249 research outputs found
Pregnancy in Alpha 1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Deficiency and the role of intravenous AAT therapy
No full textIntercostal muscle flap to protect the bronchial stump in pediatric lobectomy for lung abscess
No full textLung suppurative diseases in children are usually responsive to medical treatment or percutaneous drainage. Rarely, pulmonary resection is required for lung abscess in childhood, particularly in presence of co-morbidities. In these cases, a lobectomy is usually performed through an open thoracotomy, with a reported incidence of bronco-pleural fistula up to 9.1% of pediatric series. This consequence is mainly due to the inflammatory condition; however the lack of knowledge of pediatric and thoracic surgeons with this rare condition in childhood can also play a role. In adults with lung cancer, the buttressing of bronchial stump with the additional support of an intercostal muscle (ICM) flap has proved to prevent this complication, as well as to reduce post-operative pain. We report the first pediatric experience of ICM flap used in 2 immunocompetent children requiring lobectomy for suppurative lung conditions. Our preliminary experience confirms the feasibility of protecting the bronchial stump after lobectomy in children, especially in conditions at risk for bronco-pleural fistula development
Serum biomarkers of remodeling in severe asthma with fixed airway obstruction and the potential role of KL-6
No full text: Over 3% of asthmatic patients are affected by a particularly severe form of the disease ("severe asthma", SA) which is often refractory to standard treatment. Airway remodeling (AR), which can be considered a critical characteristic of approximately half of all patients with SA and currently thought to be the main mechanism triggering fixed airway obstruction (FAO), seems to be a key factor affecting a patient's outcome. Despite the collective efforts of internationally renowned experts, to date only a few biomarkers indicative of AR and no recognizable biomarkers of lung parenchymal remodeling have been identified. This work examines the pathogenesis of airway and lung parenchymal remodeling and the serum biomarkers that may be able to identify the severe asthmatic patients who may develop FAO. The study also aims to examine if Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) could be considered a diagnostic biomarker of lung structural damage in SA
Preoperative Rehabilitation in Lung Cancer Patients: Yoga Approach
No full textLung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Surgical removal remains the best option for most tumors of this type. Reduction of cigarette consumption in patients with lung cancer candidates for the surgery could limit the impact of tobacco on postsurgical outcomes. Breathing exercises appear to help combat cigarette cravings. Yoga exercise benefits have been studied in lung cancer survivors, rather than in the preoperative setting. In this study, we have recruited 32 active smokers affected by lung cancer and being candidates for pulmonary surgery. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: one treated by standard breathing and the other treated by yoga breathing (YB). The groups were evaluated at times T0 (baseline) and T1 (after 7 days of treatment) to compare the effects of the two breathing treatments on pulmonary performance in a presurgery setting. Pulmonary and cardiocirculatory functions have been tested using a self-calibrating computerized spirometer and a portable pulse oximetry device. The findings demonstrate appreciable short-term improvement in lung function assessed by spirometry. We conclude that yoga breathing can be a beneficial preoperative support for thoracic surgery
Improved Survival in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Hospitalized for Acute Exacerbation
No full text: Background: Patients suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) may experience acute exacerbation (AE-IPF), which frequently results in acute respiratory failure (ARF) requiring hospitalization. Objective: This study aims to determine if survival has improved over the last decade in patients hospitalized for ARF consequent to AE-IPF, in view of the progress recently made in pharmacological and supportive treatment strategies. Methods: This was an observational retrospective single-center study. The data of 14 patients admitted to an Intermediate Respiratory Care Unit (IRCU) between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013 (group A) were compared with those of 26 patients admitted between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2023 (group B). This study's primary endpoint was survival following IRCU admission. Results: Survival time was significantly longer in the second group of patients compared to the first one [median survival time: 134 (31-257) vs. 25.5 (20-50) days; p < 0.001]. Group B patients also had a lower IRCU mortality rate (6/26 vs. 10/14; p = 0.003) and a significantly shorter stay in the IRCU [6 (1-60) vs. 14 (1-43) days; p = 0.039]. Conclusions: Innovative pharmacologic treatments and supportive therapeutic strategies are able to prolong survival and reduce the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with AE-IPF hospitalized for ARF
