Background: Several studies have provided convincing evidence that in apparently healthy subjects elevated serum levels of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with an increased risk of experiencing myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. It has been claimed that, in dialytic patients, the hepatic synthesis of this ‘acute phase response’ plasma protein is primarily induced by the macrophage-derived interleukin 6 (IL-6). Little information is available, however, regarding CRP and IL-6 plasma levels in pre-dialytic renal failure. Methods: Plasma CRP by a modification of the laser nephelometry technique, IL-6 and serum albumin were determined in 103 chronic pre-dialytic patients (mean age 50 ± 6.3 years; creatinine clearance (Cr.cl.) 36.3 ± 23.1 ml/min). Results: CRP was >5 mg/l (normal upper range) in 42% of the global population. CRP and IL-6 were significantly related (r = 0.35, p < 0.0004). CRP and IL-6 were related to renal function (CRP vs. Cr.cl., r = –0.56, p < 0.0001; IL-6 vs. Cr.cl., r = –0.55, p < 0.0001, Spearman correlation coefficient). When patients were divided in tertiles according to renal function, CRP median value resulted 7.9 mg/l (interquartile interval: 5–12) in the first tertile (Cr.cl. <18.5 ml/min), 4.0 mg/l (3–6) in the second tertile (Cr.cl. 18.5–45 ml/min) and 3.2 mg/l (2.7–4.0) in the last tertile (Cr.cl. >45 ml/min) (p < 0.0001). A negative correlation between CRP and S-albumin was also found (r = –0.52, p < 0.0001, Spearman correlation coefficient). Conclusions: IL-6 and CRP were increased and were inversely related to creatinine clearance in our population of 103 chronic predialytic patients. The possibility of a decreased renal clearance of CRP and/or cytokines as a cause of an activated acute-phase response is discussed. A negative correlation between CRP and S-albumin was found confirming the link between chronic inflammation and malnutrition in chronic renal patients.
The use of chemosterilisation for controlling feral pigeon populations was investigated by: (1) quantifying the reproductive activity of pigeons in two Italian cities; (2) testing the efficacy of nicarbazin, an anticoccidial drug with rapid and reversible effects on the reproduction of laying hens, on groups of paired pigeons maintained in open aviaries; and (3) simulating the effects of the use of nicarbazin on a hypothetical population, allowing for the reproductive productivity recorded in (1) and the efficacy of this drug as obtained in (2). Breeding attempts were recorded all year round in both study sites with a minimum peak in September-October, a maximum in March-July, but with active nests in winter too. In terms of the sterility activity of the drug, the results showed only a partial inhibition of reproduction of pigeons fed ∼38-82 mg nicarbazin day −1 (kg bodyweight) −1 (500 and 800 ppm in feed), which, according to the simulations, would produce only a fleeting reduction of their abundance in the field. Data do not seem to support the use of this drug as an effective control method for feral pigeons, and they cast doubts on the opportunity to make use of chemosterilants, which produce only partial and reversible effects. The use of this drug could perhaps be considered only as part of an integrated pest-management program, which necessarily has to include the reduction of carrying capacity of the urban environment.
These results indicate that simvastatin in commonly used doses has an in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect in CKD patients, and may play an important role in counteracting the mechanisms involved on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.