Possible role of purinergic signaling in COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, accounts for more than 2.4 million deaths worldwide, making it the main public health problem in 2020. Purinergic signaling is involved in the pathophysiology of several viral infections which makes the purinergic system a potential target of investigation in COVID-19.

Purinergic signaling and tumor microenvironment in cervical Cancer.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer incidence in the world female population, and it has become a public health problem worldwide. Several factors are involved in this type of cancer, including intrinsic factors related to the inflammatory process, such as extracellular nucleotides and adenosine-components of the purinergic system. The present review focuses on the role of the purinergic system in cervical cancer, especially regarding the interaction of extracellular nucleotides with their respective receptors expressed in the tumor microenvironment of cervical cancer and their role in the host immune response.

Metformin therapy and risk of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes: systematic review.

Aims/hypothesis: Diabetes treatments were related with either an increased or reduced risk of cancer. There is ongoing debate about a potential protective action of metformin. To summarize evidence on the association between metformin and risk of cancer and cancer mortality in patients with diabetes.

Costs of treatment and complications of adult type 1 diabetes.

Background And Aims: Costs associated with diabetes represent a large burden for patients and the health-care system. However, few studies examined the costs for diabetes treatment in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). This analysis was aimed to assess the costs of treatment associated with T1DM among adults in Italy from the national health-care system perspective.

Development and validation of a questionnaire evaluating the impact of hepatitis B immune globulin prophylaxis on the quality of life of liver transplant recipients.

To date, there is still a lack of instruments for specifically assessing the impact of anti-hepatitis B virus prophylaxis after liver transplantation (LT) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and treatment satisfaction. Focusing on the use of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), we developed and validated the Immunoglobulin Therapy After Liver Transplantation Questionnaire (ITaLi-Q), which includes 41 items and covers 5 domains (side effects, positive and negative feelings, impact on the flexibility of daily activities, support, and satisfaction). The questionnaire was tested by 177 consecutive LT patients [71.

ROSES: role of self-monitoring of blood glucose and intensive education in patients with Type 2 diabetes not receiving insulin. A pilot randomized clinical trial.

Aims: To estimate the efficacy of a self-monitoring-based disease management strategy in patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with oral agent monotherapy.

Methods: This was an open-label, randomized, pilot study, primarily led by diabetes nurses. Patients were randomly allocated to either a self-monitoring-based disease management strategy or usual care (ratio 3:1) and followed up for 6 months.

Adiponectin gene polymorphisms and their effect on the risk of myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes: an association study in an Italian population.

Objective: While many studies have shown an association between the gene coding for adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and adiponectin levels, much more controversy surrounds its association with metabolic traits such as insulin resistance, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, very few studies have looked into the relations between ADIPOQ variants and risk of cardiovascular disease. The present study assessed the influence of four common ADIPOQ Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), rs17300539 (-11391G→A), rs266729 (-11377C→G), rs2241766 (+45T→G) and rs1501299 (+276G→T) on the risk of myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes.

Common genetic variants on chromosome 9p21 are associated with myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes in an Italian population.

Background: A genomic region on chromosome 9p21 has been identified as closely associated with increased susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) and to type 2 diabetes (T2D) although the evidence suggests that the genetic variants within chromosome 9p21 that contribute to CAD are different from those that contribute to T2D.We carried out an association case-control study in an Italian population to test the association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the 9p21 locus, rs2891168 and rs10811661, previously reported by the PROCARDIS study, and respectively myocardial infarction (MI) and T2D. Our aim was to confirm the previous findings on a larger sample and to verify the independence of their susceptibility effects: rs2891168 associated with MI but not with T2D and rs10811661 associated with T2D but not with MI.

Comorbidity affects the relationship between glycemic control and cardiovascular outcomes in diabetes: a cohort study.

Background: Recent studies have shown mixed results regarding the effectiveness of intensive glucose-lowering therapy in reducing risk for cardiovascular events.

Objective: To determine whether attaining hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) targets of 6.5% or less or 7.

Correlates of quality of life in adults with type 1 diabetes treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin injection.

Background And Aims: Aim of this study was to identify subgroups of adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) treated with Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII) at higher risk of poor quality of life (QoL). A sample of consecutive patients completed the Diabetes Specific Quality of Life Scale (DSQOLS), investigating the daily burden and restrictions related to diabetes. Lower DSQOLS scores indicate worse QoL perception.

Management of erectile dysfunction in general practice.

Introduction: In recent years, the availability of effective oral pharmacological treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) has revolutionized its management; however, it is still unclear how everyday clinical practice has changed in response to this evolving scenario.

Aim: The aim of this study is to describe general practitioners' (GPs) beliefs and attitudes toward the management of ED.

Methods: Each GP was asked to recruit consecutive men aged >or=18 years and sexually active, with already known erectile problems or with newly diagnosed ED.

Quality of life and treatment satisfaction in adults with Type 1 diabetes: a comparison between continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and multiple daily injections.

Aims: The aim of this case-control study was to compare quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction in adults with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) treated with either continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or multiple daily injections (MDI).

Methods: Consecutive patients aged between 18 and 55 years, and attending diabetes clinics for a routine visit, completed the Diabetes-Specific Quality-of-Life Scale (DSQOLS), the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) and the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Case (CSII) and control subjects (MDI) were recruited in a 1 : 2 ratio.

