Impact of comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation on anxiety and depression in hospitalized COPD patients.

To prospectively evaluate the effect of inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (iPR) on anxiety and depression as outcome measures in patients with COPD, we studied 149 consecutive adults COPD referred to our iPR after an exacerbation. Patients were divided according to the GOLD staging into: Group 1 (stage 2a, n = 48, FEV1 63 +/- 9% pred.), Group 2 (stage 2b, n = 53, FEV1 42 +/- 6% pred.

Early experiences with a porcine hepatocyte-based bioartificial liver in acute hepatic failure patients.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the only effective therapeutic modality in severe acute hepatic failure (AHF). The scarcity of organs for transplantation leads to an urgent necessity for temporary liver support treatments in AHF patients. A hepatocyte-based bioartificial liver (BAL) is under investigation with the main purpose to serve as bridging treatment until a liver becomes available for OLT, or to promote spontaneous liver regeneration.

Polynucleotide:Adenosine glycosidase is the sole activity of ribosome-inactivating proteins on DNA.

Polynucleotide: adenosine glycosidases (PNAG) are a class of plant and bacterial enzymes commonly known as ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP). They are presently classified as rRNA N-glycosidases in the enzyme nomenclature [EC 3.2.

[In vitro experimentation of a new model of radial flow bioreactor containing isolated hepatocytes].

Hepatocyte based artificial liver support systems are under investigation to support acute liver failure patients. The main purpose of such systems is to serve as a bridge to liver transplantation, or to promote spontaneous liver recovery. Limitation in mass-transfer capacity makes hollow-fiber bioreactors unsuited for long-term functioning of hybrid devices.

[Acute and fulminant liver failure: experimental models].

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a complex clinical syndrome, with an invariably high mortality rate, that follows many possible and different infectious, pharmacologic and surgical liver injuries. The appearance of the syndrome is similar whatever the etiology, but the mechanisms which lead to the development of FHF are greatly varied. In order to understand the possible pathways which drive to FHF, experimental animal models have been used for a long time.

[Fulminant liver failure: etiopathogenesis and therapy].

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the development of encephalopathy within eight weeks from the onset of the first symptoms, in the absence of previous hepatic disease. It is an uncommon but not rare disease, often fatal but potentially reversible. This article looks at the diverse aetiologies, clinical features, and current medical management, including orthotopic liver transplantation, and auxiliary orthotopic or eterotopic liver transplantation, that are the most recently adopted surgical procedures.

Portal decompression using the inferior mesenteric vein.

We report five patients with variceal hemorrhage, in three cases secondary to diffuse thrombosis of the portal, superior mesenteric and splenic veins. Mesenteric angiography demonstrated patency of the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) in each, and successful portal decompression by anastomosis of the IMV to the left renal vein (n = 4) or the inferior vena cava (n = 1) was accomplished. Bleeding was permanently controlled: four patients have survived from one to eight years post-operatively.

Polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidase activity of ribosome-inactivating proteins: effect on DNA, RNA and poly(A).

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP) are a family of plant enzymes for which a unique activity was determined: rRNAN-glycosidase at a specific universally conserved position, A4324in the case of rat ribosomes. Recently we have shown that the RIP from Saponaria officinalis have a much wider substrate specificity: they are actually polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidases. Here we extend studies on substrate specificity to most known RIP: 52 purified proteins, both type 1 (single-chain) and type 2 (two chain, an enzymatic chain and a lectin chain) were examined for adenine release on various substrates including RNAs from different sources, DNA, and poly(A).

Polynucleotide: adenosine glycosidase activity of saporin-L1: effect on DNA, RNA and poly(A).

The ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are a family of plant enzymes for which a unique activity has been determined: rRNA N-glycosidase, which removes adenine at a specific universally conserved position (A4324 in the case of rat ribosomes). Here we report that saporin-L1, a RIP from the leaves of Saponaria officinalis, recognizes other substrates, including RNAs from different sources, DNA and poly(A). Saporin-L1 depurinated DNA extensively and released adenine from all adenine-containing polynucleotides tested.

Production of ribosome-inactivating protein from hairy root cultures of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem.

Transformed root lines of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. (Cucurbitaceae) were established by inoculation of in vitro grown plantlets with wild type Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain 1855.

