How air pollution influences clinical management of respiratory diseases. A case-crossover study in Milan.

Background: Environmental pollution is a known risk factor for multiple diseases and furthermore increases rate of hospitalisations. We investigated the correlation between emergency room admissions (ERAs) of the general population for respiratory diseases and the environmental pollutant levels in Milan, a metropolis in northern Italy.

Methods: We collected data from 45770 ERAs for respiratory diseases.

[Serological and clinical aspects in initial Wegener's disease. A case report].

The clinical and biochemical features of an acute and initial Wegener's granulomatosis case were analysed in a young woman. A multifactorial aspects are evident. A chronic inflammation of the superior respiratory tract has been observed.

[Alveolar hemorrhage in pulmonary-renal syndrome anti-SCL/70 and anti-MPO-ANCA positive].

We describe a case of pulmonary-renal syndrome on autoimmune basis, with alveolar hemorrhage and worsening renal failure. The patient was positive for anti-MPO and anti-SCL/70. Immunosuppressive therapy was effective to treat the pulmonary condition, but chronic renal failure emerged.

Role of sodium in intracellular calcium elevation and leukotriene B4 formation by receptor-mediated activation of human neutrophils.

The role of Na(+) and Na(+) exchangers in intracellular Ca(2+) elevation and leukotriene B(4) (LTBs) formation was investigated in granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-primed, fMLP-stimulated human neutrophils. Isotonic substitution of extracellular Na(+) with N-methyl-D-glucamine(+) (NMDG(+)) resulted in over 85% inhibition of the LTBs generation observed (from 14.1+/-0.