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The Internet Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2009. Volume 13 Number 1
Traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst is an infrequent complication of blunt chest trauma. A 40 year-old male patient was hospitalized after a blunt chest trauma. Twenty hours after the accident, two air filled cysts with a surrounding consolidation area, in the upper lobe of left lung were detected
radiologically.
The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology. 2009. Volume 19 Number 1
To describe anaesthesia management of two patients with obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA) for modified radical mastectomy (MRM). OSA is a sleep disorder characterized by periodic, partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep.
The Visual Simplified Respiratory Questionnaire (VSRQ) was designed to assess health-related quality of life
(HRQoL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). It contains eight items: dyspnea, anxiety, depressed mood, sleep, energy, daily activities, social activities and sexual life.
Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown etiology, characterized by noncaseating granulomatous infiltration of virtually any organ system.
Assessment of airway inflammation in the clinical course of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(AECOPD) may advance our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment.
We report a case of a minimally fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose avid bronchial mucoepidermoid tumor in a young male heavy smoker who presented with hemoptysis and a normal chest x-ray.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Jan 2009
Localized recurrent respiratory infections, leading to severe hypoxia in young children without immunological abnormalities or other risk factors, should raise the suspicion of airway structural abnormalities.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 131, Issue 3, Pages e124-e126 (24 January 2009)
Hemopericardium with cardiac tamponade after non-penetrating chest trauma is a very rare but life-threatening condition. If this complication develops after an interval of several weeks following the non-penetrating chest trauma, the causal relation with the traumatic event is less evident, which may delay proper diagnosis and adequate treatment.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 131, Issue 3, Pages e131-e133 (24 January 2009)
The myofibroblastic tumor (MFT) is a very rare tumor, initially described in the lungs, and which involves exceptionally the heart. We report the unusual case of a 31 year-old female patient, in whom the tumor produced a bilateral pulmonary embolism and whose unique clinical demonstration was a longstanding fever.
Fospropofol disodium is a water-soluble prodrug of propofol with unique
pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties. This randomized, double-blind, multicenter study evaluated the use of fospropofol in patients undergoing flexible
bronchoscopy.
Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 66(1):124-131, January 2009
Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with hemorrhagic shock (HS) or resuscitation is associated with the expression of TLR4. However, the role of TLR4 in ALI induced by unresuscitated HS remains obscure.
American Journal of Medical Quality, Vol. 24, No. 1, 61-66 (2009)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US population. An area of improvement hinges on early detection and proper monitoring.
Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) complications are uncommon. We describe three patients who had a shock related to splenic infarction after a successful BAE.
BMC Public Health 2009, 9:8doi:10.1186/1471-2458-9-8
Worldwide, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth cause of death. Exacerbations have a negative impact on the prognosis of COPD and the frequency and severity of these episodes are associated with a higher patient mortality.
Sleep quality is thought to be an important predictor of immunity and, in turn, susceptibility to the common cold. This article examines whether sleep duration and efficiency in the weeks preceding viral exposure are associated with cold susceptibility.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Jan 2009
Alternative antimicrobial regimens are needed for treatment of
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-associated pulmonary exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). There are no published pharmacokinetic
(PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data for linezolid in children with CF.
Patients with severe asthma have increased physiologically measured air trapping; however, a study using CT measures of air trapping has not been performed.
Flexible bronchoscopy performed through endotracheal tubes (ETTs) in children receiving mechanical ventilation can significantly impact ventilation, but the magnitude of this impact has not been established.
The diagnosis of adrenal failure and the indications for corticosteroid therapy in critically ill patients are controversial. This controversy is fueled by the complexity of the issues and the paucity of data from high quality clinical trials.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Received 8 January 2008 Accepted 25 September 2008 Online 12 January 2009
To determine the intra- and inter-observer reliability of respiratory specialists’ diagnostic assessments of spirometry and written medical history data obtained from primary care.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
To determine the effectiveness of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
(NIPPV), and the factors predicting failure of NIPPV in acute respiratory failure
(ARF) due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) versus other causes of
ARF.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 6:79-93 (2009)
Overall survival rates of lung transplantation have improved since the first human lung transplantation was performed. A decline in the incidence of airway complications (AC) had been a key feature to achieve the current outcomes.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 4(1):49-54, January 2009
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the benefit of using a new fluorescence-reflectance imaging system,
Onco-LIFE, for the detection and localization of intraepitheal neoplasia and early invasive squamous cell carcinoma. A secondary objective was to evaluate the potential use of quantitative image analysis with this device for objective classification of abnormal sites.
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 10(1):80-84, January 2009
The use of flexible bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in investigating pediatric patient with airway abnormalities and pulmonary infiltrates are indispensable and are now a routine procedure in many centers.