Identifying patients at risk for microalbuminuria via interaction of the components of the metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional analytic study.

Background And Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate correlates of risk for having microalbuminuria in individuals with one or more cardiovascular risk factors.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: The study involved 1919 individuals who attended general practice settings, were aged 55 to 75 yr, and did not have a history of cardiovascular events or diabetes but had one or more cardiovascular risk factors. A tree-based regression technique and multivariate analysis were used to identify distinct, homogeneous subgroups of patients with different likelihood of having microalbuminuria; interaction between correlates of microalbuminuria and risk for microalbuminuria was also investigated.

Correlation between the total volume, transitional zone volume of the prostate, transitional prostate zone index and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Objectives: Currently available studies show controversial data between the symptoms of the lower urinary tract and the volume of the prostate gland. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between the score of the lower urinary tract symptoms assessed according to the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) and the total (TV) and transitional (TZV) zone volume of the prostate and transitional prostate zone index (TZI).

Materials And Methods: From 223 men with a mean age of 59.

Clinical and psychological predictors of incidence of self-reported erectile dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: We evaluated the predictors of the incidence of erectile dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and identified subgroups of patients in whom the interaction between clinical and psychological characteristics determined an increase in the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: The study was based on 670 individuals. The presence of erectile dysfunction and the severity of depressive symptoms were investigated with a questionnaire filled in every 6 months for 3 years.

Quality of diabetes care predicts the development of cardiovascular events: results of the QuED study.

Background And Aim: In the context of the QuED Study we assessed whether a quality of care summary score was able to predict the development of cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods And Results: The score was calculated using process and intermediate outcome indicators (HbA1c), blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, microalbuminuria) and ranged from 0 to 40. Overall, 3235 patients were enrolled, of whom 492 developed a CV event after a median follow-up of 5 years.

Are Type 2 diabetic patients offered adequate foot care? The role of physician and patient characteristics.

In the context of a nationwide outcomes research program on Type 2 diabetes, we investigated physician and patient practices related to foot care. Patients filled in a questionnaire investigating whether they had received information about foot care, how often they had had their feet examined in the last year, and how often they usually checked their feet. Analyses were adjusted for patient case-mix and physician-level clustering.

Longitudinal assessment of quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes and self-reported erectile dysfunction.

Objective: In the context of the QuED (Quality of Care and Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes) project, we evaluated the longitudinal changes over 3 years in quality of life (QoL) in patients with type 2 diabetes according to the presence or the development of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Research Design And Methods: Patients were requested to fill in a questionnaire investigating the presence of ED and QoL (SF-36 Health Survey, depression symptoms [Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression], and quality of sexual life) every 6 months for 3 years. The analyses were based on multilevel models, adjusted for patient clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Twelve-year mortality results of a randomized trial of 2 versus 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen for postmenopausal early-stage breast carcinoma patients (SITAM 01).

Background: This study evaluated the impact on overall survival (OS) of 2 versus 5 years adjuvant tamoxifen in early breast carcinoma patients after 12 years of follow-up.

Methods: Women with breast carcinoma T1-3, N0-3, M0, aged 50-70 years, were eligible for this multicenter randomized Phase III trial. Patients event-free after 2 years of tamoxifen therapy (TAM) were randomly assigned to stop or continue TAM (20 mg/day) for an additional 3 years.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose in non-insulin-treated diabetic patients: a longitudinal evaluation of its impact on metabolic control.

Aims: In the framework of a nationwide outcomes research programme, we assessed the impact of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) on metabolic control over 3 years in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) not treated with insulin.

Methods: The study involved 1896 patients who completed, at 6-month intervals for 3 years, a questionnaire investigating SMBG practice. Clinical information was collected by participating clinicians at the same time intervals.

Use of the diabetes risk score for opportunistic screening of undiagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance: the IGLOO (Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Long-Term Outcomes Observational) study.

Objective: To evaluate an opportunistic screening strategy addressed to individuals with one or more cardiovascular risk factor, based on the Diabetes Risk Score (DRS) as the initial instrument, for the identification of individuals with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Research Design And Methods: The DRS, a simple self-administered questionnaire, was completed by individuals identified by general practitioners and presenting with one or more cardiovascular risk factor. All patients underwent a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Impact of physicians' beliefs and practices on cholesterol levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: a longitudinal assessment.

Background: Clinical trials demonstrate significant benefit from cholesterol management for patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this work was to explore the correlates of lipid management in patients with type 2 diabetes, including the subjective beliefs of physicians, setting of care, and patient-related factors.

Methods: This longitudinal outcomes research study involved 2359 patients with type 2 diabetes recruited by 111 general practitioners and 214 physicians practicing in diabetes clinics.

Correlates of satisfaction for the relationship with their physician in type 2 diabetic patients.

In the context of an Italian nation-wide outcomes research program on type 2 diabetes, we investigated the contribution of both patient and setting-related factors to patient satisfaction with their relationship with their physicians. The level of patient satisfaction was measured using the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) 14 patient satisfaction questionnaire. The main results were obtained using multilevel analysis, a statistical technique that takes into account the clustered nature of our data.