The Influence of Lung Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength on Quadriceps Muscle Fatigability in COPD Patients Under Long-term Oxygen Therapy.

Background: This research investigates quadriceps muscle fatigability (MF) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF) at different levels of lung obstruction [severe obstruction (SO)=FEV <50% and >30% versus very severe obstruction (VSO)=FEV ≤30%]. It explores the relationships between quadriceps MF and lung function, respiratory muscles, and oxygenation status.

Methods: A post hoc cross-over analysis in 45 COPD patients (20 SO and 25 VSO) undergoing long-term oxygen therapy was performed.

Early reduction of estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) predicts poor outcome in acutely ill hospitalized COVID-19 patients firstly admitted to medical regular wards (eGFR-COV19 study).

Background: Analysis of autopsy tissues obtained from patients who died from COVID-19 showed kidney tropism for SARS-COV-2, with COVID-19-related renal dysfunction representing an overlooked problem even in patients lacking previous history of chronic kidney disease. This study aimed to corroborate in a substantial sample of consecutive acutely ill COVID-19 hospitalized patients the efficacy of estimated GFR (eGFR), assessed at hospital admission, to identify acute renal function derangement and the predictive role of its association with in-hospital death and need for mechanical ventilation and admission to intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed charts of 764 patients firstly admitted to regular medical wards (Division of Internal Medicine) for symptomatic COVID-19 between March 6th and May 30th, 2020 and between October 1st, 2020 and March 15th, 2021.

Antimicrobial therapy in complicated rhinosinusitis.

Introduction: Complicated rhinosinusitis is a rare but life-threatening pathology that requires both medical and surgical treatment as soon as possible. The spread of the infection from the paranasal sinuses affects, most often, the orbit, patients presenting diplopia, preseptal cellulitis, orbital cellulitis, or even blindness alongside exteriorization of puss from the middle meatus and nasal obstruction.

Materials And Methods: We carried out a retrospective review of 32 patients that were diagnosed in our clinic with complicated rhinosinusitis from 2015 to 2022.

Performance of a bioglass-based dentine desensitizer under lactid acid exposition: an in-vitro study.

Background: Dentine hypersensitivity is especially frequent in patients with pronounced periodontal attachment loss. Aim of the treatment is an obstruction of the dentine tubules in order to inhibit liquid or osmotic motion, which is considered as trigger for pain sensations. Novel approaches aim for obstruction by calcium phosphate compounds in order to rely on biocompatible compounds.

A simple and reproducible prognostic index in luminal ER-positive breast cancers.

Background: The group of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers (both luminal-A and -B) behaves differently from the ER-negative group. At least in early follow-up, ER expression influences positively patients' prognosis. This low aggressive biology flattens out the differences of clinical management.

Impact of dental care in the prevention of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw: a single-center clinical experience.

Background: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is associated with bisphosphonate (BP) therapy and invasive dental care. An Interdisciplinary Care Group (ICG) was created to evaluate dental risk factors and the efficacy of a preventive restorative dental care in the reduction of ONJ risk.

Patients And Methods: This prospective single-center study included patients with bone metastases from solid tumors.

Public health and environmental response to the first case of naturally acquired inhalational anthrax in the United States in 30 years: infection of a new york city resident who worked with dried animal hides.

In Pennsylvania on February 16, 2006, a New York City resident collapsed with rigors and was hospitalized. On February 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene were notified that Bacillus anthracis had been identified in the patient's blood. Although the patient's history of working with dried animal hides to make African drums indicated the likelihood of a natural exposure to aerosolized anthrax spores, bioterrorism had to be ruled out first.

Antigenic and genetic characteristics of swine-origin 2009 A(H1N1) influenza viruses circulating in humans.

Since its identification in April 2009, an A(H1N1) virus containing a unique combination of gene segments from both North American and Eurasian swine lineages has continued to circulate in humans. The lack of similarity between the 2009 A(H1N1) virus and its nearest relatives indicates that its gene segments have been circulating undetected for an extended period. Its low genetic diversity suggests that the introduction into humans was a single event or multiple events of similar viruses.

