We have studied the effect of Synchrodyn 1-17 (100 micrograms/day/15 days, intramuscularly) on 12 patients with intrinsic asthma, presenting a circadian pattern in several functional parameters related to the bronchial patency (and/or with bouts of nocturnal asthma). Treatment with ACTH 1-17 had two main effects: the pathological rhythms of the bronchial tone disappeared and there was a clear general improvement in the indices of bronchial patency. The drug was well tolerated. Euphoria and water retention were the side effects: they were noticed in a variable number of subjects and disappeared after discontinuation of treatment.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acid-base changes in acute exacerbation of chronic hypercapnia in man.

Acid-base parameters were studied in 10 adult patients with chronic respiratory failure during spontaneous acute exacerbations of chronic hypercapnia and after return and stabilization of PaCO2 values at previous levels with improvement of clinical conditions. All factors interfering with acid-base equilibrium were carefully avoided. The results of this investigation confirm qualitatively those obtained by GOLDSTEIN et al. [7] in dog studies and those of INGRAM et al. [9]in human studies: increasing degrees of chronic hypercapnia tend to minimize the pH reduction induced by acute PACO2 changes. From a quantitative standpoint INGRAM's data in humans are considerably different from GOLDSTEIN's data obtained in dogs. Our data, although numerically limited, confirm the acute deltaH+/deltaPaCO2 slope obtained from dogs by GOLDSTEIN et al. As data are not yet sufficient, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. However the pattern of acid-base equilibrium changes in man in this situation seems to be similar to that observed by GOLDSTEIN et al. in the dog and could be described with reasonable accuracy by the theoretical model of LEUENBERGER et al.[13].

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Trends in the treatment of pneumonia].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Severe alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency: cross sectional clinical study].

The aim of this study was to investigate a group of severe alpha 1-antitrypsin deficient subjects. Of the 20 subjects detected, 7 were classified as Index Cases (discovered because they were symptomatic and had pulmonary emphysema or liver disease), while 13 were classified as Non-Index Cases (asymptomatic and discovered because they were relatives of Index Cases or because of the absence of alpha 1 band in serum electrophoresis). They underwent pulmonary function tests, determination of arterial blood gases, lung high resolution computed tomography and lung perfusion scan. All Index Cases were with the ZZ phenotype, indicating a major risk of developing related pulmonary emphysema or liver disease; most Index Cases (71%) were ex-smokers, while among the Non-Index Cases, 46% were smokers or ex-smokers, suggesting that smoking might be the main cofactor in the development of emphysema. Index Cases were older (statistical significance) and mostly male as compared with Non-Index Cases. A statistical significance was observed between the two groups for several lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in one second, Tiffenau index, residual volume, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, arterial oxygen tension) as a result of a pathological impairment in Index Cases. This underdiagnosed condition merits more attention in order to prevent its complications and to get a better understanding about its diagnosis and management.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency: the Brescia clinical study].

In a longitudinal clinical study, two hundred subjects have been evaluated in order to identify alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency patients. According to their serum alpha 1-antitrypsin levels, they have been divided into three groups: 25 patients with severe deficiency (with both pathological alleles--ZZ, SZ or Z and rare deficiency allele--and, if clinically suggested, to be treated with augmentation therapy), 92 patients with intermediate deficiency (with one pathological allele, to be followed up in order to evaluate the risk to develop deficiency related disease) and 63 healthy subjects (normal alleles MM). They performed lung function test (including cardiopulmonary exercise test and methacholine bronchial challenge) chest X-ray and high resolution computed tomography, blood tests. Severe deficiency patients also performed perfusional lung scan to detect early disorders of blood flow, evaluation of arterial blood gases and liver echotomography. Expiratory flow limitation, the prevalence of vascular disease, the amount of urine elastin products and correlations between the amount of nitric oxide exhaled and bronchial hyperresponsiveness have been also investigated. The study showed that in Brescia county the deficiency is more common than expected and that evaluation of liver and vessels might be as useful as lung function tests. In addition, beneficial effect on local system has been observed. The longitudinal study might permit to detect early organ damage and to eliminate additive risk factors.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Elastomeric chains in orthodontics. An in vitro evaluation of ten different types].

BACKGROUND: This study is an evaluation and a comparison assessment of ten different types of orthodontics elastomeric chains in an in vitro situation simulating the clinical therapy for the canine tooth distalisation. METHODS: We designed and produced two custom made systems in order to simulate the clinical movement and to measure the elastic recovery. The first device was suitable to activate the elastomeric chains up to 100% of its extension and successively to reduce this extension through the time, as it happens during the clinical practice. Simultaneously with the activation of the chains, it was possible to submit the device to two different termocycling procedures. The measuring system was a linear guide skid-mounted on a balance which provided two grasps in the order to achieve the activation rate and to measure it. The force showed by the elastic recovery was relieved at the starting of the experience and after 1, 7, 14, 21 days. RESULTS: We relieved that the elastomeric chains decreased their elastic recovery to the 50-70% of the starting rate during the first day of activation, after which the force holded fairly uniform and after three weeks it was the 20-40% of the value corresponding to the starting activation. CONCLUSIONS: The tested elastomeric chains provide forces reliable to produce the tooth movement for a maximum of a three/four weeks period; than they have to be changed since the induced movement is nullifying its efficacy. At the comparative analysis the diaphanous type shows a lower decrease of the elastic force than the gray type, and the Short& e X-Short shapes show the same behaviour and generate forces much more performing than Long shapes.

Elastomers↗