Circulating Reticulocalbin 1 and Reticulocalbin 3 in Systemic Sclerosis Patients: Results of a Case Control Study.

Background: Proteomic candidate biomarkers for systemic sclerosis (Ssc) useful for appropriate patient evaluation and follow-up were identified in mass-spectrometry studies; however, most of these biomarkers were not evaluated and confirmed on independent patient samples. Up-regulation of reticulocalbin 1 (RCN1) and reticulocalbin 3 (RCN3) in the dermal fibroblast secretome originating from Ssc patients was previously described. The aim of the study was to evaluate circulating RCN1 and RCN3 as candidate biomarkers for Ssc clinical expression.

Deceleration and Acceleration Capacities in Risk Stratification for Arrhythmias in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased risk for both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Autonomic dysregulation may be responsible for the development of arrhythmias in these patients, and its analysis could be useful for identifying those at high risk for arrhythmias.

Study Question: Our purpose is to analyze the role of acceleration capacity (AC) and deceleration capacity (DC), novel markers of the autonomic balance, as potential arrhythmic risk predictors in patients with COPD.

P Wave Signal-Averaged Electrocardiography in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with higher incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias. Atrial late potentials (ALP) detected by P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) could be useful in detecting the patients at risk for supraventricular arrhythmias. Our objective was to assess the role of P-wave SAECG and ALP detection for arrhythmic risk evaluation of the patients with exacerbated COPD.

Role of signal-averaged electrocardiography and ventricular late potentials in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased risk for cardiac arrhythmias. Ventricular late potentials (VLP) on signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) are associated with an increased risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Our aim is to investigate the modifications of SAECG parameters and the presence of VLP as possible indicators of proarrhythmic substrate in patients with COPD.

Body composition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: Body composition assessment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important, as weight loss and muscular wasting are responsible for low exercise capacity in these patients, and low body mass index (BMI) and fat free mass index (FFMI) are important prognostic factors. Our study aims were: (a) to describe body composition in COPD patients referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation center in Bucharest; (b) to examine the relationships between body composition and disease severity (bronchial obstruction, exercise capacity, quality of life); (c) to test if segmental wasting of lower limbs muscle mass (measured by segmental body composition analysis) correlates with decreased exercise capacity.

Material And Methods: We studied 36 consecutive COPD patients referred to our clinic for pulmonary rehabilitation.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with COPD - A Pilot Study in Patients Referred to a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Clinic.

Objectives: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmo-nary disease (COPD); its prevalence is currently unknown. The objectives of the study were: (a) to provide data on the prevalence of PH among the COPD patients referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation program; (b) to evaluate possible correlations of PH with the severity of COPD, the presence of hypoxemia and polycythemia.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively studied 31 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of COPD hospitalised in our clinic in which echocardiography was performed.

[Dynamic hyperinflation -- the main mechanism of decreased exercise tolerance in patients with COPD].

Decreased exercise tolerance in patients with COPD is the result of involvement in variable proportion of three mechanisms: ventilatory limitation, muscle dysfunction and cardio-vascular involvement (inadequate intake of oxygen at tissue level). Ventilatory limitation is caused by the combination of increased demand and decreased ventilatory capacity Increased ventilatory demand is the result of exercise worsening of ventilation-perfusion imbalance, and decreased ventilatory capacity is the result of decreased elastic recoil and dynamic obstruction. The consequence is the expiratory flowlimitation, leading to inefficientexpiratory muscle activity and dynamic hyperinflation.

Benefits of a 7-week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program in COPD patients.

Background: Respiratory rehabilitation programs (RR) are essential tools in the management of COPD.

Aim: We present the results of a 7-week outpatient rehabilitation program in terms of dyspnea, exercise tolerance and quality of life.

Material And Method: The following parameters were evaluated before and after RR: dyspnea (mMRC scale), pulmonary function (FEVI, RV- residual volume), exercise tolerance (6MWT- 6 minutes walk test, CPET - cardiopulmonary exercise test), quality of life (SGROQ questionnaire).

Pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common cause of secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH secondary to COPD is associated with a worse prognosis of the disease, a low quality of life, as well as with a higher exacerbation frequency, and consequently with an increase in the healthcare cost of COPD patients. Prevalence of PH in COPD patients is currently unknown.