Hartmannbrink6738

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) functional traits have emerged as relevant elements that may explain HDL antiatherogenic capacity better than HDL cholesterol levels. These properties have been improved in several lifestyle intervention trials. learn more The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the results of such trials of the most commonly used dietary modifications (fatty acids, cholesterol, antioxidants, alcohol, and calorie restriction) and physical activity. Articles were screened from the Medline database until March 2021, and 118 randomized controlled trials were selected. Results from HDL functions and associated functional components were extracted, including cholesterol efflux capacity, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase, HDL antioxidant capacity, HDL oxidation status, paraoxonase-1 activity, HDL anti-inflammatory and endothelial protection capacity, HDL-associated phospholipase A2, HDL-associated serum amyloid A, and HDL-alpha-1-antitrypsin. In mainly short-term clinical trials, the consumption of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (particularly omega-3 in fish), and dietary antioxidants showed benefits to HDL functionality, especially in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors. In this regard, antioxidant-rich dietary patterns were able to improve HDL function in both healthy individuals and subjects at high cardiovascular risk. In addition, in randomized trial assays performed mainly in healthy individuals, reverse cholesterol transport with ethanol in moderate quantities enhanced HDL function. Nevertheless, the evidence summarized was of unclear quality and short-term nature and presented heterogeneity in lifestyle modifications, trial designs, and biochemical techniques for the assessment of HDL functions. Such findings should therefore be interpreted with caution. Large-scale, long-term, randomized, controlled trials in different populations and individuals with diverse pathologies are warranted.Matrix Gla protein (MGP), a local inhibitor of tissue mineralization, is associated with vascular calcification. link2 Depending on the carboxylation and phosphorylation status, MGP has active conformations, e.g., carboxylated MGP (cMGP) and phosphorylated MGP (pMGP), but also inactive conformations, e.g., uncarboxylated MGP (ucMGP) and dephosphorylated MGP (dpMGP). Our purpose was to assess the presence of all MGP conformations in healthy veins (HV) and varicose veins (VV), concurrently with the analysis of circulating total MGP (tMGP) before and after the surgical stripping of VV. We collected samples from the great saphenous vein, considered as control group, and tissue from VV, designated as VV group. Plasma levels of tMGP were significantly decreased after the surgical removal of the VV (before 59.5 ± 17.2 vs. after 38.1 ± 11.3, p less then 0.001). By using immunohistochemistry staining, we identified local cMGP and pMGP in the control and VV groups, both without calcification, while ucMGP and dpMGP were absent. cMGP was observed in the nucleus and cytoplasm and pMGP in the nucleus of cells belonging to the tunica media, tunica intima and vasa vasorum. Therefore, the active conformations of MGP (cMGP and pMGP) are prevalent in HV and VV without calcification, affirming their anti-calcifying role in veins.(1) Background patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) are classified either as restrictive (ANr) or binge/purge (ANbp) according to the absence or presence of impulsive eating and compensatory behaviors. The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of impulsivity in both AN subtypes and to explore whether individual differences in impulsivity may be explained by differences in the presence of early maladaptive schemas. (2) Methods the sample group included 122 patients with ANr, 112 patients with ANbp, and 131 healthy women (HW). All of these participants completed the UPPS-P scale for an assessment of impulsive behaviors and the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3) for an assessment of early maladaptive schemas. (3) Results the patients with ANbp displayed higher levels of impulsivity compared with the patients with ANr and HW. Patients with AN, especially the restrictive subtype, also reported higher levels of early maladaptive schemas than HW, and regression analyses revealed that specific maladaptive schemas partially explain the variability in impulsivity in both patients and HW. (4) Conclusions it appears that maladaptive beliefs developed during childhood or adolescence may predict the development of impulsivity, a personality trait usually associated with maladaptive behaviors, and appears to be prevalent among ANbp patients. The clinical effects of this, as well as directions for future study, are also discussed in this paper.The main aim of this work was to determine the impact of COMT and DRD2 gene polymorphisms together with temperament and character traits on alcohol craving severity alcohol-dependent persons. The sample comprised of 89 men and 16 women (aged 38±7). For the sake of psychological assessment various analytic methods have been applied like the Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire (SADD), Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) or Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) test. The SNP polymorphism of the analyzed genes was determined by Real Time PCR test. The results showed, that the COMT polymorphismmay have an indirected relationship with the intensity and changes in alcohol craving during abstinence. The DRD2 receptor gene polymorphisms are related with the intensity of alcohol craving. It seems that the character traits like "self-targeting", including "self-acceptance", are more closely related to the severity of alcohol craving and polymorphic changes in the DRD2 receptor than temperamental traits. Although