Publications by authors named "Maria Antonia Ramon"

Introduction: The risk factors for having frequent exacerbations are not well documented in cohort studies of patients with asthma on existing therapy. The objective of the present study was to compare the clinical and inflammatory characteristics of patients with exacerbation-prone asthma (EPA) with a history of two or more exacerbations in the previous year with those who had presented just one or no exacerbation.

Methods: An ambispective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Quantifying physical activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with questionnaires and activity monitors in clinical practice is challenging. The aim of the present study was to analyse the discriminant validity of a single clinical question for the screening of inactive individuals living with COPD.

Methods: A multicentre study was carried out in stable COPD individuals both in primary and tertiary care.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objective: Physical activity worsens during exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and notably after hospitalizations. Pedometer-based interventions are useful to increase physical activity in stable patients with COPD. However, there is little information concerning the implementation of such programs following severe exacerbation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates coagulation profiles in lung transplant patients, assessing 48 individuals at five different time points, including before and after the transplant.
  • - Results show that while most coagulation markers normalize by 2 weeks post-transplant, FVIII and von Willebrand factor levels remain elevated even after one year, indicating a persistent procoagulant state.
  • - The research highlights a significant VTE incidence of 22.9%, particularly in patients with higher FVIII activity two weeks after the transplant, suggesting the need for further studies to develop effective preventive strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There are few published data on long-term treatment with sirolimus in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The objective of this study was to describe the long-term effect of sirolimus in a series of LAM patients followed up in a referral centre, focusing on pulmonary function. We retrospectively reviewed a series of 48 patients with LAM diagnosed, followed up and treated with sirolimus in a single centre.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on long-term lung transplant (LT) survivors who have normal lung function, aiming to determine their exercise capacity and what factors predict it.
  • - A group of 28 LT recipients, averaging about 49 years old, underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing and showed near-normal oxygen uptake levels and good quality of life results.
  • - Key predictive factors for exercise capacity included age, sex, and lung diffusion capacity, highlighting that these patients can achieve normal exercise capability years after transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Exposure to feather bedding may be an unnoticed cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Thus, an in-depth clinical study of the diagnosis of patients with suspected HP and IPF is required in order to determine their etiologies. The objective of the present study is to raise awareness of HP and pulmonary fibrosis due to exposure to feather bedding, and to study the prevalence and describe long-term outcomes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

KL-6 is an antigen produced mainly by damaged type II pneumocytes that is involved in interstitial lung disease. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) after lung transplantation (LT) is a major concern for LT clinicians, especially in patients with restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS). We investigated KL-6 levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as a potential biomarker of the RAS phenotype.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The objective of this study was to analyze mortality, possible predictors of long-term survival, and health-related quality of life of a large chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) patient sample.

Methods: Longitudinal study in patients diagnosed with CHP during 2004-2013, followed for at least 1 year. Patients remaining alive and consenting to participate had a follow-up visit during 2015, including a complete pulmonary function study and the EuroQol-5D and Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication after solid organ transplantation (SOT) and, specifically, after lung transplantation (LT). The objectives of this study were to evaluate prophylaxis with enoxaparin and to describe risk factors for VTE after LT. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 333 patients who underwent LT in our institution between 2009 and 2014.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The long-term success of lung transplantation (LT) is limited by chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Different phenotypes of CLAD have been described, such as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) and restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of cytokines and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as markers of these CLAD phenotypes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Under-diagnosis of COPD is an important unmet medical need. We investigated the characteristics and prognosis of hospitalised patients with undiagnosed COPD.

Methods: The PAC-COPD cohort included 342 COPD patients hospitalised for the first time for an exacerbation of COPD (2004-2006).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Asthma management is often inadequate, and this study aimed to enhance asthma control while reducing healthcare needs and absenteeism from work.
  • A multicenter randomized controlled trial compared an intervention group that received a brief educational session with a control group following standard treatment guidelines, assessing their outcomes at 3 and 6 months.
  • Results showed the intervention group had significantly better asthma education, fewer urgent and scheduled doctor visits, and reduced work absenteeism compared to the control group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Correction of exercise hypoxemia in advanced lung diseases is crucial and often challenging. However, oxygen-conserving devices have been introduced in the market with limited evidence of effectiveness. In the present study the efficacy of 2 oxygen-conserving devices, a pulse demand oxygen delivery (DOD) system and pendant reservoir cannula (PRC), were evaluated in subjects with COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF