Utility of ultrasound assessment of diaphragmatic function before and after pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) may improve respiratory symptoms and skeletal muscle strength in patients with COPD. We aimed to evaluate changes in ultrasound (US) measurements of diaphragmatic mobility and thickness after PR in COPD patients and to test its correlation with PR outcomes.

Methods: Twenty-five COPD patients were enrolled and underwent a diaphragm US assessment before and after a 12-week PR program.

Oxidative stress mediated arterial dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and the effect of continuous positive airway pressure treatment.

Background: Several studies suggest an increase of oxidative stress and a reduction of endothelial function in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). We assessed the association between OSAS, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Further aim was to evaluate the effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) on oxidative stress and arterial dysfunction.

NOX2 up-regulation is associated with artery dysfunction in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Objective: Oxidative stress seems to play a role in impairing flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) but the underlying mechanism is still undefined. We evaluated whether NOX2, the catalytic core of NADPH oxidase, the most important producer of reactive oxidant species (ROS), is implicated in impairing FMD.

Methods: We measured FMD, urinary isoprostanes, a marker of oxidative stress, nitric oxide generation by serum levels of nitrite/nitrate (NOx), and serum levels of soluble NOX2-derived peptide (sNOX2-dp), a marker of NOX2 activation, in 50 PAD patients and 50 controls.

Moderate weight loss decreases oxidative stress and increases antioxidant status in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background. Oxidative stress is enhanced in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and believed to contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. Weight loss is associated with lowered oxidative stress.

NOX2-mediated arterial dysfunction in smokers: acute effect of dark chocolate.

Background: Cocoa seems to exert artery dilatation via oxidative stress inhibition but the mechanism is still unclear.

Objectives: To investigate whether in smokers, dark chocolate elicits artery dilatation via down-regulation of NOX2, the catalytic core of NADPH oxidase.

Methods: Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), oxidative stress (as assessed by urinary isoprostanes excretion), nitric oxide generation (as assessed by serum levels of nitrite/nitrate (NOx)), NOX2 activity (as assessed by blood levels of soluble NOX2 derived peptide (sNOX2-dp)) and serum epicatechin were studied in 20 smokers and 20 healthy subjects (HS) in a crossover, single-blind study.

Weight loss is associated with improved endothelial dysfunction via NOX2-generated oxidative stress down-regulation in patients with the metabolic syndrome.

The aim of this study was to assess whether adherence to a restricted-calorie, Mediterranean-type diet improves endothelial dysfunction and markers of oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndrome. A moderately low-calorie (600 calories/day negative energy balance), low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet (<30% energy from fat, <10% from saturated fat and 55% from carbohydrate) was prescribed to 53 outpatients with the metabolic syndrome. Participants were divided into two groups according to body weight loss > or < 5% after 6 months.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and the metabolic syndrome in an internal medicine setting.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is widely accepted as a cardiovascular risk factor. Lately it has been considered in turn as both a component and one of the causes of the metabolic syndrome (MS).

Methods: We studied 281 heavy snorers of both sexes consecutively attending a metabolic clinic.