RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) present increased cardiovascular mortality compared to the general population. Few studies have assessed the long-term development and progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in SLE patients. Our aim was to investigate the association of clinical and laboratory markers of disease activity and classical cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) with carotid atherosclerosis development in SLE patients in a prospective 5-year study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical history and information on principal CVRFs were collected at baseline and after 5 years in 40 SLE patients (36 women, mean age 42 ± 9 years; 14.4 ± 7 years of mean disease duration) and 50 age-matched controls. Carotid Doppler ultrasonography was employed to quantify the atherosclerotic burden at baseline and at follow up. Clinimetrics were applied to assess SLE activity over time (SLEDAI). The association between basal circulating T cell subsets (including CD4+CCR5+; CD4+CXCR3+; CD4+HLADR+; CD4+CD45RA+RO-, CD4+CD45RO+RA- and their subsets) and atherosclerosis development was evaluated. During the 5-year follow up, 32% of SLE patients, developed carotid atherosclerosis compared to 4% of controls. Furthermore, considering SLEDAI changes over time, patients within the highest tertile were those with increased incidence of carotid atherosclerosis independently of CVRF. In addition, increased levels of CD4+CCR5+ T cells were independently associated with the development of carotid atherosclerosis in SLE patients. CONCLUSION: Serial clinical evaluations over time, rather than a single point estimation of disease activity or CVRF burden, are required to define the risk of carotid atherosclerosis development in SLE patients. Specific T cell subsets are associated with long-term atherosclerotic progression and may further be of help in predicting vascular disease progression.
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Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/inmunología , Proliferación Celular , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/inmunología , Receptores CCR5/inmunología , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangre , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/metabolismo , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/sangre , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/sangre , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/complicaciones , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/diagnóstico , Recuento de Linfocitos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Estudios Prospectivos , Receptores CCR5/sangre , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Factores de Tiempo , Ultrasonografía DopplerAsunto(s)
Enfermedades Cardiovasculares , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Proteínas de Neoplasias/genética , ARN/genética , Telomerasa/genética , Acortamiento del Telómero/genética , Enfermedades Asintomáticas , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/epidemiología , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/etiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/complicaciones , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/genética , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Humanos , Incidencia , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Factores de Riesgo , Estadística como AsuntoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Abdominal obesity and hepatic steatosis are ectopic fat depots associated with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Epicardial Fat Thickness (EFT) is a newly discovered one, increasing with obesity, insulin resistance and MetS. Therefore we studied whether different ectopic fat markers, and EFT in particular, are associated with MetS and markers of subclinical cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: 868 subjects from the PLIC Study were included, EFT, aortic calcifications, carotid Intima-Media Thickness (c-IMT) and echocardiographic parameters were determined by ultrasound; extra-cardiac atherosclerotic lesions were defined in presence of plaques at both carotid and aortic levels. Hepatic steatosis degrees were defined according to a scoring system. Abdominal adiposity was determined using Dual X-ray Absorbimetry (DEXA). Independently from age, women showed higher EFT versus men (4.5 (0.20-9.00) mm vs 4.00 (0.10-8.00) mm, p = 0.013); EFT was thicker in post-menopausal women (independently from hormone-replacement therapy). EFT, liver steatosis and abdominal adiposity increased with MetS (p < 0.001). EFT was the only ectopic fat marker associated with cardiac dysfunction (OR = 1.340 [1.088-1.651 95% C.I., p = 0.006); liver steatosis and EFT were associated with extra-cardiac plaques (OR = 2.529 [1.328-4.819] 95% C.I., p < 0.001 and OR = 1.195 [1.008-1.299] 95% C.I., p = 0.042; respectively). On top of cardiovascular risk factors, only EFT improved the discrimination of subjects with cardiac dysfunction and atherosclerotic plaques. CONCLUSIONS: EFT is associated with left ventricular dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis. Our data suggest that EFT may represent an additional tool for the stratification of cardiovascular risk.
