PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Rubini

Publications and source records attributed to F Rubini.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Clinical and histological evaluation of interferon alfa-2b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

In a study of 37 patients with hepatitis C (proved histologically) positive chronic hepatitis, a correlation was seen between clinical efficacy and histological improvement after treatment with interferon alfa-2b (3 million units (MU) three times a week for six months plus six months' follow up). Alanine aminotransferase activities became normal in 18 (48%) patients during treatment; at the end of follow up eight (45%) had a continued response to the treatment. Paired liver biopsy specimens showed marked improvements in Knodell index score and portal inflammation in these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Effect of nasal pressure support ventilation and external PEEP on diaphragmatic activity in patients with severe stable COPD.

Nasal pressure support ventilation (NPSV) has been shown to be useful in the treatment of acute and chronic pulmonary failure. However, little is known about respiratory muscle activity during NPSV in stable patients with COPD. The aim of this study was to test the effect of two levels (10 and 20 cm H2O) of NPSV on diaphragmatic activity, in a group of seven stable, severe COPD patients (FEV1 20 percent +/- 7 of pred, FEV1/FVC 35 percent) with hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency. Since these patients had an intrinsic PEEP (PEEPi) of 2.6 +/- 1.3 cm H2O, we also investigated the effect of adding 5 cm H2O external PEEP (PEEPe) during NPSV. Blood gases, ventilatory pattern by inductive plethysmography, integrated electromyogram of the diaphragm (Edi), transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), and the diaphragmatic pressure time product (PTPdi) were recorded during randomized 15-min runs of both levels of NPSV with and without the addition of PEEPe. Minute ventilation did not change with the application of NPSV, but a significant decrease in breathing frequency with a parallel increase in tidal volume was observed, so that blood gas determinations improved at the higher levels of support. A marked statistically significant reduction in diaphragmatic activity, as assessed by a decrease in Pdi swings, PTPdi, and Edi, was detected at the levels of 10 and 20 cm H2O; a further significant decrease in these values was observed when PEEPe was added. PEEPi decreased significantly only with the application of PEEPe, resulting in a small increase in end-expiratory lung volume. We conclude that NPSV improves diaphragmatic function in patients with severe stable COPD; this effect may be enhanced by the applications of external PEEP.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Transmission of HIV-associated tuberculosis to healthcare workers.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective investigation was made to compare the occupational risk of tuberculosis in personnel assisting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and uninfected subjects with active tuberculosis. DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed 6 years of hospital activity in 3 units where HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis are hospitalized and in 2 units where non-HIV-infected tuberculosis patients are hospitalized. The risk of occupational tuberculosis in healthcare workers who assisted HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis was investigated. PARTICIPANTS: The risk of occupational tuberculosis in healthcare workers was studied by considering the numbers of potential source cases (hospitalized patients with tuberculosis) in the two conditions investigated (HIV-positive and HIV-negative). Both potential source cases and cases of tuberculosis in healthcare workers had to be microbiologically proven in order to be considered. RESULTS: Seven cases of tuberculosis occurred in persons who cared for 85 HIV-infected subjects with tuberculosis, while only 2 cases occurred in staff members who took care of 1,079 HIV-negative tuberculosis patients over the same period (relative risk = 44.4; 95% confidence interval = 8.5-438). CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis seems no longer to be a neglectable risk in healthcare workers assisting patients with HIV infection. Further study is urgently needed to see whether such unexpectedly high dissemination of tuberculosis also is demonstrable in the community.

HIV Infections↗
PubMed1993

Effect of long-term therapy with oral steroids on respiratory muscle function and ventilatory drive.

It has been shown that chronic oral steroid therapy (ST) does not induce respiratory muscle dysfunction in normal and asthmatic subjects. As corticosteroids are sometimes chronically used in the treatment of the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the aim of our study was to verify whether ST could cause respiratory muscle impairment and, since ST also affects the central nervous system, whether ST could influence the ventilatory pattern. We retrospectively studied 12 COPD patients (group A), on long-term therapy (for at least 4 consecutive months, range 4-18 months) with an oral steroid, deflazacort, 15 mg.d-1. The subjects were strictly matched, with regard to age, sex, height, weight, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), residual volume (RV), arterial oxygen tension (PaCO2), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) and pH, with 12 COPD patients (Group B) who had never taken oral steroids. To assess respiratory muscle strength, we measured maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressures, while mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1) was employed to assess neuromuscular drive; ventilatory pattern and airway impedence were also evaluated. Effectiveness of ST was confirmed by the plasmatic levels of endogenous cortisol. No significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to MIP (A 72.2 +/- 9.7 vs B: 70 +/- 7.2 cmH2O) and MEP (A 91.6 +/- 10.5 vs B 94.4 +/- 7.6 cmH2O) whilst P0.1 was significantly higher in group A (2.6 +/- 0.3 cmH2O) than in group B (1.8 +/- 0.1 cmH2O). No significant differences were found among all the ventilatory parameters, but the impedence was significantly higher in group A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation in the treatment of acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Acute respiratory failure is usually managed by means of mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy, when conservative treatment fails. Invasive mechanical ventilation is associated with several complications. The recent development of non-invasive methods of ventilation, has led to an attempt to avoid the complications of invasive mechanical ventilation during episodes of acute respiratory failure, ensuring at the same time a similar degree of efficacy. Both intermittent negative pressure ventilation and positive pressure ventilation by face or nasal mask have recently been used for this purpose. Negative pressure ventilation by means of iron lung, cuirass or poncho-wrap ventilators, has never been used in place of endotracheal intubation, and studies of this kind of ventilation are inconclusive: as a consequence, there is, at the moment, no indication for the generalized use of negative pressure ventilation in acute respiratory failure. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation by facial or nasal masks, has recently been used in the treatment of respiratory failure in place of endotracheal intubation. The results are promising, but remain controversial. It may be attempted in selected patients with obstructive respiratory disorders, but the procedure is very time-consuming for nurses.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Comparative efficacy of ceftriaxone versus ceftazidime in the treatment of nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections.

Seventy-two hospitalized patients with pneumonia or bacteremia were randomly allocated to receive ceftriaxone 2 g once daily i.v. or ceftazidime 2 g twice a day i.v. At the end of the study 60 patients were evaluable, 31 in the ceftazidime group and 29 in the ceftriaxone group. Thirty-four patients (ceftazidime = 15, ceftriaxone = 19) yielded one or more pathogens, of which 64% were gram-negative bacilli. Clinical cure or improvement was observed in 90% of patients in both groups. All 3 cases of bacteremia were cured. Three patients in each group failed to respond to the administered drug. Eradication of the pathogen(s) was observed in 82% of the ceftazidime group and in 86% of the ceftriaxone group. Two episodes of superinfection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa were recorded in the ceftriaxone group, while Candida spp. was isolated from the sputum in 2 patients in the ceftazidime group. Three strains of P. aeruginosa (2 in the ceftazidime group, 1 in the ceftriaxone group) persisted despite the treatment. No side effects were seen except for skin rash in 2 patients receiving ceftazidime. Compliance was good in both groups, particularly with the once daily administration of ceftriaxone. Overall ceftriaxone and ceftazidime appear to be equally effective in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia, with the exception of P. aeruginosa infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Contribution of the CT to a special technique of percutaneous lumbar anesthetic block].

The authors suggest the use of CT for the positioning of a permanent catheter, suitable for lumbar anesthetic block in painful lower limbs syndromes. This technique was employed on 12 patients suffering from vascular diseases of the lower limbs. CT allowed a good visualization of both bone structures and soft tissues, which are essential landmarks for catheter positioning. The catheter was inserted with its anterior end fixed to the anterior abdominal wall, which allowed the patient to manage its own treatment. In all cases we obtained marked symptoms regression, after 5 months of treatment. No such complications were observed as those report in literature. The main contraindication appeared to be the aneurysmatic dilatation of both aorta and iliac arteries.

Female↗
PubMed1990

[Hyperparathyroidism in patients with respiratory decompensation].

Eighteen patients aged between 55 and 65 and affected by respiratory insufficient were included in the study. Serum levels of PTH, total calcium, Ca++ and phosphorus were measured. Special attention was focused on PTH concentrations with in some case provedo to be above normal. Two hypotheses of pathogenesis are put forward. The first suggests that reduced Ca++ levels are responsible for anomalous PTH serum concentrations, whereas the second suggests that this role may be played by hypoxia. The latter would indirectly or directly affect parathyroids, either increasing PTH hyperincretion or slowing down the metabolism of the hormone by kidneys and liver which are in turn negatively affected by low blood oxygen tension.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Mechanical ventilation and pulmonary vascular resistance: comparison of IPPV, CPPV, CPAP, and PSV in decompensated chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy with pulmonary hypertension].

Alterations of pulmonary vascular resistance were studied using four different methods of mechanical ventilation. A Servo Ventilator 900 C respirator was used for three of these techniques (IPPV, CPPV and PSV); CPAP was performed using a continuous-flow system because of the latter's advantages compared to demand-flow systems. Five patients (aged 64-75) affected by BPCO uncompensation and pulmonary hypertension (PAP 40 +/- 8 mmHg) were included in the study. A complete hemodynamic test was performed in each patient for each of the methods used by inserting a Swan-Ganz catheter through the right-hand internal jugular vein; intrapleural pressure were also measured using an esophageal balloon. The results of the study revealed a low level of tolerance to CPAP. Of the other methods, PSV was found to be particularly useful since it produced significant constant reductions of PVR and increased levels of CO compared to other techniques. These positive hemodynamic effects may be explained by the pattern of intrapleural pressures and the possibility of "self-adjustment" which this method allows.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

[Differential spirometry and computerized pulmonary ventilation- perfusion scintiphotography as preoperative functional studies in thoracic surgery].

With purposes of a better knowledge of the respiratory function, and for a more and more exact postoperative functional prognosis, the authors considered the results obtained by the differential bronchospirometry and the pulmonary ventilation-perfusion imaging. Through the study of 10 patients, susceptible of operations for lung extirpation, they could so evaluate the reliability and usefulness of said two functional investigations, which can integrate and complete each other.

Aged↗