Comparison of the outcome in men and women with chronic heart failure.

Recent studies have suggested some gender-related differences in the incidence, quality of care, response to therapy, and outcome in heart failure patients. The majority of studies have proposed a better survival for women compared to men. However, the under-representation of women in clinical trials leads to some uncertainty regarding the survival benefit.

Occupational asthma (OA) with sensitization to diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) presenting at the onset like a reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS).

Background: Two types of OA are distinguished: immunological (OA with sensitization) and non-immunological, i.e., irritant induced asthma or reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS).

[Role of depression in the functional recovery and cost of stay in patients with acute cerebrovascular lesions].

Background And Purpose: The constant increase in health costs in recent years has led to the introduction of instruments such as DRG--diagnosis-related groups--with the declared aim of best rationalizing in-hospital costs. As part of this rationalisation it has become necessary to identify the causes of prolonged admissions in health-care structures. As far as concerns the rehabilitation of cerebrovascular diseases, attention has been centred on the presence of post-stroke depression.

Immunocytological and mineralogical study of bronchoalveolar lavage in a group of subjects exposed to asbestos.

Twenty-five subjects (24 males and 1 female, mean age 57.4 years) who have been exposed to asbestos underwent chest radiography, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest, lung function tests and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for evaluation of cell components (total cell count, percentages of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophil and eosinophil granulocytes and the lymphocyte subpopulations CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ and HLADR+), soluble factors (IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and MCP-1 in the supernatant) and concentration of asbestos fibre. The subjects were subdivided according to the degree of their exposure, to the concentration of asbestos fibres in the BAL and to chest X-ray findings using the I.

[Mortality from malignant pleural neoplasms in Broni (Pavia), 1980-1997].

Mortality for malignant pleural neoplasms (1980-97) was studied in Broni (Pavia) and in the surrounding area in order to update previous studies indicating a high incidence of pleural mesothelioma, due to the presence of an asbestos-cement factory. Observed mortality for pleural neoplasms was compared to expected figures derived from mortality rates of the population resident in Province of Pavia. A significant increase was found in Broni (SMR 825, CI 95%: 604-1, 100, 46 observed).

Evaluation of tuberculosis treatment results in Italy, report 1999.

In Italy no national data on tuberculosis (TB) treatment results was available. In 1995 the A.I.

Is the Rivermead Mobility Index a suitable outcome measure in lower limb amputees?--A psychometric validation study.

Objective: To examine the internal consistency, validity, responsiveness and test scalability of the Rivermead Mobility Index.

Design: Methodological research (consecutive sampling, prospective longitudinal study).

Patients: 140 unilateral lower limb amputees (79 above-knee and 61 below-knee).

[Risk of sudden death in heart failure patients].

Sudden death is one of the more important cause of mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. The highest risk occurs among patients with less severe functional impairment, whereas patients in NYHA class IV usually die of progression of heart failure. Predictors of sudden death have been evaluated.

Diagnosing occupational asthma: how, how much, how far?

Diagnosing occupational asthma is still a challenge because it is based on a stepwise approach in which the depth of investigative means may vary depending on resources. The authors herewith review the existing investigative means from the approach of outlining controversies and queries. There is no validated clinical questionnaire for diagnosing occupational asthma.

[Health care quality in terminal cardiac decompensation: a "multidisciplinary" reflexion].

Although improved, the prognosis of chronic heart failure is still malignant, the survival rate being similar to that of cancer. Due to the relevant epidemiology of this disease, the terminal care of heart failure has a significant impact, searching for the best quality of cure and care.

[First SIVR list of reference values: definitions, methodologic criteria and analytical strategies].

In this paper, a list of reference values for trace elements and some of the main organic xenobiotics and/or their metabolites in biological matrices (urine, serum or blood) is presented. This list has been made out taking into account several variables, such as sex, diet, alcohol and drugs consumption, smoking habits, living area, etc. and it is referred to as the 1st SIVR list 2001.

[Educating and communicating: non-pharmacologic treatment for patients with chronic heart failure?].

Chronic heart failure shows an increasing prevalence and extremely high rate of both hospital admission and readmission. Thus, in recent years there has been a growing interest in the development of more effective strategies for disease management. The existing literature shows programs involving multidisciplinary teams, specialized clinics, that employ a systematic approach and provide continuity of care, frequently involving a specialized nurse dedicated to comprehensive management.

Relationship between cognitive impairment and clinical status in chronic heart failure patients.

