ABSTRACT
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem autosomal recessive disorder caused by the mutation of a single gene that encodes for the CF transmembrane regulator protein. Clinically, CF is characterized by chronic pulmonary infection, pancreatic insufficiency, and excessive losses of sweat electrolytes. Along with lung function, nutritional status appears one of the most important prognostic indicators in CF patients. In this study we examined the relationship between nutritional status and pulmonary function in adult CF patients. A group of 39 CF patients (mean age 23.9 +/-3.7 years) was studied. The mean value of body mass index (BMI) was 19.5 +/-2.9kg/m(2) (12.8-24.9kg/m(2)). The patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of malnutrition. Malnutrition was established in 11 patients (28.2%), 5 patients suffered from severe malnutrition. 28 patients (71.8%) had a normal nutritional status, but according to ESPEN guidelines, 9 of those patients were at risk of malnutrition. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between malnourished and not malnourished patients with respect to FEV(1)% and FVC%. Moreover, the patients with malnutrition were significantly more frequently colonized by P. aeruginosa and fungi and less so by MSSA.
Subject(s)
Cystic Fibrosis/physiopathology , Lung/physiopathology , Nutritional Status/physiology , Adult , Body Mass Index , Female , Forced Expiratory Volume/physiology , Humans , Male , Malnutrition/complications , Respiratory Function Tests , Survival Analysis , Young AdultABSTRACT
Authors performed comparative measurements of cardiac output using the impedance rheography and Fick's method in healthy men (6) reaching the value of correlation coefficient 0.88 and in patients with acquired cardiac defects (n = 21; r = 0.68). Authors also compared cardiac output values measured at rest and during exercise by means of thermodilution and rheographic methods in patients with heart failure (n = 9). Correlation coefficient was respectively 0.92 and 0.81.
Subject(s)
Cardiac Output , Plethysmography, Impedance , Adult , Aged , Exercise , Female , Heart Diseases/physiopathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
We have developed a cylindrically symmetric model with which to study what physiologic variables might contribute to the impedance cardiogram signal. We find the major contributions in this model to be due to dilation of the aorta and carotid arteries, changes in conductivity of blood in these same vessels due to red cell reorientation during flow, changes in the conductivity of the lungs, and changes in heart volume. The calculations suggest that the popular equation used to determine stroke volume from thoracic impedance data is not accurate under all conditions of the circulatory system.
