrane fluidity and platelet membrane lipid pattern in essential hypertension

In a group of subjects with essential hypertension platelets were studied in resting conditions: platelet membrane fluidity was measured with the fluorescent probe 1.4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH), platelet membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was evaluated separating the membrane lipids with column chromatography, and platelet membrane individual phospholipids were determined using two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. From the obtained results, it is evident that platelet membrane fluidity does not differentiate normals from hypertensives; platelet membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio is increased in hypertensives, while of the platelet membrane individu…

Plasma viscosity pattern and erythrocyte aggregation in two patients with congenital afibrinogenemia

: In this case report, we examine the behavior of plasma viscosity, explored at high and low shear rates, and erythrocyte aggregation in two patients with congenital afibrinogenemia, a clinical disorder firstly described in 1920 and that has an estimated incidence of 1 : 1-200 0000. The two hemorheological parameters examined by us showed a marked decrease in both patients, in one of whom erythrocyte aggregation was even undetectable. Keeping in mind that spontaneous thrombosis (venous and arterial) has been often described in congenital afibrinogenemia, it can be hypothesized that the decrease in plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation might cause a reduction of the endothelial synthe…

Influence of risk factors on nitric oxide metabolites at the initial stage of juvenile acute myocardial infarction.

Few data are accessible about the nitric oxide (NO) stable end-products (nitrite/NO2 − and nitrate/NO3 − :N O x) in acute coronary syndromes. An increase in inducible NO synthase (iNOS) was found during experimental myocardial infarction [13] and this increase persisted for 2 weeks. In experimental models of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) other authors [2] observed a NOx increase, a correlation between NOx level and iNOS activity and an inhibitory action carried out by S-methylisothiourea, that is an iNOS inhibitor [5]. The NOx level was also measured in a small group of patients with myocardial infarction in whom the peak of NOx elevation occurred 2 and 3 days after the onset of symptom…

Persistence of the altered polymorphonuclear leukocyte rheological and metabolic variables after 12 months in juvenile myocardial infarction

Diabetic retinopathy: Monitoring of the macro and microrheological parameters after oral administration of a single dose of calcium dobesilate (Doxium®)

Metalloproteinasi, stress ossidativo e sindrome metabolica

PMN membrane fluidity, cytosolic Ca2+ content and beta2-integrin pattern in vascular atherosclerotic disease

Pattern emoreologico in diversi gruppi di atleti sottoposti a test da sforzo cardiopolmonare.

Behaviour of nitric oxide metabolites in unprofessional athletes before and after a cardiopulmonary test.

Physical training causes an increase in nitric oxide (NO) production [2, 3, 8, 9] and this datum explains the link between exercise and endothelium and seems to demonstrate how regular training upregulates eNOS expression, although it is not sure if this upregulation is due to shear stress or metabolic factors [3]. However, it must be underlined that besides to be directly influenced by exogenous NO, erythrocytes express a functional NOS [5, 6, 11, 13] that raises the circulation NO pool. The literature data describe that an 8-week exercise training induced an increase in plasma levels of NO metabolites (NOx), that persisted four weeks after interruption of training [8]. A similar trend was…

Assetto emoreologico nell'infarto miocardico giovanile

Studio dei polimorfismi genetici nell’IMA giovanile

Nitric oxide metabolites and erythrocyte deformability in a group of subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Our aim was to evaluate nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite and nitrate), expressed as NOx, and erythrocyte deformability, expressed as elongation index, in a group of subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). We enrolled 48 subjects (36 men and 12 women; mean age 50.3 ± 14.68 yrs) with OSAS diagnosed after a 1-night cardiorespiratory sleep study. OSAS severity was assessed evaluating the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and subjects were subdivided in two subgroups: Low (L = AHI 30). NOx was examined converting nitrate into nitrite with a nitrate reductase and then assessing nitrite with spectrophotometry after the addition of Griess reagent. The elongation index was obtained using th…

Elastase, myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide metabolites and oxidative status in subjects with clinical stable chronic renal failure on conservative treatment

We evaluated, in a group of 41 CRF undialyzed subjects (29 men and 12 women, mean age 64.1 +/- 11.3 years), some parameters that reflect leukocyte activation (elastase, myeloperoxidase - MPO), plasma NO metabolites (NO(x)) and the oxidative status (lipid peroxidation expressed as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and total antioxidant status (TAS). Elastase was determined, on plasma separated from fasting venous blood, as elastase/alpha1-proteinase inhibitor complex. MPO was evaluated employing the Myeloperoxidase ELISA kit. The NO production was evaluated by a micromethod. The oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids was evaluated in plasma by detection of the thiobarbituric …

Acute ischemic stroke: behaviour of granulocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content at baseline and after in vitro activation

COVID-19 Sepsis and Microcirculation Dysfunction

The spreading of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, known as COVID-19, has caused a great number of fatalities all around the World. Up to date (2020 May 6) in Italy we had more than 28,000 deaths, while there were more than 205.000 infected. The majority of patients affected by COVID-19 complained only slight symptoms: fatigue, myalgia or cough, but more than 15% of Chinese patients progressed into severe complications, with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), needing intensive treatment. We tried to summarize data reported in the last months from several Countries, highlighting that COVID-19 was characterized by cytokine storm (CS) and endothelial dysfunction in severely ill patie…

Moderata assunzione di vino e protezione vascolare

Comparison between whole blood viscosity measured and calculated in subjects with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and in patients with multiple myeloma: Re-evaluation of our survey.

