169,778 research outputs found
INCREASED ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM STRESS AND NRF2 REPRESSION IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH STABLE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE
No full textEndoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Insults interfering with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function, lead to accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins in ER that initiates the unfolded protein response (UPR). When the UPR fails to control the level of unfolded and misfolded proteins, ER-initiated apoptotic signaling is induced.
We evaluated: 1) the UPR and ER-initiated apoptotic signaling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of stable coronary artery disease patients (CAD); 2) PBMC content of oxidation products of phospholipid 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (oxPAPC); 3) the possible origin of oxPAPC in PBMC; 4) the expression of nuclear erytroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant related element (ARE), a cellular defence mechanism.
29 CAD and 28 matched controls were enrolled. Expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78/BiP) as representative of UPR, and of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) as representative of ER-apoptosis, were significantly higher in CAD than in controls (p<0.01). Concentrations of oxPAPC in PBMC, in plasma and in low density lipoprotein (LDL) resulted significantly higher in CAD than in controls (p<0.01). The oxPAPC in PBMC may derive from circulating ox-LDL. Nrf2/ARE gene expression and circulating and cellular glutathione (GSH) were significantly lower in CAD than in controls (p<0.01). In in vitro studies, increasing amounts of oxPAPC induced a dose-dependent increase of CHOP and apoptosis-related protein expression (p<0.01) and a progressive decrease of Nrf2/ARE gene expression (p<0.01).
In PBMC of CAD patients there is an activation of UPR and of ER-initiated apoptotic signaling, possibly related to abnormal concentration of oxPAPC in PBMC
PROTOCOLLO ECOGRAFICO DEL PAZIENTE CON SCOMPENSO CARDIACO: RISULTATI AGGIORNATI DELLO STUDIO MULTICENTRICO SIUMB ABCDE 2018-2022
No full textLo scompenso cardiaco è una sindrome clinica caratterizzata da specifici segni e sintomi causati da anomalie cardiache di tipo strutturale e/o funzionale. La prevalenza dello scompenso cardiaco è di circa 1-2% nella popolazione adulta dei paesi industrializzati, aumenta fin oltre il 10% oltre i 70 anni ed è la maggiore causa di ospedalizzazione oltre che di disabilità. L’approccio ecografico al paziente con scompenso cardiaco è ad oggi pratica comune, sia per la valutazione della funzionalità cardiaca, sia per il monitoraggio dello stato di volemia che per la quantificazione del liquido interstiziale. Dal 2018 è in corso uno studio multicentrico italiano (“ABCDE”) patrocinato dalla SIUMB che ha come centro promotore il reparto di Medicina Generale e Malattie Aterotrombotiche e Degenerative dell’Università di Verona. L’ approccio ecografico proposto comprende le valutazioni di: A: ABI (Ankle Brachial Index), indice caviglia-braccio; B: linee B all’ecografia polmonare; C: CIMT (Carotid Intima Media Thickness), spessore intima-media carotideo; D: Diametro dell’aorta addominale e della vena cava inferiore; E: stima ecocardiografica della frazione di eiezione ventricolare sinistra. Questa presentazione riporta i risultati aggiornati a poco più di un anno dall’avvio dello studio riportando i dati provenienti dal centro promotore (Verona) e dai centri partecipanti. Dai primi risultati dello studio "ABCDE", la metodica ecografica nel paziente con scompenso cardiaco, intesa sia come “bedside” che come approccio ecografico integrato appare essere uno strumento essenziale di valutazione cardiovascolare globale, e di accorciamento della durata della degenza nei reparti medici
A Five-Step Vascular Ultrasound Examination in Heart Failure: The First Two Years of the “ABCDE” G-SIUMB Multicenter Study 2018-2022
No full textThe aim of this study is the creation of a 5-step ultrasound examination to evaluate and monitor Heart Failure (HF) patients during hospitalization and follow-up. “ABCDE” is the acronym of an Italian multicentre study composed of a consecutive sample of HF patients admitted from the Emergency to the Internal Medicine/Geriatric Departments of several Italian hospitals. The “ABCDE” score includes the evaluations of A, the Ankle-brachial index (ABI), B, the B-lines, C, the Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), D, the Diameter of the abdominal aorta and of the inferior cave vein and E, the echocardiographic assessment of the ejection fraction. This paper reports the preliminary results. Up to now, the “ABCDE” multicenter study seems an exciting opportunity to create an integrative ultrasound approach in HF. The definitive confirmation of these preliminary results and the effective usefulness of the “ABCDE” will be available in 2022, at the end of the study
Ultrasonography in Heart Failure: A Story that Matters
No full textHeart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome caused by structural and/or functional cardiac abnormalities, resulting in a reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures at rest or during stress. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in Internal Medicine departments. This article aims at reviewing evidence of the importance of ultrasound in HF both for hospitalized patients and in the follow-up. Ultrasound may be used as a recovery monitoring instrument at the bedside and also as a global cardiovascular assessment tool for these patients. HF represents an exciting opportunity to create an integrative ultrasound approach in Internal Medicine and/or Geriatric departments. The authors plan a five-step ultrasound examination to evaluate and monitor HF patients during hospitalization and follow-up. They call this examination: the “ABCDE” score. It includes the evaluations of A, the ankle-brachial index, B, the B-lines, C, the carotid intima media thickness, D, the diameter of the abdominal aorta and of the inferior cava vein and E, the echocardiographic assessment of the ejection fraction. This score may represent an integrative ultrasound approach in Internal Medicine and/or Geriatric departments
Ultrasound as first line step in anaemia diagnostics
No full textThis review covers the role of ultrasonography as an essential non-invasive diagnostic approach when facing patients with anaemia, a common clinical problem. Abdomen ultrasound is well recognised as a first-line examination in the setting of blood loss, both acute and chronic. Less is clear about the additional opportunities, given by ultrasound in anaemia, due to the many other possible causes. Here we provide information on the utility of ultrasound in different contexts and a practical guide for clinicians facing anaemic patients
Young smoker “ABCD” vascular assessment: a four-step ultrasound examination for detecting peripheral, extra and intra-cranial early arterial damage
No full textCigarette smoking is known as a major risk factor in the pathogenic mechanisms of stroke, coronary and peripheral artery disease (CAD and PAD), even in young subjects. The aim of this study is the creation of a four-step ultrasound examination to evaluate and monitor the peripheral, the extra and the intra-cranial assessment of the arterial early damage in smokers. The evaluations of A, the Ankle-brachial index, ABI, B, the Breath holding index, BHI, C, the Carotid intima media thickness, CIMT, and D, the Diameter of the abdominal aorta represent the "ABCD" assessment
The Most Severe Paradigm of Early Cardiovascular Disease: Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria. Focus on the Role of Oxidative Stress
No full textOxidative stress (OS) is one of the most frequently recognized causes of ageing. Telomere erosion, defects in the DNA damage response and alterations in the nuclear architecture are also associated with premature ageing. The most severe premature ageing syndrome, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is associated with alterations in nuclear shape resulting in the deregulation of lamin A/C. In this review we describe emerging data reporting the role of OS and antioxidant defence in progeroid syndromes focusing on HGPS. We explore precise antioxidant defence mechanisms and related drugs that may create a potential path out of the woods in this disease. Pathways regulated by Nuclear factor E2 related factor (Nrf2), by Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-kB), and related to the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) and Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress are under investigation in HGPS patients for which the goal is a significant lifespan extension in particular by postponing atherosclerosis-related complications
A Five-Step Vascular Ultrasound Examination in Heart Failure: The First Two Years of the "ABCDE" G-SIUMB Multicenter Study 2018-2022
No full textThe aim of this study is the creation of a 5-step ultrasound examination to evaluate and monitor Heart Failure (HF) patients during hospitalization and follow-up. "ABCDE" is the acronym of an Italian multicentre study composed of a consecutive sample of HF patients admitted from the Emergency to the Internal Medicine/Geriatric Departments of several Italian hospitals. The "ABCDE" score includes the evaluations of A, the Ankle-brachial index (ABI), B, the B-lines, C, the Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), D, the Diameter of the abdominal aorta and of the inferior cave vein and E, the echocardiographic assessment of the ejection fraction. This paper reports the preliminary results. Up to now, the "ABCDE" multicenter study seems an exciting opportunity to create an integrative ultrasound approach in HF. The definitive confirmation of these preliminary results and the effective usefulness of the "ABCDE" will be available in 2022, at the end of the study
Evidence of major genes effects on serum homocysteine and fibrinogen levels, and premature ischemic heart disease in Italian extended families.
No full textOBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of novel genetic factors on plasma levels of total homocysteine (tHcy) and fibrinogen (FIB). As tHcy and FIB have been consistently associated to increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and acute myocardial infarction (MI) also genes-trait-MI mediational effects were tested.
METHODS: A complex segregation analysis, and a mediation analysis of a highly selected group of 44 extended families (302 subjects), each including at least one member with fatal premature (<50 years) IHD were carried out.
RESULTS: tHcy and FIB levels turned out to be influenced by at least two major genes. A significant tHcy latent class-MI association (OR = 3.24; 95% CI, 1.37 to 7.68), and a non-significant tHcy plasma level-MI association (OR = 1.65 per 1 = log 10 mumol/l, 95% CI, 0.56 to 4.81) were estimated, suggesting a direct influence of the homocysteine major gene as suppressor of plasma tHcy levels effect. In contrast, FIB latent class-MI association (OR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.31 to 3.05) and FIB level-MI association (OR = 1.32 per 1 = 70 g/l; 95% CI, 0.88 to 2.00) were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence for a major latent gene effect influencing variation in tHcy plasma levels, which is independent on C677T MTHFR polymorphism, and significantly affecting the risk of MI
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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