Comparison of serum creatinine and cystatin C for early diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy after coronary angiography and interventions.

Background: The diagnostic accuracy of serum creatinine and cystatin C (Cys) as early predictors of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) has been debated. We investigated the diagnostic sensitivities, diagnostic specificities, and variations from baseline for serum creatinine and Cys in CIN.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 166 patients at risk for CIN at baseline, and at 12, 24, and 48 h after exposure to contrast media.

Prevalence of CKD in northeastern Italy: results of the INCIPE study and comparison with NHANES.

Background And Objectives: Sufficiently powered studies to investigate the CKD prevalence are few and do not cover southern Europe.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: For the INCIPE study, 6200 Caucasian patients ≥40 years old were randomly selected in northeastern Italy in 2006. Laboratory determinations were centralized.

Early creatinine shifts predict contrast-induced nephropathy and persistent renal damage after angiography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate incidence and predictors of contrast-induced nephropathy after coronary angiography and interventions, and to assess renal function at 30 days. The prognostic value of any early shift of serum creatinine compared with baseline was investigated; such measurement, being a delta, is largely independent of creatinine variations.

Methods: There were 216 patients at risk for contrast-induced nephropathy prospectively evaluated at baseline and at 12, 24, and 48 hours after exposure to contrast media, and 190 (88%) evaluated 1 month after discharge.

The quantity of meal fat influences the profile of postprandial hormones as well as hunger sensation in healthy elderly people.

Background: In healthy elderly people, reduced appetite and the consequent decrease in food intake has been defined as the "anorexia of aging"; this condition may lead to malnutrition. The aim of this study was to investigate how different compositions of macronutrients affect satiety and hunger signals as well as subjective sensations after meals in healthy elderly subjects.

Methods: Experimental controlled study.

Association between carrier screening and incidence of cystic fibrosis.

Context: A downward trend in cystic fibrosis (CF) birth incidence has been reported in some areas.

Objective: To evaluate the association between carrier screening and CF birth incidence.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In northeastern Italy, CF birth incidence is monitored by means of a long-standing neonatal screening program.

Modulation of expression of IL-8 gene in bronchial epithelial cells by 5-methoxypsoralen.

Persistent recruitment of neutrophils in the bronchi of cystic fibrosis patients contributes to airway tissue damage, suggesting the importance of intervening on the expression of the neutrophil chemokine IL-8. Extracts from plants have been investigated to select components able to reduce IL-8 expression in bronchial epithelial cells challenged with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extracts and purified components have been added to cells 24 h before pro-inflammatory challenge with P.

Inconclusive cystic fibrosis neonatal screening results: long-term psychosocial effects on parents.

Aim: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Newborn Screening occasionally identifies neonates where a CF diagnosis can neither be confirmed nor excluded. To assess how parents of these infants cope with this ambiguous situation.

Methods: Parents of 11 children with Ambiguous Diagnosis (group AD) were compared with parents of 11 children diagnosed with CF through neonatal screening [group Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosis (CFD)] and with parents of 11 Healthy Control children (group HC) matched for gender and age.

JAK2 V617F-positive latent essential thrombocythemia and splanchnic vein thrombosis: the role of bone marrow biopsy for the diagnosis of myeloproliferative disease.

Background: Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a severe complication of essential thrombocythemia (ET). No clear explanation has been given for the occurrence of thrombosis in this unusual site in patients with ET, but the existence of a specific association between unexplained SVT and the JAK2 mutation has been reported.

Methods And Results: The present study describes SVT (portal and splenic vein thrombosis) in a young woman as the first presenting symptom of latent ET.

Late generation lentiviral vectors: evaluation of inflammatory potential in human airway epithelial cells.

Lentiviruses (LVs) are considered one of the most promising tools for gene transfer, however, their potential to induce pro-inflammatory cytokines on delivery into the respiratory tissue remains to be established. Here we tested a third-generation vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-G pseudotyped LV vector in the two respiratory epithelial cell lines A549 and CFT1-C2. We observed that the VSV-G LV vector does not induce (a) activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, which intervenes in transcription of pro-inflammatory genes; (b) expression of ICAM-1; and (c) transcription of a panel of cytokines, with the exception of a mild and transient (24h) increase of IFN-gamma mRNA.

European best practice guidelines for cystic fibrosis neonatal screening.

There is wide agreement on the benefits of NBS for CF in terms of lowered disease severity, decreased burden of care, and reduced costs. Risks are mainly associated with disclosure of carrier status and diagnostic uncertainty. When starting a NBS programme for CF it is important to take precautions in order to minimise avoidable risks and maximise benefits.

