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Claudio Tantucci

Publications and source records attributed to Claudio Tantucci.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Long-term non-invasive ventilation increases chemosensitivity and leptin in obesity-hypoventilation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Long-term nocturnal non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) is an effective treatment for obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), improving central carbon dioxide (CO(2)) sensitivity. Leptin might contribute to sustain adequate ventilation in obesity. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of leptin in the OHS pathogenesis looking at its relationship to CO(2) sensitivity before and after NIMV in OHS patients. METHODS: In six obese patients (3F/3M; aged 63+/-9 yr; BMI 47.0+/-4.5 kg/m(2)) with OHS and without obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea (OSAH) diurnal arterial blood gases, fasting plasma leptin concentration and CO(2) chemosensitivity were determined before and after 10.3+/-5.6 (range 6-20) months of NIMV. RESULTS: After NIMV improvements were observed in gas exchange (PaO(2) from 51.3+/-6.7 to 75.0+/-10.3 mmHg, p<0.01; PaCO(2) from 55.5+/-4.8 to 43.7+/-1.2 mmHg, p<0.01; [HCO(3)(-)] from 33.3+/-3.8 to 29.8+/-1.7 mmol/l, p<0.05) and CO(2) chemosensitivity, measured as P(0.1)/PetCO(2) slope (from 0.09+/-0.07 to 0.18+/-0.07 cmH(2)O/mmHg, p<0.05) and V(E)/PetCO(2) slope (from 0.4+/-0.3 to 0.9+/-0.5l/min/mmHg, p=0.07). Plasma leptin increased from 34.5+/-21.1 ng/ml to 50.2+/-22.9 ng/ml (p<0.01) after NIMV and changes of the P(0.1)/PetCO(2) slope correlated with percent changes of plasma leptin (r(2)=0.79, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a possible role of leptin in the recovery of neuromuscular response to hypercapnia obtained during long-term nocturnal NIMV in OHS patients without OSAH.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Reference values for exhaled nitric oxide (reveno) study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) as a biomarker of airways inflammation, there are no published papers describing normal FENO values in a large group of healthy adults. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish adult FENO reference values according to the international guidelines. METHODS: FENO was measured in 204 healthy, non-smoking adults with normal spirometry values using the on-line single-breath technique, and the results were analysed chemiluminescently. RESULTS: The main result of the study was the significant difference in FENO values between men and women, thus indicating that gender-based reference FENO values are necessary. The FENO levels obtained at expiratory flows of 50 ml/s ranged from 2.6 to 28.8 ppb in men, and from 1.6 to 21.5 ppb in women. CONCLUSION: We propose reference FENO values for healthy adult men and women that could be used for clinical and research purposes.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Increased QT dispersion: a negative prognostic finding in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent syndrome, deeply affecting the cardiovascular system as well as the lungs. We investigated the prognostic role of the QT interval and QT dispersion (QTD) in predicting all-cause, respiratory and cardiovascular mortality in COPD, and the relationship between these electrocardiographic parameters and pulmonary function in a prospective longitudinal study. METHODS: We studied 246 COPD patients without significant co-morbidities, with a mild to moderate functional impairment, admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine from January 1995 to December 2001, performing a 5-year mean follow-up (5-116 months) up to August 2004. After clinical stabilisation, an electrocardiogram and functional respiratory tests were obtained, allowing measurement of the QT interval and QTD, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1), inspiratory capacity, FEV1/FVC ratio, partial oxygen pressure and partial carbon dioxide pressure in arterial blood. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up period, 81 patients were dead, 165 still alive; 36 died because of respiratory causes, 23 because of cardio-cerebrovascular events, 21 because of cancer (mainly lung cancer). A significant high incidence of sudden cardiac death was observed. QTD and QTcD showed a significant relationship with respiratory functional parameters. Maximal QT interval, QTcD and QTD appear to be independent predictors of all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality (relative risk 1.94, 3.22, 2.88, respectively). Age > 65 years, partial oxygen pressure < 60 mmHg and inspiratory capacity < 80% of the predicted value were the only other independent predictive parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Maximal QT interval, QTD and QTcD are independent predictors of mortality. A significant incidence of cardiac sudden death was observed. These findings suggest the need for a global and multidisciplinary risk assessment in COPD patients. Intriguing relationships between the QTD and functional respiratory parameters were also observed.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Bone ultrasonometric features and growth hormone secretion in asthmatic patients during chronic inhaled corticosteroid therapy.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative ultrasound bone densitometry (QUBD) is a new method to assess bone mineral density and bone microarchitecture. Corticosteroid (CS) therapy may diminish bone mass, alter bone quality and may influence growth hormone (GH) secretion and bone metabolism markers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term therapy with inhaled CSs (ICSs) on structural bone characteristics and their correlations with GH secretion and bone markers in asthmatic patients. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled 60 adult patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma: 22 on chronic (>1 year) ICS therapy, 10 naive to ICSs treatment and 28 healthy control subjects. The groups were matched for age and BMI. Each subject underwent to QUBD at the phalanxes to assess bone microarchitecture by ultrasound bone profile index (UBPI), bone density by amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AdSos); test with GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) injection with calculation of peak GH and the Delta GH (peak GH-basal GH); and hormonal and bone markers measurements. RESULTS: Asthmatics treated with long-term ICS therapy showed a lower UBPI (P < 0.01) compared to controls (49.8 +/- 19.3 vs. 77.0 +/- 10.1, respectively) and to asthmatics never taking ICSs (73.2 +/- 9.6). In ICS-treated asthmatics, DeltaGH and GH-peak showed a significant correlation with UBPI. A significant difference was observed comparing asthmatics treated with ICSs to controls and asthmatics naive to ICSs in GH response to GHRH iv bolus. Serum osteocalcin was significantly reduced in asthmatic patients treated with ICSs. CONCLUSIONS: In asthmatic patients, long-term ICSs treatment produces negative effects on bone quality assessed by QUBD, and such effects are associated to an impaired GH secretion.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2005

