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A Potena

Publications and source records attributed to A Potena.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Structural characterization of the bronchial epithelium of subjects with chronic bronchitis and in asymptomatic smokers.

A morphometric study was carried out on biopsy specimens taken from 40 smokers (27 with chronic bronchitis and 13 asymptomatic) submitted to bronchoscopy to identify and quantify the possible structural differences between the two groups. The chronic bronchitic group had a mean age of 65.67 years and 57.04 pack-years of smoking, the asymptomatic group had a mean age of 44.69 years and 22.62 pack-years of smoking. 70 biopsy specimens (45 from chronic bronchitics and 25 from asymptomatic smokers), in which large areas of best-preserved and perpendicularly cut epithelium were present, were considered suitable for the study and examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The mean thickness of surface epithelium (p < 0.001), the number of layers of basal cells (p < 0.001), the intercellular space of the superficial zone of the epithelium (p < 0.05) and the percentage of abnormal bronchial cilia (p < 0.05) were significantly greater in patients with chronic bronchitis than in asymptomatic smokers. No significant difference between the two groups was observed in the thickness of the lamina reticularis of the basement membrane. Goblet cell hyperplasia was more marked in chronic bronchitics than in the asymptomatic smokers (p < 0.001), whereas the frequency of epidermoid metaplasia did not show a significant difference. The morphological study of the bronchial epithelium has allowed the identification of transitional cells, which gives rise to the concept that epidermoid metaplasia may result from conversion of mucous cells. This finding suggests that the different histologic types appearing in lung tumours may originate from one undifferentiated pluripotential stem cell, which is able to differentiate into different histogenetic types.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Usefulness of microbial investigations in community-acquired pneumonia].

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common and well known disease, however there is no definite agreement on a common diagnostic-therapeutic strategy. To evaluate the usefulness of microbial investigations in the clinical practice we performed a prospective study on 93 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of CAP. Group I consisted of 46 patients that underwent a diagnostic protocol including sputum, blood cultures and detection of specific antibodies against M. pneumoniae, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and L. pneumophila. Group II consisted of 47 patients, in which only sputum samples were collected and cultured. No significant differences concerning the aetiologic diagnosis, the outcome and the length of hospitalization were observed in the two groups. The aetiological diagnosis was obtained in 17 patients (18.3%). As result of information obtained from microbiol tests, antibiotic therapy was changed only in 6 patients. Among the prognostic factors only a low albumin level was correlated with the length of hospitalization (p less than 0.01). From our data, the detection of microbial aetiology should not be routinely performed in patients with CAP, but should be reserved only to the severe forms.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Acquired ciliary defects in bronchial epithelium of patients with chronic bronchitis.

In order to quantify and classify ciliary changes of bronchial epithelium in chronic bronchitis, an ultrastructural study on biopsy specimens of 30 patients submitted to bronchoscopy was performed. Fourteen patients were affected by endoscopically and clinically confirmed chronic bronchitis, 8 showed an endoscopic picture of chronic bronchitis but without the clinical features of this pathology, 8 were free of chronic bronchitis. The mean percentage of abnormal cilia in control subjects (1.9 +/- 1.0%) was significantly lower than in patients either with only 'endoscopic' chronic bronchitis (5.7 +/- 2.6%; p less than 0.001) or with 'clinical' chronic bronchitis (14.8 +/- 15.9%; p less than 0.05). Like the ciliary body, the ciliary tip can also show some abnormalities. It is possible to subdivide them in two types: (1) ciliary membrane blebs; (2) ciliary membrane extrusions, variously shaped and sized, with homogeneous content. Bronchial cilia abnormalities become more serious as soon as the clinical picture worsens and this is likely to contribute to the impairment of the mucociliary clearance in chronic bronchitis patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Increased bronchial responsiveness in primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome.

We examined one group of 33 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, one group of 17 patients with secondary Sjögren's syndrome, i.e. associated with other connective tissue diseases, and one group of 14 patients with connective tissue diseases but without Sjögren's syndrome. In each patient we obtained chest radiographs and measured lung volumes, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity and airway responsiveness to methacholine. We observed no difference in chest radiograph abnormalities, in lung volumes and in carbon monoxide diffusing capacity among the three groups. However, we found a slight but significant increase of bronchial responsiveness in patients with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome compared with patients with connective tissue disorders but without Sjögren's syndrome. Thus PD20FEV1 methacholine was 1.07 mg (1.2) (geometric mean and GSEM) in primary Sjögren's syndrome, 0.91 mg (1.4) in secondary Sjögren's syndrome (NS), and 2.24 mg (1.09) in patients with connective tissue diseases but without Sjögren's syndrome (t = 2.59 and t = 2.8, both p less than 0.05, vs primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome, respectively). These results show that some patients with Sjögren's syndrome have mild bronchial hyperresponsiveness, which may be related to the specific airway abnormalities of this disease.

Bronchial Provocation Tests↗
PubMed1985

[Value and use of endoscopic pH measurement in gastroduodenal pathology].

The pH values in 203 patients with various gastroduodenal pathologies were measured by means of a glass electrode inserted into the bioptic channel of the gastroscope. Analysis of the results confirms what we know of pH variations in gastric or duodenal ulcer cases and shows where perendoscopic pH measurements may be used beneficially. In particular it was found that mucous pH is not affected by H2 antagonists if these are taken more that 12 hours before the examination. Perendoscopic pH measurement appears to be a valuable tool in screening stomach lesions at risk in cases of chronic gastritis, since it facilitates the identification of atrophic or metaplastic lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Reynolds syndrome associated with Sjögren's syndrome].

Observation of a case of CREST syndrome associated with autoimmune chronic hepatopathy (so-called Reynolds syndrome) and Sjögren's syndrome brings to the fore the importance of symptomatological superimpositions within the autoimmune diseases. A number of diagnostic and pathogenetic aspects of this rare disease association are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Syncopal attacks due to ventricular tachyarrhythmias ("torsade de pointe type") in a patient with a PM of hysteresis type (author's transl)].

The authors report on a patient with artificial ventricular pacemaker with hysteresis, who suffered from ventricular fibrillation known as "torsade de pointe" and ventricular flutter, often accompanied by lipothymias, with hypokalemia. The following points are considered: the pacemaker responsibility to produce arrhythmia; the pacemaker behaviour during ventricular tachyarrhythmias; the modifications of stimulation threshold and R-wave sensitivity after PM removal and the following hours.

Aged↗