1,721,031 research outputs found
Long-Term Follow-Up of Cluster-Based Diisocyanate Asthma Phenotypes
No full textBackground: Data on the outcome of occupational asthma (OA) are heterogeneous. Objective: To assess the impact of being part of a specific cluster at diagnosis on the long-term outcome of diisocyanate-induced OA. Methods: We collected data from 56 patients who had a diagnosis of OA confirmed by a positive specific inhalation challenge. Patients sensitized to toluene diisocyanate were allocated to cluster 1 or 2 based on a tree analysis, using the 3 variables relevant for cluster segregation identified in a previous study: age, body mass index, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity at diagnosis. Patients sensitized to methylene diisocyanate were allocated to cluster 3, as in previous study. We defined OA remission when a patient had met a total of 3 criteria: no asthma symptoms and no antiasthma therapy for the last year, as well as having normal lung function. Results: At follow-up, 16 patients showed OA remission. They exhibited better lung function, less bronchial hyperreactivity, as well as younger age at diagnosis. Twenty-eight patients were allocated to cluster 1, 10 to cluster 2, and 18 to cluster 3. The percentage of patients with OA remission was higher in cluster 2 (50% vs 25% in cluster 1 and 22.5% in cluster 3), although the difference was not statistically significant (P =.2789). Conclusions: Age at diagnosis was a strong predictor of OA remission. The outcome of diisocyanate OA tended to be more favorable for patients with toluene diisocyanate OA allocated in cluster 2, but this finding needs to be validated by further data
Incidental findings detected with panoramic radiography: prevalence calculated on a sample of 2017 cases treated at a major Italian trauma and cancer centre
Full text linkObjectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of incidental findings, not strictly related to dentistry, viewed with panoramic radiography. Methods: Panoramic radiographs performed between December 2013 and June 2016 were retrospectively collected. These images were analyzed, searching for incidental findings. All the information collected was statistically analysed Results: A total of 2307 Panoramic Radiograph were analyzed and 2017 of them were included in the study. 529 incidental findings were seen: 255 (48.2%) were ESP (Elongation of Styloid Process), 167 were CAC (Carotid Artery Calcification) (31.57%), 36 were maxillary sinus pathologies (6.8%) and 71 were other incidental findings (13.42%). The total prevalence of IF was 26, 23%., CAC was 8.28% in the total population, and it was higher in women (9.82%) than men (6.54%). 48.5% of CAC were bilateral. When unilateral, the right side showed a higher right side prevalence. The prevalence of ESP was 12.64% in total population (men: 13.82%; women: 11.60%). 84.71% of ESP were bilateral and, when present unilaterally, no side difference was seen. 13.33% of the ESP appeared segmented. The prevalence of maxillary sinus pathologies was 1.78% (men: 2.32%; women: 1.31%). Only 8.33% of these pathologies were bilateral, and, when unilateral, they were mostly present on the right side. Between the 71 other IF (prevalence: 3.52%), sialoliths and tonsilloliths were assessed most frequently. Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of incidental findings detected with panoramic radiography, dental practitioners should be aware of the various pathologic conditions seen on the panoramic radiographs
Low myocardial mechano-energetic efficiency is an independent predictor of prognosis in advanced chronic liver disease
No full textOBJECTIVE: We aimed at investigating if a low myocardial mechano-energetic efficiency (MEE) with energy waste could be a feature of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and predictive of poor prognosis. METHODS: We retrospectively interrogated a large data set of 115 cirrhotic patients followed up for 6 years and compared with 50 healthy controls. Echocardiographic and haemodynamic parameters were assessed at baseline according with current guidelines. MEE was estimated by echocardiographic stroke volume (z-derived)/(heart rate × 0.6). RESULTS: Cirrhotic patients presented low peripheral vascular resistance, a compensatory hyperdynamic syndrome with increased cardiac work, left atrial and left ventricular (LV) dimension and mass. Systolic parameters and MEE were similar between patients and controls. Patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites showed significantly lower MEE compared with both patients with treatable ascites and patients without ascites (1.68 ± 0.47 vs. 1.98 ± 0.64 and 1.80 ± 0.37 ml/s; P < 0.05). Increased age and heart rate and reduced body weight, cardiac dimension and work significantly correlated with lower MEE, mostly when compared nonalcoholic with alcoholic cirrhosis (1.65 ± 0.42 vs. 1.95 ± 0.56 ml/s respectively; P = 0.002). Among the cardiovascular parameters left atrium enlargement and reduced MEE were independent predictors of death. CONCLUSIONS: In advanced chronic liver disease left ventricular performance is blunted due to an energetically inefficient cardiac mechanical work which correlates with a poor prognosis. Therefore, the simple basal assessment of MEE can identify patients with a worst prognosis which requires a close follow-up
Prevalence and prognostic value of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy as defined according to the proposed new classification
No full textAim of the study: Prevalence and prognostic relevance of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM), as defined according to the new core criteria proposed in 2019, are still unknown. We investigated this relevant issue in a large cohort of cirrhotic patients. Material and methods: We retrospectively interrogated a data set of 162 collected cirrhotic patients followed up for at least 6 years, who underwent standard Doppler echocardiography and were compared with 46 healthy subjects. Left ventricular (LV) geometry, systo-diastolic function, global longitudinal strain and the main hemodynamic parameters were assessed according to current guidelines. Systolic dysfunction was diagnosed if LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50% and/or global longitudinal strain (GLS) 22%. Results: Adequate echocardiographic images permitting speckle tracking analysis were available in 83 patients. No patient presented LVEF ≤ 50%, GLS 22% was evident in 25%, advanced diastolic dysfunction was evident in 10%. Overall the prevalence of CCM was 29%. Patients with and without CCM presented similar clinical, biochemical, hemodynamic and echocardiographic features at baseline and similar incidence of death or type 1 hepatorenal syndrome at follow-up. Conclusions: According to the new criteria CCM is detected in 29%, mainly due to altered GLS at rest, but without prognostic relevance and therefore useless for the clinical management of cirrhotic patients. We propose to modify the criteria by removing the LVEF assessment and adding also a stress test assessing the cardiac contractile reserve to distinguish patients with a blunted cardiac response, which could present a worst prognosis
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe 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
Ortopantomografia digitale con ingrandimento costante nella pianificazione del trattamento implantare
No full textVariations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Third molar extraction: irrigation and cooling with water or sterile physiological solution. A doubleblind randomized study
No full textLaser lingual frenectomy in orthodontics: An observational study on efficacy and relapse
No full textIntroduction: Ankyloglossia is a fairly common abnormality that affects both adults and children. Several orthodontic problems have been associated with or attributed to this condition. A surgical release is advisable when functional hindrances arise. Diode laser frenectomy is a viable option for treating ankyloglossia. Currently, there is a lack of data on the degrees of recurrence and relapse after this intervention. Methods: An observational study on 32 consecutive cases was conducted at the University of Padua to assess the degree of ankyloglossia recurrence after diode laser lingual frenectomy. Measurements were taken one week, one-month and six-months after the intervention. Results: Using Ruffoli's measurement, a statistically significant effect of time (p = 0.0105) was apparent six months after the intervention, with an increasing tongue frenum over time from a mean of-2.54 (-3.89;-1.18) to-3.86 (-5.21;-2.50). No statistically significant effect of time emerged using Kotlow’s or Total measurements, however. Conclusions: The degree of recurrence after diode laser lingual frenectomy proved to be very low (p = 0.0105)
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