Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Bucca

Publications and source records attributed to C Bucca.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

[Functional compromise of the small airways in subjects exposed to SiO2].

Aims of our study were: to evaluate small airway function of subjects with past or present silica dust exposure and normal spirometric values; to investigate whether small airway disease is related to radiographic signs of silicosis, to cumulative dust exposure (ES) and to cigarette smoking. Maximal expiratory flow at 50% (MEF50) and 25% (MEF25) of forced expired vital capacity were measured in 112 subjects, 69 with radiographic signs of silicosis, group I, and the remaining 43 with normal chest X-rays. Even if age and ES were significantly higher in group I, no significant difference in respiratory function tests and in prevalence of small airway disease was found between the two groups. In both groups small airway function was significantly negatively related to smoking habits, while it was independent of the other variables considered. Multiple regression analysis with MEF50 and MEF25 as dependent variables did not show any significant relationship. We conclude that small airway disease due to encroachment of bronchiolar walls by SiO2 deposition is masqued by the damage produced by cigarette smoking, even in the presence of radiographic signs of silicosis.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1986

Methacholine inhalation challenge after rapid saline infusion in healthy subjects.

Five healthy subjects were challenged with methacholine on 2 different days, 1 week apart, the second day after acute intravenous 30 ml/kg 0.9% saline infusion. After infusion, we observed a significant reduction in vital capacity (VC), maximal expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), provocation dose producing a 35% fall in SGaw (PD35SGaw) and in 25% of maximal expiratory flow (MEF25), and an increase in the slopes of log dose-response curves. Our results suggest an increased bronchial reactivity in acute minimal interstitial lung edema.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Effect of nifedipine on salbutamol-induced bronchodilation in partially reversible airway obstruction.

The effects of the combination of oral nifedipine (20 mg) and inhaled salbutamol (400 mcg) were studied in ten stable patients with chronic partially reversible airway obstruction in a double-blind crossover design. Specific airway conductance (SGaw), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), heart rate and blood pressure were recorded before and 30 min after administration of nifedipine or a placebo and 30, 60, 90, 150, 210 and 270 min after salbutamol inhalation. The mean value of FEV1 30 min after nifedipine was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than after the placebo. The increase of SGaw and FEV1 produced by salbutamol was not significantly affected by pretreatment with nifedipine at any time. Nifedipine produced a significant increase of the heart rate which persisted throughout the study, but it did not influence blood pressure. No untoward effect was noticed during the study.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A multivariate analysis of the risk in chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD).

This study was undertaken to assess the validity of cluster analysis for stratifying patients with severe COLD into homogenous subgroups in view of further prospective studies. To this aim, physiological measurements and questionnaire data were obtained from 532 outpatients with severe COLD (e.g. a 1 sec forced expiratory volume (FEV1) below 1.5-1/sec). The model variables selected for the partition in cluster were FEV1, PaO2, response to bronchodilators and heart rate. Two subgroups of patients were identified by the analysis: cluster I with significantly greater physiological impairment than cluster II. The comparison of the prevalences of the variables outside the model between the 2 clusters showed, in fact, that cluster I had a significantly higher prevalence of subjects with heavy smoking (p less than 0.01), prolonged occupational exposure (p less than 0.05), low body weight (p less than 0.05), recent hospitalizations for respiratory troubles (p less than 0.02) and emphysema (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, cluster analysis based on few physiological variables was able to identify, among patients with severe COLD, those with poorer general conditions and higher exposure to specific risk factors, for whom a worse prognosis of life can be expected. The advantages of cluster analysis in comparison to other techniques of classification in this kind of patient is discussed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1984

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in silicosis.

Circulating Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) level, chest X-rays and respiratory function tests were determined in 76 male patients with silicosis. Mean serum ACE in the patients was significantly higher than in 30 healthy controls (129.8 +/- 4 U/ml and 92.4 +/- 22.7 respectively), although individual values were in the normal range in about half of the patients. Enzyme levels were independent of silica dust exposure, X-ray changes, functional lung impairment, age, smoking habits, and presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, patients with more severe radiological changes tended to have lower ACE values. Our data confirm that serum ACE level is frequently raised in silicosis, but does not give further information in the evaluation of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Site of airway obstruction after rapid saline infusion in healthy subjects.

Static and dynamic lung volumes, flow-volume curve in air and after He-O2 were carried out in 5 normal subjects baseline, immediately after rapid infusion of 2 litres of normal saline, and then 15, 30 and 60 min after. At the end of the infusion, a marked reduction of delta MEF50, FVC, FEV1, MEF50, MEF25 and an increase of Viso V and CV/VC were observed in all the subjects. The poor response to He-O2 suggests a predominant increase of small airway resistance after rapid infusion. In the recovery phase, He-O2 tests promptly returned to control values, while an increased CV/VC was detectable until 30 min after the infusion.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Relation between respiratory function and pulmonary hemodynamics before and after intravenous administration of furosemide in acute myocardial infarction.

Static lung volumes, flow volume curve in air and in a helium-oxygen mixture, PaO2 and pulmonary vascular pressures were measured in 16 patients 2 weeks after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction and repeated 2 h after furosemide 40 mg i.v. administration. The patients with wedge pressure (WP) greater than 18 mm Hg had significantly lower values of FEV1, FEV1/VC%, MEF40 and MEF 25 in comparison with the patients with WE less than 18 mm Hg. A negative correlation was found between both PAP and WP and MEF25 values (p less than 0.001). After furosemide respiratory function tests improved only in patients with a good hemodynamic response to the drug. PaO2 did not change significantly. Airflow response to helium seemed to be a useful test for determining the site of major bronchial compression.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Systemic arterial hypertension and small airways function: acute effects of diazoxide and furosemide.

