Bronchial artery embolization in the management of hemoptysis in cystic fibrosis

Massive hemoptysis and/or recurrent expectoration of measurable amounts of blood are common complications of chronic bronchopulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis (CF). When conservative treatment fails to control bleeding, surgery or bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is frequently considered. We present our experience and long-term follow up of BAE in 14 CF patients (age range 15–39 years) with massive (6 subjects) and/or recurrent (8 subjects) hemoptysis not responsive to medical treatment. Seven had chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. After angiographic evaluation, polyvinyl alcohol particles (halon) were injected to embolize obviously enlarged bronchial arteries. Seventeen procedures were performed in 14 patients and 36 bronchial arteries were embolized. All the patients stopped bleeding immediately upon BAE. Most of the patients had postembolization fever, dysphagia, and transient chest pain which were managed symptomatically. After median follow-up period of 10.5 months (range 0.5–38 months), no recurrence of hemoptysis was observed in 8 patients who are still alive. In 3 patients hemoptysis recurred and they underwent reembolization after 3,22, and 25 months, respectively. Three subjects died of respiratory failure within 5 months from BAE. Presently, 50% of patients studied had a ≥ 1 year interval free of major hemoptysis after the first BAE. Our experience indicates that massive and/or recurrent hemoptysis in C:F patients can be safety and effectively managed by BAE if the procedure is performed by skilled practitioner. The procedure was well tolerated and resulted in prolonged and satisfactory bleeding control in most patients. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Evaluation of ischemia-modified albumin in myocardial infarction and prostatic diseases

Background

Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has been shown to be a rapidly rising and sensitive biochemical marker for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. In this study, we evaluated the levels of IMA in myocardial infarction and prostate diseases, as well as the influence of HDL cholesterol levels on C-reactive protein (CRP) and IMA levels.

Methods

A total of 27 patients with myocardial infarction (MI), 102 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 84 patients with prostate cancer (PCA), and 21 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. IMA levels were measured in whole studied patients. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and CRP were measured in MI and control groups.

Results

IMA values were significantly higher in patients with MI (0.5215 ± 0.0241 ABSU) and BPH (0.4150 ± 0.0156 ABSU) in comparison to control subjects (0.3381 ± 0.0194 ABSU). IMA and CRP were higher in MI group, especially in patients with HDL cholesterol levels lower than 38 mg/dL. The ability of IMA to discriminate myocardial infarction was higher than CRP. Significant correlations between CRP and HDL, CRP and IMA, and HDL and IMA were reported.

Conclusions

IMA and CRP increase in myocardial damage, and the decrease of HDL cholesterol appears to enhance the inflammatory response. IMA also increase in benign prostate hyperplasia and this finding suggests that the diagnosis of prostate diseases must be considered on evaluation of IMA as a marker of cardiac ischemia.     

Resistance profiles to antifungal agents in Candida albicans isolated from human oral cavities: systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical Oral Investigations - To identify the antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida spp. isolated from the human oral cavity was assessed with meta-analyses of observational studies that...     

Short-term effects of three chest physiotherapy regimens in patients hospitalized for pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis: A cross-over randomized study

The aim of our study was to compare the short-term efficacy of three different chest physiotherapy (CPT) regimens (PD, postural drainage; PEP, positive expiratory pressure physiotherapy; HFCC, high-frequency chest compression physiotherapy) on patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) hospitalized for an acute pulmonary exacerbation. Sixteen patients with CF, 8 males, 8 females, aged 15-27 years (mean, 20.3±4), met the inclusion criteria: 1) age over 14 years; 2) mild or moderate airway obstruction; 3) sputum volume > 30 mliday; 4) being proficient in PD and PEP CPT. Patients at admission had (mean±SD) forced volume in 1 second (FEV,), 52.2±21.9 percent predicted; Shwachman-Kulczycki clinical score 65.1±11 points; Chrispin-Norman chest radiography score 18.6±4.3 points. The three CPT regimens and a control-treatment (CONT) were administered in a random sequence, each patient receiving each treatment twice a day (in 50 minute sessions) for 2 consecutive days. During CONT and for 30 minutes after each session only spontaneous coughing was allowed. Wet and dry weight of sputum were recorded during the 50-minute sessions and 30 minutes afterward. Lung function was measured before and 30 minutes after each session. For each treatment a score was given by the patient for efficacy, and by both the patient and the physiotherapist for tolerance. Wet and dry weights of sputum collected during the sessions were greater for all CPT regimens than for CONT (P < 0.001, P < 0. 0001). No significant differences between the three CPT regimens for both wet and dry weights were found when the number of coughs was taken into account. No significant changes in lung function occurred. Tolerance and efficacy scores were similar for all regimens. We concluded that there were no differences in the short-term efficacy between the three CPT regimens on hospitalized patients with CF. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Offshore telemedicine emergency service: a 1-year experience

Journal of Public Health - Offshore wind energy is a fast growing market. Accordingly, a correspondingly large number of employees are working at the wind farms. Owing to the harsh operating...     

Modification of some markers of inflammation during treatment for acute respiratory exacerbation in cystic fibrosis

An objective approach for monitoring the treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbation in cystic fibrosis was evaluated. Eleven biochemical markers of inflammation (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, alpha-1 antitrypsin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, fibronectin, alpha-1 glycoprotein, alpha-2 macroglobulin, C3, granulocyte elastase and anti-Pseudomonas IgG) were measured in blood serum and plasma from 46 cystic fibrosis patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization before and after treatment. The overall outcome in each patient was evaluated by means of a pondered sum of clinical, chest X-ray and lung function scores. Biochemical markers were related to the overall clinical improvement: haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, fibronectin and alpha-1 glycoprotein showed a good sensitivity (64-70%), specificity (60-70%) and positive predictive value (86-89%). Granulocyte elastase showed a similar sensitivity (67%) and positive predictive value (85%) but a lower specificity (33%). The negative predictive value was generally poor (32-39%). Our data suggest that the combined measurement of some markers of inflammation and of conventional clinical parameters, may help in evaluating the efficacy of anti-infective treatment in cystic fibrosis.     

Nine cystic fibrosis patients homozygous for the CFTR nonsense mutation R1162X have mild or moderate lung disease.

The clinical course of nine cystic fibrosis patients homozygous for the CF gene nonsense mutation R1162X was investigated. Since this mutation should lead to an interruption in the synthesis of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein, a severe clinical course was expected. All patients showed pancreatic insufficiency, while the course of the lung disease was mild to moderate. These results suggest that this form of truncated CFTR protein, still containing the regulatory region, the first ATP binding domain, and both transmembrane domains, could be partially working in the lung tissues.