History of allergy is a predictor of adverse events in unstable angina treated with coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate prognostic relevance of history of allergy in subjects with unstable angina treated with coronary angioplasty. METHODS: Fifty-seven consecutive patients with unstable angina who underwent coronary angioplasty were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups: those with a history of allergy (Group A, N = 15); and controls (Group C, N =42). Major adverse cardiac events were recorded over a six-month follow-up period. Patients with primary or unsuccessful angioplasty and patients treated with drug eluting stent were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Group A patients (history of allergy) showed a 46.67% incidence of major adverse cardiac events at six-month follow-up (vs. 9.52% Group C, p < 0.01): results remained significant even in a multiple Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio 7.17, 95% CI 1.71-29.98, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: History of allergy is an independent predictor of major adverse cardiac events after coronary angioplasty in a six-month follow-up period in unstable angina.

Treatment with atorvastatin is associated with a better prognosis in chronic heart failure with systolic dysfunction: results from The Daunia Heart Failure Registry.

BACKGROUND: Few works have evaluated the effect of statins on left ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). We therefore aimed to investigate whether atorvastatin treatment may influence prognosis and myocardial performance evaluated by TDI in subjects with CHF. METHODS: Five hundred thirty-two consecutive CHF outpatients enrolled in a local registry, the Daunia Heart Failure Registry, were prospectively analysed. 195 patients with CHF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40 %, either in treatment with atorvastatin (N: 114) or without statins (N: 81), underwent TDI examination. Adverse events were evaluated during follow-up. RESULTS: The atorvastatin group showed a lower incidence of adverse events (cardiac death: 0 % vs 7 %, p < 0.01), and better TDI performance (E/E' 15 ± 5.7 vs 18 ± 8.3, p < 001) than controls. Ischaemic CHF patients in treatment with atorvastatin also showed a lower incidence of adverse events (death: 10 % vs 26 %, p < 0.05; sustained ventricular arrhythmias: 5 % vs 19 %, p < 0.05, cardiac death: 0 vs 8 %, p < 0.05) and better TDI performance (E/E' ratio: 15.00 ± 5.68 vs 19.72 ± 9.14, p < 0.01; St: 353.70 ± 48.96 vs 303.33 ± 68.52 msec, p < 0.01) than controls. The association between atorvastatin and lower rates of cardiac death remained statistically significant even after correction in a multivariable analysis (RR 0.83, 95 % CI 0.71-0.96, p < 0.05 in CHF with LVEF ≤40 %; RR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.62-0.95, p < 0.05 in ischaemic CHF with LVEF ≤40 %). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with atorvastatin in outpatients with systolic CHF is associated with fewer cardiac deaths, and a better left ventricular performance, as assessed by TDI.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test predicts sustained ventricular arrhythmias in chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) is an affordable tool for risk prediction in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We aimed to determine the role of CPX parameters in predicting the risk of incidence of sustained ventricular arrhythmias (SVA) in CHF. METHODS: Sixty-one consecutive patients with CHF enrolled in the Daunia Heart Failure Registry underwent CPX and were followed for 327 ± 247 days. Clinical follow-up was performed every month and anticipated in case of re-hospitalisation for cardiac disease. Incidence of SVA was evaluated by direct clinical examination (ECG, ambulatory ECG). RESULTS: Patients with episodes of SVA (N 14) showed lower values of pVO2 and PetCO2, and higher values of VE/VCO2, VE/VCO2 slope, and VE%. After correction for age, gender, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and left ventricular ejection fraction, peak VO2 (hazard ratio (HR) 0.68, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.91, p < 0.05), VE% (HR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.04-1.84, p < 0.05), VE/VCO2 (HR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.04-1.82, p < 0.05), VE/VCO2 slope (HR 1.77, 95 % CI 1.31-2.39, p < 0.01), PetCO2 (HR 0.66, 95 % CI 0.50-0.88, p < 0.01) were found as predictors of SVA. At Kaplan-Meier analysis, lower event-free rates were found in subjects with peak VO2 values below median (log rank p < 0.05), values of VE/VCO2 above mean (p < 0.05), higher VE/VCO2 slope tertiles (p <0.05), and values of PetCO2 below median (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CPX provides prognostic independent information for risk of SVA in subjects with CHF.

The Future of Breast Cancer Research in the Survivorship Field.

