8,438 research outputs found
LA VITAMINA D IN PATOLOGIE RESPIRATORIE DI INTERESSE PEDIATRICO
No full textIntroduzione: La vitamina D e i suoi effetti sulla salute umana sono temi che stanno suscitando un grande interesse, e negli ultimi anni si sta assistendo ad un rapido aumento del numero di pubblicazioni in materia di vitamina D e sue relazioni con asma, allergie ed infezioni respiratorie.
Inoltre, la consapevolezza che essenzialmente ogni tessuto e cellula del corpo possiede i recettori per la vitamina D, ha aperto le porte a numerosi studi inerenti al sistema della vitamina D e alle sue azioni precedentemente non riconosciute.
Dati recenti indicano che l'ipovitaminosi D è associata a molte condizioni morbose extrascheletriche come l'asma.
Obiettivi dello studio: Abbiamo studiato le relazioni esistenti fra livelli di vitamina D nel siero, funzionalità polmonare, controllo dell’asma nei bambini ed abitudine tabagica dei loro genitori.
Materiali e metodi: Abbiamo stimato la correlazione tra la concentrazione di 25-idrossicolecalciferolo [25(OH)D], i parametri di funzionalità respiratoria ottenuti con l'esecuzione della spirometria basale e i livelli di controllo dell’asma, secondo le linee guida Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) e il Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT), in 152 bambini con asma (età compresa tra 5-15 anni; 84 maschi) in uno studio cross-sectional condotto durante l’inverno e la primavera.
Abbiamo inoltre studiato l’esistenza di una possibile associazione tra l'abitudine al fumo dei genitori e i livelli di vitamina D di questi bambini asmatici.
Risultati
Solo il 9.9 % dei nostri bambini avevano livelli sierici sufficienti di 25(OH)D (tra 30 e 40 ng/ml).
Abbiamo individuato una moderata correlazione positiva tra la capacità vitale forzata in percentuale del predetto e i livelli della vitamina (ρ di Spearman=0.36, 95%CI=0.22-0.50, P<0.001).
Questo dato è stato ritrovato anche per il volume espiratorio forzato al 1 secondo (ρ=0.36, 95%CI=0.23-0.50, P<0.001).
I soggetti con asma ben controllato mostravano livelli sierici di vitamina D più elevati rispetto ai bambini con asma parzialmente o non controllato, con valori mediani pari a 22.4 ng/ml (IQR = 18.2 - 26.0 ng/ml), 17.8 ng/ml (IQR = 12.6 - 22.0 ng/ml) e 13.5 ng/ml (IQR = 10.1 - 18.1 ng/ml), rispettivamente (P<0.001).
Abbiamo inoltre individuato una correlazione moderatamente positiva tra i livelli di 25(OH)D e il C-ACT score (r=0.49, 95%CI=0.36-0.62, P<0.001).
Analizzando l'abitudine tabagica dei genitori in rapporto ai livelli sierici di vitamina D è emersa una associazione statisticamente significativa tra i due parametri.
In particolare, i livelli sierici appaiono significativamente ridotti se entrambi i genitori riferiscono di fumare regolarmente (P<0.001).
Conclusioni
I nostri risultati indicano che l’ipovitaminosi D è frequente nei bambini con asma che vivono in un paese del Mediterraneo. In questi bambini, bassi livelli di vitamina D sono associati a parametri di funzionalità respiratoria più bassi e quindi ad un ridotto controllo dell’asma.
Lo studio suggerisce inoltre che il fumo passivo potrebbe rappresentare un fattore causale per l'ipovitaminosi D nei bambini asmatici. Occorrono però ulteriori studi per verificare questa relazione, in particolare analizzando marcatori biologici di esposizione al fumo di sigaretta.Introduction: Vitamin D and its effects on human health are topics that are attracting great interest, and in recent years there is a rapid increase in the number of publications about vitamin D and its relationship to asthma, allergies and respiratory infections.
This discovery, together with the realization that essentially every tissue and cell in the body has vitamin D receptors, has prompted new interests in the vitamin D system and its previously unrecognized actions. Recent data suggest that hypovitaminosis D is associated with many nonskeletal conditions such as asthma.
Objectives: We investigated the relationship between vitamin D serum levels, lung function and asthma control in children and smoking habits of their parents.
Materials and Methods: We estimated the correlation between the concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D], lung function parameters obtained from baseline spirometry and levels of asthma control, according to the guidelines Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C- ACT), in 152 children with asthma (aged 5-15 years, 84 males) in a cross-sectional study conducted during the winter and spring.
We have also studied the existence of a possible association between the smoking habits of parents and the vitamin D levels of these children with asthma.
