Publications by authors named "Vittorio Cardaci"

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease associated with airways inflammation and lung parenchyma fibrosis. The primary goals of COPD treatment are to reduce symptoms and risk of exacerbations, therefore pulmonary rehabilitation is considered the key component of managing COPD patients. Oxidative airway damage, inflammation and reduction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COPD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Since the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020, many governments have been imposing confinement and physical distancing measures. No data exist on the effects of lockdowns on the health status of patients affected by chronic pathologies, specifically those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Our study aims to establish variations across the psychological and cognitive profile of patients during the isolation period in Italy, in a cohort of patients affected by COPD, between February and May 2020.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Airflow limitation alone is unable to capture the complexity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), better explained by comprehensive disease-specific indexes. Frailty is a clinical condition characterized by high vulnerability to internal and external stressors and represents a strong predictor of adverse outcomes.

Aims: Primary objective was to test the association between indexes of lung function and COPD severity with frailty index (FI), and secondary to evaluate the association between FI and comorbidities, cognitive and physical function, BODE index, and mortality.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Despite remarkable therapeutic advances have been made in the last few decades, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Brain metastases are a common complication of a wide range of human malignancies and in particular NSCLC. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), binding its high-affinity tyrosine kinase B receptor, has been shown to promote cancer progression and metastasis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The "microbiome" is the operative term to refer to a collection of all taxa constituting microbial communities, such as bacteria, archaea, fungi and protists (originally microbiota). The microbiome consists of the indigenous microbial communities and of the host environment that they inhabit. Actually, it has been shown that there is a close relationship between the microbiome and human health and disease condition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological events. Polysomnography is the gold-standard for the diagnosis, however is expensive and time-consuming and not suitable for widespread use. Breath analysis is an innovative, non-invasive technique, able to provide clinically relevant information about OSAS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by severe respiratory symptoms. COPD shows several hallmarks of aging, and an increased oxidative stress, which is responsible for different clinical and molecular COPD features, including an increased frequency of DNA damage. The current pharmacological treatment options for COPD are mostly symptomatic, and generally do not influence disease progression and survival.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable, and manageable lung disease characterized by large heterogeneity in disease presentation and grades impairment. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are commonly used to manage COPD/COPD-exacerbation. The patient's response is characterized by interindividual variability without disease progression/survival modification.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: There is a lack of consensus on the most appropriate early diagnostic strategy, criteria for early access to treatment and follow-up approach for patients with COPD.

Materials And Methods: A Delphi consensus project investigated the early management of COPD. We formulated two questionnaires for completion by pneumologists in Italy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The morbidity and mortality associated with tobacco smoking is well established. Nicotine is the addictive component of tobacco. Nicotine, through the non-neuronal α7nicotinic receptor, induces cell proliferation, neo-angiogenesis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and inhibits drug-induced apoptosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: We report a comprehensive overview of current COPD therapies from a real-world experience.

Objective: Critically review the opportunities and the challenges occurring in the real-world treatment of COPD.

Methods: This is a review that also report results from COPD patients treated with standardized therapy including pulmonary rehabilitation (Real World Data - RWD).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by long-term airflow limitation. Early-onset COPD in non-smoker subjects is ≥60 years and in the elderly is often associated with different comorbidities. Cognitive impairment is one of the most common feature in patients with COPD, and is associated with COPD severity and comorbidities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: We report a comprehensive overview of current Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) therapies and discuss the development of possible new pharmacological approaches based on "new" knowledge. Specifically, sensitivity/resistance to corticosteroids is evaluated with a special focus on the role of gene mutations in drug response.

Objective: Critically review the opportunities and the challenges occurring in the treatment of COPD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Cardiovascular Diseases (CV) Often Coexist. COPD and CVD are complex diseases characterized by a strict interaction between environment and genetic. The mechanisms linking these two diseases are complex, multifactorial and not entirely understood, influencing the therapeutic approach.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: COPD is an inflammatory airway disease characterised by progressive airflow limitation and air trapping, leading to lung hyperinflation and exercise limitation. Acute worsening of symptoms, including dyspnea, cough and sputum production, occurs during exacerbations which are associated with significantly reduced health related quality of life, and increased morbidity and mortality. Chronic bronchial mucus production and productive cough are risk factors for exacerbations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Metabolic disorder has been frequently observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, the exact correlation between obesity, which is a complex metabolic disorder, and COPD remains controversial. The current study summarizes a variety of drugs from marine sources that have anti-obesity effects and proposed potential mechanisms by which lung function can be modulated with the anti-obesity activity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) share many risk factors and similar aetiological agents with erectile dysfunction (ED). Both conditions also cause serious interference with quality of life and sexual relationships. In general, ageing and chronic illness decrease sexual interest, sexual function, and testosterone levels.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The frequent use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), especially at higher doses, has been accompanied by concern about both systemic and local side effects. Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more at risk from side effects, likely because of the use of higher doses of ICS in COPD to overcome corticosteroid unresponsiveness.

Areas Covered: There is considerable concern about increased incidence of pneumonia, osteoporosis and hyperglycemia in diabetic patients and cataracts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of right ventricular dysfunction on exercise tolerance and potential changes resulting from exercise training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation.

Methods: Subjects were 44 patients with a history of symptomatic (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease classes 2-4) COPD attending a 4-week aerobic exercise training program. Right ventricle dysfunction was evaluated by echocardiography at admission using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are among the most pressing global health problems of the twenty-first century. Their rising incidence and prevalence is linked to severe morbidity and mortality, and they are putting economic and managerial pressure on healthcare systems around the world. Moreover, NCDs are impeding healthy aging by negatively affecting the quality of life of a growing number of the global population.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Post-operative pulmonary rehabilitation in patients who have undergone surgery for lung cancer is a subject of open debate. Clinical practice in this setting is based on the results of observational trials, such as the one described here. Prospective randomized controlled trials have been registered and recruitment is ongoing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Measuring the state of health is a method for quantifying the impact of an illness on the day-to-day life, health and wellbeing of a patient, providing a quantitative measure of an individual's quality of life (QoL). QoL expresses patient point of view by a subjective dimension and can express the results of medical intervention. Pulmonary rehabilitation is an essential component in the management of COPD patients, and measuring QoL has become a central focus in the study of this disease.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the present study, we examined whether there is a difference in the onset of bronchodilatation between formoterol/beclomethasone 12/200 μg Modulite and formoterol/budesonide 9/320 μg Turbuhaler in patients with COPD. We enrolled 28 patients with stable COPD. Both formoterol/beclomethasone and formoterol/budesonide elicited a larger mean FEV₁-AUC₀₋₁₅min than formoterol alone, whereas there was no significant difference between their FEV₁-AUC₀₋₁₅min.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Most outcomes do not deeply express the degree of disability in patients with respiratory failure (RF) following inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (IPR). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of an IPR in patients with confirmed COPD and RF using functional independence measure (FIM) that determines the degree of disability experienced by patients and the progress they make during rehabilitation. This scale includes several items: self care, mobility, locomotion, communication and social recognition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF