Search

Increased concentrations of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) are common in COVID‐19 patients. However, their capacity to predict mortality, particularly the AST/ALT ratio, commonly referred to as the De Ritis ratio, is unknown. We investigated the association between the De Ritis ratio on admission and in‐hospital mortality in 105 consecutive patients with coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) admitted to three COVID‐19 referral centres in Sardinia, Italy. The De Ritis ratio was significantly lower in survivors than nonsurvivors (median: 1.25; IQR: 0.91‐1.64 vs 1.67; IQR: 1.38‐1.97, P =.002) whilst there were no significant between‐group differences in ALT and AST concentrations. In ROC curve analysis, the AUC value of the De Ritis ratio was 0.701 (95% CI 0.603‐0.787, P =.0006) with sensitivity and specificity of 74% and 70%, respectively. Kaplan‐Meier survival curves showed a significant association between the De Ritis ratio and mortality (logrank test P =.014). By contrast, no associations were observed between the ALT and AST concentrations and mortality (logrank test P =.83 and P =.62, respectively). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the HR in patients with De Ritis ratios ≥1.63 (upper tertile of this parameter) remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, cardiovascular disease, intensity of care, diabetes, respiratory diseases, malignancies and kidney disease (HR: 2.46, 95% CI 1.05‐5.73, P =.037). Therefore, the De Ritis ratio on admission was significantly associated with in‐hospital mortality in COVID‐19 patients. Larger studies are required to confirm the capacity of this parameter to independently predict mortality in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is amply reported that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent evidence suggests that COPD patients have elevated concentrations of plasma homocysteine (Hcy), a transsulfuration pathway analyte that is commonly regarded as a CVD risk factor. Design: We comprehensively investigated the plasma concentrations of transsulfuration pathway analytes, and their relationship with markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, to identify which low molecular thiols might play a pathophysiological role both in CVD and in COPD. Hcy, cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH), cysteinylglycine (CysGly), glutamylcysteine (GluCys), taurine (Tau), oxidative stress markers (TBARS and protein‐SH, PSH) and the inflammation marker kynurenine/tryptophan (Kyn/Trp) ratio were measured in 54 COPD patients and 54 control subjects. Results: We found increased concentrations of total Hcy (P <.01) and total CysGly (P <.05) in COPD patients when compared to controls. Total Hcy and CysGly were also significantly associated with abnormal lung function parameters and COPD severity. In COPD patients, total Hcy was significantly associated with the Kyn/Trp ratio (P =.0017) whereas total CysGly was significantly associated with both PSH (P =.0298) and the Kyn/Trp ratio (P = <.0001). Conclusion: Both total Hcy and CysGly concentrations were significantly associated with the presence and severity of COPD and with markers of oxidative stress (total CysGly) and inflammation (total Hcy and CysGly). This suggests that specific low molecular mass thiols might play a role in the inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways involved in both CVD and COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Fat intake has been associated with respiratory diseases, with conflicting results. Objective: We studied the association between asthma and rhinitis with dietary fats, and their food sources in an Italian population. Methods: Clinical and nutritional information was collected for 871 subjects (aged 20‐84) from the population‐based multi‐case‐control study Genes Environment Interaction in Respiratory Diseases (GEIRD): 145 with current asthma (CA), 77 with past asthma (PA), 305 with rhinitis and 344 controls. Food intake was collected using the EPIC (European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) Food Frequency Questionnaire. The associations between fats and respiratory diseases were estimated by multinomial models. Fats and their dietary sources were analysed both as continuous variables and as quartiles. Results: Monounsaturated fatty acids and oleic acid were associated with a reduced risk of CA in both continuous (RRR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.48; 0.96; RRR = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.49; 0.97, per 10 g, respectively) and per‐quartile analyses (p for trend = 0.028 and 0.024, respectively). Olive oil was associated with a decreased risk of CA (RRR = 0.80; 95%CI: 0.65; 0.98 per 10 g). An increased risk of rhinitis was associated with moderate total fat and SFA intake. Conclusions: High dietary intakes of oleic acid and of olive oil are associated with a lower risk of asthma but not of rhinitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: The main white blood cell populations, neutrophils and lymphocytes, are involved in the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies investigating the relationship between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR, a marker of subclinical inflammation), presence of COPD, and its exacerbations. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Pubmed, Web of Science and Scopus databases; two investigators independently reviewed suitable studies. Results: Nine studies, from 247 initially identified, were included in the meta‐analysis. Seven studies, in 775 COPD patients with stable disease and 496 healthy controls, showed a significant increase in NLR values in stable COPD (standardised mean difference, SMD, 0.773, 95% CI 0.410‐1.136; P < 0.001). Furthermore, in six studies in 527 COPD patients with acute exacerbation and 620 COPD patients with stable disease, NLR values were significantly higher in patients with exacerbations (random effects SMD 0.850, 95% CI 0.549‐1.151; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our meta‐analysis showed that NLR values are significantly higher in stable COPD patients when compared to healthy individuals, although the magnitude of the difference is reduced after trim and fill adjustment, and in patients with COPD exacerbations when compared to patients with stable disease. Further studies, in larger cohorts, are needed to confirm whether the NLR is a useful tool in discriminating between COPD patients with stable disease, those with acute exacerbations, and subjects without the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Deciduoid mesothelioma is a rare variant of malignant epithelioid mesothelioma. It often involves the peritoneum, but also thoracic cases have been reported. The aim of the present review is to describe the demographic, clinical, radiological, and pathological features of such a rare variant of thoracic mesothelioma, and the state of the art regarding the therapeutic approaches currently available. Data source: English‐language articles published from 1985 to June 2016, and related to thoracic deciduoid mesothelioma cases were retrieved using the Pubmed database. Study selection: The search terms were “mesothelioma,” “thoracic mesothelioma,” “epithelial mesothelioma,” “pleural mesothelioma,” and “deciduoid mesothelioma.” Results: Forty‐four cases included in 16 articles, published in the period under investigation, were analyzed in detail. Conclusions: The mean age of the patients was 63 years, and the male to female ratio 1.7:1. Approximately 58% had exposure to asbestos, and 73% had a smoking history; familiarity was rarely reported. The most common anatomical site of origin was the right pleura, and the most frequent clinical manifestations were chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and weight loss. Thoracic X‐ray and computed tomography were the imaging techniques most employed for diagnosis and surgical planning. The pathological diagnosis was obtained by examination of surgical or biopsy specimens in most cases. The best treatment strategy of deciduoid mesothelioma is a matter of debate; nevertheless a multidisciplinary approach is currently the best option for the choice of the adequate therapeutic scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) and asthma are both characterized by heterogeneous chronic airway inflammation and obstruction as well as oxidative stress ( OS). However, it is unknown whether OS occurs in early disease and how to best assess its presence. Plasma OS markers ( TBARS, PSH, taurine, GSH, ergothioneine and paraoxonase 1 activity) and lung function tests were measured in patients with mild stable asthma ( n = 24) and mild stable COPD ( n = 29) and in age- and sex-matched controls. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s ( FEV1) was associated with age both in patients and control groups. By contrast, FEV1 was positively correlated with PSH only in COPD (ρ = 0·49, P = 0·007). In multiple logistic regression analysis, lower PSH was the only OS marker independently associated with increased odds of both asthma ( OR = 0·32, 95% CI 0·13-0·78, P = 0·01) and COPD ( OR = 0·50, 95% CI 0·26-0·95, P = 0·03). These findings suggest that proteins -SH are a sensitive OS marker in early COPD and asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths over the world, characterized by a very high mortality rate. Molecular technique development tries to focus on early detection of cancers by studying molecular alterations that characterize cancer cells. Worldwide lung cancer research has focused on an ever-increasing number of molecular elements of carcinogenesis at genetic, epigenetic and protein levels. The non-invasiveness is the characteristic that all clinical trials on cancer detection should have. Abnormal chest imaging and/or non-specific symptoms are initial signals of lung cancer that appear in an advanced stage of disease. This fact represents the cause of the low 5-year survival rate: over 90% of patients dying within 5 years of diagnosis. Since smokers have higher quantity of sputum containing exfoliated cells from the bronchial tree, and the sputum represents the most easily accessible biological fluid and its collection is non-invasive, analysis of this sample represents a good area of research in early lung cancer diagnosis. Continued cigarette smoking is the cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with an estimated attributable risk factor exceeding 80% in smoking affected individuals. Lung cancer is found in 40-70% of patients with COPD, particularly in severe disease, and it is a common cause of death in these patients. A large prospective trial of almost half a million non-smokers showed as lung cancer is also common in patients with COPD who have never smoked. This review describes issues related to early lung cancer screening using non-invasive methods. J. Cell. Physiol. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]