Prevalence, clinical characteristics, quality of life, and prognosis of patients with congestive heart failure and isolated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Prevalence of isolated left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been reported to be as high as one-third of all heart failure (HF) cases, with an increasing prevalence in the elderly population. However, there is a paucity of prospective data about the prevalence and prognosis of isolated LV diastolic dysfunction in an unselected population of patients hospitalized with HF. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated 179 consecutive patients discharged from our hospital with HF to assess the prevalence of systolic versus diastolic LV dysfunction among patients hospitalized with HF and to compare their demographics, clinical features, self-perceived quality of life (QOL), and 6-month readmission rate and mortality. Among them, 133 (59% men, median age 74 years) showed in sinus rhythm and had no significant primary valvular disease. LV diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed on the basis of the European Study Group on Diastolic HF echocardiographic criteria. QOL was assessed at hospital discharge and 6-month follow-up visit using the Minnesota Living with HF questionnaire. Survival of patients with HF was compared with that of age- and sex-matched general population. In all, 29 patients (22%) had isolated LV diastolic dysfunction and 102 (78%) had prevalent LV systolic dysfunction (ie, LV ejection fraction 相似文献   

Expression of the T-cell markers CD2 and CD28 in healthy and atopic children during the first 18 months of life

Atopy may be associated with a reduced T-cell function early in life, particularly regarding maturation of Th1 responses. The T-cell surface molecules CD2 and CD28 are involved in important T-cell activation pathways. Stimulation via the CD2 receptor increases the responsiveness to interleukin (IL)-12, which is a potent inducer of Th1 responses, whereas CD28 stimulation is critical for Th2 differentiation. Our aim was to prospectively study the expression of the cell-surface markers CD2 and CD28 on T-cells in relation to development of atopic disease. Children (n = 172) were followed from birth to 18 months and the cumulative history of atopic disease was recorded. Blood samples were obtained at birth and at 18 months, and in a subgroup of 78 infants also at 3, 6 and 12 months. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the T-cell markers CD2 and CD28, the latter also within the subsets of T-helper (CD4+) and T-cytotoxic (CD8+) cells. At 18 months, 31 children had and 118 did not have atopic symptoms. At this age, skin prick test (SPT) positive children with atopic symptoms with or without an atopic family history (AFH) showed a lower expression of CD2 mode fluorescence intensity (FI) as well as a lower proportion of CD2+ cells, as compared with non-sensitized children with neither atopic symptoms nor AFH. This was accompanied by a higher expression of CD28 FI on CD2+CD8+CD28+ cells. No significant differences were seen at time points before 18 months, although the proportion of CD2+ tended to be low also earlier in life. In conclusion, the observed reduced expression of CD2 in atopic infants may support previous findings that atopy is associated with a reduced CD2 function. The high CD28 FI in SPT positive children with atopic symptoms may possibly be a consequence of a TH2-skewed immune system.     

The Ab-Adductometer: a new device for measuring the muscle strength and function of the thumb.

The purpose of this study was to present normative values for thumb abduction and adduction and also to present measures of reliability of the measuring system arising from the use of the Ab-Adductometer. With the Ab-Adductometer, we obtained abductor and adductor measurements of intrinsic muscle strength of the healthy hand thumb in 600 volunteers. Handgrip strength values were obtained with the Jamar dynamometer. Age and male-female specific reference ranges for the Ab-Adductometer and the Jamar dynamometer are presented. This study, with a very large number of volunteer subjects, 600, presents reference ranges for pure palmar adduction and abduction of the thumb. The results indicate that the Ab-Adductometer is a clinically useful device for the purpose of quantitatively measuring thumb adduction and abduction strength at various starting angles of thumb abduction relative to the plane of the palm. The device may be especially helpful in the evaluation of compressive neuropathies of the median or ulnar nerves such as carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome as well as for primary disease of the peripheral nerves that affect intrinsic muscles and for thumb function in proximal conditions such as tetraplegia and brachial plexopathy.     

Clinical features and therapeutic implication of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMs) are small tumors (< or =1 cm of diameter) that belong to the well-differentiated low-risk carcinomas of the thyroid, which are characterized by benign behavior, probably of little clinical significance, and do not affect patients' survival. They are found in otherwise normal thyroids or in multinodular goiters with a clinical frequency varying substantially according to different series. Sometimes, PTM may be associated with lymph node metastases at presentation and/or locoregional recurrences during follow-up. Distant metastases are extremely rare, but have been reported. Although deaths related to PTM are almost unknown, PTM raises therapeutic implications. This review addresses the issue of definition, treatment, and follow-up of PTM.     

Stress cardiomyopathy in thromboembolic arterial disease.

Apical ballooning is a novel clinical entity reported in different contexts of physical and psychological stress, which is more common in middle-aged women. Of unknown etiology, the syndrome is characterized by a sudden and transient dilatation of the left ventricular apex in the absence of obstructive atherosclerotic coronary disease or evidence of myocardial necrosis, with total late recovery of ventricular function. The authors report the case of a 53-year-old woman who was admitted to the emergency room with left arm ischemia and low cardiac output, requiring ventilatory support. Left catheterization showed typical medial and apical myocardial dysfunction, with normal coronary arteries. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a thrombus attached to the lower face of the aortic arch, which probably explained the thromboembolism of the arm but was unlikely to be the cause of the left ventricular dysfunction since there were no enzymatic or electrocardiographic signs of myocardial necrosis and normal wall motion was fully recovered.     

Moisturizing effect of cosmetic formulations containing Aloe vera extract in different concentrations assessed by skin bioengineering techniques

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The polysaccharide-rich composition of Aloe vera extracts (Aloe barbadensis Miller), often used in cosmetic formulations, may impart moisturizing properties to the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cosmetic formulations containing different concentrations of freeze-dried Aloe vera extract on skin hydration, after a single and a 1- and 2-week period of application, by using skin bioengineering techniques. METHODS: Stable formulations containing 5% (w/w) of a trilaureth-4 phosphate-based blend were supplemented with 0.10%, 0.25% or 0.50% (w/w) of freeze-dried Aloe vera extract and applied to the volar forearm of 20 female subjects. Skin conditions in terms of the water content of the stratum corneum and of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) (Corneometer CM 825 and Tewameter TM 210) were analysed before and after a single and 1- and 2-week period of daily application. RESULTS: After a single application, only formulations supplemented with 0.25% and 0.50% (w/w) of Aloe vera extract increased the water content of the stratum corneum, while after the 2-week period application, all formulations containing the extract (0.10%, 0.25% and 0.50%) had the same effect, in both cases as compared with the vehicle. TEWL was not modified after a single and after 1- and 2-week period of application, when compared with the vehicle. CONCLUSION: Our results show that freeze-dried Aloe vera extract is a natural effective ingredient for improving skin hydration, possibly through a humectant mechanism. Consequently, it may be used in moisturizing cosmetic formulations and also as a complement in the treatment of dry skin.