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Critical Pathways in Cardiology: A Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. 7(4):248-253, December 2008
Global risk assessment is the standard of care for coronary artery disease management. In this setting, sleep apnea syndrome, which includes obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, is being increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease.
This cluster randomized, open labeled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of 3 days of oral amoxycillin and 5 days of co-trimoxazole treatment in terms of clinical failure in children with World Health Organization (WHO) defined non-severe pneumonia in primary health centers in rural India.
A dramatic decrease in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was observed among children and adults in the United States after the introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7).
Late Onset Central Hypoventilation Syndrome associated with Hypothalamic Dysfunction (LO-CHS/HD) is a distinct entity among the clinical and genetic heterogeneous group of patients with late onset central hypoventilation.
Passive depletion of internal Ca2+ stores in airway smooth muscle (ASM) activates nonselective cation channels (NSCCs) that mediate capacitative Ca2+ entry. However, the single channel properties of these cation channels have yet to be resolved and their regulation by cytosolic Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) still remains unclear.
Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) caused by hypopharyngeal collapse of the upper airway can be considered in patients who are intolerant to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
To realize better postoperative management in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), we elucidated the need for the postoperative monitoring of esophageal pressure (Pes).
Apoptosis has been defined as "gene-directed cellular self-destruction" and is an active process that is tightly regulated by a number of gene products, which promote or block cell death.
Accumulating evidence suggests that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) results from lung injury primarily following an abnormal wound healing response towards epithelial cell damage.
The normal response of tissue to injury involves a sequence of overlapping events, which need to occur in a timely and controlled manner for successful tissue repair and restoration of normal function.
The American Journal of Managed Care n Volume 14:801-809 December 2008 Number 12
To measure adherence to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy using prescription claims and a patient survey, to identify local adverse events (LAEs) from the patient perspective and from medical records, and to evaluate the association between LAEs and adherence to ICS therapy.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.100958
Non-Cystic Fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis often starts in childhood with significant impact on adult morbidity. Little is known about disease progression through childhood and the effect on growth and spirometry. This study reviews longitudinal lung function and growth in children with non-CF bronchiectasis.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.103978
Low birth weight is associated with lower values for spirometry in adults but it is unknown if birth weight influences other measures of pulmonary function. It is also unclear whether post-natal growth affects adult lung function.
To investigate the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) in overweight children and adolescents without asthma or atopy and to assess whether obesity per se is associated with increased airway inflammation.
Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic medical conditions in the United States. The relationship of asthma with psychological factors has been known for centuries, and recently there has been a resurgence of interest in this topic.
In contrast to spirometry, airflow resistance determinations provide an effort independent measure of the airway status and allow measurement in individuals unable or unwilling to provide adequate effort during spirometry.
Osteoporosis is one of the important systemic features of COPD. Although COPD itself is regarded as one risk factor for osteoporosis, the relationship between the extent of emphysema and reduced bone density is still unclear.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Dec 2008
Endobronchial biopsies are an important tool for the study of airway remodeling in children. We aimed to evaluate the impact of performing endobronchial biopsies as a part of fiberoptic bronchoscopy on the length of the procedure.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Dec 2008
We present a 14-year-old girl whose initial diagnosis was obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with symptoms of habitual snore, sleep breath holding, shortness of breath, and lump in throat.
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(4):292-294, November 2008
We report a case of unilateral idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis-like changes in the right middle and lower lobe without lung volume changes and with normal upper lobe owing to congenital absence of the right interlobar pulmonary artery on chest computed tomography.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by abnormal remodeling of small, peripheral resistance vessels in the lung involving proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle, endothelial cell and fibroblasts.
Smoking is the single most important risk factor for COPD, yet there is still disagreement about the differences in the effect of smoking between white and African-American people.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine. 33(12):901-902, December 2008
Kartagener syndrome is diagnosed as sinusitis, bronchitis (bronchiectasis), and situs inversus by the clinical features. It is a subclass of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) disease.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Dec 2008
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of strains, resources, feelings, and behaviors about treatment adherence reported by youth with cystic fibrosis (CF) with repeated clinic measures of their pulmonary function and nutritional status.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Dec 2008
Adults with obstructive sleep apnea have increased sympathetic activity. It was hypothesized that in children with symptoms of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), morning urine levels of catecholamines correlate with severity of nocturnal hypoxemia.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Dec 2008
To determine whether chest radiograph (CXR) thoracic areas and lung volumes differed between infants who did and did not develop BPD and according to the severity of BPD developed.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common diagnosis in intensive care units (ICUs) and is frequently correlated with acute kidney injury (AKI).
