European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2019
Gastrointestinal defects in gallstone and cholecystectomized patients.
Several gallstone patients complain of dyspeptic symptoms, irrespective of the presence of typical colicky pain. Symptoms often persist after a cholecystectomy. Systematic studies on dyspepsia and dynamic gastrointestinal motor function are missing in gallstone patients with preserved gallbladder or after a cholecystectomy. ⋯ Gallstone patients with the gallbladder "in situ" or after a cholecystectomy display dyspeptic symptoms. Symptoms are associated with multiple gastrointestinal motility defects involving the gallbladder, stomach and small intestine. After cholecystectomy, gastric emptying worsens.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2019
Pulse wave velocity to global longitudinal strain ratio in hypertension.
Arterial elastance to left ventricular elastance ratio assessed by echocardiography is widely used as a marker of ventricular-arterial coupling. ⋯ Pulse wave velocity-to-global longitudinal strain ratio but not the echocardiography-derived arterial elastance-to left ventricular elastance index is related to impaired carotid-intima media thickness, coronary-flow reserve and diastolic function in hypertensives.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2019
Ecological fallacy as a novel risk factor for poor translation in neuroscience research: A systematic review and simulation study.
Translational neuroscience is largely concerned with establishing causal links between biological processes and functional outcomes. Exciting new methods have emerged and top-tier biomedical journals are placing increasingly high demand for experiments that link outcomes. One pitfall to making these connections is the "ecological fallacy"-establishing a relationship between outcomes based on aggregate (averaged) results (a distinct issue from correlation vs causation). ⋯ Ecological fallacy is highly prevalent in neuroscience research and could partially account for translation failures in this field. Reporting guidelines for in vivo experiments should include subject-level correlation analyses for the primary outcomes.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 2019
Observational StudyADMA and NT pro-BNP are associated with overall mortality in elderly.
Increased asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) and NT pro-BNP concentrations have been associated with mortality in patients with cardiovascular (CV) disease and the general population. The use of these prognostic markers in an older population is not established yet. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of age, sex, BMI, co-medication and CV laboratory risk markers in geriatric care patients. ⋯ The concentration of ADMA and NT pro-BNP may be used as an early risk marker for overall mortality in geriatric care. Neuroleptic medicine is associated with increased mortality in this population.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 2019
ReviewFunctional and phenotypic heterogeneity of Th17 cells in health and disease.
Th17 cells have nonredundant roles in maintaining immunity, particularly at mucosal surfaces. These roles are achieved principally through the production of cytokines and the recruitment of other immune cells to maintain the integrity of mucosal barriers and prevent the dissemination of microorganisms. Th17 cells are heterogeneous and exhibit a considerable degree of plasticity. This allows these cells to respond to changing environmental challenges. However, Th17 cells also play pro-inflammatory roles in chronic autoimmune diseases. The trigger(s) that initiate these Th17 responses in chronic autoimmune diseases remain unclear. ⋯ This article provides an overview of the distinct roles Th17 cells play in maintaining immunity at mucosal surfaces and in skin mucosa and how their functional flexibility could be linked with chronic inflammation in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.