Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials (IICTs): A Systematic Search in Registries to Compare the Czech Republic and Portugal in Terms of Funding Policies and Scientific Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical trials provide one of the highest levels of evidence to support medical practice. Investigator initiated clinical trials (IICTs) answer relevant questions in clinical practice that may not be addressed by industry. For the first time, two European Countries are compared in terms of IICTs, respective funders and publications, envisaging to inspire others to use similar indicators to assess clinical research outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective systematic search of registered IICTs from 2004 to 2017, using four clinical trials registries was carried out in two European countries with similar population, GDP, HDI and medical schools but with different governmental models to fund clinical research. Each IICT was screened for sponsors, funders, type of intervention and associated publications, once completed. RESULTS: IICTs involving the Czech Republic and Portugal were n = 439 (42% with hospitals as sponsors) and n = 328 (47% with universities as sponsors), respectively. The Czech Republic and Portuguese funding agencies supported respectively 61 and 27 IICTs. Among these, trials with medicinal products represent 52% in Czech Republic and 4% in Portugal. In the first, a higher percentage of IICTs' publications in high impact factor journals with national investigators as authors was observed, when compared to Portugal (75% vs 15%). CONCLUSION: The better performance in clinical research by Czech Republic might be related to the existence of specific and periodic funding for clinical research, although further data are still needed to confirm this relationship. In upcoming years, the indicators used herein might be useful to tracking clinical research outcomes in these and other European countries.

High-density lipoprotein inversely relates to its specific autoantibody favoring oxidation in thrombotic primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Abnormalities of the lipid profile partly explain the atherogenic tendency of systemic lupus erythematosus but the picture is unclear in thrombotic primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). Herein we compare the lipid profile, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (CHO), apolipoprotein A (ApoA-I), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), triglycerides (TRY)), anti-lipoprotein antibodies, beta-2-glycoprotein I complexed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL-ss(2)GPI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) from thrombotic PAPS (n = 34), thrombotic patients with inherited thrombophilia (IT; n = 36), subjects persistently positive for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL, n = 18) with no underlying autoimmune or non-autoimmune disorders and healthy controls (n = 28) and determined the reciprocal effects of anti-lipoprotein antibodies, the lipid profile, oxLDL-ss(2)GPI and CRP. Average concentrations of HDL (p < 0.0001), LDL (p < 0.0001), CHO (p = 0.0002), ApoA-I (p = 0.002) were lower in PAPS whereas average TRY was higher (p = 0.01) than other groups. Moreover, the aPL and PAPS group showed higher levels of IgG anti-HDL (p = 0.01) and IgG anti-ApoA-I (p < 0.0001) whereas the PAPS group showed greater average oxLDL-ss(2)GPI (p = 0.001) and CRP (p = 0.003). Within the PAPS group, IgG anti-HDL correlated negatively to HDL (p = 0.004) and was an independent predictor of oxLDL-ss2GPI (p = 0.009). HDL and ApoA-I correlated negatively with CRP (p = 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). IgG anti-HDL may hamper the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of HDL favoring low-grade inflammation and enhanced oxidation in thrombotic PAPS.

Anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of high-density lipoprotein are affected by specific antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether antibodies against high-density lipoprotein (aHDL) and apolipoprotein A-I (aApo A-I) interfere with the anti-atherogenic functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and relate to disease activity and damage in SLE. METHODS: Seventy-seven SLE patients were compared with an age- and sex-frequency matched control group. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) aHDL, IgG aApoA-I, soluble vascular cell and intracellular cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, respectively) were measured by ELISA, paraoxonase (PON) activity by spectrophotometry, nitric oxide (NOx) metabolites by the Griess reaction, and total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC) by chemiluminescence. RESULTS: Compared with controls, SLE patients showed higher titres of IgG aHDL (P < 0.0001) and IgG aApo A-I (P < 0.0001), lower PON activity (P < 0.0001), increased NOx (P < 0.0001), VCAM-1 (P < 0.0001) and ICAM-1 (P = 0.0008) and lower TAC (P = 0.0006). Titres of IgG aHDL positively correlated with IgG aApo A-I (r = 0.64, P < 0.0001), NOx (r = 0.32, P = 0.007), inversely correlated with PON activity (r = -0.34, P = 0.002) and TAC (r = -0.43, P = 0.0004) and were independently associated with ICAM-1 (t = 3.509, P = 0.001). IgG aApo A-I titres correlated positively with NO (r = 0.37, P = 0.007), inversely with PON activity (r = -0.31, P = 0.006), TAC (r = -0.47, P < 0.0001) and were independently associated with HDL (t = -2.747, P = 0.008) and VCAM-1 (t = 3.311, P = 0.002), the latter alongside NOx (T = 2.271, P = 0.02). Elevated titres of IgG aHDL and IgG aApo A-I and reduced PON activity related to increased disease score (BILAG) and damage index (SLICC/ACR DI). CONCLUSION: In SLE, IgG aHDL and aApo A-I associate with disease activity and damage and interfere with the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory functions of HDL favouring atherogenesis.

