688 research outputs found
Hypersensitivity to pets in Italy
No full textEight hundred and two consecutive symptomatic outpatients (with asthma and rhinitis) were studied to evaluate the incidence of prick test positivity to cat and dog danders and the association of exposure to these animals in the home, as revealed by a standard questionnaire. 14.3% were found to be skin positive to cat and/or dog danders. The incidence of cutaneous hypersensitivity to cat and/or dog danders was 25% in the 216 subjects who kept animals, significantly higher (p less than 0.0005) than the 10.4% of 586 subjects who did not keep animals. In the 57 subjects who owned both dogs and cats, a significantly higher incidence of skin hypersensitivity was found compared to the other subjects. Our data does not demonstrate a greater incidence in sensitivity to cat danders compared to dog danders, or increased sensitization to dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, nor a different incidence of clinical manifestations (asthma and rhinitis) between those with animals in the house and those without.
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
The role of bronchoalveolar lavage in diffuse lung diseases [Ruolo del BAL nello studio delle interstiziopatie polmonari diffuse]
No full textThe application of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to the study of diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DLD) provided very important information about the complex reactions present at alveolar level in the various forms. The data till now obtained allowed to improve our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms and to contribute to the diagnosis and to the disease activity evaluation. The evaluation of cell pattern often associated with cell phenotype is widely used in clinical practice to distinguish the various forms and may be of diagnostic value in some cases, when the clinical picture is compatible or can aid to exclude other diseases. More sophisticated investigations such as the analysis of cytokine patterns to identify the type of immune response (Th1/Th2) and of mediators with different functions (profibrotic, proinflammatory etc.) or the identification of disease markers by new methods (genomic or proteomic studies) are research tools with future clinical application for diagnosis, prognosis and new treatment indication. Standardized protocols and guidelines are needed for correct clinical use of BAL. The recent literature on the role of BAL in DLD is reviewed
Serum chitotriosidase activity in sarcoidosis patients
No full textChitotriosidase as a potential biomarker of sarcoidosi
Studies on bronchoalveolar cells in human diseases. II General morphology and ultrastructure of pulmonary macrophages and small mononuclear cells in sarcoidosis
No full textData are presented from light and electron microscopic studies on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAC) in sarcoidosis, with particular emphasis on the ultrastructural morphology and functional characteristics of pulmonary macrophages (PM) and small mononuclear cells (SMC). Light microscopy showed an average of over 77% of the BAC to be PM, range 99-51%. SMC populations were also extremely variable. These variations may relate directly to the degree of disease activity. Electron microscopy demonstrated a wide range of morphological and implied functional (biosynthetic and phagocytic) characteristics of PM. Some of these are morphologically comparable to cells found in tissue granulomata. Our ultrastructural study has shown that the SMC population is made up of lymphocytes, monocytes and cells with intermediate characteristics (precursors).
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
Omalizumab treatment associated with Churg-Strauss vasculitis
No full textReport on Churg- Strauss vasculitis in a patient treated with omalizumab, due to streoids taperin
P109 - DOES AN ENLARGED EXTRACTION SITE AFFECT POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOMES AFTER LAPAROSCOPICALLY COMPLETED INTESTINAL RESECTION FOR CROHN'S DISEASE? (2010 Scientific Session of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) National Harbor, Maryland, USA, 14-17 April 2010)
No full textBACKGROUND: Laparoscopic approach has gained acceptance in the surgical treatment of Crohn’s disease. In some
cases a laparoscopically completed operation requires enlargement of the extraction site to exteriorize a large or inflamed
specimen. The effects of this increase of incision length on perioperative outcomes have not been previously investigated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 266 patients undergoing laparoscopically completed intestinal resection for
Crohn’s disease (no hand-assisted) from 1995-2008 and reported in an IRB-approved, prospectively collected database
were collected. We compared 44 patients who required increased length (IL) of their extraction site with 222 patients
whose procedures were completed through their initial extraction site (NIL). Variables analyzed included demographics,
perioperative details including morbidity and postoperative recovery by using Fisher’s exact, Chi-squared and Wilcoxon
test when appropriate.
RESULTS: Reasons for enlargement of the extraction site were size of phlegmons (66%), mesentery induration (21%),
extension of bowel resection (9%) and obesity (4%). Mean length of the final incision was 5.1 +/- 1.6 cm in NIL and 7.6 +/-
1.8 cm in IL group (p<0.001). No differences were detected in gender (p=0.06), ASA score (p=0.4) and rate of prior bowel
resections (p=0.4). IL patients were significantly older (42.5 vs 35.5 years, p=0.008), had increased operative times (179
vs 145 min, p=0.02), mean BMI (27.2 vs 24.6, p=0.003), and incidence of cardiac disease (21% vs 7%, p=0.01).
Phlegmons (66% vs 20%, p<0.001) and adhesions to abdominal wall (27% vs 13%, p=0.025) were more likely to be
detected at laparoscopy in IL group. Overall intraoperative complication rate (p=0.2) and blood loss (p=0.9) were similar
between groups. No differences were observed in postoperative complication rate (36% vs 34%, p=0.8), while IL patients
experienced a significantly increased wound infection rate (16% vs 5%, p=0.02). Length of hospital stay (4.9 vs 5.3 days,
p=0.4) and reoperation rate (0% vs 8%, p=0.08) were comparable. Readmission rate and rate of postoperative ileus
requiring readmission within 30 days were higher in IL, although not significantly (23% vs 15%, p=0.18 and 15% vs 6%,
p=0.1, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: Enlargement of the extraction site for laparoscopic bowel resection for Crohn’s disease does not affect
overall morbidity or length of hospital stay. However, a longer incision increases wound infection rates and should be
avoided when possibl
Is bronchoalveolar lavage obsolete in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease?
No full textThis review considers the literature on bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease published during the last 12 months with the aim of clarifying the role bronchoalveolar lavage can have in diagnostic work-up on the basis of current knowledge and expert opinion. Recent research findings with possible future clinical applications are presented. Various information, useful for research and clinical applications, can be obtained from performing bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with interstitial lung diseases. Indeed, evaluation of cell pattern associated with cell phenotype is used widely in clinical practice to distinguish the various forms and may be of diagnostic value in some interstitial lung diseases, as already known, when the clinical picture is compatible. Bronchoalveolar lavage may also be complementary to high-resolution CT or at least useful for diagnosis by exclusion. A major advance in the last year is recognition of a role for bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnostic workup of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, albeit as an auxiliary procedure. It may be useful to exclude infections and tumors, may help to decide whether to do surgical biopsy, and may aid in distinguishing different forms of interstitial lung disease. Although it is not diagnostic for idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, in the presence of cell patterns considered "typical" of the various forms, it can support clinical diagnosis in the absence of biopsy. Because further studies following standardized protocols and guidelines will presumably find new parameters for bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnostics of interstitial lung diseases, it would be a mistake to consider bronchoalveolar lavage an obsolete tool
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