Effects of the mixed phosphodiesterase III/IV inhibitor, zardaverine, on airway function in patients with chronic airflow obstruction

AbstractZardaverine is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (PDE) III and IV isozymes. It has been shown to exert potent bronchodilator effects in animals. In order to study the efficacy and safety in man, a phase II clinical trial in 10 patients with partially reversible chronic airflow obstruction was carried out. The trial was designed as a double-blind, randomized, five-period change-over study. Zardaverine (at single doses of 1·5 mg, 3·0 mg, or 6·0 mg), salbutamol (0·3 mg) and placebo were administered by metered dose inhaler on separate days. As evaluated by spirometry over a time period of 4 h, salbutamol induced a significant bronchodilatation. In contrast, zardaverine did not improve airway function in these patients. Unwanted effects of the study medication were not observed

Metalldampffieber nach Schneidbrenntätigkeit als Differentialdiagnose bei alveolärem Infiltrat

Metalldampffieber (synonym: Giesser-, Schweisser-, Zinkdampf-Fieber) tritt vor allem nach Schweissen oder Schneiden verzinkter Werkstücke auf. Die durch die Inhalation von Zinkoxiden verursachte und durch Zytokine vermittelte Symptomatik beginnt meist wenige Stunden nach Exposition, geht mit allgemeinem Krankheitsgefühl, Kopf- und Gliederschmerzen, Husten und Fieber einher und klingt zumeist ohne Folgeschäden in 24 bis 36 Stunden ab. Eine computertomographische Darstellung des dabei möglichen alveolären Infiltrats wird hier aufgezeigt

Design of the exhale airway stents for emphysema (EASE) trial: an endoscopic procedure for reducing hyperinflation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Airway Bypass is a catheter-based, bronchoscopic procedure in which new passageways are created that bypass the collapsed airways, enabling trapped air to exit the lungs. The Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema (EASE) Trial was designed to investigate whether Exhale^®Drug-Eluting Stents, placed in new passageways in the lungs, can improve pulmonary function and reduce breathlessness in severely hyperinflated, homogeneous emphysema patients (NCT00391612).</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The multi-center, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial design was posted on <url>http://www.clinicaltrials.gov</url> in October 2006. Because Bayesian statistics are used for the analysis, the proposed enrollment ranged from 225 up to 450 subjects at up to 45 institutions. Inclusion criteria are: high resolution CT scan with evidence of homogeneous emphysema, post-bronchodilator pulmonary function tests showing: a ratio of FEV₁/FVC < 70%, FEV₁≤50% of predicted or FEV₁< 1 liter, RV/TLC≥0.65 at screening, marked dyspnea score ≥2 on the modified Medical Research Council scale of 0-4, a smoking history of at least 20 pack years and stopped smoking for at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment. Following 16 to 20 supervised pulmonary rehabilitation sessions, subjects were randomized 2:1 to receive either a treatment (Exhale^®Drug-Eluting Stent) or a sham bronchoscopy. A responder analysis will evaluate the co-primary endpoints of an FVC improvement ≥12% of the patient baseline value and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale improvement (reduction) ≥1 point at the 6-month follow-up visit.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>If through the EASE Trial, Airway Bypass is shown to improve pulmonary function and reduce dyspnea while demonstrating an acceptable safety profile, then homogeneous patients will have a minimally invasive treatment option with meaningful clinical benefit.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00391612</p

Diagnostik arbeitsbedingter Erkrankungen und arbeitsmedizinisch-diagnostische Tabellen

Eine ganze Reihe von beruflichen Belastungen und ungünstigen Arbeitsbedingungen kann zu zahlreichen berufsbedingten Erkrankungen und Beschwerden führen, von denen nur ein kleiner Teil als Berufskrankheit oder Arbeitsunfall anerkannt wird. Der größere, versicherungsrechtlich nicht anerkannte Teil gilt als "arbeitsbedingte Erkrankung" im engeren Sinne. Es sind Erkrankungen und Beschwerden, die beruflich verursacht, teilweise beruflich verursacht oder in ihrer Dynamik beeinflusst werden. Neue Technologien und andere Arbeitsanforderungen führen zu einem geänderten Spektrum und zur Zunahme der arbeitsbedingten Erkrankungen und Beschwerden. Während einzelne Berufskrankheiten aufgrund der Präventionsmaßnahmen seltener geworden sind, verbergen sich viele arbeitsbedingte Erkrankungen im allgemeinen Krankheitsspektrum der Bevölkerung und sind bei der hausärztlichen und klinischen Betreuung zunehmend zu berücksichtigen. Unsere "Diagnostik arbeitsbedingter Erkrankungen und arbeitsmedizinisch-diagnostische Tabellen" gehen einerseits von allgemeinen und speziellen Krankheitsbildern aus und geben eine Übersicht über die möglichen Ursachen. Andererseits werden bestimmte Gefährdungen und die möglichen Beschwerden und Erkrankungen aufgeführt. Bei ausgewählten Erkrankungen werden Hinweise zur spezifischen Diagnostik und Differentialdiagnostik gegeben. Die Darstellungen orientieren sich daher auch am allgemeinen Krankheitsspektrum und sind nicht nur auf die anerkannten Berufskrankheiten eingeengt. Unsere Ausführungen und Tabellen, die in Kooperation mit den jeweiligen Fachvertretern der Medizinischen Fakultät in Homburg erarbeitet wurden, umfassen arbeitsbedingte Atemwegs- und Lungenkrankheiten, Herz- und Kreislaufkrankheiten, Karzinome, Leberkrankheiten, neurologische Krankheiten, Nieren- und Harnwegserkrankungen, ophthalmologische Krankheiten, orthopädisch-chirurgische Erkrankungen der Bewegungsorgane, sensibilisierende Arbeitsstoffe, Virus- und Infektionskrankheiten und verschiedene aktuelle Kurzinformationen. Aufgrund unserer besonderen poliklinischen Tätigkeit haben wir über Jahrzehnte Informationen über arbeitsbedingte Erkrankungen gesammelt und im Jahr 2000 in einer ersten Form zusammen gestellt und im Internet veröffentlicht. Die jetzige Fassung 2007 gehört längst zur Pflichtlektüre für unsere Studierenden und für die Facharztweiterbildung. Die Aktualisierung und Ergänzung ist laufend vorgesehen

