168 research outputs found

    Reinfusion Drains in primary total hip arthroplasty

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    Introduction: Primary total hip replacement can result in a considerable amount of blood loss. Higher pre-operative and post-operative hemoglobin (Hb) levels are related to earlier functional recovery, higher patient satisfaction and shorter hospital length of stay. A number of strategies to reduce the need for blood transfusion have been employed such as retransfusion drains. Objectives: The goal of the study was to evaluate the effects of reinfusion drains on hematological parameters of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 103 patients (reinfusion group) who underwent THA with the use of a postoperative reinfusion drain and 100 patients (no reinfusion group) who underwent THA with no postoperative reinfusion drain used. Preoperative variables evaluated were: age, sex and body mass index (BMI); comorbidities; and type of anesthesia. Postoperative variables evaluated were: Hb, hematocrit (Hct) and platelets (Plt) levels at the first, second, third, and fourth postoperative days and at discharge. We also assessed the total blood loss during the postoperative in-hospital stay and the number of units of blood eventually transfused. Results: Eighty-four (84%) patients in the reinfusion group and 42 patients (40.8%) in the no reinfusion group were transfused with at least one unit of blood postoperatively (1.3 ± 0.9 and 0.5 ± 0.7; p<0.001, respectively). The need for transfusion was found to be 7 times higher in the no reinfusion group compared to the reinfusion group. In the first and second postoperative day, Hb levels were higher in the reinfusion group (p = 0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). Hct levels were significantly higher in the reinfusion group at first, second, third and fourth postoperative days and at discharge. No other statistically significant differences were detected. Conclusions: Proper management of patients undergoing THA using reinfusion drains can reduce or eliminate the need for transfusions

    Nitric Oxide/Cyclic GMP-Dependent Calcium Signalling Mediates IL-6- and TNF-α-Induced Expression of Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein

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    Astrocyte activation is characterized by hypertrophy with increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), whose expression may involve pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, the effects of pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF-α and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 on nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and GFAP expression were investigated. In human glioblastoma astrocytoma U-373 MG cells, IL-6 and TNF-α, but not IL-4 or IL-10, increased iNOS, cGMP, [Ca2+]i and GFAP expression. The inhibitors of iNOS (1400 W), soluble guanylyl cyclase (ODQ) and IP3 receptors (ryanodine and 2-APB) reversed the increase in cGMP or [Ca2+]i, respectively, and prevented GFAP expression. In rat striatal slices, IL-6 and TNF-α, at variance with IL-4 and IL-10, promoted a concentration-dependent increase in Ca2+ efflux, an effect prevented by 1400 W, ODQ and RY/2APB. These data were confirmed by in vivo studies, where IL-6, TNF-α or the NO donor DETA/NO injected in the striatum of anaesthetised rats increased cGMP levels and increased GFAP expression. The present findings point to NO/cGMP-dependent calcium signalling as part of the mechanism mediating IL-6- and TNF-α-induced GFAP expression. As this process plays a fundamental role in driving neurotoxicity, targeting NO/cGMP-dependent calcium signalling may constitute a new approach for therapeutic interventions in neurological disorders

    Left Atrial Function Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

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    Background: Heart failure (HF) is known to be the most widespread epidemic of cardiovascular disease. Among several factors with prognostic value for the clinical course of HF, left atrial (LA) function has not yet been fully examined. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate LA function for the prediction of major cardiovascular outcomes in stable patients with chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction. Additionally, as secondary end points, cardiovascular mortality and atrial fibrillation were analyzed separately. Methods: The predictive value of LA function evaluated by speckle-tracking echocardiography was assessed in a population of 286 outpatients referred to the authors’ institution for routine evaluation of chronic HF. Global peak atrial longitudinal strain was measured at the end of the reservoir phase and calculated by averaging in all LA segments. Results: During a median follow-up period of 48 ± 11 months, major adverse cardiac events occurred in 98 patients (34%). In a multivariate model, global peak atrial longitudinal strain (hazard ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.94–0.96; P =.02), left ventricular ejection fraction (hazard ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93–0.97; P =.01), and renal failure (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97–0.99; P =.01) were independent predictors of an adverse outcome. Sixty-six patients (23%) died of cardiac causes. Fifty-four patients (19%) developed atrial fibrillation. Patients with lower global peak atrial longitudinal strain showed worse event-free survival and developed atrial fibrillation more frequently than those with higher levels. Conclusions: LA function assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography is an independent prognostic marker in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction

    The PDE4 inhibitor CHF6001 prevents keratinocytes proliferation by modulating cellular inflammation pathways

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    Psoriasis is a skin disease characterized by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation. Currently, there are no cures for this disease, so the goal of treatment is to decrease inflammation and slow down the associated rapid cell growth and shedding. Recent advances have led to the usage of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors for treatment of this condition. For example, apremilast is an oral, selective PDE4 inhibitor that is able to reduce skin inflammation and is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat adults with moderate to severe psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis. However, common target-related adverse events, including diarrhea, nausea, headache, and insomnia limit the usage of this drug. To circumvent these effects, the usage of PDE4 inhibitors specifically designed for topical treatment, such as CHF6001, may combine local anti-inflammatory activity with limited systemic exposure, improving tolerability. In this study, we showed that CHF6001, currently undergoing clinical development for COPD, suppresses human keratinocyte proliferation as assessed via BrdU incorporation. We also observed decreased re-epithelialization in a scratch-wound model after CHF6001 treatment. At the molecular level, CHF6001 inhibited translocation of phosphorylated NF-κB subunit p65, promoting loss of nuclear cyclin D1 accumulation and an increase of cell cycle inhibitor p21. Furthermore, CHF6001 decreased oxidative stress, measured by assessing lipid peroxidation (4-HNE adduct formation), through the inactivation of the NADPH oxidase. These results suggest that CHF6001 has the potential to treat skin disorders associated with hyperproliferative keratinocytes, such as psoriasis by targeting oxidative stress, abnormal re-epithelization, and inflammation

    Scavenger Receptor B1 involvement in COPD pathogenesis

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    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Oxidative stress due to cigarette smoking seems to be one of the major driving mechanisms in COPD pathogenesis. Since the scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1) appears to play a key role in mediating the uptake for ɑ-tocopherol and other antioxidants in lung tissue, we aimed to investigate its role in COPD pathogenesis. Methods: Lung tissue biopsies were obtained from 12 subjects; 6 of these had a diagnosis of COPD in a stable clinical state, the others 6 were current (n = 1) or ex-smokers (n = 5) with normal lung function (controls). 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)–SR-B1 adducts were detected by immunoprecipitation. ɑ-tocopherol concentration was determined by HPLC. Results: SR-B1 levels were lower in COPD patients and these results parallel with lower levels of vitamin E in lung tissue found in COPD patients. This effect can be the consequence of oxidative posttranslational modifications, confirmed by the binding of the peroxidation product 4-HNE to SR-B1 possibly leading to its degradation. Conclusions: The loss of SR-B1 may be involved in lung ɑ-tocopherol content decrease with the consequence of making lung tissue more susceptible to oxidative damage as suggested by the SR-B1–4-HNE adduct formation, and more prone to COPD development. Thus, our findings suggest a novel role of SR-B1 in pathomechanisms underlying COPD

    Resveratrol protects SR-B1 levels in keratinocytes exposed to cigarette smoke

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    Cigarette smoking (CS) has been strongly linked to several health conditions including heart disease, lung cancer, and other respiratory and circulatory ailments. Deleterious effects of cigarette smoking on skin have also been well documented, but unlike effects on other organs, damage does not depend upon inhalation. The upper layer of the skin, the stratum corneum (rich in cholesterol fatty acids and ceramide), is very susceptible to damage induced by exposure to environmental stressors that can modify its lipid composition and thereby affect its function of protecting skin from dehydration. Scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1) is involved in the uptake of cholesterol in several tissues including skin. We previously demonstrated that CS exposure induces formation of aldehyde (HNE) adducts that decrease SR-B1 expression. As topical resveratrol, a well-known polyphenolic stilbene, has been demonstrated to show benefits against skin disorders, we investigated its possible role as a protective agent against CS-induced reduction of SR-B1 expression in cutaneous tissue. In this study, we demonstrate that resveratrol at doses ranging from 0.5 to 10 μM is not toxic and is able to increase SR-B1 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner in human keratinocytes. Moreover, when the cells that were pretreated with various doses of resveratrol were exposed to CS, the loss of SR-B1 was prevented in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, in keratinocytes, resveratrol was also able to prevent an increase in HNE-protein adducts induced by CS. In particular resveratrol was able to prevent HNE-SR-B1 adduct formation. Thus, resveratrol seems to be a natural compound that could provide skin with a defense against exogenous stressors by protecting the essential cholesterol receptor, SR-B1
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