136 research outputs found
Serum and salivary cortisol measurement in obese women: correlation with psycho-psysiological profiles
No full textThe study aimed to measure salivary cortisol and cortisone concentrations, and then correlated both with the levels of total serum cortisol (determined by immunoassay) and free cortisol and cortisone in serum. The study concluded that both psychophysiological investigation and salivary cortisol measurement is a useful tool for assessing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in obese women1
Board Diversity and Structure: What Implications for Investments in Innovation? Empirical Evidence from Italian Context
No full textThe aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the board diversity and the investments in innovation in a sample of companies listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (named Borsa Italiana) and operating in the consumer goods and in the consumer services industry. This sample covers the period from 2006 to 2010 and contains 345 observations. Drawing on the literature review, we pinpointed six hypotheses related to the impact on the investments in innovation of the following independent variables: 1. presence of outside directors; 2. average number of the other positions held by the members of the board; 3. minority shareholder representatives on the board; 4. presence of women on the board of directors; 5. number of committees; 6. frequency of board meetings. Furthermore, on the basis of the previous empirical studies, to measure the investments in innovation (the dependent variable), we chose these accounting ratios: total intangible assets divided by total assets and total R&D costs divided by total sales. From the methodology standpoint, we used both the bivariate statistic (i.e. Pearson Correlations and Anova one way) and the multivariate one (i.e. OLS regression analysis with robust standard errors calculated by the Newey-West, HAC method). Our findings confirm the previous studies and show that, also for the Italian listed companies operating in the industries mentioned earlier, the outsiders as well as the frequency of meetings held by the Strategy Committee assume a relevant role in supporting the investments in innovation. Conversely, the other independent variables concerning board diversity (i.e. women, minority shareholder representatives etc.) are not statistically significant and, as a result, do not influence the investments in innovation.</jats:p
Serum NT-proBNP Levels Are Not Related to Vitamin D Status in Young Patients with Congenital Heart Defects
No full textContext. Hypovitaminosis D frequently occurs in early life and increases with age. Vitamin D has been suggested to influence cardiac performance and N-terminal-pro-type B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release in adults with heart failure. Objectives. To assess the vitamin D status and the impact of hypovitaminosis D on circulating NT-proBNP levels in young patients with congenital heart defects (CHD). Design and Patients. This cross-sectional study included the assessment of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), parathyroid function markers, and NT-proBNP levels in a series of 230 young in-patients (117 females, 113 males; 6.4 (4.0-9.1) years (median, interquartile range)) with CHD. Results. Serum 25OHD levels 30 ng/mL) occurred in 25% of patients. Serum 25OHD levels inversely correlated with age (r =-0.169, P = 0.013) and height standard deviation score (r =-0.269, P = 0.001). After correction for age, 25OHD negatively correlated with serum PTH levels (β =-0.200, P = 0.002). PTH levels above the upper quartile (44 pg/mL) occurred in 32% of hypovitaminosis D patients. Serum NT-proBNP levels were not correlated with 25OHD and PTH levels. Conclusions. Half of the young CHD patients were diagnosed with 25OHD deficiency and a third of hypovitaminosis D patients experienced hyperparathyroidism. Nonetheless, serum NT-proBNP levels were not associated with hypovitaminosis D as well as hyperparathyroidism
Data set from Dozio E, Sitzia C, Pistelli L, Cardani R, Rigolini R, Ranucci M, Corsi Romanelli MM. Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products and Its Forms in COVID-19 Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study on Their Role as Disease Biomarkers. J Clin Med. 2020 Nov 23;9(11):3785. doi: 10.3390/jcm9113785. PMID: 33238596; PMCID: PMC7700384.
No full textData set from the article Dozio E, Sitzia C, Pistelli L, Cardani R, Rigolini R, Ranucci M, Corsi Romanelli MM. Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products and Its Forms in COVID-19 Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study on Their Role as Disease Biomarkers. J Clin Med. 2020 Nov 23;9(11):3785. doi: 10.3390/jcm9113785. PMID: 33238596; PMCID: PMC7700384.
