University of Milano-Bicocca

About: University of Milano-Bicocca is a education organization based out in Milan, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Blood pressure. The organization has 8972 authors who have published 22322 publications receiving 620484 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca & Universita degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca.

Observation of double charm production involving open charm in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Abstract: The production of J/psi mesons accompanied by open charm, and of pairs of open charm hadrons are observed in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 355 pb(-1) collected with the LHCb detector. Model independent measurements of absolute cross-sections are given together with ratios to the measured J/psi and open charm cross-sections. The properties of these events are studied and compared to theoretical predictions.

High-Density Lipoproteins Protect Isolated Rat Hearts From Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Reducing Cardiac Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Content and Enhancing Prostaglandin Release

Abstract: The incidence and severity of primary cardiac events are inversely related to the plasma concentration of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). We investigated whether HDLs may exert a direct cardioprotection in buffer-perfused isolated rat hearts, which underwent a 20-minute low-flow ischemia followed by a 30-minute reperfusion. The administration of HDLs at physiological concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL) during the 10 minutes immediately before ischemia rapidly and remarkably improved postischemic functional recovery and decreased creatine kinase release in the coronary effluent. Reconstituted HDLs containing apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and phosphatidylcholine, but not lipid-free apoA-I or phosphatidylcholine liposomes, were also effective in protecting the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury. HDLs at reperfusion were less effective than when given before ischemia. HDLs caused a dose-dependent reduction of ischemia-induced cardiac tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression and content, which correlated with the improved functional recovery. A parallel increase of TNF-alpha release in the coronary effluent was observed, due to a direct binding of cardiac TNF-alpha to HDLs. Taken together, these findings argue for a cause-effect relationship between the HDL-mediated removal of TNF-alpha from the ischemic myocardium and the HDL-induced cardioprotection. Indeed, etanercept, a recombinant TNF-alpha-blocking protein, caused a dose-dependent improvement of postischemic functional recovery. HDLs also enhanced ischemia-induced prostaglandin release, which may contribute to the cardioprotective effect. A low plasma HDL level may expose the heart to excessive ischemia-reperfusion damage, and HDL-targeted therapies may be helpful to induce immediate or delayed myocardial protection from ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Highly ordered alignment of a vinyl polymer by host–guest cross-polymerization

Abstract: Chain alignment can significantly influence the macroscopic properties of a polymeric material, but no general and versatile methodology has yet been reported to obtain highly ordered crystalline packing of polymer chains, with high stability. Here, we disclose a strategy that relies on 'ordered crosslinks' to produce polymeric materials that exhibit a crystalline arrangement. Divinyl crosslinkers (2,5-divinyl-terephthalate) were first embedded, as substitutional ligands, into the structure of a porous coordination polymer (PCP), [Cu(terephthalate)triethylenediamine0.5]n. A representative vinyl monomer, styrene, was subsequently polymerized inside the channels of the host PCP. The polystyrene chains that form within the PCP channels also crosslink with the divinyl species. This bridges together the polymer chains of adjacent channels and ensures that, on selective removal of the PCP, the polymer chains remain aligned. Indeed, the resulting material exhibits long-range order and is stable to thermal and solvent treatments, as demonstrated by X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.

Effects of renal denervation on kidney function and long-term outcomes: 3-year follow-up from the Global SYMPLICITY Registry.

Abstract: AIMS Several studies and registries have demonstrated sustained reductions in blood pressure (BP) after renal denervation (RDN). The long-term safety and efficacy after RDN in real-world patients with uncontrolled hypertension, however, remains unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of RDN, including its effects on renal function. METHODS AND RESULTS The Global SYMPLICITY Registry is a prospective, open-label registry conducted at 196 active sites worldwide in hypertensive patients receiving RDN treatment. Among 2237 patients enrolled and treated with the SYMPLICITY Flex catheter, 1742 were eligible for follow-up at 3 years. Baseline office and 24-h ambulatory systolic BP (SBP) were 166 ± 25 and 154 ± 18 mmHg, respectively. SBP reduction after RDN was sustained over 3 years, including decreases in both office (-16.5 ± 28.6 mmHg, P < 0.001) and 24-h ambulatory SBP (-8.0 ± 20.0 mmHg; P < 0.001). Twenty-one percent of patients had a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Between baseline and 3 years, renal function declined by 7.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 in patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD; eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2; baseline eGFR 87 ± 17 mL/min/1.73 m2) and by 3.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 in patients with CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2; baseline eGFR 47 ± 11 mL/min/1.73 m2). No long-term safety concerns were observed following the RDN procedure. CONCLUSION Long-term data from the Global SYMPLICITY Registry representing the largest available cohort of hypertensive patients receiving RDN in a real-world clinical setting demonstrate both the safety and efficacy of the procedure with significant and sustained office and ambulatory BP reductions out to 3 years.

Usefulness of Heart Rate to Predict Cardiac Events in Treated Patients With High-Risk Systemic Hypertension

Abstract: A high heart rate (HR) predicts future cardiovascular events. We explored the predictive value of HR in patients with high-risk hypertension and examined whether blood pressure reduction modifies this association. The participants were 15,193 patients with hypertension enrolled in the Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation (VALUE) trial and followed up for 5 years. The HR was assessed from electrocardiographic recordings obtained annually throughout the study period. The primary end point was the interval to cardiac events. After adjustment for confounders, the hazard ratio of the composite cardiac primary end point for a 10-beats/min of the baseline HR increment was 1.16 (95% confidence interval 1.12 to 1.20). Compared to the lowest HR quintile, the adjusted hazard ratio in the highest quintile was 1.73 (95% confidence interval 1.46 to 2.04). Compared to the pooled lower quintiles of baseline HR, the annual incidence of primary end point in the top baseline quintile was greater in each of the 5 study years (all p