Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

About: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart is a education organization based out in Milan, Lombardia, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 13592 authors who have published 31048 publications receiving 853961 citations.

Tropospheric ozone assessment report: Global ozone metrics for climate change, human health, and crop/ecosystem research

Abstract: Assessment of spatial and temporal variation in the impacts of ozone on human health, vegetation, and climate requires appropriate metrics. A key component of the Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR) is the consistent calculation of these metrics at thousands of monitoring sites globally. Investigating temporal trends in these metrics required that the same statistical methods be applied across these ozone monitoring sites. The nonparametric Mann-Kendall test (for significant trends) and the Theil-Sen estimator (for estimating the magnitude of trend) were selected to provide robust methods across all sites. This paper provides the scientific underpinnings necessary to better understand the implications of and rationale for selecting a specific TOAR metric for assessing spatial and temporal variation in ozone for a particular impact. The rationale and underlying research evidence that influence the derivation of specific metrics are given. The form of 25 metrics (4 for model-measurement comparison, 5 for characterization of ozone in the free troposphere, 11 for human health impacts, and 5 for vegetation impacts) are described. Finally, this study categorizes health and vegetation exposure metrics based on the extent to which they are determined only by the highest hourly ozone levels, or by a wider range of values. The magnitude of the metrics is influenced by both the distribution of hourly average ozone concentrations at a site location, and the extent to which a particular metric is determined by relatively low, moderate, and high hourly ozone levels. Hence, for the same ozone time series, changes in the distribution of ozone concentrations can result in different changes in the magnitude and direction of trends for different metrics. Thus, dissimilar conclusions about the effect of changes in the drivers of ozone variability (e.g., precursor emissions) on health and vegetation exposure can result from the selection of different metrics.

Clinical Impact of OCT Findings During PCI: The CLI-OPCI II Study.

Abstract: Objectives The goal of this study was to assess the clinical impact of optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background OCT provides unprecedented high-definition visualization of plaque/stent structures during PCI; however, the impact of OCT findings on outcome remains undefined. Methods In the context of the multicenter CLI-OPCI (Centro per la Lotta contro l’Infarto–Optimisation of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) registry, we retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing end-procedural OCT assessment and compared the findings with clinical outcomes. Results A total of 1,002 lesions (832 patients) were assessed. Appropriate OCT assessment was obtained in 98.2% of cases and revealed suboptimal stent implantation in 31.0% of lesions, with increased incidence in patients experiencing major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during follow-up (59.2% vs. 26.9%; p 200 μm at the distal stent edge (HR: 2.54; p = 0.004), and reference lumen area 200 μm (HR: 1.15; p = 0.52), intrastent plaque/thrombus protrusion >500 μm (HR: 1.00; p = 0.99), and dissection >200 μm at the proximal stent edge (HR: 0.83; p = 0.65) were not associated with worse outcomes. Using multivariable Cox hazard analysis, the presence of at least 1 significant criterion for suboptimal OCT stent deployment was confirmed as an independent predictor of MACE (HR: 3.53; 95% confidence interval: 2.2 to 5.8; p Conclusions Suboptimal stent deployment defined according to specific quantitative OCT criteria was associated with an increased risk of MACE during follow-up.

Distinct synovial tissue macrophage subsets regulate inflammation and remission in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: Immune-regulatory mechanisms of drug-free remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are unknown We hypothesized that synovial tissue macrophages (STM), which persist in remission, contribute to joint homeostasis We used single-cell transcriptomics to profile 32,000 STMs and identified phenotypic changes in patients with early/active RA, treatment-refractory/active RA and RA in sustained remission Each clinical state was characterized by different frequencies of nine discrete phenotypic clusters within four distinct STM subpopulations with diverse homeostatic, regulatory and inflammatory functions This cellular atlas, combined with deep-phenotypic, spatial and functional analyses of synovial biopsy fluorescent activated cell sorted STMs, revealed two STM subpopulations (MerTKposTREM2high and MerTKposLYVE1pos) with unique remission transcriptomic signatures enriched in negative regulators of inflammation These STMs were potent producers of inflammation-resolving lipid mediators and induced the repair response of synovial fibroblasts in vitro A low proportion of MerTKpos STMs in remission was associated with increased risk of disease flare after treatment cessation Therapeutic modulation of MerTKpos STM subpopulations could therefore be a potential treatment strategy for RA

Cytogenetic Prognostication Within Medulloblastoma Subgroups

Abstract: Purpose Medulloblastoma comprises four distinct molecular subgroups: WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4. Current medulloblastoma protocols stratify patients based on clinical features: patient age, metastatic stage, extent of resection, and histologic variant. Stark prognostic and genetic differences among the four subgroups suggest that subgroup-specific molecular biomarkers could improve patient prognostication.