Bronchial dehiscence after lung transplantation is a rare complication yet has high morbidity and mortality. The majority of the patients are not surgical candidates. We present the case of a 59-year-old man with bilateral lung transplantation for interstitial pulmonary fibrosis who was readmitted with symptoms of acute rejection and severe hypoxemic respiratory failure on day 14.
Although anoxic encephalopathy is the most dreaded consequence of submersion accidents, respiratory involvement is also very common in these patients. Nevertheless, few data are available about the clinical course and resolution of lung injury in adult victims of near-drowning.
The combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) era (1996 to the present) has been associated with improved survival among HIV-infected outpatients, but ICU data from 2000 to the present are limited.
Transient left ventricular (LV) dysfunction syndrome, or Tako-tsubo syndrome, occurs following intense emotional or physical stress and simulates the clinical presentation of an acute myocardial infarction.
The toxicity of 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b), a hydrochlorofluorocarbon
(HCFC), is low according to animal studies. However, pulmonary manifestations associated with acute HCFC exposure by inhalation have not been reported as yet in man.
European Journal of Pediatrics 0340-6199 (Print) 10.1007/s00431-008-0911-y
The mechanical alterations related to the excessive use of accessory respiratory muscles and the mouth breathing observed in children with asthma may lead to the development of alterations in head posture, shoulders, thoracic region and, consequently, in alterations of body posture.
Clinically, the symptoms and limited exercise capabilities of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) correlate better with changes in lung volumes than with airflow measurements.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) are two diseases that often coexist within an individual. This coexistence is known as overlap syndrome and is the result of chance rather than a pathophysiological link.
It remains unknown whether bacteremia and rapid radiologic progression of pulmonary infiltrates increase the risk of shock and mortality in ICU patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
Vicks VapoRub (VVR) [Proctor and Gamble; Cincinnati, OH] is often used to relieve symptoms of chest congestion. We cared for a toddler in whom severe respiratory distress developed after VVR was applied directly under her nose.
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
The objective of this study was to measure health-related quality of life (HRQL) in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and to assess differences in HRQL according to age, gender, and severity of
COPD.
A 52-year-old man underwent a diagnostic bronchoscopy for right hilar mass and ipsilateral upper lobe endobronchial lesion. During the procedure, a nonobstructing endobronchial tissue band was found on the left main bronchus just before the secondary carina. This tissue formation, of uncertain etiology, did not obstruct the airway or compromise the clearance of secretions and for these reasons it was left intact.
There are conflicting views on time trends of asthma and atopy during the last 10-15 years. Additional confusion is caused by the term of asthma which is a unifying name for different phenotypes.
A 70-year-old man presented with progressive dyspnea, chest and back pain, fatigue of 5 years' duration, and dysphagia and weight loss of 1 year's duration. Despite multiple diagnostic work-ups performed previously, no eventual diagnosis could have been made.
Postintubation tracheal web is a rarely encountered complication of endotracheal intubation. Although few of them remain asymptomatic until diagnosed accidentally, most of them present with symptoms of acute airway obstruction and even death.
Endobronchial leiomyomas are rare benign tumors of the lung, arising from the smooth muscle of the bronchial tree. Symptomatology is based on the degree of endoluminal bronchial obstruction, and surgical resection has generally been the mainstay of treatment.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 4(1):107-108, January 2009
We report the case of a patient with suspected hamartoma with slight fluorodeoxyglucose
(FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography (PET). Initially, follow-up with repeat computed tomography (CT) scan was proposed.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):25-28, January 2009
Exercise has been recognized as a trigger of bronchospasm for centuries. However, there remains much debate regarding the mechanism of this response, nomenclature to describe it, optimal tests for diagnosis, and treatment options.
CD4+CD25+ FOXP3-positive T-regulatory cells have an important role in controlling immune and inflammatory reactions. The present authors hypothesise that these cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
We sought to determine whether an acupuncture technique specially developed for a surgical oncology population (intervention) reduces pain or analgesic use after thoracotomy compared with a sham acupuncture technique (control).
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200805-751OC
Ambient particulate matter has been associated with systemic inflammation indicated by blood markers such as fibrinogen, implicated in promoting
atherothrombosis.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200810-1558OC
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disease. Often limited clinical resources result in long patient waiting lists. Simpler validated methods of care are needed.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200809-1394CP
Antimicrobial stewardship involves a multifaceted approach that strives to combat the emergence of resistance, improve clinical outcomes, and control costs by improving antimicrobial use.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200807-1195OC
Increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been related to both lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome. Data on the relationship between lung function and metabolic syndrome are sparse.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2009, doi:10.1164/rccm.200807-1097OC
Exposure to particulate air pollution has been related with increased hospitalization and death, particularly from cardiovascular disease. Lower blood DNA methylation content is found in processes related to cardiovascular outcomes, such as oxidative stress, aging, and atherosclerosis.
