Introduction: Despite the bulk of evidence between obesity and cardiovascular complications, the effect of the duration of obesity (DOO) on cardiac function has so far received limited attention. The aim of the study ...Introduction: Despite the bulk of evidence between obesity and cardiovascular complications, the effect of the duration of obesity (DOO) on cardiac function has so far received limited attention. The aim of the study is to study the relationship between a new, American Heart Association (AHA) and World Health Organization (WHO)-adapted formula for reporting DOO with echocardiographic findings and comorbidities in a large cohort of individuals whose BMI ranged from normal (·m﹣2) to morbid obesity (>40 Kg·m﹣2) and had been obese for varying lengths of time. Methods: 198 (M60/F138) asymptomatic patients were recruited. Patients were classified according to their reported DOO. The normal weight group (N = 92 (40/F52) was formed by those patients who did not recall maintaining a BMI > 30 Kg·m﹣2 from age 18 while those recalling maintenance of a BMI > 30 Kg·m﹣2 since age 18 and thereafter formed the obese group (N = 106 (M20/F86)). A detailed clinical, echo-cardiographic and analytical study was performed. Results: DOO in our series disclosed a significant correlation with left ventricular architecture and hemodynamics, left ventricular mass, cardiac output as well as the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and insulin resistance. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that almost 54% of the interventricular septum thickness’s variance can be independently predicted by a model including DOO, gender, hypertension and logtransformed HOMA. Conclusions: Our formula for estimating the duration of obesity provides a simple, user-friendly tool whose utilization in bariatric preoperative assessments and in advanced nursing practice deserves prospective studies.展开更多
Background & Aims: It has been reported that some patients develop functional digestive disorders, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), after acute gastroenteritis (AGE). However, the presence of dyspepsia...Background & Aims: It has been reported that some patients develop functional digestive disorders, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), after acute gastroenteritis (AGE). However, the presence of dyspepsia has not been specifically addressed. We prospectively evaluated development of dyspepsia and IBS during a 1- year follow- up in a cohort of adult patients affected by a Salmonella enteritidis AGE outbreak. Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 1878 potential participants at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months; 677 had experienced a Salmonella enteritidis AGE on June 23, 2002, and 1201 had not (randomly selected controls, matched for village of residence, age, and sex). At 12 months, 271 patients and 335 controls returned the questionnaires. Data permitted the establishment of dyspepsia and IBS diagnosis by Rome II criteria. Results: Before the AGE outbreak, the prevalence of dyspepsia was similar in cases and controls (2.5% vs 3.8% ); the prevalence of IBS was also similar (2.9% vs 2.3% ). At 3, 6, and 12 months, the prevalence of both dyspepsia and IBS had increased significantly in exposed compared with unexposed subjects. Overlap between dyspepsia and IBS was frequent. At 1 year, the relative risk for development of dyspepsia was 5.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.7- 9.8) and for IBS was 7.8 (95% confidence interval, 3.1- 19.7). Prolonged abdominal pain and vomiting during AGE were positive predictors of dyspepsia. No predictive factors for IBS were found. Conclusions: Salmonella gastroenteritis is a significant risk factor not only for IBS but also for dyspepsia; at 1 year of follow- up, 1 in 7 and 1 in 10 subjects developed dyspepsia or IBS, respectively.展开更多
Background: Plasma cell balanitis or balanitis of Zoon (BZ) is a frequent diagnosis in mature men and lesions are generally localized on the glans butmay involve the prepuce; its aetiology remains unknown. Objectives:...Background: Plasma cell balanitis or balanitis of Zoon (BZ) is a frequent diagnosis in mature men and lesions are generally localized on the glans butmay involve the prepuce; its aetiology remains unknown. Objectives: To present our experience with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment in the treatment of two patients with BZ refractive to other topical treatments. Patients and methods: Two uncircumcised mature Caucasian males were seen, both presenting with BZ; topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment twice daily was prescribed in each case. Results: Marked improvement of the lesions in both patients has been observed, with follow-up of 1 year and 10 months, respectively. Conclusions: Topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment is an effective and safe treatment for BZ.展开更多
文摘Introduction: Despite the bulk of evidence between obesity and cardiovascular complications, the effect of the duration of obesity (DOO) on cardiac function has so far received limited attention. The aim of the study is to study the relationship between a new, American Heart Association (AHA) and World Health Organization (WHO)-adapted formula for reporting DOO with echocardiographic findings and comorbidities in a large cohort of individuals whose BMI ranged from normal (·m﹣2) to morbid obesity (>40 Kg·m﹣2) and had been obese for varying lengths of time. Methods: 198 (M60/F138) asymptomatic patients were recruited. Patients were classified according to their reported DOO. The normal weight group (N = 92 (40/F52) was formed by those patients who did not recall maintaining a BMI > 30 Kg·m﹣2 from age 18 while those recalling maintenance of a BMI > 30 Kg·m﹣2 since age 18 and thereafter formed the obese group (N = 106 (M20/F86)). A detailed clinical, echo-cardiographic and analytical study was performed. Results: DOO in our series disclosed a significant correlation with left ventricular architecture and hemodynamics, left ventricular mass, cardiac output as well as the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and insulin resistance. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that almost 54% of the interventricular septum thickness’s variance can be independently predicted by a model including DOO, gender, hypertension and logtransformed HOMA. Conclusions: Our formula for estimating the duration of obesity provides a simple, user-friendly tool whose utilization in bariatric preoperative assessments and in advanced nursing practice deserves prospective studies.
文摘Background & Aims: It has been reported that some patients develop functional digestive disorders, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), after acute gastroenteritis (AGE). However, the presence of dyspepsia has not been specifically addressed. We prospectively evaluated development of dyspepsia and IBS during a 1- year follow- up in a cohort of adult patients affected by a Salmonella enteritidis AGE outbreak. Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 1878 potential participants at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months; 677 had experienced a Salmonella enteritidis AGE on June 23, 2002, and 1201 had not (randomly selected controls, matched for village of residence, age, and sex). At 12 months, 271 patients and 335 controls returned the questionnaires. Data permitted the establishment of dyspepsia and IBS diagnosis by Rome II criteria. Results: Before the AGE outbreak, the prevalence of dyspepsia was similar in cases and controls (2.5% vs 3.8% ); the prevalence of IBS was also similar (2.9% vs 2.3% ). At 3, 6, and 12 months, the prevalence of both dyspepsia and IBS had increased significantly in exposed compared with unexposed subjects. Overlap between dyspepsia and IBS was frequent. At 1 year, the relative risk for development of dyspepsia was 5.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.7- 9.8) and for IBS was 7.8 (95% confidence interval, 3.1- 19.7). Prolonged abdominal pain and vomiting during AGE were positive predictors of dyspepsia. No predictive factors for IBS were found. Conclusions: Salmonella gastroenteritis is a significant risk factor not only for IBS but also for dyspepsia; at 1 year of follow- up, 1 in 7 and 1 in 10 subjects developed dyspepsia or IBS, respectively.
文摘Background: Plasma cell balanitis or balanitis of Zoon (BZ) is a frequent diagnosis in mature men and lesions are generally localized on the glans butmay involve the prepuce; its aetiology remains unknown. Objectives: To present our experience with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment in the treatment of two patients with BZ refractive to other topical treatments. Patients and methods: Two uncircumcised mature Caucasian males were seen, both presenting with BZ; topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment twice daily was prescribed in each case. Results: Marked improvement of the lesions in both patients has been observed, with follow-up of 1 year and 10 months, respectively. Conclusions: Topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment is an effective and safe treatment for BZ.