BACKGROUND: in this study, with a re-evaluation of the hemorheological determinants previously described in MGUS subjects and in MM patients, we have detected the calculated whole blood viscosity, according whether to the hematocrit and total plasma protein concentration (de Simone formula) or to the haematocrit and plasma fibrinogen level (Merrill formula), and a marker of the erythrocyte aggregation (albumin/fibrinogen level). METHODS: data were expressed as means±standard deviation. Student’s t test for unpaired data was used to compare MGUS subjects and MM patients. The correlation coefficient between mean erythrocyte aggregation (MEA) and hematocrit (Ht) was evaluated in MGUS, MM and M…

Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide metabolites in a group of subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

It is known that in OSAS the plasma lipid peroxidation has an opposite behavior in comparison with nitric oxide metabolites. In the re-examination of our survey of OSAS subjects we calculated the ratio between thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in relation to OSAS severity. The study has regarded 48 OSAS subjects subdivided in two subgroups according to the apnea/hypopnea index - AHI- (Low = 21 subjects with AHI30 and High = 27 subjects with AHI30). From the obtained data it is evident that the TBARS/NOx ratio is significantly higher in the H subgroup compared to L subgroup as well as this ratio is reduced in L subgroup in comparison with the …

Fluidita' di membrana, calcio citosolico ed assetto integrinico dei leucociti polimorfonucleati in pazienti con ulcere venose

Hemorheology in the metabolic syndrome.

Hemorheology in metabolic syndrome

Gelatinases and physical exercise: A systematic review of evidence from human studies

Background Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly gelatinase A (MMP-2) and gelatinase B (MMP-9), as well as their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2), are involved in the development of skeletal muscle tissue, in the repair process after muscle injury and in the adaptive modifications induced by physical exercise in skeletal muscle. This paper aims at reviewing results from human studies that investigated the role of gelatinases and their inhibitors in skeletal muscle response to acute physical exercise or training. Methods Electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for papers published between January 2000 and February 2017. The papers were eligi…

Granulocyte integrins before and after activation in acute ischaemic stroke.

We examined in 19 subjects with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) the PMN integrin pattern (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD18), using indirect immunofluorescence and adopting a flow cytometer, at baseline and during activation, prolonged for 5 and 15 min, with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). At baseline, an increase in the expression of CD11c and CD18 and a decrease in the CD11b were evident in AIS subjects compared to normals. After activation, we found in normals a constant and significant increase of all PMN adhesive molecules, while in AIS subjects, we found an increase in CD11b and CD18, a decrease in CD11a and no variation in CD11c. While the basal upregulation of CD11c and CD18 may depen…

Expression pattern of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 and their tissue inhibitors in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a heterogeneous family of endopeptidases that play a role in many physiological functions, including the immune response. An imbalance between the activity of MMPs and their physiological tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) has been proposed in the pathophysiology of different autoimmune disorders. We aimed to assess the plasmatic levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, and their inhibitors TIMP-1 and -2 in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Subjects and methods: Twenty patients with CIDP and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Plasma concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were determined by the enzy…

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte: rheology, metabolism and integrin pattern in vascular atherosclerotic disease and in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Leukocytes, and in particular polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), play a role in the organ injury that characterizes the progression of vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). We enrolled subjects with VAD, subjects with type 2 DM (DM2) and subjects with VAD and DM2. We evaluated the initial relative flow rate (IRFR) of PMN, using the St. George Filtrometer, the PMN membrane fluidity, labelling intact PMN cells with the fluorescent probe 1.4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH), the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content marking the cells with the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM and the PMN integrin profile using the flow cytofluorimetry. All these evaluations were eff…

DETERMINATION OF MAXIMAL FAT OXIDATION FOR PRESCRIBING EXERCISE IN SEDENTARY NON-OBESE TYPE 2 DIABETES SUBJECTS

Aim: To determine the exercise intensity that elicits the highest fat oxidation rate in sedentary non-obese subjects with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Eleven sedentary subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DS) and eleven healthy sedentary subjects (HS), aged 45 to 65 and non-obese, were evaluated to a graded exercise test. Oxygen uptake (VO2) and fat oxidation rate (FAT) were detected. FAT was then plotted as a function of exercise intensity, expressed as percentage of VO2max. We determined the exercise intensity (%VO2max) at which fat oxidation was maximal (FATmax). Results: Absolute FATmax was not significantly different between T2DS and HS (0.51  0.13 vs. 0.56  0.29 g∙min-1). FATmax occurred a…

Significato clinico delle alterazioni emoreologiche

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte rheology, cytosolic Ca2+ content, beta2-integrin expression and oxidative stress in hypertension.

