Search results for "Spar"
showing 10 items of 1739 documents
Serological Tests Do Not Predict Residual Fibrosis in Hepatitis C Cirrhotics with a Sustained Virological Response to Interferon
2016
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Liver biopsy (LB) has lost popularity to stage liver fibrosis in the era of highly effective anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy, yet diagnosis of persistent cirrhosis may have important implications following HCV eradication. As performance of serological non-invasive tests (NITs) to predict residual fibrosis in non-viremic HCV patients is unknown, we investigated accuracy of NITs to predict residual fibrosis in cirrhotics after a sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon (IFN). METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with a pre-treatment histological diagnosis of cirrhosis and a 48–104 months post-SVR LB were tested with APRI, CDS, FIB-4, FibroQ, Forns Score, GUCI Ind…
Impact of Obesity and Alanine Aminotransferase Levels on the Diagnostic Accuracy for Advanced Liver Fibrosis of Noninvasive Tools in Patients with No…
2019
Some evidence suggests an interference of obesity and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels on the diagnostic accuracy for advanced fibrosis of noninvasive tools such as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by FibroScan, Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS). We assessed whether the diagnostic accuracy of LSM, Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), and NFS and strategies based on the combination of these tools is affected by obesity and/or ALT levels.METHODS:We analyzed data from 968 patients with a histological diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. FIB-4, NFS, and LSM by FibroScan were measured.RESULTS:LSM was better than both FIB-4 and NFS for staging F3-F4 fibr…
Mesenchymal stem cells display hepato-protective activity in lymphoma bearing xenografts.
2012
A disseminated model of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with prevalent liver metastasis was generated by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of EBV(+) B lymphoblastoid SKW6.4 in nude-SCID mice. The survival of SKW6.4 xenografts (median survival = 27 days) was significantly improved when hyaluronan scaffolds embedded with mesenchimal stem cells (MSC) were implanted in the abdominal area 4 days after SKW6.4 injection (median survival = 39.5 days). Mice implanted with MSC showed a significant improvement of hepatic functionality in lymphoma xenografts, as demonstrated by measurement of serum ALT/AST levels. Co-culture of MSC with lymphoma cells enhanced the release of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by MSC…
LE REGIONI D’EUROPA TRA IDENTITÀ LOCALI, NUOVE COMUNITÀ E DISPARITÀ TERRITORIAL
2019
Europe today is crossed by a strong demand for autonomy from the territories: on the one hand, to protect the identities of local communities and, on the other, for the growing demand for a wider representation of resident citizens. However, these requests can jeopardize the objectives of balance and integration between parts of the territory and between those who live in them, objectives that have always been at the center of reflection and proposals developed in the context of regional sciences. The recent crisis has heightened instability and widened economic and social gaps not only between regions, but also within the regions themselves. The North-South gaps in Italy have further incre…
Development of a long-lasting ventricular catheter impregnated with a combination of antibiotics.
2003
A ventricular silicone catheter impregnated with a combination of rifampin and a quinolone was developed in order to prevent ventricular shunt related infections. As model substance for the quinolones we used sparfloxacin, because of its specific physicochemical properties resulting in a quantitative detection also in the presence of a second antibiotic. In our study we focused especially on an optimization of the antibiotic release out of the impregnated catheters in order to develop long lasting devices with a broad antimicrobial spectrum. A release-optimized catheter was tested with an in vitro colonization test and additionally with a method developed to examine the spread of bacteria o…
Morphological and Postural Changes in the Foot during Pregnancy and Puerperium: A Longitudinal Study
2021
The aim of this study is to observe the morphological and postural changes to the foot that take place during pregnancy and the puerperium. Method: In this descriptive, observational, longitudinal study, we analysed 23 pregnant women, with particular attention to morphological and postural aspects of the foot, at three time points during and after pregnancy: in weeks 9–13 of gestation, weeks 32–35 of gestation and weeks 4–6 after delivery. The parameters considered were changes in foot length, the Foot Posture Index (FPI) and the Hernández Corvo Index, which were analysed using a pedigraph and taking into account the Body Mass Index (BMI). The same procedure was conducted in each review. Re…
Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000-17: analysis for th…
2020
Background: Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea. Methods: We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuri…
Upconversion luminescence of a transparent glass ceramics with hexagonal Na(Gd,Lu)F4 nanocrystals
2017
Novel Er3+ doped transparent glass ceramics containing hexagonal Na(Gd,Lu)F4 nanocrystals were prepared from oxyfluoride glasses. The distribution of rare earth ions in the crystalline and glassy phase has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction and erbium luminescence decay kinetics measurement. A strong deviation of rare earth ion content in fluoride nanocrystals in comparison to the base glass has been observed. Preferential incorporation of Gd3+ over Lu3+ ions in the fluoride lattice leads to the stabilization of hexagonal Na(Gd,Lu)F4 structure and prevents the formation of cubic fluorite type solid solutions. A considerable enhancement of upconversion luminescence correlates with the format…
Electron paramagnetic resonance and photoluminescence investigation of europium local structure in oxyfluoride glass ceramics containing SrF2 nanocry…
2017
Different compositions of europium doped aluminosilicate oxyfluoride glass ceramics prepared in air atmosphere have been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical spectroscopy methods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements show presence of homogenously distributed SrF2 nanocrystals after the heat treatment of the precursor glass. Efficient Eu3+ incorporation in the high symmetry environment of glass ceramics is observed from the photoluminescence spectra. EPR spectra indicate Eu3+ → Eu2+ reduction upon precipitation of crystalline phases in the glass matrix. For composition abundant with Eu2+ in the glassy state such behaviour is …
Clinical Utility of Midregional Proadrenomedullin in Patients with COVID-19
2021
Abstract Objective The aim of the study was to assess the role of midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) in patients with COVID-19. Methods We included 110 patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Biochemical biomarkers, including MR-proADM, were measured at admission. The association of plasma MR-proADM levels with COVID-19 severity, defined as a requirement for mechanical ventilation or in-hospital mortality, was evaluated. Results Patients showed increased levels of MR-proADM. In addition, MR-proADM was higher in patients who died during hospitalization than in patients who survived (median, 2.59 nmol/L; interquartile range, 2.3–2.95 vs median, 0.82 nmol/L; interquartile range, 0.57–1.03; …