Panminerva medica
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
A nutrigenetic tool for precision dietary management of NAFLD deeming insulin resistance markers.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development is linked to insulin resistance and influenced by environmental factors, but it also underlined a genetic predisposition. The aim of this research was to build a predictive model based on genetic and hepatic health information, deeming insulin resistance markers in order to personalize dietary treatment in overweight/obese subjects with NAFLD. ⋯ Models integrating genetic screening and insulin resistance markers can be useful for the personalization of NAFLD weight loss treatments.
-
Omentin-1, a newly discovered adipokine, is implicated in the modulation of the adipose phenotype, ameliorating systemic metabolism and exhibiting anti-atherogenic, anti-oxidative, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties. Our goal was to explore circulating omentin-1 in subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) and determine its correlations with cardiometabolic risk factors. ⋯ Omentin-1 may be a useful non-invasive biomarker reflecting cardiometabolic risk as well as a promising therapeutic target. More mechanistic and larger prospective studies shedding light on the pathogenetic role of omentin-1 in SH are required to confirm these findings.
-
Observational Study
Baseline plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection predicts an adverse COVID-19 evolution in moderate to severe hospitalized patients.
SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus, known to be the causative agent of COVID-19. As the resulting disease shows a very heterogeneous range of clinical manifestations, the identification of early biomarkers allowing patients stratification according to the expected disease severity is still an unmet clinical need. ⋯ Our data thus suggest that plasma viral RNA load at the time of hospital admission could represent a useful independent biomarker allowing early patients' stratification according to the expected disease evolution, and driving clinical decisions tailored on the specific needs of the individual patient.
-
Since liver fibrosis is one of the most accurate predictors of prognosis in hepatopatic patients, its accurate assessment and staging is a major public health issue. Transient elastography (TE) (Fibroscan, Echosens, Paris, France) and shear wave elastography (SWE) represent the gold standard techniques among non-invasive methods to assess liver fibrosis. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is increasingly used to diagnose the nature of liver lesions and is often performed together with TE and SWE. In this study we evaluated the effect of CEUS on liver stiffness measurements obtained by TE and SWE. ⋯ Our study, the first to assess the effects of CEUS on US elastography, shows that the contrast agent (Sonovue, Bracco Suisse SA, Cadempino, Switzerland) does not significantly affect liver stiffness measurements obtained by TE, whereas the accuracy decreases when performed by SWE.
-
In lung transplantation (LTx), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) management is based on prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy. CMV hyperimmune globulins (CMV IG) added to prophylactic antiviral agents reduce CMV manifestations and acute rejection. The length of prophylaxis regimens is variable among studies with different results. ⋯ The combined long prophylaxis course based on antiviral agents and CMV IG provides a reduction trend in CMV or bacterial infections even if not statistically significant. The significant reduction in neutrophilia in BAL compared to the cohort undergoing prophylaxis for 12 months should be carefully interpreted. An 18-month prophylaxis could be a good suggestion to be tested by other larger prospective studies.