Comportamento delle gelatinasi e dei loro inibitori tissutali nella sindrome metabolica

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in young adults with acute myocardial infarction. Evaluation at the initial stage and after 12 months

Our aim was to examine two aspects of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) rheology (membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content), at baseline and after in vitro activation, in a group of young adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the initial stage and after 12 months. We enrolled 21 AMI subjects aged < or = 45 years (mean age 41.1 +/- 3.5 years) and evaluated PMN membrane fluidity, labelling intact PMN cells with the fluorescent probe 1,4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenylhexatriene and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content marking PMN cells with the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM, at baseline and after in vitro activation with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and N-formyl-methionyl-l…

Deep venous thrombosis: polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin profile

Clinical disorders responsible for plasma hyperviscosity and skin complications

In this brief review, we have examined some clinical disorders which are associated to an altered hemorheological profile and at times accompanied by skin ulcers. This skin condition may be, in fact, observed in patients with primary plasma hyperviscosity such as multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, cryoglobulinemia, cryofibrinogenemia, dysfibrinogenemia and connective tissue diseases. It must be underlined that the altered hemorheological pattern is not the only responsible for this skin complication but, as it worsens the microcirculatory flow, it contributes to determine the occurrence of the skin ulcers.

Membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration of the circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes in diabetes mellitus

Behaviour of protein carbonyl groups in juvenile myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is accompanied by oxidative stress, and protein oxidation is among the con- sequences of oxidative stress. We examined the plasma concentration of protein carbonyl groups (PC), a marker of protein oxidation, in a group of young subjects with AMI (45 men and 5 women; mean age 40.4 ± 4.8 yrs). We found a significant increase of PC (p < 0.001) in comparison with normal controls. No difference was observed between patients with AMI char- acterized by elevated ST segment and those without elevation of ST segment. There was no correlation between the ejection fraction and PC in the whole group nor in the subgroups of STEMI and non-STEMI patients. Subdividing the …

Il ruolo dei leucociti polimorfonucleati in patologia venosa

Interrelationships between oxidative stress and MMP-9 in subjects with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality and some studies have demonstrated that the incidence of cardiovascular events is related to its severity. Our aim was to examine the oxidative status and the matrix metalloproteases (MMP) profile in a group of subjects with OSAS. We enrolled 48 subjects with OSAS, defined after a 1-night cardiorespiratory sleep study, which were subsequently subdivided in two subgroups according to the severity of OSAS: mild-moderate OSAS = “Low”, severe OSAS = “High”. We measured the parameters of oxidative stress, such as l…

Studio Siciliano sull’Infarto Miocardico Giovanile: considerazioni osservazionali dopo tre anni di arruolamento

Polymorphonuclear membrane fluidity and Ca2+ content in atherosclerosis and diabetes

Infiammazione, infarto del miocardio e longevità: ruolo del polimorfismo del CCR5.

Gelatinases and their tissue inhibitors in a group of subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular events and stroke. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases involved in extracellular matrix degradation and then in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Our aim was to evaluate plasma levels of gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) in a group of subjects with OSAS. We enrolled 48 subjects (36 men and 12 women; mean age 49.7 ± 14.68 yrs) with OSAS diagnosed with a 1-night cardiorespiratory study and then we subdivided these subjects into two subgroups according to the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI): Low (L = 21 subjects with AHI …

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin profile in diabetes mellitus at baseline and after in vitro activation.

Cardiopatia ischemica cronica: pattern integrinico dei leucociti polimorfonucleati dopo attivazione in vitro e durante test ergometrico

Emoreologia negli atleti

Uric acid and uric acid/creatinine ratio and their correlations with the hemorheological determinants in subjects with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: we have examined the concentration of serum uric acid and the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio as well as their correlations with the main determinants of the hemorheological profile in a group of subjects with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: we evaluated the concentration of serum uric acid and the serum uric acid/creatine ratio in 43 men and 57 women [median age 66.00 (25)] with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, subsequently divided according to the number of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and to the insulin resistance degree. RESULTS: serum uric acid, but not the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio, results strongly influenced by the numbe…

Protein oxidation in chronic kidney disease.

An imbalance between oxidative processes and antioxidant systems has been widely demonstrated in chronic kidney diseases (CKD). In this study we enrolled 26 healthy subjects, 27 patients with CKD on conservative treatment (CT-CKD) with various degrees of renal failure, and 31 CKD subjects in haemodialysis treatment (HD-CKD), evaluated before and after a standard haemodialysis session. In each group we measured protein carbonyl groups (PC) as an index of protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and two plasma markers of leukocyte activation, elastase and myeloperoxidase (MPO). In CT-CKD subjects the PC level was significantly higher than in normal controls, and it was negatively correla…

Studio delle interrelazioni tra stress ossidativo, gelatinasi e loro inibitori in soggetti con sindrome delle apnee ostruttive nel sonno

Deformabilità eritrocitaria e metaboliti dell'ossido nitrico in un gruppo di soggetti con sindrome delle apnee ostruttive nel sonno

Lipid peroxidation/nitric oxide metabolite ratio in trained subjects before and after a cardiopulmonary test

Interrelationships between lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant status in sedentary controls and unprofessional athletes.