Prevalence of survivors of breast cancer has been steadily increasing in the last 20 years. Currently, more than 90% of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer are expected to be alive at 5 years from diagnosis thanks to early detection and breakthrough innovations in multimodal treatment strategies. Alongside this advancement in clinical outcomes, survivors of breast cancer might experience several specific challenges and present with unique needs. Survivorship trajectories after diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can be significantly impacted by long-lasting and severe treatment-related side effects, including physical problems, psychological distress, fertility issues in young women, and impaired social and work reintegration, which add up to patients' individual risk of cancer recurrence and second primary malignancies. Alongside cancer-specific sequelae, survivors still present with general health needs, including management of chronic preexisting or ensuing conditions. Survivorship care should implement high-quality, evidence-based strategies to promptly screen, identify, and address survivors' needs in a comprehensive way and minimize the impact of severe treatment sequelae, preexisting comorbidities, unhealthy lifestyles, and risk of recurrence on quality of life. This narrative review focuses on core areas of survivorship care and discuss the state of the art and future research perspectives in key domains including selected long-term side effects, surveillance for recurrences and second cancers, well-being promotion, and specific survivors' needs.

First report of the black gemfish Nesiarchus nasutus (Perciformes: Gempylidae) in Argentinean waters.

The gempylid Nesiarchus nasutus is reported for the first time from Argentinean waters, the southernmost occurrence of the species in the Southwestern Atlantic. This suggests that the fluctuating environmental characteristics of the area would be proper for the presence of tropical and subtropical species.

Peripheral blood markers of inflammation and functional impairment in elderly community-dwellers.

The cross-sectional association of functional impairment with several peripheral blood inflammatory markers (increased C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and leucocyte count, decreased cholesterol and albumin) was studied in 739 elderly community-dwellers. Functional measures included Tinetti test for gait and balance, and basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. When considering each marker individually, only increased CRP was inversely associated with all functional measures independently of demographics, lifestyle, and comorbidity (P < 0.05). When considering the sum of positive markers, having more than one marker was also inversely associated with all functional measures (P < 0.05), but no clear gradient of impairment was found across increasing numbers of markers. When considering specific combinations of markers, having both increased CRP and at least another positive marker had a stronger association with functional impairment (P < 0.01 for all measures) than increased CRP alone (P > 0.05), or other positive markers alone or in combination (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in elderly individuals, peripheral blood markers of inflammation are associated with functional impairment independently of potential confounders. A specific combination of CRP with other markers provides a better correlate of functional impairment than both individual markers or a simple count of positive markers.

Impaired insulin-mediated amino acid plasma disappearance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a feature of insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Insulin resistance is a main feature, and possibly a pathogenic factor, of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is usually measured on glucose metabolism; the effects on amino acid regulation have never been assessed. In particular, no data are available on insulin-dependent branched-chain amino acid metabolism, which is under insulin control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured amino acid disappearance from plasma during an euglycemic glucose clamp in 39 biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients and in ten control subjects. A primed-constant infusion of insulin (constant rate, 40 mU/m2 per min for 2 h) was used to raise plasma insulin to approximately 100 mU/l. Euglycemia was maintained by a variable glucose infusion, a measure of tissue insulin sensitivity. Plasma amino acids were assayed during the clamp after ninhidrin derivatization. RESULTS: Fasting plasma amino acids were similar in the two groups. Steady-state insulin levels were significantly higher in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients, whereas tissue sensitivity to insulin was reduced by 50%. The plasma disappearance of branched-chain amino acids, as well as the disappearance of the sum of glutamine and glutamate and that of serine were significantly reduced in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Differences were maintained after adjustment for steady-state insulin, and correlated with reduced tissue sensitivity to glucose. CONCLUSION: Insulin resistance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients also affects amino acid metabolism, especially for amino acids involved in peripheral muscle nitrogen exchange. The metabolic effects of altered protein/amino acid metabolism must be considered.

