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Formoterol has a fast onset of action and can therefore be used to relieve symptoms of asthma. A combination inhaler can deliver formoterol with different doses of inhaled corticosteroid; when used as a reliever both drugs will be delivered more frequently when asthma symptoms increase. This has the potential to treat both bronchoconstriction and inflammation in the early stages of exacerbations.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 102, Number 2, February 2009 , pp. 161-167(7)
To assess the anti-inflammatory effect of a novel soluble formulation of nebulized budesonide compared with the present suspension formulation based on a 1:4 nominal dose ratio.
PH (pulmonary hypertension) often complicates the disease course of patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and is an indication of a worse prognosis.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Feb 2009
Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) is caused by impaired function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells that play an important role in controlling exaggerated Th2 responses.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a significant health concern as the fourth leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S.A. Although the prevalence of PH (pulmonary hypertension) in COPD is unknown, its presence is a risk factor for mortality.
Patients with COPD often experience restriction in their activities of daily living
(ADL) due to dyspnoea. This type of restriction is unique to patients with COPD and cannot be adequately evaluated by the generic ADL scales.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases First Published on: 13 February 2009
Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pyogenes colonize overlapping regions of the nasopharynx and
oropharynx. The effect of 10 H. influenzae strains (5
non-piliated parent strains and 5 piliated daughter strains) on adherence of S. pyogenes to human respiratory epithelial cells was assessed in this study.
Infection with rhinovirus (RV) is the most common trigger for acute asthma and
COPD. The aim of this study was to characterize the variability in the response of primary bronchial epithelial cells to infection with several strains of RV.
Optimal management of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) requires medical expertise, diagnostic testing, and therapies that may not be available consistently throughout the entire week. We sought to assess whether associations exist between weekday or weekend admission and mortality and length of hospital stay for patients hospitalized with PE.
Thorax. Published Online First: 21 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.103739
There is an increasing understanding that extreme preterm birth carries a risk of long-term pulmonary
sequelae. We investigated if and in what way neonatal factors were associated with subsequent abnormalities on pulmonary high-resolution computed tomography
(HRCT), and if pulmonary function was related to these abnormalities.
European Radiology 0938-7994 (Print) 10.1007/s00330-009-1306-9
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of airway malacia and its relationship with ancillary morphologic features in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
Severe diaphragmatic dysfunction can prolong mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. An ultrasonographic criterion for diagnosing severe diaphragmatic dysfunction defined by a reference technique such as transdiaphragmatic pressure measurements has never been determined.
Small airways obstruction syndrome (SAOS) is a particular pulmonary function test
(PFT) pattern showing decreased VC and FEV1 but a normal FEV1/VC ratio and TLC. The significance of this syndrome in clinical practice has not been comprehensively investigated.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Published Online: 11 Feb 2009
Informed consent was taken from all the included children, and the study design was agreed by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.
Emergency medicine clinicians frequently diagnose and treat patients with pneumonia. The recent recognition of healthcare-associated pneumonia
(HCAP) mandates that emergency medicine clinicians remain current and able to distinguish this from community-acquired pneumonia.
Thorax. Published Online First: 8 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.105312
Prognostic scales provide a useful tool to predict mortality in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, the inflammatory response of the host, crucial in resolution and outcome, is not included in the prognostic scales.
Respiratory Research 2009, 10:9doi:10.1186/1465-9921-10-9
Airway narrowing associated with chronic asthma results in the transmission of injurious compressive forces to the bronchial epithelium and promotes the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and the denudation of the bronchial epithelium.
European Journal of Endocrinology (2009) In press DOI: 10.1530/EJE-08-0888
Low testosterone levels in men have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis and lately also an increased risk of both cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. As arterial cardiovascular diseases and venous thromboembolism
(VTE) have been shown to share common risk factors, the purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of endogenous sex hormone levels on the incidence of VTE in a cohort of men.
The present work explored gene expression and spontaneous induction of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18) in atherosclerotic patients. In addition, the effect of the chlamydial antigen heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the induction of this mediator was examined.
Cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke are associated with premature death from chronic diseases, economic losses to society, and a substantial burden on the United States health-care system.
Interstitial lung disease is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with systemic sclerosis
(SSc). There are currently no recommended guidelines for management of these patients.
European Journal of Pediatrics Volume 161, Supplement 1 / December, 2002 S93-S96
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterised by the presence of pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure >25 mmHg at rest or >30 mmHg during exercise) and normal pulmonary wedge pressure (<12 mmHg).
Thorax. Published Online First: 21 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.106385
The association between environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) and childhood pneumonia has not been established in developed or developing countries. We conducted this study to assess the effect and impact of ETS exposure on pneumonia among children in central Vietnam.
Thorax. Published Online First: 21 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.106096
Chronic mucosal inflammation, epithelial damage and aberrant tissue remodeling are common features in nasal polyposis (NP). We sought to characterize gene expression profile within NP tissues and to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the ameliorative effects of glucocorticosteroids (GCs) in NP.
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology:Volume 31(2)February 2009pp 97-100
Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease that occurs in 20% to 40% of adults. Measurement of maximal tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity
(TRV) by echocardiography provides a noninvasive screening tool; TRV values ≥2.5 m/s are correlated with PHT and increased mortality.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 132, Issue 1, Pages e31-e33 (6 February 2009)
Atherosclerotic renovascular disease (ARVD) is a common manifestation of atheromatous disease. Whilst it usually displays a chronic and asymptomatic course, it is increasingly recognised as playing a significant pathophysiological role in a number of clinical presentations.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200808-1281OC
General intensive care units provide care across a wide range of diagnoses while specialty ICUs provide diagnosis-specific care. Risk-adjusted outcome differences across such units are unknown. Objective: To determine the association between specialty ICU care and the outcome of critical illness.
Gender differences in the prevalence of various manifestations of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
(OSAS) is not as great as previously believed. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical patient characteristics of Japanese women and men with
OSAS.
J Med Microbiol 58 (2009), 322-326; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.003335-0
Eighty per cent of the cases of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(AECOPD) have an infective aetiology, atypical bacteria including Mycoplasma pneumoniae accounting for 5-10 % of these.
J Med Microbiol 58 (2009), 296-302; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.006031-0
Sequential multiplex PCR was evaluated for detection of multiple Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes directly from nasopharyngeal secretions. A total of 279 nasopharyngeal swab samples were tested blindly.
COPD is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Although the prevalence of COPD is already well documented, there are only few studies regarding the incidence of
COPD.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Feb 2009
To assess if chest radiographic findings present on admission are associated with severity of childhood community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), a total of 161 children hospitalized with pulmonary infiltrate were enrolled in the study; 48 (30%) patients were excluded because of presence of bilateral chest radiographic alterations (33; 20%) and presence of underlying diseases (15; 9%). According to WHO and BTS criteria, severe CAP was present in 57 (50%) and in 96 (85%) cases, respectively; 29 (26%) were aged less than 1 year.
Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is a category of nosocomial pneumonia defined by the 2005 American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America
(ATS/IDSA) guidelines to include any patient who has been hospitalized in an acute care hospital for 2 or more days within the past 90 days; residents of a nursing home or long-term care facility; recipients of recent intravenous antibiotic therapy, chemotherapy, or wound care within the past 30 days; or patients who have attended a hospital or hemodialysis clinic.
Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
February 2009, Vol. 3, No. 1, Pages 37-51
Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only immunomodulatory and etiological therapy of allergy and asthma. Conventional specific immunotherapy (SIT) with whole-allergen extract is antigen specific, effective on multiple organs, efficient on asthma in defined conditions, provides long-lasting protection and is cost effective.
Current antibiotics available for the treatment of healthcare-associated pneumonia
(HCAP) may result in clinical failure due to resistance development, side effect intolerance, or poor
pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profiles.
Evidence-based guidelines recommend serial measurements of peak expiratory flow
(PEF) on days at and away from work as the first step in the objective confirmation of occupational asthma.
American Journal of Epidemiology, doi:10.1093/aje/kwn406
Studies of uranium miners on the US Colorado Plateau have identified associations between exposure to radon progeny and risk of lung cancer. This study added 15 years of mortality follow-up for the 4,137 miners (primarily white or American Indian) in the Colorado Plateau cohort.
A previous study from our laboratory identified 3-locus risk and protective haplotypes of the MS4A2 gene, a prime candidate for asthma and
atopy, that were associated with differential histamine release profiles from basophils and FcepsiRIbeta transcript levels in the Indian population.
There is evidence for an association between serum cholesterol concentrations and asthma, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We explored the associations between serum apolipoprotein concentrations and symptoms of asthma and
atopy.
Thorax. Published Online First: 21 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.104067
Chronic allograft failure occurs as a result of alloimmune and non-allo-immune injury. Dendritic cells (DC) are thought to be crucial in regulating
(allo)immune airway damage and interactions with epithelial cells are likely. Studies in human lung transplantation are limited however, and the available literature on DC inconsistent. Our study focused on the ex-vivo influence of primary bronchial epithelial cells derived from lung allografts on DC differentiation.
Thorax. Published Online First: 8 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.102111
The pathophysiological basis to severe RSV bronchiolitis in infancy is poorly understood and has hindered vaccine development. Studies implicate the cell-mediated immune response in disease pathogenesis. A recent twin-study estimated a heritable contribution of 22% to RSV
bronchiolitis. Genetic epidemiology provides a new approach in identifying important immune determinants of disease severity.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 40, pp. 268-276, 2009
Cigarette smoke-induced lung disease presents a morphologic contradiction in that the small airways become fibrotic but the parenchyma becomes emphysematous over time.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200807-1104OC
Modulation of the activity of SERCAs can profoundly affect Ca2+ homeostasis. Although altered calcium homeostasis is a characteristic of cystic fibrosis (CF), the role of SERCA is unknown.
J Am Coll Cardiol Img, 2009; 2:143-149, doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2008.10.012
We evaluated the utility of tissue Doppler-derived right ventricular (RV) Tei (or myocardial performance) index in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
(CTEPH) before and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) and assessed correlations with mean pulmonary artery pressure
(mPAP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and cardiac output (CO).
Sang Thrombose Vaisseaux. Volume 21, Number 1, 39-45, janvier 2009
Morbidly obese patients have a high prevalence of known and unknown cardiopulmonary diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the value of cardiopulmonary tests routinely performed before bariatric surgery.
Nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) was first described in 1978. Since then there has been much written regarding NHAP and its management despite the lack of well-designed studies in this patient population.
Sang Thrombose Vaisseaux. Volume 21, Number 1, 31-8, janvier 2009
Arterial and venous thromboses have traditionally been viewed as distinct conditions, with differences in risk factors, pathology and treatment. However, recent epidemiological studies have suggested associations between venous
thromboembolism, arterial thromboembolism (myocardial infarction and stroke] and atherosclerosis.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2009 PrePrint Online: TH First 9th Feb 2009
The post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) occurs frequently after deep venous thrombosis
(DVT) despite appropriate anticoagulant therapy. A close relationship between inflammation and thrombosis exists.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2009 PrePrint Online: TH First 9th Feb 2009
A pregnant woman has a two- to five-fold higher risk of venous thromboembolism
(VTE) than a non-pregnant woman of the same age and, in developed countries, she is more likely to die from fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) than from obstetric
haemorrhage.
The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare high-resolution CT findings among cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) patients with normal and elevated serum KL-6 levels.
The aim of our study is to investigate prospectively the quantitative relationship between deep venous thrombosis
(DVT) and acute pulmonary embolism (PE). 110 patients clinically suspected of having venous thromboembolic disease underwent combined CT pulmonary angiography
(CTPA) and venography of lower limb veins.
The aim of this study was to investigate the appearance of microbubbles during radiofrequency ablation
(RFA) of lung tumours. Eight consecutive patients (mean age, 73.1 years; 3 men and 5 women; 10 malignant lesions; mean lesion size, 24.8 mm) who underwent RFA of lung tumours using internally cooled single electrodes were enrolled.
Southern Medical Journal:Volume 102(2)February 2009pp 171-174
Tracheobronchial foreign body (TFB) aspiration is rare in adults, although incidence rates increase with advancing age. Risk factors for TFB aspiration in adults are a depressed mental status or impairment in the swallowing reflex.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 10 Feb 2009
Many parents and caretakers of children and adolescents with mild persistent asthma
(MPA) do not follow proposed guidelines, namely the daily and continuous administration of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 10 Feb 2009
Obesity impacts on many issues of pulmonary medicine, where it is debated if obesity is linked to asthma, atopy or altered lung function tests. Our study aimed to investigate primarily the effect of obesity on the lung function tests and secondary the possible link of obesity with atopy and asthma in a large cohort of children in Greece.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 132, Issue 2, Pages 176-186 (20 February 2009)
There is growing evidence linking obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome
(OSAHS) with multiple cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Exercise testing is generally available and routinely used to provide valuable information on cardiopulmonary function in healthy and diseased populations.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 132, Issue 2, Pages 203-209 (20 February 2009)
Sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is a predictive factor of cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that SAHS could influence coronary atherosclerosis plaque volume as assessed by 3-dimensional intravascular ultrasound (3D-IVUS).
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200807-1125OC
Previous data suggested that serum levels of soluble mesothelin (SM) are related to tumor size and may have prognostic significance in malignant pleural mesothelioma
(MPM). We tested the hypothesis that this marker could also be useful for monitoring response to treatment.
J Med Microbiol 58 (2009), 365-370; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.004358-0
Nowadays, influenza antigen detection test kits are used most frequently to detect influenza A or B virus to establish the diagnosis of influenza rapidly and initiate appropriate therapy. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the actim Influenza A&B test
(Medix Biochemica).
The FEV1/forced expiratory volume at 6 s of exhalation (FEV6) ratio has been suggested as a surrogate for the
FEV1/FVC ratio to detect airway obstruction.
Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by resident and inflammatory cells in the respiratory tract by the enzyme NO synthase
(NOS), which exists in three isoforms: neuronal NOS (nNOS), inducible NOS
(iNOS), and endothelial NOS.
Guidelines published jointly by the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America endorse the practice of appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia
(VAP) and even provide recommendations for specific antibiotics based on whether a patient has risk factors for
multidrug-resistant infections.
The first point of a good diagnostic strategy for healthcare-associated pneumonia
(HCAP) is correct classification of patients with specific criteria, as suggested by the last American Thoracic Society/ Infectious Diseases Society of America
(ATS/IDSA) guidelines.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 16, Number 3, March 2009 , pp. 386-391(6)
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an independent risk factor for stroke. Impairment of cerebral autoregulation may play a potential role in the pre-disposition to stroke of OSAS patients. In this study, we aimed to assess dynamic cerebral autoregulation
(DCA) during wakefulness in OSAS patients and a group of matched controls.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) increases length of stay (LOS) in VAP versus
non-VAP patients, but LOS differences among VAP patients remain unexplained.
Although cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for COPD, COPD develops in only a minority of smokers, suggesting a significant genetic role. To solve the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism, it is critical to understand genes and their final product,
ie, proteins.
The mechanisms underlying the association between air pollution and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are unknown. This study aimed to determine whether controlled exposure to elemental carbon ultrafine particles
(UFP) affects electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters describing heart rate variability; repolarization duration, morphology, and variability; and changes in the ST segment.
Heart, Lung, and Circulation Tension Chylothorax: A Rare Life Threatening Entity After Pneumonectomy
Chylothorax is an accumulation of chyle in the pleural space due to disruption or blockage of the thoracic duct or its lymphatic tributaries. The thoracic duct carries
chyle, which is defined as lymphatic fluid of intestinal origin, to the bloodstream.
Arch Dis Child. Published Online First: 20 January 2009. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.150789
Problems with sleep, eating and adherence to therapy may adversely affect health outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Data about prevalence of such problems, associated parenting styles and caregiver mental health are limited.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 5, Number 1, February 2009 , pp. 59-61(3)
Diaphragmatic pacing, also known as electrophrenic respiration or phrenic pacing has been used for quite some time in patients with respiratory failure due to diaphragmatic paralysis.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 5, Number 1, February 2009 , pp. 49-54(6)
Pulmonary hemorrhage (PH) is a life-threatening complication in systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) occurring in 0.5% to 5.7% of lupus patients. PH is more common in women.
Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and CD14 contribute to the recognition of pathogens by cells, which triggers the activation of defence responses.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. There is evidence that
adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) may be involved in the development of cardiometabolic dysfunction.
Arch Dis Child. Published Online First: 15 January 2009. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.143636
There is a longstanding recognition that asthma is a variable disease and attempts to elucidate the causes of asthma have been hampered by its genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity. The recognition that asthma constitutes several distinct phenotypes, the development of novel non-invasive biomarkers of airway inflammation and the desire to maximise information from large-scale genotyping studies have prompted new approaches to defining asthma phenotypes in adults and children.