We examined the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as an index of lipid peroxidation, and the total antioxidant status (TAS) in 81 unprofessional athletes subdivided into three subgroups. The first group included 28 subjects who practised endurance sports, the second included 30 subjects who practised mixed sports, the third included 23 subjects who practised power sports. We enrolled also a group of 61 sedentary controls (SC). TBARS were increased and TAS was decreased in the whole group of athletes in comparison with SC; an almost similar behaviour was present also subdividing athletes according to the practised sport. A significant negative correlation between these two para…

Insulin resistance and polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity in obese subjects with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus

Alterazioni funzionali leucocitarie nella malattia ipertensiva

Effect of mesoglycan on macrorheologic and microrheologic parameters

Abstract Whole blood filtration, mean erythrocyte aggregation, and erythrocyte membrane fluidity were examined in 10 patients with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) and in 15 VAD patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) treated with mesoglycan (100 mg orally twice a day) for 30 days. The red cell membrane transverse fluidity gradient was evaluated in the VAD subjects, and the red cell membrane protein lateral mobility was measured in the VAD subjects with NIDDM. In both groups, mesoglycan treatment was responsible for an increase in erythrocyte membrane fluidity. This finding, which reflects an improvement in the dynamic properties of red cell membrane, assumes part…

Polymorphonuclear integrins, membrane fluidity, and cytosolic Ca(2+) content after activation in essential hypertension.

Abstract —The purpose of this research was to obtain further information about the role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in essential hypertension. These cells could be involved in the pathogenesis of organ injury. Thirty subjects (14 men and 16 women) with essential hypertension were enrolled. In these subjects we determined, at baseline and after in vitro activation with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, the polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity, obtained by labeling the cells with 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration, obtained by marking the cells with Fura 2-AM, and integrin pattern (C…

Hemorheological abnormalities in human arterial hypertension

Blood rheology is impaired in hypertensive patients. The alteration involves blood and plasma viscosity, and the erythrocyte behaviour is often abnormal. The hemorheological pattern appears to be related to some pathophysiological mechanisms of hypertension and to organ damage, in particular left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial ischemia. Abnormalities have been observed in erythrocyte membrane fluidity, explored by fluorescence spectroscopy and electron spin resonance. This may be relevant for red cell flow in microvessels and oxygen delivery to tissues. Although blood viscosity is not a direct target of antihypertensive therapy, the rheological properties of blood play a role in the…

Deformabilita' eritrocitaria, metaboliti stabili dell'NO e perossidazione lipidica in atleti non professionisti

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin expression in subjects with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus

Evaluation of oxidative status in coronary heart disease at baseline and during exercise test

Oxidative stress has probably a role in coronary heart disease (CHD), but studies focused on the behaviour of oxidative status in patients with stable CHD have obtained controversial results. On the other hand, an increased release of leukocyte elastase is considered a marker of CHD. Exercise can induce oxidative stress and leukocyte activation, so the aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative status and plasma elastase level in a group of subjects with stable coronary heart disease (CHD), at baseline and during an exercise test. We enrolled 15 patients with previous acute myocardial infarction, all treated with statins and platelet antiaggregating agents. As parameters of oxidative statu…

Evaluation of nitric oxide metabolites in a group of subjects with metabolic syndrome.

Abstract Aim To evaluate the concentration of metabolites (NO2−, NO3−) of nitric oxide (NO) in metabolic syndrome (MS). Materials and methods We enrolled 106 subjects (45 women and 61 men) with MS of which 43 (14 women and 27 men) with diabetes mellitus and 63 (31 women and 32 men) without diabetes mellitus, and 54 subjects (19 women and 35 men) as control group. The nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite + nitrate = NOx) were evaluated employing the Griess reagent. Results In the whole group of MS subjects was evident, in comparison with control group, a significant increase in NOx. The same finding was also present between control group and diabetic subjects with MS and between control group a…

Erythrocyte Ca2+ content and red cell membrane transverse fluidity gradient in a group of subjects with chronic renal failure (CRF)

High Output Heart Failure in Multiple Myeloma: Pathogenetic Considerations.

The high output heart failure is a clinical condition in which the systemic congestion is associated to a high output state, and it can be observed in a non-negligible percentage of hematological diseases, particularly in multiple myeloma, a condition in which the risk of adverse cardiovascular events may increase, with a worse prognosis for patients. For this reason, though an accurate literature search, we provided in this review a complete overview of different pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for high output heart failure in multiple myeloma. Indeed, this clinical finding is present in the 8% of multiple myeloma patients, and it may be caused by artero-venous shunts, enhanced angioge…

Aspetti emoreologici nella iperviscosità policitemica e sierica

I fattori strutturali in grado di modificare la viscosità ematica sono la massa cellulare, le frazioni proteiche plasmatiche e la deformabilità del globulo rosso. In base alla presenza di uno di questi fattori si distinguono le diverse condizioni primarie di iperviscosità. Mentre l'iperviscosità policitemica è possibile riscontrarla in molti quadri clinici caratterizzati dall'aumento della massa cellulare (policitemia vera, eritrocitosi, leucocitosi iperleucocitiche, trombocitemia), l'iperviscosità sierica è probabile evidenziarla in quadri clinici diversi quali mieloma, malattia di Waldenstrom, crioglobulinemia, disfibrinogenemie, malattie del connettivo, e l'iperviscosità sclerocitemica è…

Wine, Diet, and Arterial Hypertension

Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries, and the number of prehypertensive patients is increasing. The beneficial effects of moderate wine consumption on cardiovascular diseases have been demonstrated, along with the healthy influence of a Mediterranean dietary pattern. The association of these 2 factors on hypertension and its complications is considered here. As wine polyphenols exert a vasorelaxing action, they might positively influence the hemodynamic situation of these patients. These effects could be enhanced by dietary constituents, such as garlic, onions, and olive oil, which are widely employed in Mediterranean cooking. By evaluating many studies…

Behavior of the total antioxidant status in a group of subjects with metabolic syndrome.

