[Moderate alcohol consumption and mortality for various reasons].
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Publications and source records attributed to S Benito.
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Traditional time domain techniques of data analysis are often not sufficient to characterize the complex dynamics of respiration. In this paper, the respiratory pattern variability is analyzed using symbolic dynamics. A group of 20 patients on weaning trials from mechanical ventilation are studied at two different pressure support ventilation levels, in order to obtain respiratory volume signals with different variability. Time series of inspiratory time, expiratory time, breathing duration, fractional inspiratory time, tidal volume and mean inspiratory flow are analyzed. Two different symbol alphabets, with three and four symbols, are considered to characterize the respiratory pattern variability. Assessment of the method is made using the 40 respiratory volume signals classified using clinical criteria into two classes: low variability (LV) or high variability (HV). A discriminant analysis using single indexes from symbolic dynamics has been able to classify the respiratory volume signals with an out-of-sample accuracy of 100%.
This work proposed and studied a method of automatically classifying respiratory volume signals as high or low variability by means of non-linear analysis of the respiratory volume. The analysis used volume signals generated by the respiratory system to construct a model of its dynamics and to estimate the quality of the predictions made with the model. Different methods of prediction evaluation, prediction horizons and embedding dimensions were also analysed. Assessment of the method was made using a database that contained 40 respiratory volume signals classified using clinical criteria into two classes: low or high variability. The results obtained using the method of surrogate data provided evidence of non-linear determinism in the respiratory volume signals. A discriminant analysis carried out using non-linear prediction variables classified the respiratory volume signals with an accuracy of 95%.
OBJECTIVES: The traditional techniques of data analysis are often not sufficient to characterize the complex dynamics of respiration. In this study the respiratory pattern variability was analyzed using symbolic dynamics. METHODS: A group of 20 patients on weaning trials from mechanical ventilation were studied at two different pressure support ventilation levels. Breath duration (T(TOT)) time series and the relation T(I)/T(TOT), that contains the influence of inspiratory time (T(I)), were considered. Length-3 words and 3 different symbols were proposed. The incidence of the overlapping tau and the parameter alpha were analyzed. RESULTS: From the breath duration time series, the distribution of words with probability of occurrence higher than 6% was concentrated on one word for low respiratory variability, whereas high variability was characterized by 4 words, presenting a statistically significant difference (p </= 0.0005). The probability occurrence of words "110" and "111" was also significantly different (p</= 0.0005) when comparing both variabilities. CONCLUSION: The analysis carried out obtained discriminant functions able to correctly classify all the testing set series. These results permit the consideration of symbolic dynamics as a promising methodology to study the respiratory pattern variability.
1. Red wine intake is associated with a low risk of cardiovascular disease. This effect has been partly attributed to the action of polyphenolic compounds, which decrease the oxidation of plasma low density lipoproteins. Moreover, nitric oxide ((*)NO) is a vasodilator and polyphenolic compounds induce endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in vitro. 2. Here we studied whether a diet rich in dealcoholated red wine (DRW) increases acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation and whether ingestion of DRW-, quercetin- or catechin-rich diets modifies the (*)NO-cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) pathway and superoxide anion (O2(.-)) release in aorta in a resting state in rats fed semi-purified diets containing either 35% (v w(-1)) DRW, 0.3% (w w(-1)) quercetin or 0.3% (w w(-1)) catechin for 10 days. 3. (*)NO-mediated vasorelaxation induced by acetylcholine was greater in rats fed the DRW-rich diet than in those that received the control diet. 4. Expression of endothelial (*)NO synthase (eNOS) was similar in the four dietary groups. The aortic rings of rats fed either the DRW-, quercetin-, or catechin-rich diets showed higher NOS activity, (*)NO production and cyclic GMP content than those of rats fed the control diet. No changes were observed in O2(.