Abstract
The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), a well-known player of diabetes mellitus (DM)-related morbidities, was supposed to be involved in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), but no data exist about COVID-19, DM, and the soluble RAGE (sRAGE) forms. We quantified total sRAGE and its forms, the endogenously secretory esRAGE and the membrane-cleaved cRAGE, in COVID-19 patients with and without DM and in healthy individuals to explore how COVID-19 may affect these molecules and their potential role as biomarkers. Circulating sRAGE and esRAGE were quantified by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays. cRAGE was obtained by subtracting esRAGE from total sRAGE. sRAGE, esRAGE, cRAGE, and the cRAGE/esRAGE ratio did not differ between DM and non-DM patients and had the same trend when compared to healthy individuals. Levels of total sRAGE, cRAGE, and cRAGE/esRAGE ratio were upregulated, while esRAGE was downregulated. The lack of difference between DM and non-DM COVID-19 patients in the levels of sRAGE and its forms supports the hypothesis that in COVID-19 the RAGE system is modulated regardless of glycemic control. Identifying how sRAGE and its forms associate to COVID-19 prognosis and the potential of RAGE as a therapeutic target to control inflammatory burden seem of relevance to help treatment of COVID-19
Serum and salivary cortisol measurement in obese women : correlation with psycho-physiological profiles
No full textIntra-erytrocyte magnesium content reflects cognitive impairment severity better than magnesium plasma level
No full textN-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide determination as a possible marker of cardiac dysfunction in patients with adrenal disorders
No full textAssociation between Advanced Glycation End-Products and Sarcopenia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
No full textBackground: In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is an overproduction and accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Since AGEs may have detrimental effects on muscular trophism and performance, we evaluated whether they may contribute to the onset of sarcopenia in CKD patients. Methods: We enrolled 117 patients. The AGEs were quantified by fluorescence intensity using a fluorescence spectrophotometer and soluble receptor for AGE (sRAGE) isoforms by ELISA. As for the sarcopenia definition, we used the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria. Results: The average age was 80 ± 11 years, 70% were males, and the mean eGFR was 25 + 11 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 26 patients (with a prevalence of 22%). The sarcopenic patients had higher levels of circulating AGEs (3405 ± 951 vs. 2912 ± 722 A.U., p = 0.005). AGEs were higher in subjects with a lower midarm muscle circumference (MAMC) (3322 ± 919 vs. 2883 ± 700 A.U., respectively; p = 0.005) and were directly correlated with the gait test time (r = 0.180, p = 0.049). The total sRAGE and its different isoforms (esRAGE and cRAGE) did not differ in patients with or without sarcopenia. Conclusions: In older CKD patients, AGEs, but not sRAGE, are associated with the presence of sarcopenia. Therefore, AGEs may contribute to the complex pathophysiology leading to the development of sarcopenia in CKD patients
Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products and Its Forms in {COVID}-19 Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus : A Pilot Study on Their Role as Disease Biomarkers
No full textThe receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), a well-known player of diabetes mellitus (DM)-related morbidities, was supposed to be involved in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), but no data exist about COVID-19, DM, and the soluble RAGE (sRAGE) forms. We quantified total sRAGE and its forms, the endogenously secretory esRAGE and the membrane-cleaved cRAGE, in COVID-19 patients with and without DM and in healthy individuals to explore how COVID-19 may affect these molecules and their potential role as biomarkers. Circulating sRAGE and esRAGE were quantified by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays. cRAGE was obtained by subtracting esRAGE from total sRAGE. sRAGE, esRAGE, cRAGE, and the cRAGE/esRAGE ratio did not differ between DM and non-DM patients and had the same trend when compared to healthy individuals. Levels of total sRAGE, cRAGE, and cRAGE/esRAGE ratio were upregulated, while esRAGE was downregulated. The lack of difference between DM and non-DM COVID-19 patients in the levels of sRAGE and its forms supports the hypothesis that in COVID-19 the RAGE system is modulated regardless of glycemic control. Identifying how sRAGE and its forms associate to COVID-19 prognosis and the potential of RAGE as a therapeutic target to control inflammatory burden seem of relevance to help treatment of COVID-19
The cardiovascular biomarker GDF-15 is related to waist circumference in non-obese coronary artery disease patients
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