A two-stage logistic model based on the measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokines in bronchial secretions for assessing bacterial, viral, and non-infectious origin of COPD exacerbations.

Unlabelled: Exacerbations often complicate the progressive course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), mainly due to infectious agents. The precise role of bacterial infections in the course and the pathogenesis of COPD has been a source of controversy for decades. Also viruses and other non-infectious causes of exacerbation play a relevant role and also contribute to persisting airway inflammation.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations in children/adolescents and adults. Part II: Differences in obliteration rates, treatment-obliteration intervals, and prognostic factors.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare obliteration rates (OBRs) and treatment-obliteration intervals (TOIs) for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (cAVMs) treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery in children/adolescents and adults; and to determine factors predicting the OBR and TOI in these two populations.

Methods And Materials: This study concerned 62 children/adolescents and 193 adults observed for > or = 3 years. Fisher exact two-tailed and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, multiple logistics, and Cox proportional hazard models were used for statistical analysis.

Gamma knife radiosurgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations in children/adolescents and adults. Part I: Differences in epidemiologic, morphologic, and clinical characteristics, permanent complications, and bleeding in the latency period.

Purpose: To compare the epidemiologic, morphologic, and clinical characteristics of 92 children/adolescents (Group A) and 362 adults (Group B) with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (cAVMs) considered suitable for radiosurgery; to correlate radiosurgery-related permanent complication and post-radiosurgery bleeding rates in the 75 children/adolescents and 297 adults available for follow-up.

Methods And Materials: Radiosurgery was performed with a model C 201-source Co60 Leksell Gamma Unit (Elekta Instruments, Stockholm, Sweden). Fisher exact two-tailed, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and two-sample binomial exact tests were used for statistical analysis.

Leksell gamma knife radiosurgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations in pediatric patients.

Objects: The authors report their experience of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) in a large series of pediatric cerebral arteriovenous malformations (cAVMs). The advantages, risks and failures of this approach are presented and discussed.

Methods: Gamma knife radiosurgery was performed on 63 children aged < or =16 years.