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Respiratory Research 2008, 9:84doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-84
L-13 is a critical mediator of allergic asthma and associated airway
hyperresponsiveness. IL-13 acts through a receptor complex comprised of IL-13Ralpha1 and IL-4Ralpha subunits with subsequent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6). The IL-13Ralpha2 receptor may act as a decoy receptor.
Spontaneous pneumothoraces occur in individuals who have not experienced antecedent thoracic trauma. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in otherwise healthy individuals with no clinically apparent lung disease, whereas secondary pneumothorax is a consequence of an underlying lung disease.
Lung imaging under free-breathing conditions Published Online: 18 Dec 2008
Respiratory motion and pulsatile blood flow can generate artifacts in morphological and functional lung imaging. Total acquisition time, and thus the achievable signal to noise ratio, is limited when performing breath-hold and/or electrocardiogram-triggered imaging.
British Journal of Anaesthesia, doi:10.1093/bja/aen356
Background: EntropyTM is an anaesthetic EEG monitoring method, calculating two numerical parameters: State Entropy (SE, range 0-91) and Response Entropy (RE, range 0-100).
The case of a patient with a left upper lobe lung tumor and unilateral agenesis of the left pulmonary artery with multiple aortopulmonary collaterals is discussed. Preoperative angiographic localization with embolization of the dominant multiple aortopulmonary collaterals allowed pneumonectomy to be performed safely with acceptable blood loss.
Hepatic hydrothorax in the setting of decompensated cirrhosis is a challenging and common clinical problem. Traditional therapies such as diuretics and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts can be effective therapies in selected patients but in patients ineligible for, or intolerant of, these traditional therapies, few effective therapeutic options remain for the management of hepatic hydrothorax.
It has been postulated that video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) achieves a better biometric and aesthetic outcome than conventional thoracic surgery (CTS), but data are lacking. We aimed to compare the midterm effects of both approaches in children.
This study was undertaken to compare survival between primary and repeat lung transplant recipients and to identify survival predictors after repeat lung transplantation.
A major problem in clinical lung transplantation is the shortage of donor lungs. Only about 20% of donor lungs are accepted for transplantation. A method to evaluate and recondition lungs ex vivo has been tested on donor lungs that have been rejected for transplantation.
Although video-assisted metastasectomy has been proposed for some solitary metastases, its value has not been investigated in patients with pulmonary metastases from sarcoma for which open resection remains the usual approach.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether favorable short-term results achieved by lung volume reduction surgery in selected patients with homogeneous emphysema would persist for longer periods. Their symptoms, lung function, and survival for several years were analyzed in comparison to patients with heterogeneous emphysema.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, January 2009, p. 249-255, Vol. 53, No. 1
Respiratory tract infection, most often involving opportunistic bacterial species with broad-spectrum antibiotic resistance, is the primary cause of death in persons with cystic fibrosis (CF). Species within the Burkholderia cepacia complex are especially problematic in this patient population.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, January 2009, p. 298-302, Vol. 53, No. 1
Klebsiella pneumoniae ompA mutant was more susceptible to antimicrobial peptides
(APs) than the wild type. Susceptibility did not result from surface changes other than the absence of
OmpA. Our data suggest that OmpA is implicated in the activation of yet-unknown systems dedicated to ameliorating AP
cytotoxicity.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, January 2009, p. 146-149, Vol. 53, No. 1
There are currently no standardized phenotypic methods for the screening and detection of AmpC enzymes. This study aimed to evaluate different methods to detect AmpC enzymes in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella
spp., and Proteus spp., comparing the results from two disk-based methods and an agar dilution method.
Sleep plays a large role in patients with heart failure. In normal subjects, sleep is usually in a supine position with reduced sympathetic drive, elevated vagal tone and as such a relatively lower cardiac output and minute ventilation, allowing for
recouperation.
This paper focuses on the underlying mechanisms contributing to sleep-disordered breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder and is characterized by repetitive narrowing or collapse of the pharyngeal airway during sleep. Conversely, central sleep apnea (CSA), highly prevalent in congestive heart failure, is distinguished by a lack of drive to breathe during sleep, resulting in repetitive periods of insufficient ventilation.
We will review the epidemiology, risk factors, and consequences of obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA) and short/long sleep duration. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disease characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is present in at least 2% to 4% of the general population. Central sleep apnea (CSA), though less common, is highly prevalent in patients with heart failure.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a highly prevalent breathing disorder in sleep, characterized by intermittent and recurrent pauses in respiration, has emerged as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 0936-8051 (Print) 10.1007/s00402-008-0796-2
Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) has become a valuable tool in assessing respiratory muscle weakness. Its role in the scoliosis population is still being defined.
Large preterm infants are generally not considered good candidates for surfactant treatment until they have been intubated for progressing respiratory distress. This study has been done to detect the effect of electively providing early single-dose surfactant to large preterm babies with mild to moderate respiratory distress syndrome
(RDS).
There is a lack of large, prospective epidemiologic studies concerning acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS) in pediatric population.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
The objective of this study was to measure health-related quality of life (HRQL) in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and to assess differences in HRQL according to age, gender, and severity of
COPD.
Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care 2008; Volume 6 : Issue 4 Article Number: 990310
Asthma is an important health problem in Australia with more than 2.2. million Australians currently diagnosed with Asthma. Asthma is associated with significant mortality and frequent use of emergency medical services.
European Journal of Pediatrics 0340-6199 (Print) 10.1007/s00431-008-0899-3
Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) in children are often treated with antibiotics even without evidence of bacterial infection. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) is elevated in bacterial but not in viral infections.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of weekly singings classes on pulmonary function parameters and quality of life
(QoL) of COPD patients. Forty-three patients were randomized to weekly classes of singing practice, or handcraft work.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Little is known about self-efficacy in COPD and its role as a mediator of goal attainment after rehabilitation. We hypothesized that higher baseline self efficacy may facilitate goal attainment.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
To determine the effectiveness of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
(NIPPV), and the factors predicting failure of NIPPV in acute respiratory failure
(ARF) due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) versus other causes of
ARF.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Patients with advanced COPD and acute or chronic respiratory failure are at high risk for death. Beyond pharmacological treatment, supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation are major treatment options.