Journal of Human Hypertension advance online publication 8 January 2009;
doi: 10.1038/jhh.2008.147
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), due to the collapse of the upper airways, is a common but still underestimated condition. The 'dose-response' type relationship between OSAS and hypertension (HT) has now been clearly proven.
Long-lasting therapy for Mycobacterium kansasii lung disease with
rifampin-containing multidrug regimens is needed to avoid relapses. The aim of the present study is to evaluate a short multidrug treatment regimen for M. kansasii lung disease.
Obstructive sleep apnea has been linked with metabolic syndrome characterized by
dyslipidemia, dyscoagulation, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type 2 and their cardiovascular consequences.
Airway stenoses have been a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. We reviewed our 11-year experience with dilatation and silicone stent treatment of airway strictures after lung transplantation.
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are associated with severe neurological complications in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia
(HHT).
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9658, Pages 104 - 105, 10 January 2009
The regulation of airway smooth muscle is balanced by sympathetic activity that produces relaxation and parasympathetic activity that produces constriction.
Respiratory Research 2009, 10:1doi:10.1186/1465-9921-10-1
Anxiety and depression are common and treatable risk factors for
re-hospitalisation and death in patients with COPD. The degree of lung function impairment does not sufficiently explain anxiety and depression.
Allergy, Volume 64, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 32-39(8)
Mechanical strain and cytokine stimulation are two important mechanisms leading to airway remodeling in asthma. The effect of mechanical strain on cytokine secretion in airway fibroblasts is not known.
European Journal of Emergency Medicine. 16(1):49-52, February 2009
The objective of the study was to compare two scoring methods to predict the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) as diagnosed with computed tomography angiography
(CTA) and/or CT venography (CTV).
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 123(1):9-12, January 2009.
Immediate breast reconstruction using the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap is associated with multiple risk factors for pulmonary
thromboembolism, the incidence of which has been reported to be as high as 6.3 percent.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 6 December 2008 , pages 376 - 381
Chronic obstructive and interstitial lung diseases impair pulmonary gas exchange leading to wasted ventilation (alveolar dead space) and wasted perfusion (venous admixture).
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 6 December 2008 , pages 339 - 346
A survey-based COPD severity scoring algorithm could prove useful for targeted disease management and risk-adjustment. For this purpose, we sought to prospectively validate a COPD severity score that had previously been
cross-sectionally validated.
Allergy, Volume 64, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 47-54(8)
Although mediators, such as lipids, cytokines, and chemokines, are related to the appearance of an
IPR, there has been no reliable indicator to predict conditions for the appearance of an
IPR.
Allergy, Volume 64, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 62-71(10)
To validate a questionnaire measuring the knowledge and behaviour of asthmatics participating in an educational programme and to gauge the benefit of such a
programme.
Allergy, Volume 64, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 5-17(13)
Asthma has emerged as an important public health problem in many Latin American countries over the past decade. In Brazil and Costa Rica, the prevalence of asthma and associated morbidity is as great or greater as reported in traditional high prevalence countries such as the US, but remains neglected as a public health priority.
The present study reports a case of biopsy-proven pulmonary veno-occlusive disease as a cause of severe pulmonary hypertension in a patient suffering from a chronic myeloproliferative disorder.
Paradoxical inward displacement of the costal margin during inspiration is observed in many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients at rest but its importance is unclear.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 1 January 2009, pp. e60-e66
Parents with chronic disease may be more likely than healthy parents to perceive their children with chronic conditions as medically vulnerable. Our objective for this study was to determine if children with asthma whose parents have chronic disease differ in health care utilization, school absenteeism, and reported child health status compared with those whose parents do not have chronic disease.
Allergy, Volume 64, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 55-61(7)
Allergic asthma is consistently associated with increased FENO levels whereas divergence exists regarding the use of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) as marker of inflammation in nonallergic asthma and in asthmatic smokers. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of having allergic or nonallergic asthma on exhaled nitric oxide levels, with special regard to smoking history.
Recent studies suggest that macrolides may have beneficial effects for patients at risk for certain infections. The current authors examined the effect of macrolide therapy on 30- and 90-day mortality for patients with severe sepsis caused by pneumonia.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 6 December 2008 , pages 369 - 375
COPD is a disease with a multi-component pathophysiology in which inflammation plays a key role. An anti-inflammatory effect of salmeterol
(S)/fluticasone propionate (FP) combination (SFC), as demonstrated in a number of biopsy studies, may be the mechanism by which it provides a potential survival benefit in COPD patients in the TORCH study.