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(4):244-250, November 2008
To describe the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) findings occurring in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and to determine the relationship between pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and air trapping detected on expiratory CT.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a combination of 3 different disorders, namely chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema, sometimes simultaneously present in the same subject.
No score is available to assess severity and stratify mortality risk in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Our objective was to develop a severity assessment tool for VAP patients.
To prospectively apply an automated, quantitative three-dimensional approach to imaging and airway analysis to assess airway remodeling in asthma patients.
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions Published Online: 27 Oct 2008
A significant number of patients with pulmonary hypertension are resistant to medical therapy. We wanted to evaluate whether the modified technique of stent fenestration of the interatrial septum would be feasible and safe, and offer clinical benefit.
European Journal of Pediatrics 0340-6199 (Print) 10.1007/s00431-008-0893-9
Pulmonary hypoplasia is a rare cause of neonatal dyspnea almost always secondary to other conditions. We report an exceedingly rare case of primary unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia.
Journal of Paediatrics Published Online: 10 Dec 2008
To investigate bone mineral status in young cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and determine risk factors related with the development of low bone mineral density (BMD).
To identify healthcare worker (HCW) and work-site characteristics associated with HCWs' reported use of recommended respiratory-infection control practices in primary and emergency care settings.
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(4):258-265, November 2008
The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of tracheomalacia (TM) associated with different types of mediastinal aortic vascular anomalies in symptomatic children using paired inspiratory-expiratory multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).
It is well established that muscle strength and exercise capacity are impaired in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Numerous factors have been implicated in this process including nutritional factors, disuse, and corticosteroid use.
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Volume 9, Number 1 / January, 2009 81-87
Over the past decade, interest has grown in the role of vitamin D in many nonskeletal medical conditions, including respiratory infection. Emerging evidence indicates that vitamin D-mediated innate immunity, particularly through enhanced expression of the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (hCAP-18), is important in host defenses against respiratory tract pathogens.
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Volume 9, Number 1 / January, 2009 30-37
Exhaled nitric oxide can now be measured in a clinical setting as a noninvasive, reproducible, facile, point-of-service test to measure airway inflammation, a central component of asthma that had not been assessed previously.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0234-2
The purpose of this study was to investigate apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) across two polysomnographies (PSGs) to examine AHI variability and impact on clinical diagnosis.
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(4):235-243, November 2008
To compare the detection rate of pulmonary abnormalities between conventional high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and high-resolution multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in lung transplant recipients and to correlate a composite computed tomography (CT) score with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) stage.
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Volume 9, Number 1 / January, 2009 88-95
Asthma is an increasingly prevalent disease, particularly in industrialized countries. With modern treatment, many patients can expect good asthma control; however, a significant minority continue to have excessive symptoms.
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Volume 9, Number 1 / January, 2009 10-17
The treatment response to each of the three major classes of asthma medications-{beta} agonists, leukotriene modifiers, and inhaled corticosteroids-demonstrates substantial interindividual variability.
Childhood idiopathic bronchiectasis (IB) unrelated to cystic fibrosis (CF) or known immunodeficiency remains a common problem among indigenous populations in developed and developing countries.
Southern Medical Journal. 101(12):1222-1226, December 2008
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most frequent infections in intensive care units (ICUs), and nearly 50% of patients with VAP develop septic shock. Septic shock is an independent predictor for mortality in these patients.
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. November 1, 2008, 14(9): 1097-1105
Many claims have been made regarding the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture. However, most controlled clinical studies have been limited to treatment of pain-related disorders and do not provide objective, quantifiable data for analysis.
:Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in patients with heart failure. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) improves systolic function in patients with heart failure. Bilevel positive airway pressure (PAP) is another treatment modality for OSA.
Current Medical Research and Opinion, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2008 , pp. 3443-3452(10)
The third version of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) Expert Panel Report (EPR-3): Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma emphasizes the need to use asthma control rather than patient severity to base adjustments to treatment and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.101360
Studies of the health effects of traffic interventions are rare. The Oxford Transport Strategy (OTS), implemented in June 1999, involved a wide range of permanent changes designed to reduce congestion in the city centre of Oxford, UK. In this analysis we report the impact of OTS on peak expiratory flow (PEF) and respiratory symptoms among schoolchildren in the city.
