172,620 research outputs found
Long-term effects of arteriovenous fistula closure on echocardiographic functional and structural findings in hemodialysis patients: a prospective study.
Long-term effects of arteriovenous fistula closure on echocardiographic functional and structural findings in hemodialysis patients: a prospective study.
Movilli E, Viola BF, Brunori G, Gaggia P, Camerini C, Zubani R, Berlinghieri N, Cancarini G.
Source
Division of Nephrology, Spedali Civili, and Section of Nephrology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. [email protected]
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) provides an effective vascular access for hemodialysis; however, the associated hemodynamic effects may alter cardiac structure and function. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of AVF closure on functional and structural echocardiographic findings.
STUDY DESIGN:
Prospective observational study.
SETTING & PARTICIPANTS:
In a single center between 2003 and 2006, we enrolled 25 consecutive hemodialysis patients with AVF malfunction who underwent AVF closure and conversion to a tunneled central venous catheter because of exhaustion of alternative vascular sites and 36 matched controls with a well-functioning AVF.
PREDICTOR:
AVF closure.
OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS:
Outcomes were changes in findings on echocardiograms obtained before and 6 months after AVF closure for patients in the AVF-closure group and at baseline and 6 months later for controls. Echocardiographic measurements included left ventricular (LV) internal diastolic diameter, interventricular septum thickness, diastolic posterior wall thickness, LV mass (LVM), LVM index (LVMi), and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Dialysis modality and scheme were unchanged.
RESULTS:
In the AVF-closure group, LVM decreased from 225 +/- 55 to 206 +/- 51 g (P < 0.001) and LVMi decreased from 135 +/- 40 to 123 +/- 35 g/m(2) (P < 0.001). LV internal diastolic diameter, interventricular septum thickness, and diastolic posterior wall thickness decreased significantly, whereas LVEF increased from 56% +/- 7% to 59% +/- 6% (P < 0.001). No significant changes were observed in controls. In patients with AVF closure, LV morphologic characteristics showed a decrease in both eccentric and concentric hypertrophy in favor of normalization or a pattern of concentric remodeling. No significant changes were observed in controls.
LIMITATIONS:
Use of matched rather than randomized controls.
CONCLUSIONS:
Closure of an AVF determines a significant decrease in LV internal diastolic diameter, interventricular septum thickness, and diastolic posterior wall thickness. This is associated with significant improvement in LVEF, a significant decrease in LVM and LVMi, and a more favorable shift of cardiac geometry toward normality
Pharmacogenetic study of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with second-line pemetrexed or pemetrexed-carboplatin
Abstract not availableMarcello Tiseo, Elisa Giovannetti, Carmelo Tibaldi, Andrea Camerini, Francesco Di Costanzo, Fausto Barbieri, Jacobus A. Burgers, Andrew Vincent, Godefridus J. Peters, Egbert F. Smit, Andrea Ardizzon
Spread and Habitat Selection of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera calliphoridae) in Northern Italy: Forensic Implications
Habitat selection exploited by Chrysomya albiceps during its initial spread in Northern Italy was analyzed in relation to landscape
structure. The results of two short studies and a case report are here discussed. C. albiceps was not found on experimental pig carcasses in the urban area of Pavia. It was missing in the woody mountains surrounding Lecco, but it was found in the same area, at a lower altitude, within the typical ‘‘urban sprawl’’ landscape. It was then recorded in a natural reserve, among a rich carrion-fly population. Indications coming from habitat selection suggest that C. albiceps has not yet saturated its potential ecological niche in newly colonized areas of Northern Italy. Factors like temperature,
altitude, and interspecific competition can act as limiting factors, affecting habitat selection and distribution in newly colonized areas; the influence of those factors has to be taken into account for forensic purposes
Prevention of peritonitis during CAPD: special precautions and use of connection systems.
Tragedie e poesie
Introduzione [di E. Camerini]--Adelchi, tragedia con un discorso sopra alcuni punti della storia longobardica in Italia.--Il conte di Carmagnola.--Lettre à M. C.*** sur l'unité de temps et de lieu dans la tragédie, etc.--Poesie varie.--Inni sacri.Mode of access: Internet
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Sopravvivenza e sviluppo di ovature di C. vicina e P. terraenovae (Diptera, Calliphoridae) dopo refrigerazione a 4°C
Mitomycin C in highly myopic eyes - Author reply
Ophthalmology. 2005 Feb;112(2):208-18; discussion 219.
Mitomycin C modulation of corneal wound healing after photorefractive keratectomy in highly myopic eyes.
Gambato C, Ghirlando A, Moretto E, Busato F, Midena E.
SourceRefractive Surgery Service and Antimetabolite Therapy Research Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of topical mitomycin C in corneal wound healing (CWH) after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in highly myopic eyes.
DESIGN: Prospective, double-masked, randomized clinical trial.
PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two eyes of 36 patients affected by high (>7 diopters) myopia.
METHODS: In each patient, one eye was randomly assigned to PRK with intraoperative topical 0.02% mitomycin C application, and the fellow eye was treated with a placebo. Postoperatively, mitomycin C-treated eyes received artificial tears (3 times daily, tapered in 3 months), whereas the fellow eye was treated with fluorometholone sodium 2% and artificial tears (3 times daily, tapered in 3 months).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, manifest refraction, and biomicroscopy. Contrast sensitivity was determined using the Pelli-Robson chart. Corneal confocal microscopy documented CWH.
RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 12-36). No side effects or toxic effects were documented. At 12-month follow-up examination, UCVAs (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) were 0.4+/-0.48 and 0.5+/-0.53 (P = .03) in mitomycin C-treated eyes and corticosteroid-treated eyes, respectively. At 1 year, corneal haze developed in 20% of corticosteroid-treated eyes, versus 0% of mitomycin C-treated eyes. At 12, 24, and 36 months, corneal confocal microscopy showed activated keratocytes and extracellular matrix significantly more evident in untreated eyes (Ps = 0.004, 0.024, and 0.046, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Topical intraoperative application of 0.02% mitomycin C can reduce haze formation in highly myopic eyes undergoing PRK.
Comment in
Ophthalmology. 2006 Feb;113(2):357; author reply 357-8
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