Reduced quality of life of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that health-related quality of life is reduced in patients with cirrhosis and with chronic hepatitis in relation to antiviral therapy. No data are available on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. AIM: To assess health-related quality of life in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Health-related quality of life was assessed in 101 hepatocellular carcinoma patients by means of Short Form-36 and Nottingham Health Profile questionnaires. Final scores of domains for individual patients were compared to age-adjusted normative Italian values, using Z-score and with values obtained in 202 matched patients with cirrhosis, without hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: All Short Form-36 domains and 4 out of 6 Nottingham Health Profile domains were altered. When hepatocellular carcinoma patients were compared with matched cirrhotics, differences were present for Bodily Pain, Role Limitation-Physical, and the Physical Component Summary of Short Form-36, as well as Pain of Nottingham Health Profile. Perceived health status had changed significantly in the year prior to assessment. Health-related quality of life was not primarily related to tumour mass or hepatocellular failure, whereas sleep disorders were selected by logistic regression as strongly associated with poor health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The present data stress the relevance of pain in poor perceived health status of hepatocellular carcinoma patients, and the importance of minor symptoms, such as sleep disorders.

Coronary flow, VO2 peak and anaerobic threshold in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Coronary flow is influenced by several determinants and may change according to external stimuli. In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC), adaptive mechanisms could induce alterations in coronary flow, possibly related to oxygen consumption. METHODS: In 67 consecutive patients with DC (mean age 52.06+/-13.84, 52 male gender, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) 29.49%+/-8.68) and normal coronary angiography findings, coronary flow in left anterior descending (LAD), right coronary artery (RC) and left circumflex (LCx) was reported as TIMI frame count (TFC). All patients underwent a cardiopulmonary test with VO2 peak and anaerobic threshold (AT) measurement, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class stratification, two-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation including LVEF and left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) assessment. All patients were receiving optimal medical treatment. RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, a statistically significant correlation was found between VO2 peak and TFC (B 7.61, p<0.001, R2 0.61 for LAD; B 3.42, p<0.001, R2 0.33 for RC); an inverse correlation was found between AT and TFC (B -9.77, p<0.001, R2 0.61 for LAD; B -4.26, p<0.001, R2 0.33 for RC). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary flow is related to VO2 peak and AT in patients with DC, suggesting a "compensatory" mechanism.

Incidence and etiology of dementia in a large elderly Italian population.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate age- and sex-specific incidence of dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) in the Conselice Study of Brain Aging, an Italian prospective population-based study, and to assess whether poor education is a risk factor for dementia. METHODS: In 1999 to 2000, the baseline study identified a dementia-free cohort of 937 subjects aged 65 years and older who were reexamined in 2003 to 2004 using a two-phase procedure. RESULTS: Information was obtained for 91% of the subjects at risk; 115 incident cases of dementia were identified. Incidence rates per 1,000 person-years were 37.8 (95% CI = 30.0 to 47.7) for dementia, 23.8 (95% CI = 17.3 to 31.7) for AD, and 11.0 (95% CI = 7.2 to 16.9) for VaD. This translates into more than 400,000 new cases of dementia expected per year in Italy. Increasing age was an independent risk factor for both AD and VaD. Poor education was an independent risk factor for AD but not VaD. Sex did not affect dementia risk. CONCLUSIONS: In this Italian population-based cohort, incidence of dementia increased with age, and Alzheimer disease (AD) was the most frequent type of dementia. Poor education was associated with a higher risk of AD. Our incidence rates are higher than previously reported in Italy, and provide new estimates for projection of future burden of disease in Italy.

Comparison of in Vivo and in Vitro Assays of Nitrate Reductase in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seedlings.

The effectiveness of the in vivo and in vitro assays for nitrate reductase (NR) in estimating the amounts of reduced N made available to plants was tested against the daily increases in reduced N (Nesslerization) actually accumulated by the plant. With growth-chamber-grown wheat seedlings, the average ratio values (input of reduced N as estimated by the in vitro assay to actual accumulation of N by the plant) were 3.9 for shoots, 3.7 for the roots, and 4.1 for the entire plant, over a 10-day period. With the in vivo assay, the average ratio values were 0.7 for the shoot, 1.8 for the root, and 0.9 for the entire plant. Although the linear regressions between the accumulated N in the plant and the estimated N input (by both in vitro and in vivo assays) were significant and positive, the in vivo assay provided the closest approximation of the actual amount of N accumulated.The in vivo NR assay effectively distinguished between two wheat varieties. The variety known to have the higher percentage of seed protein also had the higher amounts of NR activity.With seedling wheat leaves, the addition of NADH plus a surfactant increased in vivo NR activity approximately 2-fold over comparable controls. Because the tissue contained high levels of nitrate and enzyme, we concluded that reducing potential was the rate-limiting factor in nitrate reduction in situ in these growth-chamber-grown plants.