1,354,441 research outputs found
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and bronchiectasis: A concomitance or a real association?
No full textAlpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATd) is a hereditary disease, mainly characterized by early onset and the lower lobes’ predominant emphysema. Bronchiectasis is characterized by dilatation of the bronchial wall and a clinical syndrome whose features are a cough, sputum production and frequent respiratory exacerbations. In the literature, there are many papers concerning these two clinical entities, but there is still a lot of debate about a possible association between them, in particular about the frequency of their association and causal links. The aim of this short communication is to show the literature reports about the association between AATd and bronchiectasis to establish the state of the art and possible future developments in this research field
Convegno ”EXPO 2008 – Expert Opinion Consensus/Dissensus Seminar – COPD is/is not a systemic disease?
No full textNasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal Swabs, And/Or Serology for SARS COVID-19: What Are We Looking For?
No full textGovernments and clinicians that were fully involved in the dramatic SARS-CoV-2 outbreak during the last few weeks in Italy (and more or less all over the world) are fiercely debating the use of methods for screening this viral infection. Thus, all countries are employing a lot of resources in order to test more and more subjects. For this purpose, there are different strategies, based on either direct or indirect tests. Among the first category, the main assays used for SARS-CoV-2 are based on a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Such tests can be performed on nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs for the categories of those with symptoms and those potentially exposed. In order to integrate the molecular assays in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, a wide range of serology immunoassays (IAs) have also been developed. If we want to identify “immune” people in order to let them to come back to work, serology is the best (and probably the only) approach
Tuberculosis on the threshold of 2000
No full textDuring the last 10 years, tuberculosis (TBC) previously in progressive decline, showed a marked increase all over the world, for biological and economic reasons. This fact induced new interests in this disease, in the epidemiologic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic fields. At the moment there are a lot of studies about tuberculosis HIV+ patients, above all in developing countries. TBC can be efficaciously treated through strategies performed by developed countries
The laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis. Serodiagnosis
No full textDosage of antibodies for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis is not yet regularly performed because of the low sensitivity and specificity of the methods currently used, although these limitations have the low sensitivity and specificity of the methods currently used, although these limitations have been partially overcome by modern radioimmunological and immunoenzymatic techniques, and by mycobacterial antigen purification. The serodiagnosis should differ subjects with tuberculosis from those without disease and from those affected by micobacteriosis; distinguish between serum antibodies due to natural infection and serum antibodies due to BCG vaccination and allow to monitor anti-tuberculosis therapy. None of the methods currently used is able to obtain these results, so they cannot be considered a substitute for traditional diagnosis of tuberculosis. However, two potential fields of application can be outlined: the diagnosis of tuberculosis without bacteriological data and the study of tuberculosis immunological mechanisms
The Evolving Concept of the Multidisciplinary Approach in the Diagnosis and Management of Interstitial Lung Diseases
No full textBackground: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by inflammation and/or fibrosis of the lung interstitium, leading to a wide range of clinical manifestations and outcomes. Over the years, the literature has demonstrated the increased diagnostic accuracy and confidence associated with a multidisciplinary approach (MDA) in assessing diseases involving lung parenchyma. This approach was recently emphasized by the latest guidelines from the American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Latin American Thoracic Association for the diagnosis of ILDs. Methods: In this review, we will discuss the role, composition, and timing of multidisciplinary diagnosis (MDD) concerning idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, connective tissue disease associated with ILDs, hypersensitive pneumonia, and idiopathic pneumonia with autoimmune features, based on the latest recommendations for their diagnosis. Results: The integration of clinical, radiological, histopathological, and, often, serological data is crucial in the early identification and management of ILDs, improving patient outcomes. Based on the recent endorsement of transbronchial cryo-biopsy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis guidelines, an MDA helps guide the choice of the sampling technique, obtaining the maximum diagnostic performance, and avoiding the execution of more invasive procedures such as a surgical lung biopsy. A multidisciplinary team should include pulmonologists, radiologists, pathologists, and, often, rheumatologists, being assembled regularly to achieve a consensus diagnosis and to review cases in light of new features. Conclusions: The literature highlighted that an MDA is essential to improve the accuracy and reliability of ILD diagnosis, allowing for the early optimization of therapy and reducing the need for invasive procedures. The multidisciplinary diagnosis of ILDs is an ongoing and dynamic process, often referred to as a “working diagnosis”, involving the progressive integration and re-evaluation of clinical, radiological, and histological features
Lung and peripheral blood T lymphocytes IFN-γ production in infliximab-associated pulmonary tuberculosis.
No full textWe present the pattern of cellular immune response at both the levels of the diseased lung and peripheral blood in a case of pulmonary tuberculosis following infliximab treatment for Crohn's disease. A 40 year-old man who had received two courses of infliximab (5 mg/kg) was admitted with intermittent fever, cough and dyspnoea. Diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis with positive sputum culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was made. At the time of diagnosis, CD3 lymphocytes from peripheral blood showed a moderate presence of cells producing IFN-γ (20%) and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) cells exhibited low levels of IFN-γCD3 lymphocytes (3.2%) After antitubercular treatment an increase in the percentage of CD3 lymphocytes producing IFN-γ (48%) was found on BAL cells whilst, on peripheral blood, a decrease in the percentage of IFN-γ producing CD3 lymphocytes was observed. This observation suggests a possible immune pathway responsible for development of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α-associated tuberculosis. © 2005
Carcinoembryonic antigen mRNA analysis detects micrometsatatic cells in blood from lung cancer patients.
No full textThe current authors previously identified circulating cells expressing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in 80% of lung cancer patients bearing distant metastases. The current study prospectively validated the data on a novel cohort and extended the study to other mRNAs expressed by neoplastic cells. CEA, cytokeratin 19 and 20, aldolase A and epithelial glycoprotein 2 (EPG2) mRNA was analysed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in circulating cells from 19 healthy controls, and in biopsies and blood at diagnosis from 32 lung cancer patients monitored for 24 months. Aldolase A and cytokeratin 19 mRNA occurred in circulating cells of all controls; cytokeratin 20 was not expressed by any lung cancer biopsy. EPG2 mRNA occurred in all biopsies but not in the patients' circulating cells. CEA mRNA occurred in 29/32 (90.6%) biopsies and in 17/32 mRNA samples from circulating cells from lung cancer patients. Of these positive patients 12/17 developed metastases within 9 months of mRNA analysis. Three positive patients died, one was lost to follow-up, and one did not develop metastases within 24 months. Of the negative patients 12/15 did not develop metastases during the 24-month follow-up; one patient was lost to follow-up, one did not express CEA, and another developed metastases. Unlike in other neoplasias, cytokeratin 19 and 20, aldolase A and epithelial glycoprotein 2 messenger ribonucleic acid are not useful for the detection of circulating cancer cells in lung cancer. Carcinoembryonic antigen messenger ribonucleic acid analysis in circulating cells helps to identify lung cancer patients at a greater risk of metastases
Novelties in the field of antimicrobial compounds for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections
No full text- …