Diagnostic flow chart for targeted detection of alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is under-recognized, probably because many individuals affected show no clinical impairment. The targeted detection is a tool to increase its recognition. METHODS: We prospectively submitted to AAT serum levels determination, phenotyping and, if doubtful, genotyping: (i) patients with the early onset of emphysema, emphysema in absence of recognized risk or pneumothorax (path P), antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA) positive vasculitis (path V), cervical artery dissection (path A), Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive bodies in the liver cell or unexplained abnormal transaminase level (Path L) [index cases: IC] and (ii) subjects with low-serum alpha1-globulin (path e) and close relatives of patients with AAT deficiency (path r) [non index cases: NIC]. We determined and compared gender, age, AAT serum levels values, the ratio between AAT deficiency subjects identified and all subjects examined (identified/examined). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to find the best threshold for AAT serum levels. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-five individuals were examined and 211 with AAT deficiency identified: 66 were IC and 145 NIC. The ratio identified/examined resulted 0.74. A serum level of 120 mg/dL was able to identify AAT deficiency with a specificity of 73% and a sensitivity of 97%. IC showed male prevalence (P=0.005), more advanced age (P=0.02), lower AAT serum levels (P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Our protocol is effective to detect AAT deficiency in a selected population. About 120 mg/dL (nephelometric method) is a reliable AAT serum level cut-off for selecting subjects/patients to submit to phenotype or genotype; as compared to NIC, IC are older, mostly male and with lower AAT serum levels.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone is reduced in adult asthmatic patients receiving long-term inhaled corticosteroid treatment.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have demonstrated that the function of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 axis is significantly impaired in patients with oral corticosteroid (CS)-induced osteoporosis. The aim of study was to investigate the effects of long-term therapy with inhaled CSs (ICSs) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-GH axis by the GH response to GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), as well as bone turnover, in adult asthmatic patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PATIENTS: Twenty-seven adult subjects with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma (long-term ICS therapy [ie, > 1 year], 20 patients; naive to ICS treatment, 7 patients) and 10 control subjects. MEASUREMENTS: Each subject underwent testing with an IV bolus (1 mug/kg) injection of human GHRH, and samples of GH were taken 15 min before the GHRH injection, at 0 min (ie, at the time of GHRH injection), and at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min after injection to obtain values for peak GH and DeltaGH. At baseline, samples of serum IGF-1 and blood-urine were collected for bone turnover markers. RESULTS: The GH response to GHRH was significantly reduced in asthmatic patients receiving ICSs (peak GH, p < 0.05; and DeltaGH, p < 0.01) in comparison with control subjects and asthmatic patients who were naive to ICS therapy (peak GH and DeltaGH, p < 0.01). Baseline IGF-1 levels were similar in the three groups. Serum osteocalcin, a marker of bone formation, was significantly reduced (p < 0.01) and correlated with GH peak (r(2) = 0.34; p = 0.007) in asthmatic patients who were treated with ICSs. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that GH secretion in response to GHRH is significantly reduced in adult asthmatic patients receiving therapy with ICS and that such inhibition could play a negative role in bone metabolism.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2005