We report the case of a 16-year-old female with genetic immunodeficiency in whom pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis became disseminated. Most infections due to Coccidioides immitis are self-limited and resolve over a period of weeks to months without specific treatment.
Medical Hypotheses published online 26 November 2008
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by fibrotic changes in several organs including the lungs, skin, kidneys, muscles and the joints. The leading cause of death in SSc is pulmonary involvement consisting of pulmonary fibrosis with pulmonary hypertension.
A possible involvement of autoimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma has been proposed. Recently,
alpha-enolase protein was identified as a major autoantigen recognized by circulating IgG autoantibodies in patients with severe asthma.
Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare tumor of vascular origin. While it can be found in any tissue, it is most often found in lung and liver and usually has an intermediate behavior.
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 1619-7070 (Print) 10.1007/s00259-008-1009-5
To evaluate the usefulness of 18F-FDG PET in the imaging of pulmonary lesions related to disease activity and in monitoring responses to treatment in patients with pulmonary mycobacteriosis (PM).
Pulmonary gangrene is an extremely rare and severe complication of pneumonia. It is very rarely seen in community-acquired pneumonia. A 49-year-old immunocompetent man was admitted with community-acquired pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumonia.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L130-L139, 2009
Human cytochrome P-450 epoxygenase enzymes metabolize eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an {omega}-3-polyunsaturated fatty acid
(PUFA), and leads to the production of 17(18)-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid, or 17(18)-EpETE. The aim of the present study was to delineate the mode of action of 17(18)-EpETE on human pulmonary artery
(HPA) and distal bronchi.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L101-L108, 2009
Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a biologically active eicosanoid produced in human airways that displays anti-inflammatory properties. In cystic fibrosis and severe asthma, LXA4 production has been reported to be decreased, and, in such diseases, one of the consequences of airway inflammation is disruption of the tight junctions.
Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare disease that generally progresses to respiratory failure. We experienced a patient who had recurring lymphangioleiomyomatosis in the transplanted lungs. A chest computed tomographic scan showed a progressing emphysematous change.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, January 2009, p. 287-291, Vol. 53, No. 1
Among 177 extended-spectrum {beta}-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected from 11 Slovenian hospitals in 2005 and 2006, 60 (34%), from eight hospitals, harbored genes for
CTX-M enzymes, with blaCTX-M-15 detected by sequencing.
Pediatric Acute Lung Injury (ALI) is associated with a high mortality and morbidity, and dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases
(MMPs) may play an important role in the pathogenesis and evolution of ALI.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L30-L36, 2009
Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) is a cysteinyl leukotriene
(CysLT) export pump expressed on mast cells. CysLTs are crucial mediators in allergic airway disease.
Studies have shown that soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) is upregulated by microbial products in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with pneumonia and bacterial meningitis, respectively.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 1 January 2009, pp. 353-366
To review the use of inhaled corticosteroids on asthma control in children by using the new therapeutic paradigm outlined in the Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma.
Colonisation of cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is facilitated by two
lectins, which bind to the sugar coat of the surface lining epithelia and stop the cilia beating.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 65(6):1340-1345, December 2008
Pneumomediastinum occurs in up to 10% of patients with blunt thoracic and cervical trauma. Mandatory evaluation of all patients with bronchoscopy and esophageal imaging to exclude a major injury has been recommended. There is little data on the safety or efficacy of this approach.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 406-412
Occupational exposures are an important cause of adult-onset asthma but the population attributable risk percentage (PAR%) has been less frequently studied.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 413-416
In a random sample of eight to 10 accepted claims per year from 1988 to 2002, the direct costs of compensation for loss of income
(CLI) and compensation for functional impairment (CFI), as well as the associations of these costs with selected variables, were assessed.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 444-446
A case of a 54-year-old man who developed superior vena cava syndrome secondary to vascular fibrosis, 30 months after radical chemoradiation for stage III non-small cell lung cancer, is presented.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 417-422
The prevalence and mortality of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in women have been predicted to overtake that of men within the next decade. These predictions are based in part on data from surveys using self-reports of a COPD diagnosis.
Emerging Infectious Diseases Volume 1, Number 1-January 2009
Recently, 2 new, distinct polyomaviruses (PyVs), KI (KIPyV) and WU (WUPyV), were identified in respiratory specimens, mainly from children <5 years of age with respiratory tract infections.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200809-1422OC
Atopy or atopic syndrome is an allergic hypersensitivity subject to hereditary influences. Aberrant expression of chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1), also known as YKL-40 or HC gp-39, is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and allergic diseases.
Poor sleep and sleep-related breathing disorders are common in patients with end-stage renal disease
(ESRD) but are often unrecognized and undertreated.
Smoking is the principle risk factor for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) is known to protect against toxic compounds and oxidative stress, and might play a role in protection against smoke-induced disease progression.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
The GOLD guidelines suggest that the presence of a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 80% of the predicted value in combination with a FEV1/forced vital capacity
(FVC) < 70% confirms the diagnosis of COPD.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) is effective in the treatment of patients with acute respiratory failure
(ARF). It proved to reduce the need of endotracheal intubation
(ETI), the incidence of ETI-associated pneumonia, and mortality compared to nonventilated patients.
To review published evidence regarding the cost effectiveness of multi-component COPD programs and to illustrate how potentially cost effective programs can be identified.
We are developing a collapsible, percutaneously inserted, axial flow blood pump to support the cavopulmonary circulation in infants with a failing single ventricle physiology.
This study examined the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in recruiting inflammatory cells to the lung after induction of injury with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cigarette smoke.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 65(6):1271-1277, December 2008
More than one half of lower respiratory cultures are negative for ventilator-associated pneumonia
(VAP) and final reporting requires 72 hours to 96 hours.
This study was undertaken to determine whether there was an association between air pollutant levels and hospital admissions for pneumonia in Taipei, Taiwan. Hospital admissions for pneumonia and ambient air pollution data for Taipei were obtained for the period from 1996-2004.
Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology Volume 20, Issue 1, Pages 39-45 (January 2009)
To prospectively evaluate the effect of injected ethanol on pulmonary artery pressure during embolosclerotherapy of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
Clinical Microbiology and Infection Published Online: 22 Dec 2008
In total, 40 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were included in this study. Twenty of these were collected in 1994 and 1997, from six CF patients, and the rest were collected from different CF patients in 2000 and 2001.
Intensive Care Medicine 0342-4642 (Print)
DOI10.1007/s00134-008-1368-1
To investigate the effect of enteral Synbiotic 2000 FORTE(R) (a mixture of lactic acid bacteria and
fibre) on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia
(VAP) in critically ill patients.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200705-795OC
The airway epithelium of smokers is subject to a variety of mechanisms of injury, with consequent modulation of epithelial regeneration and disordered differentiation.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2009;80:60-64
Some patients with Fisher syndrome (FS) developed subsequent descending tetraparesis
(Fisher/Guillain-Barre overlapping syndrome: FS/GBS). The assumption is that such descending progression may frequently lead to respiratory failure.
Particulate air pollution is associated with increased risk of pulmonary diseases and detrimental outcomes related to the cardiovascular system, including altered vessel functions. This study's objective was too evaluate the effects of ambient particle exposure on the blood-gas permeability, lung function and Clara cell 16 (CC16) protein release in healthy young subjects.
Acute interstitial pneumonia is a rapidly progressive disease frequently leading to respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation. The prognosis is usually poor despite aggressive diagnostic and treatment efforts.
Postgraduate Medicine Volume: 120 Number: 4 Index: November 2008
Bronchiectasis is characterized by permanent, abnormal dilation of the bronchi with chronic inflammation and infection. Bronchiectasis is either caused by or associated with several systemic disorders, and in a significant number of cases, the underlying etiology remains unidentified and is subsequently referred to as idiopathic.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 437-443
There is evidence that combination therapy (CT) in the form of long-acting beta2-agonists
(LABAs) and inhaled corticosteroids can improve lung function for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 427-430
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a progressive disease despite improvement when using one of three medication classes:
prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists or phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 65(6):1328-1332, December 2008
Respiratory complications can undermine outcome from low cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) (C5-T1). Most devastating of these is catastrophic loss of airway control. This study sought to determine the incidence and effect of catastrophic airway loss
(CLA) and to define the need for elective intubation with subsequent tracheostomy to prevent potentially fatal outcomes.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 65(6):1340-1345, December 2008
Pneumomediastinum occurs in up to 10% of patients with blunt thoracic and cervical trauma. Mandatory evaluation of all patients with bronchoscopy and esophageal imaging to exclude a major injury has been recommended.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 406-412
Occupational exposures are an important cause of adult-onset asthma but the population attributable risk percentage (PAR%) has been less frequently studied.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 413-416
In a random sample of eight to 10 accepted claims per year from 1988 to 2002, the direct costs of compensation for loss of income
(CLI) and compensation for functional impairment (CFI), as well as the associations of these costs with selected variables, were assessed.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 444-446
A case of a 54-year-old man who developed superior vena cava syndrome secondary to vascular fibrosis, 30 months after radical chemoradiation for stage III non-small cell lung cancer, is presented.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 417-422
The prevalence and mortality of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in women have been predicted to overtake that of men within the next decade.
Emerging Infectious Diseases Volume 1, Number 1-January 2009
Recently, 2 new, distinct polyomaviruses (PyVs), KI (KIPyV) and WU (WUPyV), were identified in respiratory specimens, mainly from children <5 years of age with respiratory tract infections.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200809-1422OC
Atopy or atopic syndrome is an allergic hypersensitivity subject to hereditary influences. Aberrant expression of chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1), also known as YKL-40 or HC gp-39, is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and allergic diseases.
Poor sleep and sleep-related breathing disorders are common in patients with end-stage renal disease
(ESRD) but are often unrecognized and undertreated.
Smoking is the principle risk factor for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) is known to protect against toxic compounds and oxidative stress, and might play a role in protection against smoke-induced disease progression.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
The GOLD guidelines suggest that the presence of a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 80% of the predicted value in combination with a FEV1/forced vital capacity
(FVC) < 70% confirms the diagnosis of COPD.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) is effective in the treatment of patients with acute respiratory failure
(ARF). It proved to reduce the need of endotracheal intubation
(ETI), the incidence of ETI-associated pneumonia, and mortality compared to nonventilated patients.
To review published evidence regarding the cost effectiveness of multi-component COPD programs and to illustrate how potentially cost effective programs can be identified.
We are developing a collapsible, percutaneously inserted, axial flow blood pump to support the cavopulmonary circulation in infants with a failing single ventricle physiology.
This study examined the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in recruiting inflammatory cells to the lung after induction of injury with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cigarette smoke.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 65(6):1271-1277, December 2008
More than one half of lower respiratory cultures are negative for ventilator-associated pneumonia
(VAP) and final reporting requires 72 hours to 96 hours. A previous retrospective study concluded that preliminary bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture results
(pBAL), reported at approximately 24 hours, accurately predicted final BAL culture results
(fBAL).
This study was undertaken to determine whether there was an association between air pollutant levels and hospital admissions for pneumonia in Taipei, Taiwan.
Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology Volume 20, Issue 1, Pages 39-45 (January 2009)
This prospective study was conducted in 16 male and 14 female patients (37 sessions; mean age, 34 years; age range, 17-67 years) with AVMs during a 2-year period.
Clinical Microbiology and Infection Published Online: 22 Dec 2008
In total, 40 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were included in this study. Twenty of these were collected in 1994 and 1997, from six CF patients, and the rest were collected from different CF patients in 2000 and 2001.
