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Value in Health doi:10.1111/j.1524-4733.2007.00229.x
Asthma can be associated with substantial productivity loss and activity impairment, particularly among those with the most severe disease. We sought to assess the performance characteristics of an asthma-specific adaptation of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI:Asthma) in patients with either severe or difficult-to-treat asthma.
We explored the relationship of current and lifetime physical activity (PA) with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) symptomatology in 142 male volunteers aged 33 to 90.
Current Opinion in Critical Care. 14(1):56-63, February 2008
Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome are defined as morphologic and functional manifestations of pulmonary injury of various causes. Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome may result from direct effects on epithelial lung cells or from indirect effects on endothelial lung cells, reflecting lung involvement as part of a more distant systemic inflammatory response.
Early detection and treatment for interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may ameliorate disease progression. The objective of this study was to identify asymptomatic lung disease and potential therapeutic targets in patients having RA and preclinical ILD (RA-ILD).
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
To explore the acute systemic inflammatory and anabolic effects of cycling in hospital admitted patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in patients with clinically stable disease.
The link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer is well documented. The introduction of autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB) has allowed visualization of preinvasive neoplastic changes of bronchial mucosa. We evaluate the sensitivity of AFB to show epithelial changes compared with white light bronchoscopy (WLB) in a group of healthy, asymptomatic smokers.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(1):31-38, January 2008
Classically, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease present distinct clinical, physiologic and pathologic features. However, not infrequently, patients may present with overlapping clinical symptoms and physiological abnormalities: patients with severe asthma may present with fixed airway obstruction and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilia.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global healthcare problem. Studies vary widely in the reported frequency of mechanical ventilation in acute exacerbations of COPD. Invasive intubation and mechanical ventilation may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(1):3-8, January 2008
A growing body of evidence indicates that residential proximity to traffic sources increases the risk for asthma and asthma exacerbations. In this review we have considered publications from 2006-2007 that examined the impact of residential traffic-related exposures on asthma occurrence and severity.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
There is significant evidence supporting an increased prevalence of depression in patients with
COPD, but that depression is not a homogenous entity because there are multiple contributing etiologies for the depressive symptoms. Additionally the relationship between COPD and depression is neither exclusively linear, nor unidirectional. 'Early onset ' depression is defined as depression that develops prior to the diagnosis of
COPD, often during an individual's youth.
Clinical Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):45-48, January 2008
Aspiration can be acute, subacute, or chronic. Pulmonary manifestations of aspiration syndromes are diverse. Inspection flexible bronchoscopy has been suggested as diagnostic of acute aspiration based on mucosal changes. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and the determination of a lipid-laden macrophage index has been suggested as useful in diagnosing chronic aspiration syndromes.
Guidelines for the management of adults with hospital-acquired (HAP), ventilatorassociated (VAP), and healthcare-associated (HCAP) pneumonia were recently updated. These evidence-based guidelines emphasize early, appropriate antimicrobials, as well as, de-escalation of initial therapy based upon microbiologic cultures and clinical response of the patient, and to shorten duration of therapy to a minimum effective period.
Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, Vol. 23, No. 1, 52-60 (2008)
Extubation failure is associated with poor intensive care unit and hospital outcomes. Minute ventilation recovery time, an integrative measure of a patient's respiratory reserve, has been shown in a pilot study to predict extubation outcome; however, the methodology is subjective and impractical for routine use.
Allergy & Immunology. December 1, 2007, 20(4): 243-254
Maintenance therapies for asthma are vulnerable to low adherence. Clinicians would benefit from having a validated questionnaire to assess adherence to metered-dose inhaler use in children with asthma.
Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. December 1, 2007, 20(4): 211-222
The objectives of this study was to examine asthma prescription patterns in young children and the association between outcomes and controller therapy adherence. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a U.S. multi-managed care plan database (1998-2004; PharMetrics).
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a form of sleep disordered breathing characterized by episodes of apnea (during sleep) lasting at least 10 seconds per episode. The apneic periods are associated with arterial hypoxemia and disruption of normal sleep as a result of awakenings.
Journal of Community Health Nursing 2007, Vol. 24, No. 4, Pages 237-251
The purpose of the research was to develop, implement, and evaluate a new adult asthma self-management program with a multidisciplinary perspective. Small groups of adults met for 2 hr for 7 consecutive weekly meetings.