AIM: Our purpose was to examine the total antioxidant status (TAS) in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) subdivided according to the presence or not of diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We enrolled 106 subjects (45 women, 61 men) with MS subsequently subdivided in diabetics (14 women, 29 men) and nondiabetics (31 women, 29 men). TAS was obtained using an Assay kit which relies on the ability of plasma antioxidant substances to inhibit the oxidation of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid) to the radical ABTS+. RESULTS: In the group of MS subjects a significant decrease in TAS (p<0.05) in comparison with normal controls was evident. This difference was present between normal subje…

Effects of green tea catechins and exercise training on body composition parameters

The impact of phytochemicals, as green tea catechins, on body composition measures has become a relevant topic as ongoing epidemiological evidence suggests their potential role in weight loss. Although catechins have been shown to modulate fat and energy metabolism, clinical effects of green tea consumption still remain controversial. Given the role played by physical exercise in weight management, it is important to determine whether the association of catechins and exercise is able to improve outcomes over and above the beneficial effects of exercise alone. Considering that scientific findings on this topic are not entirely consistent, aim of the present review was to assess the current s…

Behaviour of the oxidative status in athletes before and after a cardio-pulmonary test

Ulcere venose: rilievi riguardanti sia aspetti reologici e funzionali dei polimorfonucleati che le concentrazioni plasmatiche delle gelatinasi e dei loro inibitori

Relationship between elastase and total antioxidant status in young subjects with recent myocardial infarction

In a group of young subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (68 men and 7 women; mean age 39.6 ± 5.7 years) we examined the plasma concentration of elastase, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and the total antioxidant status (TAS) at the initial stage of AMI. In this group we found an increase of elastase (p <0.001) and TBARS (p < 0.001) and a decrease of TAS (p < 0.001). A statistical correlation was observed in the whole group of AMI patients between plasma elastase and TAS (p < 0.01) and this correlation was more statistically significant in patients with more risk factors and not in those with more involved vessels.

Erythrocyte membrane fluidity during mesoglycan treatment

Acute myocardial infarction in young adults: Evaluation of the haemorheological pattern at the initial stage, after 3 and 12 months

Vascular atherosclerotic disease: Behaviour of the red cell phospholipids and their relationships with the erythrocyte membrane fluidity. Preliminary report

Behaviour of protein carbonyl groups in trained subjects

Reologia eritrocitaria nel diabete mellito

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin profile in vascular atherosclerotic disease with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Alterazioni emoreologiche nella sindrome metabolica

La sindrome metabolica (SM) si accompagna ad un elevato rischio cardiovascolare. Oltre ai tradizionali fattori di rischio, dei quali la SM rappresenta un’aggregazione, sono identificabili fattori non tradizionali quali l’assetto emoreologico. È noto da tempo che un disordine emoreologico si accompagna alla SM, ed è ipotizzabile una sua influenza sui meccanismi che instaurano e mantengono l’insulino-resistenza. In un gruppo di pazienti con SM abbiamo osservato un incremento della viscosità ematica e plasmatica e una riduzione della filtrabilità ematica. Il rapporto vita-fianchi, indice di obesità addominale, era direttamente correlato con la viscosità ematica e con l’ematocrito, mentre la vi…

Emoreologia, stress ossidativo ed attività agonistica.

Oxidative stress in juvenile myocardial infarction: evaluation at the initial stage and after 12 months.

Red blood cell deformability in multiple myeloma1.

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the erythrocyte deformability in multiple myeloma (MM). We enrolled 29 MM patients and we evaluated, on fasting venous blood, the erythrocyte deformability, expressed as elongation index, and examined using the diffractometric method. By comparing normal controls and MM patients, a significant decrease in erythrocyte deformability, especially at low shear stresses, was found. In this research paper we evaluated all the hypothesis for a possible explanation of the behaviour of red blood cell deformability in MM, even considering how the alteration of erythrocyte deformability worsens the microcirculatory flow in these patients in association with t…

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin pattern expression in atherosclerosis and diabetes

Relationship Between Heart Rate Recovery After Exercise and Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Sedentary Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

AIMS: Heart rate recovery after exercise (HRR) is an estimate of autonomic modulation of the heart, and has been shown to be inversely associated with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with decreased maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Aim of our study was to assess the relationship between HRR and VO2max in sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Maximal exercise testing to determine VO2max (ml ∙ Kg-1 ∙ min-1) was performed in 16 sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes (DP) and in 16 age-matched sedentary healthy controls (HS). HRR (bpm) 2 min after cessation of the exercise was recorded. Simple linear regression was used to assess the relations between HRR and VO2m…

Erythrocyte deformability and nitric oxide metabolites in athletes before and after a cardio-pulmonary test

Stress ossidativo in un gruppo di atleti sottoposti a test da sforzo cardiopolmonare.