Effect of efavirenz on high-density lipoprotein antioxidant properties in HIV-infected patients.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT: * In previous work, we showed a long-term and concentration-dependent beneficial effect of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor efavirenz (EFV) on high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. * Furthermore, it has been suggested that instead of the current practice of only measuring HDL-chelesterol values, the evaluation of HDL function, namely its antioxidant properties, might be an improved tool for identifying subjects at increased risk for cardiovascular events. * Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is an enzyme associated with HDL that is responsible for HDL antioxidant function. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: * In the present work, we studied the effect of EFV on the activity of PON-1 and showed, for the first time, that EFV-based antiretroviral therapy is associated with a better antioxidant function, i.e. with a higher PON-1 activity. AIMS: A long-term and concentration-dependent beneficial effect of efavirenz (EFV) on cholesterol associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients has been documented. Furthermore, it has been suggested that, instead of the current practice of only measuring HDL-c values, the evaluation of HDL quality might be an improved tool for identifying subjects at increased risk of cardiovascular events. Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is an enzyme associated with HDL that is involved in the onset of cardiovascular disease and responsible for HDL antioxidant function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of EFV on the circulating activity of PON-1 in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: The patients included were adults with a documented HIV-1 infection, nontreated or treated with antiretroviral regimens including EFV 600 mg once daily as first therapeutic regimen for at least 3 months. The influence of treatment with EFV, HDL-c and CD4 cell count on PON-1 activity was analysed. RESULTS: HIV-infected White patients treated with EFV had higher PON-1 activity [77.35 U l(-1) (65.66, 89.04)] (P < 0.05) and higher PON-1 activity : HDL-c ratio [1.88 (1.49, 2.28)] (P < 0.01) than untreated patients. PON-1 activity was higher in Black patients (P < 0.001) and in patients with a CD4 cell count >500 cells ml(-1) (P= 0.0120). CONCLUSIONS: EFV-based antiretroviral regimens are associated with HDL particles with a better antioxidant function, i.e. with a higher PON-1 activity. The PON-1 activity of Black patients is higher than that found in Whites regardless of treatment. Ethnicity should be taken into consideration when studying drug effects on PON-1 activity.

Antibodies toward high-density lipoprotein components inhibit paraoxonase activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased incidence of vascular disease, and oxidative stress is recognized as an important feature in this condition, despite the underlying mechanisms not being fully understood. In these patients, an interaction between lipoproteins and the immune system has been suggested, but most studies have only looked at antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoproteins. This study was undertaken to determine the presence of antibodies directed against high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and to identify a possible association between these antibodies and paraoxonase (PON), an antioxidant enzyme present in HDL. Plasma from 55 patients with SLE was collected and IgG aHDL and antiapolipoprotein A-I (aApo A-I) antibodies were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Standardization of the method was performed in a control population of 150 healthy subjects. Plasma levels above 5 standard deviations of the mean of the control population were considered positive. PON activity was assessed by quantification of p-nitrophenol formation (micromol/mL/min). Patients with SLE had higher titers of aHDL (P < 0.0001) and aApo A-I (P < 0.0001) antibodies, and lower PON activity (P < 0.0001) than healthy controls. There was also a direct correlation between the titers of aHDL and aApo A-I antibodies (r = 0.61; P < 0.0001). PON activity was inversely correlated with aApo A-I (P = 0.0129) antibody levels. Anti-HDL and aApo A-I antibodies from patients with high titers were isolated and subsequently incubated with human HDL. These antibodies reduced PON activity up to a maximum of 70.2% and 78.4%, respectively. This study showed the presence of aHDL and aApo A-I antibodies in patients with SLE. These antibodies were associated with reduced PON activity in plasma, and the in vitro inhibition assay confirmed a direct inhibition of the enzyme activity.