PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Fazzi

Publications and source records attributed to P Fazzi.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Sarcoidosis in Tuscany. A preliminary report.

A retrospective study was carried out by a computerized questionnaire in a sample of 109 sarcoidosis patients (43 men, 66 women) diagnosed between 1977 and 1990 in Pisa. 94% of the patients were resident in Tuscany. The onset of disease was earlier in the men than in the women; in 73% of the patients the symptoms were first noticed between February and July with two incidence peaks; 71% of them had never smoked; 10% of patients were symptom-free and the disease was discovered by chance; the other patients (90%) underwent chest X-ray because of joint symptoms (35%), erythema nodosum (34%), cough (28%), dyspnoea (27%), and fever (24%) which was often associated with other symptoms. Symptoms from the respiratory tract was present in 66 patients (61%); 58% of patients were resident in rural areas; the level of education was limited to primary school in 50% of the patients; as to the prevailing working positions, 27% were clerical workers, 24% manual workers, and 26% housewives.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Lung involvement in systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma treated by plasma exchange.

Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma can present in some patients as pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. Until now ten cases with this particular clinical variant, all men, have been reported in the literature. The knowledge of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma presenting as lung interstitial involvement is important in clinical practice for an early diagnosis and correct therapeutic strategy. This work reports the clinico-serological features of two further cases, one a woman, of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma with prevalent lung involvement, and describes the effects of therapeutic plasma exchange.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Phase II study of high-dose epirubicin in untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer.

Eighteen previously untreated patients with histologically confirmed small-cell lung cancer were treated with high-dose epirubicin (course 1, 100 mg/m2; courses 2-6, 140 mg/m2, day 1), every 3 weeks. Overall response rate was 33% (95% confidence limits, 14-52%), including two complete and four partial responses. The response rates for limited (n = 11) and extensive (n = 7) disease patients were 45% and 14%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 18 months, estimated 2-year survival of all patients was 29% and the median duration of response 18.5 months. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression, with a median granulocyte nadir of 1,150/mm3; 39% of patients had neutropenic fever. Nausea/vomiting, alopecia, and stomatitis were the most common nonhematological toxicities, usually mild to moderate. Acute cardiac toxicity was unusual and no episodes of congestive heart failure were observed. Cumulative doses of 800 mg/m2 were associated with moderate cardiotoxicity (grade 2), as assessed by endomyocardial biopsy and electron microscopy analysis. These results indicate that epirubicin, at the present doses and schedule, is an active single agent in patients with small-cell lung cancer, with acceptable general and moderate cardiac toxicity.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in an unpolluted area of northern Italy.

Using a multistage stratified geographic cluster sample of households living in an unpolluted area of Northern Italy (near Venice), we enrolled 3289 inhabitants (aged 8-64 yr) for a longitudinal respiratory study. During the first cross-sectional survey, before the start of operation of a large oil-burning thermoelectric power plant, they completed a standardized administered questionnaire and performed several lung function tests. In the whole sample, dyspnoea grade 1 (11%), chronic cough and chronic phlegm (9%) were the most frequent respiratory symptoms; all the symptoms except dyspnoea were more prevalent in males than in females. Smokers (S) showed higher prevalence rates than ex-smokers (ES) and nonsmokers (NS), especially in males. In both sexes, the frequency of respiratory symptoms increased with increasing smoking as assessed by pack-years. An inverse relationship between prevalence of symptoms and socio-economic status was also observed. All tests of lung function were significantly impaired in S compared with NS in males; single-breath CO diffusing capacity and slope of alveolar plateau but not spirometric indices were significantly impaired in female S compared to female ES and NS. Finally, our prevalence rates were lower than in other epidemiological surveys: this result may be ascribed to the low levels of air pollution measured in the area.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Reference equations for the single-breath diffusing capacity. A cross-sectional analysis and effect of body size and age.

A longitudinal study was implemented in an unpolluted rural area of northern Italy (near Venice), before the start of the operation of a large oil-burning thermoelectric power plant, in order to investigate the effects of the future exposure to air pollution and to elucidate the natural history of obstructive airways diseases. During the first cross-sectional survey, a sample of the general population (n=3,300, 8 to 64 yr of age) performed several lung function tests, and information on risk factors and on the presence of respiratory symptoms were obtained by a standardized questionnaire. There were 712 subjects who were classified as normal on the basis of rigid criteria and who were able to perform satisfactorily a single-breath CO diffusing capacity (DLCOsb) test. The DLCOsb values showed an increase with height and age early in life and a later decrease with age. Two age groups were selected to determine an age at which DLCOsb stopped increasing and began to decline. Reference equations were computed (using age and height) in these 2 different age groups in each of the sexes. Similar equations were calculated for the total lung capacity derived from single-breath helium dilution measurements. The DLCOsb values in this study were higher than reported by other investigators. The method of selection of the study population, the strict criteria for normal, as well as technical, differences probably explain this finding. Reference equations for diffusing capacity corrected to lung volume (DL/VA) were computed only for adults (much greater than 20) in both sexes, because age and height coefficients in young subjects were insignificant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Respiratory function in chemical workers].

The authors have evaluated the trend of the forced expiratory flows at low lung volumes and of the diffusing capacity for CO in a group of chemical workers of a dye factory, exposed to mineral dusts, organic pigments and solvents. Prevalences of chronic bronchitis and dyspnea, as evaluated by CNR questionnaire, were 15 and 32%. FEF25-75, MEF50 and MEF75 showed statistically significant differences with reference values. The reduction of KCO% was almost completely accounted for by smoking habit. During exercise, DLCOSS2 did not reach the expected values. 71% of the subjects with a diagnosis of COLD had worked more than 15 years in the dye factory. These results suggest a negative effect of the working environment, together with cigarette smoking, on lung function of subjects with a medium-long-term exposure.

Carbon Monoxide↗
PubMedDate not supplied

67Ga-citrate imaging in rhabdomyosarcoma.

A 22-year-old female patient with a swelling in the right forearm near the elbow underwent a 67Ga-citrate scan because of paraesthesia on the ulnar side of the right hand. The 67Ga total body scan showed intense focal uptake on the forearm in the same position as the swelling. At surgery a histological diagnosis of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma was made. Five months later, a repeat 67Ga scan was normal. Eight months after the diagnosis, the patient complained of pain in the left lumbar region extending to the hypogastric area. A third 67Ga scan showed intense uptake near the spinal column which at surgery was found to be a metastasis of the primary tumor.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reference values for vital capacity and flow-volume curves from a general population study.

A longitudinal epidemiological respiratory study has been started in the North of Italy to investigate the natural history of obstructive airways disease and the long-term effect of SO2 exposure. The first cross-sectional study was completed in this unpolluted area before the activation of a thermoelectric power plant (500 tons of SO2 produced daily). Follow-up surveys are planned after pollution emission starts for a period of ten years. A sample (n = 3289) representative of the general population was drawn from the villages of the area according to the different risks of pollution exposure. Subjects completed questionnaires and performed lung function tests, including forced expiratory (FVC) manoeuvres. For 801 'normal' subjects, prediction equations have been derived in age/sex groups for slow vital capacity (VC) and variables from the FVC manoeuvre. Comparisons with predictions of other studies are reported. Differences among FVC predictions were found, indicating that the use of different criteria for determination of the FVC manoeuvre end-point can affect results. In 'normals' VC was higher than FVC in older subjects. The difference between VC and FVC may be hypothesized as an epidemiological indication of the ageing effect on the mechanical properties of the ventilatory system.

Adolescent↗