Journal of General Internal Medicine 0884-8734 (Print) 10.1007/s11606-009-0907-y
Smoking cessation has been demonstrated to reduce the rate of loss of lung function and mortality among patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
The aim of the present study was to use the diaphragm electromyogram (EMGdi) to compare levels of neural respiratory drive
(NRD) in a cohort of healthy subjects and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) patients, and to investigate the relationship between NRD and pulmonary function in
COPD.
Thorax. Published Online First: 8 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.105080
The aim of this study was to identify key factors on admission predicting the development of complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema in patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 5, Number 1, February 2009 , pp. 55-58(4)
Antibodies mediate humoral immune responses and play key roles in the defense of viral infection by the recognition, neutralization, and elimination of viruses from the circulation. For the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, the pooled human plasma has been harvested and successfully developed as a prophylactic polyclonal RSV hyperimmune globulin, RespiGam
(RSV-IGIV; MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD).
This study aimed to determine the association between home and vehicle exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
(ETS), and chronic bronchitis based on data from 64,961 non-smokers aged 12 years and older who participated in the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey
(CCHS).
Risk factors for early mortality after pulmonary embolism (PE) are widely known. However, it is uncertain which factors are associated with early readmission after PE. We sought to identify predictors of readmission after an admission for PE.
Thorax. Published Online First: 27 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.105155
The epidemiology of respiratory viruses and their potential clinical impact when recovered in lower respiratory specimens has not been established in the hospital setting.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0244-0
Since both obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and periodontitis are associated with systemic inflammation and cardiovascular morbidity, we questioned whether there may be an association between these two disorders.
Depression is an important comorbidity for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). The association between depression and acute exacerbations of COPD is unknown.
Approximately 15% of cases of COPD, including chronic bronchitis, is attributable to occupational exposures. An occupational history is essential to identify exposures responsible for work-related chronic bronchitis.
Congenital Heart Disease, Volume 4, Number 1, January/February 2009 , pp. 2-11(10)
Pulmonary function in older children and adolescents following surgical repair of congenital heart disease is often abnormal for various reasons. Many of these patients report symptoms of exercise intolerance although the
reason(s) for this symptom can be complicated and sometimes interrelated.
Low molecular weight antioxidants within human respiratory tract lining fluids (RTLFs) have been proposed to confer protection against the damaging action of inhaled oxidant gases. There is therefore considerable interest in augmenting the concentrations of these moieties at the air-lung interface to protect against injury to the airway epithelium, the induction of inflammation, and declines in lung function.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2009 PrePrint Online: TH First 9th Feb 2009
Oral anticoagulation, most commonly with warfarin once daily, has long been the main form of long-term treatment and secondary prevention of
thromboembolism.
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which induce relaxation of smooth muscle with some selectivity for the pulmonary vasculature, are used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. In some patients, the use of PDE5 inhibitors does not result in the desired magnitude of pulmonary
vasodilation.
Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Volume 103, Number 2, March 2009 , pp. 129-143(15)
Between the April and July of 2007, patients undergoing treatment for schistosomal liver fibrosis, at a university hospital in north-eastern Brazil, were examined by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography
(TTE).
Although there is evidence that sighs are important to restore lung volume, the factors responsible for inducing a sigh and the effects of sighs on the stability of the respiratory system remain unclear.
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.. Published Online First: 8 January 2009. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.148981
Apnoea of prematurity (AOP) is a common problem in preterm infants, which may be treated with various modes of nasal continuous positive airway pressure
(NCPAP) or nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). It is unknown which mode of NCPAP or NIPPV is most effective for
AOP.
Clinical & Experimental Immunology, Volume 155, Number 3, March 2009 , pp. 433-440(8)
Ficolins are pattern-recognition molecules that appear to be relevant for innate immune defence against infections. The ficolin genes in Caucasians are polymorphic and genetic variations may have functional consequences, both in relation to function and concentration.
Surgery Today Volume 39, Number 2 / February, 2009 91-97
The resection of pulmonary metastases can prolong the survival of selected patients and its therapeutic value is now accepted. The criteria for eligibility have also evolved.
Pleural empyema in children is increasing in incidence. The British Thoracic Society published guidelines for the management of empyema in children in 2005, including recommendations regarding imaging.
The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care:Volume 66(2)February 2009pp 393-399
Image-guided small catheter tube thoracostomy (SCTT) is not currently used as a first-line procedure in the management of patients with chest trauma. We adopted a practice recommendation to use SCTT as a less invasive alternative in the treatment of chest injuries. We reviewed our trauma registry to evaluate our change in practice and the effectiveness of
SCTT.
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy
February 2009, Vol. 7, No. 1, Pages 69-81
Severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common infectious cause of admission to the intensive care unit and is associated with significant adverse outcomes.
Viral respiratory tract infection is the most common illness among humans. Probiotics have been known to enhance the immune system and, therefore, may represent a significant therapeutic advancement for treating viral respiratory tract infections.
Recent studies have suggested a possible association between pneumonia and the use of inhaled corticosteroids. We aimed to ascertain the risk of pneumonia with long-term inhaled corticosteroid use among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
Although the cycle ergometer is the traditional mode for exercise testing in patients with respiratory disease, this preference over the treadmill does not consider perceptual responses.
