Serum uric acid, renal function and prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. Insights from the Italian Network on Heart Failure.

Background: The role of hyperuricemia on short-term clinical prognosis in outpatients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has few investigations and inconclusive results. We evaluated the prognostic impact of serum uric acid (SUA) on short-term clinical outcome among ambulatory patients with chronic HFrEF enrolled in a nationwide cardiology registry, stratified by the presence of chronic renal dysfunction (CKD).

Methods: 2246 outpatients with LVEF ≤40 %, vital status at 1-year follow-up known, and with SUA and creatinine available were stratified accordingly to SUA tertiles (≤5.

Identification of the novel HLA-C allele, HLA-C*04:520.

HLA-C*04:520, a novel HLA-C allele, differs from HLA-C*04:01:01 by one mismatch in exon 5.

Innovations strategy for moving from created regional clusters to co-creation in life sciences for health care and well-being ecosystems.

Over the last decades, the demographic changes have all altered the population structure and influenced the social, economic, and political characteristics of countries over the world. Therefore, the creation of novel ecosystems, new clusters and systems which involved technology and industry, business, education, science, and innovation are increased rapidly. However, in order to solve the future global challenges, the created various types of clusters, public and private sector systems should cooperate and work together as a unit.

Combined nerve and tendon transfer to restore elbow extension in tetraplegic patients: surgical technique and case report.

Introduction: In individuals with tetraplegia, elbow extension is critical for overhead activities, weight shifting, independent transfers, and to perform self-care tasks such as eating. At present, restoration of elbow extension in tetraplegic patients can be performed using either tendon or nerve transfers. Each procedure presents several advantages and limitations that must be discussed with the potential surgical candidate, based on remaining muscular functions and functional goals.

Safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib in splanchnic vein thrombosis associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is one of the vascular complications of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). We designed a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib in reducing splenomegaly and improving disease-related symptoms in patients with MPN-associated SVT. Patients diagnosed with myelofibrosis (12 cases), polycythemia vera (5 cases) and essential thrombocythemia (4 cases) received ruxolitinib for 24 weeks in the core study period.

Surgical Treatment of Chronic Essex-Lopresti Lesion: Interosseous Membrane Reconstruction and Radial Head Prosthesis.

The Essex-Lopresti lesion, or radioulnar longitudinal dissociation, results from an axial load to the forearm with lesion to the radial head, interosseous membrane and distal radioulnar joint. The lesion is rarely diagnosed early, therefore treatment is often subacute or chronic. In these cases, procedures such as radial head replacement, ulnar shortening and/or wafer procedures should be combined with reconstruction of the interosseous membrane central band to restore longitudinal stability of the forearm.

Cardiovascular effects of mild hypothermia in post-cardiac arrest patients by beat-to-beat monitoring. A single centre pilot study.

Background: Data on the hemodynamic and cardiovascular effects of hypothermia in patients with cardiac arrest are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes induced by hypothermia by means of Most Care(®) (pressure recording analytical method, PRAM methodology), a beat-to-beat hemodynamic monitoring method.

Methods: We enrolled 20 patients with cardiac arrest (CA) consecutively admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit and treated with mild hypothermia (TH).

Reverse flow first dorsal metacarpal artery flap for covering the defect of distal thumb.

Reconstruction of distal thumb injuries still remains a challenge for hand surgeons. Surgical treatment includes the use of local, regional, and free flaps. The purpose of this report is to present the results of the use of a sensitive reverse flow first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap.

Isolated complete volar dislocation of the capitate: a case report.

Total dislocation of the capitate is an extremely rare event. We report on one such unusual case. The complete expulsion of the capitate from its physiological position is difficult to diagnose.

Gender-related difference in ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty: a single-centre 6-year registry.

Objective: Still contrasting are data on the impact of sex on outcome in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Design: We sought sex-related differences in management and early outcomes in 1127 STEMI patients submitted to PCI consecutively admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) in Florence from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2009.

Results: Females were significantly older, leaner (p < 0.

Vitellogenin (VTG) conservation in sea turtles: anti-VTG antibody in Chelonia mydas versus Caretta caretta.

Vitellogenin (VTG) is considered as a marker of endocrine disruption. A Western blot method for VTG quantification in Caretta caretta turtle plasma was developed using anti-VTG antibody for Chelonia mydas. A screening of samples (n = 61) collected in the southern Mediterranean Sea around Lampedusa Island, Italy, was performed.

Modified step-cut osteotomy for metacarpal and phalangeal rotational deformity.

Purpose: Rotational deformity of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures can jeopardize normal hand function and cause aesthetic problems for patients. We have found the Z-cut metacarpal osteotomy, initially described by Manktelow, to prove predictable and provide precise restoration of rotation and function. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with this technique.

Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ(1-13)NH2 analogues modified in the Phe1-Gly2 peptide bond.

The synthesis and pharmacological activity of novel nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) analogues modified in the Phe(1)-Gly(2) peptide bond are reported. The aim of the present work was to elucidate the importance of this peptide bond for the N/OFQ receptor (NOP) interaction. Our study indicates that the first peptide bond in N/OFQ is important but not crucial for interaction with the N/OFQ receptor; for instance, substitution with a methyleneoxy bond generates an agonist derivative just 3-fold less potent than the reference compound.

A new ligand for the urotensin II receptor.

The cyclic peptide human urotensin II (U-II) has been recently recognized as the endogenous ligand of an orphan GPCR, subsequently named the UT receptor. No synthetic ligands are available for investigating this novel peptide-receptor system. A novel UT receptor ligand, [Orn(8)]U-II, was synthesized and evaluated in calcium functional assays performed on HEK293 cells expressing the recombinant rat and human UT receptor and in the rat aorta bioassay.

Structure-activity studies of the Phe(4) residue of nociceptin(1-13)-NH(2): identification of highly potent agonists of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor.

A total of 32 compounds was prepared to investigate the functional role of Phe(4) in NC(1-13)-NH(2), the minimal sequence maintaining the same activity as the natural peptide nociceptin. These compounds could be divided into three series in which Phe(4) was replaced with residues that would (i) alter aromaticity or side chain length, (ii) introduce steric constraint, and (iii) modify the phenyl ring. Compounds were tested for biological activity as (a) inhibitors of the electrically stimulated contraction of the mouse vas deferens; (b) competitors of the binding of [(3)H]-NC-NH(2) to mouse brain membranes; and (c) inhibitors of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in CHO cells expressing the recombinant human OP(4) receptor.

Mapping of seminal plasma proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in men with normal and impaired spermatogenesis.

The present study analyses differential polypeptide expression of seminal plasma from fertile and infertile men by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Optimization of solubilization of seminal plasma was obtained by using [3-(3-(cholamidopropyl) dimethyl-ammonio)-1-propane sulphonate] and chaotropic agent mixture in lysis buffer before separation in immobilized pH gradient for isoelectric focusing. A two-dimensional map of seminal plasma from a fertile man allowed the detection of about 750 spots.

Heart rate variability during the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Background: After acute myocardial infarction (AMI), several abnormalities of the autonomic control to the heart have been described. Heart rate (HR) variability has been used to explore the neural control to the heart. A low HR variability count measured 7-13 days after AMI is significantly related to a poor outcome.

Algodystrophy and related psychological features.

This work wants to emphatize the role of the personality in the development of the algodystrophic syndrome. For this purpose 13 patients affected by algodystrophy of the hand and 23 with brachial plexus lesions were invited to fill in the M.M.