Biomedical subjects

G Colangelo

Publications and source records attributed to G Colangelo.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Familial respiratory chemosensitivity does not predict hypercapnia of patients with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

The mechanisms of hypercapnia observed in some patients with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) are not known. In chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD), hypercapnic and hypoxic ventilatory responses (HCVR/HVR) are decreased in normal family members of hypercapnic patients compared with those of non-hypercapnic patients. This suggests a familial (presumably genetic) diminished chemosensitivity predisposing to hypercapnia. In this study we investigated the possibility of a similar mechanism in SAHS. Based on PaCO2, 29 patients with polysomnographic evidence of SAHS were divided into those with chronic hypercapnia (PaCO2 greater than or equal to 45 mm Hg, n = 13) and those with normocapnia (PaCO2 less than 45 mm Hg, n = 16). We studied healthy adult (greater than or equal to 17 yr) immediate family members of these patients. Family members were required to have normal spirometry and be on no medications. In Group I, there were 32 family members of hypercapnic patients and in Group II, 26 family members of normocapnic patients. In Group I, the mean (+/- SD) of age (yr) was 36 +/- 12, weight (kg) 82 +/- 22, FEV1 (L) 3.1 +/- 0.8, VCO2 (ml/min) 228 +/- 63, slope (L/min) of HCVR 2.0 +/- 0.8, and slope (L/min/1% saturation) of HVR -1.20 +/- 0.82. Respective values in Group II were 34 +/- 14, 83 +/- 16, 3.2 +/- 0.8, 233 +/- 63, 2.0 +/- 1.0, and -1.34 +/- 1.20. There were no statistically significant differences in measured variables between the two groups. Furthermore, there were no significant correlations between PaCO2 of patients and slopes of HCVR or HVR of their family members.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Follow-up bronchoalveolar lavage in AIDS patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Pneumocystis carinii burden predicts early relapse.

We performed an analysis of the value of repeat bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) at 21 days to identify patients at risk for early relapse with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Patients with P. carinii pneumonia and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were asked to participate in this study. All patients had P. carinii identified on methenamine silver stain of BAL fluid. BAL fluid was also stained with a modified Wright-Giemsa technique. The Wright-Giemsa stain was done to determine the cell differential count, and the number of P. carinii clusters associated with 500 nucleated cells was used as an estimate of P. carinii burden in the BAL. Initial and follow-up lavage was performed in 56 patients. Patients were classified based on their clinical response to anti-P. carinii therapy at 21 days. Nonresponders were patients with persistent or worsening symptoms. Responders were patients who improved and had therapy discontinued. Responders were further classified as responders with relapse if P. carinii pneumonia recurred within 6 months of the initial episode or responders without relapse if they remained disease free during the follow-up period. Responders without relapse reduced P. carinii cluster counts more than 50% in 24 of 25 cases. In responders with relapse P. carinii cluster counts were unchanged. The responders as a group had a significant decrease in the percentage of neutrophils in the BAL, with only 2 of 32 still having increased neutrophils in the follow-up lavage compared to 17 of 24 nonresponders (p less than 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1976