European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 2022
Review Meta AnalysisIntravascular ultrasound insights into the unstable features of the coronary atherosclerotic plaques: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
There is a lack of a comprehensive picture of plaque geometry and composition of unstable atherosclerotic lesions as observed with intravascular ultrasound techniques. We analysed through a systematic review with meta-analysis 39 characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques in three scenarios involving culprit and non-culprit lesions from acute coronary syndromes vs stable angina pectoris patients, and culprit vs non-culprit lesions in acute coronary syndromes patients. ⋯ Culprit lesions from acute coronary patients are larger, more positively remodeled and contained more lipids as compared to stable angina lesions or non-culprit in acute patients. Non culprit lesions are also more often complicated or vulnerable in acute than stable patients.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 2022
ReviewAdrenocortical Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Α Narrative Review and Future Directions.
Iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency (AI) secondary to long-term treatment with exogenous glucocorticoids (GC) is common in patients with systematic rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moreover, a proportion of these patients is always in need of even small doses of glucocorticoids to maintain clinical remission, despite concomitant treatment with conventional and biologic disease-modifying drugs. ⋯ Apart from iatrogenic AI, an intrinsically compromised adrenal reserve in RA may have a pathogenetic role and interfere with effective management, thus deserving further research.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 2022
Serum levels of VCAM-1 are associated with survival in patients treated with nivolumab for NSCLC.
High circulating levels of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been supposed to act as a negative prognostic factor. Here, we explored the predictive role of pre-treatment levels of CAMs in previously treated patients receiving nivolumab for NSCLC. ⋯ High baseline serum levels of VCAM-1 are associated with a longer survival in patients treated with nivolumab as second line treatment for NSCLC. Surviving patients experience also a significant reduction in CAMs expression during the treatment. Hence, CAMs might be promising prognostic factors in patients with NSCLC underoing immunotherapy.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 2022
Discriminatory capacity of obesity indicators as predictors of high liver fat in US adolescents.
The aims of this study were to assess the potential of 16 anthropometric, body composition and endocrine indexes as predictors of high liver fat and determine the most appropriate cut-off points in US adolescents. ⋯ Assessment of TMI in boys, TFI in girls, and FMI in both sexes are low-cost and easy-to-use parameters that may be useful as early screening tools for possible high liver fat in adolescents.