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Adiposidad , Enfermedades de la Aorta/complicaciones , Aterosclerosis/etiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/etiología , Hígado Graso/complicaciones , Síndrome Metabólico/complicaciones , Obesidad/complicaciones , Calcificación Vascular/etiología , Absorciometría de Fotón , Tejido Adiposo , Anciano , Enfermedades de la Aorta/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades Asintomáticas , Aterosclerosis/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagen , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Distribución de Chi-Cuadrado , Ecocardiografía Doppler en Color , Hígado Graso/diagnóstico por imagen , Femenino , Humanos , Modelos Lineales , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólico/diagnóstico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Obesidad/diagnóstico , Oportunidad Relativa , Pericardio , Placa Aterosclerótica , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Factores de Riesgo , Factores Sexuales , Calcificación Vascular/diagnóstico por imagen , Disfunción Ventricular Izquierda/diagnóstico por imagen , Disfunción Ventricular Izquierda/etiologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) is an important determinant of telomere function and cellular replicative capacity. The aim of the present study was to examine prospectively the associations between telomere shortening (TS) and both the progression of atherosclerosis and the incidence of cardiovascular events (CVEs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Leucocyte telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction to determine the ratio of telomere length to single-copy gene (T/S) in 768 subjects (462 female and 306 male) enrolled in a large general population survey [the Progressione della Lesione Intimale Carotidea (PLIC study)]. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness was determined at baseline and after 6 years of follow-up, and the associations between TS and the progression of atherosclerosis and incidence of CVEs were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean LTL was 1.25 ± 0.92 T/S (median 1.14) at baseline and 0.70 ± 0.37 T/S (median 0.70) after 6 years of follow-up. Median 6-year LTL change was -0.46 T/S [interquartile range (IQR) -0.57 to 1.06], equating to -0.078 T/S [IQR(-0.092 to 0.176)] per year. Of note, telomere lengthening occurred in 30.4% of subjects. After adjustment for classical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (age, gender, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, glucose levels, lipid profile and therapies), TS was associated with incident subclinical carotid vascular damage [hazard ratio (HR) 5.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20-22.4, P = 0.028]. Finally, subjects in whom LTL shortened over time showed an increased risk of incident CVE, compared to those in whom LTL lengthened (HR 1.69, CI 1.02-2.78, P = 0.041). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that TS is associated with increased risk of subclinical carotid vascular damage and increased incidence of CVEs beyond CVD risk factors in the general population, whereas LTL lengthening is protective.
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Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/patología , Telómero/patología , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Pronóstico , Curva ROC , Telómero/químicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) events compared to the general population. The relative contribution of CV-, immune- and disease-related risk factors to accelerated atherogenesis in SLE is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty SLE patients with long-lasting disease (mean age 44 ± 10 years, 86% female) and 50 sex- and age-matched control subjects were studied. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) was used as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. We evaluated traditional and immune- and disease-related factors, assessed multiple T-cell subsets by 10-parameter-eight-colour polychromatic flow cytometry and addressed the effect of pharmacological therapies on CCA-IMT. In SLE patients, among several cardiometabolic risk factors, only high-density lipoprotein levels (HDL) and their adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA-1)-dependent cholesterol efflux capacity were markedly reduced (p < 0.01), whereas the CCA-IMT was significantly increased (p = 0.03) compared to controls. CCA-IMT correlated with systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and body mass index (BMI), but not with disease activity and duration. The activated CD4(+)HLA-DR(+) and CCR5(+) T-cell subsets were expanded in SLE patients. Patients under hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy showed lower CCA-IMT (0.62 ± 0.08 vs. 0.68 ± 0.10 mm; p = 0.03) and better risk-factor profile and presented reduced circulating pro-atherogenic effector memory T-cell subsets and a parallel increased percentage of naïve T-cell subsets. CONCLUSION: HDL represents the main metabolic parameter altered in SLE patients. The increased CCA-IMT in SLE patients may represent the net result of a process in which 'classic' CV risk factors give a continuous contribution, together with immunological factors (CD4(+)HLA-DR(+) T cells) which, on the contrary, could contribute through flares of activity of various degrees over time. Patients under HCQ therapy present a modified metabolic profile, a reduced T-cell activation associated with decreased subclinical atherosclerosis.