The use of portable respiratory monitoring (PM) has been proposed for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
(OSAS), but most studies that validate PM accuracy have not followed the best standards for diagnostic test validation.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 471-476 (March 2009)
Most outcomes do not deeply express the degree of disability in patients with respiratory failure
(RF) following inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (IPR). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of an IPR in patients with confirmed COPD and RF using functional independence measure
(FIM) that determines the degree of disability experienced by patients and the progress they make during rehabilitation. This scale includes several items: self care, mobility, locomotion, communication and social recognition.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 434-441 (March 2009)
Oxidative stress has a proven role in pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome. The antioxidant drugs, especially
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) have been used for years to overcome oxidative stress effects in patients.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 449-455 (March 2009)
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of radiologists to accurately estimate pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage during percutaneous co-axial cutting needle CT-guided lung biopsy.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 342-347 (March 2009)
Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors have potential utility as a new therapeutic approach to improving symptoms and pulmonary function in asthma and
COPD.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 373-378 (March 2009)
This study assesses the power of the BODE index, a multidimensional grading system that predicts mortality, to predict subsequent exacerbations in patients with
COPD.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 442-448 (March 2009)
Studies relating lung function to survival commonly express lung function impairment as a percent of predicted but this retains age, height and sex bias.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 414-420 (March 2009)
The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of allergic sensitization and the modality of exposure to horse allergens in atopic patients living in an urban area and without occupational exposure to horse and/or horse-derived materials.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 379-385 (March 2009)
Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease. Measurement of serum high- sensitivity C-reactive protein
(hs-CRP) levels has suggested the involvement of low-grade systemic inflammation in several disorders, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 401-406 (March 2009)
Although athletes have a high prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and asthma, little is known about possible gender differences in regard to these features.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 393-400 (March 2009)
Changes in lung function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), usually reported at rest, may be exacerbated during exercise and induce post-exercise effects.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 335-341 (March 2009)
Screening studies reveal a much larger number of individuals expected to have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency than is clinically recognized, with estimates that only about 2-10% of such individuals have been diagnosed.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 427-433 (March 2009)
The aim of this multicenter study was to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs) of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) gene and susceptibility to
sarcoidosis, as well as the relation between these SNPs and the evolution of the disease.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 348-355 (March 2009)
Patients treated with SFC were more likely to achieve control than patients treated with FP or SAL alone. Continuing improvements in airway hyperresponsiveness indicate the importance of maintaining treatment after clinical control of symptoms and lung function are achieved.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 3, Pages 364-372 (March 2009)
Enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), capable of reducing endogenous defense levels and enhancing inflammation, is suggested to play a role in
sarcoidosis.
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 2 February 2009. doi:10.1136/oem.2008.042150
Potential health effects related to wood dust from the rubber tree, which produces natural rubber latex, have not been investigated earlier. The main aim of this study was to investigate the relations of rubber tree dust exposure to respiratory and skin symptoms, asthma and lung function.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 5, Number 1, February 2009 , pp. 28-40(13)
Alcohol abuse is a systemic disorder and increases the risk of lung injury. After ingestion, alcohol freely diffuses from the bronchial circulation directly through the ciliated epithelium where it vaporizes as it moves into the conducting airways.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2009, p. 472-474, Vol. 47, No. 2
We studied the epidemiology of the recently described serotype 6C of Streptococcus pneumoniae among a collection of carriage isolates recovered between 1996 and 2007 in Portugal. Of 4,064 isolates, 106 (2.6%) were of serotype 6C, 17.9% of which were multidrug resistant. The strains were genetically diverse.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the major pathogen associated with chronic and ultimately fatal lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). To investigate how P.
aeruginosa-derived vesicles may contribute to lung disease, we explored their ability to associate with human lung cells.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health Published Online: 3 Feb 2009
The objectives of this study are to assess the frequency of human bocavirus
(HBoV) infection in hospitalised children and to study the clinical symptoms associated with the detection of
HBoV.
Intensive Care Medicine 0342-4642 (Print) 10.1007/s00134-009-1411-x
To clarify whether the gas exchange response to prone position is associated with lung recruitability in mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure.
American Journal of Transplantation Published Online: 3 Feb 2009
This case report is the first confirmed case of follicular bronchiolitis (FB), a rare bronchiolar disorder characterized by peribronchiolar lymphoid follicles, in a series of over 400 lung transplantations performed in our center.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 132, Issue 1, Pages 75-83 (6 February 2009)
There is a relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and heart failure
(HF). Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2), heart rate recovery, and
N-terminal-pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) are strong prognostic predictors in
HF.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 132, Issue 1, Pages e40-e41 (6 February 2009)
Syncope may be a manifestation of pulmonary embolism. Occlusion of a pulmonary artery with cardiac output drop, sometimes resulting in cardiac arrest, is the main underlying mechanism. In this letter we describe the case of a patient in which the persistence of a long remnant of the embryonal Chiari’s network could have worked as an anatomic barrier preventing massive pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest.
Heart. Published Online First: 8 January 2009. doi:10.1136/hrt.2008.160952
To determine whether sleep apnea (SA) influences risk of death differently in patients with ischemic than in those with non-ischemic heart failure
(HF).
It is widely believed that children with asthma miss considerably more school than children without asthma. Previous surveys have indicated that 49% of children with asthma miss school (Asthma in America, 1998), but only a few studies have attempted to quantify the amount of school missed.
BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2009, 9:8doi:10.1186/1471-2466-9-8
This study is a cross sectional analysis, aiming to evaluate if atopy is as a risk factor for exercise induced bronchoconstriction
(EIB) among Tunisian athletes.
C-reactive protein (CRP) has been classically used as a marker of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CRP on migration of human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) to human plasma fibronectin
(HFn).
Oxidative stress plays a significant role in allergic airway inflammation. Supplementation with
alpha-tocopherol (alone or combined with ascorbate/vitamin C) has been assessed as an intervention for allergic airway diseases with conflicting results.
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 1619-7070 (Print) 10.1007/s00259-008-1056-y
Pulmonary emboli (PE) are one of the major complications associated with total parenteral nutrition
(TPN). Ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy (V/Q) remains the most used test for the diagnosis of PE and follow-up of patients on
TPN. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the high prevalence of undiagnosed PE in children on
TPN.
