Search results for "PPAR"
showing 10 items of 1686 documents
Exposure to elevated temperatures and risk of preterm birth in Valencia, Spain
2014
Abstract Background Prematurity is the second-leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 worldwide. It is predicted that the future climate will have more intense, longer lasting and frequent extreme heat episodes, and so the temperature effect on the risk of preterm birth is generating considerable interest in the public health field. Our aim was to explore the potential short-term effects of elevated temperatures on the risk of preterm birth in Valencia (Spain). Methods All singleton natural births born in the metropolitan area of Valencia during the warm season (May–September, 2006–2010) were included ( N =20,148). We applied time-series quasi-Poisson generalized additive mode…
Metabolic syndrome pathophysiology: The role of adipose tissue
2006
Several pathophysiological explanations for the metabolic syndrome have been proposed involving insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and ectopic fat accumulation following adipose tissue saturation. However, current concepts create several paradoxes, including limited cardiovascular risk reduction with intensive glucose control in diabetics, therapies that result in weight gain (PPAR agonists), and presence of some of the metabolic traits among some lipodystrophies. We propose the functional failure of an organ, in this case, the adipose tissue as a model to interpret its manifestations and to reconcile some of the apparent paradox. A cornerstone of this model is the failure of the adip…
Virus-like particles, bacteria and microsporidia affect spindle-associated membranes in spermatocytes of Lepidoptera species.
1997
SummaryLarval testes of four Lepidoptera species were examined using electron microscopy. The testes of one species, the Mediterranean mealmothEphestia kuehniella(Pyralidae), were devoid of intracellular pathogens and serve as a control. In this species, metaphase spindles of primary spermatocytes showed a thick layer of perispindle membranes. The membranes were structurally very similar to the agranular endoplasmic reticulum. Membranes of this type occurred also at high frequency throughout the spindle matrix. The analysis of larval testes ofPieris brassicae(Pieridae) revealed virus-like particles within spermatocytes. In another species,Philudoria potatoria(Lasiocampidae), the spermatocyt…
The impact of age on prevalence of positive skin prick tests and specific IgE tests
2011
SummaryAging is associated with modifications of the immune system, defined as immunosenescence. This could contribute to a reduced prevalence of allergic disease in the elderly population. In this regard, atopy has rarely been considered in the clinical assessment of the geriatric respiratory patient. This article is a review of the available literature assessing the impact of age on atopy. In the majority of papers, we found a lower prevalence of atopy in the most advanced ages, both in healthy subjects and in individuals affected by allergic respiratory diseases. Unfortunately, no large, longitudinal studies performed in the general population have been conducted to further explore this …
Validation of lung densitometry threshold at CT for the distinction between senile lung and emphysema in elderly subjects
2015
Background and Aims. An ageing lung is characterised by distal airspace enlargement without alveolar wall destruction: therefore the anatomical distinction between senile lung and emphysema is clear-cut. In clinical settings the definition of precise boundaries between normalcy and pathology is more difficult with the risk of overdiagnosis. CT is an important diagnostic advancement in the field of COPD. Most methods for the evaluation of emphysema are based on the detection and measurement of areas characterised by a density level below a threshold assumed to characterize parenchymal destruction. Methods. Our retrospective study included 47 healthy subjects (65-91 years), 36 never smokers a…
Asthma control in elderly asthmatics. An Italian observational study
2014
SummaryBackgroundThe exponential increase of individuals aged >64 yrs is expected to impact the burden of asthma. We aimed to explore the level of asthma control in elderly subjects, and factors influencing it.MethodsA multicenter observational study was performed on consecutive patients >64 years old with a documented physician-diagnosis of asthma. Sixteen Italian centers were involved in this 6-month project.FindingsA total of 350 patients were enrolled in the study. More than one-third of elderly asthmatic patients, despite receiving GINA step 3–4 antiasthmatic therapy, had an Asthma Control Test score ≤19, with a quarter experiencing at least one severe asthma exacerbation in the previo…
Time Required to Rectify Inhaler Errors Among Experienced Subjects With Faulty Technique
2017
BACKGROUND: Regardless of the device used, many patients have difficulty maintaining proper inhaler technique over time. Repeated education from caregivers is required to ensure persistence of correct inhaler technique, but no information is available to evaluate the time required to rectify inhaler errors in experienced users with a baseline faulty technique and whether this time of re-education to restore inhaler mastery can differ between devices. METHODS: This was a multicenter, single-visit, open-label, cross-sectional study in a large group of 981 adult subjects (mean ± SD age 64 ± 15 y) experienced with inhaler use, mainly suffering from COPD and asthma, who showed faulty inhaler tec…
Discriminative and predictive properties of disease-specific and generic health status indexes in elderly COPD patients
2008
Abstract Background The association between bronchial obstruction severity and mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is well established, but it is unknown whether disease-specific health status measures and multidimensional assessment (MDA) have comparable prognostic value. Methods We analyzed data coming from the Salute Respiratoria nell'Anziano (Respiratory Health in the Elderly – SaRA) study, enrolling elderly people attending outpatient clinics for respiratory and non-respiratory problems. From this population we selected 449 patients with bronchial obstruction (77.3% men, mean age 73.1). We classified patients' health status using tertiles of the Saint George Respi…
Obstructive sleep apnoea and metabolic syndrome in Mediterranean countries.
2011
To the Editors: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is often associated with metabolic disturbances, including altered glucose metabolism and dyslipidaemia, which probably contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk in these patients 1. The concept of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) as a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors has gained popularity in recent years, and a much higher prevalence of the MetS has been found in OSA patients compared with the general population in several studies 1. While the MetS largely reflects the effects of visceral obesity, environmental factors, i.e. the type of diet, could also play some role. The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil and fish, is protective…
Periodic limb movements during sleep and blood pressure changes in sleep apnoea: Data from the European Sleep Apnoea Database
2020
International audience; Background and objective: OSA and PLMS are known to induce acute BP swings during sleep. Our current study aimed to address the independent effect of PLMS on BP in an unselected OSA patient cohort.Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 1487 patients (1110 males, no previous hypertension diagnosis or treatment, mean age: 52.5 years, mean BMI: 30.5 kg/m2 ) with significant OSA (defined as AHI ≥ 10) recruited from the European Sleep Apnoea Cohort. Patients underwent overnight PSG. Patients were stratified into two groups: patients with significant PLMS (PLMSI > 25 events/hour of sleep) and patients without significant PLMS (PLMSI < 25 events/hour of sleep). SBP…