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Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/sangre , Arteria Carótida Común/fisiopatología , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Factores Inmunológicos/metabolismo , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/sangre , Transportador 1 de Casete de Unión a ATP/sangre , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangre , Presión Sanguínea/efectos de los fármacos , Índice de Masa Corporal , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/metabolismo , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/tratamiento farmacológico , Arteria Carótida Común/efectos de los fármacos , Estudios de Casos y Controles , HDL-Colesterol/sangre , LDL-Colesterol/sangre , Femenino , Humanos , Hidroxicloroquina/uso terapéutico , Modelos Logísticos , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/tratamiento farmacológico , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an essential component of the humoral arm of innate immunity and, like C-reactive protein, is independently associated with the risk of developing vascular events. Aim of this study was to investigate, in two large population-based surveys, the Bruneck Study and the PLIC Study, whether PTX3 plasma levels predict the progression of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis, in the general population during 5 or 6 years of follow-up. RESULTS: In the Bruneck Study, PTX3 plasma levels did not predict a faster progression of CCA-IMT either in the carotid artery or in the femoral artery. This finding was confirmed in the PLIC Study where subjects within the highest tertile of PTX3 did not show an increased progression of CCA-IMT. PTX3 plasma levels were also not associated with the fastest maximum IMT progression. In summary, in more than 2400 subjects from the general population, PTX3 plasma level is neither an independent predictor of progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in different arterial territories, including carotid and femoral arteries nor of incident cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION: These findings support the relevance of investigating the predictive value of PTX3 plasma levels only in specific settings, like overt CVD, heart failure or acute myocardial infarction.
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Biomarcadores/sangre , Proteína C-Reactiva/metabolismo , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Componente Amiloide P Sérico/metabolismo , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Animales , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/sangre , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/diagnóstico por imagen , Arteria Carótida Común/diagnóstico por imagen , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often present with reduced plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Whether this reduction in an epiphenomenon or is involved in disease progression is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between HDL-C levels/function and CKD progression in patients with different degrees of disease. DESIGN: A total of 176 patients with CKD [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 50.3 ± 29.1 mL min⻹] were recruited and followed for up to 84 months. Lipid profile, metabolic status and kidney function were evaluated at predetermined times. Age-matched control subjects were selected from the PLIC study (n = 453). Scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR-BI) and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA-1)-dependent efflux of cholesterol were measured in CKD patients and in age-matched control subjects. RESULTS: Low HDL-C levels, diabetes and hypertension were associated with reduced GFR. At follow-up, low HDL-C levels were associated with earlier entry in dialysis or doubling of the plasma creatinine level (P = 0.017); HDL-C levels were the only lipid parameter that affected the progression of CKD (hazard ratio 0.951, 95% confidence interval 0.917-0.986, P = 0.007), independently of the presence of diabetes. Only SR-BI-mediated serum cholesterol efflux was significantly reduced in the group of CKD patients with low HDL-C levels compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: CKD patients with low levels of plasma HDL-C have a poor prognosis. HDL functionality is also impaired in renal dysfunction. These data support the relevance of HDL in influencing CKD progression.
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HDL-Colesterol/sangre , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/sangre , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/fisiopatología , Transportadoras de Casetes de Unión a ATP/sangre , Anciano , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Creatinina/sangre , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Pruebas de Función Renal , Masculino , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Pronóstico , Estudios Prospectivos , Curva ROC , Análisis de Regresión , Factores de Riesgo , Receptores Depuradores de Clase B/sangreRESUMEN
One hundred and forty-eight colonizing isolates from adult Romanian women were conventionally serotyped and screened for antibiotic resistance. Capsular type assignment by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for nonserotypeable isolates. Tetracycline and macrolide resistance genes (tetM, tetO, tetL, ermA, ermB, and mefA) including tetM gene association with conjugative elements of the Tn916 family were searched. Molecular typing included PCR screening for major surface protein antigen genes (bac, bca, alp1, alp2/3, alp4, and rib), mobile genetic elements (GBSi1 and IS1548), and rapid detection of hypervirulent clone ST-17. Genetic diversity was assessed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of SmaI macrorestriction patterns. Among the colonizing isolates studied, serotypes V and III predominated and high rates of tetracycline and macrolide resistance were observed. The tetM gene occurred in 140 tetracycline-resistant isolates and was associated with the int-Tn916 gene in 94 of them. Most of the isolates displayed a constitutive MLS(B) phenotype (38/46 isolates) and harbored the ermB gene. rib, alp2/3, and alp1 were the most common surface protein genes detected. Either IS1548 or GBSi1 intron were detected in almost half of the isolates and nine serotype III isolates belonged to clone ST-17. PFGE analysis of SmaI macrorestriction patterns, obtained from 118 isolates, revealed an apparent genetic diversity.