Correlation between α1-antitrypsin deficiency and SARS-CoV-2 infection: Epidemiological data and pathogenetic hypotheses
No full textThe most common hereditary disorder in adults, α1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), is characterized by reduced plasma levels or the abnormal functioning of α1-antitrypsin (AAT), a major human blood serine protease inhibitor, which is encoded by the SERine Protein INhibitor-A1 (SERPINA1) gene and produced in the liver. Recently, it has been hypothesized that the geographic differences in COVID-19 infection and fatality rates may be partially explained by ethnic differences in SERPINA1 allele frequencies. In our review, we examined epidemiological data on the correlation between the distribution of AATD, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19 mortality rates. Moreover, we described shared pathogenetic pathways that may provide a theoretical basis for our epidemi-ological findings. We also considered the potential use of AAT augmentation therapy in patients with COVID-19
Correlation between α1-Antitrypsin Deficiency and SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Epidemiological Data and Pathogenetic Hypotheses
No full text: The most common hereditary disorder in adults, α1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), is characterized by reduced plasma levels or the abnormal functioning of α1-antitrypsin (AAT), a major human blood serine protease inhibitor, which is encoded by the SERine Protein INhibitor-A1 (SERPINA1) gene and produced in the liver. Recently, it has been hypothesized that the geographic differences in COVID-19 infection and fatality rates may be partially explained by ethnic differences in SERPINA1 allele frequencies. In our review, we examined epidemiological data on the correlation between the distribution of AATD, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19 mortality rates. Moreover, we described shared pathogenetic pathways that may provide a theoretical basis for our epidemiological findings. We also considered the potential use of AAT augmentation therapy in patients with COVID-19
Posthumanistyczny Inny, czyli wyzwania dla współczesnej humanistyki. Szkic wokół teorii Achille Mbembe
No full text Posthumanistic Another, or challenges for contemporary humanities: Sketch around the theory of Achille MbembeThe text is a critical essay about Achille Mbembe’s poshumanistic theory of identity and answers the question of why we should read about postcolonial theory today, adjusting it to local European relations. The author proposes a specific kind of reading Mbembe’s essay as a call to create an involved identity. Involved identities are a form of resistance against European and many other authorities. Posthumanistic Another, or challenges for contemporary humanities: Sketch around the theory of Achille MbembeThe text is a critical essay about Achille Mbembe’s poshumanistic theory of identity and answers the question of why we should read about postcolonial theory today, adjusting it to local European relations. The author proposes a specific kind of reading Mbembe’s essay as a call to create an involved identity. Involved identities are a form of resistance against European and many other authorities
Recovery time and propagation effects of passenger transport disruptions
No full textWe propose a method to evaluate public transport network vulnerability. We study the evolution of the passenger Volume Over Capacity (VOC) ratio throughout the network to measure the spatial and temporal extent of the impacts caused by an unplanned service segment disruption. The VOC ratio provides an indication of the on-board travel comfort, an important level-of-service indicator, as well as reflects the residual capacity for absorbing additional demand. Because of the dynamic nature of public transport systems, disturbances propagate through the network in both time and space. Our modelling approach is able to capture transit system dynamics and quantify the extent to which the network exhibits spillover effects. We apply the method to the case of the rapid public transport system of Stockholm Sweden We demonstrate how the changes in network saturation and the corresponding recovery time can be quantified.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Transport and Plannin
Current Practices in the Management of Pulmonary Ground-Glass Opacities: A Survey of SICT Members
No full textSeveral gray areas and controversies exist concerning the management of pulmonary ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and there is a lack of consensus among clinicians on this topic. One of the main aims of the Italian Society of Thoracic Surgery (SICT) is to promote education and research, so we decided to perform a survey on this topic to estimate current trends in practice in a large sample of thoracic surgeons
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