11. Diversity across major and candidate genes in European local pig breedsMaria Muñoz, Riccardo Bozzi, Fabián García, Yolanda Núñez, Claudia Geraci, Alessandro Crovetti, Juan M. García Casco, Estefania Alves, Martin Škrlep, Rui Charneca, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, 2018, original scientific article Keywords: pig, pig breeds, mutations, causal mutations, candidate mutations, genetic structure, pig morphological traits, productive traits, meat quality, reproductive traits, disease resistance traits
Published in DiRROS: 06.09.2022; Views: 465; Downloads: 0 |
12. Brain dynamics underlying preserved cycling ability in patients with Parkinson’s disease and freezing of gaitTeja Ličen, Martin Rakuša, Nicolaas I. Bohnen, Paolo Manganotti, Uroš Marušič, 2022, review article Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is generally associated with abnormally increased beta band oscillations in the cortico-basal ganglia loop during walking. PD patients with freezing of gait (FOG) exhibit a more distinct, prolonged narrow band of beta oscillations that are locked to the initiation of movement at ∼18 Hz. Upon initiation of cycling movements, this oscillation has been reported to be weaker and rather brief in duration. Due to the suppression of the overall beta band power during cycling and its continuous nature of the movement, cycling is considered to be less demanding for cortical networks compared to walking, including reduced need for sensorimotor processing, and thus unimpaired continuous cycling motion. Furthermore, cycling has been considered one of the most efficient non-pharmacological therapies with an influence on the subthalamic nucleus (STN) beta rhythms implicative of the deep brain stimulation effects. In the current review, we provide an overview of the currently available studies and discuss the underlying mechanism of preserved cycling ability in relation to the FOG in PD patients. The mechanisms are presented in detail using a graphical scheme comparing cortical oscillations during walking and cycling in PD.
Keywords: gait, freezing of gait, Parkinson's disease, cycling, cortical oscillations, beta band
Published in DiRROS: 21.06.2022; Views: 593; Downloads: 462
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13. Mortality, seasonal variation, and susceptibility to acute exacerbation of COPD in the pandemic year : a nationwide population studyIrena Šarc, Aleša Lotrič Dolinar, Tina Morgan, Jože Sambt, Kristina Ziherl, Dalibor Gavrić, Julij Šelb, Aleš Rozman, Petra Došenović Bonča, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Previous studies have suggested that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with a decreased rate of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Data on how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced mortality, seasonality of, and susceptibility to AECOPD in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) population is scarce. Methods: We conducted a national population-based retrospective study using data from the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia from 2015 to February 2021, with 2015–2019 as the reference. We extracted patient and healthcare data for AECOPD, dividing AECOPD into severe, resulting in hospitalisation, and moderate, requiring outpatient care. The national COPD population was generated based on dispensed prescriptions of inhalation therapies, and moderate AECOPD events were analysed based on dispensed AECOPD medications. We extracted data on all-cause and non-COVID mortality. Results: The numbers of severe and moderate AECOPD were reduced by 48% and 34%, respectively, in 2020. In the pandemic year, the seasonality of AECOPD was reversed, with a 1.5-fold higher number of severe AECOPD in summer compared to winter. The proportion of frequent exacerbators (2 AECOPD hospitalisations per year) was reduced by 9% in 2020, with a 30% reduction in repeated severe AECOPD in frequent exacerbators and a 34% reduction in persistent frequent exacerbators (2 AECOPD hospitalisations per year for 2 consecutive years) from 2019. The risk of two or more moderate AECOPD decreased by 43% in 2020. In the multivariate model, pandemic year follow-up was the only independent factor associated with a decreased risk for severe AECOPD (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61–0.84; p < 0.0001). In 2020, non-COVID mortality decreased (−15%) and no excessive mortality was observed in the COPD population. Conclusion: In the pandemic year, we found decreased susceptibility to AECOPD across severity spectrum of COPD, reversed seasonal distribution of severe AECOPD and decreased non-COVID mortality in the COPD population.
Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- mortality, pandemics, seasons, exacerbation, acute exacerbation, seasonal variations, population study
Published in DiRROS: 14.03.2022; Views: 626; Downloads: 353
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14. Hereditary systemic autoinflammatory diseases and Schnitzler's syndromeMark Kačar, Shelly Pathak, Sinisa Savic, 2019, review article Abstract: The systemic autoinflammatory diseases are disorders of the innate immune system distinguished by severe inflammation resulting from dysregulation of the innate immune system. Hereditary fever syndromes, such as FMF, TNF receptor-associated periodic syndrome, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes and mevalonate kinase deficiency, were the first group of systemic autoinflammatory diseases for which a genetic basis was established, between 1999 and 2001. Currently according to the latest report of the international union of immunological societies, 37 separate monogenic disorders were classified as autoinflammatory. In addition to the abovementioned monogenic conditions, we describe Schnitzler's syndrome, a well-defined, acquired autoinflammatory condition without a clear genetic basis. For the purposes of this review, we discuss several conditions defined by the latest consensus process as systemic autoinflammatory diseases. We focus on those disorders where recent studies have contributed to further phenotypic characterization or had an impact on clinical management.
Keywords: pyrin, Schnitzler syndrome, haploinsufficiency, autoinflammatory diseases, pyrin-associated autoinflammatory diseases, NLRP3-related autoinflammatory diseases, undifferentiated systemic autoinflammatory disease, relopathies
Published in DiRROS: 08.04.2021; Views: 1286; Downloads: 973
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15. Mixed results with baricitinib in biological-resistant adult-onset Still's disease and undifferentiated systemic autoinflammatory diseaseMark Kačar, John Fitton, Andrew K Gough, Maya H Buch, Dennis McGonagle, Sinisa Savic, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: This clinical case series describes our experience with the use of Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor baricitinib in two patients suffering from refractory adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) as well as in one case suffering from AOSD-like autoinflammatory disease in the context of myelodysplastic syndrome. All patients suffered from disease nonresponsive to conventional Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as well as biological therapies including interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 blockade, relying instead on high daily doses of prednisolone. We also report the first case of Pneumocystis jirovecii infection following baricitinib use.
Keywords: adult onset Still's disease -- drug therapy, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis, antirheumatic agents, undifferentiated systemic autoinflammatory disease, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Published in DiRROS: 08.04.2021; Views: 1345; Downloads: 856
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16. Identification of critical transcriptomic signaling pathways in patients with H syndrome and Rosai-Dorfman diseaseSamuel Lara-Reyna, James A. Poulter, Elton J.R. Vasconcelos, Mark Kačar, Michael F. McDermott, Reuben Tooze, Rainer Doffinger, Sinisa Savic, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Biallelic mutations in SLC29A3 cause histiocytosis-lymphadenopathy plus syndrome, also known as H syndrome (HS). HS is a complex disorder, with ~ 25% of patients developing autoinflammatory complications consisting of unexplained fevers, persistently elevated inflammatory markers, and unusual lymphadenopathies, with infiltrating CD68+, S100+, and CD1a[minus] histiocytes, resembling the immunophenotype found in Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD). We investigated the transcriptomic profiles of monocytes, non-activated (M0), classically activated (M1), and alternatively activated macrophages (M2) in two patients with HS, one without autoinflammatory (HS1) and one with autoinflammatory complications (HS2). RNA sequencing revealed a dysregulated transcriptomic profile in both HS patients compared to healthy controls (HC). HS2, when compared to HS1, had several differentially expressed genes, including genes associated with lymphocytic-histiocytic predominance (e.g. NINL) and chronic immune activation (e.g. B2M). The transcriptomic and cytokine profiles of HS patients were comparable to patients with SAID with high levels of TNF. SERPINA1 gene expression was found to be upregulated in all patients studied. Moreover, higher levels of IFN[gamma] were found in the serum of both HS patients when compared to HC. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the DEGs in HS patients revealed the terms "type I IFN," "IFN[gamma] signaling pathway," and "immune responses" as the top 3 most significant terms for monocytes. Gene expression analysis of lymph node biopsies from sporadic and H syndrome-associated RDD suggests common underlying pathological process. In conclusion, monocytes and macrophages from both HS patients showed transcriptomic profiles similar to SAIDs and also uniquely upregulated IFN[gamma] signature. These findings may help find better therapeutic options for this rare disorder.
