177,061 research outputs found
Association between C-reactive protein and carotid plaque in mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
No full textAn association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and carotid plaque has never been investigated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of carotid atherosclerosis in mild-to-moderate IPF and to assess its relationship to serum CRP. This observational retrospective case–control study included 60 consecutive IPF patients (73.8 ± 6.6 years, 45 males) and 60 matched controls, examined between Sep 2017 and Jan 2019. All patients underwent CRP assessment and a carotid Doppler ultrasonography. CRP levels were significantly higher in IPF patients than controls (0.2 ± 0.09 mg/dl vs 0.09 ± 0.04 mg/dl, p < 0.0001). A total of 46 plaques were detected, with higher prevalence in IPF patients than controls (38 vs 8, p < 0.0001). On univariate logistic regression the main variables independently associated with carotid plaque were: age (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.16, p = 0.006), hypertension duration (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09, p = 0.01), diabetes duration (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.18, p = 0.03), LDL-cholesterol (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.10, p < 0.0001) and finally CRP levels (HR 1.73, 95% CI 0.59–5.00, p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that LDL-cholesterol (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.08, p = 0.009) and CRP levels (HR 1.43, 95% CI 0.39–5.19, p < 0.0001) retained statistical significance. Common carotid artery-intima media thickness was significantly correlated with CRP levels in IPF patients (r = 0.86). SerumCRP might represent both an early marker and a potential therapeutic target for carotid atherosclerosis in mild-to-moderate IPF
Differential mortality and the design of the Italian system of public pensions
No full textThis paper considers the issue of actuarial fairness of the new Italian public pension system in view of the recent trends in old-age mortality and the survival differences by gender, birth cohort and region of residence. After reviewing the secular trends in elderly mortality in Italy, and the evolution of regional differences in survival over the last three decades, we evaluate the impact, on the conversion factors introduced by the Dini reform, of a further decline in elderly mortality over the next few decades. We compute the conversion factors using a close approximation to the unknown formula employed in the Dini reform but allowing for gender- and region-specific survival probabilities. Our results leave no doubt about the importance of frequently updating the conversion factors in the light of the rapid increase in elderly survival. The paper also quantifies to what extent gender- and region-specific conversion factors may differ from their currently legislated values, that only vary by age. Finally, we recognize that the actuarial fairness of the system introduced by the recent reform can only be guaranteed on average and that, in the presence of a heterogeneous population of individuals that differ considerably in their mortality prospects, the current system implies a substantial degree of redistribution from high-mortality groups (typically characterized by low income and low wealth) to low-mortality groups (typically characterized by high income and high wealth)
"Comparative evolution of T cell receptors and T cell related gene families in artiodactyls"
No full textEarly left atrial dysfunction in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients without chronic right heart failure
No full textNo data are actually available regarding the left atrial (LA) functional assessment by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in early-stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The primary end-point of our study was to assess whether global LA peak strain (GLAPS), measured by 2D-STE analysis, may detect early alterations in LA function in IPF patients without right heart failure (RHF). Between September 2017 and January 2019, 50 consecutive IPF patients (73.8 ± 6.8 years, 36 males) without chronic RHF and 30 controls matched by age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors, were enrolled in an observational retrospective case–control study. All patients underwent a complete echocardiographic study implemented with 2D-STE analysis. GLAPS, left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), right atrial (RA) reservoir strain (GSA+) and right ventricular (RV)-GLS were obtained in each patient. LVFP were significantly increased in IPF patients in comparison to controls (average E/e′ ratio 14.4 ± 3.0 vs 9.6 ± 1.5, p < 0.0001), while LV-GLS was slightly reduced in IPF patients compared to controls (19.4 ± 3.6% vs 21.0 ± 2.2%, p = 0.03).Moreover, GLAPS was significantly impaired in IPF patients in comparison to controls (18.4 ± 3.7% vs 28.4 ± 5.6%, p < 0.0001).Finally, the two groups of patients did not show any statistically significant difference in both RA-GSA + (23.9 ± 3.7% vs 24.5 ± 4.0%, p = 0.49) and RV-GLS (− 22.6 ± 3.3% vs − 23.5 ± 3.0%, p = 0.22). Notably, LV-GLS was strongly inversely correlated both with RV/LV basal diameter ratio and TRV in IPF patients (r = − 0.87 and − 0.82, respectively) but not in controls (r = − 0.29 and − 0.27, respectively). This finding highlights a likely process of ventricular interdependence in non-advanced IPF, with consequent LV diastolic dysfunction and secondary impairment in LV-GLS and GLAPS. Early LA reservoir dysfunction in IPF patients may be secondary to LV diastolic dysfunction induced by ventricular interdependence and may develop before RV diastolic and systolic dysfunction
The clinical use of regenerative therapy in COPD
No full textRegenerative or stem cell therapy is an emerging field of treatment based on stimulation of endogenous resident stem cells or administration of exogenous stem cells to treat diseases or injury and to replace malfunctioning or damaged tissues. Current evidence suggests that in the lung, these cells may participate in tissue homeostasis and regeneration after injury. Animal and human studies have demonstrated that tissue-specific stem cells and bone marrow-derived cells contribute to lung tissue regeneration and protection, and thus administration of exogenous stem/progenitor cells or humoral factors responsible for the activation of endogenous stem/progenitor cells may be a potent next-generation therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The use of bone marrow-derived stem cells could allow repairing and regenerate the damaged tissue present in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by means of their engraftment into the lung. Another approach could be the stimulation of resident stem cells by means of humoral factors or photobiostimulation
Ivsti LipsI Epistolarvm selectarvm III. centvriæ.
