Associations between Host Genetic Variants and Subgingival Microbiota in Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome.

Host genetic variants may affect oral biofilms, playing a role in the periodontitis-systemic disease axis. This is the first study to assess the associations between host genetic variants and subgingival microbiota in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS); 103 patients with MetS underwent medical and periodontal examinations and had blood and subgingival plaque samples taken. DNA was extracted and processed, assessing a panel of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) first (hypothesis testing) and then expanding to a discovery phase.

Analysis of gingival crevicular fluid biomarkers in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: To assess associations between gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) markers in patients with metabolic syndrome, with or without concomitant periodontitis.

Methods: A total of 95 patients with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) had a periodontal examination and gingival crevicular fluid samples taken. Proteomic analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was carried out by Human XL Cytokine protein arrays in 12 selected patients, followed by multiplex ELISA of 11 analytes in 95 participants.

Left ventricular geometry and periodontitis in patients with the metabolic syndrome.

Objective: The presence of periodontal disease (PD) in subjects affected by the metabolic syndrome (MetS) may affect their risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the systemic impact of PD in MetS, by assessing measures of sub-clinical atherosclerosis and left ventricular mass and geometry.

Materials And Methods: A total of 103 patients undergoing treatment for MetS were examined for confirmation of diagnosis, blood sampling, and measures of pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT), left ventricular mass index (LVM), and relative wall thickness (RWT).

Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio: An Emerging Marker Predicting Prognosis in Elderly Adults with Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Objectives: To explore the performance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an index of systemic inflammation that predicts prognosis of several diseases, in a cohort of elderly adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Design: Prospective clinical study from January 2014 to July 2016.

Setting: Unit of Internal Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

Mean Transaortic Gradient is an Emerging Predictor of Chronic Kidney Disease in Elderly Patients.

Arterial hypertension (AH) is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, whether AH maintains this role in the development of CKD in elderly patients with aortic stenosis (AS) or whether transaortic gradient influences CKD remains unclear. Consecutive hospitalized patients were prospectively recruited to evaluate the relationship between AS and CKD.

Impact of left ventricular remodeling and renal function on 24h-ECG recordings and cardiovascular outcome in elderly hypertensive patients.

Background: The prognostic role of left ventricular remodeling and renal function in elderly hypertensive patients has been so far scarcely investigated.

Aims: We assessed the impact of left ventricular geometry and renal function on 24h-Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings and outcome in elderly hypertensive patients.

Methods: We enrolled 251 asymptomatic hypertensive elderly patients (>65year-old).

Comparison of Wells and Revised Geneva Rule to Assess Pretest Probability of Pulmonary Embolism in High-Risk Hospitalized Elderly Adults.

Objectives: To assess and compare the diagnostic power for pulmonary embolism (PE) of Wells and revised Geneva scores in two independent cohorts (training and validation groups) of elderly adults hospitalized in a non-emergency department.

Design: Prospective clinical study, January 2011 to January 2013.

Setting: Unit of Internal Medicine inpatients, University of Catania, Italy.

Testing Clinical Scores to Diagnose Incident Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients Hospitalized in a Department of Medicine: Can Biomarkers Improve Accuracy?

Shifting the context from the emergency department to the department of medicine, we compared different scores to diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with several comorbidities, hospitalized in a department of internal medicine. We prospectively recruited 178 consecutive hospitalized patients in whom clinical suspicion of DVT was assessed by Wells modified score for DVT, Hamilton, Kahn, and St Andrè Hospital scores. Deep vein thrombosis was confirmed in 85 (48%) patients by both echocolor Doppler and angiocomputed tomography scan.