Predictive comorbidities of hospital admission in 1,571 SARS- CoV-2 positive patients: analysis of administrative data from an Italian Local Health Autority.

Purpose: Globally, age and some comorbidities have been associ-ated with the risk of more severe outcomes of COVID-19. The purpose of this research is to calculate the hospitalization rate of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in an Italian Local health Authority (LHA) and to examine whether medical comorbidities encoded through pharmaceutical administrative data are predictors of hospital admission in patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 naso-pharyngeal swab. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in a LHA of Pescara. Comorbidities were coded through the consumption of drugs, using the WHO's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification System. The admission was ascertained by checking the hospital discharge records where generated. Results: During the study period, 1571 patients were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 oro-and-nasopharyngeal swab. Multivariable logistic analisys showed as predictors of admission an age ≥65 in the total sample (aOR 10.91; 95%CI 6.86-17.36) as well as in the male (aOR 12.64;95%CI 6.42-24.87) and female. (aOR 9.27; 95%CI 4.87-17.66) in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. Comorbidities assiociated with admission were (GERD) in overall (AdjOR 1.58; 95% CI 1.06-2.34) and male (AdjOR 2.30; 95%CI 1.12-4.72) samples and anticoagulants drugs use in male (AdjOR 3.90; 95% 1.11-13.65) sample, the presence of congestive heart failure (CHF) in female (AdjOR 0.47;95%CI 0.27-0.83) sample results as protective factor. Conclusion: In conclusion, increasing age, male gender and PPI use are positively associated while female gender and CHF-related drug use are negatively associated with hospitalization in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.

Does cyclic guanosine monophosphate induce autophagy in thyroid malignant carcinoma through down-regulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase?

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not the expression of cGMP- phosphodiesterases (cGMP-PDE) varies in different thyroid pathologies and to elucidate the relationship between the expression of cGMP-PDE, cGMP, and autophagy. Fifty-four thyroid biopsy samples, excised to perform the biopsy, were split into two parts and randomly assigned: one part was microscopically examined and histological classified, and the other was frozen and analysed in order to evaluate the cGMP-PDE activity. Intracellular cGMP was also measured. A strong expression of intracellular cGMP and cGMP-PDE activity was observed in carcinoma in respect to controls and benign pathologies. The level of cGMP-PDE in papillary carcinoma without lymph node involvement (N-) was approximately four-fold higher compared to those with lymph node invasion (N±). On the contrary, the cGMP was one and a half times higher in N± than N-. Our results are promising, although further epigenetical studies are needed to confirm this association. A correlation between the cGMP-degrading activity and the severity of thyroid pathology has been shown. The decrease of cGMP-PDE and the increase of cGMP in N± papillar carcinoma could be an autophagic stimulus, a defence mechanism of the body, against the cancer that is expanding and invading other tissues and organs.

cAMP phosphodiesterase activity evaluation in human carcinoma of salivary glands.

The aim of this study was to evaluate differences of cAMP-PDE activity in human salivary glands, between a control group and some different benign tumours groups and, where present, with 2 malignant tumors groups. The value of the enzymatic activity in the groups analysed was 50% lower than control samples. The differences between the control group (82 +/- 7.9 nmols/mg of protein) and the 3 pathologic groups (Benign A: 44 +/- 6.2; Malignant A: 40 +/- 16; Benign B: 40 +/- 14.2; Malign A: 9.1; Benign C: 22 nmols/mg of protein) are statistically significant.

Changes of plasma membrane properties in a human pre-T cell line undergoing apoptosis.

A variety of cellular functions are modulated by the physical properties of the cell membrane, and the modification of intracellular transfer, resulting from loss of membrane integrity, may contribute toward setting the cell onto the pathway of apoptosis. Apoptosis in lymphoid cells can be induced in different ways and biochemical modifications occur at an early phase of cell death, while the morphological features of apoptosis are evident later. We previously reported that DMSO is an efficient apoptosis-inducing factor in the human RPMI-8402 pre-T cell line. The aim of the present study was to verify the effect of DMSO on the plasma membrane fluidity, the intracellular calcium concentration and the phosphodiesterase activity in DMSO-induced apoptosis. Our results show a modification of membrane fluidity associated with an increase of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. Moreover, we demonstrate that these modifications are related to a decrease in the phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity. The correlation between the proceedings of added DMSO and the induction of apoptosis will provide significant information regarding the first part of the apoptotic process.