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 13, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 136-141(6)
Consecutive patients visiting health centre laboratories for the evaluation of suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) between June and September 2006 were investigated. On-the-spot, morning and second on-the-spot sputum samples were pooled for each patient.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):46-51, January 2009
For optimal asthma control, complementary strategies are advocated to cover several aspects of the disease. This mini-review highlights different complementary strategies with special focus on the combined use of inhaled corticosteroids
(ICSs) and long-acting [beta]2 agonists and as an alternative, the combination of ICSs and
antileukotrienes.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):39-45, January 2009
Cigarette smoking in asthma is associated with poor symptom control and reduced sensitivity to corticosteroids. We summarize recent evidence supporting the adverse effects of smoking in asthma and consider strategies to manage these patients.
The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology. 2009. Volume 19 Number 1
This prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the role of dexamethasone in prevention of upper airway complications like laryngeal edema, stridor etc. A total of 60 children who were ventilated for more than 24 hours were included in the study.
The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology. 2009. Volume 19 Number 1
Massive pulmonary embolism under general anesthesia is an acute fatal complication. Prompt diagnosis is important but difficult because some of clinical signs are masked by general anesthesia under controlled ventilation. The mortality rate can be as high as 70% if massive pulmonary embolism is left untreated.
The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology. 2009. Volume 19 Number 1
Radial artery cannulation during anesthesia and intensive care unit is one of the essential methods for monitoring. Pain control associated with invasive procedures is a major challenge. Discomfort and pain in an awake patient may lead to limb movement or uncooperation from the patient leading to difficulty in radial artery
cannulation. The technique of radial artery cannulation is accomplished comfortably in most of the patients. But sometimes, it becomes quite challenging and it can be of problem in critical ill patients.
A 77-year-old male smoker presented with fever, cough, and night sweat of 4 weeks' duration. Imaging of the chest revealed a left lung consolidation and a right cavitary lesion. Further investigation with flexible bronchoscopy supported the diagnosis of an infectious/inflammatory process.
A long-standing undiagnosed foreign body bronchus in an adult is very rare. We report a rare case of an overlooked foreign body in the bronchus. A 38-year-old man presented with the complaints of chronic cough with expectoration and wheezing for the last 18 years.
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 13, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 99-104(6)
Detection of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases is vital for tuberculosis (TB) control. Methods to augment sputum collection are available, but their additional benefit is uncertain in resource-limited settings.
Laryngeal cleft, a rare congenital anomaly, may occur in association with other airway abnormalities. Despite the close proximity of embryologic development of the laryngotracheobronchial tree, bronchial abnormalities in association with laryngeal cleft have not been widely reported.
Pneumothorax caused by damaged pleura represents the biggest obstacle in awake coronary artery bypass grafting. In order to safely perform this surgery, a new technique was developed to close the damaged pleura.
Academic Emergency Medicine Published Online: 6 Jan 2009
The objectives were to assess emergency physician (EP) understanding of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) core measures for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines and to determine their self-reported effect on antibiotic prescribing patterns.
New England Journal of Medicine Volume 360:140-149 January 8, 2009 Number 2
The level of environmental hypobaric hypoxia that affects climbers at the summit of Mount Everest (8848 m [29,029 ft]) is close to the limit of tolerance by humans. We performed direct field measurements of arterial blood gases in climbers breathing ambient air on Mount Everest.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter A3 (ABCA3) gene mutations cause fatal respiratory failure in term infants, but common ABCA3 polymorphisms have remained uncharacterized at the population level.
A 66 year old man who had been diagnosed with COPD 18 months earlier was readmitted with breathlessness unresponsive to bronchodilators and steroids. His symptoms were noticeably improved by lying on his left side. CTPA showed no evidence of pulmonary embolism but raised the possibility of
tracheomalacia, which was later confirmed with bronchoscopy and lung function testing.
American Journal of Therapeutics. 15(6):512-515, November/December 2008
Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are serious complications that may occur in the patient undergoing surgery for gynecologic malignancies. The American College of Chest Physicians recommends unfractionated heparin or low-molecular weight heparin as prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in this patient population.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 6 December 2008 , pages 353 - 359
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is associated with variable development of airflow obstruction and emphysema. Index patients have greater airflow obstruction than subjects detected by screening, but it is unclear if this reflects smoking differences and/or ascertainment bias, or is due to additional genetic factors. In this study 72 sibling pairs with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency were compared using lung function measurements and HRCT chest.
Journal of The American Society of Echocardiography Volume 22, Issue 1, Pages 105.e3-105.e4 (January 2009)
The authors describe a patient with a floating thrombus in the right heart that migrated into the pulmonary artery, causing on-site massive pulmonary thromboembolism during echocardiography and systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet resulting in significant dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
We report a case of acute severe hepatitis with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M.
pneumoniae) infection and transient depression of multiple coagulation factors. A 5-year-old boy, previously healthy, was admitted with pneumonia.
The impact of pediatric 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV-7) on the population of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the United States was examined by determining the serotypes, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and genetic relatedness of isolates from patients with invasive and noninvasive infections during the 2004-2005 respiratory illness season.
Draining of the chest cavity with two chest tubes after pulmonary lobectomy is a common practice. This study aimed to investigate whether using two tubes after a pulmonary lobectomy is more effective than using a single tube.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of muscle weakness and the importance of physical inactivity in cystic fibrosis (CF), and its relationship to exercise tolerance and muscle strength.
Tuberculosis (TB) pleural disease is complicated by extensive tissue destruction. Matrix metalloproteinase
(MMP)-1 and -9 are implicated in immunopathology of pulmonary and central nervous system TB.
Infants with recurrent wheeze have repeated episodes of airways obstruction; however, relatively little is known about the structure and function of their lungs when not symptomatic.
Bosentan has proven 4-month efficacy in patients with HIV-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension
(PAH-HIV). Herein, the long-term outcome of unselected PAH-HIV patients treated with first-line bosentan is described.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 6 December 2008 , pages 347 - 352
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the world. Many people with disease are undiagnosed or untreated due to lack of consensus about the definition of
COPD.
The aim of the present study was to determine dietary patterns and investigate their association with asthma incidence, current asthma and frequent asthma exacerbations.
Although the presence of neutropenia may predispose cancer patients to develop community-acquired pneumonia, the role of neutropenia on their outcomes has not been investigated.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):19-24, January 2009
Disease of the nose and sinuses is the most common comorbidity associated with asthma. Rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma may represent part of one disease process with manifestations at different sites.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):29-34, January 2009
More than10 years ago the category of mild asthma was split into mild intermittent and mild persistent asthma and maintenance therapy with low dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) was recommended for mild persistent asthma.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade all of the extracellular matrix components of the intersititium and may play a role in abnormal alveolar permeability, which is a feature of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
(IPF).
PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 1 January 2009, pp. 367-377
Postnatal dexamethasone therapy reduces the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants but may be associated with an increased risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, January 2009, p. 142-152, Vol. 47, No. 1
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited genetic disease in Caucasian populations. Besides bacteria, many species of fungi may colonize the respiratory tract of these patients, sometimes leading to true respiratory infections. In this study, an oligonucleotide array capable of identifying 20 fungal species was developed to directly detect fungi in the sputum samples of CF patients.
BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2009, 9:2doi:10.1186/1471-2466-9-2
The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical and management characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) in men and women, to determine possible gender-associated differences between the two groups of patients.
Annals of Thoracic Medicine Year : 2009 Volume : 4 Issue : 1 Page : 27-31
Pleural effusion is considered to be a rare manifestation of pulmonary
sarcoidosis, but hemorrhagic effusion secondary to it is a very uncommon clinical presentation. This case is reported due to the rare manifestation in pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting clinically as hemorrhagic pleural effusion.
Here we present the case of a 26-year-old man in whom peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour of chest wall origin invaded the left lung with regional lymph node metastasis.
In OPCAB (off-pump coronary artery bypass) operations, development of cardiac arrest during the distal anastomosis to obtuse marginal coronary artery leads to significantly low blood pressure in the ascending aorta.
In this report we present a successful clamshell approach for lung harvest, with subsequent two single lung transplantations in two different patients, from a donor who had previous median sternotomy for aortic valve substitution.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):52-56, January 2009
This review examines the changes in the revised National Asthma Education and Prevention Program
(NAEPP) Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma pertaining to children and highlights areas that may benefit from further study.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica First Published on: 30 December 2008
The prevalence of sleep apnoea among patients following treatment of head and neck carcinomas seems to be slightly higher than in the normal population. The possible importance of tumour treatment features, especially transient
tracheostoma, needs further assessment.
Most studies of idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) have primarily studied mortality. In order to clarify the detailed outcome and prognostic markers in idiopathic
NSIP, the clinical course with initial radiological and clinical features was
analysed.
There is a marked survival advantage for patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer
(NSCLC) expressing high numbers of macrophages in their tumour islets. The primary aim of the present study was to determine the immunological phenotype of
NSCLC-associated macrophages.
