Search

Objective: The present meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the association between circulating chemerin levels and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women., Methods: Relevant studies published up to May 2020 were searched from PubMed, Ovid, the Cochrane Library, and Clinical Trial Database. A random effects model was used to measure the strength of association between PCOS and chemerin by using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). All data were analyzed using Stata 12.0 (version 12; Stata-Corp, College Station, TX)., Results: The final meta-analysis included eight studies with 15 results including a total of 897 participants (524 patients with PCOS and 373 controls). The circulating chemerin levels were higher in patients with PCOS (random effects SMD = 1.07; 95% CI: 0.55-1.59; p  < .001) than in controls. However, considerable heterogeneity across studies was not eliminated in subgroup analyses. The meta-regression analysis further suggested that region is the main source of heterogeneity ( p  = .001)., Conclusions: Our meta-analysis indicated that women with PCOS have significantly higher circulating chemerin levels than in healthy women, indicating that chemerin may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effects of exenatide on some inflammatory markers and to quantify the effect of exenatide on β-cell function., Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial., Setting: Seven hospitals in Italy., Patients: A total of 174 white treatment-naive adults with type 2 diabetes and a glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) level higher than 7.5%., Intervention: After an open-label run-in period of 8 ± 2 months with metformin, patients were randomized to take exenatide (5 μg twice/day for the first 4 weeks, 10 μg twice/day thereafter) or a placebo volume equivalent for 12 months., Measurements and Main Results: Body mass index, HbA(1c), fasting plasma glucose, postprandial plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index, homeostasis model assessment β-cell function index (HOMA-β), fasting plasma proinsulin (FPPr), proinsulin-to-fasting plasma insulin ratio (Pr:FPI ratio), C-peptide, glucagon, vaspin, chemerin, and resistin were evaluated at baseline, at randomization, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Patients also underwent a combined euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic, and hyperglycemic clamp with subsequent arginine stimulation to assess insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. HbA(1c) was significantly improved with exenatide plus metformin compared with placebo plus metformin. Exenatide plus metformin was also significantly more effective than placebo plus metformin in increasing HOMA-β C-peptide, and all measures of β-cell function after the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic and hyperglycemic clamp. We observed that exenatide plus metformin also reduced resistin compared with placebo plus metformin. No variations in vaspin and chemerin were noted in group-to-group comparisons. We observed a significant correlation between M value increase, an index of insulin sensitivity, and a decrease in inflammatory parameters in the exenatide plus metformin group., Conclusions: The combination of exenatide plus metformin was more effective than metformin alone in improving glycemic control, β-cell function, and inflammatory parameters., (© 2013 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.)

Background and Aims: At present, a rapid and widely available diagnostic test for stroke remains elusive. The aim of this study was to examine the predictive value of a panel of blood-borne biochemical markers for stroke diagnosis., Design: Consecutive patients with strokes or stroke-mimicking conditions (mimics) were evaluated within 24 h from symptom onset (915 strokes and 90 mimics). Blood samples were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for C-reactive protein, d-dimer, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), S100B, brain natriuretic peptide, caspase-3, neurotrophin-3, chimerin and secretagogin., Results: The main independent predictors of stroke versus mimics were caspase-3 >1.96 ng mL(-1) [odds ratio (OR) = 3.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88-5.88, P < 0.0001], d-dimer >0.27 μg mL(-1) (OR = 2.97; 95% CI 1.72-5.16, P = 0.0001), sRAGE >0.91 ng mL(-1) (OR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.26-3.83, P = 0.006), chimerin <1.11 ng mL(-1) (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.19-0.81, P = 0.011), secretagogin <0.24 ng mL(-1) (OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.27-0.97, P = 0.041) and MMP-9 > 199 ng mL(-1) (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.01-2.73, P = 0.046). The model's predictive probability of stroke when the six biomarkers are above/below these cut-off levels was 99.01%. The best combination of biomarkers in the model was caspase-3 and d-dimer. Moreover, a model developed for samples obtained within the first 3 h showed high sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) (threshold at 25th percentile: Se 0.87, Sp 0.55; threshold at 75th percentile: Se 0.28, Sp 0.99)., Conclusions: A combination of biomarkers including caspase-3 and d-dimer appears to be the most promising to achieve a rapid biochemical diagnosis of stroke. If replicated, this approach could be used as a tool for urgent referral of stroke patients to hospitals in which acute treatments are available., (© 2010 The Association for the Publication of the Journal of Internal Medicine.)

SGN-30, a chimeric anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated potent preclinical antitumour activity in both Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). We conducted an open-label, Phase II study to determine the safety and objective response rate of SGN-30 in 79 patients with refractory/recurrent HL (n = 38) or systemic ALCL (n = 41). Each course of SGN-30 comprised 6 weekly intravenous infusions, followed by a 2-week treatment-free period. Patients had received a median of 3 (range 1-5) prior regimens of chemotherapy or systemic therapy. The initial 40 patients received 6 mg/kg weekly; the latter 39 patients received 12 mg/kg weekly. In the ALCL group, two patients achieved a complete response and five additional patients achieved a partial response, with response durations ranging from 27 to 1460+ d. No objective responses were observed in the HL group; however, 11 patients (29%) had stable disease (duration 62-242 days). Although adverse events were common, most were mild or moderate, and no specific pattern of adverse events was observed in either disease group. These results demonstrate that weekly administration of SGN-30 is safe, with modest clinical activity in patients with ALCL.

Background and Purpose: Because there is no biologic marker offering precise information about stroke etiology, many patients receive a diagnosis of undetermined stroke even after all available diagnostic tests are done, precluding correct treatment., Methods: To examine the diagnostic value of a panel of biochemical markers to differentiate stroke etiologies, consecutive acute stroke patients were prospectively evaluated. Brain computed tomography, ultrasonography, cardiac evaluations, and other tests were done to identify an etiologic diagnosis according to TOAST classification. Blood samples were drawn on Emergency Department arrival (<24 hours) to test selected biomarkers: C-reactive protein, D-dimer, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products, matrix metalloproteinase-9, S-100b, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), neurotrophin-3, caspase-3, chimerin, and secretagogin (assayed by ELISA)., Results: Of 707 ischemic stroke patients included, 36.6% were cardioembolic, 21.4% atherothrombotic, 18.1% lacunar, and 23.9% of undetermined origin. High levels of BNP, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products, and D-dimer (P<0.0001) were observed in patients with cardioembolic stroke. Independent predictors (odds ratios with CIs are given) of cardioembolic stroke were as follows: atrial fibrillation 15.3 (8.4-27.7, P<0.001); other embolic cardiopathies 14.7 (4.7-46, P<0.001); total anterior circulation infarction 4 (2.3-6.8, P<0.001); BNP >76 pg/mL 2.3 (1.4-3.7, P=0.001); and D-dimer >0.96 microg/mL 2.2 (1.4-3.7, P=0.001). Even among patients with transient symptoms (n=155), a high BNP level identified cardioembolic etiology (6.7, 2.4-18.9; P<0.001). A model combining clinical and biochemical data had a sensitivity of 66.5% and a specificity of 91.3% for predicting cardioembolism., Conclusions: Using a combination of biomarkers may be a feasible strategy to improve the diagnosis of cardioembolic stroke in the acute phase, thus rapidly guiding other diagnostic tests and accelerating the start of optimal secondary prevention.