Search results for " Models"
showing 10 items of 4240 documents
Retinol-binding protein 4: a new marker of virus-induced steatosis in patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1.
2008
Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is an adipocytokine associated with insulin resistance (IR). We tested serum levels of RBP4 to assess its link with steatosis in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nondiabetic patients with CHC (n = 143) or NAFLD (n = 37) were evaluated by liver biopsy and anthropometric and metabolic measurements, including IR by the homeostasis model assessment. Biopsies were scored by Scheuer classification for CHC, and Kleiner for NAFLD. Steatosis was tested as a continuous variable and graded as absent-mild <30%, or moderate-severe > or =30%. Thirty nondiabetic, nonobese blood donors served as controls. …
The UCP2 -866 G>A promoter region polymorphism is associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
2015
Background & Aims Uncoupling protein 2 - UCP2 - regulates mitochondrial lipid fluxes and reactive oxygen species production by the respiratory chain. The −866 G>A UCP2 promoter region polymorphism has been linked to insulin resistance and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess whether the −866 G>A UCP2 polymorphism predisposes to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in patients at risk, and the relationship with lipid metabolism and hepatic UCP2 expression. Methods We considered 688 Italian patients who underwent liver biopsy for suspected NASH, and 232 healthy controls. The UCP2 −866 G>A polymorphism was determined by allele specific oligonucleotide probes, hepatic UCP2 mRNA levels …
Adrenomedullin and arterial stiffness: integrative approach combining monocyte ADM expression, plasma MR-Pro-ADM, and genome-wide association study.
2014
Background— Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a circulating vasoactive peptide involved in vascular homeostasis and endothelial function. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the ADM gene are associated with blood pressure variability, and elevated levels of plasma midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-pro-ADM) are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Methods and Results— We investigated the sources of variability of ADM gene expression and plasma MR-pro-ADM concentrations in the general population, and their relationship with markers of atherosclerosis. MR-pro-ADM levels were assessed in 4155 individuals who underwent evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness and arterial rigidity (reflection inde…
Effect of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine on Incidence of Herpes Zoster After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation A Randomized Clinical Trial
2019
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CT enterography as a powerful tool for the evaluation of inflammatory activity in Crohn’s disease: relationship of CT findings with CDAI and acute-ph…
2014
Few studies have correlated computed tomography enterography (CTE) findings with Crohn’s disease (CD) clinical and biochemical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate correlations between CTE findings with CD activity. The CTE datasets from 62 patients were retrospectively reviewed for different parameters: bowel wall thickening and hyperenhancement, mesenteric alterations, abdominal free fluid and complications related to the disease (fistulas, strictures, abscesses). Activity was assessed using the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and some biochemical markers (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, alpha 2-globulins, fibrinogen, platelets, haemoglobin). Correlati…
Deferiprone versus Deferoxamine in Sickle Cell Disease: Results from a 5-year long-term Italian multi-center randomized clinical trial
2014
Blood transfusion and iron chelation currently represent a supportive therapy to manage anemia, vasculopathy and vaso-occlusion crises in Sickle-Cell-Disease. Here we describe the first 5-year long-term randomized clinical trial comparing Deferiprone versus Deferoxamine in patients with Sickle-Cell-Disease. The results of this study show that Deferiprone has the same effectiveness as Deferoxamine in decreasing body iron burden, measured as repeated measurements of serum ferritin concentrations on the same patient over 5-years and analyzed according to the linear mixed-effects model (LMM) (p=0.822). Both chelators are able to decrease, significantly, serum ferritin concentrations, during 5-y…
High liver RBP4 protein content is associated with histological features in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C and with nonalcoholic steato…
2011
Abstract Background and aim To investigate the hepatic expression of retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, and its association with biochemical and histological patterns of liver damage. Materials and methods Sixty-six genotype 1 CHC and 32 NASH patients were tested for hepatic RBP4 expression. Liver expression at immunostaining was scored as 0 (slight), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), and 3 (intense). In addition, the mRNA and the quantitative protein expressions of RBP4 were tested by PCR and by western blot, respectively, in 12 NASH and 28 CHC patients. Twelve subjects undergoing elective cholecystectomy served as controls…
[Prognostic value of interleukin 6 for death of patients with sepsis].
2016
Abstract Background and objective To see the influence of interlukin-6 (IL-6) as an inflammatory mediator in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis, assessing whether their serum levels during their stay in intensive care unit (ICU) serve as an early mortality prognostic marker. Material and methods A prospective observational cohort study with 203 ICU patients from a third level hospital. A descriptive analysis was made, X 2 test used to compare qualitative variables, T -Student test to compare quantitative ones. We made a logistic regression multivariant analysis on admission, third and seventh day of stay with dependent variable mortality and independent …
[Central blood pressure and vascular damage].
2014
Abstract Background and objective The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between central blood pressure and vascular damage. Patients and methods This cross-sectional study involved 393 never treated hypertensive patients (166 women). Clinical blood pressure (BP), 24 h blood pressure (BP 24 h ) and central blood pressure (CBP) were measured. Vascular organ damage (VOD) was assessed by calculating the albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), wave pulse pressure velocity and echocardiographic left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Results Patients with VOD had higher values of BP, BP 24 h , and CBP than patients without ACR. When comparing several systolic BP, systolic BP 24 h had a higher …
Normal reference values of multilayer longitudinal strain according to age decades in a healthy population: A single-centre experience.
2017
Aims Recent advancements in echocardiographic technology allow to analyse myocardial strain in multiple layers. Little is known about the impact of age on layer-specific longitudinal strain in healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of age on multilayer longitudinal strain and establish normal reference values of layer-specific strain according to age decades in a healthy population referring to our echo laboratory using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography with layer-specific software. Methods and results Two-hundred sixty-six healthy, consecutive subjects (mean age = 39.2 ± 17.5 years, women/men = 137/129), free of cardiovascular risk factors, were enrolled. S…