Predictors of non-invasive ventilation tolerance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: The most frequent cause of death in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is respiratory failure. Recently, it has been shown that non-invasive ventilation improves survival and quality of life in ALS patients with respiratory failure, but little is known about predictors of non-invasive ventilation adaptation and tolerance. In this study we evaluated the effect of a comprehensive information about non-invasive ventilation use and a prolonged and intensive monitoring on tolerance to this palliative care.

Greater severity of new onset asthma in allergic subjects who smoke: a 10-year longitudinal study.

Background: Little is known about the association between cigarette smoking and asthma severity. We assessed smoking as a determinant of disease severity and control in a cohort of clinic-referred allergic subjects who developed new onset asthma.

Methods: Allergic rhinitis subjects with no asthma (n = 371) were followed-up for 10 years and routinely examined for asthma diagnosis.

Cigarette smoking is associated with a greater risk of incident asthma in allergic rhinitis.

Background: Asthma and rhinitis are often comorbid conditions, and several studies have suggested that rhinitis often precedes asthma. Sensitization to allergen has been shown to be one of the strongest determinants of incident asthma, but little is known about the effects of cigarette smoking among individuals with allergic rhinitis.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the importance of cigarette smoking as an additional risk factor for incident asthma in a cohort of hospital-referred nonasthmatic adult subjects with allergic rhinitis.

Physiological responses to arm exercise in difficult to wean patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of arm exercise with or without support of mechanical ventilation on breathing pattern, respiratory muscle pressure output, and ratings of dyspnea and arm discomfort in difficult-to-wean patients with COPD.

Design And Setting: Prospective, controlled, physiological study in a respiratory ICU.

Patients: Eight tracheostomized difficult-to-wean patients.

Greater risk of incident asthma cases in adults with allergic rhinitis and effect of allergen immunotherapy: a retrospective cohort study.

Asthma and rhinitis are often co-morbid conditions. As rhinitis often precedes asthma it is possible that effective treatment of allergic rhinitis may reduce asthma progression. The aim of our study is to investigate history of allergic rhinitis as a risk factor for asthma and the potential effect of allergen immunotherapy in attenuating the incidence of asthma.

Physiological effects of meals in difficult-to-wean tracheostomised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: To evaluate effects of meals in difficult-to-wean tracheostomised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases during spontaneous breathing or Inspiratory Pressure Support.

Design: Prospective, crossover, randomised, and physiological study.

Setting: Weaning centre.

[1,2,4]Triazole derivatives as 5-HT(1A) serotonin receptor ligands.

A series of new 4-amino-3-[3-[4-(2-methoxy or nitro phenyl)-1-piperazinyl] propyl]thio]-5-(substitutedphenyl)[1,2,4]triazoles 11a-t was synthesized in order to obtain compounds with high affinity and selectivity for 5-HT(1A) receptor over the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor. A series of isomeric 4-amino-2-[3-[4-(2-methoxy or nitro phenyl)-1-piperazinyl]propyl]-5-(substitutedphenyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H[1,2,4]triazole-3-thiones 12a-r was also isolated and characterized. New compounds were tested to evaluate their affinity for 5-HT(1A) receptor and alpha(1)-adrenoceptor in radioligand binding experiments.