[Biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of heart failure: natriuretic peptides].

Heart failure (HF) is the final common pathway of many cardiovascular diseases and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Natural history of HF patients can be improved when early diagnosis is achieved, and a timely treatment is initiated. Circulating biomarkers, reflecting pathophysiological pathways involved in HF development and progression, help clinicians diagnose and manage patients with HF.

Effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles on hemostasis: Coagulation, platelets, and vascular endothelial cells.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria [NC]) have attracted much attention in biomedicine due to their surface composition that confers interesting redox activities and regenerative properties. Studies have demonstrated that the application of NPs in biomedicine can influence components of hemostatic system, inducing blood clotting, alterations of blood cells, and endothelial cell functions. NC were tested in vitro to assess their hemocompatibility and anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-senescence activity in human endothelial cells.

Significance of the ionized calcium measurement to assess calcium status in osteopenic/osteoporosis postmenopausal outpatients.

Introduction: Evaluation of calcium status is important in the osteoporotic risk assessment. Although guidelines indicate total calcium (tCa) as first-line measurement, directly measured ionized calcium (m-iCa), considered as the gold standard, is more and more often required. Aim of this study is to evaluate the agreement between m-iCa, tCa and iCa calculated from a formula based on total calcium and albumin (c-iCa) in osteopenic/osteoporotic postmenopausal outpatients.

Low magnesium is not a significant predictor of hard events in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Although magnesium (Mg) has recognized cardioprotective properties and hypomagnesemia is common in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), data regarding the role of Mg as prognostic factor for adverse events are scarce, as well as there are conflicting results on the use of Mg as adjuvant therapy in AMI.

Aim: To evaluate the role of Mg as predictor for hard events (HE, all cause death, and nonfatal myocardial infarction) in AMI patients.

Design And Patients: We studied 406 AMI patients (306 males, age: 67 ± 12 years, mean ± SD).

Gender differences for uric acid as predictor of hard events in patients referred for coronary angiography.

Aim: To assess gender differences in uric acid (UA) as predictor for hard events (HE, mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction) in a large cohort of patients referred for coronary angiography. Design & patients: 3020 inpatients (2177 males, age: 68 ± 9 years, mean ± SD) were retrospectively studied, collecting data from the Institute electronic databank which included demographic, clinical, instrumental and follow-up data.

Results: Although the Kaplan-Meier survival estimates showed a significantly worst outcome in female patients, high UA did not remained a significant predictor for HE after adjustment.

Synthetic analogues of flavonoids with improved activity against platelet activation and aggregation as novel prototypes of food supplements.

We investigated the ability of quercetin and apigenin to modulate platelet activation and aggregation, and compared the observed efficacy with that displayed by their synthetic analogues 2-phenyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones, 1-4, and 2,3-diphenyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones, 5-7. Platelet aggregation was explored through a spectrophotometric assay on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treated with the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619, collagen and thrombin in presence/absence of various bioisosteres of flavonoids (12.5-25-50-100 μM).

Procoagulant activity of circulating microparticles is associated with the presence of moderate calcified plaque burden detected by multislice computed tomography.

Background: Circulating microparticles (MPs) have been reported to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we explored the relationship between MPs procoagulant activity and characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque detected by 64-slice computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Methods: In 127 consecutive patients with CAD but without acute coronary syndrome and who underwent 64-slice CTA, MPs procoagulant activity in plasma (by a thrombin generation test), soluble form of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) and N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) circulating levels (by ELISA) were measured.

Analysis of the 2010-2012 results of the multicenter external proficiency study for 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Background: Results collected from the 2010-2012 cycles of the 'Immunocheck' external quality assessment scheme for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, conducted by QualiMedLab CNR (Italy) and ProBioQual (France; 250 among Italian and French laboratories) are presented in this article.

Methods: Details of how QualiMedLab operates can be found in QualiMedLab website.

Results: Interlaboratory imprecision was 19 (2010), 15 (2011) and 13% (2012).

State of the art in feedstuff analysis: a technique-oriented perspective.

The need for global feed supply traceability, the high-throughput testing demands of feed industry, and regulatory enforcement drive the need for feed analysis and make extremely complex the issue of the control and evaluation of feed quality, safety, and functional properties, all of which contribute to the very high number of analyses that must be performed. Feed analysis, with respect to animal nutritional requirements, health, reproduction, and production, should be multianalytically approached. In addition to standard methods of chemical analysis, new methods for evaluation of feed composition and functional properties, authenticity, and safety have been developed.

Preanalytical, analytical (DiaSorin LIAISON) and clinical variables potentially affecting the 25-OH vitamin D estimation.

Background: Vitamin D (25-OHD) physiological functions have been expanded beyond traditional bone health, increasing the importance of its estimation in Laboratory Medicine, which renders validation of available methods mandatory.

Aims And Methods: We evaluated some preanalytical and analytical aspects of 25-OHD determination and the effects of potentially confounding clinical variables by using the DiaSorin "LIAISON 25-OH Vitamin D TOTAL".