American Journal of Therapeutics. 15(1):82-84, January/February 2008
Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody primarily used in refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Although bronchospasm and infectious pneumonia are not uncommon adverse effects of therapy, alemtuzumab-associated interstitial pneumonitis causing acute respiratory failure has not yet been described.
The latest links to journal article abstracts on Respiratory, Pulmonary, COPD, Mechanical Ventilation, Ventilator Weaning, Respiratory Therapy, Asthma, Cardio-Vascular, Sleep Apnea, CPAP, BiPAP, and other related clinical topics.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 Issue 1
The objective is to compare antibiotic therapy based on conventional antimicrobial susceptibility testing to antibiotic therapy based on combination antimicrobial susceptibility testing in the treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbations in people with CF and chronic infection with P. aeruginosa.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2007, Volume 14 Issue 8: 490-493
Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare cause of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage with unknown etiology. In the present report, the presentations of two sisters are described: one sister had IPH, eosinophilia and a high serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level; and the other had IPH, pneumothorax, eosinophilia and a high serum IgE level. Both cases had quite unusual presentations.
Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, Vol. 23, No. 1, 19-32 (2008)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome was first described in 1967. Acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury are diseases the busy intensivist treats almost daily.
HIV Medicine, Volume 9, Number 1, January 2008 , pp. 57-61(5)
International treatment guidelines recommend that HIV-positive patients be vaccinated for influenza annually. Evidence supporting this recommendation is limited. We assessed the efficacy of influenza vaccines in preventing influenza in HIV-positive patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pediatric Emergency Care. 24(1):21-27, January 2008
We hypothesized that children with moderate acute asthma exacerbations receiving oral montelukast with standard therapy will have at least 12% greater forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) improvement in 3 hours than those receiving standard therapy alone.
Disease variation can be substantial even in conditions with a single gene etiology such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Simultaneously studying the effects of genes and environment may provide insight into the causes of variation.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 177. pp. 248-252, (2008)
Airway smooth muscle (ASM) plays a pivotal role in modulating bronchomotor tone but also orchestrates and perpetuates airway inflammation and remodeling. Despite substantial research, there remain important unanswered questions.
Snoring is more prevalent in patients with chronic bronchitis than in persons without it. Few studies have examined the effect of snoring on chronic bronchitis. We prospectively investigated the association between snoring and the incidence of chronic bronchitis.
Canadian respiratory Journal November/December 2007, Volume 14 Issue 8: 480-484
To describe an interactive playing card workshop in the communication of asthma guidelines recommendations, and to assess the initial evaluation of this educational tool by family physicians.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
Nowadays, there is increasing awareness about the frequent chronic comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but little information is available to quantify the burden of illness that these conditions cause in this population. We aimed to identify and describe a population suffering from COPD highlighting the co-morbid conditions that may contribute to poor clinical outcomes.
Clinical Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):13-17, January 2008
Diffuse mediastinal lymphadenopathy may be caused by infection, malignancy, or sarcoidosis, and often requires mediastinoscopy for diagnostic lymph node biopsy. Preliminary data show that transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration may be an accurate and less invasive alternative to mediastinoscopy.
Canadian Respiratory Journal November/December 2007, Volume 14 Issue 8: 460-462
In the present issue of the Canadian Respiratory Journal, Chan et al (1) report the results of a large Canadian trial studying the long-acting anticholinergic tiotropium in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Approximately 900 patients from a wide variety of practices were recruited and treated for approximately one year with tiotropium or placebo in double-blinded fashion.
Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses is a naturally occurring dust-induced disease mainly characterized by bronchiolitis which shows histological and pathophysiological similarities to human chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In human COPD previous investigations indicated an association with Chlamydophila psittaci infection. The present study was designed (1) to clarify a possible role of this infectious agent in RAO and (2) to investigate the suitability of this equine disorder as a model for human COPD.
TNF-alpha may contribute to the pathophysiology of airway inflammation. For example, we have recently shown that nasal administration of TNF-alpha produces late phase co-appearance of granulocyte and plasma exudation markers on the mucosal surface. The objective of the present study was to examine indices of granulocyte presence and activity in response to intranasal TNF-alpha challenge.
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is an important respiratory pathogen implicated as an infectious trigger in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but its molecular interaction with human lung epithelial cells remains unclear. Herein, we tested that the hypothesis that NTHi induces the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) via activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B in pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells.
Nursing in Critical Care Volume 13 Issue 1 Page 44-53, January and February 2008
The prevention of ventilator Assisted Pneumonia (VAP), a hospital acquired infection, among intensive care patients is a major clinical challenge. It is a condition that is associated with high rates of morbidity, mortality, length of stay and hospital costs.
European Journal of Clinical Investigation, Volume 38, Number 2, February 2008 , pp. 82-89(8)
Systemic sarcoidosis (Sar) is a granulomatous disorder involving multiple organs. Widespread vascular involvement and microangiopathy are common in patients with Sar.
The maximum safe dose for topical lidocaine during flexible bronchoscopy (FB) without toxicity is not established; recent guidelines advocate a dose <8.2 mg/kg.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 Issue 1
Vitamin A supplements are effective for preventing diarrhoea. There are theoretical reasons it might also be effective for acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), also very common in children, especially in low income countries.
Current Opinion in Critical Care. 14(1):11-15, February 2008
The mechanisms of epithelial injury in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome have been of interest since the syndrome was first described.
Emergency Medicine Journal 2008;25:70-75; doi:10.1136/emj.2007.048918
The immunofiltration D-dimer assay could allow point-of-care testing for pulmonary embolism (PE). A study was undertaken to compare a clinician-performed qualitative D-dimer assay with the automated quantitative D-dimer test.
Bronchoscopic finding for endobronchial vascular diseases warrants further investigations. A 54-year-old woman presented with a 3-cm bronchial artery aneurysm of the right perihilar area.
Central airway stenosis or fistula in cancer patients is difficult to manage and is associated with poor outcome. We sought to identify the risks and benefits of tracheobronchial self-expanding metallic stents (SEMSs).
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 177. pp. 269-278, (2008)
Much of the total disease burden and cost of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a novel candidate exacerbation biomarker identified by proteomic screening.
International Journal of COPD Issue 2007 Volume 2 Issue 4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major global cause of disability and death. COPD is currently the fourth most common global cause of death and also exerts an enormous toll on patients quality of life.
International Journal of COPD
Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of disability and death worldwide. Its prevalence and mortality are increasing disproportionately among the elderly, women, persons of lower socioeconomic status, and the populations of developing countries
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 177. pp. 279-284, (2008)
To explore racial differences in the incidence and associated case fatality of severe sepsis, accounting for clinical, social, health care service delivery, and geographic characteristics.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 177. pp. 253-260, (2008)
By collating pediatric data from other large-population surveys, we have investigated ways of developing reference ranges that more accurately describe the relationship between spirometric lung function and height and age within the pediatric age range, and allow a seamless transition to adulthood.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients tiotropium bromide has been shown to improve forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and inspiratory capacity (IC).
The incidence of pulmonary fungal infection (PFI) is increasing worldwide, particularly in critically ill patients. The aim was to assess, using bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), specimens for the diagnosis of clinically and radiologically suspected PFIs in critically ill children.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 100, Number 1, January 2008 , pp. 23-30(8)
Studies examining the effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) on cortisol suppression show inconsistent results, and there is uncertainty regarding the dose-response relationship between ICSs and cortisol suppression.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 Issue 1
Herb and plant based preparations are a popular treatment for asthma, although there remain concerns as to their efficacy and safety. In Western societies, motivations for using such treatments may be both positive and negative, with their perceived safety and dissatisfaction with conventional medicine among them. In China such treatments are more commonly used and many compounds considered 'conventional' are derived from herbs or plants.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 100, Number 1, January 2008 , pp. 17-22(6)
The Asthma Control Test (ACT) has been developed to evaluate asthma control and to reflect its nature. A Spanish version of the test has been widely disseminated to physicians, but it has not yet been validated.
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Volume 38, Number 2, February 2008 , pp. 276-282(7)
ncreasing interest has arisen whether helminthic infections protect against asthma and allergy. The prevalence of wheezing among Bangladeshi children is higher in rural areas where helminthic infectious burden is greater, which is contrary to the general assumption.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(1):57-63, January 2008
his review examines the role of long-acting [beta]2-adrenergic agonists in the management of asthma, particularly focusing on recommendations in the newly revised Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) asthma guidelines.
Although global studies such as the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) have provided valuable data on the prevalence of asthma in children in Latin America, there is little information on the relationship between asthma symptoms, pulmonary function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and atopy in the region.
Intrapulmonary gas distribution and mixing is an important functional property of the lungs and can be characterised by the multibreath washout (MBW) technique.
Despite airways which are thought to be normal at birth, 90% of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) ultimately die from respiratory complications of the disease.
