Search results for "FN"
showing 10 items of 862 documents
Local Application of Leptin Antagonist Attenuates Angiotensin II–Induced Ascending Aortic Aneurysm and Cardiac Remodeling
2016
Background Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm ( ATAA ) is driven by angiotensin II (Ang II ) and contributes to the development of left ventricular ( LV ) remodeling through aortoventricular coupling. We previously showed that locally available leptin augments Ang II ‐induced abdominal aortic aneurysms in apolipoprotein E–deficient mice. We hypothesized that locally synthesized leptin mediates Ang II ‐induced ATAA . Methods and Results Following demonstration of leptin synthesis in samples of human ATAA associated with different etiologies, we modeled in situ leptin expression in apolipoprotein E–deficient mice by applying exogenous leptin on the surface of the ascending aorta. This treatm…
IgG Fc sialylation is regulated during the germinal center reaction following immunization with different adjuvants
2020
Background: Effector functions of IgG Abs are regulated by their Fc N-glycosylation pattern. IgG Fc glycans that lack galactose and terminal sialic acid residues correlate with the severity of inflammatory (auto)immune disorders and have also been linked to protection against viral infection and discussed in the context of vaccine-induced protection. In contrast, sialylated IgG Abs have shown immunosuppressive effects.Objective: We sought to investigate IgG glycosylation programming during the germinal center (GC) reaction following immunization of mice with a foreign protein antigen and different adjuvants.Methods: Mice were analyzed for GC T-cell, B-cell, and plasma cell responses, as wel…
New functional ligands for ficolin-3 among lipopolysaccharides of Hafnia alvei.
2011
Ficolin-1 (M), ficolin-2 (L), ficolin-3 (H) and mannan-binding lectin (MBL) activate the complement system and have opsonic activity. The specificity of ficolin-3 is poorly characterized and currently limited to a few ligands only. We present new specific targets for human ficolin-3, identified among lipopolysaccharides (LPSs, endotoxin) of Hafnia alvei. The interaction was restricted to LPSs of four strains: 23, Polish Collection of Microorganisms (PCM) 1200, PCM 1203 and PCM 1205 and limited to their O-specific polysaccharides (O-specific PSs) composed of different numbers of oligosaccharide (OS) repeating units (RUs). Moreover, these LPS/ficolin-3 complexes activated the lectin pathway o…
Improved noninvasive prediction of liver fibrosis by liver stiffness measurement in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease accounting for con…
2016
Background and aims: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) frequently overestimates the severity of liver fibrosis In Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) is a new parameter provided by the same machine used for LSM, and associated with both steatosis and BMI, the two factors mostly affecting LSM peformance in NAFLD. We aimed to determine wheter prediction of liver fibrosis by LSM in NAFLD patients is affected by CAP values. Methods: Patients (n=324) were assessed by clinical and histological (Kleiner score) features. LSM and CAP were performed using the M probe. CAP values were grouped by tertiles (lower from 132 to 298, middle from 299 to 338, highe…
Fibronectin Type III Domain–Containing Protein 5 rs3480 A>G Polymorphism, Irisin, and Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Dis…
2017
Context Contrasting data have been reported on the role of irisin, a novel myokine encoded by the fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) gene, in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis. We tested in patients with suspected nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) the association of FNDC5 variants, hepatic expression, and circulating irisin with liver damage (F2 to F4 fibrosis as main outcome). We also investigated whether irisin modulates hepatocellular fat accumulation and stellate cell activation in experimental models. Methods We considered 593 consecutive patients who underwent liver biopsy for suspected NASH and 192 patients with normal liver enzymes and wit…
Diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests for advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD : an individual patient data meta-analysis
2021
ObjectiveLiver biopsy is still needed for fibrosis staging in many patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aims of this study were to evaluate the individual diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measurement by vibration controlled transient elastography (LSM-VCTE), Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) and NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) Fibrosis Score (NFS) and to derive diagnostic strategies that could reduce the need for liver biopsies.DesignIndividual patient data meta-analysis of studies evaluating LSM-VCTE against liver histology was conducted. FIB-4 and NFS were computed where possible. Sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) were c…
Early changes in dynamic biomarkers of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C virus-infected patients treated with sofosbuvir
2016
Abstract Background Chronic hepatitis C is a major cause of liver-associated mortality caused by decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. With the approval of sofosbuvir, therapeutic efficacy has markedly increased. Early changes in non-invasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis under effective antiviral therapy are widely unknown. Aim To evaluate early changes of fibrosis markers determined by enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) scores and liver stiffness measurement (FibroScan®) in patients treated with sofosbuvir. Methods A total of 32 hepatitis C patients treated prospectively with sofosbuvir were included. The ELF-panel and FibroScan measurements were performed at baseline, week 4, e…
Early menopause is associated with lack of response to antiviral therapy in women with chronic hepatitis C.
2011
Background & Aims Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and liver fibrosis progress more rapidly in men and menopausal women than in women of reproductive age. We investigated the associations among menopause, sustained virologic response (SVR), and liver damage in patients with CHC. Methods We performed a prospective study of 1000 consecutive, treatment-naive patients 18 years of age and older with compensated liver disease from CHC. Liver biopsy samples were analyzed (for fibrosis, inflammation, and steatosis) before patients received standard antiviral therapy. From women (n = 442), we collected data on the presence, type, and timing of menopause; associated hormone and metabolic features; serum lev…
Non-invasive prediction of esophageal varices by stiffness and platelet in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease cirrhosis.
2018
Background & Aims: Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria can avoid the need for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to screen for varices needing treatment (VNT) in a substantial proportion of compensated patients with viral and/or alcoholic cirrhosis. This multicenter, cross-sectional study aims to validate these criteria in patients with compensated cirrhosis due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), accounting for possible differences in liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values between M and XL probes. Methods: We assessed 790 patients with NAFLD-related compensated cirrhosis who had EGD within six months of a reliable LSM, measured by FibroScan® using M and/or XL probe. Baveno …
Is Transient Elastography Needed for Noninvasive Assessment of High-Risk Varices? The REAL Experience
2019
INTRODUCTION: The Baveno VI consensus guidelines and an expanded algorithm suggest that transient elastography (TE) and platelet (PLT) count can be used to identify patients with cirrhosis who can avoid esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The primary aims of this study were to assess the ability of a simple algorithm, which uses only laboratory parameters, to predict medium/large esophageal varices (EV) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and cirrhosis from the Rete Sicilia Selezione Terapia-HCV (RESIST-HCV) cohort and to compare the performance of the algorithm with Baveno VI and Expanded Baveno VI criteria. The secondary aim was to assess the role of TE in ruling out large EV. METHODS:…