Soluble CD40 ligand in haemodialysis patients: survival impact and cardiovascular prognostic role

Context: Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40l) can predict cardiovascular events (CVE) and mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients (short-, medium-term follow-up studies).

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between sCD40l and survival, CVE and mortality in HD patients on long-term follow-up.

Methods: We registered 46?HD patients’ baseline characteristics, mortality and CVE for 108 months.

Results: SCD40l correlated positively with C-reactive protein, was higher in survivors, but had no impact on survival and was not predictive for CVE or CV mortality.

Conclusion: The levels of sCD40l have no influence on survival or CVE and mortality in HD patients in a long-term follow-up.     

Association of IL-10 (-819T/C, -592A/C and -1082A/G) and IL-6 -174G/C gene polymorphism and the risk of pneumonia-induced sepsis

Context: Association between inherited variants and the risks of sepsis is controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of pneumonia-induced sepsis by examining its linkage with polymorphisms of IL-6 and IL-10.

Materials and methods: Samples were obtained from 188 pneumonia-induced sepsis patients, 162 pneumonia patients and 200 healthy controls.

Results: Subjects with IL-10 -1082 AA genotypes and IL-6 -174?CC genotype had a higher risk of sepsis and increased mRNA levels.

Conclusion: The variants of IL-10 -1082 A allele and IL-6 -174 C allele contributed to an increased risk of pneumonia-induced sepsis.     

Differential expression of circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in subjects with coronary artery disease and cardiac syndrome X without known diabetes mellitus

Context: Inflammation is one of the mechanisms underlying cardiac syndrome X (CSX).

Objectives: Few studies have compared the expression of inflammatory or adhesion molecules between coronary artery disease (CAD) versus CSX.

Materials and methods: Ninety-two CSX and 145 CAD subjects without known diabetes mellitus underwent coronary angiogram for angina.

Results: Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 (median, 507 versus 431?ng/ml, p?=?0.001) was significantly higher in the CAD group. In the binary regression, VCAM-1 was a significant differential factor for CAD versus CSX.

Discussion and conclusion: Adhesion molecules might be implicated in the differential expression of macro versus microvascular coronary disease.

Trial registration number: NCT01198730 at https://clinicaltrials.gov     

Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with higher carboxymethyllysine level in elderly women but not elderly men in the cardiovascular health study

Context: Carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) results from oxidative stress and has been linked to cardiovascular disease.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) – a source of oxidative stress – and CML.

Materials and methods: About 1002 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) were studied.

Results: Women with SDB had significantly higher CML concentration compared with those without SDB (OR?=?1.63, 95%CI?=?1.03–2.58, p?=?0.04). The association was not significant among men.

Discussion: SDB was associated with CML concentration among elderly women but not men in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Conclusion: Accumulation of CML may be an adverse health consequence of SDB     

Mutation in the beta3 subunit of Guanine nucleotide-binding protein (GNB3) gene is not associated with Type II diabetes mellitus risk: a case–control study of a North Indian population

Context: Genetics play a major role in development and pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objective: To asses the association of Guanine nucleotide-binding protein (GNB3) (C825T) gene's polymorphism with T2DM.

Materials and methods: A case–control study including 400 North Indians was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction–Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) approach to analyze genetic polymorphism.

Results: No significant difference was observed in genotype and allele frequencies of GNB3 gene on comparing cases with controls.

Discussion: Our study is in agreement with studies on Polish, Japanese, Hispanic-American and Danish populations who observed no significant association between GNB3 (C825T) polymorphism and T2DM.

Conclusion: GNB3 (C825T) polymorphism is not associated with T2DM.     

Soluble TREM-1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in patients with septic shock: an observational clinical study

Objectives: The impact of TREM-1-mediated inflammation was investigated in different inflammatory settings.

Methods: Secondary analyses of an observational clinical pilot study, including 60 patients with septic shock, 30 postoperative controls and 30 healthy volunteers.

Results: Plasma levels of sTREM-1 were found to identify patients with septic shock more effectively than procalcitonin and C-reactive protein. Moreover, sTREM-1 was identified to be an early predictor for survival in patients with septic shock.

Conclusion: Due to its diagnostic as well as prognostic value in sepsis syndrome, implementation of sTREM-1 measurements in routine diagnostics should be taken into account.     

Elevated serum YKL-40 levels in patients with Kawasaki disease

Context: YKL-40 is an inflammatory biomarker for endothelial dysfunction that may have a role in Kawasaki disease (KD).

Objectives: We investigated the association of serum YKL-40 levels with KD and established laboratory parameters for YKL-40 levels and other inflammatory markers.

Methods: YKL-40 levels and other inflammatory markers of 23 KD patients, 9 disease control patients and 11 age-matched healthy controls.

Results: YKL-40 concentration in the serum of KD patients significantly increased during the acute disease phase compared with those of disease controls and healthy controls.

Conclusions: Increased YKL-40 levels may provide a useful inflammatory marker for patients with KD.     

Pre-fledging survival in a Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis population in northern Iberia is mostly determined by hatching date

Capsule: Pre-fledging survival in a Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis population in northern Iberia is negatively correlated to hatching date.

Aims: To explore which factors have more importance in determining the pre-fledging daily survival rates in a Yellow-legged Gull population from northern Iberia. Specifically, we tested for the effect of hatching date and order, body size and condition and meteorological conditions on pre-fledging survival.

Methods: Cormack–Jolly–Seber models with mixtures were used to model daily survival rates.

Results: Daily survival rates were mostly negatively affected by hatching date.

Conclusions: Hatching date was the most important factor affecting survival of chicks during the pre-fledging period in a Yellow-legged Gull colony from northern Iberia.     

Blood markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in cardioembolic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis

Context: Various processes including inflammation and endothelial dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardioembolic (CE) strokes.

Objective: To review the evidence and investigate the association between immune-inflammatory biomarkers and CE strokes versus other stroke subtypes.

Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature (sources: MEDLINE, web-based register http://stroke-biomarkers.com, reference lists) with quality assessment and meta-analysis of selected articles.

Results: The most consistent association was found between C-reactive protein (CRP) and CE strokes when compared to other stroke subtypes (standardized mean difference 0.223 (0.116, 0.343); p?<?0.001)

Conclusions: Our findings confirm a possible association between selected inflammatory biomarkers and CE stroke.     

Prognostic significance of insulin-like growth factor-I serum levels in acute decompensation of cirrhosis

Context: IGF-I serum levels are suppressed in cirrhosis, but its prognostic significance is unknown.

Objectives: To investigate the prognostic value of IGF-I in patients admitted for acute decompensation of cirrhosis.

Materials and methods: Cohort study that included 103 patients. IGF-I was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: Ninety-day mortality was 26.2% and it was independently associated with MELD, age and IGF-I. The Kaplan–Meier survival probability at 90 days was 94.3% in patients with IGF-I?≥13?ng/mL and 63.2% for patients with IGF-I?<13?ng/mL (p?=?.001).

Discussion and conclusion: IGF-I levels are independently associated with mortality in acute decompensation of cirrhosis.     

The role of habitat change in driving Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix population declines across Scotland

Capsule Black Grouse declines across Scotland were greatest on less heterogeneous moorland, at low to intermediate altitudes and, more weakly, around post-thicket woodland.

Aims To examine correlates of change in abundance of Black Grouse across Scotland.

Methods Changes in abundance within 5-km squares between national surveys in 1995/96 and 2005 were modelled in relation to measures of habitat cover and woodland age derived from satellite imagery.

Results Populations across Scotland were most stable where unenclosed moorland comprised rough grassland, intermediate heather cover and at higher altitude. Declines tended to be greatest in squares which had transitioned from pre-thicket to closed-canopy woodland.

Conclusion Moorland will be most beneficial where it is heterogeneous in composition, and the role of woodland maturation in driving regional declines has support, albeit more weakly, at a national scale.     