It is common practice to use a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/ forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of <70% as evidence of airflow obstruction.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0237-z
The human organism is exposed to considerable hypoxic stress at high altitudes. Our intention was to investigate if a special breathing pattern with expiration against the resistance of pursed lips leads to an elevation in oxygen saturation (SaO2).
Arch Dis Child. Published Online First: 3 December 2008. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.142448
Folate supplementation is recommended for pregnant women to reduce the risk of congenital malformations. Maternal intake of folate supplements during pregnancy might also influence childhood immune phenotypes via epigenetic mechanisms.
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology Published Online: 5 Dec 2008
Croup accounts for approximately 15% of all lower respiratory disease in children, but little is known about risk factors or its recurrence rate. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for croup and recurrent croup and to find out whether it is possible to predict the course of the disease.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L967-L975, 2008
The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are key components of the fibrinolytic system and are expressed by lung epithelial cells.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L1018-L1027, 2008
Migration of airway epithelial cells (AEC) is a necessary component of airway mucosal repair after injury. The cytokine IL-1{beta}, present in airway inflammation, has protean effects on constituent cells within the mucosa, but its effects on epithelial repair are not known.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L988-L997, 2008
Phenotypic changes in airway smooth muscle occur with airway inflammation and asthma. These changes may be induced by alterations in the extracellular matrix that initiate signaling pathways mediated by integrin receptors.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L1028-L1039, 2008
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal disease associated with severe remodeling of the large and small pulmonary arteries. Increased accumulation of inflammatory cells and apoptosis-resistant cells are contributing factors.
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.. Published Online First: 5 December 2008. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.146977
We collected information about patient characteristics, condition at birth, resuscitation details, severity of encephalopathy, hourly temperature record, clinical complications and outcomes before discharge from hospital.
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.. Published Online First: 5 December 2008. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.147157
Volume-targeted ventilation is used in neonates to reduce volutrauma and hyperventilation. Little is known about appropriate tidal volume (VT) settings in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants who remain intubated for extended periods.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200712-1827OC
Recent studies in patients and experimental animals provide compelling evidence for the involvement of the major thrombin receptor, PAR1, and the potent chemokine, CCL2/MCP-1, in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2008, p. 4083-4086, Vol. 46, No. 12
A disk potentiation method using carbapenems as substrates and 3-aminophenyl boronic acid as an inhibitor was evaluated for the detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-type {beta}-lactamases.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Published Online: 5 Dec 2008
This retrospective study has been approved by the local advisory commitee and has been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. In the evaluation for lung transplantion, all patients gave their informed consent to right heart catherisation.
The aim of the present study was to correlate clinical outcome measures following treatment with bronchial valves with regional lung volume. Computed tomography (CT) scan data from 57 subjects with severe emphysema were obtained from nine North American clinical trial sites.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0232-4
This study was designed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of a portable sleep apnea recording device (ApneaLink TM) using standard polysomnography (PSG) as a reference and to evaluate the possibility of using the ApneaLink (TM) as a case selection technique for patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The relationship between occupational exposures and COPD has been analyzed in population-based and occupational cohort studies. However, the influence of these exposures on the clinical characteristics of COPD is not well known.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.103598
Symptomatic patients with GOLD stage I COPD can have significant abnormalities of ventilatory mechanics with greater exertional symptoms and exercise limitation than age-matched healthy subjects. In such patients, the impact of bronchodilator therapy remains unknown and is difficult to evaluate.
Children that were administered a formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus (FI-RSV) vaccine experienced enhanced respiratory disease, including pulmonary eosinophilia, after contracting a natural RSV infection.
Integrins are a large family of transmembrane glycoprotein receptors initially identified as mediators of cell adhesion and tissue integrity. However, it is now known that the primary function of integrins in mammals is to act as signalling proteins.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(12):1482-1483, December 2008
We report the case of a 49-year-old woman with a prior history of breast cancer who presented with a subacute course of progressive dyspnoea, culminating in cardiovascular collapse from acute right heart failure.
Gene expression profiling allows the simultaneous monitoring of the transcriptional behaviour of thousands of genes, which may potentially be involved in disease development.
Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics December 2008 Volume 2, Number 6
The authors describe a rare case of pneumothorax as a complication of thoracic pedicle screw placement in an 11-year-old girl undergoing posterior segmental instrumentation for a kyphotic deformity.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.101220
Deciding what risks to disclose prior to a procedure is often challenging for clinicians. We randomised consecutive patients undergoing elective fibreoptic bronchoscopy to receive simple or more detailed written information about the risks of the procedure and compared the effects on anxiety and satisfaction levels.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.096222
The uptake of inhaled particulate matter by airway phagocytes is an important defense mechanism contributing to the clearance of potentially toxic substances, including aeroallergens, from the lung. Since airway monocytes and macrophages can also function as antigen presenting cells, their ability to engulf materials deposited on the airway surface is of particular interest in allergic asthmatics.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.101758
Previous studies have suggested that preterm birth with or without subsequent chronic lung disease is associated with reduced functional residual capacity (FRC) and increased ventilation inhomogeneity in the neonatal period. We aimed to establish whether such findings are associated with the degree of prematurity, neonatal respiratory illness, and disproportionate somatic growth.
The present study addressed the question whether ExoU, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxin with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, may induce airway epithelial cells to overexpress tissue factor (TF) and exhibit a procoagulant phenotype.
Viral infections induce exacerbations of asthma. One of the earliest host responses to viral infections is the production of innate cytokines including type I interferons (IFNs), such as IFN-{beta}, which may act to modify airway inflammation.
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), also known as the von Euler-Liljestrand mechanism, is a physiological response to alveolar hypoxia which distributes pulmonary capillary blood flow to alveolar areas of high oxygen partial pressure.
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(4):298-304, November 2008
This pictorial essay aims to present various lesions that could present as consolidations with diffuse of focal high attenuation on computed tomography, helping to make the diagnosis more confident and specific.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 5 Dec 2008
Swimming is often recommended as a sport because of its several benefits to health. It is also recommended in asthmatic children as a sport with a lower potential for prompting exercise-induced asthma.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 5 Dec 2008
Surgery for congenital and early childhood lung cysts is often dictated by symptoms such as respiratory distress, infection or pneumothorax. Asymptomatic cysts present a therapeutic dilemma: surgical intervention and conservative observation have advocates.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 5 Dec 2008
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis usually occurs in children with underlying airway disease such as asthma and cystic fibrosis. While the colonization and infection of pre-existing tuberculosis lesions by aspergillus species is well known, occurrence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis following pulmonary tuberculosis in children has not been reported yet.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 5 Dec 2008
Patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) often need to inhale multiple doses of different nebulizable drugs per day. Patients attempt to shorten the time consuming administration procedure by mixing drug solutions/suspensions for simultaneous inhalation.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 5 Dec 2008
Volume-targeted ventilation is increasingly used in neonatal ventilation to reduce the risk of volutrauma and inadvertent hyperventilation. However, normative data for appropriate tidal volume (VT) settings are lacking, especially in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in whom the added dead space (DS) of the flow sensor may be important.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 5 Dec 2008
The etiology of restrictive lung physiology in SLS is not well-defined, and has been hypothesized to be due to defects in lung recoil, phrenic nerve function and diaphragmatic strength.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica First Published on: 10 October 2008
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in children with hypoxemia might influence the nocturnal secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) that is associated with polyuria, even nocturia.
Polysomnography has developed from our understanding of sleep and its associated physiologic processes. This important tool extends the clinical examination into dynamic states that typically do not permit intrusive inspection.
The relative importance of obesity and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in childhood is unclear. Adenotonsillectomy (AT) for SDB is not always curative, and obese children are at increased risk for residual disease postoperatively.
It is unclear whether race/ethnicity influences survival for acute critical illnesses. We compared hospital mortality among patients of Asian (originating from Asia or Southeast Asia), Native Indian, and European descent admitted to the ICU.
Chronic cough in children is among the problems that lead to frequent consultations with a doctor. In this study, we attempted to research the reasons for chronic cough by an evaluation method using the guidelines that were suggested for children by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) in 2006.
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(4):251-257, November 2008
To evaluate the changes over time in the pattern and extent of parenchymal abnormalities in asbestos-exposed workers after cessation of exposure and to compare 3 proposed semiquantitative methods with a careful side-by-side comparison of the initial and the follow-up computed tomography (CT) images.
