Calderonhaagensen7526

While growing evidence suggests a link between periodontaldisease (PD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the independence of this association and the pathway remain unclear. Herein, we tested the hypotheses that (1) inflammation of the periodontium (PD

) predicts future CVD independently of disease risk factors shared between CVD and PD, and (2) the mechanism linking the two diseases involves heightened arterial inflammation.

F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (

F-FDG-PET/CT) imaging was performed in 304 individuals (median age 54 years; 42.4% male) largely for cancer screening; individuals without active cancer were included. PD

and arterial inflammation were quantified using validated

F-FDG-PET/CT methods. Additionally, we evaluated the relationship between PD

and subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) using Cox models and log-rank tests.

Thirteen individuals developed MACE during follow-up (median 4.1 years). PD

associated with arterial inflammation, remaining significant after adjusting for PD and CVD risk factors (standardized β [95% CI] 0.30 [0.20-0.40], P<0.001). PD

predicted subsequent MACE (standardized HR [95% CI] 2.25 [1.47 to 3.44], P<0.001, remaining significant in multivariable models), while periodontal bone loss did not. Furthermore, mediation analysis suggested that arterial inflammation accounts for 80% of the relationship between PD

and MACE (standardized log odds ratio [95% CI] 0.438 [0.019-0.880], P=0.022).

PD

is independently associated with MACE via a mechanism that may involve increased arterial inflammation. These findings provide important support for an independent relationship between PD

and CVD.

PDinflammation is independently associated with MACE via a mechanism that may involve increased arterial inflammation. These findings provide important support for an independent relationship between PDinflammation and CVD.

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma has been linked to disease severity and mortality. We compared RT-qPCR to droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma from COVID-19 patients (mild, moderate, and critical disease).

The presence/concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma was compared in three groups of COVID-19 patients (30 outpatients, 30 ward patients and 30 ICU patients) using both RT-qPCR and ddPCR. Plasma was obtained in the first 24h following admission, and RNA was extracted using eMAG. ddPCR was performed using Bio-Rad SARS-CoV-2 detection kit, and RT-qPCR was performed using GeneFinder™ COVID-19 Plus RealAmp Kit. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Science.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected, using ddPCR and RT-qPCR, in 91% and 87% of ICU patients, 27% and 23% of ward patients and 3% and 3% of outpatients. The concordance of the results obtained by both methods was excellent (Cohen's kappa index=0.953). RT-qPCR was able to detect 34/36 (94.4%) patients positive for viral RNA in plasma by ddPCR. Viral RNA load was higher in ICU patients compared with the other groups (P<.001), by both ddPCR and RT-qPCR. AUC analysis revealed Ct values (RT-qPCR) and viral RNA load values (ddPCR) can similarly differentiate between patients admitted to wards and to the ICU (AUC of 0.90 and 0.89, respectively).

Both methods yielded similar prevalence of RNAemia between groups, with ICU patients showing the highest (>85%). RT-qPCR was as useful as ddPCR to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia in plasma.

85%). RT-qPCR was as useful as ddPCR to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia in plasma.

The incidence of hypothyroidism is not expected to differ by socioeconomic factors. However, the decision to test and initiate treatment may differ. We aimed to examine whether educational level influences the probability of thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH)-measurement and initiation of levothyroxine treatment.

Citizens in the greater Copenhagen Area during 2001-2015 were included. selleckchem Individual-level data on educational level, diagnoses, GP-contact, TSH-measurement and medication were derived from administrative and healthcare registers. The relative risks (RR) between educational levels of annual TSH-measurement and treatment initiation following a TSH-measurement were analysed in Poisson regression models with generalized estimation equations.

A TSH-measurement was performed in 19% of 9,390,052 person years. The probability of TSH-measurement was higher with short (RR 1.16 [95% CI 1.15-1.16]) and medium (RR 1.11 [95% CI 1.06-1.12]) compared with long education. Treatment was initiated after 0.8% of 2,0sons with long education.Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a chronic vasculitis comprising large- and medium-sized arteries branches originating from the aortic arch. GCA diagnosis might be challenging due to its several clinical characteristics. This clinical report describes a case of a 91-year-old woman who was admitted with tongue necrosis. Medical history revealed mild headache episodes and jaw numbness. Summing up clinical and laboratory findings, the diagnosis of GCA was established. Surgical debridement and corticotherapy led to complete resolution of the tongue lesion with no need for any additional intervention. In this case report, we highlight the importance of GCA early diagnosis in order to avoid more serious complications.

Oxidative stress and insufficient autophagy activity are associated with inflammatory processes and are common features of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We investigated if a combination of natural activators of autophagy could modulate oxidative stress, platelet aggregation and endothelial cell survival and function in response to stress.

Ex vivo platelet aggregation and activation, H

O

production and autophagy were measured in platelets of subjects at high cardiovascular risk, including smokers, patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). In vitro, the effects of a mixture of natural pro-autophagy molecules and antioxidants on platelets and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated.

Autophagy appeared to be inhibited, whereas aggregation was increased in platelets from AF and MetS patients and in smokers, as compared with healthy subjects. Treatment of platelets isolated from these patients with a mixture composed of trehalose, spermidine, catechin and epicatechin (Mix1) or with a mixture composed of trehalose, spermidine and nicotinamide (Mix2), significantly reduced platelet activation and oxidative stress, and increased autophagy, compared with the effect of each compound alone.