Search results for "Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine"

Adjustable tourniquet to manipulate pulmonary blood flow after Norwood operations

2000

Abstract Background . Survival after first-stage palliative Norwood operations for single ventricle with systemic outflow obstruction is mainly dependent on a balanced ratio of pulmonary blood flow to systemic blood flow. Here we report the clinical results using a modified technique that allows a controlled systemic-to-pulmonary shunt flow to prevent pulmonary overcirculation. Methods . From 1995 to 1998, of 26 infants undergoing first-stage palliative Norwood operations, 7 had placement of an adjustable tourniquet around a modified right Blalock-Taussig shunt. Results . Hospital survival was 20 of 26 patients (77%). All 7 patients in whom snaring of the shunt was indicated survived. Two p…

Cardiac pacing in premature infants and neonates: steroid eluting leads and automatic output adaptation

1999

Abstract Background . Appropriate generator and lead selection as well as techniques of implantation are most important aspects of cardiac pacing in the extremely young patient. Here we report the clinical results using a new technique with automatic output adaptation based on evoked response in combination with steroid-eluting epicardial leads in small children. Methods . One neonate and 2 premature infants underwent permanent pacemaker implantation because of congenital high-degree atrioventricular block or postoperative complete heart block, respectively. Steroid-eluting epicardial leads and a multiprogrammable pacemaker with automatic output adaptation were used. Results . Intermuscular…

What Is the Role of Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery in High-Risk Patients? A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

2016

Background. Minimally invasive valve surgery is related to certain better postoperative outcomes. We aimed to assess the role of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery in high-risk patients. Methods. A systematic literature review identified eight studies of which seven fulfilled criteria for metaanalysis. Outcomes for a total of 1,254 patients (731 were conventional standard sternotomy and 523 were minimally invasive mitral valve surgery) were submitted to meta-analysis using random effects modeling. Heterogeneity and subgroup analysis with quality scoring were assessed. The primary end point was early mortality. Secondary end points were intraoperative and postoperative outcomes and long…

SIMPLE, SAFE AND EASY TECHNIQUE TO ENSURE THE CORRECT LENGTH OF ARTIFICIAL CHORDAE IN MITRAL VALVE REPAIR.

2007

Replacement of diseased chordae with Gore-Tex sutures (W. L. Gore & Assoc, Flagstaff, AZ) in patients with degenerative mitral valve insufficiency has become a standard technique used by surgeons in mitral valve repair with good long-term results. Nevertheless, determining the correct length of the artificial chordae has remained problematic. Although various procedures have been previously published, in this article we describe our approach used to achieve an accurate chordal height adjustment.

Extranodal extension of nodal metastasis is the main prognostic moderator in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus after neoadjuvant chemoradiothe…

2017

Several studies, including comprehensive systematic reviews with meta-analyses of our group of research, have demonstrated the negative prognostic impact of the extranodal extension of nodal metastasis (ENE) in different cancer types, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva, of the penis and of head and neck, as well as in tumors of the digestive and genitourinary systems, in thyroid cancer and others (1-17).

Oral CorticoSteroid sparing with biologics in severe asthma: A remark of the Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI)

2020

According to the data derived from several national and international registries, including SANI (Severe Asthma Network Italy), and considering the strong impact that frequent or regular use of oral corticosteroid has on quality of life (QoL) of severe asthmatics, as well as on the costs for managing corticosteroid-related diseases, oral corticosteroid sparing up to withdrawal should be considered a primary outcome in the management of severe asthma. New biologics have clearly demonstrated that this effect is possible, with concomitant reduction in the rate of exacerbations and in symptom control. Then, there is no reason for using so frequently oral corticosteroid before having explored al…

Organoids of human airways to study infectivity and cytopathy of SARS-CoV-2

2020

Host-directed therapies for COVID-19

2021

Purpose of review Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2-induced hyperinflammation is a major cause of death or end-organ dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. We review adjunct host-directed therapies (HDTs) for COVID-19 management. Recent findings The use of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells as HDT for COVID-19 has been shown to be safe in phase 1 and 2 trials. Trials of anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibodies show promising mortality benefit in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Repurposed drugs and monoclonal antibodies targeting specific cytokines acting on different aspects of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cascades are under evaluation. Summary A range of HDTs shows prom…

Exposure to cigarette smoke extract and lipopolysaccharide modifies cytoskeleton organization in bronchial epithelial cells

2017

The integrity of the respiratory epithelium is crucial for airway homeostasis. Tobacco smoke exposure and recurrent infections of the airways play a crucial role in the progression and in the decline of the respiratory function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to detect differentially expressed proteins in a bronchial epithelial cell line (16-HBE) stimulated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a constituent of gram-negative bacteria, alone and/or in combination, by using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) analysis coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Western blot a…

Cationic Proteins Inhibit l-Arginine Uptake in Rat Alveolar Macrophages and Tracheal Epithelial Cells

1999

Eosinophil-derived cationic proteins play an essential role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. We tested whether cationic proteins interfere with the cationic amino-acid transport in alveolar macrophages (AMPhi) and tracheal epithelial cells, and whether L-arginine-dependent pathways were affected. The effect of cationic polypeptides on cellular uptake of [(3)H]-L-arginine, nitrite accumulation, and the turnover of [(3)H]-L-arginine by nitric oxide (NO) synthase and arginase (formation of [(3)H]-L-citrulline and [(3)H]-L-ornithine, respectively) were studied. Poly-L-arginine reduced [(3)H]-L-arginine uptake in rat AMPhi and tracheal epithelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner…