Search results for "Case-Control Studies"
showing 10 items of 1567 documents
Chronic renal failure: leukocyte rheology and polymorphonuclear cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.
2000
In a group of subjects with chronic renal failure (CRF), we evaluated the leukocyte rheological activity, expressed as the filtration rate, the polymorphonuclear (PMN) membrane fluidity and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content. Using the St. George's Filtrometer, we determined the filtration rate of unfractionated, mononuclear and PMN leukocytes. Using the fluorescent probe 1.4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenyl-hexatriene (TMA-DPH), we examined the PMN membrane fluidity and, using the Fura 2-AM, the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content. From the results obtained, it is evident that only the initial relative flow rate of unfractionated leukocytes was significantly reduced in subjects with CRF, while the filt…
The predictive role of atherogenic dyslipidemia in subjects with non-coronary atherosclerosis
2009
Abstract Background Recent findings have suggested that subjects with non-coronary atherosclerosis may show elevated prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, including higher triglyceride levels, reduced HDL-cholesterol concentrations and increased levels of small, dense low-density lipoproteins (LDL). These three lipid abnormalities constitute the so-called “atherogenic-lipoprotein-phenotype” (ALP) but its predictive role in these patients still remains to be established. Methods We performed a 2-year follow-up study to assess clinical and biochemical predictors of cardiovascular events in 44 male patients (64 ± 5 years, BMI: 27 ± 3), 26 with peripheral arterial disease and 18 with abdomina…
Determinants of inappropriate hospitalization in cataract surgery in the south of Italy: a retrospective study
2017
Purpose To analyze the frequency of inappropriate hospitalization in cataract surgery and the type of related determinants. Methods A nested retrospective case–control study was carried out on 2708 consecutive cataract surgery patients operated between January 2013 and Decem- ber 2015. All cases with inappropriate hospitalization (day surgery or ordinary hospitalization) were com- pared with a control group of cases treated in an appropriate (day service) regimen. The predictive value for inappropriate admissions to the hospital was assessed using a logistic regression model. Significant variables from the univariate analysis were included in a multivariate model. Results Forty-five cases (…
Association between AT C573T polymorphism and cardiovascular risk factors in myocardial infarction.
2011
Abstract Background Polymorphisms in the AT1 gene have been associated with various parameters related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and to myocardial infarction. This study analyzed the relationship between two polymorphisms of the angiotensin II AT-1 receptor gene (AT1_1166 and AT1_573) and the risk of ischemic heart disease by studying their association with several cardiovascular risk factors. Methods The sample population comprised 356 subjects: 174 patients who had survived myocardial infarction (61.01±8.15 years), and 182 age- and gender-matched controls (mean age of 60.25±9.43). The polymorphisms of the angiotensin II AT1-receptor gene (C573T and A1166C) were studie…
PLTP activity is a risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular events in CAD patients under statin therapy: the AtheroGene study.
2009
Phospholipid transferprotein (PLTP) mediates both net transfer and exchange of phospholipids between different lipoproteins. Although many studies have investigated the role of PLTP in atherogenesis, the role of PLTP in atherosclerotic diseases is unclear. We investigated the association of serum PLTP activity with the incidence of a combined endpoint (myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death) and its relation to other markers of atherosclerosis in 1,085 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD). In the median follow-up of 5.1 years, 156 patients had suffered from the combined endpoint of myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death including 47 of 395 p…
Minimal Change Esophagitis: Prospective Comparison of Endoscopic and Histological Markers between Patients with Non-Erosive Reflux Disease and Normal…
2004
<i>Introduction:</i> More than half the patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) show no endoscopic abnormality or minimal change esophagitis (non-erosive reflux disease, NERD). We investigated the value of endoscopic and histological markers for the prediction of NERD before and after treatment with 20 mg esomeprazole. <i>Methods:</i> Between July and October 2002, consecutive patients presenting for upper endoscopy were stratified into GERD and non-reflux patients (control group) with the help of a questionnaire. The endoscopist was blind to the presence of reflux symptoms. Using magnifying endoscopes minimal change esophagitis was defined by the presen…
Pancreatic dysfunction and its association with fat malabsorption in HIV infected children
1998
Background—Nutrient malabsorption frequently occurs in HIV infected children, but very few studies have investigated exocrine pancreatic digestive capacity in these cases.Aims—To investigate pancreatic function in HIV infected children and to determine whether faecal fat loss, a prominent feature of intestinal dysfunction, is associated with pancreatic dysfunction.Patients—Forty seven children with HIV infection without apparent pancreatic disease and 45 sex and age matched healthy controls.Methods—Pancreatic function was evaluated by measuring elastase 1 concentration and chymotrypsin activity in stools by ELISA and colorimetric methods, respectively. Intestinal function was evaluated by m…
Diabetes preceding Parkinson's disease onset. A case–control study
2009
Abstract Objective To assess the association between diabetes preceding Parkinson's disease (PD) and PD. Methods PD individuals were matched to PD free individuals randomly selected from people in the same municipality as the cases. Occurrence of diabetes preceding PD onset among cases and controls was assessed through a structured questionnaire. Information regarding current and past medical treatment and other variables was also collected. We used univariate and multivariate logistic models to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR). Covariates are adjusted for included education, smoking habit, alcohol and coffee consumption. Results 318 PD individuals (165 women, 153 men) and 318 …
Involvement of -308 TNF-alpha and 1267 Hsp70-2 polymorphisms and zinc status in the susceptibility of coronary artery disease (CAD) in old patients.
2006
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is characterized by an inflammatory status and it represents the major cause of death in elderly. Zinc deficiency and inflammatory genes within major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region are implicated in ischaemic heart diseases. TNF-alpha is present in coronary artery plaques and may provoke plaque instability. Hsp70 plays instead a pro-atherogenic role, via proinflammatory cytokine production, in atherosclerotic lesions contributing to plaque rupture. Contradictory data report the association between -308 TNF-alpha polymorphism and CAD, while no investigations exist on Hsp70-2 gene in CAD. In the current study, we analysed -308 TNF-alpha and 1267 Hsp70-2 …
Assessment and grading of mucosal inflammation in colonic diverticular disease.
2008
Goal: The aim of this study was to assess and grade the mucosal inflammatory infiltrate in different degrees of diverticular disease (DID) and to compare them with healthy matched controls. Background: Mucosal inflammation in colonic DD has never been investigated. In particular, it is unknown whether inflammation may be found in every degree of DD. Materials and Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with a new endoscopic diagnosis of D-D (10 with asymptomatic diverticulosis, 10 with symptomatic uncomplicated DD, and 10 with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis) and 10 healthy controls were studied. Results: A neutrophilic inflammatory infiltrate was found only in acute uncomplicated diverticu…