Leucociti polimorfonucleati e diabete mellito

Deformabilità eritrocitaria nella policitemia vera

Erythrocyte deformability and nitric oxide metabolites in athletes before and after a cardiopulmonary test.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate erythrocyte deformability, nitric oxide metabolites, and their modifications induced by exercise in athletes who practised different sports. DESIGN: This evaluation was effected before and after cardiopulmonary test, using a cycloergometer. SETTING: The study was performed in the Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Renal Diseases of the University of Palermo. PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled 62 male athletes who practised endurance (n = 23), mixed (n = 20), and power (n = 19) sports and 20 sedentary male subjects as controls. ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS: No subject had diabetes or hypertension or dyslipidemia. Five control subjects and 14 athletes were smokers…

Relationship between lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant status in juvenile myocardial infarction.

Heart rate recovery after exercise and maximal oxygen uptake in sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims: Heart rate recovery after exercise (HRR) is an estimate of autonomic modulation of the heart, and has been shown to be inversely associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes [1]. Type 2 diabetes is associated with poor exercise tolerance and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) [2]. Aim of our study was to assess the relationship between HRR and VO2max in sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Maximal treadmill exercise testing using standard or modified Bruce protocol was performed in 16 (8 males and 8 females) sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and in 16 (9 males and 7 females) age-matched sedentary non-diabetic controls (ND). HRR (…

Analysis of the Blood Viscosity Behavior in the Sicilian Study on Juvenile Myocardial Infarction

Considering the role of hemorheology in coronary circulation, we studied blood viscosity in patients with juvenile myocardial infarction. We examined whole blood viscosity at high shear rate using the cone-on-plate viscosimeter Wells-Brookfield ½ LVT and at low shear rate employing a viscometer Contraves LS30 in 120 patients (aged &lt;46 years) with myocardial infarction, at the initial stage and subsequently 3 and 12 months after. At the initial stage, patients had an increased whole blood viscosity in comparison to normal controls. This hemorheological profile was not influenced by the cardiovascular risk factors, nor by the extent of coronary lesions, even if some differences were evide…

Lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant status in unprofessional athletes before and after a cardiopulmonary test.

We examined lipid peroxidation, expressed as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) before and after a cardiopulmonary test, in 20 sedentary controls and in 62 unprofessional male athletes subdivided into 3 subgroups. The first included subjects who practised endurance sports (14 cyclists and 9 endurance swimmers), the second subjects who practised mixed sports (6 basket players, 6 judoists, 8 water polo players) and the third group subjects who practised power sports (3 sprint runners, 4 weightlifters, 12 sprint swimmers). In the whole group of athletes an increase in TBARS and a decrease in TAS were present at baseline. Subdividing the whole gro…

Platelet and polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation markers in juvenile myocardial infarction

Statin-induced autoimmune myositis: a proposal of an “experience-based” diagnostic algorithm from the analysis of 69 patients

AbstractStatin-induced autoimmune myositis (SIAM) represents a rare clinical entity that can be triggered by prolonged statin treatment. Its pathogenetic substrate consists of an autoimmune-mediated mechanism, evidenced by the detection of antibodies directed against the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (anti-HMGCR Ab), the target enzyme of statin therapies. To facilitate the diagnosis of nuanced SIAM clinical cases, the present study proposes an “experience-based” diagnostic algorithm for SIAM. We have analyzed the clinical data of 69 patients diagnosed with SIAM. Sixty-seven patients have been collected from the 55 available and complete case records regarding SIAM in the l…

Monitoraggio delle determinanti emoreologiche nell’infarto miocardico giovanile

Erythrocyte deformability in Polycythemia Vera

Red cell metabolic parameters and rheological determinants in essential hypertension

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease subdivided according to the extent

Sindrome metabolica ed emoreologia

Haematocrit in metabolic syndrome

In this paper are described normal and insulin resistant subjects, correlating the haematocrit value with M-index during euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp. The haematocrit value is related negatively with the M-value. We conclude that insulin resistance is a possible factor in determinating the blood viscosity in relation with the red cells/plasma ratio.

Macro e microreologia eritrocitaria nella malattia diabetica e ipertensiva

Reflections on the unexpected laboratory finding of hemorheological alterations observed in some haematological disorders

Hyperviscosity syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by the slowing of blood flow through the vessels and it may be associated with several diseases. The nosographic classification of primary hyperviscosity conditions (Wells classification 1970) divided the primary hyperviscosity syndromes in polycythaemic, sclerocytemic and sieric. Recent and personal laboratory observations have highlighted an unexpected behaviour of the erythrocyte deformability observed in some haematological disorders such as polycythemia vera, multiple myeloma and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. The interest of this observation depends on the fact that up to now, according to the Wells cla…

Erythrocyte deformability profile evaluated by laser diffractometry in patients with multiple myeloma: Re-examination of our cases.

Background: Multiple myeloma is a complex pathology which represents about 10 % of all hematological neo-plasms. It can often present changes in the hemorheological profile and, in relation to this last topic, our aim is to evaluate the hemorheological profile in a group of multiple myeloma patients, with reference to erythrocyte deformability. Methods: We have examined the profile of the erythrocyte deformability in multiple myeloma enrolling 29 pa-tients; this profile, expressed as elongation index at several shear stress, has been obtained using the diffracto-metric method. Results: By comparing normal controls and MM patients, a significant decrease in erythrocyte deformability, especia…

Infiammazione e stress ossidativo: confronto tra pazienti con insufficienza renale cronica e pazienti sottoposti a trapianto renale

Red cell Ca2+ content (cytosolic and total) and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in vascular atherosclerotic disease

Chloride/sodium ratio and sodium.chloride difference inpatients with renal failure and metabolic acidosis in hemodialysis treatment

Acute myocardial infarction in young subjects: behaviour of plasma markers of platelet activation

Stress ossidativo e markers di attivazione granulocitaria nell'insufficienza renale cronica in trattamento conservativo e dialitico.