Severity and prognosis in stroke: scoping review

Introdução: O Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE) tem vindo a apresentar uma taxa de incidência estável e um considerável declínio na taxa de mortalidade, o que corresponde a um aumento na prevalência de sobreviventes. O conhecimento das alterações funcionais que podem surgir após o AVE, da sua severidade e das estratégias disponíveis para avaliar a disfunção, facilita a construção de um plano de reabilitação, com objetivos para os profissionais de saúde, para os indivíduos e para a família dentro do potencial de recuperação. A severidade surge, como um conceito abrangente associado à presença de défices neurológicos, motores ou funcionais e às alterações das atividades da vida diária. Alterações neurológicas, motoras ou funcionais mais severas fazem prever uma recuperação mais difícil e mais prolongada. A determinação do prognóstico em indivíduos com AVE engloba não só o risco de morte a curto prazo como também a probabilidade de recuperar a função a longo prazo. Objetivo: Avaliar o panorama acerca da informação existente sobre o nível de severidade e prognóstico em AVE’s. Métodos: A Revisão Scoping baseou-se na metodologia de Arksey & O’Malley (2005), sendo constituída por seis passos: 1) Identificação da questão; 2) Identificação da literatura relevante; 3) Seleção da literatura; 4) Mapeamento dos dados; 5) Recolha, sumário e transcrição dos resultados; 6) Consultoria (opcional). Resultados: Foram analisados 47 estudos observacionais. 95% dos autores referem-se à severidade como sendo a quantidade de défices neurológicos apresentados pelos indivíduos após o AVE e avaliam-na através de instrumentos de medida específicos para a avaliação de défices neurológicos (76% dos autores utilizaram a NIHSS na sua metodologia). O prognóstico no AVE surge associado à funcionalidade alcançada (89%); probabilidade/índice de mortalidade (54%); e encaminhamento após a alta (15%). O prognóstico pode ser influenciado por fatores sociodemográficos, fatores clínicos e por algumas comorbilidades, entre outros. Conclusão: Os estudos de severidade e prognóstico em AVE’s poderão não refletir a condição real do indivíduo e induzir em erro a aplicação destes conceitos na prática clínica, influenciando o prognóstico esperado.ABSTRACT: Background – Stroke has shown a stable incidence rate and an important decrease in mortality rate, which corresponds to an increase in the survival prevalence. Knowledge of functional changes, stroke severity, and strategies to evaluate dysfunction after stroke, ease the conception of a rehabilitation plan, with objectives for health professionals, stroke patients, and their families. Stroke severity is related to neurologic, motor, function and daily activities changes. More severe neurological, motor or functional abnormalities predict a more difficult and longer recovery. Prognosis determination in stroke patients encompasses not only the risk of death in the short term but also the probability of recovering function in the long term. Aim(s) – To evaluate the existing information about stroke severity and prognosis. Methods – The scoping review was based on six steps Arksey & O’Malley (2005) methodology: 1) identifying the research question; 2) systematic search; 3) selection of publications; 4) charting the data; 5) collating, summarizing and reporting the results; 6) consultation (optional). Results – A total of 47 observational studies were analyzed. For 95% of authors, severity is the number of neurological deficits presented by individuals after stroke and was assessed through specific measurement instruments for neurological deficits (76% of authors used NIHSS in their methodology). Stroke prognosis is related to the functionality affected (89%); the probability of dead/mortality rate (54%); and referral after discharge (15%). Prognosis may be influenced by socio-demographic factors, clinical factors and by some comorbidity, among others. Conclusion – Severity and prognostic studies in stroke may not reflect the individual’s actual condition and mislead the use of these concepts, in reality, influencing the expected prognosis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Early onset lung cancer, cigarette smoking and the SNP309 of the murine double minute-2 (MDM2) gene

The polymorphism SNP309 (rs2279744) in the promoter region of the MDM2 gene has been shown to alter protein expression and may play a role in the susceptibility to lung cancer. The MDM2 protein is a key inhibitor of p53 and several mechanisms of MDM2/p53 interactions are presently known: modulating DNA-repair, cell-cycle control, cell growth and apoptosis

Do genetic factors protect for early onset lung cancer? A case control study before the age of 50 years

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Early onset lung cancer shows some familial aggregation, pointing to a genetic predisposition. This study was set up to investigate the role of candidate genes in the susceptibility to lung cancer patients younger than 51 years at diagnosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>246 patients with a primary, histologically or cytologically confirmed neoplasm, recruited from 2000 to 2003 in major lung clinics across Germany, were matched to 223 unrelated healthy controls. 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms of genes with reported associations to lung cancer have been genotyped.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Genetic associations or gene-smoking interactions was found for <it>GPX1(Pro200Leu) </it>and <it>EPHX1(His113Tyr)</it>. Carriers of the Leu-allele of <it>GPX1(Pro200Leu) </it>showed a significant risk reduction of OR = 0.6 (95% CI: 0.4–0.8, p = 0.002) in general and of OR = 0.3 (95% CI:0.1–0.8, p = 0.012) within heavy smokers. We could also find a risk decreasing genetic effect for His-carriers of <it>EPHX1(His113Tyr) </it>for moderate smokers (OR = 0.2, 95% CI:0.1–0.7, p = 0.012). Considered both variants together, a monotone decrease of the OR was found for smokers (OR of 0.20; 95% CI: 0.07–0.60) for each protective allele.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Smoking is the most important risk factor for young lung cancer patients. However, this study provides some support for the T-Allel of <it>GPX1(Pro200Leu) </it>and the C-Allele of <it>EPHX1(His113Tyr) </it>to play a protective role in early onset lung cancer susceptibility.</p

Evaluation of a Novel Bayesian Method for Individualizing Theophylline Dosage

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