Results: Only 9.9 % of our children had sufficient vitamin D serum levels (between 30 and 40 ng / ml). We found a moderate positive correlation between the forced vital capacity percent predicted and the vitamin levels ( Spearman ρ = 0.36 , 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.50, P <0.001).
This finding was also found for the forced expiratory volume in 1 second ( ρ = 0.36 , 95% CI = 0.23 to 0.50, P <0.001).
Patients with well-controlled asthma showed serum levels of vitamin D higher than children with not or partly controlled asthma, with median values equal to 22.4 ng/ml (IQR = 18.2 - 26.0 ng / ml), 17.8 ng/ml (IQR = 12.6 - 22.0 ng/ml) and 13.5 ng/ml (IQR = 10.1 - 18.1 ng / ml), respectively (P <0.001) .
We have also identified a moderately positive correlation between 25(OH)D levels of and the C -ACT score (r = 0:49, 95% CI = 0.36-0.62 , P <0.001).
By analyzing the smoking habits of parents in relation to vitamin D serum levels, a statistically significant association between the two parameters was present.
In particular, serum levels appear to be significantly reduced if both parents report smoking regularly (P <0.001).
Conclusions: Our results suggest that hypovitaminosis D is frequent in children with asthma living in a Mediterranean country. In these children, lower vitamin D serum levels are associated with reduced asthma control and lung function.
The study also suggests that passive smoking could be a causal factor for hypovitaminosis D in children with asthma. However, further studies to verify this relationship, in particular by analyzing biomarkers of exposure to cigarette smoke are necessary
Single-phase anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste without dilution: Reactor stability and process performance of small, decentralised plants
No full textCurrently, centralised plants are the most favoured approach for the anaerobic treatment of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). However, centralised solutions imply certain environmental impacts, which prevent large-scale implementation of the anaerobic digestion (AD). As a result, we are digesting <5% of organic waste both in Europe and the USA even today. Pursuing the criteria for maximising the balance between profit and impacts, an innovative layout with the ultimate goal of promoting the use of small, decentralised AD plants is proposed. In this study, source-separated OFMSW (SS-OFMSW) was treated in a mesophilic plug flow reactor by applying an atypical combination of conditions such as high SS-OFMSW solid content (214.5 g·kg−1), high organic loading rate (6.2 kg VS·m−3·d−1), and no dilution or co-substrate addition. A suitable and an efficient mixing system is essential to control the process. Accordingly, the process was stable in a single-stage reactor, in the absence of digestate recirculation, obtaining specific gas production of 0.67 m3·kg−1 VS in terms of biogas and 0.41 m3·kg−1 VS in terms of methane. High reactor volume exploitation and small plant construction were feasible, reaching a gas production rate of 4.5 m3·m−3 d−1. The estimated costs in terms of capital and operating expenditure are expected to realize gross economic sustainability of full-scale installation
Single-phase anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste without dilution: Reactor stability and process performance of small, decentralised plants
No full textCurrently, centralised plants are the most favoured approach for the anaerobic treatment of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). However, centralised solutions imply certain environmental impacts, which prevent large-scale implementation of the anaerobic digestion (AD). As a result, we are digesting <5% of organic waste both in Europe and the USA even today. Pursuing the criteria for maximising the balance between profit and impacts, an innovative layout with the ultimate goal of promoting the use of small, decentralised AD plants is proposed. In this study, source-separated OFMSW (SS-OFMSW) was treated in a mesophilic plug flow reactor by applying an atypical combination of conditions such as high SS-OFMSW solid content (214.5 g·kg−1), high organic loading rate (6.2 kg VS·m−3·d−1), and no dilution or co-substrate addition. A suitable and an efficient mixing system is essential to control the process. Accordingly, the process was stable in a single-stage reactor, in the absence of digestate recirculation, obtaining specific gas production of 0.67 m3·kg−1 VS in terms of biogas and 0.41 m3·kg−1 VS in terms of methane. High reactor volume exploitation and small plant construction were feasible, reaching a gas production rate of 4.5 m3·m−3 d−1. The estimated costs in terms of capital and operating expenditure are expected to realize gross economic sustainability of full-scale installation
Vitamin D Serum Levels and Markers of Asthma Control in Italian Children
No full textAbstract
OBJECTIVE:
To establish the relationship between vitamin D serum levels, pulmonary function, and asthma control in children.
STUDY DESIGN:
We studied the relationship between 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol [25(OH)D] concentrations and baseline spirometry and levels of asthma control, assessed according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines and the Childhood Asthma Control Test, in 75 children with asthma (age range 5-11 years; 43 males) in a cross-sectional study carried out during the winter and early spring.