Diagnostic accuracy of a reagent strip for assessing urinary albumin excretion in the general population.

Background: Albuminuria is a sensitive marker of renal derangement and has been included in a number of studies investigating chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). This study is aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performances of a strip for measuring the albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) in the general population and to compare it with those found in a diabetic population.

Methods: Urine samples were obtained from 201 consecutive subjects enrolled in an epidemiological study and from 259 type 2 diabetic patients.

Anti-inflammatory effect of miglustat in bronchial epithelial cells.

The role of CFTR deficiency in promoting inflammation remains unclear. Perez et al. [A.

Pyrogallol, an active compound from the medicinal plant Emblica officinalis, regulates expression of pro-inflammatory genes in bronchial epithelial cells.

The most relevant cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is the lung pathology characterized by chronic infection and inflammation sustained mainly by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Innovative pharmacological approaches to control the excessive inflammatory process in the lung of CF patients are thought to be beneficial to reduce the extensive airway tissue damage.

Computer-assisted detection of monoclonal components: results from the multicenter study for the evaluation of CASPER (Computer Assisted Serum Protein Electrophoresis Recognizer) algorithm.

Background: To investigate the potential use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) in the evaluation of serum protein electrophoresis, we set up a multicenter study involving six Italian laboratories. For this purpose, we developed an algorithm named CASPER (Computer Assisted Serum Protein Electrophoresis Recognizer).

Methods: A total of 59,516 samples from the six centers were divided into three groups.

Chemical conjugation of DeltaF508-CFTR corrector deoxyspergualin to transporter human serum albumin enhances its ability to rescue Cl- channel functions.

The most common mutation of the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene, the deletion of Phe508, encodes a protein (DeltaF508-CFTR) that fails to fold properly, thus mutated DeltaF508-cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is recognized and degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation pathway. Chemical and pharmacological chaperones and ligand-induced transport open options for designing specific drugs to control protein (mis)folding or transport. A class of compounds that has been proposed as having potential utility in DeltaF508-CFTR is that which targets the molecular chaperone and proteasome systems.

Consensus on the use and interpretation of cystic fibrosis mutation analysis in clinical practice.

It is often challenging for the clinician interested in cystic fibrosis (CF) to interpret molecular genetic results, and to integrate them in the diagnostic process. The limitations of genotyping technology, the choice of mutations to be tested, and the clinical context in which the test is administered can all influence how genetic information is interpreted. This paper describes the conclusions of a consensus conference to address the use and interpretation of CF mutation analysis in clinical settings.

Transcription factor oligodeoxynucleotides to NF-kappaB inhibit transcription of IL-8 in bronchial cells.

Chronic pulmonary inflammation in patients affected by cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by massive bronchial infiltrates of neutrophils, which is sustained by the interaction of pathogens (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa) with surface bronchial cells.

Induction of IL-6 gene expression in a CF bronchial epithelial cell line by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is dependent on transcription factors belonging to the Sp1 superfamily.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease characterized by chronic bacterial lung infection, most commonly sustained by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Upon infection, elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e.

Evaluation of the IgE cross-reactions among vespid venoms. A possible approach for the choice of immunotherapy.

Background: Hymenoptera venom allergy can be effectively cured with specific immunotherapy, thus the correct identification of the allergen is essential. In the case of multiple skin and serum positivities it is important to know if a cross-reaction among venoms is present. We studied by CAP-inhibition assays the degree of cross-reactivity between Vespula vulgaris and Polistes dominulus.

Procalcitonin in the diagnosis of inflammation in intensive care units.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of different procalcitonin cutoff values to distinguish non-infected (negative+SIRS) from infected (sepsis+severe sepsis+septic shock) medical and surgical patients.

Design And Methods: PCT plasma concentration was measured using an automated chemiluminescence analyzer in 1013 samples collected in 103 patients within 24 h of admission in ICU and daily during the ICU stay. We compared PCT levels in medical and surgical patients.

Evaluation of four portable self-monitoring blood glucose meters.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is a cornerstone of diabetes care. However, the effectiveness of any glucose-monitoring programme depends on the ability to integrate SMBG into a program of self-care and therapeutic decision-making. Because the accuracy of SMBG is instrument dependent, we analysed 45 heparinized whole blood specimens using four marketed portable glucose meters to evaluate whether their precision and accuracy would be efficient and safe for clinical use.