Activities associated with the presence of ribosome-inactivating proteins increase in senescent and stressed leaves.

The ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) from Hura crepitans and Phytolacca americana release adenine from herring sperm DNA. Leaf extracts from these plants show the same enzymatic activities as the RIPs. The translation inhibitory activity and the activity on DNA are both increased in the leaves of both plants during senescence or when subjected to heat or osmotic stress.

Increased sinusoidal wall permeability and liver fatty change after two-thirds hepatectomy: an ultrastructural study in the rat.

Accumulation of lipids in the hepatocyte cytoplasm after partial hepatectomy (PH) has long been recognized, but the mechanism behind this phenomenon is still poorly understood. In this study, rats subjected to a standard two-thirds PH showed early and marked increase in portal venous pressure (P < .01).

[Benign obstruction of the common bile duct: what is the current role of transduodenal sphincteroplasty?].

This paper is a critical review of the clinical records of 20 patients who underwent a Transduodenal Sphincteroplasty (PSP), from October 1990 to January 1992 at our Department (General Surgery). The age was 64.9 (14.

[Transduodenal sphincterotomy and type II Mirizzi syndrome].

This paper describes the clinical course of a 76-year-old woman surgically treated in our department (General Surgery) for obstructive jaundice in Mirizzi syndrome (II). Ultrasonography and ERCP failed to demonstrate the pathological situation at the level of the biliary tree. When laparotomy was decided because of the progressive worsening of the general clinical conditions of the patient, intraoperative cholangiography showed the presence of a cholecystocholedochal fistula with multiple residual stones eroded into the common bile duct.

Abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy associated with a native iliac kidney. Case report.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair associated with a pelvic kidney is extremely rare. To date only 14 cases have been reported in the literature. The main problem during aortic cross clamping is kidney preservation.

Conservative management of traumatic chylothorax: a case report.

A case is presented of a right traumatic chylothorax, secondary to thoracic trauma with bilateral posterior eleventh rib fracture, treated by total parenteral nutrition and pleural drainage, with resolution within 2 weeks. On the basis of this clinical report and of a review of the literature, it is concluded that adequate conservative management should be initially the treatment of choice. Surgical treatment should be reserved to the cases in which clinical improvement does not occur within 2 weeks, and should consist of supradiaphragmatic thoracic duct ligation.

[A case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma].

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumour originating from the smooth muscular tissue in any part of the organism, including retroperitoneum where it is particularly aggressive. It is nearly always characterized by a silent development causing diagnostic delay. The results of the primary therapy, which is always surgical, are limited because of the tumoral mass extension and the high local aggressiveness.

[Verrucous carcinoma of the penis. A case report and review of the literature].

The Authors report a case of a verrucous carcinoma of the penis. Among male malignant epithelial tumors the verrucous carcinoma represents a very rare form, with a typical oesophitic development, of vegetating sometimes ulcerated appearance, with slow evolution that rarely presents metastases. Although a therapeutic preservation approach is possible, a surgical operation is the treatment of choice.

[Carcinoid tumor of the appendix].

The Authors report a case of tumour carcinoid of the appendix incidentally found at operation for appendicitis in a young patient. Diagnosis was confirmed at histologic analysis of the operating piece. Appendiceal carcinoid is the most frequent carcinoid tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and rarely becomes malignant.

[Effect of the administration of hepato stimulating substance in acute hepatic insufficiency].

The effect of hepatic stimulator substance (HSS) on liver regeneration was evaluated after 68% partial hepatectomy in the rat by measuring the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into regenerating hepatocytes. Moreover, a liver failure model was established by 98% hepatectomy and different schedules of HSS administration were followed for studying the effect of the substance on the survival of the treated rats. A 40% survival was observed one week after hepatectomy, in the group of rats administered with the highest dosage of HSS (n = 10), as compared to a survival value of 13% in the control group (n = 15).

Laboratory findings in acute mesenteric infarction.

A study on the preoperative data of 16 patients with acute mesenteric infarction and the comparison to the pre-operative data of two homogenous groups is reported. The first group includes 11 patients with intestinal necrosis from venous obstruction and the second group includes 10 patients, with mechanical bowel obstruction. From the statistical analysis of the obtained data and the review of current literature it seems possible to obtain a useful differential diagnosis.