RESULTS:
Only 9.4% of our children had a sufficient serum 25(OH)D (at least 30 to 40 ng/mL). A significant positive correlation was found between forced vital capacity percent predicted and serum 25(OH)D (r = 0.25, P = .040). This was true also for forced expiratory volume in 1 second, even though it was not statistically significant (r = 0.16, P = .157). Subjects with well-controlled asthma had higher serum levels of 25(OH)D than children with partially controlled or non-controlled asthma, with values of (median [Q1; Q3]) 22.2 (16.3; 25.4), 17.8 (11.8; 22.1) and 18.1 (15.0; 18.5), respectively (P = .023). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between 25(OH)D and the Childhood Asthma Control Test (r = 0.28; P = .011).
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results indicate that hypovitaminosis D is frequent in children with asthma living in a Mediterranean country. In those children, lower levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced asthma control
Correlation between serum 25 (OH)-vitamin D levels and severity of atopic dermatitis in children
No full textVitamin D deficiency could be associated with the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD).
OBJECTIVES:
We carried out a study to see whether deficient/insufficient levels of vitamin D correlate with the severity of atopic skin disease.
METHODS:
Using the SCORAD index, we evaluated the severity of disease in 37 children (17 girls and 20 boys) aged between 8 months and 12 years with AD, consecutively enrolled in the study. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were determined by a chemiluminescent method. Specific IgE (sIgE) to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins and sIgE to Malassezia furfur were assayed by the ImmunoCAP system. anova and the Pearson correlation test were used for statistical evaluation.
RESULTS:
We found severe, moderate and mild AD in nine (24%), 13 (35%) and 15 (41%) children, respectively. Mean ± SD serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly higher (P < 0·05) in patients with mild disease (36·9 ± 15·7 ng mL(-1)) compared with those with moderate (27·5 ± 8·3 ng mL(-1)) or severe AD (20·5 ± 5·9 ng mL(-1)). The prevalence of patients with sIgE to microbial antigens increased in relation to vitamin D deficiency and AD severity.
CONCLUSIONS:
These data suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be related to the severity of AD and advocate the need for studies evaluating the use of vitamin D as a potential treatment in patients with this disease
ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS BASIC KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION AND EARLY DEFIBRILLATION: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.
No full textreservedIntroduzione: L’arresto cardiocircolatorio (ACC) è un problema sanitario di rilevanza globale se si considera la sua diffusione e il suo grado di mortalità.
La rianimazione cardiopolmonare (RCP) e l’utilizzo tempestivo del defibrillatore semiautomatico (DAE) costituiscono la chiave per migliorare la sopravvivenza dei pazienti affetti da ACC e per minimizzare i danni derivanti dall’ipossia celebrale. In tutto il mondo, ogni giorno, si tengono corsi di Basic Life Support Defibrillation (BLS-D), mirati a fornire e mantenere le conoscenze teoriche e pratiche necessarie per garantire assistenza di alta qualità a coloro che ne hanno bisogno.
Obiettivo: Questo studio si pone l’obiettivo di valutare come le esperienze pregresse dei partecipanti ad un corso BLS-D influiscano sull’acquisizione di competenze specifiche in materia di rianimazione cardiopolmonare.
Materiali e Metodi: Il progetto consiste in uno studio osservazionale eseguito su un campione di 99 partecipanti al corso BLS-D tenuto da INFORMAZ SRL – CENTRO DI FORMAZIONE SANITARIA. Lo studio si è svolto dal 28/01/2023 al 30/06/2023 e si è articolato tramite la somministrazione di un questionario pre formazione BLS-D riguardate l’esperienza dei partecipanti nella gestione dell’ACC e un questionario post BLS-D riguardante le conoscenze acquisite.
Risultati: Dall’analisi dei dati si evince che dei 99 partecipanti che hanno compilato i questionari il 44.44% aveva già avuto esperienza nella RCP mentre il 52.53% non aveva mai assistito ad un ACC. La percentuale di risposte corrette fornite dai partecipanti con esperienza pregressa si attesta al 93.68%, mentre il gruppo che non aveva mai eseguito RCP prima del corso ha ottenuto risultati con percentuale di risposte esatte che si aggira intorno all’86.17%.
Conclusioni: Nel presente studio, si è riscontrato come al termine del corso preso in esame, così come strutturato, i partecipanti raggiungono un livello di preparazione, in termine di conoscenze acquisite nel campo della RCP e delle linee guida BLS-D molto soddisfacente; I risultati evidenziano l’influenza positiva dell’esperienza dei professionisti in materia di RCP. Si evince che questo lavoro potrebbe essere la base di un progetto più ampio in quanto si potrebbero prendere in considerazione altri elementi come l’efficacia formativa del corso BLS-D confrontando il pre e il post utilizzando lo stesso strumento di raccolta dati somministrato alla fine del corso.