Skeletal muscle weakness is a common and serious finding in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and contributes to their morbidity and mortality, increasing the risk of exacerbations, hospitalisations and death by 3–4-fold.
Systemic proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress have been described in association with peripheral muscle wasting and weakness of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their expression in skeletal muscle is unknown.
Clinical trials measure exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inconsistently. A study was undertaken to determine if different methods for ascertaining and analysing COPD exacerbations lead to biased estimates of treatment effects.
Bronchial mucosal dendritic cells (DCs) initiate and regulate immune responses to inhaled antigens, viruses and bacteria. Currently, little is known of their numbers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The optimal way of assessing the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on functional status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently unknown.
Two case histories are described of pleural and anterior mediastinal fibrosis presenting as a continuous fibrotic process with thick parietal pleural plaques extending from one pleura to the contralateral pleura through the retrosternal area, and with retroperitoneal fibrosis.
Clinical studies have shown that injurious mechanical ventilation is associated with increased airspace and plasma levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta); however, the potential therapeutic value of IL-1 inhibition in acute lung injury has not been thoroughly investigated. A study was undertaken to determine if IL-1 signalling is a necessary early event in the pathogenesis of experimental ventilator-induced lung injury.
We describe the case of a 66-year-old man with a culture-proven Legionella pneumonia after kidney transplantation. The patient developed the infection 15 days after discharge from a university hospital. Legionella pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 5/10 was established by positive direct fluorescence assay, positive urinary-antigen detection and isolation of the causative agent.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a potential lethal disease. At present time no evidence based intervention reduces mortality. The pathophysiology of ARDS include intraalveolar fibrin deposition, hyperinflammation and reduced cellular host defense in the airspace.
This article aims to summarize the available data on reducing radiation dose exposure in routine chest CT protocols. First, the general aspects of radiation dose in CT and radiation risk are discussed, followed by the effect of changing parameters on image quality. Finally, the results of previous radiation dose reduction studies are reviewed, and important information contributing to radiation dose reduction will be shared.
Critical Care Medicine. 36(2):441-447, February 2008
Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been shown to be effective in select patients enrolled in clinical trials. However, few data are available on the use of NPPV as routine standard medical care for patients with respiratory failure outside of controlled trials.
Critical Care Medicine. 36(2):427-433, February 2008
While the use of a protocol to guide sedation and analgesia therapy in the intensive care unit has been shown to improve patient outcomes, compliance is often poor. We hypothesized that a formal, consistent intervention by pharmacists to promote adherence to our institution's sedation guidelines would improve clinical outcomes.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2008, p. 435-440, Vol. 52, No. 2
A telithromycin-resistant clinical isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae (strain P1501016) has been found to contain a version of erm(B) that is altered by a 136-bp deletion in the leader sequence.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2008, p. 441-445, Vol. 52, No. 2
In Klebsiella pneumoniae, it is common for plasmid-located and chromosome-located blaSHV copies to coexist within single cells. The plasmid-borne genes are mainly derived from two separate IS26-mediated mobilizations of blaSHV.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2008, p. 619-625, Vol. 52, No. 2
erm(A) subclass erm(TR), a common macrolide resistance determinant in Streptococcus pyogenes but quite rare in Streptococcus pneumoniae, was found in a clinical S. pneumoniae isolate (AP200) from Italy.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2008, p. 748-752, Vol. 52, No. 2
When tested against nine strains of pneumococci and six of Haemophilus influenzae of various resistotypes, faropenem failed to select for resistant mutants after 50 days of consecutive subculture in subinhibitory concentrations.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 177. pp. 321-329, (2008)
Members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily, including TGF-βs and bone morphogenetic proteins
(BMPs), are essential for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and regeneration after injury. We have observed that the BMP antagonist, gremlin, is highly up-regulated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
(IPF).