No full textThe first volume comprises centuriae I and II; the third volume, which contains the third centuria, was also issued separately as 'Epistolarvm selectarvm centvria singvlaris ad Italos et Hispanos'Vingerafdruk: 1# 160104 - # a1 *2 u : # a2 *3 tot - # 1b1 A e : # 1b2 Z3 R - # 2b1 a er : # 2b2 c4 æ,Vingerafdruk: 1# 160104 - # a1 *2 u : # a2 *3 tot - # 1b1 A : # 1b2 Z3 R - # 2b1 a er : # 2b2 c4 æ,Vingerafdruk: 2# 160104 - # a1=a2 +2 di - # b1 A . : # b2 M3 strIvsti LipsI Epistolarvm selectarvm centvria singvlaris ad Italos & Hispanos, quive in iis locis.. - Met apart titelbladEuropeana-GoogleBooksDrukkersmerk op titelblad en achteraanBib. Belgica (1964-1970 éd.) III, 940, L 236Herkomst: cl. v. Henrico Wiero ... I. Lipsius amiciss. d. d.Herkomst: Bibliothe. Dunensis [Ten Duinen Koksijde] ; F. Gregorij van WittenbergheHerkomst: v. nob. Nicol. Rockoxio ... Antverp. I. Lipsius d. d.Lederen band, goudstempel in het midden, kader (drievoudig filet) met goudstempels de hoeke
Assignment of the TCRA/TCRD locus to sheep chromosome bands 7q1.4-->q2.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization
No full textDue anni di riforme pensionistiche: gli effetti sulla spesa e le questioni ancora aperte
No full textNel nostro lavoro presentiamo le innovazioni normative introdotte negli ultimi due anni e utilizziamo il modello Cer di simulazione della spesa pensionistica di lungo periodo per valutare gli impatti economici delle principali innovazioni normative introdotte dalla riforma Fornero. Le comparazione dei risultati delle nostre simulazioni con le stime degli impatti di fonte governativa mostra delle differenze spesso notevoli nel breve periodo. Il profilo di lungo periodo in rapporto al Pil, tuttavia, è simile, e indica una spesa che, dopo un periodo di sensibile riduzione, ritorna ai valori previsti nello scenario pre-riforma e addirittura li supera. La decomposizione della spesa pensionistica fra numero dei trattamenti e loro importo medio ci permette di identificare l’origine di questo andamento temporale degli effetti economici della riforma Fornero. Il posponimento dell’anno di pensionamento, infatti, riduce il numero dei pensionati, ma aumenta in modo rilevante l’importo delle pensioni. Ciò perché i lavoratori accumulano un maggiore ammontare di contributi, ma soprattutto perché si pensionano ad una età molto più avanzata e quindi a loro si applicano modalità di calcolo della pensione più favorevoli. Nel testo viene fornita una stima dell’incremento dell’età di pensionamento prevedibile per i lavoratori del settore privato in seguito alla riforma Fornero
T-cell receptor TCRG1 and TCRG2 clusters map separately in two different regions of sheep chromosome 4
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