Wine consumption and renal diseases: new perspectives.

Investigations into the relation between wine consumption and kidney disease have been limited. Patients with chronic renal failure show accelerated atherosclerotic damage and, considering the well-known protective effect of wine on the cardiovascular system, moderate wine consumption might be advantageous. Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, which are inter-related, play a role in the pathophysiology of many renal diseases, including acute and chronic renal failure. Ethanol and non-alcoholic wine components, especially polyphenols, influence oxidative balance and endothelial function. Although long-term alcohol abuse has been associated with many renal alterations in humans, in e…

Elastasi e stress ossidativo in cardiopatici ischemici sottoposti a test ergometrico

Stress ossidativo in pazienti con sclerodermia: effetti dell’iloprost.

Effetti dell’iloprost sulla disfunzione leucocitaria nella sclerodermia.

An unusual case of chronic diarrhea: a case report

Gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine neoplasms or tumors (GEP-NEN or NETs) are rare tumors arising from the diffuse neuroendocrine system. This clinical case highlights the complexity of the diagnostic process and the difficulties in interpreting the examinations for this type of tumor, showing how the negativity of firstlevel examinations did not prevent from performing further investigations, in the presence of a suggestive clinical presentation. The search of similar cases in the published literature suggests that this represents an unusual presentation of a NET.

Association between Tpeak-Tend/QT and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with Takotsubo syndrome

Background:Conflicting results have been described in the scientific literature regarding the relationship between electrocardiographic parameters and complications in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Aim of the present study was to investigate whether there is an association between markers of ventricular repolarization and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalisation. Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted on a sample of patients with diagnosis of TTS, based on the fulfilment of the revised Mayo Clinic criteria. MACE included acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and death. The following…

Essential hypertension: polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin profile

Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide metabolites in sedentary subjects and sportsmen before and after a cardiopulmonary test.

Our aim was to investigate the effects of an exercise test on some indices of oxidative status and endothelial function, in trained and untrained subjects. We examined lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and their ratio before and after a cardiopulmonary test, using a cycloergometer. We enrolled 60 male subjects who practiced sport unprofessionally, subdivided in two groups (A and B) according to the values of VO2max. Group A included sportsmen with poor or fair aerobic fitness (VO2max 39 ml/Kg/min). The control group included 19 male sedentary subjects. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by detection of the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS); the NOx were evaluate…

Persistence of the altered polymorphonuclear leukocyte rheological and metabolic variables after 12 months in juvenile myocardial infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with an elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) count and a PMN rheological impairment. In this study we evaluated two major rheological aspects (membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration) in a group of young adults with AMI. We enrolled 41 AMI patients (39 men and 2 women; mean age 41.0 +/- 4.0 years), who were examined 5-10 days after AMI (T1) and 12 months later (T2). The membrane fluidity was obtained labelling granulocytes with the fluorescent probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) and considering the degree of fluorescence polarization, inversely correlated to the membrane lipid fluidity. The c…

Matrix Metalloproteases in Arterial Hypertension and their Trend after Antihypertensive Treatment

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background/Aims&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Arterial hypertension is characterized by vascular remodelling, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. Matrix metalloproteases (MPPs) are endopeptidases produced by all the cells present in the vascular wall and are involved in the regulation of the extracellular matrix protein turnover. MMPs contribute to blood vessel formation, remodelling, angiogenesis; whereas an altered expression or activity of MMPs or their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) results correlated with the development and progression of cardiovascular complications. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; We examined the…

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin profile in vascular atherosclerotic disease

Leukocyte-endothelial interactions could have a pathogenic role in atherogenesis. Adhesion molecules expressed by endothelial cells, such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interact with leukocyte integrins mediating the firm adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium which is followed by their transendothelial migration. The aim of our research was to evaluate polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) integrin expression, at baseline and after activation, in a group of subjects with chronic vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD). In 27 subjects with VAD we examined, at baseline and after in vitro activation with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), the PMN integrin pattern (CD11a, CD11b…

Evaluation of nitric oxide production at the initial stage, 3 months and 12 months after juvenile myocardial infarction.

Gelatinases and their tissue inhibitors in a group of subjects with metabolic syndrome.

Aim To evaluate matrix metalloproteases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 in a group of subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) subdivided according to the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. Methods We examined in 90 subjects (51 men and 39 women) with MS, defined following the International Diabetes Federation criteria, and subsequently subdivided into diabetic subjects (22 men and 11 women) and nondiabetic subjects s (29 men and 28 women), the plasma concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results We found a significant increase in plasma concentrations of MMP-2, MMP…

Lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation are related to the severity of OSAS

Erythrocyte deformability evaluated by laser diffractometry in polycythemia vera.

