Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Comparative Study Clinical TrialNoninvasive ventilation during weaning.
Patients suffering from advanced chronic thoracic disorders are at higher risk to develop respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation. Forty seven patients acutely decompensated were investigated. Twenty nine of them were primarily ventilated noninvasively, 7 were intubated and 11 had been intubated and tracheotomized prior to arriving at the weaning center. ⋯ We conclude that patients either ventilated nasally or intubated or tracheotomized can be prepared for home mechanical ventilation in a weaning unit with similar outcome. Noninvasive ventilation is highly important in such patients as only one remained on invasive ventilation. This may implicate that transfer to noninvasive ventilation prior to tracheotomy might be appropriate.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Frequency of distribution of leptin receptor gene polymorphism in obstructive sleep apnea patients.
Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone regulating energy homeostasis and body weight. Leptin concentration is increased in patients with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Leptin receptor (LEPR) is a single transmembrane protein belonging to the superfamily of cytokine receptors related by a structure to the hemopoietin receptor family. ⋯ We also found the highest levels of total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides in the group of homozygotic Arg/Arg genotype carriers, lower in heterozygotic Gln/Arg genotype carriers, and the lowest in the group of persons carring homozygotic Gln/Gln genotype. The presence of Arg allel seems linked to a higher risk of obesity and higher lipid levels in OSAS patients. OSAS may have a strong genetic basis due to the effects from a variety of genes including those for leptin receptor.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Case ReportsPleuritis as the first symptom of pulmonary embolism: a case report.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common problem but its diagnosis is challenging since clinical signs and symptoms are not specific. Given the significant overlap between the presentation of PE and other not life threatening entities/diseases, it is important to be acquainted with diagnostic tests and treatment of PE. It is of vital importance to suspect PE in case of chest pain. We would like to present the patient complaining of acute left-sided chest pain, referred to the hospital after being unsuccessfully treated in outpatient clinic for chest infection.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Positron emission tomography findings in obstructive sleep apnea patients with residual sleepiness treated with continuous positive airway pressure.
Despite sufficient continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, some patients with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) still suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). In some of them, no cause of the persistence of EDS can be found. Brain damage due to nocturnal hypoxemia is a potential cause for this unclear persistent sleepiness (UPS). ⋯ To investigate the brain morphology, positron emission tomography (PET) scanning with the tracer fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), called FDG-PET, were performed in 7 of the UPS patients. Abnormal PET findings were concentrated in frontal area (found in 4 patients). The frontal abnormality seems to distinguish the OSAS patients with UPS from the whole OSAS population, examined in previous studies.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Alterations of tumor and normal tissue of human lung cancer resection specimens after isolation perfusion.
The isolation perfusion model, including transbronchial ventilation of human lung, offers the possibility to study pharmacological interactions under physiological conditions. In view of the increasing importance of targeted therapy of lung diseases, this model of perfusion might attract major interest, particularly, in lung cancer. Our study investigated physiological, histological, and immunohistochemical alterations of lung and tumor tissue during isolated perfusion of lung lobectomy specimens to explore potential limitations of this model. ⋯ Perfusion of more than 4 h led to a significant edema formation in lung tissue accompanied by loss of viability and significant histological alterations. We conclude that isolated ventilation and perfusion of human lung resections within the setup chosen is reliable for pharmacological studies up to a period of 120 min. Thereafter, edema formation and endothelial damage develop and limit the interpretation and reliability of drug delivery studies.