Increased Circulating Levels of Vitamin D Binding Protein in MS Patients

Vitamin D (vitD) low status is currently considered a main environmental factor in multiple sclerosis (MS) etiology and pathogenesis. VitD and its metabolites are highly hydrophobic and circulate mostly bound to the vitamin D binding protein (DBP) and with lower affinity to albumin, while less than 1% are in a free form. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the circulating levels of either of the two vitD plasma carriers and/or their relationship are altered in MS. We measured DBP and albumin plasma levels in 28 MS patients and 24 healthy controls. MS patients were found to have higher DBP levels than healthy subjects. Concomitant interferon beta therapy did not influence DBP concentration, and the difference with the control group was significant in both females and males. No significant correlation between DBP and albumin levels was observed either in healthy controls or in patients. These observations suggest the involvement of DBP in the patho-physiology of MS.     

Risk of COVID 19 in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases compared to a control population

BackgroundIt is unclear whether patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of COVID-19.ObjectivesThis observational study compared the prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms, diagnosis and hospitalization in IBD patients with a control population with non-inflammatory bowel disorders.MethodsThis multicentre study, included 2733 outpatients (1397 IBD patients and 1336 controls), from eight major gastrointestinal centres in Lombardy, Italy. Patients were invited to complete a web-based questionnaire regarding demographic, historical and clinical features over the previous 6 weeks. The prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms, diagnosis and hospitalization for COVID-19 was assessed.Results1810 patients (64%) responded to the questionnaire (941 IBD patients and 869 controls). IBD patients were significantly younger and of male sex than controls. NSAID use and smoking were more frequent in controls. IBD patients were more likely treated with vitamin-D and vaccinated for influenza. Highly probable COVID-19 on the basis of symptoms and signs was less frequent in the IBD group (3.8% vs 6.3%; OR:0.45, 95%CI:0.28–0.75). IBD patients had a lower rate of nasopharyngeal swab-PCR confirmed diagnosis (0.2% vs 1.2%; OR:0.14, 95%CI:0.03–0.67). There was no difference in hospitalization between the groups (0.1% vs 0.6%; OR:0.14, 95%CI:0.02–1.17).ConclusionIBD patients do not have an increased risk of COVID-19 specific symptoms or more severe disease compared with a control group of gastroenterology patients.     

Pre-endoscopic intravenous proton pump inhibitors therapy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A prospective,multicentre study

Background/AimThe indiscriminate use of high-dose, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) infusion in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) patients to reduce the rate of peptic ulcers with high-risk stigmata (HRS) has been questioned. We evaluated the prevalence of HRS on peptic ulcer and non-ulcer lesions in patients receiving or not receiving pre-endoscopic PPI therapy.MethodsData of consecutive UGIB patients observed in 50 Italian centres were analysed. The prevalence of both HRS on peptic ulcers and active bleeding on non-ulcer lesions between patients treated or not treated with PPI were compared. Multivariate analysis was performed.ResultsA total of 1,792 (69.8%) out of 2,566 patients received PPI therapy. Prevalence of HRS on ulcers was 51.8% and 53.4% (P = 0.58) in treated and not treated patients, respectively, and the rate of endoscopic therapy did not differ between groups. Prevalence of non-ulcer bleeding lesions was higher in patients treated than in those not treated with PPI (18.7% vs 10.6%; P = 0.023). At multivariate analysis, PPI therapy (OR: 1.16, 95% CI = 0.82–1.64; P = 0.4) was not an independent factor affecting HRS prevalence, which was inversely correlated with timing to endoscopy (OR: 0.85, 95% CI = 0.76–0.95; P = 0.005).ConclusionsOur data failed to detect a significant role of pre-endoscopic PPI therapy in decreasing prevalence of HRS and need for endoscopic treatment in bleeding patients with either peptic ulcer or non-ulcer lesions.     

Nanocomposites Prepared from Carbon Nanotubes and the Transition Metal Dichalcogenides WS2 and MoS2 via Surfactant-Assisted Dispersions as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reactions

Fuel cells are emerging devices as clean and renewable energy sources, provided their efficiency is increased. In this work, we prepared nanocomposites based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), namely WS₂ and MoS₂, and evaluated their performance as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), relevant to fuel cells. The one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) building blocks were initially exfoliated and non-covalently functionalized by surfactants of opposite charge in aqueous media (tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide, TTAB, for the nanotubes and sodium cholate, SC, for the dichalcogenides), and thereafter, the three-dimensional (3D) MoS₂@MWNT and WS₂@MWNT composites were assembled via surfactant-mediated electrostatic interactions. The nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and structural differences were found. WS₂@MWNT and MoS₂@MWNT show moderate ORR performance with potential onsets of 0.71 and 0.73 V vs. RHE respectively, and diffusion-limiting current densities of −1.87 and −2.74 mA·cm⁻², respectively. Both materials present, however, better tolerance to methanol crossover when compared to Pt/C and good stability. Regarding OER performance, MoS₂@MWNT exhibits promising results, with η₁₀ and j_max of 0.55 V and 17.96 mA·cm⁻², respectively. The fabrication method presented here is cost-effective, robust and versatile, opening the doors for the optimization of electrocatalysts’ performance.