this is a pilot study the obtained results appeared to be promising and clearly indicate the link betweengene polymorphisms alcohol craving and its severity.Psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are chronic inflammatory skin diseases that frequently develop in young women. The aim of this study is to evaluate how hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis impact women desiring to conceive, and their influence on fertility and gestation. A systematic review of articles dating from January 2015 to April 2021 was performed using the Scopus (Elsevier) database. The search terms were (psoriasis and (birth or pregnancy or fertility)) and ((hidradenitis suppurativa or acne inversa) and (birth or pregnancy or fertility)). The search was limited to human data. Systematic reviews, case reports, clinical practice guidelines, expert consensus and conference papers were excluded. The impact of HS on pregnancy includes an impaired desire for pregnancy, a decrease in fertility, the worsening of the disease during pregnancy and potential adverse events during pregnancy. Moreover, the pregnancy might imply a change on the treatment of HS. The impact of psoriasis on pregnancy includes a decrease in fertility, potential adverse events during pregnancy and an unpredictable evolution of the disease. Moreover, the pregnancy might imply a change on the treatment of psoriasis, although biologic therapies do not appear to increase the risk of adverse events. In conclusion, both HS and psoriasis have an impact on pregnancy. A decrease of fertility has been reported. Moreover, both diseases have an unpredictable evolution during pregnancy. Pregnant women who are under biologic therapy do not seem to have a higher rate of adverse events. Treatment of both conditions is usually halted during pregnancy since scientific evidence about their safety is not conclusive, or teratogenic risk has been proven.(1) Background The limited availability of thrombectomy-capable stroke centres raises questions about pre-hospital triage of patients with suspected stroke (IS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). Aims This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical stroke severity scales available for LVO detection. (2) Methods Patients with IS were prospectively identified among residents of Dijon, France, using a population-based registry (2013-2017). link3 Clinical signs and arterial imaging data were collected. LVO was defined as an occlusion site affecting the terminal intracranial internal carotid artery, the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), or the basilar artery (restricted definition). A wide definition of LVO also included the M2 segment of the MCA. For each of the 16 evaluated scales, a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed, and the c-statistic representing the area under the ROC curve was evaluated to assess discrimination for predicting LVO. (3) Results 971 patients were registered, including 123 patients (12.7%) with an LVO according to the restricted definition. The c-statistic for LVO detection ranged between 0.66 and 0.80 according to the different scales, with a sensibility varying from 70% to 98% and a specificity from 33% to 86%. According to the wide definition of LVO (174 patients, 17.9%), the c-statistic was slightly lower, ranging between 0.64 and 0.79. The sensitivity was 59% to 93%, and the specificity was 34% to 89%. (4) Conclusion The clinical scales failed to combine a high sensitivity and a high specificity to detect LVO. Further studies are needed to determine the best strategy for pre-hospital triage of IS patients.The tuberculosis (TB) epidemic is most prevalent in the elderly, and there is a progressive increase in the notification rate with age. Most cases of TB in the elderly are linked to the reactivation of lesions that have remained dormant. The awakening of these lesions is attributable to changes in the immune system related to senescence. The mortality rate from tuberculosis remains higher in elderly patients. Symptoms of active TB are nonspecific and less pronounced in the elderly. Diagnostic difficulties in the elderly are common in many diseases but it is important to use all possible techniques to make a microbiological diagnosis. Recognising frailty to prevent loss of independence is a major challenge in dealing with the therapeutic aspects of elderly patients. Several studies report contrasting data about poorer tolerance of TB drugs in this population. Adherence to antituberculosis treatment is a fundamental issue for the outcome of treatment. Decreased completeness of treatment was shown in older people as well as a higher risk of treatment failure.(1) Background Based on its antiviral activity, anti-inflammatory properties, and functional inhibition effects on the acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide system (FIASMA), we sought to examine the potential usefulness of the H1 antihistamine hydroxyzine in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. (2) Methods In a multicenter observational study, we included 15,103 adults hospitalized for COVID-19, of which 164 (1.1%) received hydroxyzine within the first 48 h of hospitalization, administered orally at a median daily dose of 25.0 mg (SD = 29.5). We compared mortality rates between patients who received hydroxyzine at hospital admission and those who did not, using a multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for patients' characteristics, medical conditions, and use of other medications. (3) Results This analysis showed a significant association between hydroxyzine use and reduced mortality (AOR, 0.51; 95%CI, 0.29-0.88, p = 0.016). This association was similar in multiple sensitivity analyses. (4) Conclusions In this retrospective observational multicenter study, the use of the FIASMA hydroxyzine was associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.