Pharmacokinetic profile and effect on bone markers and muscle strength of two daily dosage regimens of calcifediol in osteopenic/osteoporotic postmenopausal women.

Background: At present, although cholecalciferol represents the form of vitamin D of choice for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, there is a growing interest in calcifediol.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of two different daily doses of calcifediol.

Methods: Fifty osteopenic/osteoporotic women with serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) between 10 and 20 ng/ml were randomized to a 6-month treatment with oral calcifediol 20 µg/day (n = 25) or oral calcifediol 30 µg/day (n = 25).

Infection by CagA-Positive Helicobacter pylori Strains and Bone Fragility: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is a common and persistent disorder acting as a major cofactor for the development of upper gastrointestinal diseases and several extraintestinal disorders including osteoporosis. However, no prospective study assessed the effects of HP on bone health and fracture risk. We performed a HP screening in a population-based cohort of 1149 adults followed prospectively for up to 11 years.

Ultrasound indices of congestion in patients with acute heart failure according to body mass index.

Background: The inverse relationship between body mass index (BMI) and natriuretic peptide levels complicates the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) in obese patients. Assessment of congestion with ultrasound could facilitate HF diagnosis but it is unclear if any relationship exists amongst BMI, inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and the number of B-lines.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation within 24 h from hospital admission in patients with HF, including lung B-lines and IVC diameter, and studied their relationship with BMI and outcome.

Preventive Role of Vitamin D Supplementation for Acute Phase Reaction after Bisphosphonate Infusion in Paget's Disease.

Context: Intravenous aminobisphosphonates (N-BPs) can induce an acute phase reaction (APR) in up to 40% to 70% of first infusions, causing discomfort and often requiring intervention with analgesics or antipyretics.

Objective: Our aim was to explore the risk factors of APR in a large sample of patients with Paget's disease of bone (PDB) and to assess the possible preventive effects of vitamin D administration.

Methods: An observational analysis was performed in 330 patients with PDB at the time of N-BP infusion.

Combination of ST2 and B-type natriuretic peptide in diabetic patients with acute heart failure: relation with ventricular stiffness and outcome.

Background: Diabetes is a common disease in heart failure and its prevalence ranges from 10 to 30%. ST-2 is a novel biomarker of myocardial fibrosis and remodelling in heart failure and may be involved in the inflammatory process of diabetes mellitus. In this study, we sought: to evaluate levels of ST-2 and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in groups with acute heart failure with and without diabetes; to analyse the prognostic impact of ST-2 over a 6-month follow-up period.

Different trajectories and significance of B-type natriuretic peptide, congestion and acute kidney injury in patients with heart failure.

The exact relationship existing among congestion status, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) changes and acute kidney injury (AKI) has not been elucidated in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). The aims of this study are: to investigate the relation and prognostic role of BNP, AKI and clinical congestion after discharge; to define the exact BNP cut off value or a BNP in-hospital reduction to identify patients with higher risk during vulnerable post-discharge phase. We consecutively enrolled 157 patients with a diagnosis of AHF.

Additional value of Galectin-3 to BNP in acute heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Almost half of patients with acute heart failure have preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF is a diagnostic challenge using traditional investigation tools; Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an emerging biomarker useful in individuals at risk for HF. The aim of our study is to analyse the relation and prognostic value of Gal-3, BNP and renal dysfunction in patients with HFpEF compared to patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Patients with cardiorenal syndrome revealed increased neurohormonal activity, tubular and myocardial damage compared to heart failure patients with preserved renal function.

Background: Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; still, its biomarker pattern has been poorly evaluated so far. The aim of this study was to measure the inflammatory activation, neurohormonal status and kidney and myocardial damage in patients with CRS compared to patients with heart failure (HF) without renal impairment (RI).

Methods: We analyzed 246 patients on the basis of renal function (group 1: 120 HF patients without RI; group 2: 126 CRS patients).

Admission plasma neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) predicts worsening renal function during hospitalization and post discharge outcome in patients with acute heart failure.

Unlabelled: Abstract Background: The role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been described in chronic heart failure (HF), however less data are available in patients admitted for acute HF.

Methods: We evaluated the role of NGAL in predicting in-hospital worsening renal function (WRF) and post-discharge follow-up during six months period in patients with acute HF. All patients were submitted to creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement during hospitalization and before discharge.

Serum relaxin in systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To evaluate serum levels of relaxin (RLX), a hormone with acknowledged antifibrotic activity, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: We performed a pilot study of 50 outpatients with SSc and 50 healthy subjects. Serum RLX was measured using the relaxin ELISA.

A polymorphic CYP19 TTTA repeat influences aromatase activity and estrogen levels in elderly men: effects on bone metabolism.

Current evidence suggests that estrogen plays a dominant role in determining bone mineral density (BMD) in men, and inactivating mutations in the aromatase CYP19 gene have been associated with low bone mass in young males. We previously reported an association between a TTTA repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the CYP19 gene and osteoporotic risk in postmenopausal females. Here we explore the role of this polymorphism as a genetic determinant of BMD in a sample of elderly males who were recruited by direct mailing and followed longitudinally for 2 (n = 300) and 4 (n = 200) yr.

Longitudinal association between sex hormone levels, bone loss, and bone turnover in elderly men.

Male osteoporosis is an increasingly important health problem. It is known that sex steroid hormones play an important role in regulating bone turnover and bone mass in males as well as in females. However, the exact mechanism of bone loss in men remains unknown.

Anthropometric, haemodynamic, humoral and hormonal evaluation in patients with incidental adrenocortical adenomas before and after surgery.

Objective: To compare clinical and humoral parameters before and after surgery in patients with incidental adrenocortical adenomas.

Design: Six patients with subclinical Cushing's syndrome and nine with non-functioning adenomas were investigated before and 12 Months after removal of the mass.

Methods: Anthropometric (body weight, body mass index and waist to hip ratio), haemodynamic (blood pressure and heart rate), metabolic (lipids and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)), hormonal (cortisol, plasma renin activity, aldosterone, androgens and catecholamines) and bone metabolism (hydroxyproline, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin and ostase) parameters were evaluated.