Eight cirrhotic patients were studied in a randomized crossover single blind study in order to compare the effects of two isocaloric, and with equal amount of protein diets on nitrogen balance and on the portal systemic index. One diet was 2:3 vegetable protein to total protein content (diet V) and the other 2:3 animal protein to total protein content (diet A). Each diet was changed every three weeks. Five patients followed the VAV scheme and three the AVA scheme. The mean values of the porto systemic index were almost the same with the two diets while the value of the nitrogen balance was less negative with the diet A than with the diet V, showing an increasing trend, more marked with the diet A, at every consecutive time of observation. The variance analysis was not significant for any of the two diets. Diet V was well tolerated.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective study of airway obstruction in a population with small airway disease.

In this paper, we discuss results showing an increase of bronchial obstruction due to exposure in an iron foundry. The research has been conducted in two steps: in the first, we selected a sample of 100 subjects, all working in the iron foundry, who were affected only by small airway obstruction. In a second step, 30 months later, 99 of these subjects were re-examined and the present airway condition determined. In 43 subjects we found abnormal results of the tests indicating total airway obstruction after the 30 months. After properly accounting for ageing, we found that even in the subsample of non-smokers a deterioration had occurred, showing an effective contribution of environmental pollution. The use of RV, MMEF, CV, DLCO for detecting small airway obstruction is evaluated. The combination of RV, MMEF and CV is the most efficient mosaic of tests for the selection of subjects with small airway obstruction (89%) and with high probability of developing total airway obstruction (44%).

Adult↗