Predictors of leptin concentration and association with cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease: results from the AtheroGene study

Context: Leptin is produced in white adipose tissue, but also in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the prognostic value of leptin in patients with proven coronary artery disease (CAD) (N?=?1907).

Methods: AtheroGene is a contemporary CAD cohort study (N?=?3229). Median follow-up time was 3.8 (Quartile 1/3 with 2.8/4.9) years.

Results: Leptin concentration was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) for the fully adjusted model of HR?=?1.32 in women but was not significant in men. The endpoint cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction was observed in 167 patients.

Conclusion: In women with known CAD, increased leptin concentration is useful for predicting cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction.     

Circulating levels of apoptotic markers and oxidative stress parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-controlled descriptive study

Context: Apoptotic dysregulation plays a role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Objective: To evaluate circulatory apoptotic markers and oxidative stress in patients with PCOS.

Materials and methods: Forty-four women with PCOS, and 44 healthy women as controls were enrolled in the study. Oxidative stress parameters and caspases levels were measured in serum.

Results: The caspase 9 level was significantly lower and related with oxidant status in patients with PCOS, while the circulating levels of caspases 3 and 7 were statistically similar in both groups.

Discussion: This study is the first report demonstrating the circulating levels of apoptotic markers and their relationship with oxidant status in PCOS.

Conclusion: The circulating caspase 9 and oxidant status might contribute to apoptotic dysregulation in PCOS.     

Elevated serum leptin levels are associated with low vitamin D,sarcopenic obesity,poor muscle strength,and physical performance in knee osteoarthritis*

Context: The associations between serum leptin, vitamin D status, sarcopenic obesity, muscle strength and physical performance in osteoarthritis (OA) remain uncertain.

Objective: To analyse the relationships between serum leptin, vitamin D status, muscle strength and physical performance in OA patients.

Methods: A total of 208 knee OA patients were enrolled. Serum leptin, vitamin D, muscle strength and physical performance were evaluated.

Results: OA patients with sarcopenic obesity had significantly higher serum leptin levels than those with non-sarcopenic obesity. In addition, knee OA patients with sarcopenic obesity displayed low grip strength and poor physical performance. Furthermore, high serum leptin was negatively associated with vitamin D and physical performance.

Conclusions: Serum leptin levels were correlated with low vitamin D, reduced muscle strength and functional impairment, suggesting that serum leptin might serve as a biomarker reflecting physical performance in OA patients.     

Characterization of organophosphate pesticides in urine and home environment dust in an agricultural community

Context: Organophosphorus insecticides (OPs) have been used to control agricultural pests found in Washington state. Farmworkers (FW) have higher exposure to OP pesticides than non-farmworkers (NFW), and FW children may in turn have higher exposure than NFW children.

Objective: To examine the association between the concentration in house dust of five OPs used commonly in pome fruit orchards and the concentration in urine of dialkylphosphate metabolites (DAP), in a cohort of Hispanic FW and NFW and their children.

Methods: Parents and children participated in three data collection periods over the course of one year. Urine samples were evaluated for the DAPs characteristic of OP exposure, and dust from homes and vehicles was evaluated for intact OP residues.

Results: Geometric mean (GM) concentrations of OPs in house and vehicle dust were higher in FW households than NFW households in all agricultural seasons. GM concentration of urinary DAPs was higher for children in FW households than NFW households.

Discussion: Regression analysis found a positive association between OP residues in house dust and the children’s urinary DAPs.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study is the first to report an association between pesticides in house dust and their biological metabolites in urine.     

Impact of CT-apelin and NT-proBNP on identifying non-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy

Context: Assessment of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is essential.

Objective: To assess the predictive value of CT-apelin together with NT-proBNP in patients undergoing CRT.

Methods: Serum CT-apelin and NT-proBNP were measured by ELISA before, and six months after CRT. Primary endpoint was non-response (<4% increase in LVEF) after six months.