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Portador Sano/epidemiología , Portador Sano/microbiología , Variación Genética , Tipificación Molecular , Infecciones Estreptocócicas/epidemiología , Infecciones Estreptocócicas/microbiología , Streptococcus agalactiae/clasificación , Adulto , Análisis por Conglomerados , ADN Bacteriano/genética , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Femenino , Genes Bacterianos , Genotipo , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Epidemiología Molecular , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Embarazo , Rumanía/epidemiología , Serotipificación , Streptococcus agalactiae/genética , Streptococcus agalactiae/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Resistin is an adipokine that has been suggested to be correlated with markers of inflammation and to be predictive of coronary atherosclerosis and type II diabetes in humans. A common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (-420C/G) in the promoter of resistin is associated with increased resistin plasma levels and susceptibility to type II diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the -420C/G polymorphism with metabolic syndrome, obesity, myocardial infarction and kidney disease. DESIGN AND RESULTS: First we studied 1542 subjects from the PLIC study (a population based cohort). GG carriers showed an higher prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome as well as increased plasma triglycerides levels, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and cardiovascular risk according to Framingham algorithm (P < 0.05 for all). Next we investigated the presence of the -420C/G resistin polymorphism in a case-control study that included 300 subject with myocardial infarction and 300 age and sex matched controls and then we studied the role of the -420C/G SNP in 88 patients with mild to moderate renal dysfunction. No statistically significant differences in allele frequencies between the PLIC study, the myocardial infarction (MI) cases and the subjects with renal dysfunction were observed. Pro-inflammatory gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells failed to detect any difference between wild type subjects and carriers of the rare allele. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the presence of the -420C/G SNP of the resistin gene is associated with increased obesity and metabolic syndrome, although it is not different in subjects at high cardiovascular risk such as patients with myocardial infarction or patients with renal dysfunction compared with controls.
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Enfermedades Renales/genética , Síndrome Metabólico/genética , Infarto del Miocardio/genética , Obesidad/genética , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Resistina/genética , Adulto , Anciano , Enfermedad Crónica , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Expresión Génica , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Genotipo , Humanos , Enfermedades Renales/sangre , Lípidos/sangre , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólico/sangre , Persona de Mediana Edad , Infarto del Miocardio/sangre , Obesidad/sangre , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , ARN Mensajero/genética , Resistina/biosíntesisRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The role of resistin in insulin sensitivity and obesity is controversial. Some authors suggest that increased serum resistin levels are associated with obesity, visceral fat, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and inflammation, while others failed to observe such correlations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of plasma resistin levels with markers of the metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in a large population-based study. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Plasma resistin levels were determined in 1090 subjects free of any medication selected from the PLIC study (designed to verify the presence of atherosclerotic lesions and progression intima-media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery in the general population) and related to the presence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular risk, and progression of IMT. RESULTS: Plasma resistin levels were highly positively correlated with triglycerides, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, and ApoAI/ApoB ratio, while they were inversely correlated with high density lipoprotein and ApoAI levels. This finding was gender specific (mainly in women). Plasma resistin levels were significantly higher in women with the metabolic syndrome compared with controls (4.90 (0.24) ng/ml vs 3.90 (0.11) ng/ml; P<0.01), while no difference was observed in obese subjects. Finally, plasma resistin levels were significantly correlated with cardiovascular risk calculated according to the Framingham algorithm (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Plasma resistin levels are increased in presence of the metabolic syndrome and are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
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Síndrome Metabólico/sangre , Síndrome Metabólico/epidemiología , Resistina/sangre , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Aterosclerosis/sangre , Aterosclerosis/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Resistencia a la Insulina , Grasa Intraabdominal/metabolismo , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Obesidad/sangre , Obesidad/epidemiología , Análisis de Regresión , Factores de Riesgo , Índice de Severidad de la EnfermedadRESUMEN
Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TGRLs) are a cardiovascular risk factor and induce endothelial dysfunction. In the present study we investigated the effects of TGRLs from type IV hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic subjects on endothelial activation focusing on the effects on intracellular pathways and gene expression. A total of 54 subjects, 30 hypertriglyceridemic (triglyceride (TG) levels 284+/-101 mg/dl) and 23 normotriglyceridemic (TG levels 109+/-40 mg/dl) were enrolled as lipoprotein donors. TGRLs were isolated from hypertriglyceridemic (H-TGRL) and normotriglyceridemic (N-TGRL) subjects. RNA from human endothelial cells incubated with N-TGRL or H-TGRL was prepared for cDNA microarray analyses. Western blotting was used to study intracellular signaling pathways. Regulated genes were further studied with real-time PCR, immunofluorescence and FACS. Furthermore, a protein/DNA array and chromatin-immunoprecipitation were used to identify transcription factors involved in the observed effects. Both N-TGRL and H-TGRL activated ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK. However, there were differences in the pattern of upregulated target genes between the two types of lipoproteins in HUVECs and/or HAECs: PAI-1, VCAM-1, ELAM-1 and MCP-1 were upregulated by both N-TGRL and H-TGRL, while PECAM-1, IL-6 and ADAMTs1 were selectively upregulated by H-TGRL. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated the involvement of transcription factors NF-kB and CREB in the activation of these genes. These results support the possible involvement of hypertriglyceridemic TGRLs in endothelial dysfunction via induction of a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic state.
