Pro-inflammatory adipokine profile in psoriatic arthritis: results from a cross-sectional study comparing PsA subset with evident cutaneous involvement and subset “sine psoriasis”

Clinical Rheumatology - Adipokines have been considered in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory processes of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The main aim of the current study is to investigate possible...     

Metabolic syndrome,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver stiffness in psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis patients

Clinical Rheumatology - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), potentially evolving into liver fibrosis (LF), is frequent in psoriasis (PsO), but data in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are lacking....     

K+ efflux in deoxygenated sickle cells in the presence or absence of DIOA, a specific inhibitor of the [K+, Cl-] cotransport system

The ouabain bumetanide resistant (OBR) K+ efflux was investigated in deoxygenated sickle cells in comparison to oxygenated ones, by using a specific inhibitor of the [K+, Cl-] co-transport system, [(DihydroIndenyl)Oxy] Alkanoic acid (DIOA). A DIOA sensitive and a DIOA resistant K+ efflux were measured in deoxygenated sickle cells. The DIOA sensitive K+ efflux shared the properties of the [K+, Cl-] co-transport system, being stimulated by decreased pH and hypoosmolarity. This DIOA sensitive K+ efflux represented 70% of the total K+ efflux at pH 7.0 and at low pO2 (10-15 mmHg). Thus, a small reduction in Ph effectively stimulated the [K+, Cl-] co-transport system in deoxygenated condition, and this may contribute significantly to the sickle cell dehydration. We conclude that at pH lower than 7.4, the [K+, Cl-] co-transport system is permanently activated in sickle cells and leads to sickle cell dehydration in both oxygenated and deoxygenated conditions.     

Left heart pump-assisted beating heart coronary surgery in high-risk patients

A simple technique of left ventricular assistance, offering the advantages of both cardiopulmonary bypass and off-pump revascularization, was adopted for high-risk patients. It was used in 56 patients with critical left main stenosis and occluded right coronary artery, severely reduced ejection fraction and/or unstable angina. All patients underwent complete and successful myocardial revascularization (3.4 grafts per patient). Weaning from the pump was uncomplicated, and none required conversion to full cardiopulmonary bypass.