Intensive Care Medicine 0342-4642 (Print) 10.1007/s00134-008-1368-1
To investigate the effect of enteral Synbiotic 2000 FORTE(R) (a mixture of lactic acid bacteria and
fibre) on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia
(VAP) in critically ill patients.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200705-795OC
The airway epithelium of smokers is subject to a variety of mechanisms of injury, with consequent modulation of epithelial regeneration and disordered differentiation. Several signaling pathways, including the Notch pathway, control epithelial differentiation in lung morphogenesis, but little is known about the role of these pathways in adults.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2009;80:60-64
Some patients with Fisher syndrome (FS) developed subsequent descending tetraparesis
(Fisher/Guillain-Barre overlapping syndrome: FS/GBS). The assumption is that such descending progression may frequently lead to respiratory failure.
Particulate air pollution is associated with increased risk of pulmonary diseases and detrimental outcomes related to the cardiovascular system, including altered vessel functions. This study's objective was too evaluate the effects of ambient particle exposure on the blood-gas permeability, lung function and Clara cell 16 (CC16) protein release in healthy young subjects.
Acute interstitial pneumonia is a rapidly progressive disease frequently leading to respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation. The prognosis is usually poor despite aggressive diagnostic and treatment efforts.
The frequency of nighttime asthma symptoms is an important measure of asthma severity. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of daytime and nighttime symptoms in adults and children with asthma and to evaluate the impact of nighttime symptoms on sleep and daytime activities.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 437-443
There is evidence that combination therapy (CT) in the form of long-acting beta2-agonists
(LABAs) and inhaled corticosteroids can improve lung function for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2008, Volume 15 Issue 8: 427-430
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a progressive disease despite improvement when using one of three medication classes:
prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists or phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Combination therapy has been proposed for patients with unsatisfactory response to
monotherapy.
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2008, 6:115doi:10.1186/1477-7525-6-115
Subjective health status is the result of an interaction between physiological and psychosocial factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 40, pp. 76-82, 2009
Previous studies from our lab have demonstrated that upon exposure to physiologic levels of cyclic stretch, alveolar epithelial cells demonstrate a significant decrease in the amount of polymerized tubulin (Geiger et al., Gene Therapy 2006;13:725-731).
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 40, pp. 13-18, 2009
Lung inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) are hallmarks of asthma, but their interrelationship is unclear. Excessive shortening of airway smooth muscle
(ASM) in response to bronchoconstrictors is likely an important determinant of
AHR.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 40, pp. 19-30, 2009
Particulate matter (PM) in ambient air is a risk factor for human respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The delivery of PM to airway epithelial cells has been linked to release of proinflammatory cytokines; however, the mechanisms of PM-induced inflammatory responses are not well-characterized.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 40, pp. 58-65, 2009
Dysregulated inflammation has been implicated in cystic fibrosis (CF) airway
pathophysiology. The expression of inflammatory genes, like interleukin 8 (IL8), involves chromatin remodeling through histone
acetylation.
Chronic pulmonary hypertension (PH) results in right ventricular (RV) mechanical
dyssynchrony. However, its effects on left ventricular (LV) mechanics have not been examined.
Determination of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in patients with suspected or known pulmonary hypertension (PH) requires right heart catheterization.
American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 336(6):462-466, December 2008
Recent studies suggest that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may have beneficial effects for patients with or at risk for pneumonia. However, other studies have not found a survival benefit.
Childhood constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans (CBO) is characterized clinically by the persistence of obstructive respiratory symptoms following a prolonged episode of lower respiratory viral infection.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder associated with early atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.. Published Online First: 9 December 2008. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.153122
Excessive release of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) may contribute to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in very preterm infants. It has been proposed that the risk of developing BPD may be associated with host genetic factors that regulate TNF production.
Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a rare but potentially fatal condition that may present with a wide range of clinical manifestations including congestive heart failure, conduction abnormalities, and most notably, sudden death.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 6 December 2008, pp. e1219-e1224
The objective of this study was to evaluate a novel method of distal end-tidal CO2 capnography by comparison with PaCO2 and with the more standard method that measures mainstream proximal end-tidal CO2 in intubated infants.
Disease Management & Health Outcomes, Volume 16, Number 5, 2008 , pp. 319-325(7)
Treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) demands a great deal of time and technology, which physicians and healthcare systems tend to have in short supply. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the US and the disease is severely under-diagnosed. Many physicians report being too rushed to provide optimal care to patients with
COPD, and many gaps exist in patient care and physician knowledge.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Medical treatment of emphysema does not alter the natural progression of the disease. Surgical techniques are an attractive conceptual approach to treat hyperinflation in these patients. Lung volume reduction surgery and lung transplantation are appropriate therapeutic options for a selected population with emphysema.
People with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (HRF) often have a ventilatory limitation to exercise with difficulty performing activities of daily living. Although non-invasive ventilation
(NIV) appears to reduce the ventilatory limitation and improve exercise performance in people with severe
COPD, the effect of NIV during functional activities such as unsupported arm exercise
(UAE) and ground walking in people with chronic HRF is unclear.
Inequalities in the use of new medications may contribute to health disparities. We analyzed socioeconomic gradients in the use of tiotropium for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
COPD is a chronic disease and, like many other chronic diseases, there is no treatment to reverse the severity of the disease except for lung transplant.
Thorax. Published Online First: 15 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.103671
Although airflow limitation improved by inhaled anticholinergic drugs varies among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), the relationship between actual bronchodilation and improved pulmonary function and where in the lung such bronchodilation occurs remains unknown.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 131, Issue 2, Pages e83-e84 (9 January 2009)
Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis is a challenging task. The presented case illustrates the importance of systemic ECG in the management of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and the utility of cardiac MRI in the diagnostic procedure of cardiac involvement of the disease.
Secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) has been described in several clinical settings that can be grouped into three main categories: infections of the lung; haematological malignancies and other conditions that alter the patient's immune status; and exposure to inhaled chemicals and minerals.
Effective management of respiratory tract involvement is very important in improving the prognosis of relapsing polychondritis (RPC). This case report describes a 19-year-old patient with RPC, who required frequent hospitalization due to recurrent exacerbations of airway obstruction.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 131, Issue 2, Pages e48-e50 (9 January 2009)
Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia is a rare benign pathological condition of bone in which proliferation of fibrous and osteoid elements results in expansile deformities of the skeleton.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death throughout the world and is largely associated with cigarette smoking.
