Uncategorized Archives

May 5, 2017

FDIME-EFIM 11th Clinical Research Seminar 2015

October 7, 2021

Abstracts FDIME Grant winners

Moulis (France, 2017): The prevalence of thrombocytopenia (too few platelets) and thrombocytosis (too many platelets) and the association with hospital admission and mortality. Platelets are involved in clot formation. However, they have multiple effects. Notably, they are involved in immune system regulation, participating in the control of infections, and may complicate auto-immune diseases and cancers. Abnormal platelet count (thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis) reflect disease severity in many condition and therefore can be used as a biomarker of disease severity in patients acutely admitted to hospital for medical conditions. Arvaniti (Greece, 2018): Epigenetics (changes in genes expression) in autoimmune liver diseases (ALDs) In our research we studied complex chemical processes and genetic (DNA) changes in blood cells (B and T lymphocytes) in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). A relationship between changes in these chemical processes with disease activity was found, probably explaining part of the pathogenesis of the diseases and opening new ways for treatment strategies. Lanzillotta (Italy, 2020): Towards treatment optimization in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare form of inflammation of the pancreas. It carries a higher risk for metabolic and infectious complications, related to glycaemic derangements and biliary strictures or immunosuppressive […]

September 17, 2024

Reduction of dietary sodium is as beneficial as starting a first line antihypertensive agent

Jan Willem Elte, The Netherlands Recently published results of a prospective crossover trial show that a low-salt diet for just a week provided a reduction in systolic blood pressure of about 6 mm as compared with those with a normal diet (daily intake approximately 4.5 gr) and 8 mm versus the group with high-sodium diet. The trial involved 213 individuals, aged 50 – 75 years, with or without hypertension. A high-sodium regimen (approximately 2200 mg sodium added to usual diet) was compared with a low-sodium regimen (approximately 500 mg daily in total) both during one week. Average 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic pressure and pulse pressure were measured. Among the 213 participants who completed both high- and low-sodium diet visits, the median age was 61 years, 65% were female and 64% black. The low-sodium diet lowered systolic blood pressure in nearly 75% of individuals compared with the high-sodium diet group. So the effects obtained in one week were impressive and consistent in all subgroups (sex, age, race and BMI), including those with or without hypertension or those with antihypertensive medication. In diabetes patients (21 % of the study population) the reduction in blood pressure was even more impressive, close to […]