Correlation between clinical-functional parameters and number of lobes involved in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

Background: Currently, the prognosis of bronchiectasis is based on different prognostic indicators, like BSI and FACED score, founded on clinical-demographic, functional and radiological criteria. Both scoring systems include the number of lobes involved in bronchiectasis, which represents an adverse prognostic index. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of the clinical-functional parameters and the number of involved lobes ratio in adult bronchiectasis.Methods: The study was conducted on 52 patients diagnosed with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) between 2015 and 2017 who attended the Pneumology Unit of Monaldi Hospital in Naples, Italy. Correlations between clinical-functional parameters (BMI, smoking history, number of exacerbations in the previous year, spirometry, DLCO, ABG test and 6MWT) and number of involved lobes were investigated.Results: At baseline, the number of exacerbations in the previous year had a statistically significant association with the number of involved lobes. Furthermore, at baseline, the radiological criterion was also negatively associated with some functional parameters (FEV1/FVC ratio e FEF25-75%). Statistical significance was lost during the follow-up, demonstrating the effectiveness of the therapy.Conclusions: Imaging extension represents a promising biomarker of disease severity as well as a helpful follow-up tool for non-Cystic Fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB).

Clinical, genetical, radiological, and anatomopathological survey of 17 patients with lethal osteochondrodysplasias

Seventeen patients thought to have lethal osteochondrodysplasias were evaluated. Diagnosis was established through clinical evaluation, radiological studies and necropsy. Genetic counseling was provided to the affected patient's families. Specific diagnosis was confirmed in 16 cases. Nosologic diagnosis was done through clinical evaluation. However, the most efficient method for verifying the diagnosis was a skeletal radiological study. This fact corroborates the orientation of the International Classification of Osteochondrodysplasias (International Working Group on Constitutional Disease of Bone, 1992) in which a radiological criterion was adopted as the most relevant for classification of osteochondrodysplasias. An anatomopathological study was also done to detect internal anomalies, and was effective in identifying abnormalities in epiphyseal growth plate in a bone fragment study. This method had low specificity, but in two cases it was especially decisive for diagnostic differentiation.

Chloroquine ototoxicity—a reversible phenomenon?

SummaryA BRIEF review of cranio-facial fibro-osseous lesions is given and 15 cases of fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma are presented with clinical, radiological and histomorphological findings. After histological verification of the fibro-osseous nature of the process, 5 lesions were diagnosed on a radiological basis as fibrous dysplasia exhibiting diffuse (blending) margins, while the diagnosis of ossifying fibroma was given to 10 radiologically sharply-demarcated lesions. Both groups of lesions presented the same histomorphological features, although to a varying degree. Spheroidal calcifications, however, were identified in ossifying fibroma only, but not in all of these. Thus, the differential diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia versus ossifying fibroma rests on a radiological criterion after the histopathologist has verified the fibro-osseous nature of a lesion. The observation times varied from 1 ½ to 34 years. Two cases of fibrous dysplasia and 3 cases of ossifying fibroma recurred. In one case of fibrous dysplasia an osteosarcoma developed 33 years after irradiation. Pain was a, common symptom in the present material.