Each winter respiratory viruses account for a significant proportion of serious respiratory illness, including hospitalization, in older adults and those with underlying medical conditions. We describe the incidence and clinical impact of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a newly identified virus, in adults.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0235-1
Split-night polysomnography can both establish the diagnosis and titrate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during a single study in patients with sleep-disordered breathing.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) has been associated with hypertension, stroke and myocardial ischaemia in epidemiological and observational studies.
Tremendous advances have occurred in the care of patients with HIV/AIDS resulting from the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This has led to differences in the presentations of HIV-related pulmonary disease.
The mainstay of current drug therapy is long-acting bronchodilators; several longer acting inhaled {beta}2-agonists and muscarinic antagonists (and combinations) are now in development. No treatments have so far been shown to reduce the progression or suppress the inflammation of COPD.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:78doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-78
The aim of this study, conducted in Europe, was to develop a validated risk factor based model to predict RSV-related hospitalisation in premature infants born 33-35 weeks' gestational age (GA).
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:878-883 (2008)
Concepts relating to the natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) arise most importantly from the classic study of Fletcher and colleagues (The Natural History of Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema, Oxford University Press, New York, 1976).
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterised by repeated injury to the alveolar epithelium with loss of lung epithelial cells and abnormal tissue repair, resulting in excessive accumulation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, deposition of extracellular matrix components and distortion of lung architecture, eventually leading to respiratory failure.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common of the interstitial pneumonias, is a progressive, life-limiting disease for which there are no truly effective therapies.
Diisocyanates are the commonest reported cause of occupational asthma (OA) in the UK. Health surveillance should play an important part in the early detection of disease and the prevention of long-term morbidity.
Pulmonary inflammation induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is one of the main causes for lung injury after cardiac surgery. Pulmonary perfusions as well as carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation are known to reduce the inflammatory reaction of the lung.
Pulmonary metastasectomy is beneficial in select patients. The sensitivity of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for pulmonary metastasis is unknown.
Factors affecting recurrence and survival after pulmonary resection for metastatic osteosarcomas are controversial. To confirm a role for resection of pulmonary metastases for such tumors, we herein reviewed our institutional experience.
This study was undertaken to evaluate outcomes of redo lung transplantation (LT) for acute and chronic graft failure. Methods: Between 1988 and 2007, 388 LT procedures were performed on 369 patients.
The presentation of the bronchogenic cyst is variable making preoperative diagnosis difficult. The majority are either asymptomatic or discovered incidentally. The most common presenting symptoms are cough, fever and dyspnoea.
Allergology International doi:10.2332/allergolint.O-07-531
People suffering from asthmatic symptoms have a lower quality of life than those without. The aim of this study is to clarify the association of quality of life with the severity of asthma, perceived stress, and other factors such as the comorbidity of allergic diseases among young adults with asthma.
Allergology International doi:10.2332/allergolint.08-OA-0004
Bronchial asthma (BA) and allergic rhinitis (AR) are thought to share a common pathogenesis. However, reports concerning the comorbidity of the two diseases in a large-scaled population are rare in Japan.
Pneumonia, the main cause of acute lung injury, is characterised by a local pro-inflammatory response and coagulopathy. Mechanical ventilation (MV) is often required.
Symptoms of bone pain and skin rashes are not uncommon following a variety of infectious illnesses, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 6 December 2008, pp. 1171-1176
We aimed to investigate differences in upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms in relation to respiratory viral infections detected with polymerase chain reaction assays in young children with cystic fibrosis and healthy control subjects.
Journal of Perinatology advance online publication 4 December 2008; doi: 10.1038/jp.2008.194
As effects of glucocorticoids differ with respect to preparation, dose and duration, we hypothesized that a postnatal regimen of a low-dose, short-course betamethasone treatment had comparable efficacy and a better safety profile compared to the conventional high-dose, dexamethasone.
To investigate the clinical importance of cytokines, surfactant protein D (SFTPD, formerly SP-D), and Kerbs von Lungren 6 antigen (KL-6) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood in patients with idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (iPAP).
Periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) are repetitive jerks of the lower limbs. Their occurrence can be isolated or part of various sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome (RLS), narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnoea.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:915-918 (2008)
This article provides a brief overview of the important issues influencing the effective use of quantitative X-ray computed tomography (QCT) in the assessment of the lung parenchyma in patients or research subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Medical Microbiology and Immunology 0300-8584 (Print) 10.1007/s00430-008-0105-2
We sought to determine whether NMB1966, encoding a putative ABC transporter, has a role in pathogenesis. Compared to its isogenic wild-type parent strain Neisseria meningitidis MC58, the NMB1966 knockout mutant was less adhesive and invasive for human bronchial epithelial cells, had reduced survival in human blood and was attenuated in a systemic mouse model of infection.