Assessment of airway inflammation in the clinical course of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(AECOPD) may advance our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment.
Thorax. Published Online First: 15 December 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.0973
Malnutrition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with poor prognosis yet evidence to support the role of dietary counselling and food fortification is lacking.
BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2008, 8:26doi:10.1186/1471-2466-8-26
Global Initiative Strategy for Asthma Management (GINA) is poorly applied in undeveloped and developing countries. The current study examined the effects of applying GINA guidelines on treatment efficacy in asthmatic patients in Iran.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Published Online: 18 Dec 2008
In the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) I, the lowest prevalence of asthma and atopy was found in ReykjavÃk (Iceland) and Tartu (Estonia). The aim of this study was to compare home environments in ReykjavÃk and Tartu to a town with a higher prevalence of asthma and atopy (Uppsala, Sweden) in an attempt to identify factors in the indoor environment that could explain these differences.
Patients may be referred for cardiology assessment because of an enlarged right ventricle (RV) with no cause apparent on echocardiography. Cardiac MRI can contribute to the management of these patients by detecting sinus venosus defect or partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection
(PAPVC).
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic accuracy of a new
MRI-based relative lung-to-head ratio in regard to neonatal survival and need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
(ECMO) in the care of fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia
(CDH) and to compare it with the previously described sonographic relative lung-to-head ratio and relative fetal lung volume assessed at antenatal
MRI.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica First Published on: 08 December 2008
Elective tracheostomy with custom-made tubes was tolerated in a majority of patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
(OSAS), as it reduced daytime symptoms and served as a link to other treatments.
Pulmonary fibrosis, in particular idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), results from aberrant wound healing and scarification. One population of fibroblasts involved in the fibrotic process is thought to originate from lung epithelial cells via
epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Inhaled corticosteroids are used to treat COPD and asthma. An association between sequence variants in the corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) gene and improved lung function in asthmatics treated with inhaled corticosteroids was reported recently.
Although sodium disturbances are common in hospitalized patients, few studies have specifically investigated the epidemiology of sodium disturbances in the intensive care unit (ICU). The objectives of this study were to describe the incidence of ICU acquired hyponatremia and hypernatremia and assess their effects on ICU outcome.
The purpose of this study was to assess whether radiation dose savings using a lower peak kilovoltage
(kVp) setting, bismuth breast shields, and automatic tube current modulation could be achieved while preserving the image quality of MDCT scans obtained to assess for pulmonary embolus (PE).
Acta Radiologica First Published on: 19 December 2008
Respiratory motion causes uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) images of chest and abdominal structures to be blurred and reduced in intensity.
Early discharge care and self-management education, although effective in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), do not typically reduce hospital re-admission rates for exacerbations of the disease.
A significant part of the budget of our bronchoscopy unit represents repair costs for damaged bronchoscopes. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, type and cause of damage to the bronchoscope as well as the repair costs.
Transcutaneous blood gas-monitoring systems with miniaturized SpO2 (peripheral blood oxygen saturation)/PCO2 combined sensors
(TOSCATM) have been widely used.
Internal Medicine Journal, Volume 38, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 829-836(8)
The aim of the study was to study the effect of 6 months of continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP) in community heart failure (HF) patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
(OSA).
The purpose of this study was to determine whether measurements of lung attenuation at inspiration and expiration obtained from 3D lung reconstructions reflect the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Expiratory pressure relief continuous positive airway pressure (pressure relief
CPAP, C-Flex(R)) is known to be as effective in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA) as conventional CPAP while improving overall patients' adherence. However, the effects of C-Flex on ventilation during sleep have not been studied yet.
Obstructive bronchiolar disease or constrictive bronchiolitis, particularly in non-transplant patients, is poorly understood. This study identified the associated diseases, presenting features, and clinical course of obstructive bronchiolar disease identified by CT in the non-transplant adult population.
The effects of tiotropium, a long-acting anticholinergic drug, were compared with those of the combination of
salmeterol, a long-acting {beta}2-agonist, and fluticasone, an inhaled corticosteroid, in patients with
COPD.
Amoxycillin/clavulanate is considered first-line treatment for ambulatory exacerbations of
COPD. However, narrow-spectrum antibiotics may be as useful for mild to moderate patients.
Lung injury in cystic fibrosis is caused by recurrent airway infection and inflammation. Neutrophils are important in combating these infections but are also the predominate cells involved in the inflammatory process.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) has been associated with cardiovascular disease in epidemiological and observational studies. Continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP) is the treatment of choice for OSAS, but the impact of this intervention on systemic inflammation involved in the atherosclerotic process remains unclear.
The protective effects of breastfeeding on early life respiratory infections are established, but there have been conflicting reports on protection from asthma in late childhood. The association of breastfeeding duration and lung function was assessed in 10-year-old children.
In November 2006 a 33-year-old man was admitted with acute respiratory distress following a suicide attempt (50 hydroxyzine tablets and a vial of diazepam). The patient’s medical history included a heroin and cocaine addiction which was substituted by methadone 4 years previously; epilepsy treated with valproic acid; and manic-depressive disorder treated with
cyamemazine, olanzapine, zopiclone and diazepam.
A 70-year-old man with severe smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) was recruited to a research study to examine the trafficking of 99m-technetium (99mTc)-labelled
neutrophils.
Until the 1906 Food and Drug Act in the USA, it was common for travelling salesman to move from town to town selling miraculous cures in the form of patent medicines.
More than 40 years ago Benjamin Burrows and his colleagues described the distinctive clinical, functional, radiological and pathological characteristics of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) phenotypes that they called emphysematous and bronchial types of chronic airways obstruction.
The contribution of occupational exposures to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and, in particular, their potential interaction with cigarette smoking remains underappreciated.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by an abnormal inflammatory reaction of the lungs involving activation of epithelial cells.
Although exercise training has beneficial effects on skeletal muscle bioenergetics and exercise performance in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), it may also be associated with increased quadriceps oxidative and nitrosative stress.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by the presence of airflow limitation caused by loss of lung elasticity and/or airway narrowing.
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, remains a serious animal health problem in the UK, despite longstanding statutory surveillance and control measures.
In adults with asthma, ventilation heterogeneity, independent of inflammation, has been hypothesised to be associated with airway
remodelling. Bronchial biopsy in preschool children with wheeze demonstrates early structural changes.
Statins are widely used to treat hyperlipidaemia. Their immunosuppressive effect has recently been confirmed in various immune mediated disease models.
The links between asthma and rhinitis are now referred to as united airways disease
(UAD). Current evidence shows that the UAD model seems to be applicable to occupational rhinitis (OR) and occupational asthma (OA).
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 40, pp. 90-98, 2009
Several lines of evidence indicate that perturbations in the extracellular thiol/disulfide redox environment correlate with the progression and severity of acute lung injury (ALI).
In contrast with the frequency distribution of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stages in the population, in which the majority of the patients is classified as GOLD 2, much less information is available on the prevalence and implications of systemic manifestations in less severe patients relative to GOLD 3 and 4.
Vascular Health and Risk Management Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
To assess for the first time the vasodilatory effect of testosterone in the human pulmonary circulation utilizing both isolated human pulmonary arteries and isolated perfused human lungs. In addition, a secondary aim was to determine whether there was any difference in the response to testosterone dependant upon gender.
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2008, 6:115doi:10.1186/1477-7525-6-115
Subjective health status is the result of an interaction between physiological and psychosocial factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Connective tissue diseases are the most common disorders causing diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) confirmed by open lung biopsy. However, it is not known whether these diseases are also the most common causes of DAH in patients presenting with the features of ARDS/acute lung injury (ALI).
Several algorithms that predict the optimal CPAP have been developed for Caucasian patients with OSA syndrome, but these algorithms do not allow for racial differences in craniofacial anatomy.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200808-1359OC
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) is considered a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of ILD.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200804-592OC
Although the contribution of alveolar type II epithelial cells (AECII) in respiratory immunity has become increasingly appreciated, their precise function in the induction and regulation of T cell reactivity to self-antigen remains poorly understood.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200810-1540OC
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by substantial chronic inflammation in the pulmonary compartment as well as in the systemic circulation.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200808-1268OC
Polymorphisms in the gene for transforming growth factor-{beta}1 (TGFB1) have been associated with asthma, but not with airway responsiveness or disease exacerbations in asthmatics.
The diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is based on microscopic examination of respiratory specimens. PCP patients without AIDS have a lower burden of P. jiroveci than those with AIDS, which leads to difficulty in detecting the organisms.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the QuantiFERON TB-2G (QFT-2G) results in patients with active extrapulmonary tuberculosis (E-TB) to determine whether QFT-2G test might be a reliable diagnostic method for detecting active E-TB infection compared with the tuberculin skin test (TST).
Irish Journal of Medical Science Volume 141, Number 1 / December, 1972 162-167
Using a single radial diffusion technique the serum levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were estimated in sixty healthy members of the hospital staff, seventy-two patients suffering from bronchiectasis and forty-two patients suffering from chronic bronchitis and/or recurrent pneumonia.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the US and a major worldwide healthcare problem. The pathophysiologic mechanisms that drive development and progression of this disease are complex and only poorly understood.
Alcohol abuse is associated with the development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome, a disorder characterized by abnormal alveolar-capillary permeability.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 40, pp. 99-107, 2009
Circulating levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are increased during acute lung injury; however, combined effects of HGF and VEGF on pulmonary endothelial cell (EC) permeability remain to be elucidated.
American Journal of Transplantation Published Online: 15 Dec 2008
Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation causes significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine the role of cytokines and chemokines in PGD. This is a multicenter case-control study of PGD in humans.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 40, pp. 108-118, 2009
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe pneumonia associated with airspace flooding with protein-rich edema in critically ill patients. The type III secretion system is a major virulence factor and contributes to dissemination of P. aeruginosa.
Disease Management & Health Outcomes, Volume 16, Number 5, 2008 , pp. 289-296(8)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem worldwide. It is the fourth leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality in the US, and is projected to rank seventh in burden of disease worldwide by 2020.
The Visual Simplified Respiratory Questionnaire (VSRQ) was designed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains eight items: dyspnea, anxiety, depressed mood, sleep, energy, daily activities, social activities and sexual life.
Disease Management & Health Outcomes, Volume 16, Number 5, 2008 , pp. 297-303(7)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a relatively new target for disease management programs; however, asthma has long been a focus for such programs, and can provide a template for respiratory disease management.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Prescription of mucoactive drugs for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing. This development in clinical practice arises, at least in part, from a growing understanding of the important role that exacerbation frequency, systemic inflammation and oxidative stress play in the pathogenesis of respiratory disease.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 6, December 2008 , pp. 599-607(9)
The goal of disease management (DM) is to improve health outcomes and reduce cost through decreasing health care utilization. Although some studies have shown that DM improves asthma outcomes, these interventions have not been examined in a large randomized controlled trial.
Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) is an invasive procedure and has its own risks. The place of virtual bronchoscopy (VB) in the treatment of patients with a clinical and radiological suspicion of foreign body aspiration was evaluated to see whether its usage can prevent rigid bronchoscopy.
Our goal was to investigate the effect of treatment with the oral dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan on the hemodynamics and exercise capacity of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 6, December 2008 , pp. 626-630(5)
Asthma exacerbations in young children are prevalent. Identification of symptoms or other factors that are precursors of asthma exacerbations would be useful for early treatment and prevention.
Infections are major causes of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which result in significant mortality and morbidity.
Physical activity is known to cause significant deoxygenation in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been shown to improve oxygenation and physical activity in these patients, no practical approach for the application of NPPV during walking has yet been established.
The search for noninvasive procedures of retrieving cells and soluble material from the lung has gained momentum over the past few years. Induced sputum (IS) by inhalation of hypertonic saline solution is a noninvasive technique used to collect cellular and soluble material from lung airways.
