When Autoantibodies Are Missing: The Challenge of Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (SNRA) is characterized by the absence of both rheumatoid factor (RF) and antibodies against the cyclic citrullinated protein (ACPA) in serum. However, the differences between the two forms of RA are more complex and have not yet been definitively characterized. Several lines of evidences support the idea that there are specific elements of the two forms, including genetic background, epidemiology, pathogenesis, severity of progression over time, and response to therapy.

Predicting SARS-CoV-2 Infection Trend Using Technical Analysis Indicators.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global health emergency caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to evaluate whether technical analysis (TA) indicators, commonly used in the financial market to spot security price trend reversals, might be proficiently used also to anticipate a possible increase of SARS-Cov-2 spread.

Methods: Analysis was performed on datasets from Italy, Iran, and Brazil.

Autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia in Spanish kindred due to a large deletion in the ARH gene.

Autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH) is a rare genetic defect that causes marked elevation of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and premature atherosclerosis. It is due to mutations in the ARH gene that plays a critical role in the internalization of LDL receptor (LDLR) in liver cells. We describe a Spanish family where a 24-year-old proband and his 13-year-old sister showed the typical characteristics of ARH.

Frequency of naturally-occurring regulatory T cells is reduced in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Naturally-occurring regulatory T cells (Treg) constitute a mature T-cell population characterized phenotypically by co-expression of CD4 and CD25(high) surface molecules. We investigated here the frequency of circulating Treg in patients presenting with STEMI in comparison with subjects without coronary artery disease (CAD). The effect of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with implantation of a bare (BS) or paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) on peripheral Treg distribution was also examined.

Adaptor protein ARH is recruited to the plasma membrane by low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding and modulates endocytosis of the LDL/LDL receptor complex in hepatocytes.

ARH is a newly discovered adaptor protein required for the efficient activity of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in selected tissues. Individuals lacking ARH have severe hypercholesterolemia due to an impaired hepatic clearance of LDL. It has been demonstrated that ARH is required for the efficient internalization of the LDL-LDLR complex and to stabilize the association of the receptor with LDL in Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B lymphocytes.

Altered trafficking of CD8+ memory T cells after implantation of rapamycin-eluting stents in patients with coronary artery disease.

Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of implantation of different coronary drug-eluting stents on trafficking of central (T(CM)) or effector (T(EM)) memory T cells in the coronary sinus of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization. Thirty-two patients presenting with stable coronary disease and angiographically proven stenosis of left descending coronary artery were randomly assigned to treatment with rapamycin-eluting, paclitaxel-eluting or bare metal stents. Heparinized blood samples were obtained from the coronary sinus either before or 20 min after stent implantation.

Modulation of tachykinin and cytokine release in patients with coronary disease undergoing percutaneous revascularization.

Plasma levels of substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) tachykinin and of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) cytokines were assayed in plasma obtained from peripheral blood of 19 patients presenting with stable chronic coronary stenosis and 12 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Plasma samples were obtained before, during, and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) consisting of implantation of a metallic stent. Fourteen healthy subjects without any evident risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) were also included for comparison at basal time.