Clinical Microbiology and Infection Published Online: 21 Nov 2008
he performance of nucleic acid amplification techniques for detecting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was evaluated in 25 laboratories across Europe by an external quality assessment study. In addition, factors related to the diagnostic performance of laboratories were explored.
Clinical Microbiology and Infection Published Online: 24 Nov 2008
The diagnostic impact of PCR-based detection was compared to single-serum IgM antibody measurement and IgG antibody seroconversion during an outbreak of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in a military community. Nasopharyngeal swabs for PCR-based detection, and serum, were obtained from 127 conscripts during the outbreak.
The asthmatic response to the common cold is highly variable, and early characteristics that predict worsening of asthma control following a cold have not been identified.
The aim of the present study was to establish the efficacy in terms of morbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of a group asthma education-exercise programme to children with low (below 10th percentile value) quality-of-life scores.
Pulmonary fibrosis is characterised by fibroblast accumulation and alveolar epithelium denudation. Increased apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells and decreased apoptosis of fibroblasts may play an important role in the pathogenesis of disease.
In order to investigate whether increased airway closure is a component of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway closure was compared during induced bronchoconstriction in 62 asthmatic, 41 nonasthmatic nonobese (control) and 20 nonasthmatic obese (obese) subjects.
Miliary pulmonary nodules are commonly caused by various infections and cancers. We sought to identify the relative frequencies of various aetiologies and the clinical and radiographic predictors of miliary tuberculosis (TB) in patients with miliary pulmonary nodules.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, prognoses and predictors of mortality of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with acute respiratory failure (ARF), and to investigate the adjunctive use of corticosteroids in such cases.
This review describes the complex and often reciprocal relationship between sleep problems, neurological disorders and/or intellectual disability in children. The causes of Intellectual disability (ID) discussed in this review include those conditions present from or around the time of birth, although it also considers traumatic brain injuries occurring later in development.
Transthoracic fine-needle aspiration is an accurate and safe method for diagnosis of pulmonary lesions, and pneumothorax is the most frequent complication of the procedure.
American Journal of Surgical Pathology. 32(12):1751-1761, December 2008
Primary sarcomas of the pulmonary artery are rare, with few series correlating histologic features with follow-up data. We present a series of 43 pulmonary artery sarcomas with primary intraluminal growth, 32 with follow-up information.
Pulmonary resection in metastatic pediatric solid tumors is an accepted method of treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical course, outcome and prognostic factors after surgery.
Bronchial stump reinforcement with viable tissue after pneumonectomy is an important prophylactic measure against the development of bronchopleural fistula.
Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is accepted as a salvage therapy to treat life-threatening complications following lung transplantation such as primary graft dysfunction, acute rejection or airway dehiscence.
Many advances have substantially improved the clinical results of lung transplantation. However, the incidence of bronchial complications is still high, with significant impact on survival and limited interventional strategies for complex cases. Our aim is to evaluate the surgical management of bronchial complications following lung transplantation.
Airway complications (AC) remain a significant contributing factor of morbidity after lung transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for AC, and to review the outcomes after endoscopic and surgical treatment.
Clinical & Investigative Medicine, Vol 31, No 6 (2008)
Obesity has been associated with an increased prevalence of asthma and poorer control of this disease. However, the mechanisms by which obesity can influence airway function and make asthma more difficult to control remain uncertain.
Clinical & Investigative Medicine, Vol 31, No 6 (2008)
Obesity is considered a risk factor for asthma. However, the mechanism that connects the two is not well understood. In this study we investigated the relationship between inflammatory cytokines and acute phase reactants in obesity, and asthma.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 42, No. 12, pp. 1832-1842
To review clinical data on the use of long-acting bronchodilator agents as monotherapy and in combination for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(12):1108-1109, December 2008
A questionnaire study was performed to determine the current status of palivizumab prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus infection in Japanese children with congenital heart disease <2 years of age.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(12):1095-1098, December 2008
To characterize the onset, peak, and duration of the RSV season in major metropolitan areas in the United States as determined from laboratory test data collected by a novel RSV surveillance program (RSV Alert), including regional and national trends.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2008, p. 4061-4063, Vol. 46, No. 12
Seventy-three liver abscess isolates of serotype K1 Klebsiella pneumoniae from a nationwide collection in Korea were genotypically characterized using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing.
The idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) are a heterogeneous group of rare interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) or diffuse parenchymal lung diseases, which, as their name implies, are of unknown aetiology.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF). Although most patients harbour unique P. aeruginosa isolates, some clinics report patients sharing common strains.
Asthma is a highly prevalent condition across Europe and numerous guidelines have been developed to optimise management. However, asthma can be neither cured nor prevented, treatment choices are limited and many patients have poorly controlled or uncontrolled asthma.
Changes in lung volume occur following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); airway hyperresponsiveness was occasionally reported, without mechanistic explanation.
Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a fatal disease characterised by elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation. Initial vasoconstriction, proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) and increased deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) contribute to pathological remodelling of pulmonary arterioles in IPAH.
Few data exist concerning sleep in patients with hemidiaphragm paralysis or weakness. Traditionally, such patients are considered to sustain normal ventilation in sleep.
The hospital course for pediatric coarctation repair has not been described. We had 4 aims: (1) to determine the influence of age, anatomy, and type of repair on aortic crossclamp time, (2) to determine the impact of age or aortic crossclamp time on postoperative morbidity, (3) to describe current antihypertensive strategies, and (4) to describe antihypertensive medications at hospital discharge.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:929-933 (2008)
To guarantee the reliability of densitometric data in clinical trials on pulmonary emphysema a quality control procedure is presented, to prevent that a measured progression in lung density could be reflected by a gradual change in the maintenance of the computed tomographic scanner.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:919-924 (2008)
Lung densitometry in drug evaluation trials can be confounded by changes in inspiration levels between computed tomography (CT) scans, limiting its sensitivity to detect changes over time.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:891-899 (2008)
Since the introduction of multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT), most attention has been directed toward the use of this technique to improve the characterization of anatomic changes at the level of the airways and lung parenchyma in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:884-890 (2008)
Assessment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important to establish an accurate diagnosis, assist in making therapeutic decisions, measuring outcomes for clinical and research purposes, and determining prognosis.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:77doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-7
Surfactant protein A (SP-A) enhances phagocytosis of bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, by alveolar macrophages. Ozone, a major air pollutant, can cause oxidation of surfactant and may influence lung immune function.
Neurosurgical Focus December 2008 Volume 25, Number 6
Cerebellar ptosis is a rare complication following Chiari malformation decompression, and generally is the result of a very large suboccipital craniectomy. This can lead to the descent of the cerebellum through the craniectomy defect, which in turn may result in cerebellar herniation through the surgical defect as well as the reestablishment of contact between the cerebellar tonsils and the brainstem.
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:360doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-360
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare condition that requires treatment by whole-lung lavage. We report a case of severe pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and discuss a safe and effective strategy for the anaesthetic management of patients undergoing this complex procedure.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol. 205, No. 12, 2693-2697
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder in which surfactant homeostasis in the lung is impaired, causing respiratory distress and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Volume 66, Number 6, December 2008 , pp. 854-860(7)
The analgesic and anti-inflammatory efficacy of dexibuprofen compared with ibuprofen in adults with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and dental pain.
Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology Volume 3, Number 2 / May, 1985 227-234
In recent years, our understanding of the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis has markedly changed. Originally, it was felt that sarcoidosis was a disease that was caused by a state of anergy.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) exhibits a complex and poorly understood pathogenesis. Overt inflammation in the lungs of patients with established IPF is absent, and classic anti-inflammatory therapies are inefficacious; however, inflammation may contribute to the disruption of the normal alveolar architecture, allowing interaction between fibroblasts and the epithelium.
Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody recently approved for the treatment of severe allergic asthma. This drug inhibits allergic responses by binding to serum IgE, thus preventing their interactions with cellular IgE receptors.
Surgery Today Volume 38, Number 12 / December, 2008 1078-1082
Living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) is performed in critically ill patients, although the outcome is generally expected to be poor for those who are ventilator dependent.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews, October 2008, p. 686-703, Vol. 21, No. 4
To explain the wide spectrum of disease severity caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and because of the limitations of animal models to fully parallel human RSV disease, study of genetic influences on human RSV disease severity has begun.