Disease Management & Health Outcomes, Volume 16, Number 5, 2008 , pp. 305-313(9)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive chronic disease that is subject to acute exacerbations. Ideally, a patient with such a chronic disease should be provided with medical care that addresses these issues while empowering the patient to initiate rapid and definitive treatments to counter exacerbations.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is associated with many cardiovascular and psychiatric diseases. Day-time sleepiness is a common consequence of sleep apnea and correlates with road-traffic accidents (RTA).
Future Microbiology, Volume 3, Number 6, December 2008 , pp. 635-648(14)
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in persons of all ages and may be responsible for up to 40% of community-acquired pneumonias.
J Med Microbiol 58 (2009), 146-150; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.005272-0
Zygomycosis and aspergillosis are two serious opportunistic fungal infections that are commonly seen in immunocompromised patients. Since both these fungi invade vessels of the arterial system, an early and rapid diagnosis by direct examination of KOH mounts of the relevant clinical sample can confirm the diagnosis.
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Volume 9, Number 1 / January, 2009 3-9
The field of asthma genetics has progressed rapidly over the past decade, implicating many genes and variants in the etiology of this complex disease. However, many of these factors have failed to replicate consistently, indicating a high false-positive rate and/or insufficient power for the detection of small effects.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0240-4
Primary care is central for the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA). The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of symptoms and risk of OSA in primary care in Jordan.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis PrePrint Online: TH First 4th December 2008
The recently introduced simplified Wells rule for the exclusion of pulmonary embolism (PE) assigns only one point to the seven variables of the original Wells rule.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis PrePrint Online: TH First 4th December 2008
Hereditary deficiencies of protein S, protein C and antithrombin are known risk factors for first venous
thromboembolism. We assessed the absolute risk of recurrence, and the contribution of concomitant thrombophilic defects in a large cohort of families with these deficiencies.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 11 Dec 2008
The Division of Lung Diseases of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
(NHLBI) recently held a workshop to identify gaps in our understanding and treatment of childhood lung diseases and to define strategies to enhance translational research in this field.
The potential use of the ECG for monitoring treatment effects in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
(PAH) has not been investigated. We evaluated whether the ECG is useful for monitoring treatment response based on changes in pulmonary vascular resistance
(PVR).
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy), Volume 7, Number 4, December 2008 , pp. 260-269(10)
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is defined by a persistent elevation in pulmonary artery pressure with normal left-sided pressures. It is characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance due to increased vascular tone and structural remodeling of pulmonary vessels.
Impaired {beta}-adrenoceptor-mediated lipolysis has been reported in sarcopaenic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) patients. This could play a role in the shift in body composition towards decreased fat-free mass
(FFM) and relative maintenance of fat mass (FM).
The potential role of respiratory viruses in the natural history of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults has not been well described since the advent of nucleic amplification tests
(NATs).
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(12):1404-1409, December 2008
Lung cancer may occur in the lung transplant population because many patients are former smokers. Not much is known about risk factors and outcomes in these patients.
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) occurring during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs more frequently in women than men. We sought to characterize REM SDB prevalence by gender and age to identify factors that could account for this discrepancy.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) may increase air pollution-related mortality. The relationship of immune mechanisms to mortality caused by fine particulates in healthy and COPD populations is incompletely understood.
Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms may be more common in patients with COPD than in control subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between diagnoses of COPD and gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) in primary care.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 6 December 2008, pp. e1249-e1255
Cysteinyl leukotrienes are implicated in the inflammation of bronchiolitis. Recently, a specific cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, montelukast
(Singulair [MSD, Haarlem, Netherlands]), has been approved for infants in granule sachets.
Artificial Organs, Volume 32, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 864-869(6)
Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been used for patients with increased pulmonary vascular resistance
(PVR) shortly after Fontan operation, but repeat deterioration of PVR during or shortly after its withdrawal remains a major concern.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica First Published on: 31 October 2008
In obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), respiratory disturbances are more serious in tongue base-associated obstructions
(TBOs) than in soft palate-associated obstructions (SPOs), and the proportion of TBO was predicted by average duration of apnea and
hypopnea, and inversely by percentage time of snoring.
Annals of Internal Medicine 16 December 2008 Volume 149 Issue 12 Pages 869-878
To assess whether self-monitored, home-based rehabilitation is as effective as outpatient, hospital-based rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is most frequently caused by Streptococcus
pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, atypical pathogens, and respiratory viruses. Susceptibility to CAP can be increased by single-nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs) within the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene.
When interpreting pulmonary function tests, one should first try to determine the pattern of abnormality: is it obstructive, restrictive, or normal? Pulmonary function tests cannot by themselves distinguish among the potential causes of abnormalities, and must be interpreted in light of the patient's history, physical examination, and ancillary studies.
Current Sexual Health Reports Volume 5, Number 4 / December, 2008 171-178
Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are important components in cellular signaling in many vascular beds. Although the most recognized PDE inhibitor,
sildenafil, a specific PDE5 inhibitor, is best known for its effect on the penile vascular bed resulting in erection, it also has therapeutic effects in other vascular beds, including the coronary and pulmonary vasculature.
Mechanical forces are critical for normal fetal lung development. However, the signaling events that promote lung maturation are not fully understood. In this study, the authors analyzed the role of Rho family guanidine triphosphatases
(GTPases) in isolated embryonic day 19 (E19) fetal type II epithelial cells exposed to 5% cyclic stretch.
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:384doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-384
We describe a 41-year-old Caucasian woman with cystic fibrosis and severe lung disease who had been considered for lung transplantation, who presented with rectal bleeding and was found to have a Stage I adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon.
Disease Management & Health Outcomes, Volume 16, Number 5, 2008 , pp. 359-363(5)
Current research indicates considerable variation in everyday breathing intensity for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). This evidence highlights the importance of coaching patients to effectively manage breathing intensity, in particular, to recognize levels of breathing intensity, select the right action for the level of breathing intensity, and call for professional support when self-management does not work.
The Heart Surgery Forum Volume 11, Number 5 / October 2008 E325 - E326
Sarcoidosis, a chronic granulomatous disease with unknown etiology and pathogenesis, affects the skin and many other organs and has a course characterized by remissions and relapses.