Results: 25-OHD samples were extremely stable, at least in the short term, without requiring special transport or storage.

Oxidative stress as a predictor of cardiovascular events in coronary artery disease patients.

Background: Enhanced oxidative stress has been associated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the predictive value of circulating oxidative stress biomarkers for cardiovascular events (CE) in patients with CAD has remained poorly understood.

Aim: To assess the prognostic significance of reactive oxygen metabolites, estimated as index of oxidative stress in serum samples by means of a commercial kit (ROMs, Diacron, Italy) on the rate of mortality and major adverse CE (MACE) in CAD.

Elevated levels of oxidative stress as a prognostic predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease.

Aims: To evaluate the prognostic significance of oxidative stress on the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs: cardiac and all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization-PTCA/CABG) in CAD.

Methods: We studied 97 angiographically proven CAD patients (78 males, age: 67±11 years, mean± SD). Reactive oxygen metabolites and total antioxidant status, assessed by commercially assays (d-ROMs and OXY-Adsorbent Test; Diacron, Grosseto, GR, Italy), were used to calculate the oxidant/antioxidant balance.

Sex-related differences in association of oxidative stress status with coronary artery disease.

Objective: To assess oxidative stress status in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients according to gender.

Design: Case-controlled, observational, retrospective study.

Setting: Clinical and research center.

Elevated soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome and positive cardiac troponin I.

Objectives: High levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) have been shown to have an atheroprotective role; however, no data are available on this molecule in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated sRAGE levels in patients with non-ST segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) or with chronic stable angina.

Methods: We studied 265 patients, 190 of whom had NSTE-ACS and 75 had chronic stable angina.

Carcinoembryonic antigen concentrations in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), one of the most widely used tumor markers, has been recently associated with carotid atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether CEA concentrations have a role in coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Serum CEA concentrations were evaluated in 89 patients, including 50 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (Group I, 44 with acute myocardial infarction, six with unstable angina, 38 males, 65 ± 2 years) and 39 patients with stable CAD (Group II, 33 males, 66 ± 3 years).

Effects of menopause and tibolone on different cardiovascular biomarkers in healthy women.

Background And Aim: The effects of tibolone on cardiovascular risk is not yet fully understood today. We designed this study to assess the effect of the menopausal status and tibolone treatment (2.5 mg/day for 3 months) on different biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in healthy women.

Plasma N-epsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine levels are associated with the extent of vessel injury after coronary arterial stenting.

Objective: In animal models, increased tissue receptor for advanced glycation end products and its ligands, including N-epsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), are critically implicated in postprocedural intimal hyperplasia after balloon injury. In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions with stenting, we investigated whether plasma levels of CML and the soluble form of receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) changed during poststenting follow-up.

Methods: We studied 81 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent successful percutaneous coronary interventions.

Predictive value of elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on cardiac mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: An association between white blood cell count (WBC), severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and survival has been described in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Our aim was to analyze the predictive ability for cardiac events of differential WBC, which is still not well characterized, against established risk factors in angiographically proven CAD patients.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated complete blood count, biomarkers of inflammation [(C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum iron (SI)], glucose/lipid metabolism [(fasting glucose (FG), total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol] and established risk factors in 422 consecutive ischemic patients with angiographically documented stable CAD.

Modulation of erythrocyte sensitivity to oxidative stress by transient hyperhomocysteinemia in healthy subjects and in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: The pathobiological mechanisms by which Hcy can promote atherothrombosis are not completely understood. Many observations suggest that oxidative consequences of hyperhomocysteinemia have a distinct role in the development of occlusive vascular disease. The aim of this work was to investigate whether sensitivity of erythrocytes to chemically induced oxidative stress in both healthy subjects and patients with clinically ascertained atherosclerosis was modified during the transient increase in homocysteine driven by methionine load.

Lack of effect of alpha-tocopherol on in vitro angiogenesis.

Oxidative stress and angiogenesis are important elements in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cancer. Because of its antioxidant properties, alpha-tocopherol has long proposed as prevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress. We explore whether alpha-tocopherol modulates some cell responses induced by angiogenic and proliferative stimuli.

Usefulness of high-sensitivity IL-6 measurement for clinical characterization of patients with coronary artery disease.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) may represent an early marker of inflammatory activation and may be useful to ameliorate risk stratification in patients with ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study was to verify the performance characteristics of an ultrasensitive immunoassay (Biosource International, Camarillo, CA) for high-sensitivity (hs)-IL-6 measurement in comparison with hs-R&D Systems (Abingdon, United Kingdom) and Immulite System (Diagnostic Products Corporation [DPC], Los Angeles, CA) methods in patients with ischemic heart disease. In addition, hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations were measured, to evaluate the correlation with hs-IL-6 levels.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism, homocysteine, vitamin B12, and DNA damage in coronary artery disease.

Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy), a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), can result from genetic errors, e.g., the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism, or nutritional deficiencies, e.