Paclitaxel and concomitant radiotherapy in high-risk endometrial cancer patients: preliminary findings.

Background: There is still much debate about the best adjuvant therapy after surgery for endometrial cancer (EC) and there are no current guidelines. Radiotherapy (RT) alone does not seem to improve overall survival. We investigated whether concomitant Paclitaxel (P) and RT gave better clinical results.

Genetic characterization of diverse HIV-1 strains in an immigrant population living in New York City.

New York City (NYC) is one of the original foci of the HIV-1 epidemic and has a greater number of AIDS cases than any other city in the United States. NYC also hosts the highest number of immigrants among the nation's cities: more than 2 million among a total population of 8 million. Such a high rate of immigration could act as a potential source for introducing and disseminating novel HIV-1 strains into the United States.

Reductions in hepatitis C virus and HIV infections among injecting drug users in New York City, 1990-2001.

Objective: To assess trends in HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV/HCV infection among injecting drug users (IDU) from 1990 to 2001 in New York City. The 1990-2001 time period included a very large expansion of syringe exchange in New York City, from 250,000 to 3,000,000 syringes exchanged annually.

Methods: Cross-sectional seroprevalence surveys of IDU entering drug abuse treatment in New York City, with sample sizes for HCV of 72 in 1990-1991 and 412 in 2000-2001.

HIV incidence among injection drug users in New York City, 1990 to 2002: use of serologic test algorithm to assess expansion of HIV prevention services.

Objectives: We sought to estimate HIV incidence among injection drug users (IDUs) in New York City from 1990 to 2002 to assess the impact of an expansion of syringe exchange services. Syringe exchange increased greatly during this period, from 250,000 to 3,000,000 syringes exchanged annually.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from serial cross-sectional surveys of 3,651 IDUs.

Isolated case of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax, New York City, 2001.

On October 31, 2001, in New York City, a 61-year-old female hospital employee who had acquired inhalational anthrax died after a 6-day illness. To determine sources of exposure and identify additional persons at risk, the New York City Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and law enforcement authorities conducted an extensive investigation, which included interviewing contacts, examining personal effects, summarizing patient's use of mass transit, conducting active case finding and surveillance near her residence and at her workplace, and collecting samples from co-workers and the environment. We cultured all specimens for Bacillus anthracis.

Laboratory response to anthrax bioterrorism, New York City, 2001.

In October 2001, the greater New York City Metropolitan Area was the scene of a bioterrorism attack. The scale of the public response to this attack was not foreseen and threatened to overwhelm the Bioterrorism Response Laboratory's (BTRL) ability to process and test environmental samples. In a joint effort with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the cooperation of the Department of Defense, a massive effort was launched to maintain and sustain the laboratory response and return test results in a timely fashion.

Pilot study of expedited HIV-1 testing of women in labor at an inner-city hospital in New York City.

To evaluate the feasibility of offering voluntary counseling and expedited human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing to women in labor, and to assess the characteristics of two rapid HIV assays compared with results from an expedited standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA), with Western blot confirmation, as indicated, we undertook a pilot study immediately prior to enactment of New York State regulations (August 1999) requiring expedited testing of laboring women (or newborns) with undocumented HIV status. From June 9, 1999 through July 2, 1999, we offered HIV counseling and testing (C&T) to all medically stable women in active labor, 106 of 125 (85%) of whom accepted. One woman was confirmed HIV-1 seropositive.

Erroneously low or undetectable plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) ribonucleic acid load, determined by polymerase chain reaction, in West African and American patients with non-B subtype HIV-1 infection.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) ribonucleic acid (RNA) inadequately quantitates virus load for some non-B HIV-1 subtypes because of genetic diversity in the gag region targeted by the PCR primers. Unexpectedly low or undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA findings by PCR were a clue to non-B HIV-1 infections in patients in whom plasma HIV-1 RNA was found to be substantially higher when determined by a branched-chain deoxyribonucleic acid assay.

Concomitant radiotherapy and paclitaxel for high-risk endometrial cancer: first feasibility study.