Sternal instability after cardiac surgery occurs infrequently but can be challenging to manage. The most common treatment of mechanical sternal instability is operative rewiring. Transverse rib-to-rib stabilization with titanium plates designed for sternal fixation is a recent option.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L115-L120, 2009
The factors controlling the pulmonary vascular resistance under physiological conditions are poorly understood. We have previously reported on an apparent cross talk between the airway and adjacent pulmonary arterial bed where a factor likely derived from the bronchial epithelial cells reduced the magnitude of agonist-stimulated force in the vascular smooth muscle.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, January 2009, p. 271-274, Vol. 47, No. 1
We report the case of a cystic fibrosis patient colonized with a
smooth-morphotype form of Mycobacterium abscessus who developed acute respiratory failure with the emergence of an isogenic rough (R) variant while he was recovering from peritonitis-induced shock. This report emphasizes the role of R forms in severe M. abscessus infections.
Annals of Thoracic Medicine Year : 2009 Volume : 4 Issue : 1 Page : 17-20
Unplanned extubation is quite common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
(NPPV) in patients with unplanned extubation.
Allergy, Volume 64, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 81-84(4)
Asthma and rhinitis are considered components of a single IgE-mediated inflammatory disorder. However, despite being shown to often co-exist, they are typically treated as independent conditions.
Omalizumab, an anti-IgE antibody, has proven effective in the treatment of both asthma and rhinitis.
BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2009, 9:1doi:10.1186/1471-2466-9-1
As more inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) devices become available, there may be pressure for health-care providers to switch patients with asthma to cheaper inhaler devices. Our objective was to evaluate impact on asthma control of inhaler device switching without an accompanying consultation in general practice.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):4-11, January 2009
Airway mucus plugging has long been recognized as a principal cause of death in asthma. However, molecular mechanisms of mucin overproduction and secretion have not been understood until recently. These mechanisms are reviewed together with ongoing investigations relating them to lung
pathophysiology.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):63-71, January 2009
The use of inhaled corticosteroids, short and long acting [beta]2-adrenoceptor agonists and inhibitors of leukotrienes provide most asthmatic patients with good disease control. However, none of these therapies are specifically directed to the underlying causal pathways of asthma.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine. 34(1):42-43, January 2009
Patients with homocystinuria are at high risk to develop vascular thrombosis, both arterial and venous. We report the case of an asymptomatic noncompliant 13-year-old child referred for pulmonary arterial hypertension, revealed in the follow-up of a pyridoxine nonresponsive form of
homocystinuria.
Reversible airflow obstruction and nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness are: 1) the two key features of asthma; 2) the primary concern for asthma patients; and 3) both directly caused by the airway smooth muscle
(ASM).
Clinical Nuclear Medicine. 34(1):18-19, January 2009
We report the PET-CT appearance of extraosseous myxoid chondrosarcoma in the left gluteus maximus muscle with diffuse pulmonary and nodal metastases in a 65-year-old man who presented with a large left gluteal mass.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L71-L81, 2009
Lung morphogenesis requires precise coordination between branching morphogenesis and vascularization to generate distal airways capable of supporting respiration at the cell-cell interface.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L92-L100, 2009
Human tracheobronchial epithelial cells grown in air-liquid interface culture have emerged as a powerful tool for the study of airway biology. In this study, we have investigated whether this culture system produces "mucus" with a protein composition similar to that of in vivo, induced airway secretions.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L82-L91, 2009
Immortalization of human bronchial epithelial (hBE) cells often entails loss of differentiation. Bmi-1 is a protooncogene that maintains stem cells, and its expression creates cell lines that recapitulate normal cell structure and function.
Clinical trials and meta-analyses have produced conflicting results of the efficacy of unconjugated pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in adults. We sought to evaluate the vaccine's efficacy on clinical outcomes as well as the methodologic quality of the trials.
A prospective study comparing angiographic clot burden score and ECG score in 105 patients with PE found no correlation between the two, and neither predictor correlated with 12-month mortality.
Clinical studies suggest that acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) may be a risk factor for the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ARTI is associated with an increased risk for ACS up to 2 weeks prior to a cardiac event.
Annals of Thoracic Medicine Year : 2009 Volume : 4 Issue : 1 Page : 13-16
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is an important cause of in-hospital mortality. Many patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) either due to hemodynamic instability or severe hypoxemia. Few reports have addressed the outcome of patients with PE; however, none were from ICUs in the Middle East.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 6 December 2008 , pages 329 - 338
Mucous metaplasia is an important determinant of small airway obstruction in
COPD. Its relationship to small airway inflammation is poorly defined. We analyzed 4 to 6 small airways in 19 COPD patients, GOLD stages 0-4, from lobectomy or lung volume reduction surgery tissue samples.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 4(1):135-137, January 2009
Malignant triton tumor is a divergent malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. We report a case of malignant triton tumor arising in the brachial plexus of a 28-year-old women with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Annals of Thoracic Medicine Year : 2009 Volume : 4 Issue : 1 Page : 10-12
Four hundred and seventy-six consecutive patients of hemoptysis who were admitted to the Department of Pulmonary Medicine between January 1996 and December 2002 were included in this study.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published Online: 30 Dec 2008
The firefighters are at increased risk of respiratory disease as a result of exposure to smoke and dust. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk associated with respiratory symptoms among city firefighters in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 4(1):119-126, January 2009
Thymomas are rare intrathoracic malignant tumors. Commonly used staging system is the Masaoka classification, based on peroperative and histopathological findings. Surgery is the cornerstone of the management of
thymomas, initially being useful for precise histopathological diagnosis and staging, and in most cases ensuring the first step of the therapeutics simultaneously.