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(1):70-76, January 2008
Acute asthma is common and severe exacerbations may result in hospitalization, need for endotracheal intubation and, rarely, death. Standard emergency care includes systemic corticosteroids and bronchodilators, but additional treatments may be required in severe cases.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
The mortality and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary heart disease increase with age. Despite the clear evidence of beta blockers (BBs) effectiveness, there is a general reluctance to use them in patients with COPD due to a perceived contraindication and fear of inducing adverse reactions and bronchspasm.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(1):24-30, January 2008
This review examines the physiologic mechanisms responsible for persistent maximum expiratory airflow limitation in nonsmoking patients with acute and chronic moderate to severe persistent asthma in comparison to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 177. pp. 330-336, (2008)
Sarcoidosis is known as a disease with high heterogeneity in clinical severity and inflammatory activity. On the basis of radiologic criteria, John Guyette Scadding developed a classification system, which is widely used, but is insufficient for clinical decision making. Therefore, biomarkers and genetic markers that predict outcome are urgently needed.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
Breathlessness is the most common symptom limiting exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exercise training can improve both exercise tolerance and health status in these patients, intensity of exercise being of key importance. Nevertheless, in these patients extreme breathlessness and/or peripheral muscle fatigue may prevent patients from reaching higher levels of intensity.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
Randomized controlled trials have confi rmed the evidence and helped to define when and where non invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) should be the first line treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(1):9-12, January 2008
Food allergy associated clinical and social burdens have increased substantially in prevalence in the past decade. Coexisting asthma is a significant problem as food reactions tend to be more severe when they involve the lung. Food allergy also increases asthma morbidity in adults and children.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
Constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans is a fibrotic disease of small airways characterized by progressive obliteration of the airway lumen, with resulting obstructive pulmonary physiology. While previous work has demonstrated the collagenous nature of the constrictive fibrotic lesions, elastin expression in the disease has been poorly characterized.
The economic and clinical burden of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is uncontested. In many hospitals, VAP surveillance is conducted to identify outbreaks and to monitor infection rates.
A new human-pathogenic parvovirus, human bocavirus (HBoV), has recently been discovered and associated with respiratory disease in small children. However, many patients have presented with low viral DNA loads, suggesting HBoV persistence and rendering polymerase chain reaction-based diagnosis problematic. Moreover, nothing is known of HBoV immunity.
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) remains the leading cause of opportunistic infection among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Previous studies of PCP that identified case-fatality risk factors involved small numbers of patients, were performed over few years, and often focused on patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit.
Rehospitalization after inpatient treatment of community-acquired pneumonia occurs in one-tenth of all hospitalizations, but the clinical circumstances surrounding readmission to the hospital have not been well studied.
Critical Care Medicine. 36(2):603-609, February 2008
To review the effectiveness of prone position as compared with supine position, with respect to mortality, improvement in oxygenation, number of days on mechanical ventilation, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
The range of the diameters of pulmonary arteries (PA) is not fully shown in the current literature. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the thorax might be used for measuring diameters of the PA.
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Volume 38, Number 2, February 2008 , pp. 283-290(8)
Asthma is a chronic disease defined by airway inflammation, increased airway hyperresponsiveness and episodes of airway obstruction. Although there are abundant clinical and experimental data showing that stress may worsen asthma, the mechanisms linking stress to asthma are not well understood. By inducing a pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu, stress might enhance airway inflammation in bronchial asthma. We therefore investigated the correlation of stress perception and the cytokine profile of circulating lymphocytes in humans.
Modern health care has greatly increased longevity for patients with congenital hemolytic anemias (such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Clinical Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):18-23, January 2008
Postoperative pulmonary complications are an important cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality after major noncardiac surgery. The reported frequency varies widely as defined by the definition of postoperative pulmonary complication, the patient population, and the type of surgery.
Clinical Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):8-12, January 2008
The objective of this analysis is to compare the pulmonary locations of lung hydatid cysts and their size with respect to their locations with available literature. The records of 82 patients who were operated for pulmonary hydatid cysts between January 2001 and December 2005 were retrospectively evaluated.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
Dyspnea, a symptom limiting exercise capacity in patients with COPD, is associated with central perception of an overall increase in central respiratory motor output directed preferentially to the rib cage muscles.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(1):46-56, January 2008
The purpose of this article is to review how optimal asthma management can be applied in a variety of clinical settings that are used to care for high-risk, urban asthma patients, especially those who live in the inner city, utilizing the 2007 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/National Asthma Education Prevention Program 'Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma', and adapting them to be applied in a variety of urban clinical settings, independent of practice infrastructure.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(1):77-81, January 2008
This article focuses on two novel asthma therapies - antibiotics and a procedure, bronchial thermoplasty. The challenges of identifying which treatment would best help an individual patient can be addressed by use of noninvasive measurements to define their asthma.
International Journal of COPD Issue: 2007, Volume 2 Issue 4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Its possible association with obstructive sleep apnea is a major cause of concern for clinicians. As the prevalence of both COPD and sleep apnea continues to rise, further investigation of this interaction is needed. In addition, COPD patients are at risk for hypoventilation during sleep due to the underlying respiratory dysfunction.