Critical Care Medicine. 36(12):3135-3144, December 2008
Deliberate induction of hypercapnic acidosis protects against lung injury after nonseptic lung injury. In contrast, concerns exist regarding the effects of hypercapnic acidosis in the setting of severe pulmonary sepsis.
Intensive Care Medicine 0342-4642 (Print) 10.1007/s00134-008-1353-8
The purpose of this study is to investigate the respiratory mechanics, breathing pattern, and pressure-generating capacity of respiratory muscles during the early phases of an acute exacerbation of COPD.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L1048-L1055, 2008
Thrombin is a procoagulant inflammatory agonist that can disrupt the endothelium-lumen barrier in the lung by causing contraction of endothelial cells and promote pulmonary cell proliferation. Both contraction and proliferation require increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt).
Intensive Care Medicine 0342-4642 (Print) 10.1007/s00134-008-1355-6
To test whether a reduction of third generation cephalosporin (3GC) use has a sustainable positive impact on the high endemic prevalence of 3GC resistant K. pneumoniae and E. coli.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(12):1103-1107, December 2008
he medical literature of the past 4 decades was searched regarding respiratory virus detection by polymerase chain reaction and conventional methods (culture, antigen detection, serology) in asymptomatic subjects in an attempt to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of such viruses in normal persons.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Volume 19, Number 8, December 2008 , pp. 763-768(6)
Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) was developed as a tool to measure lung function, and as it only requires passive cooperation, it has been successfully used in younger children. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of IOS compared to conventional spirometry for lung function measures in asthmatic Korean children aged 3 to 6-yrs.
The physiologic advantages of preserving phrenic nerve integrity and normal diaphragmatic motion (DM) during the course of pnemonectomy are incompletely understood. This study was conducted to investigate potential benefits of this strategy on postoperative lung function.
The ideal age for correction of tetralogy of Fallot is still under discussion. The aim of this study was to analyze morbidity and mortality in patients who underwent early primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot at the age of less than 4 months and to assess whether neonates, who needed early repair within the first 4 weeks of life, faced an increased risk.
Patients with bronchial tree lesions feature, in particular, a high risk for developing bronchial fistulae after surgical repair when the clinical situation is complicated by acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and mechanical ventilation is needed.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Volume 19, Number 8, December 2008 , pp. 769-772(4)
Non-right handedness has been associated with allergic diseases and asthma. Infantile diabetes, too, has been associated with non-right handedness but, to date, data are more consistent on a link between left handedness and asthma than on diabetes.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Volume 19, Number 8, December 2008 , pp. 696-701(6)
Birth cohort studies have suggested that early exposure to furred pets protects from later asthma and allergy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between exposure or sensitization to cat or dog in infancy, and later asthma and allergy assessed at the median ages of 4.0, 7.2 and 12.3-yr, in children who have wheezed at <24-months of age.
ANTICANCER RESEARCH Year: 2008 Volume: 28 Issue: 5B
A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic procedures performed in small peripheral pulmonary nodules that were detected at mass screening.
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of death from infectious diseases in the US. It accounts each year for 500,000 hospitalizations and 45,000 deaths and represents one of the most common causes of intensive care unit (ICU) admission.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews, October 2008, p. 716-747, Vol. 21, No. 4
Clinical laboratories historically diagnose seven or eight respiratory virus infections using a combination of techniques including enzyme immunoassay, direct fluorescent antibody staining, cell culture, and nucleic acid amplification tests.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. Cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress is intimately associated with the progression and exacerbation of COPD and therefore targeting oxidative stress with antioxidants or boosting the endogenous levels of antioxidants is likely to have beneficial outcome in the treatment of COPD.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with serious comorbid illnesses and diminished quality of life. At this time, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the treatment of choice.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:76doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-76
Many cystic fibrosis (CF) patients display airway hyperresponsiveness and have symptoms of asthma such as cough, wheezing and reversible airway obstruction.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 17 Issue 4 December 2008 Pages 251-252
There are several treatment options available for patients who have mild persistent asthma. After being shown a typical case study and three possible treatment options, three respiratory specialists each selected a different option.
British Dental Journal Published online: 21 November 2008 doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.1022
To determine the attitudes and awareness of dental and medical practitioners in Scotland to the provision of oral appliances for the management of snoring and sleep apnoea.
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