Allergy, Volume 64, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 40-46(7)
Effects of air pollution exposure on IgE-mediated response in asthmatics are poorly investigated. The aim was to examine the relationship between air pollution concentrations and total IgE levels in adult asthmatics.
Wine-induced asthmatic symptoms may be caused by sulphite additives. Prostaglandin (PG)D2 and cysteinyl leukotrienes
(cysLT) are important mediators of asthmatic responses.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):72-78, January 2009
In spite of numerous efforts, asthma rates in the United States remain historically high and disparities persist among low-income and minority populations. This review assesses the current status of asthma inequities from the perspective of disease development, progression, and outcomes.
Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure is proposed as a noninvasive test of inspiratory muscle strength. During this
manoeuvre, the nasal pressure is supposed to reflect oesophageal pressure.
Black patients are more likely than white patients to prefer and receive more life-sustaining interventions in advanced stages of disease. However, little is known about potential racial differences in use of mechanical ventilation (MV), and the newer modality of noninvasive ventilation
(NIV), in treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
Aspergillus infections cause a spectrum of pulmonary diseases depending on the immune status of the host. We report a rare case of a young,
immunocompetent, patient who developed Aspergillus
tracheobronchitis.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 296: L37-L45, 2009
Several lines of evidence indicate that depletion of glutathione (GSH), a critical thiol antioxidant, is associated with the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
(IPF). However, GSH synthesis depends on the amino acid cysteine
(Cys), and relatively little is known about the regulation of Cys in fibrosis.
Annals of Internal Medicine 6 January 2009 Volume 150 Issue 1 Pages 19-26
Traditionally, pneumonia has been classified as either community- or hospital-acquired. Although only limited data are available, health care-associated pneumonia has been recently proposed as a new category of respiratory infection. "Health care-associated pneumonia" refers to pneumonia in patients who have recently been hospitalized, had
hemodialysis, or received intravenous chemotherapy or reside in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
In addition to direct antibacterial actions, 14- and 15-member-ring macrolides have immune modulating effects that appear to be the reason for clinical benefit in diffuse
panbronchiolitis.
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has contributed substantially to the diagnosis of centrally located lesions within the thorax. More recently, this technology has been applied to the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 6 December 2008 , pages 360 - 368
Spirometry is necessary to diagnose and assess severity of COPD, but is used infrequently. Therapy with inhaled medications can improve COPD outcomes, but are not without risks. The use of spirometry may help mitigate the therapy risks if treatment is appropriate based on spirometry results.
Large airway obstruction is well described as a cause of apparent asthma, unresponsive to the standard asthma therapy. Our purpose is to introduce multiple variants of other diseases that mimic asthma with failure to treat.
Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is currently classified as a subgroup of pulmonary arterial hypertension
(PAH) and accounts for 5-10% of cases initially considered to be idiopathic
PAH. PVOD has been described as idiopathic or complicating other conditions, including connective tissue diseases, HIV infection, bone marrow transplantation, sarcoidosis and pulmonary Langerhans cell
granulomatosis.
Several studies have demonstrated the diagnostic yield of medical thoracoscopy
(pleuroscopy) in making the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion
(MPE). No previous studies, however, have reported long-term outcomes for patients undergoing diagnostic pleuroscopy in whom no malignancy was demonstrated either with cytologic examination of pleural fluid or pathologic examination of
thoracoscope-guided pleural biopsies.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):57-62, January 2009
Patient response to the asthma drug classes, bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers, are characterized by a large degree of heterogeneity, which is attributable in part to genetic variation. Herein, we review and update the pharmacogenetics and pharmaogenomics of common asthma drugs.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 15(1):12-18, January 2009
The purpose of this review is to highlight seminal and current literature that informs our understanding of the clinical and investigative utility of biomarkers in asthma. Biomarkers derive from a variety of sources [bronchiolar lavage (BAL), sputum, exhaled breath, and blood], and have widely variant performance characteristics, and applicability.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 1 January 2009, pp. 97-101
During the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak of 2003, there was an impetus to provide clinical information to the medical community in a timely manner. Accordingly, a preliminary report of our experience of suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus infections in children was published without microbiological findings.