Keywords: interferon-gamma, H syndrome, systemic autoinflammatory disease
Published in DiRROS: 08.04.2021; Views: 1158; Downloads: 587
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17. Somatic mutations and the risk of undifferentiated autoinflammatory disease in MDS : an under-recognized but prognostically important complicationAbdulla Watad, Mark Kačar, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Qiao Zhou, Miriam Jassam, Jan Taylor, Eve Roman, Alexandra Smith, Richard A. Jones, Howard Amital, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Objectives: We theorized that myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with somatic mutations and karyotype abnormalities are associated with autoinflammation, and that the presence of autoinflammatory disease affected prognosis in MDS. Methods: One hundred thirty-four MDS patients were assessed for the prevalence of autoinflammatory complications and its link with karyotypes and somaticmutation status. Autoinflammatory complications were described either as well-defined autoinflammatory diseases (AD) or undifferentiated "autoinflammatory disease" (UAD) (defined as CRP over 10.0 mg/L on five consecutive occasions, taken at separate times and not explained by infection). Several patient characteristics including demographic, clinical, laboratory, cytogenetics charts, and outcomes, were compared between different groups. Results: Sixty-two (46.3%) patients had an autoinflammatory complication manifesting as arthralgia (43.5% vs. 23.6%, p = 0.0146), arthritis (30.6% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.0340), skin rash (27.4% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.0301), pleuritis (14.5% vs. 4.2%, p = 0.0371) and unexplained fever (27.4% vs. 0%, p < 0.0001). AD were found in 7.4% of MDS patients (with polymyalgia rheumatic being the most frequently one). Classical autoimmune diseases were found only in 4 MDS patients (3.0%). Transcription factor pathway mutations (RUNX1, BCOR, WTI, TP53) (OR 2.20 [95%CI 1.02-4.75], p = 0.0451) and abnormal karyotypes (OR 2.76 [95%CI 1.22-6.26], p = 0.0153) were associated with autoinflammatory complications. Acute leukaemic transformation was more frequent in MDS patients with autoinflammatory features than those without (27.4% vs. 9.7%, p = 0.0080). Conclusions: Autoinflammatory complications are common inMDS. Somatic mutations of transcription factor pathways and abnormal karyotypes are associated with greater risk of autoinflammatory complications, which are themselves linked to malignant transformation and a worse prognosis.
Keywords: myelodysplastic syndromes - genetics, autoinflammation, undifferentiated autoinflammatory disease, molecular characterization, somatic mutations
Published in DiRROS: 31.03.2021; Views: 1203; Downloads: 811
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18. Fractional heat shock protein 27 urine excretion as a short-term predictor in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseDenise Traxler, Matthias Zimmermann, Elisabeth Simader, Elisa Einwallner, Dragan Copic, Alexandra Graf, Thomas Mueller, Cecilia Veraar, Mitja Lainščak, Robert Marčun, Mitja Košnik, Matjaž Fležar, Aleš Rozman, Peter Korošec, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is characterized by episodes of acute exacerbations. Finding a systemic biomarker that reliably predicts outcome after an acute exacerbation remains a major challenge. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) has been previously studied in COPD, however, urine excretion trajectory and prognostic value after an exacerbation is unknown. Methods: In this retrospective post hoc analysis of a prospective study that included 253 COPD patients who were hospitalized for acute exacerbation, 207 patients were analyzed. Urine and serum were sampled at admission, discharge, and 180 days after discharge; urine excretion trajectory was analyzed and correlated with clinicopathological and survival data. Results: HSP27 urine excretion increased after an exacerbation episode [1.8% admission, 1.8% discharge, 2.3% 180 days after discharge (P=0.091)]. In severely ill patients (GOLD IV) this course was even more distinct [1.6% admission, 2.1% discharge, 2.8% 180 days after discharge (P=0.007)]. Furthermore, fractional HSP27 urine excretion at discharge was increased in GOLD IV patients (P=0.031). In Kaplan-Meier and univariable Cox proportional hazard models patients with HSP27 urine excretion below 0.845% showed significantly worse survival at 30, 90 and 180 days after discharge. In a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model including established COPD outcome parameters fractional HSP27 urine excretion remained a significant predictor of survival at 30 and 90 days after discharge. Comparing this model to our already published model that includes HSP27 serum concentration we could show that fractional HSP27 urine excretion performs better in short-term survival. Conclusions: Our findings provide novel information about fractional HSP27 urine excretion trajectory in acute exacerbation of COPD. Fractional HSP27 urine excretion may be significantly reduced during an episode of acute exacerbation in COPD patients and may be used as a predictor of short-term all-cause mortality.
Keywords: biomarkers, heat-shock proteins, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, urine, heat shock protein 27
Published in DiRROS: 25.01.2021; Views: 1478; Downloads: 1014
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19. Emphysema and extrapulmonary tissue loss in COPD: a multi-organ loss of tissue phenotypeBartolome R. Celli, Nicholas Locantore, Ruth Tal-Singer, John Riley, Jørgen Vestbo, Julie C. Yates, Bruce E. Miller, Edwin K Silverman, Caroline A. Owen, Miguel Divo, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: We tested whether emphysema progression accompanies enhanced tissue loss in other body compartments in 1817 patients from the ECLIPSE chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cohort. Clinical and selected systemic biomarker measurements were compared in subjects grouped by quantitative tomography scan emphysema quartiles using the percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%). Lowest and highest quartile patients had amino-acid metabolomic profiles. We related LAA% to 3 years decline in lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)), body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI) and exacerbations, hospitalisations and mortality rates. Participants with more baseline emphysema had lower FEV1, BMI and FFMI, worse functional capacity, and less cardiovascular disease but more osteoporosis. Systemic C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were similar among groups, but club cell protein 16 was higher and interleukin-8, surfactant protein D and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product were lower with more emphysema. Metabolomics differed between extreme emphysema quartiles. Patients with more emphysema had accelerated FEV1, BMI and FFMI decline and more exacerbations, hospitalisations and mortality. COPD patients with more emphysema undergo excessive loss of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissue, which is probably related to abnormal tissue maintenance. Because of worse clinical outcomes, we propose this subgroup be named the multi-organ loss of tissue (MOLT) COPD phenotype.
Keywords: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema
Published in DiRROS: 14.12.2020; Views: 1211; Downloads: 365
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20. Comparison of European ICU patients in 2012 (ICON) versus 2002 (SOAP)Jean Louis Vincent, Jean-Yves Lefrant, Katarzyna Kotfis, Rahul Nanchal, Ignacio Martin-Loeches, Samir G. Sakka, Xavier Wittebole, Peter Pickkers, Rui P. Moreno, Yasser Sakr, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate differences in the characteristics and outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU) patients over time. Methods: We reviewed all epidemiological data, including comorbidities, types and severity of organ failure, interventions, lengths of stay and outcome, for patients from the Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely ill Patients (SOAP) study, an observational study conducted in European intensive care units in 2002, and the Intensive Care Over Nations (ICON) audit, a survey of intensive care unit patients conducted in 2012. Results: We compared the 3147 patients from the SOAP study with the 4852 patients from the ICON audit admitted to intensive care units in the same countries as those in the SOAP study. The ICON patients were older (62.5 +/- 17.0 vs. 60.6 +/- 17.4 years) and had higher severity scores than the SOAP patients. The proportion of patients with sepsis at any time during the intensive care unit stay was slightly higher in the ICON study (31.9 vs. 29.6%, p = 0.03). In multilevel analysis, the adjusted odds of ICU mortality were significantly lower for ICON patients than for SOAP patients, particularly in patients with sepsis [OR 0.45 (0.35-0.59), p < 0.001]. Conclusions: Over the 10-year period between 2002 and 2012, the proportion of patients with sepsis admitted to European ICUs remained relatively stable, but the severity of disease increased. In multilevel analysis, the odds of ICU mortality were lower in our 2012 cohort compared to our 2002 cohort, particularly in patients with sepsis.
Keywords: intensive care units -- analysis -- epidemiology -- mortality, sepsis, severity of disease
Published in DiRROS: 30.11.2020; Views: 1654; Downloads: 1135
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