Objectives:To study the expression of adhesion molecules in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with and without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and the effects of therapy with the endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor antagonist, bosentan.Methods:In all, 35 patients with SSc and 25 healthy donors (HD) were selected for this study. Of 35 patients, 10 had isolated PAH assessed by Doppler echocardiography and treated with bosentan. Peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes were isolated by density gradient centrifugation, and the expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) and L-selectin on CD3 T cells was assessed by double immunofluorescence and flow-cytometry. As endothelial activation markers, serum soluble P-selectin, platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen were assessed by ELISA. In patients with SSc-PAH, T cell subsets and soluble endothelial markers were assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of bosentan therapy.Results:In patients with SSc-PAH, serum soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin and PECAM-1 levels were higher than in HD at baseline and fell to normal values after 12 months of bosentan therapy. CD3–LFA1 T cells were significantly higher in PAH-SSc at baseline than in HD or SSc and significantly decreased after therapy. CD3–L-selectin T cells were significantly lower in SSc-PAH at baseline than in HD or SSc and rose to normal levels after bosentan therapy.Conclusions:This study confirms that endothelial activation occurs in SSc, and suggests that changes in the T cell/endothelium interplay take place in SSc-associated PAH. Bosentan seems to be able to hamper these changes and restore T cell functions in these patients.

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Endoscopic equatorial laser therapy was associated with a survival of both and at least 1 twin of approximately 55% and 83%, respectively, with a low rate of recurrent twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and twin anemia-polycythemia sequence. In addition, the preoperative finding of abnormal donor umbilical artery Doppler on ultrasound identified a subgroup of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome pregnancies with a lower dual survival rate caused by increased intrauterine deaths of donor twins.

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Introduction Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity, disability, and mortality in high-income countries. Early prehospital stroke recognition plays a fundamental role, because most clinical decisions should be made within the first hours after onset of symptoms. The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) is a validated screening tool whose utilization is suggested during triage. The aim of this study is to review the role of the CPSS by assessing its sensitivity and specificity in prehospital and hospital settings. Methods A systematic review and a meta-analysis of the literature reporting the CPSS sensitivity and specificity among patients suspected of stroke were undertaken. Electronic databases were searched up to December 2018, and the quality assessment was carried out by using the Revised Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies −2  (QUADAS-2). Results Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results showed an overall sensitivity of 82.46% (95% confidence interval [CI] 74.83–88.09%) and specificity of 56.95% (95% CI 41.78–70.92). No significant differences were found in terms of sensitivity when CPSS was performed by physicians (80.11%, 95% CI 66.14–89.25%) or non-physicians (81.11%, 95% CI 69.78–88.87%). However, administration by physicians resulted in higher specificity (73.57%, 95% CI 65.78–80.12%) when compared to administration by non-physicians (50.07%, 95% CI 31.54–68.58%). Prospective studies showed higher specificity 71.61% (95% CI 61.12–80.18%) and sensitivity 86.82% (95% CI 74.72–93.63) when compared to retrospective studies which showed specificity of 33.37% (95% CI 22.79–45.94%) and sensitivity of 78.52% (95% CI 75.08–81.60). Conclusions The CPSS is a standardized and easy-to-use stroke screening tool whose implementation in emergency systems protocols, along with proper and consistent coordination with local, regional, and state agencies, medical authorities and local experts are suggested.