169,919 research outputs found
[Severe hypertriglyceridemia in pregnancy. A clinical case report].
No full textCholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) plasma levels physiologically increase during pregnancy. The lipid increment is respectively 23%-53% above pregravidic level for TC and two-three fold the pre-pregnancy level for TG. If the TC and TG are higher than normal values in pregnancy the patient must be carefully monitored. Acute pancreatitis is the main consequence of hyperlipidemia and it can occur either during pregnancy, in the third trimester, or in the puerperium. Mortality is high both for the mother (21%) and the fetus (20%). The authors report a case of 37-year-old pregnant woman at 35 week gestation with hypercholesterolemia (TC = 425 mg/dl) and severe hypertriglyceridemia (TG = 3315 mg/dl). The patient was admitted to the hospital for treatment with an appropriate diet and drug lowering lipid levels (gemfibrozil). The baby was delivered by cesarean section at week 36. The neonatal weight at birth was 2670 g and the Apgar score was 9 at the first minute. After delivery the maternal triglyceride levels showed a remarkable reduction. According to a review of the literature, severe hypertriglyceridemia in pregnancy should be treated with a careful restriction of calories and fat; for preventing acute pancreatitis hospitalization for intravenous fluid therapy and plasma exchange must be required
Triassic redbeds in the Malaguide Complex (Betic Cordillera — Spain): petrography, geochemistry and geodynamic implications
No full textSandstone petrography and mudstone mineralogy and geochemistry of Triassic mudstones and sandstones from continental redbeds of the Malaguide Complex (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain) provide useful information on provenance, palaeoclimate and geodynamics during the early stages of the Pangea break-up, and on their diagenetic evolution. The sandstones are quartzarenites to sub-litharenites, with minor lithic fragments and rare feldspars. The mudstone samples show a PAAS like elemental distribution. The samples likely record recycling processes from their metasedimentary basement rocks that significantly affected the weathering indices, and monitors cumulative effects, including a first cycle of weathering at the source rocks. Sandstone composition and chemical–mineralogical features of mudstones record a provenance derived from continental block and recycled orogen that were weathered under warm and episodically wet climate. Source areas were located towards the east of the present-day Malaguide outcrops, and were formed by fairly silicic rock types, made up mainly of Palaezoic metasedimentary rocks, similar to those of the Paleozoic underlying series, with subordinate contributions from magmatic–metamorphic sources, and a rare supply from mafic metavolcanic rocks. Clay-mineral distribution of mudstones is dominated by illite and illite/smectite mixed-layer that result from differences in provenance, weathering, and burial/temperature history. Illite crystallinity values, illitization of kaolinite, occurrence of typical authigenic minerals and apatite fission-track studies, coupled with a subsidence analysis of the whole Malaguide succession suggest burial depths of at least 4–6 km with temperatures of 140–160 °C, typical of the burial diagenetic stage, and confirm the Middle Miocene exhumation of the Betic Internal Domain tectonic stack topped by the Malaguide Complex.This research has been carried out within the MIUR-COFIN Project 2001.04.5835 “Age and characteristics of the Verrucano-type deposits from the Northern Apennines to the Betic Cordilleras: consequences for the palaeogeographic and structural evolution of the central-western Mediterranean Alpine Chains” (support to V. Perrone), MIUR-ex60% Projects (Palaeogeographic and Palaeotectonic Evolution of the Circum-Mediterranean Orogenic Belts, 2001–2005; and Relationships between Tectonic Accretion, Volcanism and Clastic Sedimentation within the Circum-Mediterranean Orogenic Belts, 2006; support to S. Critelli), and the 2006–2008 MIUR-PRIN Project 2006.04.8397 “The Cenozoic clastic sedimentation within the circum-Mediterranean orogenic belts: implications for palaeogeographic and palaeotectonic evolution” (support to S. Critelli). Financial support from the Projects CGL2009-09249 and CGL2011-30153-CO2-02 (MCI, Spain) and from the RNM-208 and P08-RNM-03715 Research Groups of the Junta de Andalucia is also acknowledged
Translating pharmacogenetics into clinical practice: interleukin (IL)28B and inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) polymophisms in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
No full textHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently characterized by evolution to chronicity and by a variable clinical course of the disease. The clinical heterogeneities of HCV infection and the imperfect predictability of the response to interferon (IFN) have suggested the need to search for a genetic basis of clinical features. This led to the discovery of genetic polymorphisms playing a major role in the evolution of infection, as well as on treatment response and adverse effects. This review will cover recent reports on the subject, focusing on the potential use of the new genetic markers in the diagnostic algorithm for the stratification of patients for personalized antiviral regimens
Interleukin 28B genotype determination using DNA from different sources: A simple and reliable tool for the epidemiological and clinical characterization of hepatitis C.
No full textRecent studies reported a close correlation between polymorphisms in the Interleukin (IL)28B gene and rates of resolution of hepatitis C virus infection occurring spontaneously or induced by treatment. The diagnostic utility of IL28B genotype, however, is not understood completely. For rapid data collection on the natural history of HCV infection in patients with different IL28B genotype, simple, sensitive and rapid methods suitable for non-invasive and archival clinical samples are needed urgently. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for IL28B typing (rs12979860) was developed using very small DNA quantities extracted from different biological specimens. Consistent IL28B genotyping of at least two DNA samples obtained from different sources such as whole blood, buccal swab, serum, and formalin fixed paraffin-embedded liver tissue was obtained from 58 patients with liver disease of mixed etiology. IL28B genotype prevalence in 170 patients with liver disease in this region of Italy was consistent with data reported in Caucasian populations. Differential distribution of genotypes was observed according to response to treatment in 68 patients infected with HCV, with higher prevalence of CC genotype in responders (50%) compared to non-responders (17.85%; p=0.015). These results indicate that the possibility of reliable IL28B genotyping using different DNA sources may represent a useful tool for both clinical research and characterization of patients with hepatitis C
Compositional and Geochemical Signatures for the Sedimentary Evolution of the Middle Triassic–Lower Jurassic Continental Redbeds from Western-Central Mediterranean Alpine Chains
No full textCompositional and chemical analyses suggest that Middle Triassic–Lower Liassic continental redbeds (in the internal domains of the Betic, Maghrebian, and Apenninic chains) can be considered a regional lithosome marking the Triassic-Jurassic rift-valley stage of Tethyan rifting, which led to the Pangaea breakup and subsequent development of a mosaic of plates and microplates. Sandstones are quartzose to quartzolithic and represent a provenance of continental block and recycled orogen, made up mainly of Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks similar to those underlying the redbeds. Mudrocks display K enrichments; intense paleoweathering under a hot, episodically humid climate with a prolonged dry season; and sediment recycling. Redbeds experienced temperatures in the range of 100°–160°C and lithostatic/tectonic loading of more than 4 km. These redbeds represent an important stratigraphic signature to reconstruct a continental block (Mesomediterranean Microplate) that separated different realms of the western Tethys from Middle-Late Jurassic to Miocene, when it was completely involved in Alpine orogenesis.This work was funded by the Ministero dell’Universtità e della Ricerca Scientifica–Progetto di Ricerca Nazionale (MIUR-PRIN) 2001–2003 Project (“Age and Sedimentary Characters of the Mesozoic Continental Redbeds [Verrucano] from Northern Apennines to the Betic Cordillera: Implications for Paleogeographic and Tectonic Evolution of the Central-Western Mediterranean Alpine Belts,” S. Critelli, G. Mongelli, V. Perrone), MIUR-ex60% Projects (“Paleogeographic and Paleotectonic Evolution of the Circum-Mediterranean Orogenic Belts, 2001–2005” and “Relationships between Tectonic Accretion, Volcanism, and Clastic Sedimentation within the Circum-Mediterranean Orogenic Belts, 2006,” S. Critelli), the 2006–2008 MIUR-PRIN Project 2006.04.8397 (“The Cenozoic Clastic Sedimentation within the Circum-Mediterranean Orogenic Belts: Implications for Paleogeographic and Paleotectonic Evolution,” S. Critelli, G. Mongelli, V. Perrone), and Research Project CGL2005-03887 MEC (A. Martin-Algarra)
Resting and ambulatory ECG predictors of mode of death in dilated cardiomyopathy
