Marche Polytechnic University

About: Marche Polytechnic University is a education organization based out in Ancona, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 5905 authors who have published 15769 publications receiving 382286 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitá Politecnica delle Marche & Universita Politecnica delle Marche.

Aldosterone as a key mediator of the cardiometabolic syndrome in primary aldosteronism: an observational study.

Abstract: ObjectivePrimary aldosteronism (PA) is characterized by the onset of both cardiac and gluco-metabolic alterations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of aldosterone excess on the development of such complications, and the effects of surgical and pharmacological treatment on their long-

Microbial translocation predicts disease progression of HIV-infected antiretroviral-naive patients with high CD4+ cell count.

Abstract: Objectives: We investigated the significance of microbial translocation measured on average 3 years after HIV seroconversion in driving disease progression in HIV+ untreated patients with high CD4(+) cell count.Design: We included ICONA patients with documented last HIV-negative and first HIV-positive test, at least one plasma sample stored while antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive and CD4(+) cell count greater than 200 cells/mu l.Methods: Microbial translocation [lipopolysaccharide (LPS), sCD14 and EndoCAb] and immune activation (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) were measured. Correlation between immune activation, microbial translocation, CD4(+) and plasma HIV-RNA was evaluated by linear regression and nonparametric Spearman's rho. The independent predictive value of these markers on time to progression to the combined endpoint of AIDS, death, CD4(+) cell count less than 200 cells/mu l or start of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was assessed using survival analysis.Results: We analysed 1488 biomarker measures from 379 patients. A median of 3.1 years after the estimated seroconversion date [interquartile range (IQR) 1.6-5.4], median (IQR) markers values were LPS, 110 pg/ml (IQR 75-215), sCD14, 3.3 mu g/ml (2.2-4.8), IL-6, 1.1 pg/ml (0.6-1.9) and TNF-alpha, 2.4 pg/ml (1.8-3.4). Two hundred and sixty progression events were recorded over a median of 1.6 years from the first sample (2% AIDS, 84% ART initiation, 12% CD4(+) cell count less than 200 cells/mu l and 2% death). LPS was the only biomarker associated with this primary composite outcome independently of age, HIV-RNA and CD4(+) (relative hazard = 1.40 per log(e) higher, 95% confidence interval 1.18-1.66, P<0.001).Conclusion: Circulating LPS in the first years of chronic HIV infection is a strong predictor of disease progression independent of CD4(+) cell count and HIV viraemia and may be considered a candidate biomarker for HIV monitoring and evaluation in clinical trials. (C) 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Business models, intangibles and firm performance: evidence on corporate entrepreneurship from Italian manufacturing SMEs

Abstract: This paper examines the factors that affect firm performance in a sample of 376 small- and medium-sized Italian enterprises over the period 2000–2010. It looks in particular at changes in business models and investments in intangibles. We compared firms that continued to be managed through an existing business model with matched firms that changed their business model over the period. We found that a modification of the business model has a positive effect on the ability of the firm to perform well. There was also a positive complementary effect on performance of business model change and intangibles. These results are even more evident when business model changes were categorised by their degree of innovation, suggesting that business model innovation is core to firm performance and that intangibles are positive moderators. They play a crucial role in shaping the firm’s competences, which favour the success of an innovative business model configuration.