Search results for "Respiratory system"
showing 10 items of 1829 documents
Serum surfactant protein D is a potential biomarker of lung damage in systemic sclerosis
2016
Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) complicates the course of systemic sclerosis (SSc) up to two-third of the cases, representing the main cause of death in these patients. Assessment of lung involvement by HRCT and close monitoring of lung function are mandatory. At present no serologic biomarkers are validated for the assessment for lung damage in SSc. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that the levels of surfactant are altered in SSc compared to healthy controls. To this aim serum levels of SP-A (Surfactant Protein A) and SP-D (Surfactant Protein-D) in serum were assessed. Methods: We enrolled 12 consecutive patients (M/F: 2/10) affected by scleroderma referred…
LSC Abstract – Oxidative stress in nasal epithelial cells from patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia
2016
Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare autosomal recessive inheritance disorder characterized by dysfunction of respiratory cilia and impaired mucociliary clearance, leading to respiratory problems appearing in childhood, decreased fertility and situs inversus in 50% of the cases. The deficient ciliary movement causes stasis of secretions in the airways leading to recurrent airway infection and chronic inflammation. Rationale and aims: Chronic inflammation has been associated to oxidative stress (OS). Moreover, evidence of increased OS in the airways of stable children with PCD has been shown (Zihlif, N. et al . Pediatr Pulmonol 2006; 41:509-14.). Therefore, we hypothesize t…
Oxidative stress in ciliated nasal epithelial cells from patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia
2016
Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare disorder characterized by dysfunction of respiratory cilia and impaired mucociliary clearance leading to recurrent airway infection and chronic inflammation appearing in childhood. Rationale and aims: Chronic inflammation has been associated to oxidative stress (OS). Moreover, evidence of increased OS in the airways of stable children with PCD has been shown (Zihlif, N. et al . Pediatr Pulmonol 2006; 41:509-14). We hypothesize that OS would be increased in ciliated nasal epithelial cells (CNEC) from patients with PCD. This study was aimed to assess the OS profile in CNEC isolated from children with PCD. Methods: CNEC were obtained from …
Antisynthetase syndrome (AS) in patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease (ILD)
2015
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of SAS in patients with ILD and its clinical characteristics, evolution and specific manifestations linked to each antisynthetase antibodies and highlight the need for its screening in ILD. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients registered in the last two years in our ILD unit, determining antisynthetase antibodies and analyzing clinical, radiological, functional data and illness evolution. Results: 119 ILD patients were included, 10.9% had antisynthetase antibodies, the most prevalent were Jo-1 (46.1%) and PL-12 (38.5%). In PL-12 patients inicial and respiratory syntoms were predominant, whereas in the Jo-1 patients were more frequent extrapulmo…
Efficacy of Different Medical Therapies for the Treatment of Acute Laryngeal Attacks of Hereditary Angioedema due to C1-esterase Inhibitor Deficiency.
2016
Abstract Background Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease characterized by C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency, resulting in periodic attacks of acute edema, which can be life-threatening if they occur in the upper airway. No head-to-head comparisons of different treatment options for acute HAE attacks are available. Because immediate symptom relief is critical for potentially life-threatening laryngeal attacks, it is important to determine the treatment option that provides optimal treatment response. Objective Review and compare data from clinical studies that evaluated the efficacy and safety of treatments for laryngeal HAE attacks. Methods We conducted an indirect comparis…
Variability in recording and scoring of respiratory events during sleep in Europe: a need for uniform standards.
2015
Abstract: Uniform standards for the recording and scoring of respiratory events during sleep are lacking in Europe, although many centres follow the published recommendations of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The aim of this study was to assess the practice for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing throughout Europe. A specially developed questionnaire was sent to representatives of the 31 national sleep societies in the Assembly of National Sleep Societies of the European Sleep Research Society, and a total of 29 countries completed the questionnaire. Polysomnography was considered the primary diagnostic method for sleep apnea diagnosis in 10 (34.5%), whereas polygraphy was …
Reslizumab (RES) in asthma patients (pts) with severe eosinophilic asthma stratified by GINA asthma steps 4 and 5: Analysis of two phase 3, placebo (…
2016
Background: RES reduced exacerbation frequency and improved lung function and asthma control in pts with inadequately controlled asthma and elevated blood eosinophils (EOS) in two PBO-controlled, phase 3 trials (Castro et al. Lancet Resp Med 2015). Aims/objectives: To determine the efficacy of RES in asthma pts stratified by GINA Step 4 (G4) and Step 5 (G5) categories of asthma severity. Methods: Pooled data from two 52-week, PBO-controlled trials of RES (3mg/kg IV Q4W) in pts with inadequately controlled asthma and blood EOS ≥400/µL on inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) ± another controller; primary results have been reported. Current analysis includes pts stratified by G4 (medium/high-dose ICS …
Cost-effectiveness of bedaquiline in MDR and XDR tuberculosis in Italy
2016
ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of bedaquiline plus background drug regimens (BR) for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in Italy. Methods: A Markov model was adapted to the Italian setting to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of bedaquiline plus BR (BBR) versus BR in the treatment of MDR-TB and XDR-TB over 10 years, from both the National Health Service (NHS) and societal perspective. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated in terms of life-years gained (LYG). Clinical data were sourced from trials; resource consumption for compared treatments was modelled according to advice from an expert c…
ROLIPRAM INHIBITS PAF-INDUCED AIRWAY MICROVASCULAR LEAKAGE IN GUINEA-PIG - A COMPARISON WITH MILRINONE AND THEOPHYLLINE
1992
The effects of 3 phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, rolipram (PDE IV), milrinone (PDE III) and theophylline (non-selective) on PAF (50 ng kg-1; iv)-induced airway vascular leakage have been evaluated in guinea-pigs. Rolipram (3-300 micrograms kg-1; iv) reduced the increase in permeability induced by PAF at all airway levels whereas milrinone (10-1000 micrograms kg-1; iv) and theophylline (30 mg kg-1; iv) were without effects. The anti-leakage activity of rolipram may be of therapeutic value in asthma.
Epithelium-derived inhibition of [3H]acetylcholine release from the isolated guinea-pig trachea
1990
To investigate presynaptic, regulatory mechanisms on parasympathetic nerve fibres innervating the airways, the release of newly-synthesized [3H]acetylcholine from the isolated trachea was studied. Reverse phase HPLC followed by liquid scintillation spectrometry was used to separate and quantify the radioactive compounds choline, phosphorylcholine and acetylcholine in the incubation medium and the tissue. During the incubation of the tracheae with [3H]choline a significant synthesis of [3H]acetylcholine (35,000 dpm/preparation) and [3H]phosphorylcholine (500,000 dpm/preparation) occurred. In epithelium-deficient tracheae the formation of [3H]phosphorylcholine was enhanced, whereas the conten…