-) production. 5. In summary, diets rich in either DRW, quercetin or catechin induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in rat aorta in a resting state through the enhancement of (*)NO production, without modifying O2(.-) generation, thus the bioavailability of (*)NO was increased. The increase in the (*)NO-cyclic GMP pathway explains the beneficial effect of flavonoids at vascular level.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to analyze the effect of a pressure-regulated volume-controlled ventilation mode on lung mechanics and gas exchange in patients with acute respiratory failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We ventilated 10 patients with two pressure-limited modes: pressure-controlled ventilation (PC) and pressure-regulated volume-controlled ventilation (PRVC) in random order, for 1 hour each. Patients were stabilized on volume-controlled ventilation (VC) for 30 minutes before, between, and at the end of PC and PRVC to reach baseline conditions. At the end of every VC period and at 30 and 60 minutes of PC and PRVC, respiratory mechanics, gasometrics, and hemodynamic parameters were collected. RESULTS: We found no significant differences between the three VC periods. Comparing VC with the two pressure-limited ventilation modes, peak pressure decreased from 29.4+/-9.1 cm H2O (VC) to 25.9+/-8.4 (PC 60 minutes) and 26.1+/-8.2 (PRVC 60 minutes), and PaCO2 decreased significantly from 38.6+/-3.1 mm Hg (VC) to 36.7+/-2.8 (PC 60 minutes) and 36.8+/-2.9 (PRVC 60 minutes). CONCLUSIONS: Pressure-limited ventilation allows mechanical ventilation for the same tidal volume as VC but results in a lower peak inspiratory pressure and a slightly lower PaCO2. The mechanism responsible for this gas exchange effect is unknown but is probably related to a better air distribution of the decelerated flow. The clinical relevance of this phenomenon remains to be established.
The discrepancy in results from different studies regarding outcome of weaning from mechanical ventilation may be due to several factors such as the differences in patient populations and weaning indexes used. In order to analyze the clinical characteristics and weaning indexes in patients undergoing a 2-h T-piece weaning trial and the relationship between the etiology of acute respiratory failure (ARF) and the outcome of this weaning trial, we prospectively studied 217 patients receiving mechanical ventilation who met standard weaning criteria. Successful weaning occurred in 57.6% (125 of 217) of patients: 13 of 33 (39.4%) patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 27 of 46 (58.7%) neurologic patients, and 85 of 138 (61.6%) patients with ARF. Ventilatory support was reinstituted in 31.8% (69 of 217) patients: 20 of 33 (60.6%) of patients with COPD, four of 46 (8.7%) neurologic patients, and 45 of 138 (32.6%) patients with ARF (p < 0.001). Reintubation was required in 23 of 148 (15.5%) patients: 15 of 42 (35.7%) neurologic patients, and eight of 93 (8.6%) patients with ARF, whereas no patient with COPD was reintubated (p < 0.001). Using a discriminant analysis, the following variables were selected as the best predictors of outcome: (1) in the whole population, days of mechanical ventilation before weaning trial (DMV), frequency-to-tidal volume ratio (f/VT), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), airway occlusion pressure (P0.1), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and vital capacity (VC); (2) in patients with ARF, DMV, P0.1/MIP, MIP, f/VT, and age; (3) in patients with COPD, f/VT, P0.1, P0.1/MIP, MIP, age, and DMV; (4) in neurologic patients, MIP, MEP, and f/VT.P0.1. Using these predictors, 74.6% of the whole population, 76.1% of patients with ARF, 93.9% of patients with COPD, and 73.9% of neurologic patients were accurately classified as weaning successes or failures. The highest rate of reintubation occurred in neurologic patients. In this group, the ability to cough and clear respiratory secretions, objectively reflected by MEP, may help in clinical decision-making.
The intestinal transport and metabolism of quercetin and various sugar-conjugates were quantified in in vitro and in vivo model systems. The nature of the sugar moiety at the C3 and C4' position had no significant effect on the rate of transport. At the 10 microM level, quercetin and glycosides with sugars at position 3 were determined to be glucose transport carrier inhibitors.