Transplantation. 86(11):1625-1627, December 15, 2008
We report the largest single-center experience with extracorporeal photopheresis
(ECP) for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) and recurrent acute rejection (AR) after lung transplantation.
Measurements of transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (PtcCO2) with current devices are proven to provide clinically acceptable agreement with measurements of partial arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) in several settings but not during cardiopulmonary exercise testing
(CPET).
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;134(12):1270-1275
Seventy-one percent (151 of 212) of the study population were male, and the mean (SD) age was 42.3 (12.6) years. The mean (SD) body mass index, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, was 28.3 (7.3).
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 6 December 2008, pp. 1165-1170
The goal was to measure US emergency department performance in the pediatric care of asthma,
bronchiolitis, and croup, by using systematically developed quality indicators.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 6 December 2008, pp. e1231-e1235
Associations between pleural and pericardial effusions have been described in malignancy and autoimmune disorders. Bacterial pneumonia is the most frequent cause of parapneumonic effusion; however, knowledge of the relationship between parapneumonic effusion and the presence of pericardial fluid in children is limited.
Transplantation. 86(11):1554-1559, December 15, 2008
Lung transplantation impairs surfactant activity, which may contribute to primary graft dysfunction
(PGD). Prompted by studies in animals and a few reports in humans, this study sought to determine if the administration of surfactant during transplantation serves as an effective preventive measure.
BMC Health Services Research 2008, 8:258doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-258
In Japan, gargling is generally accepted as a preventive method for upper respiratory tract infections
(URTI). The effectiveness of gargling for preventing URTI was shown in a randomized controlled trial that compared the incidence of URTI in a gargling group and a control group.
The current study examined the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in mediating acute lung inflammation induced by short-term cigarette smoke exposure. Hamsters received intraperitoneal injections of ET-1, followed by a 2-hour period of smoke exposure, for 3 consecutive days.
Disease Management & Health Outcomes, Volume 16, Number 5, 2008 , pp. 275-284(10)
The incidence and economic impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is escalating worldwide and is projected to remain on a positive trajectory for many years to come.
Disease Management & Health Outcomes, Volume 16, Number 5, 2008 , pp. 353-358(6)
For many years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been under-recognized and stigmatized. Misconceptions about this disease have led to under-treatment and under-funding, resulting in an increase in the burden of
COPD.
Disease Management & Health Outcomes, Volume 16, Number 5, 2008 , pp. 345-351(7)
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a genetic disorder that leads to decreased circulating levels of
AAT, which significantly increases the risk of serious lung and liver disease.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 882 - 886
The purpose of this study was to evaluate quality of life (QOL) from a multidimensional perspective in relation to asthma control, symptom distress, and functioning in adults with asthma.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 944 - 947
Abstract
Subjects with severe and unstable asthma are at high risk of fatal asthma attack. We describe a case of fatal childhood asthma in an 11-year old girl whose asthma was apparently stable with supranormal lung function and identify additional characteristics that should be considered as increasing the risk for fatal asthma.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 853 - 861
Asthma is a common chronic pulmonary disease whose prevalence varies greatly with the sex and age of the patient. Research has shown that men and women may experience this disease differently, although these sex-related differences have not routinely translated into differences in clinical care for patients with asthma.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 931 - 935
Although it is known that women have a higher prevalence of asthma than men, it is not known whether and/or how gender differences in asthma severity are affected by age. Asthma hospitalization rates were compared for men and women in New York State from 1990 through 2006 between the ages of 20 and 84.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 916 - 922
This study examined whether racial/ethnic minority (i.e., Black, Hispanic) children with wheeze have a higher proportion of urgent care use (i.e., emergency department visit or hospitalization) for asthma compared to their White counterparts.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 908 - 910
Abstract
Few studies have compared health-related quality of life between asthmatic and healthy children. This study used data from a cross-sectional survey of parents'/guardians of 406 children residing in rural areas .
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 948 - 952
Allergic diseases are multifactorial; they develop from complex interactions between genes and the environment. The immunological bias toward atopy and asthma might be established during in utero development of the fetal immune system.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 936 - 943
Previous studies have demonstrated an association between air pollution and asthma exacerbation. Less understood is the effect of elemental carbon (EC), and the interaction of EC with temperature, on increases in pediatric asthma emergency department visits and how these relationships change across the seasons in a metropolitan area with several industries and relatively low air pollution. Measurements of EC, ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and total oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) were available from the St. Louis EPA Supersite for June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2003.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 911 - 915
Individual differences in circadian rhythm have been studied since the past century. Chronotypes are a chronobiology classification based on the preferential times for beginning and ending activities throughout the day.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 862 - 866
Risk factors for potentially fatal childhood asthma are incompletely understood. Objective. To determine whether self-reported food allergy is significantly associated with potentially fatal childhood asthma.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 923 - 930
As optimal treatment and prognosis differ between asthma and COPD, a new diagnostic approach to differentiating between the two disorders would be clinically desirable.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 887 - 892
Indacaterol is a new once-daily inhaled {beta}2-agonist in clinical development for asthma as a component of a fixed-dose combination with an inhaled corticosteroid.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 874 - 881Observations on the association between exposure to common outdoor air pollutants and allergic sensitization have not been consistent. Little research has been done on the effects of prenatal exposure or the effect among asthmatics.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 10 December 2008 , pages 893 - 902
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are recommended first-line therapy for the treatment of persistent asthma. However, reports from observational studies have suggested that the use of ICS may be associated with systemic adverse events, such as glaucoma and cataract (opacity of the lens) formation.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:80doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-80
Oxidative stress plays a potential role in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) detoxify toxic compounds in tobacco smoke via glutathione-dependent mechanisms.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:83doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-83
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by defective extracellular matrix
(ECM) turnover as a result of prolonged cigarette smoking. Fibroblasts have a central role in ECM turnover.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:82doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-82
CD8+ T cells may participate in cigarette smoke (CS) induced-lung inflammation in mice. CXCL10/IP-10
(IFN-gamma inducible protein 10) and CXCL9/Mig (monokine induced by
IFN-gamma) are up-regulated in CS-induced lung injury and may attract T-cell recruitment to the lung.
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