The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequencies of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in children with ASD. Subjects were 32 children with ASD and 30 healthy children as controls. The numbers of mDCs and pDCs and the expression of CD86 and CD80 on the entire DCs were detected by flow cytometry. ASD children had significantly higher percentages of mDCs and pDCs when compared to controls. We found significant inverse relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the frequencies of mDCs and pDCs in autistic children. Our data suggested that DCs could play a role in the clinical course of ASD. The relationship of DCs to immune disorders in ASD remains to be determined.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequencies of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in children with ASD. Subjects were 32 children with ASD and 30 healthy children as controls. The numbers of mDCs and pDCs and the expression of CD86 and CD80 on the entire DCs were detected by flow cytometry. ASD children had significantly higher percentages of mDCs and pDCs when compared to controls. We found significant inverse relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the frequencies of mDCs and pDCs in autistic children. Our data suggested that DCs could play a role in the clinical course of ASD. The relationship of DCs to immune disorders in ASD remains to be determined.

Aim: To evaluateroleofdiaphragmaticthickeningandexcursion,assessedultrasonographically,inpre- dicting extubationoutcome. Methods: Fifty-four patientswhosuccessfullypassedspontaneousbreathingtrial(SBT)wereenrolled. They wereassessedbyultrasoundduringSBTevaluatingdiaphragmaticexcursion,diaphragmatic thickness (Tdi)atendinspiration,atendexpirationanddiaphragmaticthicknessfraction(DTF%).Simul- taneously traditionalweaningparameterswererecorded.Patientswerefollowedupfor48hafter extubation. Results: Out of54includedpatients,14(25.9%)failedextubation.Diaphragmaticexcursion,Tdiatend inspiration, atendexpirationandDTF%weresignificantlyhigherinthesuccessfulgroupcomparedto those whofailedextubation(p 0.05).Cutoffvaluesofdiaphragmaticmeasuresassociatedwithsuccess- ful extubationwere≥10.5mmfordiaphragmaticexcursion,≥21mmforTdiatendinspiration,≥10.5mm for Tdiatendexpiration, ≥34.2% forDTF%giving87.5%,77.5%,80%and90%sensitivityrespectivelyand 71.5%, 86.6%,50%and64.3%specificityrespectively.Combiningdiaphragmaticexcursion ≥10.5mmand Tdi atendinspiration ≥21mmdecreasedsensitivityto64.9%butincreasedspecificityto100%.Rapid shallow breathingindex(RSBI)105had90%sensitivitybut18.7%specificity. Conclusion: Ultrasound evaluationofdiaphragmaticexcursionandthicknessatendinspirationcouldbe a goodpredictorofextubationoutcomeinpatientswhopassedSBT.Itisrecommendedtoconsiderthe use oftheseparameterswithRSBIconsequentlytoimproveextubationoutcome.

Aim: To evaluateroleofdiaphragmaticthickeningandexcursion,assessedultrasonographically,inpre- dicting extubationoutcome. Methods: Fifty-four patientswhosuccessfullypassedspontaneousbreathingtrial(SBT)wereenrolled. They wereassessedbyultrasoundduringSBTevaluatingdiaphragmaticexcursion,diaphragmatic thickness (Tdi)atendinspiration,atendexpirationanddiaphragmaticthicknessfraction(DTF%).Simul- taneously traditionalweaningparameterswererecorded.Patientswerefollowedupfor48hafter extubation. Results: Out of54includedpatients,14(25.9%)failedextubation.Diaphragmaticexcursion,Tdiatend inspiration, atendexpirationandDTF%weresignificantlyhigherinthesuccessfulgroupcomparedto those whofailedextubation(p 0.05).Cutoffvaluesofdiaphragmaticmeasuresassociatedwithsuccess- ful extubationwere≥10.5mmfordiaphragmaticexcursion,≥21mmforTdiatendinspiration,≥10.5mm for Tdiatendexpiration, ≥34.2% forDTF%giving87.5%,77.5%,80%and90%sensitivityrespectivelyand 71.5%, 86.6%,50%and64.3%specificityrespectively.Combiningdiaphragmaticexcursion ≥10.5mmand Tdi atendinspiration ≥21mmdecreasedsensitivityto64.9%butincreasedspecificityto100%.Rapid shallow breathingindex(RSBI)105had90%sensitivitybut18.7%specificity. Conclusion: Ultrasound evaluationofdiaphragmaticexcursionandthicknessatendinspirationcouldbe a goodpredictorofextubationoutcomeinpatientswhopassedSBT.Itisrecommendedtoconsiderthe use oftheseparameterswithRSBIconsequentlytoimproveextubationoutcome.

Peripheral neuropathy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received scanty attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate objectively the functional changes in the peripheral nervous system in COPD by different electrophysiological parameters and to determine the frequencies of these changes in patients with COPD. Aim of the study is assessment of peripheral nerve conduction by evaluation of the motor and sensory nerve conduction (SNC) in COPD patients.

Peripheral neuropathy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received scanty attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate objectively the functional changes in the peripheral nervous system in COPD by different electrophysiological parameters and to determine the frequencies of these changes in patients with COPD. Aim of the study is assessment of peripheral nerve conduction by evaluation of the motor and sensory nerve conduction (SNC) in COPD patients.

Peripheral neuropathy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received scanty attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate objectively the functional changes in the peripheral nervous system in COPD by different electrophysiological parameters and to determine the frequencies of these changes in patients with COPD. Aim of the study is assessment of peripheral nerve conduction by evaluation of the motor and sensory nerve conduction (SNC) in COPD patients.

Peripheral neuropathy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received scanty attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate objectively the functional changes in the peripheral nervous system in COPD by different electrophysiological parameters and to determine the frequencies of these changes in patients with COPD. Aim of the study is assessment of peripheral nerve conduction by evaluation of the motor and sensory nerve conduction (SNC) in COPD patients.

Peripheral neuropathy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received scanty attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate objectively the functional changes in the peripheral nervous system in COPD by different electrophysiological parameters and to determine the frequencies of these changes in patients with COPD. Aim of the study is assessment of peripheral nerve conduction by evaluation of the motor and sensory nerve conduction (SNC) in COPD patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasingly common disease among older adults that has been linked to other comorbid conditions with serious morbidity and mortality, including cognition impairment. However, it remains poorly understood in COPD. The aim of this study is to evaluate cognitive dysfunction in COPD and to relate it to the severity obtained from spirometric and gasometric evaluation of COPD patients.