Two groups of 10 patients with systemic arterial hypertension were studied by respiratory function tests before and after acute administration of diazoxide or furosemide. Small airways obstruction was present in a high percentage of patients and was partially reversed after the acute administration either of diazoxide or of furosemide. Systemic arterial hypertension seems to influence small airways caliber, through pulmonary vascular distension and/or pulmonary interstitial edema.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of air pollution on the respiratory health of children: a cross-sectional study.

To investigate the effects of air pollution on the respiratory health of children, a subject of some controversy, a comparative study was undertaken of 2,385 school children who lived in central urban, peripheral urban, and suburban areas. Daily monitoring of sulphur dioxide and total suspended particle concentrations in all areas showed that pollutant concentrations in central and peripheral urban areas were above commonly accepted safety levels for respiratory health, while concentrations in the suburban area were within acceptable limits. A questionnaire administered to each mother assessed environmental exposure to pollutants in the household, the occurrence of respiratory symptoms as well as lung diseases as diagnosed by a physician, and general information. Children were interviewed about smoking habits and any acute respiratory symptoms. Children also performed standard lung function tests. Results showed that children from both urban areas had lessened pulmonary function and a higher prevalence of bronchial secretion with common colds than did those from the suburban area. These differences persisted after corrections for exposure to indoor pollutants, active or passive smoking, socioeconomic status, and sex. Parental cigarette smoking was related to a fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and an increased incidence of acute respiratory illnesses and chronic cough in children. Although boys had higher lung volumes and lower air flow, regression analysis showed no significant influence of the interactions "sex-geographic area" and "sex-smoking" on lung function. It was concluded that air pollution has a significant effect on the respiratory health of children.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Additive effect of nitroglycerine inhalation on beta2-agonist-induced bronchodilatation in asthmatics.

The current treatment of airway obstruction using beta-agonists and theophylline is designed to increase intracellular level of cAMP. Experimental data show that cGMP and cAMP induce functionally additive relaxation of airways. Nitrates relax smooth muscle through the activation of guanylate cyclase. We wondered whether an additive effect of nitroglycerin (NTG) on beta2-agonist-induced bronchodilatation was present in asthmatic patients. To this aim we evaluated the acute bronchodilating effect of inhaled salbutamol (200 mu g MDI) in 10 asthmatics, pre-treated with inhaled NTG or placebo, in a double-blind cross-over design. FEV1 after NTG was higher than that obtained after placebo (2197 +/- 175 vs. 1981 +/- 155 ml, P <0.001). Mean FEV1 obtained 5 min after salbutamol was higher when patients were pre-treated with NTG than placebo (2694 +/- 217 vs 2440 +/- 228 ml respectively, P <0.001). The bronchodilatation due to salbutamol was identical whether NTG or placebo was inhaled first, respectively at 458 +/- 68 and 497 +/- 44 ml after 5 min. After 15 min FEV1 was higher than baseline, but no significant difference was still present between the value observed after pre-treatment with NTG or placebo (2554 +/- 235 and 2551 +/- 205 ml respectively). In conclusion, in asthmatics nebulized NTG produces a moderate and short-lasting bronchodilatation, which is additive with that produced by salbutamol.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Left ventricular mass and heart rate variability in middle-aged and elderly salt-sensitive hypertensive subjects.

Previous reports have shown that in salt-sensitive hypertension a high dietary salt intake can increase sympathetic activity. We evaluated the influence of the autonomic nervous system on myocardial hypertrophy by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability in middle-aged and elderly salt-sensitive hypertensive subjects. We compared autonomic nervous system activity in 32 salt-sensitive hypertensive patients (15 subjects with mean age, 42.4+/-2.4 years and 17 subjects with mean age, 74.6+/-1.6 years) and 20 age-matched normotensive controls. Power spectral analysis detects four spectral components: total power (TP), high-frequency (HF), low-frequency (LF) and very-low-frequency (VLF) power. In the elderly subjects we found an association between the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and the following variables: very-low frequency (P<0.0001), 24-h urinary sodium excretion (P<0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P<0.0001). In contrast, in middle-aged subjects we found a significant association between the LVMI and LF (P<0.001). In middle-aged, but not in elderly salt-sensitive hypertensive subjects, increased sympathetic activity correlated with the LVMI (P<0.0001). Our findings suggest an association between sympathetic hyperactivity and the LVMI in middle-aged subjects with salt-sensitive hypertension.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in lung function of children after an air pollution decrease.

Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1.0), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75), and maximal expiratory flow at 50% of FVC (MEF50) were measured in 1,880 school children who lived in urban areas before and after a decrease of air pollution. A group of 162 children from a suburban area served as controls. In the first survey, FEV1.0, FEF25-75, and MEF50 of children from urban areas were significantly lower, while in the second survey they were not significantly different from those of controls. The slopes over time of FEV1.0, FEF25-75, and MEF50, adjusted for sex and anthropometric variables, were closely related to the decrease of pollutants concentration. Our results suggest that a decrease of air pollution may produce an improvement of lung function.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of lung resection on pulmonary function. A comparative study in different surgical procedures.

The effect of lung surgery on respiratory function has been investigated in 40 patients considering separately the three main procedures (pneumonectomy, lobectomy and thoracotomy alone) to ascertain if the resected lung and the volume removal can influence this function in the immediate postoperative period. The patients were submitted to spirometry and arterial gas analysis preoperatively and during 9 days postoperation; the tests controlled were VC, FEV1, TV and RR. No significant difference has been noticed among various surgical procedures.

Adult↗