Strong-interaction shifts and widths of kaonic helium isotopes.

The kaonic 3He and 4He [Formula: see text] transitions in gaseous targets were observed by the SIDDHARTA experiment. The X-ray energies of these transitions were measured with large-area silicon-drift detectors using the timing information of the [Formula: see text] pairs produced by the DAΦNE [Formula: see text] collider. The strong-interaction shifts and widths both of the kaonic 3He and 4He 2p states were determined, which are much smaller than the results obtained by the previous experiments. The "kaonic helium puzzle" (a discrepancy between theory and experiment) was now resolved.

Preliminary study of kaonic deuterium X-rays by the SIDDHARTA experiment at DAΦNE.

The study of the [Formula: see text] system at very low energies plays a key role for the understanding of the strong interaction between hadrons in the strangeness sector. At the DAΦNE electron-positron collider of Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati we studied kaonic atoms with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], taking advantage of the low-energy charged kaons from Φ-mesons decaying nearly at rest. The SIDDHARTA experiment used X-ray spectroscopy of the kaonic atoms to determine the transition yields and the strong interaction induced shift and width of the lowest experimentally accessible level (1s for H and D and 2p for He). Shift and width are connected to the real and imaginary part of the scattering length. To disentangle the isospin dependent scattering lengths of the antikaon-nucleon interaction, measurements of [Formula: see text] and of [Formula: see text] are needed. We report here on an exploratory deuterium measurement, from which a limit for the yield of the K-series transitions was derived: [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (CL 90%). Also, the upcoming SIDDHARTA-2 kaonic deuterium experiment is introduced.

From basic lesions to a pathological staging of pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a severe disease, with unpredictable evolution that frequently leads to respiratory failure and death, despite some progresses made in the field of therapy. Basically, the bad prognosis and failure of therapy are the consequence of the lack of data about the molecular events that have as result the extensive fibrosis. Although the basic lesions were defined many years ago, the pathological classification of pulmonary fibrosis is controversial. In the present work, we analyzed the prognostic impact of basic microscopic lesions on a possible new classification that could be related to the patient outcome. For this purpose, we have investigated 20 cases with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and samples of lung parenchyma were obtained by video assisted thoracoscopy. The specimens were processed by usual histological technique and sections were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin, Masson's trichrome and Gordon-Sweet silver staining. There were evaluated the lung architecture, the chronic inflammatory infiltrate, macrophages and fibrosis. The distribution and severity of each parameter was converted into points and finally graded from I to IV, with corresponding score from 1 to 12. We found four cases with degree II, 12 with degree III, and four with degree IV. Our results support the hypothesis that the evaluation of basic lesions could be the basis for a more objective classification and staging of lung fibrosis and, possibly, a better prognostic method and, eventually, a predictor for the response to targeted therapy.

Measurements of the strong-interaction widths of the kaonic (3)He and (4)He 2p levels.

The kaonic (3)He and (4)He X-rays emitted in the [Formula: see text] transitions were measured in the SIDDHARTA experiment. The widths of the kaonic (3)He and (4)He 2p states were determined to be [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], respectively. Both results are consistent with the theoretical predictions. The width of kaonic (4)He is much smaller than the value of [Formula: see text] determined by the experiments performed in the 70's and 80's, while the width of kaonic (3)He was determined for the first time.

First measurement of kaonic helium-3 X-rays.

The first observation of the kaonic (3)He 3d→2p transition was made, using slow K- mesons stopped in a gaseous (3)He target. The kaonic atom X-rays were detected with large-area silicon drift detectors using the timing information of the K+K- pairs of ϕ-meson decays produced by the DAΦNE e+e- collider. The strong interaction shift of the kaonic (3)He 2p state was determined to be -2±2(stat)±4(syst) eV.

[Hepatic tuberculosis presenting as prolonged fever]. / Tuberculoza hepatica manifestare a sindromului febril prelungit.

In our country prolonged fever is frequently caused by tuberculosis infection, that is recrudescent. Localized hepatic tuberculosis is a rare clinical form of this specific infection. The authors present the case of a 26 year old man who developed prolonged fever, highly elevated liver enzymes and meningitis syndrome and was admitted to Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophtisiology Dr. V. Babes Timisoara during 24.03 - 16.05.2008. Diagnosis of hepatobiliary tuberculosis, acute bacillary meningitis and miliary tuberculosis were established by clinical, laboratory criteria and sustained by imaging techniques. Dynamics of biological features, diagnostic pitfalls, differential diagnosis difficulties, therapeutic schedules and peculiar aspects of evolution are presented. Liver involvement can be the only manifest form of miliary tuberculosis and when it is associated with prolonged fever obligates to begin quadruple specific therapy, especially in communities where tuberculosis is prevalent. Bacteriological findings are belated and antituberculous therapy can not be started early. Quadruple association of antituberculous drugs with corticotherapy and liver protective medication showed utility in favorable resolving of this case.

[The effects of chronic exposure to cigarette smoke on vasomotor endothelial function of guinea pig pulmonary arteries]. / Efectul expunerii cronice la fum de tigara asupra functiei vasomotorii a endoteliului arterelor pulmonare de cobai.

UNLABELLED: Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke on guinea-pigs induced a muscularization of pulmonary arterioles and endothelial dysfunction might be an early trigger of this vascular remodelling. Accordingly, the present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of a 12 weeks exposure to passive smoking on the pulmonary endothelial vasomotor function. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Vasodilator response of pulmonary arteries rings isolated in organ bath, precontracted with phenylephrine, was compared in the presence of cumulative doses (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) of endothelial-dependent (acetylcholine, ACh and adenosine-diphosphate, ADP) and independent vasodilators (sodium nitroprusside, SNP), respectively. RESULTS: Our results suggest that chronic exposure of guinea-pigs to cigarette smoke induces the impairment only of NO-mediated endothelial response (vasodilation was 9.83 +/- 4.36 % for ACh 10(-5)M vs. 39.72 +/- 16.61 % in control, p = 0.005, respectively 36.64 +/- 7.21 % for ADP 10(-5)M vs. 55.53 +/- 13.51 %, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The in vitro study of pulmonary arteries vasomotor function in guinea pigs chronically exposed to cigarette smoke may represent a reliable and relevant experimental model for the assessment of pulmonary endothelial dysfunction in early stages of COPD.

[Our experience in the thoracoscopic surgery of the tuberculous pleural effusions]. / Experienta noastra în chirurgia toracoscopica a colectiilor pleurale tuberculoase.

Pleural tuberculosis (TB) is most often treated by a pneumologist. Some cases require operative interventions and may represent a challenge for the thoracic surgeon. There are two specific problems regarding TB pleural effusions: 15-25% of them remain undiagnosed using the conventional methods of diagnosis (imaging, thoracentesis, percutaneous pleural biopsies) and have a tendency for the rapid production of dense adherences and loculations. The authors present their experience in the diagnosis and the treatment of tuberculous pleurisy by means of mini-invasive surgical techniques. The period of study was January 2001-December 2006. In that period, the authors performed 400 video-assisted surgical operations, representing 9% of all the operations carried out in the clinic (3833). The surgical indications were for diagnosis (pleural, pericardial, lung or lymph node biopsy) and for treatment (pleurisy, pleuro-pericarditis, empyema). The contraindications for VATS were the usual ones. 56 cases were diagnosed with pleuro-pulmonary tuberculosis (14% of the VATS). For 43 patients the first approach was strictly thoracoscopic (VATS), while for the rest of 13 we started directly through a minithoracotomy with video assistance. We had 7 conversions to minithoracotomies with video assistance from those 43 aforementioned patients. Minithoracotomy with video assistance was preferred in 13 cases as a primary approach. We used two-port approach in 30 cases and the three-port triangular approach was useful for 6 patients. In 4 cases the bidigital technique was used in order to achieve greater room for exploration. We experienced only one minor intraoperative complication. Our results are comparable to those reported by other authors. The main idea of this paper is that the advantages of VATS in the pathology of the tuberculosis are undeniable.

[Cigarette smoke extract induces endothelium dysfunction in isolated rabbit pulmonary arteries via an oxidative mechanism]. / Extractul de fum de tigara induce disfunctie endoteliala în arterele pulmonare izolate de iepure printr-un mecanism oxidativ.

In early stages of COPD, lacking hypoxemia, pulmonary arteries yet show endothelial abnormalities. This vascular impairment could be assigned to noxious effects of some cigarette smoke components. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on endothelial vasomotor function in isolated rabbit pulmonary arteries in the presence or absence of a natural antioxidant with superoxide dismutase activity (SODn). After incubation of vascular rings with CSE (5% in organ bath) vascular responses to acetylcholine (endothelial-dependent vasodilator agent) and sodium nitroprusside (endothelial-independent vasodilator agent) were evaluated. Our results showed the impairment of endothelial dependent vasodilation (maximal relaxation expressed as % was 28.32 +/- 10.15 vs. 46.36 +/- 8.04 in the group coincubated with SODn, p < 0.01) while endothelial independent relaxation was preserved (maximal response expressed as % was 95.04 +/- 7.40 vs. 97.54 +/- 4.58 in the group coincubated with natural antioxidant, p = NS). In conclusion, the hydrosoluble components of CSE induced endothelial vasomotor function impairment, most probable, via an oxidative mechanism.

A clinical description of rifampicin-induced acute renal failure in 170 consecutive cases.

Rifampicin re-administration may cause immunologically mediated acute tubulo-interstitial injury. Retrospectively, 170 consecutive cases with acute renal failure (ARF) following re-treatment with rifampicin (71% males, 29% females, age 21 to 68 years) were analysed, which accounted for 12% of all ARF patients treated by two large dialysis referral centres in Romania, Timisoara and Iasi, between 1974-2001 and 1988-2001, respectively. The most frequent clinical features of rifampicin-induced ARF were: Anuria, gastro-intestinal (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea) and "flu-like" symptoms. Urine analysis revealed sterile leucocyturia in 54%, proteinuria in 31%, haematuria in 26% and haemoglobinuria in 7% of cases. Haemolytic anaemia was frequent, found in 66% of the patients; half of these had Hct values of < 30%, thrombocytopenia and also more severe renal damage (a longer anuric phase and a slower recovery of the renal function), thus suggesting a severe multi-target autoimmune aggression. The association of hepatic injury--not explained by prior hepatic disease, B or C hepatitis virus infection or history of alcohol abuse--was encountered in 17% of the cases, without a significant influence on the renal and the general outcome. The outcome of rifampicin-induced ARF is generally favourable, with complete recovery of the renal function within 30 days in 52% of the cases and within 90 days in 92% of the cases. The mortality rate was 3.5%, compared to 21% for the overall ARF population treated during the same period (p < 0.05).

[Atrial myxoma: a challenge for the pneumologist]. / Mixomul atrial, o provocare pentru pneumolog.

It presents a 59 years old woman with atypical symptoms, which orientated the diagnostic thinking during one year to a reccurrent pneumonitis, bronchial asthma, colagenosis, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and so on. The appearance of pulmonary edema determined a couple of cardiologic exams which came to obiectivate as the main cause, the existence of a left atrial mixoma who was invaginated in left mitral cusp. Surgical intervention permitted not only specific determination of histological type of tumor, but lead to healing of the patient. It is a discussion over epidemiology, clinical areas of manifestation and methods of diagnostic of atrial tumors.

[Specific features of acute renal failure in patients treated with rifampicin]. / Particularitatile insuficientei renale acute (IRA) la bolnavii tratati cu rifampicina.

This retrospective study was performed on 92 patients diagnosed with acute renal failure (ARF) post discontinuous rifampicin treatment, admitted between 1974-2000, in Hemodialysis Center of 1st Timisoara Clinical County Hospital. The passage from the continuous treatment (7/7) to discontinuous RMP treatment triggered the ARF in 77 patients and the restart of the treatment after one year or more of treatment arrest, lead to ARF in 15 cases. The ARF symptomatology appeared in the first 12 hrs of treatment resumption in 14.13% cases and in 85.87% after 38.5 +/- 8.2 hrs. The most frequent symptoms were lumbar pain in 76.08%, nausea and vomiting in 60.86%, abdominal pain (52.17% of cases) flu-like (fever, chills, myalgia), jaundice, diarrhea, hypotension, confusion and hypertension in only 7.6% of cases. In 94.56% of cases renal symptoms appeared in normal kidneys. The renal injury evolution was favorable, with significant improvements after 20 days in serum and urine biological parameters. The antibodies anti-RMP were present in serum 55.43% of patients, in 80.39% of them, the presence of antibodies was related to high values of gamma-globulins. In 33.69% of patients sterile leukocyturia, considered a marker of interstitial nephritis, was present. The most frequent associated ARF complications were the hemolytic anemia emphasized by high levels of unconjugated bilirubin and positive Coombs' test in 93.3% of patients, and liver injuries, present in 41.69% of cases. Thrombocytopenia was registered in 27.7% of cases, infections in 28.6%, gastrointestinal complications in 11.95%, and cardiovascular complications in 9.78% of cases, these severe forms leading to the death of patients. The ARF post discontinuous rifampicin treatment presents a favorable evolution even when it is associated with other organ or systems complications. The ARF and associated complications are due to the specific immune system activation by rifampicin, and by direct toxic effects of rifampicin at tissues level.

[Test for determination of attention in patients with sleep apnea syndrome]. / Test pentru determinarea atentiei la pacientii cu sindrom de apnee în somn.

To investigate the daytime sleepiness in patients with sleep apnea syndrome, we used a test for measurement of sustained attention. The present study was performed on 65 participants: 10 healthy non-snoring volunteers, 25 snoring volunteers and 30 patients with symptoms of sleep apnea. The error rate (percentage of incorrect responses) appears to be most suitable for the evaluation of the test. The difference between the habitual snorers and the healthy non-snoring volunteers was statistically significant. At the apneic patients, there are significant differences in age, sex, and body mass index; attention decreases significantly in the last 10 minutes of the test. The attention test can be helpful for the measurement of daytime sleepiness in apneic patients.

[The evaluation of the measurement of serum fibronectin in pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Consideratiuni privind valoarea dozarii fibronectinei serice în tuberculoza pulmonara.

The investigation was carried out in 125 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in different stages of evolution. The treatment was that granted, used in triple and/or quadruple scheme twice a week. In the greatest part of the patients the concentration of serum fibronectine (sFN) was followed in its dynamics. A reasonable increase (statistical average) of the sFN was found in the patients with tuberculosis (tbc), active at the first treatment. The values regressed slowly, parallel to the favourable evolution under treatment. In the chronic forms, values situated at the normal or at the inferior limit were recorded. They were probably due to the sum of factors often met in these patients: protein-caloric malnutrition, chronic alcoholism with afferent hepatopathies, nonspecific chronic bronchial suppurations. No significant correlation of the sFN concentration was noticed in relation to the radiologic extension of the lesions, to the structure of the chemotherapeutic regimen, or to age. There exists a large variability of the sFN concentration in tbc, both at the beginning and during chemotherapy. The sFN level is not enough for the assessment of the disease stage or evolution; for increasing its informational value, the concentration of the immune circulatory complexes (ICC) and the lymphocytic subsets T were investigated.