We evaluated the erythrocyte deformability in a group of subjects with polycythemia vera (PV) using a Rheodyn-SSD Laser Diffractometer, at the shear stresses of 6, 12, 30 and 60 Pa. Our data showed a significant decrease of red cell deformability, expressed as elongation index (EI), in PV subjects compared with normal controls. These results suggest that the hyperviscosity syndrome accompanying this myeloproliferative disease may be considered a mixed form, resulting from the association of a polycythemic condition with a sclerocythemic disorder.

Emoreologia ed infarto miocardico giovanile: rilievi in fase iniziale e dopo 3 e 12 mesi

Effects of non invasive ventilation on left and right hemodynamic parameters during acute respiratory failure secondary to COPD exacerbation

Effetti emoreologici del trattamento con iloprost in pazienti con fenomeno di Raynaud secondario a sclerodermia.

Rilievi emoreologici nella sclerosi sistemica.

Microrheological determinants and erythrocyte membrane phospholipids in vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD)

Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis. A Preliminary Study

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) have recently been proposed as promising biomarkers in different immune-mediated disorders. We evaluated the plasma levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in a patients’ cohort with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods: Plasma concentrations of MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were evaluated in 14 patients with generalized MG and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The severity of disease was assessed by the modified Osserman classification. Results: Compared to the healthy subjects, MG patients had increased plasma concentrations of MMP-9, but redu…

Nitric oxide metabolites in chronic renal failure in conservative and in haemodialysis treatment.

Red blood cell deformability in multiple myeloma

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the erythrocyte deformability in multiple myeloma (MM). We enrolled 29MM patients and we evaluated, on fasting venous blood, the erythrocyte deformability, expressed as elongation index, and examined using the diffractometric method. By comparing normal controls and MM patients, a significant decrease in erythrocyte deformability, especially at low shear stresses, was found. In this research paper we evaluated all the hypothesis for a possible explanation of the behaviour of red blood cell deformability in MM, even considering how the alteration of erythrocyte deformability worsens the microcirculatory flow in these patients in association with th…

Lipid Peroxidation, Protein Oxidation, Gelatinases, and Their Inhibitors in a Group of Adults with Obesity

AbstractThe association between obesity and cardiovascular diseases has a multifactorial pathogenesis, including the synthesis of inflammatory molecules, the increase in oxidative stress and the dysregulation of the matrix metalloprotease (MMP) concentration and activity. In a group of adults with obesity, divided in 2 subgroups according to the body mass index (BMI), we examined lipid peroxidation, expressed as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), protein oxidation, expressed as protein carbonyl groups (PCs), plasma gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2). In the whole group, as well as in the 2 subgroups (with BMI 30–35 or BMI&gt;35) of o…

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin expression in atherosclerosis and diabetes

Granulocyte cytosolic Ca2+ content and beta2-integrin profile in type 2 diabetic subjects with and without macrovascular complications.

Elastasi e parametri dello stress ossidativo nell’ipertensione arteriosa.

Nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite and nitrate) in young patients with recent acute myocardial infarction

Nitric oxide (NO) has a role in the pathophysiology of acute and chronic cardiovascular events. We studied the plasma concentration of NO stable end products (nitrite and nitrate - NO x ) in 43 patients aged <46 years, with recent acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The evaluation was effected at the initial stage, after 3 and 12 months. We subdivided the patients into subgroups according to the number of the main cardiovascular risk factors and to the extent of coronary disease. In the whole group the NO x concentration was initially increased and progressively decreased after 3 and 12 months, remaining at both times significantly higher than in control subjects. The patients with more risk…

Leukocyte flow properties, polymorphonuclear membrane fluidity, and cytosolic Ca2+ content in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease with and without noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The aim of this research was the evaluation of white blood cell (WBC) filtration, reflecting WBC flow properties, polymorphonuclear cell membrane fluidity, and cytosolic Ca 2+ content in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) and in VAD subjects with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), in good hemodynamic balance. The authors examined WBC filtration (unfractionated, mononuclear [MN], polymorphonu clear [PMN] cells), using the St. George Filtrometer and considering, respectively, the initial relative flow rate (IRFR) and the clogging rate (CR); the PMN membrane fluidity, employing the fluorescent probe TMA-DPH and calculating the fluorescence polarization degree; a…

Deformabilità eritrocitaria, metaboliti dell'ossido nitrico e stress ossidativo in un gruppo di soggetti con sindrome delle apnee ostruttive nel sonno

La sindrome delle apnee ostruttive nel sonno ((OSAS) si associa a disfunzione endoteliale ed aterosclerosi ed è gravata da un'elevata morbilità e mortalità cardiovascolare.

Myeloperoxidase in chronic kidney disease.

Eventi vascolari correlati ad alcune condizioni di iperviscosità sclerocitemica

The function of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1) in several clinical conditions: Results and analysis of our survey.

The goal of this research was to evaluate the plasma concentration of MMP-9 and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1) in different clinical conditions. It included several groups of subjects: 31 overweight subjects; 91 obese adults divided into two subgroups according to the BMI value (BMI 30–35 Kg/m2 and BMI &gt; 35 Kg/m2); 90 subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) divided into two subgroups (with and without diabetes mellitus); 100 subjects with preclinical carotid atherosclerosis (PCA) divided according to the number of cardiovascular risk factors and to the insulin resistance degree; 48 subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) divided according to the apnoea/hypopnea index (AHI); 2…