Biomedical subjects

Stefania Basili

Publications and source records attributed to Stefania Basili.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Platelet activation, inflammatory mediators and hypercholesterolemia.

Atherogenic cofactors, such as altered cholesterol metabolism, may impact locally on inflammatory responses in atherosclerotic lesions. Blood levels of inflammatory markers (e.g., C-reactive protein, fibrinogen) have been associated with hypercholesterolemia and with overt atherothrombotic disorders. More recently. cytokines (e.g., interleukin-6, interleukin-1beta) and soluble adhesion molecules (e.g., selectins, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) have been associated with both hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic disease, suggesting their use as potential therapeutic targets for the non-specific "anti-inflammatory" treatment of atherosclerosis. The inflammatory response associated with hypercholesterolemia involves not only the intrinsic cells of the artery wall. but also circulating cells. Platelets participate in this disease process through the release of a wide variety of biologically active substances. An imbalance of the hemostatic system and persistent in vivo platelet activation can be observed in hypercholesterolemia and may have pathophysiological implications in the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. Recent findings on the inflammatory actions of platelets have established the potential for a previously unrecognized biologic role for platelets in inflammation and vascular injury, and have opened new perspectives in the comprehension of the pathogenetic mechanism(s) of atherosclerosis. Stimulated platelets actively synthesize proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., CD40L, IL-1beta) and are able to release chemokines (i.e., platelet factor-4, RANTES) which have been all involved in the inflammatory process associated with hypercholesterolemia. This review will summarize the present understanding of the interplay between hypercholesterolemia, inflammation and platelet activation in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, and we also discuss the effects of lipid-lowering treatment on these phenomena.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) plasma levels in non-small cell lung cancer: relationship with coagulation and platelet activation markers.

Platelet activation, commonly found in lung cancer patients, may cause the release of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). The present study was designed to investigate whether plasma VEGF-A levels were associated to different stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Moreover, sP-selectin, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TATc) and D-dimer levels were measured to test the hypothesis of an involvement of platelet and coagulation activation in tumor angiogenesis. VEGF-A, sP-selectin, F1+2, TATc and D-dimer levels were elevated in 65 patients with NSCLC, particularly in metastatic patients. sP-selectin (p <0.003) and F1+2 (p <0.005) levels were independently associated to VEGF-A. In addition, patients with positive levels of both sP-selectin and F1+2 had the highest levels of VEGF-A. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that thrombin generation might induce platelet activation and VEGF-A release in NSCLC.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2002

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and myocardial function in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

An imbalance of TNF system activity has been reported in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Nevertheless, the question whether TNF-alpha action is directly implicated in the pathogenesis of DM1 or is a simple marker of disease activity is still open. Therefore, the present study was aimed to investigate serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6 levels in association with the disease stage, cytosine-thymine-guanine (CTG) expansion and cardiac function of 56 patients with DM1 (40+/-14 years) and 28 healthy controls (42+/-12 years). All subjects were submitted to resting electrocardiogram (EKG), Signal-averaged EKG (SA-EKG), and M-mode/2-D echocardiography. TNF-alpha levels were higher in patients compared to controls (p<0.0003) and were associated to disease stage (p<0.02). Significant correlation were observed between TNF and CTG expansion (p<0.005) or PQ intervals (p<0.0005). Ventricular late potentials (VLPs) occurred in 54% of cases. In these patients, TNF-alpha levels were higher compared to those without VLPs (p<0.05). We may conclude that TNF-alpha levels might represent and adjunctive criterion for disease staging in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1, and that elevated TNF levels in DM1 may lead to cardiac fibrosis affecting diastolic function, conduction, and automaticity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Ventricular late potentials in systemic sclerosis: relationship with skin involvement.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the myocardial involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) by signal averaged electrocardiography method (SA-ECG) in relationship to the skin changes. METHODS: We selected 24 SSc outpatients according to American Rheumatism Association criteria, without clinical and instrumental evidence of cardiac disease, and compared them with 24 control subjects. All patients and controls underwent SA-ECG to detect ventricular late potentials (LP). The extent and severity of skin involvement in SSc patients was detected by modified Rodnan (m-Rodnan) skin score. RESULTS: SSc patients had higher prevalence of LP compared to controls (46 versus 8%, p < 0.003). Median skin score value in the overall SSc population was 7 [mean, SD (range): 7.8, 3.2, (4-18)]. Patients with LP had a higher median skin score value compared to SSc patients without LP [median (range): 10 (6-18) versus 6 (4-9); Mann-Whitney U test 22.5, p < 0.005]. A subset analysis was also performed to verify the correlation of antibodies positivity (anti-centromere and Scl 70) pattern and the presence of LP. Our findings showed that higher values of skin score correlated with the presence of LP independent of antibody subsets. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that diffuse abnormalities of the cardiac tissue detected by SA-ECG may be present, even in patients without cardiac symptoms. The relationship between LP and skin involvement in patients without clinical evidence of cardiac involvement may help detect of a subset of patients who may develop scleroderma heart disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Platelet activation in obese women: role of inflammation and oxidant stress.

CONTEXT: Obesity, in particular abdominal adiposity, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality through mechanisms possibly linking the metabolic disorder to platelet and vascular abnormalities. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and biochemical determinants of lipid peroxidation and platelet activation in obese women. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional comparison, conducted between September 1999 and September 2001, of urinary 8-iso prostaglandin F(2alpha) (8-iso PGF(2alpha)) and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dehyhdro-TxB2) excretion levels in 93 women: 44 with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 28 and a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of 0.86 or higher, android obesity; 25 with a BMI higher than 28 and a WHR lower than 0.86, gynoid obesity; and 24 nonobese women with a BMI lower than 25. An additional study was conducted to determine the short-term effects of weight loss in 20 of the 44 women with android obesity. INTERVENTION: During a 12-week period, 20 women with android obesity followed a weight loss program to reduce caloric intake to about 1200 kcal/d. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma C-reactive protein, insulin and leptin levels, and urinary 8-iso PGF(2alpha) (marker of in vivo lipid peroxidation) and 11-dehyhdro-TxB2 (marker of in vivo platelet activation) excretion. Weight loss was defined as successful when the initial body weight decreased by at least 5 kg after a 12-week period of caloric restriction. RESULTS: Women with android obesity had higher levels of 8-iso PGF(2alpha )(median [interquartile range [IQR]] 523 [393-685] vs 187 [140-225] pg/mg creatinine) and 11-dehyhdro-TxB2 (median [IQR], 948 [729-1296] vs 215 [184-253] pg/mg creatinine) than nonobese women (P<.001). Both 8-iso PGF(2alpha)and 11-dehyhdro-TxB2 were higher in women with android obesity than women with gynoid obesity (P<.001). Based on multiple regression analysis, C-reactive protein levels and WHRs of 0.86 or higher predicted the rate of 8-iso PGF(2alpha) excretion independently of insulin and leptin levels. Of 20 women with android obesity, 11 achieved successful weight loss, which was associated with statistically significant reductions in C-reactive protein (median change, 23%; P<.05), 8-iso PGF(2alpha) (median change, 32%; P =.04) and 11-dehydro-TxB2 (median change, 54%; P =.005). CONCLUSIONS: Android obesity is associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation and persistent platelet activation. These abnormalities are driven by inflammatory triggers related to the degree of abdominal adiposity and are, at least in part, reversible with a successful weight-loss program.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma von Willebrand factor antigen levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the behavior of circulating von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf:Ag) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pre-surgical vWf:Ag levels were measured in 64 patients with histologically diagnosed NSCLC compared to 64 patients with benign pulmonary diseases, as well as 64 age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Patients with NSCLC had mean vWf:Ag concentrations lower than either controls or benign patients (p =0.001). CEA was the only variable predictive of low vWf:Ag levels (p<0.01). Five of the 64 NSCLC patients had abnormally low vWf:Ag concentrations (<36 IU/dL). When these patients were excluded from the analysis, the vWf:Ag levels of NSCLC patients did not differ from those of controls (p=0.19). CONCLUSION: The vWf antigen levels of NSCLC patients are not substantially altered. A small subset of these patients will have a depletion of circulating vWf:Ag, probably because of a paraneoplastic process associated with an advanced stage of disease.

Adult↗