Background: In spite of its clinical importance, cognitive functioning is not always taken into account in studies on patients with chronic heart failure. The aim of the present study is to analyse the relationship between cognitive impairment and cardiovascular variables in a sample of patients with chronic heart failure for assessment or candidated for heart transplant.

Methods: Sixty-four male patients with chronic heart failure in NYHA class I-III, in a stable clinical condition, underwent cardiological evaluation and neuropsychological assessment by means of a wide battery of tests: Spinnler and Tognoni's tests and WAIS scale.

Current perspectives. Heart failure woman: does she make any difference?

Significant differences between sexes may influence the prevalence, incidence and severity of the heart failure syndrome. These differences may also interfere with treatment and management. In this review sex differences and similarities have been analyzed focusing on epidemiology, drug therapy and psychological implications.

Relationship between MPQ and VAS in 962 patients. A rationale for their use.

Background: 1) To analyse the information provided both by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) in a cross-sectional study with patients affected by different kinds of pain and to study the relationship between VAS and MPQ scores in the same patient sample.

Methods: 962 patients affected by different kinds of pain (i.e.

Cytotoxic chemotherapy preceding apheresis of peripheral blood progenitor cells can affect the early reconstitution phase of naive T cells after autologous transplantation.

Transient T cell immunodeficiency is a common complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In breast cancer patients transplanted with autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) harvested after cytotoxic treatment with either cyclophosphamide or epirubicin plus paclitaxel, we evaluated T cells infused in grafts and in peripheral blood during the early reconstitution phase. We found that PBPC grafts harvested after treatment with epirubicin plus paclitaxel contained substantially larger numbers of T cells with less altered composition than after cyclophosphamide.

Evaluation of infectious complications and immune recovery following high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (PBPC-T) in 148 breast cancer patients.

Background And Objectives: High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous PBPC-T has been reported to be effective in hematological and in selected solid malignancies. In this setting, infectious complications represent a relevant cause of morbidity.

Patients And Methods: To ascertain the incidence, types and factors influencing the development of early and late infections, we retrospectively analyzed 148 consecutive breast cancer (BC) patients receiving HDC and PBPC-T, both for primary high-risk BC (pBC) and metastatic disease (mBC).

[Selection criteria of mobile lifters in the hospital setting].

The manual handling of patients with limited mobility represents the major cause of musculoskeletal injury to the spine in paramedical health care workers. Within the hospital, the more complex procedures of patient transfer often require the use of mobile hoists. The aim of this paper is to describe the basic criteria for the selection of such hoists.

Strength and power changes of the human plantar flexors and knee extensors in response to resistance training in old age.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the improvements of muscle strength and power induced by a 16-week resistive programme in a population of 16 older men aged 65-81 years.

Methods: Training was performed three times per week at an intensity of 80% of one repetition maximum (1RM) and consisted of both calf raise and leg press exercises. Before-, during- and after-training, maximum isometric and isokinetic torques, maximum power, 1RM, muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and electromyographic activity (EMG) of the plantar flexors (PF) and knee extensors (KE) were examined.

[Psychological intervention and heart failure: from theory to clinical practice].

The management of chronic heart failure patients is complicated by the presence of multiple comorbid conditions, polypharmacy, psychosocial concerns and difficulties with adherence to complex medication, dietary regimen, smoking cessation and correct physical activity. Taken together, these factors contribute to the persistently high hospitalization and mortality rates as well as to the poor quality of life of these patients. In fact the progressive worsening of symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, anxiety and depression may have a negative impact on the patient's quality of life.

["Bad" sleepers... Causes, effects, and diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders in cardiac patients].

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease are the most common life-threatening disease in the industrialized world. There is high interest in sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: several studies have demonstrated an association between sleep apnea and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The aim of this review is to critically appraise the possible adverse physiological consequences of sleep apnea on the cardiovascular system and to assess whether such adverse effects constitute a risk for the development of cardiovascular disease.

Evaluation of the left anterior descending coronary artery flow velocity by transthoracic echo-Doppler without contrast enhancement.

Background: The evaluation of the coronary flow velocity and coronary flow reserve (CFR) can provide important information on the functional significance of stenoses and of abnormalities of the coronary microcirculation. To date, the potential of echo-Doppler in the noninvasive evaluation of the coronary flow has been mainly reported for small groups of patients with stenoses of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), eventually treated with percutaneous coronary angioplasty. The great majority of publications report the use of echo-Doppler together with contrast enhancement for an optimal visualization of the LAD.