1,721,108 research outputs found
Vascular endothelial growth factor in the human diaphragm: new insight into adaptation mechanisms in COPD patients
Differential diagnosis between usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) assessed by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT)
Differential diagnosis between usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) assessed by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Radiologia Medica, vol. 19, n. 5-6, 2005, pp. 472-487 Bna C, Zompatori M, Poletti V, Spaggiari E, Chetta A, Calabro E, Ormitti F, Berti E, Cancellieri A, Chilosi M. Sezione di Scienze Radiologiche, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche, Universita degli studi di Parma, Parma, Italy. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of high-resolution CT in the differential diagnosis between UIP and NSIP, and the correlations with histological and functional findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients underwent thin-collimation spiral CT (1 mm), with 10-mm interval. Pulmonary function was assessed with a pneumotacograph and body plethysmograph connected with a computer for data analysis. Three pathologists, blinded to the clinical and functional data, provided a histological diagnosis based on established criteria reported in the literature. The study group only included patients with a histological diagnosis of either UIP or NSIP. RESULTS: We achieved a correct diagnosis of NSIP in 86.6% of cases (76.4% sensitivity; 84.6% specificity), whereas UIP was correctly diagnosed in 73.3% of cases (84.6% sensitivity; 76.5% specificity). An 80% agreement was achieved between the HRCT and histological findings in the whole case series (73% sensitivity, 87% specificity, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The most important finding of our study was that a ground glass appearance equal to or greater than 15% is highly suggestive of NSIP. Therefore, our results could be useful to confirm a suggested diagnosis of NSIP
Small Airways: Not Just Air Ducts - Pathophysiological Aspects and Clinical Implications
The airways smaller than 2 mm diameter are named small airways. They are essential for the transport and exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide and at the same time play a relevant role in pulmonary mechanics, contributing to the subdivision of lung volumes. Measurement of small airway function is, therefore, crucial in patients with respiratory disease. This overview focuses on the physiological aspects of the small airways, considered as air ducts as well as determinants of pulmonary mechanics, the most common tools for evaluating their function and treatment implications
Incidence of bronchial hyper reactivity in glaucomatous subjects upon longterm use of topical beta blockers
RELIABILITY OF QUANTITATIVE CT TO PREDICT POSTOPERATIVE LUNG FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE HAVING A LOBECTOMY
Oxidative stress during exercise: further proof that being lean is detrimental for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCES, PERSONALITY PROFILES AND COPING STRATEGIES IN BRONCHIAL ASTHMA
Sars-cov-2 neutralizing antibodies: A network meta-analysis across vaccines
Background: There are no studies providing head-to-head comparison across SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Therefore, we compared the efficacy of candidate vaccines in inducing neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: A network meta-analysis was performed to compare the peak levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies across candidate vaccines. Data were reported as standardized mean difference (SMD) since the outcome was assessed via different metrics and methods across the studies. Results: Data obtained from 836 healthy adult vaccine recipients were extracted from 11 studies. BBIBP-CorV, AZD1222, BNT162b2, New Crown COVID-19, and Sputnik V induced a very large effect on the level of neutralizing antibodies (SMD > 1.3); CoVLP, Coro-naVac, NVX-CoV2373, and Ad5-nCoV induced a large effect (SMD > 0.8 to ≤1.3); and Ad26.COV2.S induced a medium effect (SMD > 0.5 to ≤0.8). BBIBP-CorV and AZD122 were more effective (p < 0.05) than Ad26.COV2.S, Ad5–nCoV, mRNA-1237, CoronaVac, NVX–CoV2373, CoVLP, and New Crown COVID-19; New Crown COVID-19 was more effective (p < 0.05) than Ad26.COV2.S, Ad5–nCoV, and mRNA-1237; CoronaVac was more effective (p < 0.05) than Ad26.COV2.S and Ad5–nCoV; and Sputnik V and BNT162b2 were more effective (p < 0.05) than Ad26.COV2.S. In recipients aged ≤60 years, AZD1222, BBIBP-CorV, and mRNA-1237 were the most effective candidate vaccines. Conclusion: All the candidate vaccines induced significant levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, but only AZD1222 and mRNA-1237 were certainly tested in patients aged ≥70 years. Compared with AZD1222, BNT162b and mRNA-1237 have the advantage that they can be quickly re-engineered to mimic new mutations of SARS-CoV-2
Dexamethasone in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: Whether, when and to whom
A clinical interpretation of the Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) study was performed to provide a useful tool to understand whether, when, and to whom dexamethasone should be administered during hospitalization for COVID-19. A post hoc analysis of data published in the preliminary report of the RECOVERY study was performed to calculate the person-based number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH) of 6 mg dexamethasone once daily for up to 10 days vs. usual care with respect to mortality. At day 28, the NNT of dexamethasone vs. usual care was 36.0 (95%CI 24.9–65.1, p < 0.05) in all patients, 8.3 (95%CI 6.0–13.1, p < 0.05) in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, and 34.6 (95%CI 22.1–79.0, p < 0.05) in patients receiving oxygen only (with or without noninvasive ventilation). Dexamethasone increased mortality compared with usual care in patients not requiring oxygen supplementation, leading to a NNH value of 26.7 (95%CI 18.1–50.9, p < 0.05). NNT of dexamethasone vs. usual care was 17.3 (95%CI 14.9–20.6) in subjects <70 years, 27.0 (95%CI 18.5–49.8) in men, and 16.2 (95%CI 13.2–20.8) in patients in which the onset of symptoms was >7 days. Dexamethasone is effective in male subjects < 70 years that require invasive mechanical ventilation experiencing symptoms from >7 days and those patients receiving oxygen without invasive mechanical ventilation; it should be avoided in patients not requiring respiratory support
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