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BACKGROUND: In patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noninvasive ventilation may be used in an attempt to avoid endotracheal intubation and complications associated with mechanical ventilation. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized study comparing noninvasive pressure-support ventilation delivered through a face mask with standard treatment in patients admitted to five intensive care units over a 15-month period. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were recruited from a larger group of 275 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to the intensive care units in the same period. A total of 42 were randomly assigned to standard therapy and 43 to noninvasive ventilation. The two groups had similar clinical characteristics on admission to the hospital. The use of noninvasive ventilation significantly reduced the need for endotracheal intubation (which was dictated by objective criteria): 11 of 43 patients (26 percent) in the noninvasive-ventilation group were intubated, as compared with 31 of 42 (74 percent) in the standard-treatment group (P < 0.001). In addition, the frequency of complications was significantly lower in the noninvasive-ventilation group (16 percent vs. 48 percent, P = 0.001), and the mean (+/- SD) hospital stay was significantly shorter for patients receiving noninvasive ventilation (23 +/- 17 days vs. 35 +/- 33 days, P = 0.005). The in-hospital mortality rate was also significantly reduced with noninvasive ventilation (4 of 43 patients, or 9 percent, in the noninvasive-ventilation group died in the hospital, as compared with 12 of 42, or 29 percent, in the standard-treatment group; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noninvasive ventilation can reduce the need for endotracheal intubation, the length of the hospital stay, and the in-hospital mortality rate.
BACKGROUND: Weaning patients from mechanical ventilation is an important problem in intensive care units. Weaning is usually conducted in an empirical manner, and a standardized approach has not been developed. METHODS: We carried out a prospective, randomized, multicenter study involving 546 patients who had received mechanical ventilation for a mean (+/- SD) of 7.5 +/- 6.1 days and who were considered by their physicians to be ready for weaning. One hundred thirty patients had respiratory distress during a two-hour trial of spontaneous breathing. These patients were randomly assigned to undergo one of four weaning techniques: intermittent mandatory ventilation, in which the ventilator rate was initially set at a mean (+/- SD) of 10.0 +/- 2.2 breaths per minute and then decreased, if possible, at least twice a day, usually by 2 to 4 breaths per minute (29 patients); pressure-support ventilation, in which pressure support was initially set at 18.0 +/- 6.1 cm of water and then reduced, if possible, by 2 to 4 cm of water at least twice a day (37 patients); intermittent trials of spontaneous breathing, conducted two or more times a day if possible (33 patients); or a once-daily trail of spontaneous breathing (31 patients). Standardized protocols were followed for each technique. RESULTS: The median duration of weaning was 5 days for intermittent mandatory ventilation (first quartile, 3 days; third quartile, 11 days), 4 days for pressure-support ventilation (2 and 12 days, respectively), 3 days for intermittent (multiple) trials of spontaneous breathing (2 and 6 days, respectively), and 3 days for a once-daily trial of spontaneous breathing (1 and 6 days, respectively). After adjustment for other covariates, the rate of successful weaning was higher with a once-daily trial of spontaneous breathing than with intermittent mandatory ventilation (rate ratio, 2.83; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.36 to 5.89; P < 0.006) or pressure-support ventilation (rate ratio, 2.05; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.04 to 4.04; P < 0.04). There was no significant difference in the rate of success between once-daily trials and multiple trials of spontaneous breathing. CONCLUSIONS: A once-daily trial of spontaneous breathing led to extubation about three times more quickly than intermittent mandatory ventilation and about twice as quickly as pressure-support ventilation. Multiple daily trials of spontaneous breathing were equally successful.
BACKGROUND: In previous nonrandomized studies the efficacy of ventilation with back up pressure with face mask (BUPM) in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in acute decompensation has been demonstrated. This study analyzes the acute effects and the clinical efficacy of BUPM in a group of patients with COPD in acute respiratory failure comparing the same with conventional therapy (CONV). METHODS: A prospective randomized study including patients with COPD in acute decompensation was carried out comparing treatment with BUPM (n = 9) with CONV treatment (n = 9). Back up pressure was fixed at 20 cmH2O. Acute gasometric effects were analyzed as well as the need for intratracheal intubation, mortality and hospital stay. RESULTS: No clinical or gasometric differences were found between either group of patients upon admission. Only the patients of the BUPM group presented a significant improvement from gaseous exchange and respiratory frequency from the first hour of treatment. Three of the nine patients (33%) of the BUPM group and nine of the CONV group of patients (100%) required intubation and mechanical ventilation (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Back up pressure face mask is the technique of choice in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in acute decompensation given that this technique leads to a rapid and significant improvement of gaseous exchange and avoids the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation in most of these patients.