Expiratory flow limitation is associated with orthopnea and reversed by vasodilators and diuretics in left heart failure.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute left heart failure (LHF), orthopnea has also been related to the occurrence or worsening of expiratory flow limitation (EFL) in the supine position. We wished to assess whether short-term treatment with vasodilators and diuretics was able to abolish supine EFL and whether this could help to control orthopnea in patients with acute LHF. METHODS: In nine nonobese (ie, mean [+/- SD] body mass index, 24 +/- 5 kg/m2), never-smoker patients (two men and seven women; mean age, 77 +/- 7 years) with acute LHF (mean ejection fraction, 43 +/- 15%), we assessed EFL by the negative expiratory pressure method and dyspnea by the Borg scale, with patients in both the seated and supine positions, before and after short-term treatment with vasodilators and diuretics until hospital discharge. Orthopnea was defined as a positive difference in the Borg score between measurements made with the patient in the supine and seated positions. Postural variations in the end-expiratory lung volume were inferred from changes in inspiratory capacity (IC) that were measured under the same circumstances. RESULTS: Before treatment, with the patient in the seated position the mean dyspnea score was 1.5 +/- 0.5, the mean IC was 1.49 +/- 0.38 L, seven patients were non-flow-limited, and two patients were flow-limited. During recumbency, the mean dyspnea score was 2.7 +/- 0.5 (p < 0.01 vs seated position values), the mean IC was 1.66 +/- 0.45 L, and seven patients exhibited EFL. After a mean duration of 17 +/- 8 days of treatment (range, 7 to 28 days), EFL was detected in two patients only in the supine position, IC increased both in the seated position (1.65 +/- 0.34 L; p < 0.01) and the supine position (1.81 +/- 0.41 L; p = 0.07) position, and, although only two patients denied orthopnea, the mean dyspnea score during recumbency actually decreased to 1.9 +/- 1.0 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that short-term treatment with vasodilators and diuretics is able to control orthopnea and to remove supine EFL in most patients with acute LHF, suggesting a posture-related increase in bronchial obstruction as the main mechanism of EFL, which appears to play a role in the occurrence and severity of orthopnea in these circumstances.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Chronic obstructive lung disease. Systemic manifestations].

Chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD) are a complex disease state which not rarely can be associated with significant systemic manifestations. These alterations, though recognized since long time, are currently under extensive research, due to the increasing appreciation of their relevant negative role in the prognosis and health-related quality of life (Hr-QoL) of the COPD patients. The most clinically important are the decrease in body weight with loss of skeletal muscle mass (cachexia), osteoporosis, hypercapnia-induced peripheral edema, neuro-psychiatric disorders, such as oxygen-related cognitive impairment and depression, excessive polycytaemia and sleep disorders. Chronic systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and chronic hypoxia are believed as the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of systemic effects seen in COPD. Their adequate control with nutritional support, change of life-style and targeted pharmacological treatment is able to improve the prognosis and Hr-QoL among these COPD patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

The best peak expiratory flow is flow-limited and effort-independent in normal subjects.

Recently, it has been suggested that peak expiratory flow (PEF) may be determined by the wave speed flow-limiting mechanism. In six normal male subjects (age = 33 +/- 8 years) performing expiratory forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuvers, a negative expiratory pressure (NEP) of -10 cm H2O was randomly applied at the beginning of maximal expiration to assess changes in PEF as compared with baseline. During FVC maneuvers, the expiratory effort was measured by changes in esophageal pressure (Pes), as either peak expiratory Pes-Pes at end expiratory lung volume (DeltaPes(peak)) or maximal rate of rise of Pes (dPes/dt(max)). In each experimental condition, at least three FVC maneuvers with comparable expiratory effort were selected for analysis for each subject. With similar DeltaPes(peak) (107.2 +/- 34.9 versus 111.7 +/- 40.5 cm H2O) and dPes/dt(max) (1181 +/- 518 versus 1177 +/- 546 cm H2O/second) PEF amounted to 10.84 +/- 1.08 L/second and to 10.82 +/- 1.03 L/second with and without NEP, respectively. These data show that PEF obtained by normal subjects to the best of their abilities (best PEF) does not increase with NEP and indicate that the best PEF is a flow-limited and effort-independent parameter, reflecting only lung and airways mechanics as the other subsequent maximal expiratory flows achieved during the FVC maneuver.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sleep apnea syndrome in endocrine diseases.

It is increasingly recognized that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) - from snoring to apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) - can affect patients with various endocrine diseases (ED). Different mechanisms are implied in SDB, promoting either central or, more frequently, obstructive apnea in different ED. In the past, acromegaly and hypothyroidism were first associated with both central and obstructive SAHS. Today, great attention is placed on the complex cause-effect relationship between diabetes mellitus and obstructive SAHS (and vice versa). Symptoms and signs of SAHS may complicate the clinical course of these diseases and should be promptly suspected to detect and possibly treat the accompanying SDB.

Cushing Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Oxygen therapy. The new objectives: from survival to quality of life in correlation with state of health].

The aim of this review is to give new insights on the effects, and consequently, on the prescription criteria of long-term oxygen therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), on the basis of the evidence accumulated in the recent past. Since the demonstration of the beneficial effect on survival offered by long-term oxygen therapy in severely hypoxemic COPD patients, further potential endpoints of this treatment in such subjects have been progressively evaluated. At present, knowledge of the favorable biochemical effects, especially on the skeletal muscles and brain tissue, and the widespread appreciation of the positive impact on the health-related quality of life parameters provided by long-term oxygen therapy in COPD patients should prompt us to reassess its indications in these subjects.

Health Status↗