Different Kinetics of Serum ADAMTS13, GDF-15, and Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in the Early Phase of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and ADAMTS13 have previously been implicated in the pathophysiological processes of SAH. In the present study, we aim to examine their role in the early period of SAH and their relationship to primary and secondary outcomes. Serum samples were collected at five time periods after SAH (at 24 h (D1), at 72 h (D3), at 120 h (D5), at 168 h (D7) and at 216 h (D9), post-admission) and) were measured by using MILLIPLEX Map Human Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Magnetic Bead Panel 2. We included 150 patients with SAH and 30 healthy controls. GDF-15 levels at D1 to D9 were significantly associated with a 3-month unfavorable outcome. Based on the ROC analysis, in patients with a good clinical grade at admission (WFNS I-III), the GDF-15 value measured at time point D3 predicted a 3-month unfavorable outcome (cut-off value: 3.97 ng/mL, AUC:0.833, 95%CI: 0.728-0.938, sensitivity:73.7%, specificity:82.6%, p < 0.001). Univariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that serum NGAL levels at D1-D5 and ADAMTS13 levels at D7-D9 were associated with MVS following SAH. GDF-15 is an early indicator of a poor 3-month functional outcome even in patients with mild clinical conditions at admission.

Cystatin-c May Indicate Subclinical Renal Involvement, While Orosomucoid Is Associated with Fatigue in Patients with Long-COVID Syndrome.

Long-COVID syndrome is associated with high healthcare costs, but its pathophysiology is not yet fully understood. Inflammation, renal impairment or disturbance of the NO system emerge as potential pathogenetic factors. We aimed to investigate the relationship between symptoms of long-COVID syndrome and serum levels of cystatin-c (CYSC), orosomucoid (ORM), l-arginine, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). A total of 114 patients suffering from long-COVID syndrome were included in this observational cohort study. We found that serum CYSC was independently associated with the anti-spike immunoglobulin (S-Ig) serum level (OR: 5.377, 95% CI: 1.822-12.361; p = 0.02), while serum ORM (OR: 9.670 (95% CI: 1.34-9.93; p = 0.025) independently predicted fatigue in patients with long-COVID syndrome, both measured at baseline visit. Additionally, the serum CYSC concentrations measured at the baseline visit showed a positive correlation with the serum SDMA levels. The severity of abdominal and muscle pain indicated by patients at the baseline visit showed a negative correlation with the serum level of L-arginine. In summary, serum CYSC may indicate subclinical renal impairment, while serum ORM is associated with fatigue in long-COVID syndrome. The potential role of l-arginine in alleviating pain requires further studies.

Increased level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 is associated with survival in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple cytokines have been implicated in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), but tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 (LIGHT/TNFSF14) and oncostatin-M (OSM) have not been previously explored. AIMS OF THE STUDY: The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between TNFSF14 and OSM levels and survival. Our secondary goal was to investigate a potential association between these markers and the incidence of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). MATERIALS & METHODS: We consecutively recruited 60 patients with a clinical diagnosis of aSAH. LIGHT/TNFSF14 and OSM serum concentrations were determined by ELISA. The primary endpoint was survival at Day 30, while development of DCI was assessed as secondary outcome. RESULTS: Patients had significantly higher levels of both markers than the control group (median of LIGHT: 18.1 pg/ml vs. 7 pg/ml; p = 0.01; median of OSM: 10.3 pg/ml vs. 2.8 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Significantly lower serum level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 was found in nonsurviving patients (n = 9) compared with survivors (n = 51; p = 0.011). Based on ROC analysis, serum LIGHT/TNFSF14 with a cutoff value of >7.95 pg/ml predicted 30-day survival with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 78% (Area: 0.763; 95% CI: 0.604-0.921, p = 0.013). In addition, it was also a predictor of DCI with a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 62.5% (AUC: 0.702; 95% CI: 0.555-0.849, p = 0.018). Based on binary logistic regression analysis, LIGHT/TNFSF14 was found to be independently associated with 30-day mortality, but not with DCI. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, a higher serum level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 was associated with increased survival of patients with aSAH.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale): An alternative for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a distressing outcome related to surgeries. Traditionally, ginger has been used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting for thousands of years. Recently, several randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ginger in PONV. PURPOSE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of ginger on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) compared to placebo, based on RCTs. STUDY DESIGN: The meta-analysis was reported following the PRISMA guidelines using the PICO format, and it was registered with the PROSPERO register. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies. Human, placebo-controlled clinical studies of patients undergoing any types of surgery, receiving pharmacological doses of ginger per os were included. Only clinical trials with explicit description of the ginger preparation used were analysed. No language or publication year restrictions was applied. RESULTS: Ten randomized trials including a total of 918 patients were pooled for the statistical analysis. The present meta-analysis supports that ginger has a significant effect on the severity of PONV based on visual analogue scale (VAS) results: in a fixed effects model the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was -0.247 (favouring ginger; [LL]: -0.455, [UL]: -0.040, p-value: 0.019). Moreover, our results suggest that ginger reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well antiemetic drug demand; however, these effects are not statistically significant compared to placebo, which may be explained by underdosing. CONCLUSIONS: According to our thorough meta-analysis ginger is safe and well tolerated, and decreases the severity of PONV, and may lower the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, which in turn may reduce antiemetic drug demand, suggesting that ginger may be a useful alternative to antiemetic medications to alleviate PONV.

[Lipids and cerebrovascular disease - New therapeutic options in lowering LDL-cholesterol]. / Lipidek és az agyérbetegség ­ Új lehetoségek az LDL-koleszterin-szint csökkentésére.

Stroke is the third most common cause of death worldwide following myocardial infaction and malignancies, furthermore, its functional outcome is the worst of all conditions. Cholesterol, especially LDL-cholesterol plays a key role in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. It has been verified recently that escalating incidence and mortality of cerebrovascular diseases are proportional to increased levels of LDL-cholesterol. Statin therapy undeniably reduces the risk of stroke, however other methods for decreasing lipid levels have not been proved significantly effective. Preventive effect of high-dose statin treatment is without doubt, although administration of such high dosage might require special precautions for patients with prior intracerebral hemorrhage and it also risks development of incident diabetes. The recently published IMPROVE-IT study is the first to prove that the addition of ezetimibe as a non-statin type drug, to statin treatment contributes to further reduction of LDL-cholesterol. The combination treatment results in additional decrease in the incidence and mortality of cerebrovascular events, without any expansion in the number or adverse effects. These results confirm the importance of any further reduction of LDL-cholesterol levels. Achieving target values with statin-ezetimibe combination allows administration of low to moderate dose of statin, which decreases risks of adverse effects related to high-dose statin therapy. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(52), 2059-2065.