Cyclic Amp phosphodiesterase activity in normal and inflamed human dental pulp.

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (cAMP PDE) seems to be important in pulp tissues. High levels of cAMP PDE have been demonstrated to be in dental pulp cells. In the present study cAMP PDE activity was analyzed in normal healthy human dental pulps, in reversible pulpitis and in irreversible pulpitis. Enzymatic cAMP PDE control values for normal healthy pulps were 12.14 +/- 3.74 nmols/mg of proteins. In reversible pulpitis the cAMP PDE activity increased almost 2.5 times. In irreversible pulpitis specimens the values increased 4.5 times compared with normal healthy pulps activity. The differences between the groups (control vs. reversible pulpitis and vs. irreversible pulpitis) were statistically significant. These results could point to a role of cAMP PDE in the initial pulp response after injury.

cAMP phosphodiesterase activity in diabetic rats eyes in normoxic, hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions.

Phosphodiesterase activity was tested on homogenized eyes of pre-diabetic rats kept in normoxic, hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions, with the aim of correlating any difference in PDE activity with variations in atmospheric oxygen contents. The activity of the cAMP phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE) was tested. Phosphodiesterases seem to be particularly susceptible to variations in oxygen tension, suggesting an important role of cyclic nucleotides in adaptive processes of the cell. cAMP-PDE activity increases slightly in normoxic, hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions in pre-diabetic rats. The second messenger, cAMP, plays important roles in mediating the biological effects of a wide variety of first messengers. The intracellular levels of cyclic nucleotides depend upon rates of synthesis and degradation, of cyclases and phosphodiesterase (PDEs), respectively. Therefore, PDEs seem to play an important role in a wide variety of physiological processes.

cGMP phosphodiesterase activity in diabetic rats eyes in normoxic, hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions.

Phosphodiesterase activity was tested on homogenized eyes of pre-diabetic rats kept in normoxic, hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions, with the aim of correlating any difference in PDE activity with variations in atmospheric oxygen contents. The activity of the cGMP phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE) was tested. Phosphodiesterases seem to be particularly susceptible to variations in oxygen tension, suggesting an important role of cyclic nucleotides in cellular adaptive processes. cGMP-PDE activity increases lightly in normoxic, hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions in pre-diabetic rats. The second messenger, cGMP, plays important roles in mediating the biological effects of a wide variety of first messengers. In particular, cGMP in the eye is an important mediator for the mechanism of sight. The intracellular levels of cyclic nucleotides depend upon the rates of synthesis and degradation, actuated, respectively, by cyclases and phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Therefore, PDEs seem to play an important role in a wide variety of physiological processes.

cGMP phosphodiesterase activity evaluation in human carcinoma of salivary glands.

The aim of this study was to evaluate differences of cGMP-PDE activity in salivary glands, between a control group and different benign tumour groups and, where present, with malign tumour groups. Endogen cGMP was evaluated too. The enzymatic reaction used the method of Spoto et al., with minor variations. The samples were organized in six groups: A (Adenolymphoma and Warthins tumour); B (Pleomorphic Adenoma); C (Basaloid Adenoma); D (Myoepitelioma). The control group was represented by healthy patients. In A and B groups, we have analyzed malign pathologies (Adenocarcinoma and Parotid Lymphoma) The benign tumours have more activity than controls, especially in Myoepitelioma (D) but with a decrement in the C group, which presents lower values of cGMP than the other three groups, where the concentration is similar. Between A and B groups, the activity values of malign tumours are similar, higher than controls and than the other benign pathologies, but not higher than in myoepitelioma. The cyclic concentration is similar for malign pathologies, with concentrations lower than controls, similar to Basaloid Adenoma (C).