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).

Outcomes of long-term anticoagulant treatment for the secondary prophylaxis of splanchnic venous thrombosis.

Background: Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening disease usually related to different underlying clinical conditions. The risk of SVT recurrences is high over time in patients with an underlying permanent prothrombotic condition. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) represent the mainstay of treatment for SVT.

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.

Direct oral anticoagulants for the treatment of Mondor's disease not responding to low-molecular weight heparin.

Mondor's disease is a rare condition and usually treated with low-molecular weight heparin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Because of paucity of cases and for the usually spontaneous resolution, there is not a standard treatment strategy and the use of oral anticoagulation in controversial. We reported the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants in the recurrent Mondor's disease refractory to standard therapy.

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.

Satisfaction, quality of life and therapy adherence assessment in real life patients transitioning from vitamin K antagonists to direct oral anticoagulants.

Anticoagulant therapy has undergone a significant change since direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) introduction. Their obvious advantages including the fixed dose, the few interactions and less frequent controls, have made them the first choice anticoagulant therapy. More and more patients have therefore switched from therapy with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) to DOACs.

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.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients Affected by Major Congenital Thrombophilia.

Background: Thrombophilia is a condition that predisposes to a higher incidence of venous thromboembolisms (VTE), some also in atypical sites. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have proven to be effective in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, their use can be sometimes challenging in particular settings of patients such as those with major thrombophilia - antithrombin, protein C and protein S deficiency, homozygous mutation of Factor V Leiden, homozygous mutation of Factor II G20210A, combined heterozygous mutation of factor V Leiden and Factor II G20210A - carrying a high thrombotic risk.

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.

Decitabine and Melphalan Fail to Reactivate p73 in p53 Deficient Myeloma Cells.

(1) Background: deficiency remains a major adverse event in Multiple Myeloma (MM) despite therapeutic progresses. As it is not possible to target deficiency with pharmacological agents, we explored the possibility of activating another p53 family member, p73, which has not been well studied in myeloma. (2) Methods: Using human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) with normal or abnormal status, we assessed methylation and expression.

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).

Decreased plasma endogenous soluble RAGE, and enhanced adipokine secretion, oxidative stress and platelet/coagulative activation identify non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia and/or metabolic syndrome.

Objective: In patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), without metabolic syndrome (MS), occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is related to a specific pro-inflammatory profile, influenced by genetic traits, involved in oxidative stress and adipokine secretion. Among FCHL or MS patients, hyperactivity of the ligand-receptor for advanced glycation-end-products (RAGE) pathway, as reflected by inadequate protective response by the endogenous secretory (es)RAGE, in concert with genetic predisposition, may identify those with NAFLD even before and regardless of MS.

Methods: We cross-sectionally compared 60 patients with vs.

From microvasculature to fibroblasts: Contribution of anti-endothelial cell antibodies in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by skin and internal organ fibrosis, caused by microvascular dysfunction. In recent years, the hypothesis that anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) play a key role in microvascular damage seems to be increasingly convincing. In fact, AECA can induce antibody-dependent cellular apoptosis and stimulate the microvasculature to release pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines.

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.

Effects of intravenous zoledronate and ibandronate on carotid intima-media thickness, lipids and FGF-23 in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.

Objective: Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis are interconnected entities and share also some pathophysiological mechanisms. Moreover, recent literature data have supported the hypothesis that bisphosphonates (BPs) may have some antiatherogenic actions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of one year with zoledronate or ibandronate given intravenously on lipid profile and on carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT).

The relationship between serum ghrelin and body composition with bone mineral density and QUS parameters in subjects with Rett syndrome.

Several studies have reported that females with Rett's syndrome frequently have marked decreases in bone mineral density (BMD). However, the pathogenesis of impaired bone status in RTT girls remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate whether ghrelin, an orexigenic peptide secreted by the stomach, was associated with body composition parameters, bone mineral density and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in girls with Rett's syndrome.

The association of body composition and sex hormones with quantitative ultrasound parameters at the calcaneus and phalanxes in elderly women.

We investigated the associations of body composition and sex hormones with quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters carried out at different skeletal sites. In 897 postmenopausal women (64.1 ± 6.

The relationship of ghrelin and adiponectin with bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in elderly men.

Body weight is commonly considered a significant predictor of bone mineral density (BMD). Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, could modulate BMD. Moreover, recent studies have reported that ghrelin is able to stimulate bone formation.

Bone ultrasonography at phalanxes in patients with Rett syndrome: a 3-year longitudinal study.

Osteopenia is a frequent and early complication of Rett syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of Quantitative Ultrasonography (QUS) at phalanxes in the assessment and monitoring of bone status in Rett patients. We studied 109 girls (10.

Changes in bone turnover and in bone mass in women with breast cancer switched from tamoxifen to exemestane.

Recently the third generation aromatase inhibitors have proved their efficacy and tolerability compared with tamoxifen in the adjuvant treatment of women with hormone responsive early breast cancer. However, there is some concern about the possible negative impact of these drugs on bone. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the steroidal aromatase inactivator exemestane on bone turnover markers and on bone mineral density (BMD).

Malignant hypercalcemia in vulvar cancer.

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) is a common paraneoplastic syndrome, most often associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, esophagus, kidneys and breast, but rarely with vulval cancer. In most patients, HHM is associated with over-production of a peptide analogue of parathormone (parathyroid hormone-related protein, PTHrP). The case of a 70-year-old patient with massive squamous cell epithelioma of the vulva complicated by HHM is reported.