Biomedical subjects

Argyrios A Smountas

Publications and source records attributed to Argyrios A Smountas.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Induced sputum in cystic fibrosis: within-week reproducibility of inflammatory markers.

UNLABELLED: Analysis of induced sputum has provided significant insight into the inflammatory response in chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. The thick, tenacious nature of cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum presents certain challenges to such evaluation. We describe the development of a methodology to assess CF sputum, and the within-week reproducibility (to limit the possibility of any change in clinical status) of cellular and inflammatory markers. METHODS: Seventeen young adults [9 males, 8 females, mean age 24 (5), median (quartile range) years, percentage of predicted FEV(1) = 64.0 (18.0%)] with CF underwent sputum inductions on the Monday and Thursday of the same week. Patients were pretreated with 400 microg salbutamol and subsequently inhaled 5% saline via a breath enhanced nebulizer. Every 3-min nebulization was interrupted to allow for expectoration of sputum into a polypropylene pot. Sputum samples were dispersed with a solution of dithiothreitol (DTT) and deoxyribonuclease to allow for analysis of total cell count (TCC) and percentage neutrophils (%Neut). Measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and neutrophil elastase was performed on samples dispersed with DTT alone. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the measurements taken in the same week. Values for Day 1 versus Day 2 were as follows: TCC 20.8 (6.4) vs. 17.6 (2.5) x 10(6) cells/ml; %Neut: 94.1 (0.0) vs. 95.4 (0.5) %; TNF-alpha 7.5 (26.0) vs. 21.0 (44.0) pg/ml; IL-8 610.0 (422.0) vs. 524.0 (587.0) ng/ml and neutrophil elastase 110.0 (19.75) vs. 49.75 (60.75) microM. High intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for TCC, %Neut, TNF-alpha IL-8 and neutrophil elastase were found (ICC = 0.76, 0.82, 0.93, 0.82, 0.74, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The method developed here for the analysis of CF sputum shows good reproducibility and can be used to evaluate therapeutic interventions in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Improved glutathione status in young adult patients with cystic fibrosis supplemented with whey protein.

BACKGROUND: The lung disease of cystic fibrosis is associated with a chronic inflammatory reaction and an over abundance of oxidants relative to antioxidants. Glutathione functions as a major frontline defense against the build-up of oxidants in the lung. This increased demand for glutathione (GSH) in cystic fibrosis may be limiting if nutritional status is compromised. We sought to increase glutathione levels in stable patients with cystic fibrosis by supplementation with a whey-based protein. METHODS: Twenty-one patients who were in stable condition were randomly assigned to take a whey protein isolate (Immunocal, 10 g twice a day) or casein placebo for 3 months. Peripheral lymphocyte GSH was used as a marker of lung GSH. Values were compared with nutritional status and lung parameters. RESULTS: At baseline there were no significant differences in age, height, weight, percent ideal body weight or percent body fat. Lymphocyte GSH was similar in the two groups. After supplementation, we observed a 46.6% increase from baseline (P < 0.05) in the lymphocyte GSH levels in the supplemented group. No other changes were observed. CONCLUSION: The results show that dietary supplementation with a whey-based product can increase glutathione levels in cystic fibrosis. This nutritional approach may be useful in maintaining optimal levels of GSH and counteract the deleterious effects of oxidative stress in the lung in cystic fibrosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Isokinetic muscle function in COPD.

AIM: Exercise limitation in patients with COPD has been attributed to impaired ventilation and reduced skeletal muscle function. We have previously used a combination of FEV(1) and leg muscle function (work achieved during a 30-s isokinetic sprint test) to predict progressive exercise capacity. However, the 30-s test may not be well tolerated in patients with advanced lung disease. We studied the relationship between progressive exercise capacity, FEV(1), and isokinetic work in patients with COPD and in healthy control subjects to assess whether the work accomplished at time intervals of < 30 s could also be used to predict progressive maximal exercise capacity (Wmax). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with COPD and 29 control subjects underwent anthropometric measures, spirometry, progressive cycle ergometry, and 30-s isokinetic cycling. RESULTS: There was no significant difference for weight, height, or body mass index between the groups. The COPD group was slightly older and had a significantly lower FEV(1) than control subjects. They also had a lower Wmax (56 +/- 28.3 W vs 141.9 +/- 46.7 W) and isokinetic work accomplished over 10 s (W10), over 15 s (W15), over 20 s (W20), over 25 s (W25), and over 30 s (W30). Wmax correlated in both patients with COPD and in control subjects with W10, W15, W20, W25, W30, and FEV(1). Combining FEV(1) and isokinetic work (W10, W15, W20, W25, or W30) in a two-factor model to predict Wmax, the coefficients of determination (r(2)) for patients with COPD were 0.57, 0.57, 0.58, 0.59, and 0.58, and for control subjects were 0.69, 0.69, 0.71, 0.71, and 0.73, respectively. Wmax correlated with weight only in control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Both ventilatory function and leg muscle function contribute to exercise limitation, and a 20-s isokinetic test can be utilized to assess leg function in patients with COPD.

Aged↗