Fifty adults were recruited from two local general practices and from general ENT clinics at our University hospital. Patients were allocated to one of four groups according to use of inhaled corticosteroids and the presence of adverse local side effects.
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) causes a wide range of clinical manifestations that together constitute a major burden of disease worldwide. The main route of pneumococcal transmission is through asymptomatic colonisation of the
nasopharynx.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 1 January 2009, pp. 137-142
Chronic lung disease is one of the most frequent and serious complications of premature birth. Because mechanical ventilation is a major risk factor for chronic lung disease, the early application of nasal continuous positive airway pressure has been used as a strategy for avoiding mechanical ventilation in premature infants.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 91-97 (January 2009)
The mechanisms of the systemic response associated with talc-induced pleurodesis are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the acute inflammatory response and migration of talc of small size particles injected in the pleural space.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 109-116 (January 2009)
In a previous study we assessed the feasibility of measuring bronchial-reactivity
(BHR) in young asthmatic children by the determination of PC20-FEV1 along with clinical end-of-test criteria during a methacholine challenge test
(MCT).
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 104-108 (January 2009)
Asthma in preschool children is greatly under-diagnosed worldwide. Aim was to investigate prevalence of wheezing, and asthma risk factors, doctor diagnosis, treatment and health resource utilization in preschool children.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 124-129 (January 2009)
Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is characterized by the proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle cells (LAM cells) and destruction of alveolar structure.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 41-49 (January 2009)
Beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol combination via single inhaler or via separate inhalers improved morning
PEF. However, the combination via single inhaler was more effective than given via separate inhalers for asthma control.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 85-90 (January 2009)
COPD is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. We examined whether inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) used concomitantly with long-acting beta2-agonists
(LABA) were associated with reduction in lung cancer risk in COPD patients.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 50-58 (January 2009)
The purposes of this study were to estimate the prevalence of recent influenza vaccination, to identify sociodemographic risk factors and reasons for non-vaccination, and to examine the association between influenza vaccination and respiratory medication use, among individuals with asthma and COPD in Canada.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 136-143 (January 2009)
Impulse oscillometry system (IOS) assesses pulmonary resistance and reactance. We set out to investigate which IOS measurements are related to airflow obstruction, airway conductance and lung volumes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 67-73 (January 2009)
Trial of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in the emergency department (ED) for heterogeneous acute respiratory failure
(ARF) has been optional and its clinical benefit unclear.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 152-158 (January 2009)
Some studies show concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in nonatopic asthma and in healthy subjects to be similar, but include asthmatics on inhaled steroids, which is likely to interfere with the results.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 144-151 (January 2009)
Recent studies have found that asthmatic women pregnant with a female fetus reported more symptoms and had slightly lower lung function than women pregnant with a male fetus. In order to further investigate this association, we studied the effect of fetal sex on maternal asthma exacerbations and the use of asthma medications during pregnancy.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 98-103 (January 2009)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease that is characterized by varying degrees of involvement of airway and lung parenchyma. Although cigarette smoke is the major risk factor for
COPD, the principal determining factors of involvement of the airway or lung parenchyma have not been clearly defined.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 12-21 (January 2009)
We examine the lifetime cost-effectiveness of treatment with fluticasone
propionate/salmeterol (500/50{microgram}) compared with no maintenance treatment in COPD in the US.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 59-66 (January 2009)
To evaluate the acceptance, effectiveness in preventing upper airways obstruction, and haemodynamic effects of continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP) in acute stroke.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 35-40 (January 2009)
Cigarette smoking causes inflammatory responses in the airways. However, not all smokers exhibit the development of airflow limitation. This study was designed to determine the implications of small airways inflammation in the development of airflow limitation in smokers by our newly explored method.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 74-84 (January 2009)
The need for a 6-min walk distance (6-MWD) reference equation for healthy North African adults older than 40 years was assessed in a prospective cross-sectional study.
Respiratory Medicine Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 3-11 (January 2009)
Nine orientations in behavioural research on COPD patients are identified and concisely examined: psychoanalytic approach, psychosomatics,
neuropsychology, quality of life, psychomaintenance, patient education, coping and illness cognitions, self-management, and collaborative care.
The American Journal of Cardiology Volume 103, Issue 1, Pages 22-28 (1 January 2009)
To evaluate the prognostic role of novel biomarkers for the risk stratification of patients admitted with ischemic-type chest pain, a prospective study of 664 patients presenting to 2 coronary care units with ischemic-type chest pain was conducted over 3 years beginning in 2003.
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