Sleep medicine Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages 199-206 (January 2008)
Due to the increasing importance of quality of life assessments in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients and due to an increased use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), for comparative purposes it is essential to understand the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments and the ICF. The purpose of this study was to compare the content covered by OSA-specific instruments using the ICF.
Sleep medicine Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages 188-190 (January 2008)
It has been well established that restless legs syndrome (RLS) manifests with symptoms most frequently in the legs followed by the arms. Other body parts may be affected but it has been somewhat controversial as to whether symptoms may extend to the face.
Sleep medicine Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages 149-156 (January 2008)
The present study was conducted to evaluate serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in newly diagnosed patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages 129-136 (January 2008)
A nationwide database was constructed by linking the Swedish Census to the Hospital Discharge Register and the Cause of Death Register to obtain data on all first adult hospitalizations for obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed in Sweden during the study period from 1997 to 2001. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages 112-120 (January 2008)
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) present cognitive deficits similar to those observed with aging. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of age on cognitive functions in OSAS patients. It was hypothesized that older OSAS patients will exhibit significant cognitive dysfunction relative to younger OSAS patients and controls.
Acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) during childhood are often caused by respiratory viruses, result in significant morbidity, and have associated costs for families and society. Despite their ubiquity, there is a lack of interdisciplinary epidemiologic and economic research that has collected primary impact data, particularly associated with indirect costs, from families during ARIs in children.
Lung injury caused by both inhaled dusts and infectious agents depends on increased availability of iron and metal-catalyzed oxidative stress. Because inhaled particles, such as silica, and certain infections can cause secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), we tested the hypothesis that idiopathic PAP disrupts iron homeostasis in the human lung.
Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) is a globally distributed fungal pathogen with the potential to cause serious disease, particularly among immune compromised hosts. Exposure to this organism is believed to occur by inhalation and may result in pneumonia and/or disseminated infection of the brain as well as other organs. Little is known about the role of airway epithelial cells in cryptococcal recognition or their ability to induce an inflammatory response.
Bronchioles are critical zones in cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung inflammation. However, there have been few studies on the in vivo dynamics of cytokine gene expression in bronchiolar epithelial cells in response to CS.
In this study, we analyzed maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) values in a stable COPD population in comparison with normal human subjects. We evaluated the possible correlation between maximal respiratory static pressures and functional and anthropometric parameters at different stages of COPD. Furthermore, we considered the possible correlation between airway obstruction and MIP and MEP values.
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 12, Number 2, February 2008 , pp. 205-213(9)
To evaluate how spirometry, symptoms and smoking discriminate between subjects who are responsive to bronchodilator testing and those who are non-responsive, and to examine how cut-off points of positive tests are related to symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, January 2008, p. 164-170, Vol. 52, No. 1
Alveolar echinococcosis, which is due to the massive growth of larval Echinococcus multilocularis, is a life-threatening parasitic zoonosis distributed widely across the northern hemisphere.
Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 20, No. 6, 474-477 (2007)
Dexmedetomidine is a new analgesic and anxiolytic used in the intensive care setting. It has been indicated for use for less than 24 hours to aid in intubation or extubation of a patient.
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 17, 141-147, January 1, 2008. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-0553
Tobacco smoke contains an extensive cocktail of highly carcinogenic chemicals. Individuals with a slower elimination rate of the chemicals in tobacco smoke may have increased exposure to their carcinogenic properties compared with those with a faster rate.
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01926.x
The distribution of IgG antibodies to Bordetella pertussis was investigated in serum samples from 550 subjects, aged 4–24 years, to determine the optimal age for booster
immunisation.
Clinical Microbiology and Infection doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01927.x
Between January 2005 and January 2006, 25 (12.8%) of 195 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were positive for Panton–Valentine leukocidin
(PVL) genes in a teaching hospital in Wenzhou, China.
Clinical Microbiology and Infection doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01914.x
Serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance (AR) among group B streptococci (GBS) affect GBS disease prevention strategies, but vary among patient groups.
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01916.x
Biofilm formation in 92 unrelated strains of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated in a multicentre cohort study was investigated using a microtitre plate assay. Fifty-six (63%) isolates formed biofilm.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 99, Number 6, December 2007 , pp. 517-521(5)
To explore a possible role for mutated MEFV in the reduced susceptibility to asthma and to determine its expression in Israeli subjects of Iraqi origins.
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