Objective: Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) is the most used adjuvant treatment in high risk endometrial cancer (HREC), and it appears to reduce the incidence of pelvic relapses but doesn't seem to improve survival. Paclitaxel (P) has shown in vitro and clinical activity against endometrial cancer, and it is also a potent radiosensitizer by blocking dividing cells in G2/M phase. This is the first study that verifies the feasibility of a treatment with concomitant weekly chemotherapy and RT to potentially reduce the incidence of local and distant relapses in order to improve survival in HREC.

Declining seroprevalence in a very large HIV epidemic: injecting drug users in New York City, 1991 to 1996.

Objectives: This study assessed recent trends in HIV seroprevalence among injecting drug users in New York City.

Methods: We analyzed temporal trends in HIV seroprevalence from 1991 through 1996 in 5 studies of injecting drug users recruited from a detoxification program, a methadone maintenance program, research storefronts in the Lower East Side and Harlem areas, and a citywide network of sexually transmitted disease clinics. A total of 11,334 serum samples were tested.

Open-field thigmotaxis during various phases of the reproductive cycle.

Three experiments were conducted on female Swiss albino mice in order to determine whether open-field (OF) ambulation and thigmotaxis (wall-seeking) alter both as functions of reproductive phases such as estrus, mating, gestation, partus, lactation, weaning, as well as of presence, absence and OF location of a newborn pup. The results revealed increased thigmotaxis as an effect of estrus (p < 0.001).

Bleach use and HIV seroconversion among New York City injection drug users.

We employed a nested case-control study design to evaluate the efficacy of bleach-cleaning of needles and syringes among injecting drug users (IDUs) as a means of preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Sixteen HIV-seroconverters who responded to bleach use questions and who reported injecting with shared or used equipment in the 6 months prior to their first positive visit were compared with 89 controls. Controls had remained HIV-seronegative at two or more visits, reported injecting with shared or used equipment, responded to bleach-cleaning questions, and were seen at recall visits +/- 6 months from the date of seroconversion of the index case.

Continuity and change within an HIV epidemic. Injecting drug users in New York City, 1984 through 1992.

Objectives: To examine trends in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk behavior and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) in New York City from 1984 through 1992.

Design And Setting: Comparisons were made between two surveys of IDUs at the same hospital-based New York City drug abuse detoxification program: 141 IDUs in 1984 and 974 IDUs in 1990 through 1992. National Death Registry, New York City Health Department, and drug treatment program records were also used.

Preparations for AIDS vaccine trials. Retention, behavior change, and HIV-seroconversion among injecting drug users (IDUs) and sexual partners of IDUs.

The likelihood that subjects in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine efficacy trials will alter their behavioral risks for HIV infection over time must be considered in evaluating the feasibility of such trials and in estimating the necessary sample sizes to be enrolled. Potential subjects for future vaccine efficacy trials include injecting drug users (IDUs) and others who may be difficult to retain in studies and who may alter HIV-risk-related behaviors substantially over time. We have investigated behavior change, retention, and HIV seroconversion among 577 New York City resident IDUs and sexual partners of IDUs enlisted between July 1 and December 31, 1992.

CD4 lymphocytopenia among injecting drug users in New York City.

Recent cases of "AIDS-like" CD4 lymphocytopenia in the absence of HIV infection have generated considerable scientific and public interest. We studied CD4 cell counts and percentages from 1984 to 1992 among 1,246 HIV-seronegative injecting drug users in New York City, a population at very high risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Severe CD4 lymphocytopenia was rare, and there was no evidence of an increase over time.

Implications of the revised surveillance definition: AIDS among New York City drug users.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has proposed revising the AIDS surveillance definition to include any HIV-seropositive person with a CD4 cell count of less than 200 cells per microliter. Based on a study of persons receiving treatment for HIV infection, this new definition would lead to an estimated 50% increase in the number of persons recognized as living with AIDS. Among 440 HIV-seropositive research subjects recruited from drug treatment programs and through street outreach in New York City, 59 met this definition, yet only 25% of those had been reported to the New York City AIDS registry.