Parole chiave: basic life support; supporto vitale di base; rianimazione cardiopolmonare; arresto cardiocircolatorio; defibrillatore semiautomatico; formazione continua.
Serum vitamin D levels and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children with asthma.
No full textEpidemiological studies have established a relationship between low levels of serum vitamin D and reduced lung function in healthy adults, and asthma onset and severity in children. However, no study has examined the relationship between vitamin D levels and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic children. We evaluated the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and baseline forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and change in FEV1 (ΔFEV1) after a standardised exercise challenge in 45 children with intermittent asthma. Only 11% of the children had desirable serum vitamin D levels (at least 30-40 ng·mL(-1)). A positive correlation was found between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and both FVC (r=0.34; p=0.037) and FEV1 (r=0.32; p=0.037). Subjects with a positive response to the exercise challenge (ΔFEV1≥10%) presented lower serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D than children with a negative challenge (mean±sd 16.2±5.2 versus 23.4±7.0 ng·mL(-1), respectively; p=0.001). Our results indicate that hypovitaminosis D is frequent in asthmatic children who live in a Mediterranean country. In those children, lower levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced lung function and increased reactivity to exercise
Correlation between serum 25 (OH)-vitamin D levels and severity of atopic dermatitis in children
No full textVitamin D deficiency could be associated with the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD).
OBJECTIVES:
We carried out a study to see whether deficient/insufficient levels of vitamin D correlate with the severity of atopic skin disease.
METHODS:
Using the SCORAD index, we evaluated the severity of disease in 37 children (17 girls and 20 boys) aged between 8 months and 12 years with AD, consecutively enrolled in the study. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were determined by a chemiluminescent method. Specific IgE (sIgE) to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins and sIgE to Malassezia furfur were assayed by the ImmunoCAP system. anova and the Pearson correlation test were used for statistical evaluation.
RESULTS:
We found severe, moderate and mild AD in nine (24%), 13 (35%) and 15 (41%) children, respectively. Mean ± SD serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly higher (P < 0·05) in patients with mild disease (36·9 ± 15·7 ng mL(-1)) compared with those with moderate (27·5 ± 8·3 ng mL(-1)) or severe AD (20·5 ± 5·9 ng mL(-1)). The prevalence of patients with sIgE to microbial antigens increased in relation to vitamin D deficiency and AD severity.
CONCLUSIONS:
These data suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be related to the severity of AD and advocate the need for studies evaluating the use of vitamin D as a potential treatment in patients with this disease
Concentrazione di vitamina D nel siero, funzionalita’ respiratoria e controllo dell’asma in bambini asmatici
No full textle dimostrazioni dicorrelazione tra concentrazione di vitamina D nel siero, funzionalita’ respiratoria e controllo dell’asma in bambini asmatic
Correlation between vitamin D serum levels and passive smoking exposure in children with asthma
No full textObjective: To establish the relationship between vitamin D serum levels, pulmonary function, asthma control, and passive smoking exposure in children with asthma.Methods: We studied the relationship between 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol (25[OH] D) concentrations and baseline spirometry and levels of asthma control, and the effect of parental tobacco smoke exposure in 152 white children (84 boys [55.3%]) with a mean age +/- standard deviation of 9.9 +/- 2.0 years (range 5-15 years) in a cross-sectional study carried out during the winter and early spring.Results: Only 9.9% of our children had a sufficient serum 25(OH) D level (at least 30-40 ng/mL). A significant positive correlation was found between the force vital capacity % predicted, forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration % predicted, and serum 25(OH) D level (r = 0.36, p < 0.001 for both). The subjects with controlled asthma had higher serum levels of 25(OH) D than children with partially controlled or noncontrolled asthma, both according to Global Initiative for Asthma parameters and the Test for the control of asthma in childhood (p = 0.011). Children with both nonsmoking parents presented significantly higher serum levels of 25(OH) D than children with both smoking parents (median, 20.5 ng/mL [interquartile range {IQR}, 16.6 -24.0 ng/mL] versus median, 14.5 ng/mL [IQR, 11.1-19.1 ng/mL], respectively; p < 0.001), with intermediate values for children exposed to single maternal (median, 20.3 ng/mL [IQR, 13.0 -23.2 ng/mL]) or to paternal smoking (median, 17.8 ng/mL [IQR, 14.7-22.1 ng/mL]).Conclusion: Our results indicated that hypovitaminosis D was frequent in children with asthma who lived in a Mediterranean country. In these children, lower levels of vitamin D were associated with reduced asthma control and passive smoking exposure
- …