Several modalities of ventilatory support have been proposed to gradually withdraw patients from mechanical ventilation, but their respective effects on the outcome of weaning from mechanical ventilation are not known. We conducted a randomized trial in three intensive care units in mechanically ventilated patients who met standard weaning criteria. Those who could not sustain 2 h of spontaneous breathing were randomly assigned to be weaned with T-piece trials, with synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV), or with pressure support ventilation (PSV). Specific criteria for performing tracheal extubation were defined for each modality. The number of patients who could not be separated from the ventilator at 21 d (i.e., who failed to wean) was compared between the groups. Patients in whom tracheal intubation was required in a 48-h period following extubation were also classified as failures. Among 456 mechanically ventilated patients who met weaning criteria, 109 entered into the study (35 with T piece, 43 with SIMV, and 31 with PSV). The three groups were comparable in terms of etiology of disease or characteristics at entry in the study. When all causes for weaning failure were considered, a lower number of failures was found with PSV than with the other two modes, with the difference just reaching the level of significance (23% for PSV, 43% for T piece, 42% for SIMV; p = 0.05). After excluding patients whose weaning was terminated for complications unrelated to the weaning process, the difference became highly significant (8% for PSV versus 33% and 39%, p < 0.025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Little information exists regarding the proportion of patients treated with mechanical ventilation in intensive care units (ICUs), their underlying disease states, the modes of ventilation used, duration of ventilator support, methods and time required for weaning, and mortality in these patients. We carried out a cross-sectional multicenter study in 47 medical-surgical ICUs in Spain to investigate these issues in 290 patients who required mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hs. Relative frequency of different modes was as follows: assist-control ventilation (AC), 55%; synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV), 26%; pressure support ventilation (PSV), 8%; SIMV plus PSV, 8%; pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV), 1%; and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), 2%. Overall duration of mechanical ventilation was 27.1 +/- 1.1 (SE). A variety of techniques were used for weaning: T-tube trials, 24%; SIMV, 18%; PSV, 15%; SIMV plus PSV, 9%; and some combination of two or more methods in succession in 33% of the patients. Time required for weaning using a combination of SIMV and PSV was longer (17.8 days) than with other techniques (about 5 days, p < 0.01). Time between initiation of weaning and removal of mechanical ventilation accounted for 41% of total ventilator time and was particularly high (59%) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Overall mortality rate was 34%, and it was higher in patients who were ventilated for 1 to 10 days than in those ventilated for a longer time. Despite the availability of several new modes of ventilator support, older modes such as AC and SIMV were more commonly used. Weaning constitutes a large portion of total ventilator time, and thus, measures that expedite the weaning process should markedly decrease the duration of mechanical ventilation.
Volume-controlled ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (CPPV) is the conventional ventilatory approach in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, but some reports suggest that pressure-controlled ventilation with an inverse inspiratory to expiratory ratio (PCIRV) may improve gas exchange in these patients. We analysed the acute effects on gas exchange, lung mechanics and haemodynamics induced by CPPV and PCIRV in ARDS patients. CPPV and PCIRV were applied randomly in ARDS patients. During CPPV, external PEEP was titrated according to the initial inflection point in the static pressure-volume (P-V) curve of the respiratory system, or it was 10 cmH2O when there was no inflection. During PCIRV, external PEEP was not applied, and inspiratory to expiratory (I/E) ratio was inversed until total PEEP was equal to the inflection point in the P-V curve, or it was 10 cmH2O. Respiratory rate, fractional inspiratory oxygen (FIO2), and tidal volume (VT) were kept constant in both modes. Eight ARDS patients were studied prospectively and admitted to a general Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a University Hospital. Haemodynamic measurements, airflow (V), airway pressure (Paw) and VT were obtained using standard methods. We did not observe any significant change between CPPV and PCIRV with respect to: arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) 117 +/- 12 vs 107 +/- 15 mmHg (16 +/- 2 vs 14 +/- 2 kPa), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) 40 +/- 2 vs 39 +/- 2 mmHg (6 +/- 0.3 vs 5 +/- 0.3 kPa), intrapulmonary shunt function (QS/QT) 36 +/- 3 vs 38 +/- 4%, cardiac output (CO) 7.1 +/- 0.7 vs 7 +/- 0.8 l.min-1, and total PEEP 9.7 +/- 0.6 vs 9 +/- 0.3 cmH2O. Oxygen transport and total respiratory system compliance remained unchanged in both modes. Mean Paw was slightly lower during CPPV (17 +/- 1 cmH2O) than during PCIRV (19 +/- 1 cmH2O). PCIRV does not appear to have clinical advantages over CPPV in terms of gas exchange, haemodynamics, or static lung mechanics when using the same total PEEP and minute ventilation.