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Células Endoteliales/metabolismo , Endotelio Vascular/metabolismo , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Hiperuricemia/metabolismo , Lipoproteínas/metabolismo , Triglicéridos/metabolismo , Adulto , Células Cultivadas , Células Endoteliales/patología , Endotelio Vascular/patología , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica/métodos , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Hiperuricemia/patología , Lipoproteínas/farmacología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis de Secuencia por Matrices de Oligonucleótidos/métodos , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Triglicéridos/farmacologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) is believed to contribute to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The association of the D299G polymorphism of the TLR-4 gene with the progression of coronary and carotid atherosclerosis, risk of cardiovascular events and myocardial infarction is controversial. We have investigated whether the presence of the D299G polymorphism and the co-segregated T399I polymorphism affects the intima-media thickness (IMT) in the general population. SUBJECTS: The PLIC study population (n = 1256) was genotyped for the D299G and the T399I polymorphisms. RESULTS: The presence of both the D299G and T399I alleles was observed in the 13.0% of the population, carriers of the T399I alone were 1.8% and of the D299G alone were 0.9%. No difference in IMT was detected within the carriers of the D299G and T399I alleles and the wild-type subjects in the PLIC population. Furthermore, we investigated whether monocyte from D299G to T399I subjects present a defective response to CD40, interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 and PTX3 expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). When the monocyte-derived macrophages of these subjects were challenged with LPS (1 mug mL(-1)), no impact of the polymorphisms on the induction of CD40, MCP-1 and PTX3 was observed. Only IL-6 and COX-2 induction by LPS resulted reduced in the D299G/T399I carriers. CONCLUSION: The presence of the D299G and T399I polymorphisms of the TLR-4 gene does not play a major role on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis. Macrophages from the subjects carrying the polymorphisms show an impaired response to LPS limited only to a IL-6 and COX-2.
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Arteria Carótida Común/diagnóstico por imagen , Estenosis Carotídea/diagnóstico por imagen , Macrófagos/inmunología , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Monocitos/inmunología , Polimorfismo Genético/genética , Receptores de Superficie Celular/genética , Alelos , Proteína C-Reactiva/análisis , Antígenos CD40/análisis , Estenosis Carotídea/genética , Estenosis Carotídea/inmunología , Quimiocina CCL2/análisis , Ciclooxigenasa 2 , Femenino , Expresión Génica , Genotipo , Humanos , Interleucina-6/análisis , Lipopolisacáridos/inmunología , Masculino , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/análisis , Proteínas de la Membrana , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Prospectivos , Prostaglandina-Endoperóxido Sintasas/análisis , Receptores de Superficie Celular/análisis , Componente Amiloide P Sérico/análisis , Receptor Toll-Like 4 , Receptores Toll-Like , UltrasonografíaRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of new quinolones against clinical isolates of E. coli, obtained from hospitalized patients between 1999-2000, in Eastern Romania. We tested 411 strains, isolated from urine. Susceptibility of the isolates to norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and ofloxacin was performed using the dilution method in Mueller-Hinton agar. Susceptibility was reported using the NCCLS breakpoints. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was defined as the lowest concentration of antimicrobials that inhibited growth of the bacteria. Based on MIC breakpoints for defining susceptibility, between 12.4-13.7% of isolates were resistant to modern quinolones. Resistance to nalidixic acid significantly diminished the clinical use: level of the susceptible strains was only 12.9%.
