Vitamin D Status in an Italian Pediatric Cohort: Is There a Role for Tobacco Smoking Exposure?

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a common public health issue worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the vitamin D status and its potential determinants in children residing in Sardinia (40°N), Italy.

Methods: Children were enrolled over a 12-month period.

Association between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and peripheral endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The identification of circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (ED), a precursor to atherosclerosis, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) would facilitate early risk stratification and prevention strategies. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has emerged as a potential biomarker of oxidative stress, ischemia, and ED. However, studies examining the relationship between IMA and ED in RA patients are lacking.

Relationships between 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity in Children: An Observational Study.

The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is increasing worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency is supposed to play a role in sleep disturbances, but the complex relationships between hypovitaminosis D and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are still incompletely understood. This study was aimed to retrospectively investigate the vitamin D status and significant clinical, laboratory, and instrumental variables in a cohort of pediatric patients with OSAS and to assess the possible relationship between serum vitamin D levels and OSAS severity.

Association between Paraoxonase/Arylesterase Activity of Serum PON-1 Enzyme and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: A decrease in serum paraoxonase (PON-1) and arylesterase (ARE) activity has been reported in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and linked to chronic inflammation and impaired antioxidant defense. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to critically appraise the current evidence on plasma/serum concentrations of PON-1 and ARE activity in RA patients and healthy controls. The Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception to November 2021.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of paraoxonase-1 activity in asthma.

Human serum paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a critical antioxidant defence system against lipid oxidation. Decreased PON-1 activity has been associated with systemic oxidative stress in several disease states. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of plasma/serum concentrations of PON-1 in asthma, a chronic inflammatory airway disease.

Paraoxonase and arylesterase activity of serum PON-1 enzyme in psoriatic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Human serum paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a critical antioxidant defense system against lipid oxidation. Decreased PON-1 activity has been associated with systemic oxidative stress in several disease states. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of plasma/serum concentrations of PON-1 paraoxonase and arylesterase activity in psoriasis, a chronic immune-mediated and inflammatory skin disease.

Plasma homoarginine concentrations in ewe's pregnancy and association with the number of fetuses.

A striking increase in homoarginine concentrations, about more than 100-fold that observed in humans, was recently reported during pregnancy in a nutritionally induced model of intra-uterine growth restriction in ewes. To determine whether this phenomenon is at least partially related to the nutritional regimen, estrus synchronization, or analytical method, thirty-four one-year-old primiparous, non-synchronized, and well-fed Sarda breed ewes were exposed to fertile rams allowing those who came into estrus to naturally mate. Plasma arginine, homoarginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine, mono methylarginine, and citrulline concentrations were measured in each sample using LC-MS/MS.

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Peripheral Endothelial Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Monocentric Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study.

Unlabelled: Previous studies have suggested that oxidative stress may heighten atherosclerotic burden in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but direct evidence is lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between established plasma oxidative stress biomarkers and peripheral endothelial dysfunction (ED), a marker of early atherosclerosis, in RA.

Methods: Paroxonase-1 (PON-1), protein-SH (PSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in 164 RA patient s and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls without previous cardiovascular events.

Comprehensive arginine metabolomics and peripheral vasodilatory capacity in rheumatoid arthritis: A monocentric cross-sectional study.

Background: The relationship between plasma arginine metabolites influencing vascular homeostasis and peripheral vasodilatory capacity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is not known.

Methods: l-arginine (Arg), monomethyl-l-arginine (MMA), l-homoarginine (hArg), asymmetric dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethyl-l-arginine, and l-citrulline (Cit) were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in 164 RA patients and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls without previous cardiovascular events. Log-transformed reactive hyperemia index (Ln-RHI) evaluated by flow-mediated pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT, EndoPAT2000 device) was assessed as surrogate measure of peripheral vasodilatory capacity in RA patients.

Methotrexate and Vasculoprotection: Mechanistic Insights and Potential Therapeutic Applications in Old Age.

Increasing age is a strong, independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Key abnormalities driving cardiovascular risk in old age include endothelial dysfunction, increased arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and the pro-atherosclerotic effects of chronic, low-grade, inflammation. The identification of novel therapies that comprehensively target these alterations might lead to a major breakthrough in cardiovascular risk management in the older population.

Associations between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios and the presence and severity of psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The diagnosis of psoriasis, an immune-mediated disease that affects 2% of the population in Western countries, is largely based on history and clinical examination. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the associations between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the presence and clinical severity of psoriasis. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, from inception to January 2018.