Southern Medical Journal:Volume 102(2)February 2009pp 154-158
To evaluate the diagnostic contribution and utility of bacteriologic surveys using bronchoscopic washing and gastric lavage in cases of radiologically suspected tuberculosis with no detectable acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in the sputum.
Thorax. Published Online First: 21 January 2009. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.103432
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by an abnormal inflammatory response to mainly cigarette smoke that flares up during exacerbations of the disease
(ECOPD).
Journal of Neurosurgery February 2009 Volume 110, Number 2
The odyssey leading to the discovery of herniation syndromes was prolonged due to a lack of early understanding of the underlying
pathophysiology. In 1896, Leonard Hill documented transtentorial pressure gradients as the intervening phenomenon involved in uncal herniation
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9662, Page 450, 7 February 2009
After dead ducks and chickens infected with the H5N1 virus washed-up on a beach in Hong Kong, questions are being asked about why China has accumulated more human cases of avian influenza in the first month of this year than for all of 2008, but has reported few outbreaks of the disease in domestic poultry flocks.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology:Volume 4(2)February 2009pp 260-262
Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is characterized by clubbing of digits and, in more advanced stages, by periosteal new bone formation and synovial effusions. Secondary HOA typically occurs in the setting of intrathoracic malignancy, infections or lung metastases.
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2009, 3:46doi:10.1186/1752-1947-3-46
The usual presentation of amebic liver abscess in children is extremely variable and unpredictable. It presents with a picture of common pediatric illness that is fever, lethargy, and abdominal pain, and can go on to develop into a rare complication of rupture into the pleura to cause acute respiratory distress, which is another common pediatric illness. In our patient, diagnosis was not made or suspected in these two stages.
The Eyes of Wellness is a calendar of original art created by Resident-Neighbor artists at Northeast Center for Special Care.
Learn more about this beautiful calendar, and the artists. Find out about our nationally recognized Art Studio, and Download a new calendar page every month.
Pediatrics International Published Online: 2 Feb 2009
While recent advances in asthma management have enabled adequate control to be frequently achieved in outpatient settings, children whose asthma remains poorly controlled despite outpatient treatment are often referred to extended-stay hospitals.
We used key words and letter sequences to identify airway-associated patient safety incidents submitted to the UK National Patient Safety Agency from critical care units in England and Wales.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 2 February 2009, pp. e338-e346
To ensure that each newborn receives an equitable test of the highest possible sensitivity, we recognized the necessity to reassess immunoreactive trypsinogen and DNA issues in cystic fibrosis newborn screening algorithms.
To determine changes in regional airflow obstruction over time in the lungs of patients with asthma, as demonstrated with hyperpolarized helium 3 (3He) magnetic resonance
(MR) imaging, and to assess correlations with disease severity and use of asthma medications.
Several prognostic variables have previously been identified in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
(CTEPH). Specific medical conditions have also been associated with the development and prognosis of
CTEPH.
The present study aimed to assess the effect of intravenous antibiotic therapy on clinical and laboratory end-points in exacerbations of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and to determine whether the outcomes were influenced by the pathogenic organism isolated.
In 1992–1994, the European Community Respiratory Health Survey recruited community based samples of 20-44-yr-old people from 48 centres in 22 countries.
The present study aimed to measure physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) to: 1) identify the disease stage at which physical activity becomes limited; 2) investigate the relationship of clinical characteristics with physical activity; 3) evaluate the predictive power of clinical characteristics identifying very inactive patients; and 4) analyse the reliability of physical activity measurements.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology:Volume 4(2)February 2009pp 172-178
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and oxidative stress secondary to carcinogens such as cigarette smoke has been implicated in its pathogenesis. Therefore, lung cancer patients were hypothesized to have higher levels of oxidative stress markers in their exhaled breath compared with controls.
Emerging Infectious Diseases Volume 15, Number 2-February 2009
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are common inhabitants of the environment and have been cultured from water, soil, and animal sources worldwide. NTM are opportunistic pathogens, mostly affecting patients with preexisting pulmonary disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or tuberculosis (TB), or those with systemic impairment of immunity.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 5, Number 1, February 2009 , pp. 6-11(6)
The integration of knowledge concerning the regulation of metallothionein (MT) with research on its proposed functions is necessary to clarify how MT affects cellular processes. MT expression is induced/enhanced in various tissues by a number of physiological mediators through several response elements in the MT gene promoter.
Clinical Transplantation Published Online: 4 Feb 2009
The use of lung transplantation (LTX) to treat respiratory failure because of scleroderma is controversial. We present our experience, review the current literature, and suggest specific criteria for LTX in scleroderma. Of the 174 patients who underwent LTX at our center, seven (4%) had scleroderma-associated respiratory failure.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibition was recently shown to exert no effect on allergen challenge in human asthma, raising serious concerns about the role of the protein in the disease.
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterised by nonresolving pulmonary thromboemboli that can be treated by surgical pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA).
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are critical in controlling adaptive immunity, but the mechanisms governing cytokine expression remain incompletely defined.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2009, p. 322-326, Vol. 47, No. 2
We developed a novel real-time PCR assay to detect Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases
(KPCs) and used this assay to screen clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca for the presence of blaKPC genes.
The primary role of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in causing infant hospitalizations is well recognized, but the total burden of RSV infection among young children remains poorly defined.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 5, Number 1, February 2009 , pp. 12-20(9)
Low dose methotrexate (MTX) is used frequently in a wide variety of conditions. This includes rheumatological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and
non-rheumatological conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Volume 39, Number 3, March 2009 , pp. 354-360(7)
Airway angiogenesis may be an important part of structural remodelling in the pathogenesis of asthma. The development of asthma is frequently preceded by rhinitis.
Chronic respiratory patients requiring oxygen or home mechanical ventilation experience frequent exacerbations and hospitalisations with related costs.
Systemic inflammation has been associated with reduced lung function. However, data on the interrelationships between lung function and inflammation are sparse, and it is not clear if low-grade inflammation leads to reduced lung function.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 9 - 15
This study aimed to evaluate the association of body fatness and sedentary status with asthma and respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 86 - 90
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 86 - 90
In recent times, the incidence of allergic diseases, particularly bronchial asthma, has been increasing worldwide. However, there appears to be no published data on the prevalence of allergic diseases among school children (3 to 16 years of age) in Karachi, Pakistan, with only limited data available among few age groups under one ISAAC study.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 81 - 85
Maintenance of iron homeostasis is of utmost importance for the respiratory system physiology and
pathophysiology. Local iron deficiency or accumulation may result in particular respiratory function impairment.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 73 - 80
There is a wide range in the estimates of cost of asthma that are available in the literature. Given the growing prevalence of asthma and its associated healthcare resource use in the United States (U.S.), it is important to obtain current and precise cost estimates attributable to asthma treatment.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 30 - 35
Several studies suggest that asthma is undertreated in the elderly population. Objective. To determine if the use of a simple telephone intervention can improve asthma care in the elderly.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 36 - 40
To assess resident physician knowledge of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of asthma and to assess the impact of an interactive curriculum on that knowledge.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 95 - 98
Eosinophilic pneumonia was confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid examination and transbronchial lung biopsy. Aspergillus niger was cultured from the patient's pharyngeal swab and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 25 - 29
The interval between bronchodilator administration and post-bronchodilator lung function testing is critical for accurate interpretation of the bronchodilator response.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 16 - 20
Approximately 10% to 50% of competitive athletes experience asthma symptoms with exercise, due to either chronic asthma or exercise-induced
bronchospasm.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 67 - 72
This study was performed to determine whether pulmonary function test results would appreciably alter asthma severity categorization determined by an algorithm using information readily available in administrative databases.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 59 - 63
Mounting evidence implicates obesity as a major risk factor for asthma. Leptin and adiponectin produced by fat tissues play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and allergic inflammation.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 53 - 58
Increased serum leptin levels have been observed in asthmatic patients. Leptin, via proliferation and activation of Th2 cells, may induce inflammation in asthma. It has also been demonstrated that leptin mRNA expression and protein levels increase in response to inflammatory stimuli.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 47 - 52
This study was designed to test the hypothesis that fetal exposure to corticosteroids in the antenatal period is an independent risk factor for the development of asthma in childhood.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 1 - 8
Alveolar macrophages (AM) are the most numerous immune cells in the airways and are involved in the immunological homeostasis of the lung. Intriguingly, their role in asthma remains unclear probably, in part, because of their heterogeneity.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 46, Issue 1 February 2009 , pages 91 - 94
The aim of this study was to describe differences between allergic and non-allergic asthma in a large community-based sample of Danish adolescents and adults.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L248-L256, 2009
C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) has a demonstrated hyperpolarizing effect on vascular smooth muscle cells. However, its autocrine function, including its electrophysiological effect on endothelial cells, is not known.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L220-L228, 2009
Type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibitors increase endothelial cell cGMP and promote angiogenesis. However, not all endothelial cell phenotypes express PDE5. Indeed, whereas conduit endothelial cells express PDE5, microvascular endothelial cells do not express this enzyme, and they are rapidly
angiogenic.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L236-L247, 2009
Mast cell-fibroblast interactions may contribute to fibrosis in asthma and other disease states. Fibroblast contraction is known to be stimulated by coculture with the human mast cell line, HMC-1, or by mast cell-derived agents.
Journal of The Medical Association of Thailand Vol92_No.2_175_8422
Lack of a training program and experience result in underutilized transbronchial needle aspiration
(TBNA). Pulmonologists who are not graduated from Europe or the United States might have little chance to learn and gain experience in this procedure.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences:Volume 337(1)January 2009pp 57-5
Welding involves exposure to fumes, gases, radiation, electricity, noise, and heat. Herein, we describe 2 welders presenting with lung infiltrates and elevated liver enzyme levels. Both of these patients had pulmonary siderosis (welder's lung) on lung biopsy along with evidence of systemic iron overload.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200808-1361OC
Maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy has been inversely associated with asthma symptoms in early childhood. However, no study has examined the relationship between measured vitamin D levels and markers of asthma severity in childhood.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200808-1201OC
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease with a poor prognosis. There is great effort to find predictors of outcome. Conclusive data for any serum biomarker are lacking.
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2009, 3:21doi:10.1186/1752-1947-3-21
Echinococcosis and/or hydatidosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases in the world. In Turkey, echinococcosis is an endemic disease, however, hydatid disease of the lung is uncommon and usually caused by Echinococcus
granulosus.
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.
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2009, 3:26doi:10.1186/1752-1947-3-26
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in bone marrow transplant recipients. Establishing the diagnosis remains a challenge for clinicians working in acute care setting. However, prompt diagnosis and treatment can lead to favourable outcomes.
European Journal of Echocardiography,
doi:10.1093/ejechocard/jep003
Antiphospholipid syndrome has been associated with venous and arterial thrombotic events but intracardiac thrombosis is rare. We describe a case about a 30-year-old woman, admitted with a 6-month history of
arthralgia, fatigue, and intermittent fever.
Allergology International doi:10.2332/allergolint.08-SC-0022
As patients share in the decision-making process regarding treatments they receive, it is important that they can discriminate between reliable and unreliable sources of information about potential treatments.
Pumpless interventional lung assist (iLA) is used in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome,
(ARDS) aimed at extracorporeal gas exchange improvement by a membrane integrated in a passive arteriovenous shunt.
The study objective was to determine the clinical usefulness and accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided needle aspiration of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes.
Pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor is an uncommon disease, often with a benign presentation. However, invasion of adjacent thoracic organs, local recurrence, and distant metastases have been described, and the best management strategy remains unclear.
Allergology International doi:10.2332/allergolint.08-OA-0014
The addition of leukotriene modifier (LM) may be a useful approach for uncontrollable asthma despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), especially in asthmatics comorbid with allergic rhinitis (AR), although little is known about its molecular mechanism.
An emerging body of evidence suggests that half of asthma in both children and adults is associated with chronic lung infection. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of viable Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) and C. trachomatis (Ct) in the respiratory tracts of paediatric patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
The long-term risk of a subsequent exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) after treatment with oral corticosteroids without (OS) or with antibiotics
(OSA) was compared in a historical general practice-based cohort.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2009, p. 441-444, Vol. 47, No. 2
We tested two commercial and three in-house PCR assays under standardized conditions to detect Mycoplasma
pneumoniae. All five procedures were able to demonstrate M. pneumoniae DNA in a concentration comparable to 1
CFU/µl, but the mean crossing points resulted in differences in the concentration of the genome copies of a factor of 20.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200805-666OC
While there have been numerous studies on the development of allergen-induced inflammation, the mechanisms leading to resolution of inflammation remain poorly understood.
To develop an algorithm to maximize the diagnostic yield of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) by using defined attenuation and standardized uptake value (SUV) criteria.
Irish Journal of Medical Science 0021-1265 (Print) 10.1007/s11845-009-0277-9
Disorders of calcium metabolism, especially hypercalcemia and hypercalceuria, are common in
sarcoidosis. They are caused by extra renal unsuppressed production of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D at the level of the sarcoid
granuloma. Hormonal changes during pregnancy have a physiological synergistic effect on this mechanism, which is primarily parathyroid hormone
(PTH) dependant.
To compare the marginal benefit of in-home asthma self-management support provided by community health workers
(CHWs) with standard asthma education from clinic-based nurses.
Critical Care Medicine:Volume 37(2)February 2009pp 456-462
To develop a severity assessment tool to predict mortality in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients in intensive care unit (ICU), comparing its performance with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and American Thoracic Society/Infectious Disease Society of America
(ATS/IDSA) criteria as a prognostic index in CAP patients requiring ICU admission.
The present study aimed to investigate how the heat-related increase in deaths in summer and the extent of mortality displacement depend on influenza and other categories of mortality in the previous winter, which when low leaves a greater pool of susceptible individuals.
Although obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance (IR) are well known risk factors for systemic cardiovascular disease, their impact on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is unknown.
Intensive Care Medicine 0342-4642 (Print) 10.1007/s00134-009-1421-8
Preclinical studies suggest that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) may attenuate organ dysfunction. We evaluated whether statins are associated with attenuation of lung injury and prevention of associated organ failure in patients with ALI/ARDS.
The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) erlotinib improves survival of lung cancer as second- or third-line therapy. However, after an initial response, most patients will recur, particularly within the central nervous system.
To evaluate, by using electrocardiographically (ECG)-gated multidetector computed tomography (CT), parameters such as right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) systolic shortening and myocardial thickness and right pulmonary artery (RPA) distensibility, reported to be abnormal at echocardiography and/or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHT).
Acetylcysteine and carbocysteine are the most commonly prescribed mucolytic drugs in many European countries. To our knowledge, no systematic review has been published on their efficacy and safety for acute upper and lower respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children without chronic broncho-pulmonary disease.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2009, p. 390-396, Vol. 47, No. 2
We report on the use of an electronic microarray to simultaneously type influenza A and B viruses and to distinguish influenza A virus subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 from the potentially pandemic avian virus subtype H5N1.
To prospectively assess the safety and effectiveness of computed tomography (CT)-guided placement of fiber-coated microcoils used to guide video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS) excision of small peripheral lung nodules, with successful excision as the primary outcome and successful CT-guided microcoil placement and procedural complications as secondary outcomes.
The occupational contribution to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has yet to be put in a global perspective. In the present study, an ecological approach to this question was used, analysing group-level data from 90 sex-specific strata from 45 sites of the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study, the Latin American Project for the Investigation of Obstructive Lung Disease and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey follow-up.
International Journal of COPD Published: February 2009
Inflammation increases during exacerbations of COPD, but only a few studies systematically assessed these changes. Better identification of these changes will increase our knowledge and potentially guide therapy, for instance by helping with quicker distinction of bacterially induced exacerbations from other causes.
Respiratory Research 2009, 10:8doi:10.1186/1465-9921-10-8
Alveolar epithelial cells are known as progenitor cells for the restoration from the damage in the lung. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been reported to play an important role in the proliferation of various types of epithelial and endothelial cells.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences Volume 278, Issue 1, Pages 112-114 (15 March 2009)
Respiratory failure can be the direct cause of death in patients with Leigh syndrome. Unfortunately, no effective treatment strategy is available. Here, we report successful treatment of a patient with Leigh syndrome using idebenone, a derivative of coenzyme Q-10.
Neurocritical Care 1541-6933 (Print) 10.1007/s12028-008-9181-9
Predicting extubation failure (EF) is one of the most challenging aspects of critical care medicine. The literature on EF in neurocritical care patients is very scarce.
To assess the efficacy and tolerability of the nondopaminergic agent XP13512/GSK1838262 in adults with moderate to severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS).
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