Transfer of innovation on allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity in the elderly (MACVIA-ARIA) - EIP on AHA Twinning Reference Site (GARD research demonstration project).

The overarching goals of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) are to enable European citizens to lead healthy, active and independent lives whilst ageing. The EIP on AHA includes 74 Reference Sites. The aim of this study was to transfer innovation from an app developed by the MACVIA-France EIP on AHA reference site (Allergy Diary) to other reference sites. The phenotypic characteristics of rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity in adults and the elderly will be compared using validated information and communication technology (ICT) tools (i.e. the Allergy Diary and CARAT: Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test) in 22 Reference Sites or regions across Europe. This will improve the understanding, assessment of burden, diagnosis and management of rhinitis in the elderly by comparison with an adult population. Specific objectives will be: (i) to assess the percentage of adults and elderly who are able to use the Allergy Diary, (ii) to study the phenotypic characteristics and treatment over a 1-year period of rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity at baseline (cross-sectional study) and (iii) to follow-up using visual analogue scale (VAS). This part of the study may provide some insight into the differences between the elderly and adults in terms of response to treatment and practice. Finally (iv) work productivity will be examined in adults.

A case of discordance between genotype and phenotype in a malignant hyperthermia family.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited autosomal dominant pharmacogenetic disorder and is the major cause of anaesthesia-induced death. Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility is usually diagnosed by the in vitro contracture test (IVCT) performed on fresh muscle biopsies exposed to caffeine and halothane, respectively. Around 50% of affected families are linked to the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) gene. The human RYR1 gene maps to chromosome 19q13.1 and encodes a protein that associates as a homotetramer and acts as a calcium-release channel from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. To date, 17 mutations have been identified in the coding region of the RYR1 gene and appear to be associated to the MH-susceptible phenotype. Here we describe a rare case of discordance between genotype (characterised by the presence of the Arg614Cys mutation in the RYR1 gene) and MH-normal typed phenotype. Although the IVCT remains a very reliable procedure for the assessment of MH status, genetic data can provide in some cases an additional aid to clinical diagnosis.

Monitored anesthesia care and loco-regional anesthesia. Vascular surgery use.

Association of locoregional techniques such as deep and superficial cervical block, lumbar epidural and/or peripheral blocks, and conscious sedation with hypnotic drugs (propofol 1-3 mg/kg/h or midazolam 2-4 mg/h) and/or opiates drugs (sufentanil 5-10 mcg or remifentanil 0.05-0.1 mcg/kg/min) is actually, the gold standard for vascular surgery. Our personal experience is based on 328 patients submitted to carotid endarterectomy, aneurysm repair and peripheral surgery.

Natural killer cell function in atopic dermatitis.

The natural killer cell activity was studied in 41 children with mild, moderate and severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and in 37 controls. The natural killer cell function of lymphocytes was reduced in atopic children (mean +/- SD 21.92 +/- 6.18% vs. 43.87 +/- 5.80%; p less than 0.0001). This decrease was not related to the IgE serum level. A negative correlation was found between natural killer cell activity and the clinical severity of AD (r = 0.73; p less than 0.001). Natural killer cell function was re-evaluated after 9 months in 27 children during a quiescent phase of AD; it was still low, but to a lesser degree (27.66 +/- 5.42%, in the quiescent phase, vs. 43.87 +/- 5.80, controls; p less than 0.0001). The reduced natural killer cell activity seems related to the disease activity.

Thyroid function in thalassaemia major.

Serum concentrations of T4, T3, rT3, and TSH were measured by radioimmunoassay in 45 patients suffering from beta-thalassaemia. A TRH stimulation test was performed and the binding capacity of TBG and TBPA for T3 and T4 measured by reverse flow zone electrophoresis in a group of these patients. Mean T4 serum concentration was lower in thalassaemic patients than controls; T3, rT3, TSH levels, and the pituitary response to TRH were normal. TBPA binding capacity for thyroxine was greatly decreased, probably due to iron overload impairing the liver function. The decreased circulating total thyroxine might be explained by the reduced TBPA capacity, serum free thyroid hormone concentration total thyroxine might be explained by the reduced TBPA capacity, serum free thyroid hormone concentration values being normal. It is concluded that thalassaemic children are euthyroid, despite often having low-normal or subnormal thyroxine levels.

Humoral and cellular immunity in children with active and quiescent atopic dermatitis.

Serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE), C3, and C4, T lymphocyte subsets, neutrophil chemotaxis and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxic activity were measured in 34 children with atopic dermatitis and 31 healthy controls. Twenty-four patients were re-evaluated when their dermatitis was quiescent. Serum levels of IgG, IgM and IgE were significantly higher in the patients with atopic dermatitis than in the controls, while levels of serum IgA did not differ significantly between the two groups. C3 levels were lower in the patients than in the controls and correlated inversely with clinical disease severity. C4 levels were not significantly altered. Numbers of suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis were significantly reduced in the atopic patients. There was a significant inverse correlation between the natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxic activity and the severity and extent of the dermatitis. These results support the hypothesis that atopic dermatitis is connected with a defect in cellular immunity.

Minimal flow and half-closed system ventilation in lung surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at determining the applicability of minimal flow anaesthesia in lung surgery. METHODS: The standards anaesthesiological technique was modified to perform minimal flow half-closed system ventilation. For procedures on left lung orobronchial intubation was performed by a White no. 41 and no. 39 orotracheal tube, respectively in male and in female patients, in order to achieve a perfect tight of bronchial cuff and prevent gas loss from the circuit, because of the greater calibre of the right stem bronchus. The metal double lumen connector was replaced by a plastic tube that is clamped to exclude the lung from ventilation, whenever necessary. Fibrin glue was systematically applied on the bronchial stump or resected lung tissue before restoring ventilation. RESULTS: No significant changes were recorded in heart rate, arterial systolic and diastolic pressure, end-expiratoy CO2 concentration, oxygen saturation, airways maximum and minimum pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Minimal flow half-closed system ventilation can be easily performed also in pulmonary surgery provided that gas loss from the circuit is 50 ml/min by means of specific technical adjustments.

Pituitary testicular axis function and sex hormone binding globulin binding capacity in thalassaemia major.

Pituitary testicular function was investigated in 19 prepubertal and in 5 pubertal male thalassaemic patients. Total plasma testosterone in prepubertal and in pubertal patients was significantly lower than in controls. In the prepubertal thalassaemics, the lower total testosterone concentration correlated with the diminished sex hormone binding globulin binding capacity (SHBGcap), and the free testosterone levels were normal. The lower testosterone is probably due to the damaged liver function rather than to a diminished testicular function. In the pubertal patients, the testosterone reduction is equally due to the SHBG bound testosterone fraction and the free testosterone fraction. Basal and LHRH stimulated plasma gonadotrophin levels were also significantly decreased in the pubertal subjects. The observed hypotestosteronemia in the pubertal thalassaemics seems to depend on the impaired pituitary gonadotrophin secretion probably due to the chronic iron overload.

Citizens and family doctors facing awareness and management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors: results from the Global Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Project (Help Your Heart Stay Young Study).

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The numerous guidelines and multiple approaches to managing cardiovascular risk factors have reduced the number of fatal events but not the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). One rarely explored aspect is the extent to which individuals perceive their own risk in relation to their education and history of CVD. Furthermore, Italy has a State-based Health System, in which family doctors (FDs) may be an extremely useful and relatively low cost resource for risk management, but the degree of their involvement in individual CVD risk management has not been previously assessed. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine of Federico II University, Naples, Italy, and the Neapolitan Section of the Italian Society of Family Doctors (SIMG), developed an epidemiological survey to evaluate the level and awareness of CVD risk in subjects in the urban area of Naples, and the degree of involvement of FDs in CVD risk management. During a period of a few months, the subjects who visited their FDs were invited to respond to a standard self-explanatory questionnaire, and the FDs were required to provide quantitative information concerning the CVD risk factors of each enrolled subject from their databases in order to assess global CVD risk. The data included cholesterol and blood pressure (BP) levels, and had to be collected within six months of the visit; if the date were missing, the fact was recorded. The present analysis was based on data concerning the 5,687 subjects who had entered the study by January 2002, 7.6% of whom reported CVD (myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, angina, cerebral transient ischemic attack: CD+) and 92.4% did not (CVD-). MI was the most frequent CVD, and 18% of the CVD+ cases reported more than one non-fatal cardiovascular event. On average, the CVD+ subjects were older and more often men. After adjusting for age and FD, they also had a higher body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of obesity, higher self-reported BP, a lower education level, and more often referred high cholesterol levels, hypertension and diabetes. On the contrary, the proportion of smokers was higher in the CVD- group. Among the subjects who declared that they did not have a high cholesterol level, 11% reported recent values of > 200 mg/dL. The FDs of 36% of the cases were unable to assess the individual global CV risk level using quantitative data from their electronic databases. The most frequently missing information was the level of total cholesterol. Missing data were more frequent in the CVD- than the CVD+ subjects, regardless of age and FD. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that the awareness of CVD risk among subjects is somewhat vague. The FDs were generally able to provide a quantitative assessment of CVD risk in their patients. CVD risk prevention programmes may be more successful if they stress knowledge and awareness in the population, and stimulate FDs to undertake more stringent quantitative assessments of CVD risk factors.