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Antiinfecciosos/farmacología , Escherichia coli/efectos de los fármacos , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Fluoroquinolonas , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad MicrobianaRESUMEN
The simplified acute physiological score (SAPS II), the only valid score in sepsis according Pilly (1997) includes 17 variables: 12 physiological variables, age, type of admission and 3 variables that reffer to the background diseases: AIDS, neoplasm and haematologic malignant diseases. SAPS II was used in 30 patients with sepsis. The evaluation for each variable were between 0-26 points. Our data suggest that values over 0.552 coincided with death in 12 patients and values below 0.552 coincided with a favourable course in 18 patients.
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Bacteriemia/mortalidad , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/mortalidad , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Bacteriemia/complicaciones , Femenino , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/complicaciones , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Rumanía , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
To evaluate the resistance trends for Escherichia coli isolates during 1993-1999 period in Eastern Romania to: ampicillin (A), ampicillin-sulbactam (A/S), ceftazidime (CAZ), cefotaxime (CTA), ceftriaxone (CRO), aztreonam (AZT), ofloxacin (OF), ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline (T) and chloramphenicol (C). We tested 2012 clinical isolates obtained from faeces and urine. MICs were determined by a dilution method in Mueller-Hinton agar (NCCLS guidelines). Resistance rates were analyzed using the NCCLS breakpoints for the fully susceptible category (moderately susceptible strains were classified as resistant). No significant differences were observed in susceptibility of E. coli to ampicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam in the last years. The high percentage of resistant isolates was observed in 1995 for ampicillin (89.7%). Higher incidences of resistance were detected for A, A/S, T; the addition of sulbactam restored A susceptibility only for a small percent. CAZ, CTA, CRO, AZT, OF and CIP resistance among E. coli isolates was progressively increased in the last period.
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Antibacterianos/farmacología , Infecciones por Escherichia coli/microbiología , Escherichia coli/efectos de los fármacos , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple , Escherichia coli/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones por Escherichia coli/epidemiología , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Ofloxacino/farmacología , Prevalencia , Rumanía/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
The authors tested for "slime" elaboration 48 S. epidermidis s.s. strains; 24 of these strains were isolated from bloodstream infections and 24 from resident cutaneous microbiota. The semiquantitative method of Christensen was used for testing "slime" elaboration. The predictive value of the positive test of "slime" elaboration was 92% in this study.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Bacterianas/toxicidad , Coagulasa , Staphylococcus epidermidis/patogenicidad , Proteínas Bacterianas/análisis , Proteínas Bacterianas/biosíntesis , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Sepsis/microbiología , Piel/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Antibiotic susceptibility testing in 231 strains of S. aureus isolated from patients highly exposed to the nosocomial risk and from patients treated in ambulatories for staphylococcal infections revealed significant discrepancies in respect to the incidence of multiple resistant strains and dispersion of resistance phenotypes. MRSA incidence rose to 58-85% in hospital boards, that indicated an "alarm state" which requests the supply of the efficient antibiotic. The 27.18% of MRSA between the strains isolated in ambulatories points to the risk of spreading this strains abroad the community and into the hospital boards and requests the monitoring of the chemotherapy in such of health carry units and of the antibiotic "automedication".
Asunto(s)
Instituciones de Atención Ambulatoria , Infección Hospitalaria/microbiología , Farmacorresistencia Microbiana , Unidades Hospitalarias , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Staphylococcus aureus/efectos de los fármacos , Quemaduras/microbiología , Niño , Seropositividad para VIH/microbiología , VIH-1/inmunología , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana/estadística & datos numéricos , Fenotipo , Recurrencia , Factores de Riesgo , Rumanía , Staphylococcus aureus/aislamiento & purificaciónAsunto(s)
Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/tratamiento farmacológico , Sepsis/tratamiento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Farmacorresistencia Microbiana , Bacterias Gramnegativas/efectos de los fármacos , Bacterias Gramnegativas/patogenicidad , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/etiología , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/microbiología , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Sepsis/etiología , Sepsis/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Neomycin is coupled on xanthan-a polysaccharide of microbial biosynthesis produced by Xanthomonas campestris-through ionic complexation. The kinetics of neomycin release, in vitro, at pH = 8.2 is studied. A controlled release of neomycin, following a zero order kinetics is observed, regardless of the eluent flow. Neomycin complexed on xanthan, administered in a unique daily dose to patients suffering from dysentery in the 100 cases taken in study, has shown a high clinical efficiency as compared with the treatments with ampicillin or furazolidone, administered for 5-10 days or longer.