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Biomedical subjects

L Battista

Publications and source records attributed to L Battista.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Long-term effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic airway obstruction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PRP) in patients with chronic airway obstruction (CAO). In 61 CAO patients (35 asthmatics and 26 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) lung and respiratory muscle function, exercise tolerance (by symptom limited cycloergometer and walking tests), dyspnoea (Borg scale, visual analogue scale (VAS), baseline and transitional dyspnoea index (BDI and TDI, respectively)) and quality of life (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)) were assessed at baseline (to), at discharge (t1) and 12 months postdischarge (t2). Preprogramme and post-programme hospital admissions and exacerbations of disease were also recorded. In comparison with baseline, no significant change was observed in lung function tests in either diagnostic group, either at t1 or at t2. In both groups improvements in respiratory muscle strength, exercise tolerance, Borg scale and VAS reported at t1 were partially reduced at t2. Analysis of variance showed that these changes over time were similar in the two groups. Mean values of SGRQ and BDI/TDI improved at t1, and, unlike exercise tolerance, did not worsen at t2. However, a clinically relevant difference in SGRQ between t2 and to was reported only in 56% of asthmatics and 52% of COPD patients. Compared with the preceding 2 yrs, in the year following PRP, hospital admissions and disease exacerbations decreased significantly in both diagnostic groups. Regardless of diagnosis, patients with chronic airway obstruction who underwent an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme maintained an improved quality of life 12 months postdischarge despite a partial loss of the improvement in exercise tolerance.

Asthma↗
PubMed1994

[Monitoring of antithrombin III in general surgery].

The authors studied the effects of surgery on hemocoagulation parameters (PT, PTT, PLT, Fibrinogen, AT III). 30 patients, undergoing extrahepatic surgery were observed. Measurements were performed before, during and immediately after procedure, and 24 hs and 48 hs later. Results showed a significant drop of AT III activity (p < 0.05) throughout the surgical procedure with a prompt reversal to normal values right after the end of it. Fibrinogen values continuously increased from the end of surgery (compared to intra-op values) (p < 0.05) up to 48 hs (p < 0.01). PTT values decreased at the end of surgery (p < 0.05) and returned to normal during the following 24 hs. No thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications were observed during the postoperative phase, with all patients being discharged after surgical resolution of pathologies. In conclusion accurate monitoring of hemocoagulation parameters (especially AT III) seems to be useful in order to prevent thromboembolic and/or hemorrhagic complications during and after surgery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diastolic mitral regurgitation: a borderline case in cardiovascular physiology.

BACKGROUND: Mitral regurgitation during diastole in 5 subjects, of whom 4 affected by cardiovascular disease and 1 healthy competitive athlete, was the aim of this work. The 4 patients are respectively affected by: 1st case: arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and III degree AV block in NYHA class II heart failure (HF); 2nd case: NYHA III HF, prosthetic biologic aortic valve dysfunction; 3th case: NYHA III HF, ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy; 4th case: ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy waiting for heart transplantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The above 4 patients showed, on transthoracic echocardiogram, mitral diastolic regurgitation. The authors deem as caused, in agreement with the literature, both by an atrio-ventricular pressure gradient inversion during long-lasting diastoles (III degree atrioventricular block, blocked atrial systole, aortic valve regurgitation), and by an inadequate ventricular remodelling/distensibility. The 5th case deals with a healthy highly trained competitive athlete who, at the fitness checkup, showed mitral diastolic regurgitation. The study was also extended to two healthy groups of subjects, in order to rule out mitral regurgitation during the diastolic interval of the cardiac cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Such finding, after an accurate and critical analysis, led the authors to assume it may deal with a borderline physiological condition.

Adult↗