Search results for "CHRONIC DISEASE"

The prevalence of post-thyroidectomy chronic asthenia: a prospective cohort study

2017

Chronic asthenia (CA) is complained by some patients that have undergone thyroid surgery. We evaluate its impact in patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral thyroidectomy, the trend during a 1-year follow-up, and the possible risk factors. A prospective, cohort study was carried out on 263 patients scheduled for thyroidectomy from 2012 and 2014. Exclusion criteria were as follows: Graves’ disease, malignancies requiring radioiodine therapy, post-surgical hypoparathyroidism, laryngeal nerve palsy, abnormal pre- and post-operative thyroid hormone levels, and BMI outside the normal range. Demographics; smoking and alcoholism addiction; cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic failure; diabete…

Glucose insulin potassium infusion improves systolic function in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy

2002

Objective: We assessed the effects of glucose–insulin–potassium (GIK) by echocardiography in stable patients with ischemic dysfunction. Methods: Twelve male patients with stable coronary disease (SCD) and ejection fraction (EF) <45% were studied for systolic function. GIK (glucose 30%, 300 insulin units and KCl 6 g/l) was infused at 1 ml/kg per h over 20 min. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements were recorded at rest (T0), at the end (20 min) of GIK infusion (T + 20), 20 and 40 min after the end of the infusion (T + 40 and T + 60). Results: At T + 20, a significant decrease in WMSI (wall motion score index) was observed compared with T0 (2.16±0.14 vs. 2.30±0.16: P<0.05). An increa…

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients of Sicily

2008

Pulmonary balloon angioplasty of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in surgically inaccessible cases.

2003

Abstract The clinical course of patients suffering from chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) depends on the distribution pattern of the thromboembolic material. In patients with thromboembolic findings in the central pulmonary segments pulmonary thrombendarterectomy (PTE) has excellent results and acceptable operative risk. This paper presents two surgically inaccessible cases that were successfully treated with balloon pulmonary angioplasty. Balloon angioplasty improved parenchymal perfusion, increased cardiac index (Delta CI +19.2 % [Case 1], and +15.4 % [2]), reduced pulmonary vascular resistance during follow-up (Delta PVRI -25.0 % [1] and -15.9 % [2]), and is discussed…

Endovascular treatment as first choice in chronic intestinal ischemia.

2002

The purpose of this study was to define the place of endovascular treatment in chronic intestinal ischemia (CII). We report here a series of 19 consecutive patients treated with percutaneous angioplasty of the intestinal arteries. We excluded patients with acute ischemia, from the study. From January 1, 1989 to December 31, 2001, 19 patients with symptomatic CII were treated by endovascular techniques. This study group included 11 men and 8 women with a mean age of 59 years (range 30 to 90 years). The clinical presentation included postprandial pain in 16 patients, weight loss in 14 patients, with a mean weight loss of 7.4 kg (range 0 to 30 kg); and gastroparesis in 2 patients. Stenoses wer…

TIPS for acute and chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome: a single-centre experience.

2003

Abstract Background/Aims : Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a technically challenging but feasible treatment for Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS). However, information about the outcome, particularly in patients with liver failure, is scarce. We report our experience of TIPS for BCS. Methods : Fifteen patients with BCS underwent TIPS. Eight had hepatic failure and seven underwent TIPS for BCS uncontrolled by medical treatment. Results : Fourteen out of 15 had successful TIPS placement. Out of the eight hepatic failure patients, four died soon after TIPS: one liver rupture, one portal vein rupture, one liver failure and one pulmonary oedema. Another patient had a significant…

The DSM-IV nosology of chronic pain: a comparison of pain disorder and multiple somatization syndrome.

2000

This study evaluates the classification of pain from the perspective of the DSM-IV system. Of 60 in-patients with long-standing and disabling pain syndromes, 29 with pain disorder (PD) and 31 with pain as part of a multiple somatization syndrome (MSS) were compared before and after a structured cognitive-behavioral treatment. It was hypothesized that MSS patients show more psychological distress, are more severely disabled, and respond less to the treatment. Both groups were similar with respect to sociodemographic status, history of pain symptomatology and comorbidity with DSM-IV mental disorders. The results show that MSS patients had higher levels of affective and sensoric pain sensation…

Effect of irrigation of the nose with isotonic salt solution on adult patients with chronic paranasal sinus disease

2001

In a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial we compared the effectiveness of endonasal irrigations with Ems salt solution to that with sodium chloride solution in the treatment of adult patients with chronic paranasal sinus disease. Subjects (n = 40) were randomly allocated to treatment either with isotonic Ems salt solution or with isotonic sodium chloride solution. The treatment consisted of endonasal irrigation twice daily and additional nasal spray as required. Nasal endoscopy, plain radiography of the paranasal sinuses, olfactometry, anterior rhinomanometry, and a saccharin-clearance test were carried out on days 1 and 7. Patients recorded rating scales of general disc…

Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification in Predialysis Patients

2006

&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt; In patients on dialysis coronary artery calcification (CAC) rapidly proceeds due to impaired mineral metabolism and/or exogenous calcium load. Progression has not been assessed in patients with chronic kidney disease not yet requiring dialysis (CKD patients). In this study, rate and determinants of CAC progression have been evaluated in CKD patients who are exposed to minor derangement of mineral metabolism and calcium load. &lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt; Consecutive patients were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were: symptomatic coronary disease, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and diabetes. Serum calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, homocysteine, C-reactiv…

Hepatitis E virus infection as a cause of acute hepatitis in Southern Italy

2011

Abstract Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis in developing countries, whereas it is not considered a major health problem in Western World. Aims To investigate the spread of HEV and its possible role in causing acute hepatitis in Southern Italy. Methods Four hundred and thirty patients observed from April to December 2009 were studied and grouped as follows: 55 individuals with acute hepatitis (AH), 33 of whom cryptogenic; 321 individuals with chronic liver diseases (CLD), (278 Italians and 43 immigrants); 54 individuals without liver disease (control-group). Serum samples from all cases were tested for IgG anti-HEV antibodies and those positive to this te…