Search results for "active"
showing 10 items of 5361 documents
Oxidative stress markers in the neocortex of drug-resistant epilepsy patients submitted to epilepsy surgery
2013
Summary Purpose While there is solid experimental evidence of brain oxidative stress in animal models of epilepsy, it has not been thoroughly verified in epileptic human brain. Our purpose was to determine and to compare oxidative stress markers in the neocortex of epileptic and non-epileptic humans, with the final objective of confirming oxidative stress phenomena in human epileptic brain. Methods Neocortical samples from drug-resistant epilepsy patients submitted to epilepsy surgery ( n =20) and from control, non-epileptic cortex samples ( n =11) obtained from brain bank donors without neurological disease, were studied for oxidative stress markers: levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS)…
Biomarkers for characterization of heart failure - Distinction of heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction.
2016
Heart failure (HF) incidence is rising worldwide and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents nearly half of all cases. Treatment options are still limited in HFpEF in comparison to HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).We analyzed biomarkers in the general population to characterize HFpEF and HFrEF and defined a biomarker index to differentiate HFpEF from HFrEF. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), soluble source of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), C-reactive protein (CRP) and NT-proBNP were measured in 5000 individuals of the population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). The median follow-up time for all-cause mortality was 7.3years with 213 events.Identification of subje…
Role of a 48-week pegylated interferon therapy in hepatitis B e antigen positive HIV-co-infected patients on cART including tenofovir: EMVIPEG study.
2014
In hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive-HIV co-infected patients treated with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), including tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), the rate of HBe seroconversion remains low. Whether adding pegylated interferon alfa (PegIFN) could increase the likelihood of HBeAg loss and HBe seroconversion has not been assessed.A 48-week PegIFN therapy was added to HBeAg positive-HIV co-infected patients on TDF and emtricitabine, or lamivudine for at least 6 months. The primary endpoint was HBV sustained response: HBe seroconversion with undetectable HBV DNA levels 24 weeks after completing PegIFN therapy (W72).Fifty-one patients (49 men, median age 46 years, range: 32-6…
C-reactive protein but not soluble CD40 ligand and homocysteine is associated to common atherosclerotic risk factors in a cohort of coronary artery d…
2009
Abstract Objectives One third to one half of the variation in vascular disease occurrence remains unexplained by traditional risk factors. Since atherosclerosis may, in part, be an inflammatory disease, circulating factors related to inflammation may be predictors of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between common atherosclerotic risk factors and markers of inflammation. Design and methods Serum levels of soluble CD40 (sCD40L), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homocysteine (Hcy) were measured in 251 patients selected from a series of 438 subjects affected by previous myocardial infarction, angina or other cardiovascular diseases. Re…
Age, homocysteine, and oxidative stress: Relation to hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus
2010
Abstract OBJECTIVES: Hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress are independent risk factors for cardiovascular events, which occur more frequently in old age. We evaluated these parameters in relation to age and the presence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-two subjects (female/male: 142/140; 141 were >65 years and 141 were <65 years; mean age 73.9 +/- 6.6 years and 52.5 +/- 8.2 years, respectively) were randomly recruited from those attending our institution. Blood pressure, anthropometric parameters, oxidative stress parameters (reactive oxygen species [ROS] and malondialdehyde [MDA]), and homocysteine levels were evaluated in participants. RESULTS…
Increased expression of markers of early atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
2016
Recent studies documented an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our study aimed at investigating the prevalence of intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries and the arterial stiffness indices as markers of early atherosclerosis in young IBD patients.We recruited 68 consecutive IBD patients, and 38 matched healthy controls less than 45years old (median age 31.6±8.1years). Clinical and demographic features, cardiovascular risk factors, history of cardiovascular events, concomitant therapies were registered on a dedicate database. Carotid IMT was evaluated by using high resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Arterial stiffness was assessed b…
Genetic and environmental contributions to plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels--a study in twins.
2006
Elevated baseline levels of acute-phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) are known risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. However, until today, there is only controversial information about the contribution of genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, we performed an open prospective study in 108 monozygotic (MZ) and 60 same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs to analyse the genetic and environmental contributions to plasma CRP and IL-6 levels. Heritability of IL-6 was 0.61, indicating that plasma IL-6 levels are to a major part influenced by genetic determinants; however, for CRP, heritability was only 0.22, p…
Immunological study of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. Lack of response to food additive challenge
1995
Summary A study was made of six patients with Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) to establish the aetiological role of foodstuffs and/or additives and the possible associated immunological alterations. In all cases Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) was diagnosed both clinically and histologically, excluding other causes of orofacial granulomatosis (OFG). A detailed study of possible triggering factors was performed in all patients. Blood analysis, x-rays and cultures, were always within normal limits, with the exception of the finding of circulating immune complexes (CICs) in three patients with facial palsy associated, and C-reactive protein positivity in two patients who presented pers…
Acute inflammatory response in the subcutaneous versus periprosthethic space after incisional hernia repair: an original article.
2014
BACKGROUND: The acute inflammatory response following mesh implantation has been often evaluated in vitro and in animal models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute inflammatory response near the prosthesis in human by analysing some inflammatory indicators.METHODS: We used a cohort of twelve male patients affected by midline incisional hernia, who were admitted for surgical mesh repair. A suction drain was placed between the mesh and rectal muscles whereas, the other one was placed between the subcutaneous tissue and the oblique external sheath. The acute inflammatory response was analyzed by measuring the production of interleukin [IL]-1, IL-10, IL-1ra, C-Reactive Protein (CRP)…
Combination of indomethacin and statin compared with indomethacin and placebo in patients with a first episode of acute pericarditis: preliminary fin…
2007
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of indomethacin and statin compared with indomethacin plus placebo in patients with a first episode of pericarditis. A total of 55 consecutive patients with acute pericarditis were randomized in a double-blind manner into two groups: group I (statin group) was treated with 150 mg of indomethacin plus 10 mg of rosuvastatin, and group 2 (placebo group) was treated with 150 mg of indomethacin plus placebo. Both groups received treatment up to the normalization of inflammation markers and for the following week. Clinical and laboratory assessments [white cell count, ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and C…