Biomedical subjects

F Macagno

Publications and source records attributed to F Macagno.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Effects of cyclo-oxygenase inhibition on exhaled eicosanoids in patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Leukotriene (LT) B4 concentrations are increased and prostaglandin (PG) E2 concentrations are decreased in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A study was undertaken to investigate the short term effects of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibition on exhaled LTB4 and PGE2 concentrations in patients with COPD and to identify the COX isoform responsible for exhaled PGE2 production. METHODS: Two studies were performed. A double blind, crossover, randomised, placebo controlled study with ibuprofen (400 mg qid for 2 days), a non-selective COX inhibitor, was undertaken in 14 patients with stable COPD, and an open label study with oral rofecoxib (25 mg once a day for 5 days), a selective COX-2 inhibitor, was undertaken in a different group of 16 COPD patients. EBC was collected before and after drug treatment. Exhaled LTB4 and PGE2 concentrations were measured with specific immunoassays. RESULTS: All patients complied with treatment as indicated by a reduction in ex vivo serum thromboxane B2 concentrations (ibuprofen) and a reduction in lipopolysaccharide induced increase in ex vivo plasma PGE2 values (rofecoxib) of more than 80%. Exhaled LTB4 was increased after ibuprofen (median 175.5 (interquartile range 128.8-231.5) pg/ml v 84.0 (70.0-98.5) pg/ml, p < 0.001) and exhaled PGE2 was reduced (93.5 (84.0-105-5) pg/ml v 22.0 (15.0-25.5) pg/ml, p < 0.0001). Rofecoxib had no effect on exhaled LTB4 (p = 0.53) or PGE2 (p = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Non-selective COX inhibition decreases PGE2 and increases LTB4 in EBC, whereas selective COX-2 inhibition has no effect on these eicosanoids. PGE2 in EBC is primarily derived from COX-1 activity, and COX inhibition may redirect arachidonic acid metabolism towards the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

PubMed2003

[Induction of fetal lung maturation in the prevention of hyaline membrane disease: the connection with neonatal sepsis].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antenatal maternal corticosteroid treatment on the frequency of neonatal outcomes and perinatal infectious morbidity among singleton pregnancies complicated by preterm delivery. METHODS: A nonrandomized analysis was performed on 189 neonates of 24-34 weeks' gestation who were born at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Udine, between January 2000 to December 2001. The neonates were subdivided into 3 groups: 1) 143 neonates received 2 doses of corticosteroids in a 24-hour interval and repeated after 10 days; 2) 26 neonates received 2 doses; 3) 20 neonates did not receive any treatment. Data were analysed with the Fisher exact test. p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), neonatal mortality and intraventricular hemorrhage was respectively 43.4%, 3.2 % and 6.3 %. The rate of early-onset neonatal sepsis was 4.9% in the 1st group, 3.9% in the 2nd group and 5% in the 3rd group. There were no significant differences in the early-onset neonatal sepsis and the antenatal corticosteroids treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The single or the multiple courses of antenatal steroids did not apparently increase neonatal sepsis in patients with preterm delivery.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Techniques of enteral feeding in the newborn.

Among techniques of enteral feeding, gastric bolus feeding still appears to be the method of choice for most newborn babies because it is both practical and inexpensive. Unstable preterm infants and those with severe respiratory diseases or with delayed gastric emptying time may not tolerate intermittent gastric feedings and may benefit from continuous gastric feedings. Transpyloric feedings do not seem to offer any advantage over continuous gastric feedings and should be reserved for infants at risk of aspiration, such as those with gastroesophageal reflux or delayed gastric emptying. Early low-volume feedings appear beneficial and are not associated with increased morbidity. Once enteral feedings are established, daily increments of 10-20 ml/kg appear to be safe and not associated with an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Enteral Nutrition↗

PubMed1993

Aminophylline and increased activity of peripheral chemoreceptors in newborn infants.

Peripheral chemoreceptor activity was studied in nine healthy, unsedated neonates (with a mean (SD) postconceptional age of 39 (2) weeks and birth weight of 3000 (400) g) by measuring the inhibition of ventilation elicited by five breaths of 100% oxygen (Dejours technique). Changes in tidal volume, frequency, and minute ventilation were measured before and after administration of aminophylline (10 mg/kg by mouth). Before aminophylline hyperoxia induced a decrease in minute ventilation (from a mean (SE) of 825 (55) to 520 (30) ml/kg/min) as result of reduction of tidal volume (from 12 (0.3) to 8 (0.3) ml/kg). After aminophylline administration the hyperoxia induced decrease in tidal volume (from 14 (0.7) to 6 (0.3) ml/kg) and minute ventilation (from 847 (57) to 386 (21) ml/kg/min) was significantly greater than before. It is concluded that in neonates peripheral chemoreceptors are more active in the presence of aminophylline. It is speculated that aminophylline increases the activity of peripheral chemoreceptors, reducing the breakdown of cAMP, which is a crucial mediator for peripheral chemoreceptor discharge.

Aminophylline↗

PubMed1988

Oral versus intramuscular loading of caffeine in idiopathic apnoea of prematurity.

The loading dose of caffeine (15 mg/kg) was administered orally to nine newborn babies and intramuscularly to nine others. The oral maintenance dose (2 mg/kg per day) was administered 24 h after the loading dose and then once a day for as long as necessary. The two groups were statistically similar with regard to gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score at 1 and 5 min. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in serum levels of caffeine at 1, 12 or 24 h and 7, 14 or 21 days. Therefore, oral administration appears to be the better route for loading, as it is effective and non-traumatic. Moreover, low maintenance doses allow therapeutic serum levels to be kept to a minimum reducing the likelihood of side-effects.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1987