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- Latini, R., et al.
(author)
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Pentraxin-3 in chronic heart failure: the CORONA and GISSI-HF trials
- 2012
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In: European Journal of Heart Failure. - : Wiley. - 1388-9842 .- 1879-0844. ; 14:9, s. 992-999
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is a component of the humoral arm of innate immunity which can regulate inflammatory processes. Since the role of inflammation in the progression of chronic heart failure (HF) is debated, we investigated the prognostic value of PTX3 and the effect of a statin in two large populations of patients with HF. Plasma levels of PTX3 were measured at randomization and after 3 months in 1457 patients enrolled in the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in HF (CORONA) and 1233 patients enrolled in the GISSI-Heart Failure trial (GISSI-HF). The relationships between baseline PTX3 levels or their changes over time and mortality were evaluated with multivariable Cox proportional hazard models including clinical factors, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). PTX3 concentration [median (Q1Q3) 5.34 (3.557.64) ng/mL, n 2690] was higher in females, in older patients, and those with lower body mass index. Baseline elevated PTX3 was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality [759 events, hazard ratio (HR) for 1 SD increase 1.20, 95 confidence interval (CI) 1.121.30, P 0.0001], cardiovascular mortality (587 events, HR 1.27, 95 CI 1.171.38, P 0.0001), or hospitalization for worsening HF (720 events, HR 1.21, 95 CI 1.121.30, P 0.0001), and marginally improved discrimination. Three-month changes in PTX3 were associated with fatal events after adjustment for hsCRP or NT-proBNP. Rosuvastatin lowered hsCRP levels but significantly raised PTX3. In two independent clinical trials that enrolled patients with chronic HF, PTX3 was consistently associated with outcomes. The opposite effects of a statin on hsCRP and PTX3 call for further investigation. NCT00336336 (GISSI-HF), NCT00206310 (CORONA).
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- Lucci, M., et al.
(author)
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1D Josephson quantum interference grids: diffraction patterns and dynamics
- 2016
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In: Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics. - : IOP Publishing. - 1361-6463 .- 0022-3727. ; 49:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigate the magnetic response of transmission lines with embedded Josephson junctions and thus generating a 1D underdamped array. The measured multi-junction interference patterns are compared with the theoretical predictions for Josephson supercurrent modulations when an external magnetic field couples both to the inter-junction loops and to the junctions themselves. The results provide a striking example of the analogy between Josephson phase modulation and 1D optical diffraction grid. The Fiske resonances in the current-voltage characteristics with voltage spacing Phi(0)((c) over bar /2L) , where L is the total physical length of the array, Phi(0) the magnetic flux quantum and (c) over bar the speed of light in the transmission line, demonstrate that the discrete line supports stable dynamic patterns generated by the ac Josephson effect interacting with the cavity modes of the line.
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- Lucci, M., et al.
(author)
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Experimental Study of Spectral Properties of a Frenkel-Kontorova System
- 2015
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 1079-7114 .- 0031-9007. ; 115:10, s. 107002-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report on microwave emission from linear parallel arrays of underdamped Josephson junctions, which are described by the Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) model. Electromagnetic radiation is detected from the arrays when biased on current singularities (steps) appearing at voltages V-n = Phi(0) (n (c) over bar /L) , where Phi(0) = 2.07 x 10(-15) Wb is the magnetic flux quantum, and (c) over bar, L, and n are, respectively, the speed of light in the transmission line embedding the array, L its physical length, and n an integer. The radiation, detected at fundamental frequency (c) over bar /2L when biased on different singularities, indicates shuttling of bunched 2 pi kinks (magnetic flux quanta). Resonance of flux-quanta motion with the small-amplitude oscillations induced in the arrays gives rise to fine structures in the radiation spectrum, which are interpreted on the basis of the FK model describing the resonance. The impact of our results on design and performances of new digital circuit families is discussed.
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