No full textWith the purpose of verifying whether the electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern alone can predict the mode of death in dilated cardiomyopathy, data from 12-lead ECGs and 48-hour arrhythmia monitoring were evaluated in 67 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. During a mean follow-up period of 3 +/- 2 years, death from congestive heart failure occurred in 18 patients (27%), whereas 10 (15%) died suddenly (NS). Multivariate analysis showed that left bundle branch block (p < 0.001) and left atrial enlargement (p < 0.001) were independently related to death from congestive heart failure. Ventricular arrhythmias of Lown grade 4A or 4B (p < 0.001) and repolarization time, as assessed by QTc-QRS interval (p < 0.05), were independent predictors of sudden death. It is concluded that ECG features alone may be helpful for risk factor characterization of dilated cardiomyopathy patients, provided that multiple ECG criteria are utilized at time of diagnosis
Electrocardiographic correlates with left ventricular morphology in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
No full textThe purpose of the present study was to verify whether the electrocardiographic pattern of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) might be useful in predicting measurements of left ventricular (LV) morphology. A total of 12 electrocardiographic criteria for LV enlargement were evaluated in 67 patients with IDC, aged 14 to 68 years (mean 48), and were correlated to LV wall thickness, volume and mass, as assessed at angiography (all patients) and echocardiography (50 patients). Linear regression analysis showed weak correlations between multiple electrocardiographic criteria and LV wall thickness, volume and mass. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that total 12-lead QRS amplitude, voltage criteria of Sokolow and Lyon, overshoot and U-wave inversion were the variables significantly related to LV wall thickness, as assessed by angiography (r = 0.55, p less than 0.005) and echocardiography (r = 0.43, p less than 0.025). The sum of T/R-wave ratios, the RV6/RV5 ratio and the Romhilt-Estes score were predictors of LV end-diastolic volume, as determined by angiography (r = 0.83, p less than 0.001) and echocardiography (r = 0.77, p less than 0.005). Total 12-lead QRS amplitude and the sum of T/R-wave ratios were the only independent predictors of LV mass, either angiographically (r = 0.81, p less than 0.001) or echocardiographically measured (r = 0.71, p less than 0.025). It is concluded that a single electrocardiographic criterion for prediction of LV morphology in patients with IDC is barely effective. Multiple electrocardiographic criteria should be utilized to better predict LV mass and distinguish reliably between LV wall thickening and dilatation
[Hormone substitution therapy. Side-effects and compliance of various therapeutic regimens].
No full textThe aim of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and long-term compliance of four Estrogen Progestin treatments (HRT) for menopause. One hundred and ten symptomatic menopausal women were divided into four groups according to therapeutic regimens: A) Estradiol (E2) transdermal treatment 50 micrograms (TTS 50) continuously administered (cont.) plus Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MPA) 10 mg/die for twelve days a month: 35 women. B) Conjugated Equine Estrogens (CEE) 0.625 mg/die cont. plus MPA for twelve days a month: 25 women. C) Estradiol transdermal 50 micrograms (cont.) plus MPA 2.5 mg/die cont.: 26 women. D) CEE 0.625 mg/die cont. plus MPA 2.5 mg/die cont.: 24 women. Menopausal symptoms were significantly reduced with all treatments. During the first year group C and D patients showed irregular bleeding (group C: 46%, group D: 61%). After 24 months the bleeding frequency was reduced (group C: 11%, group D: 13%). Mastodynia was the more frequent side-effect in particular among women who were utilizing cont.comb. regimens. The total percentage of drop out (D.O.) after 2 years was more than 30% (Group A: 31%, Group B: 33%, Group C: 39%, Group D: 35%). The most frequent reasons for abandoning HRT (79% of all DO) were not linked to therapy side-effects. 19% of DO switched to other hormonal regimens
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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