Results: From 81 patients, 15 proved to be non-responders. Six-month CT-apelin was superior compared to NT-proBNP in identifying non-responders by multivariate ROC (CT-apelin: p?=?0.01, NT-proBNP: p?=?0.13) and by logistic regression (CT-apelin: p?=?0.01, NT-proBNP: p?=?0.41) analyses.

Conclusion: Six-month CT-apelin might be a valuable novel biomarker in identifying non-responders to CRT that was superior to NT-proBNP.     

Physiological conditions of parent and offspring Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris

Capsule: In Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris nutritional condition is correlated between parents and their offspring.

Aims: To test resource allocation hypotheses analysing the relationship between parental and offspring nutritional condition.

Methods: We measured blood chemistry parameters related with nutritional condition in 24 parents and their nestlings in a colony of Black-browed Albatrosses.

Results: There were no significant differences in blood parameters between sexes or location of the nest within the colony, neither among adults nor among nestlings. We found a significant positive correlation between parents and the nutritional condition of their offspring, measured as urea, uric acid and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in blood.

Discussion: These relationships demonstrate that condition of the young seems to be merely a reflection of parental condition. An interesting relationship between alkaline phosphatase concentration in adults and nutritional condition of their nestlings was found, suggesting that age of the parents would be a key factor explaining quality of the nestling.     

Future breeding and foraging sites of a southern edge population of the locally endangered Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

Capsule: One of the southernmost populations of the Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle is currently endangered, and the risk may be exacerbated by climate change.

Aims: We evaluated the future vulnerability of the Black Guillemot by predicting the impact of climate change on the geographic distribution of its breeding and foraging range in the Baltic Sea.

Methods: We used MaxEnt, a species distribution modelling technique, to predict the current and future breeding grounds and foraging sites.

Results: We found that although the foraging range is expected to increase in the southern Baltic Sea in future, these areas will no longer be suitable as breeding grounds due to a changing climate, creating a spatial mismatch.

Conclusion: Our predictions indicate where threats to the species may be most severe and can be used to guide conservation planning. We advocate conservation measures which integrate potential future threats and focus on breeding sites across the current and future potential geographic range of the Black Guillemot.     

miR-200b-3p in plasma is a potential diagnostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Context: Circulating MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as novel biomarkers for tumour.

Objective: Evaluate the diagnostic potential of plasma miR-200b-3p in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials and methods: miR-200b-3p was detected by qRT-PCR in paired pre-operative and post-operative plasmas from 80 OSCC patients and 80 healthy controls.

Results: Plasma miR-200b-3p was significantly upregulated in OSCC, and it was higher in WHO II/III grade than WHO I grade. The AUC of miR-200b-3p for OSCC was 0.9173. miR-200b-3p was significantly downregulated after surgery. High miR-200b-3p expression was associated with poor prognosis.

Discussion and conclusion: Plasma miR-200b-3p could be a potential diagnostic biomarker for OSCC.     

Kleptoparasitism in gulls Laridae at an urban and a coastal foraging environment: an assessment of ecological predictors

Capsule: Kleptoparasitism in gulls occurred at a greater rate at an urban compared with a coastal site. Population density and prey size predicted the rate of kleptoparasitism at the urban site.

Aims: To investigate and assess the ecological variables associated with kleptoparasitism among gulls at urban and rural sites.

Methods: Field observations were conducted at Brancaster (coastal rural) and Billingsgate Market (urban) to examine differences in the rate of kleptoparasitism in mixed-species flocks of gulls. Four key variables (prey size, population density, season and species) were assessed as predictors of kleptoparasitism.

Results: Generalized linear models revealed significant effects on kleptoparasitism rate of site, population density and prey size, and two-way interactions between these main terms. Population density and prey size differed significantly between sites, but population density appeared to predict the rate of kleptoparasitism.

Conclusion: Kleptoparasitism may well aid invasion and increase the range of environments a gull can tolerate by helping them meet their energy needs in novel environments where normal foraging behaviours are difficult to implement.