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine variables for early prediction of successful weaning in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients during pressure support ventilation weaning. DESIGN: Thirteen COPD patients were prospectively studied to compare the respiratory pattern (inspiratory time, expiratory time, total breath cycle duration, tidal volume, respiratory rate, minute ventilation), the respiratory drive (airway occlusion pressure at 0.1 sec, tidal volume/inspiratory time), and blood gases after 30 mins of pressure support weaning. SETTING: The study was performed in the 20-bed General Critical Care Unit of the Rome "La Sapienza" University Hospital. PATIENTS: We evaluated 13 consecutive COPD patients fulfilling the standard weaning criteria (including clinical status, blood gases, forced vital capacity, maximum inspiratory pressure, and spontaneous respiratory rate after a 30-min T-piece trial) in which we compared respiratory pattern, respiratory drive, and blood gases after 30 mins of pressure support weaning. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After 30 mins of pressure support ventilation weaning (pressure support level 20 cm H2O), we measured respiratory pattern (airway pressure and airflow tracing), airway occlusion pressure at 0.1 sec (occluding the inspiratory line during expiration with a rubber balloon), tidal volume/inspiratory time, maximal inspiratory pressure, and blood gases. According to the result of the weaning trial, the patients were divided into two groups (not weaned and weaned), and the statistical difference between the evaluated variables was analyzed in weaned and not weaned groups. We did not observe a significant difference in breathing pattern data and arterial blood gases between weaned and not weaned patients. By contrast, airway occlusion pressure at 0.1 sec and maximum inspiratory pressure measured after 30 mins of weaning trial appeared significantly (p less than .001) different in patients in whom the weaning trial succeeded or failed. Considering maximum inspiratory pressure, we could not separate weaned from not weaned patients, while all patients showing values of airway occlusion pressure at 0.1 sec less than 4.5 cm H2O were easily weaned. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that conventional weaning criteria are often inadequate in predicting successful weaning of COPD patients, while airway occlusion pressure at 0.1 sec during the first phase of pressure support ventilation weaning can represent a good weaning predictor.
The influence of controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) on the pharmacokinetic profile of gentamicin has been examined in 23 patients after elective open heart surgery. A parallel design was adopted in two groups of patients; 13 patients requiring CMV for at least 32 h after surgery, all of whom were able to breath spontaneously (SB) after 72 h (study group), and 10 patients who required CMV for only a brief period and who showed SB at 32 h postsurgery. Haemodynamic parameters remained stable throughout the study. Apparent volume of distribution (VZ), half-life (t1/2), total clearance (CL), peak (Cmax") and trough (Cmin") plasma levels at steady-state for target levels (6-8 microgram/ml), were measured. In the study group significant differences between CMV and SB conditions were found in VZ (mean 0.36 and 0.25 l/kg). t1/2 (mean 3.63 and 2.90 h) and Cmax" (mean 4.30 and 5.53 microgram/ml) while Cmin" (mean 1.06 microgram.ml-1 and 0.92 microgram.ml-1) did not change significantly. In contrast, the pharmacokinetics in the control group showed no differences. It appears that CMV leads to an increase in gentamicin Vz which accounts for the fall in Cmax" below the therapeutic dose range (less than 5 microgram/ml) recommended for gentamicin. It seems advisable to use a large dose of gentamicin in patients receiving CMV, even before the level is assessed.
The static pressure volume (PV) curve of the total respiratory system is a well established method to assess pulmonary mechanics during respiratory failure. We have tested the impact of auto-PEEP on the PV curve determination in 16 COPD patients. An isovolumic pressure increment (IPI) was found at the beginning of the curve and a close correlation between IPI and auto-PEEP level (r = 0.962) p less than 0.001) was observed. The regression equation was not significantly different from the identity line. We conclude that the appearance of IPI in PV curves is largely determined by auto-PEEP and it is a good estimate of the existing auto PEEP level.