Relationship between HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity, Calcium Coronary Artery Content, and Antibodies against ApolipoproteinA-1 in Obese and Healthy Subjects.

Aims: To explore the associations between cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, Framingham risk score (FRS), and antibodies against apolipoproteinA-1 (anti-apoA-1 IgG) in healthy and obese subjects (OS).

Methods And Results: ABCA1-, ABCG1-, passive diffusion (PD)-CEC and anti-apoA-1 IgG were measured in sera from 34 controls and 35 OS who underwent CAC score determination by chest computed tomography. Anti-apoA-1 IgG ability to modulate CEC and macrophage cholesterol content (MCC) was tested in vitro.

Baseline serum levels of osteopontin predict clinical response to treatment with nivolumab in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Treatment with nivolumab improves survival and response rate in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, due to its high financial cost, identifying predictors of response to treatment has become an urgent need. Here, we focused on serum osteopontin (OPN), a pleiotropic protein overexpressed in lung cancer and involved in the immune response.

NLRP3 Inflammasome in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with the induction of a sterile inflammatory response that leads to further injury. The NACHT, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a macromolecular structure responsible for the inflammatory response to injury or infection. NLRP3 can sense intracellular danger signals, such as ischemia and extracellular or intracellular alarmins during tissue injury.

Serum PCSK9 levels at the second nivolumab cycle predict overall survival in elderly patients with NSCLC: a pilot study.

Monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 are used for treating NSCLC. To date, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been poorly investigated in the oncologic field. Here, we aimed at evaluating whether serum PCSK9 might represent a predictive factor for OS in older patients with advanced NSCLC under nivolumab treatment.

HDL protects against myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury via miR-34b and miR-337 expression which requires STAT3.

Purpose: High density lipoprotein (HDL) protects against myocardial infarction via mechanisms that remain unclear. STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) plays a key role in HDL-induced cardioprotection. In the heart, microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in ischemia reperfusion injury.

Impact of different ectopic fat depots on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

A growing body of evidence is pointing out the pathophysiological role of fat accumulation in different organs. Ectopic fat depots within heart, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and pancreas as well as around blood vessels might be more associated to cardiometabolic risk than classical variables, such as body mass index. Among different mechanisms, lipid metabolism appears to be particularly influenced by ectopic fat depots.

Baseline hs-CRP predicts hypertension remission in metabolic syndrome.

Background: Inflammation, overweight and other cardiovascular risk factors might negatively impact on hypertension remission in metabolic syndrome (MetS), independently of the pharmacological treatment. Here, the potential influence of systemic inflammation (assessed by serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) on hypertension remission will be investigated in a cohort of hypertensive patients with MetS.

Material And Methods: Hypertensive patients with MetS (n = 100) were enrolled, treated under current behavior/dietary/pharmacological recommendations and followed up for 12 months.

Baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with long-term T2D remission after metabolic surgery.

Aims: Metabolic surgery is considered as a therapeutic option for obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In order to identify novel laboratory variables that could improve the selection of patients who might greatly benefit from a surgical approach, we focused on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a predictor of long-term T2D remission following metabolic surgery.

Methods: Thirty-one obese patients with T2D included in this pilot study underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) at the Surgical Department of Genoa University, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino in Genoa (Italy).

Emerging incretin hormones actions: focus on bone metabolism.

Incretin hormones, namely glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are gastro-intestinal hormones released from different enteroendocrine cells after nutrient intake. Incretins exert their actions though binding to and activation of specific GIP and GLP-1 receptors which are present in several target tissues. Incretin receptor activation in the pancreas leads to the incretin effect and other significant non-insulinotropic effects.

Novel findings in neutrophil biology and their impact on cardiovascular disease.

Neutrophils are the most abundant circulating leucocytes in healthy humans. These cells are central players during acute inflammatory responses, although a growing body of evidence supports a crucial role in chronic inflammation and chemokines and cytokines related to it as well. Thus, both humoral and cellular components are involved in the development of plaque formation and atherosclerosis.

Pharmacologic strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: focus on SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) present an increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) complications. In addition to improvement in glycaemic control, glucose-lowering therapies, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter (SGLT)-2 inhibitors, have been shown to significantly reduce CV events. In 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration mandated that all new glucose-lowering drugs undergo CV outcomes trials (CVOTs) to determine their CV safety.

The STOP DIABETES study: when prevention works.

Although many drugs are now available, a large effort is still needed to prevent diabetes. The STOP DIABETES study evaluated individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) by a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Based on the three main defective physiological responses, subjects were stratified as at low, intermediate, or high risk, and treated accordingly with lifestyle modifications and drugs.

Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Inhibition Improves Stroke Outcome in a Mouse Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder where incidence and severity of myocardial infarction are increased. Data on the incidence and outcome of stroke are conflicting. Thus, we investigated outcome after Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) brain injury in a mouse model of RA and assessed for the role of the tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitor Infliximab herein.

Serum osteopontin negatively impacts on intima-media thickness in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Ultrasound evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) has been extensively used for potentially improving cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification in several patients' categories. Subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been investigated by both imaging and molecular biomarker approaches with contrasting results. Here, we focused on the role of osteopontin (OPN) as biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis associated with SLE.

Obesity-induced activation of JunD promotes myocardial lipid accumulation and metabolic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Metabolic cardiomyopathy (MC)-characterized by intra-myocardial triglyceride (TG) accumulation and lipotoxic damage-is an emerging cause of heart failure in obese patients. Yet, its mechanisms remain poorly understood. The Activator Protein 1 (AP-1) member JunD was recently identified as a key modulator of hepatic lipid metabolism in obese mice.

AP-1 (Activated Protein-1) Transcription Factor JunD Regulates Ischemia/Reperfusion Brain Damage via IL-1β (Interleukin-1β).

Background and Purpose- Inflammation is a major pathogenic component of ischemia/reperfusion brain injury, and as such, interventions aimed at inhibiting inflammatory mediators promise to be effective strategies in stroke therapy. JunD-a member of the AP-1 (activated protein-1) family of transcription factors-was recently shown to regulate inflammation by targeting IL (interleukin)-1β synthesis and macrophage activation. The purpose of the present study was to assess the role of JunD in ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury.

C-Reactive Protein Levels at the Midpregnancy Can Predict Gestational Complications.

Although essential for a successful pregnancy, a growing body of evidence suggests that maternal inflammation, when dysregulated, may represent a risk factor for both maternal and neonatal outcomes. Here, we assessed the accuracy of maternal C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations at the middle phase of pregnancy in the identification of maternal adverse outcomes (MAO) until delivery. A correlation between CRP and a complicated pregnancy including both maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes has been investigated, too.

Pre-surgery age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index is associated with worse outcomes in acute cholecystitis.

Background: Beneficial effects of cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis (AC) might be weakened by complications. The age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) assesses disease relevance in the prediction of one-year mortality.

Aims: To evaluate whether age-adjusted CCI predicted complications (including surgical complications, intensive care unit [ICU] admission, and in-hospital death) among patients undergoing cholecystectomy for AC.

Targeting mitochondria to oppose the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of triglycerides in hepatocytes. NAFLD is the most frequent chronic liver disease in developed countries, and is often associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD definition encompasses a spectrum of chronic liver abnormalities, ranging from simple steatosis (NAFL), to steatohepatitis (NASH), significant liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.