Search results for "Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine"
showing 10 items of 1498 documents
A Comparison of 2 Mitral Annuloplasty Rings for Severe Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: Clinical and Echocardiographic Outcomes.
2016
Controversies regarding the choice of annuloplasty rings for treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation still exist. Aim of the study is to compare early performance of 2 different rings in terms of rest and exercise echocardiographic parameters (transmitral gradient, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and mitral valve area), clinical outcomes, and recurrence of mitral regurgitation. From January 2008 till December 2013, prospectively collected data of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and undersizing mitral valve annuloplasty for severe chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation at our Institution were reviewed. A total of 93 patients were identified; among them 44 had sem…
Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Resection of a Giant Midesophageal Diverticulum
2017
We describe a new video-assisted technique for the management of a giant midesophageal diverticulum using a single 5-cm port. It maintained the same principles of the traditional open technique as diverticulectomy, myotomy, and fundoplication. The better visualization of the main esophageal body, diverticulum, and esophagogastric junction and the better alignment of the stapler cartridge to the longitudinal axis of the esophagus are all technical factors supporting our procedure. Heavily calcified mediastinal lymph nodes and diffuse pleural adhesions are the main contraindications. However, future experiences are needed before this technique can be recommended as acceptable treatment. (C) 2…
Inhaled Prostacyclin, Nitric Oxide, and Nitroprusside in Pulmonary Hypertension After Mitral Valve Replacement
2005
Abstract Objective: Pulmonary hypertension increases morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing heart surgery. Mitral valve stenosis is frequently associated with an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Cardiopulmonary bypass exacerbates pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic effects of inhaled prostacyclin and nitric oxide and the administration of i.v. nitroprusside during cardiac surgery with a clinical, pharmacodynamic dose-response, prospective, randomized, and double-blind study (Group A: inhaled prostacyclin; Group B: inhaled nitric oxide; Group C: nitroprusside). Materials and Methods: Fifty…
Gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease are strongly associated with non-allergic nasal disorders
2021
AbstractBackgroundGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been reported to be significantly associated with chronic rhinosinusitis, but the strength of the association is still debated.AimsTo evaluate the strength of the association between gastritis/GERD and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR)/allergic rhinitis (AR)/sinusitis.MethodsWe investigated 2887 subjects aged 20–84 years, who underwent a clinical visit in seven Italian centres (Ancona, Palermo, Pavia, Terni, Sassari, Torino, Verona) within the study on Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases, a population-based multicase-control study between 2008 and 2014. Subjects were asked if they had doctor-diagnosed “gastritis or sto…
Mepolizumab effectiveness on small airway obstruction, corticosteroid sparing and maintenance therapy step-down in real life
2020
Background: Mepolizumab (MEP) has been recently introduced to treat severe eosinophilic asthma. Trials have demonstrated a significant effectiveness in this asthma phenotype. We evaluated MEP efficacy on lung function, symptoms, asthma exacerbations, biologic markers, steroid dependence and controller treatment level in real-life. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 134 severe asthmatics (61 males; mean age 58.3 ± 11; mean FEV1%:72 ± 21), treated with MEP for at least 6 months (mean duration:10.9 ± 3.7 months). Results: FEV1% improved significantly after MEP. Mean FEF25-75 also increased from 37.4 ± 25.4% to 47.2 ± 27.2% (p < 0.0001). Mean baseline blood eosinophil level was 712 ± 731/μ…
Functional FLT1 genetic variation is a prognostic factor for recurrence in stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer
2015
Background: We propose that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway of angiogenesis will associate with survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: Fifty-three SNPs in vascular endothelial growth factor-pathway genes were genotyped in 150 European stage I-III NSCLC patients and tested for associations with patient survival. Replication was performed in an independent cohort of 142 European stage I-III patients. Reporter gene assays were used to assess the effects of SNPs on transcriptional activity. Results: In the initial cohort, five SNPs associated (q < 0.05) with relapse-free survival (RFS). The minor allele…
A nested case–control study: personal, social and environmental correlates of vigorous physical activity in adolescents with asthma
2014
Objective: Physical activity (PA) is associated with health benefits. Children and adolescents with asthma may be limited in their PA, particularly at vigorous intensity due to asthma symptoms or poor psychological adjustment to asthma. We aimed to investigate if self-perceived competence, enjoyment, support from others and social-physical environment were associated with vigorous physical activity (VPA) and secondarily to assess if such associations were modified by asthma and asthma severity. Methods: Data from a nested case–control study at 13 years of age within the birth-cohort Environment and Childhood Asthma Study were compiled from 95 participants with and 79 without asthma. The par…
Upregulation of activin-B and follistatin in pulmonary fibrosis: a translational study using human biopsies and a specific inhibitor in mouse fibrosi…
2014
Background: Activins are members of the TGF-ß superfamily of growth factors. First, we identified by expression array screening that activin-B and follistatin are upregulated in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Next, we wanted to clarify their specific role in lung fibrosis formation. Methods: We used specific antibodies for activin-A and -B subunits and follistatin to measure and localize their levels in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and control lung biopsies. To inhibit activin signaling, we used soluble activin type IIB receptor fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 (sActRIIB-Fc) in two different mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis. Results: Activin-B and follistatin mRNA levels…
Epidemiological characteristics, practice of ventilation, and clinical outcome in patients at risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome in intensiv…
2016
Background Scant information exists about the epidemiological characteristics and outcome of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) at risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and how ventilation is managed in these individuals. We aimed to establish the epidemiological characteristics of patients at risk of ARDS, describe ventilation management in this population, and assess outcomes compared with people at no risk of ARDS. Methods PRoVENT (PRactice of VENTilation in critically ill patients without ARDS at onset of ventilation) is an international, multicentre, prospective study undertaken at 119 ICUs in 16 countries worldwide. All patients aged 18 years or older who were rece…
Respiratory manifestations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss)
2016
The respiratory manifestations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) have not been studied in detail.In this retrospective multicentre study, EGPA was defined by asthma, eosinophilia and at least one new onset extra-bronchopulmonary organ manifestation of disease.The study population included 157 patients (mean±sd age 49.4±14.1 years), with a mean±sd blood eosinophil count of 7.4±6.4×109 L−1 at diagnosis. There was a mean±sd of 11.8±18.2 years from the onset of asthma to the diagnosis of EGPA, of 1.4±8.4 years from the first onset of peripheral eosinophilia to the diagnosis of EGPA, and of 7.4±6.4 years from EGPA diagnosis to the final visit. Despite inhaled and oral corti…