Causality in the relationship between central sleep apnea and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages 462-464 (May 2008)
05/31/2008
12:16 PM
Catathrenia: A rare parasomnia which may mimic central sleep apnea on polysomnogram
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages 460-461 (May 2008)
05/31/2008
12:15 PM
Application of videotape in the screening of obstructive sleep apnea in children
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages 442-445 (May 2008)
To determine if watching a videotape that shows features of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) will improve the accuracy of a verbally administered questionnaire in the prediction of OSA in pediatric snorers.
05/31/2008
12:13 PM
Craniofacial abnormalities in Chinese patients with obstructive and positional sleep apnea
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages 403-410 (May 2008)
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of a complete or partial collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Traditionally, the disease is diagnosed by overnight polysomnography. Studies have shown correlation between parameters of cephalometry and severity of sleep apnea. We wish to determine the variable of craniofacial dimensions in the upper airway that contribute to OSA, and to investigate the significance of craniofacial measurements in positional and non-positional sleep apnea patients.
05/31/2008
12:12 PM
Medico-legal implications of sleep apnoea syndrome: Driving license regulations in Europe
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages 362-375 (May 2008)
Sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS), one of the main medical causes of excessive daytime sleepiness, has been shown to be a risk factor for traffic accidents. Treating SAS results in a normalized rate of traffic accidents. As part of the COST Action B-26, we looked at driving license regulations, and especially at its medical aspects in the European region.
05/31/2008
09:56 AM
Development and optimization of quantitative PCR for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
BMC Infectious Diseases 2008, 8:73
The diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) remains challenging. Culture and histopathological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid are useful but have suboptimal sensitivity and in the case of culture may require several days for fungal growth to be evident.
05/31/2008
09:54 AM
A feasibility study of home telemedicine for patients with cystic fibrosis awaiting transplantation
J Telemed Telecare 2008;14:182-185
Sixteen patients with cystic fibrosis were randomized to either telemedicine or standard care alone. All patients were terminally ill. Patients in the telemedicine group had an ISDN line installed in their home and were given a videoconferencing unit connected to their home television set. Eleven subjects completed the baseline assessment and seven patients completed the study (4 on telemedicine and 3 in the control arm). Telemedicine patients had weekly videoconferences from home for a clinical assessment, psychological support and the opportunity for discussion with any member of the multidisciplinary team.
05/31/2008
09:53 AM
Minocycline treatment results in reduced oral steroid requirements in adult asthma
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 29, Number 3, May-June 2008 , pp. 286-294(9)
The tetracycline antibiotics have pleiotropic anti-inflammatory properties that may explain their therapeutic benefit in rheumatoid arthritis and acne. As these agents suppress both cellular and humoral immune responses, they may be of benefit in treating asthma and other allergic disorders.
05/31/2008
09:52 AM
Effect of specific immunotherapy on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha in asthmatic children
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 29, Number 3, May-June 2008 , pp. 274-279(6)
There is no general agreement among investigators regarding the effect of specific immunotherapy (SIT) on T-cell reactivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha of children with allergic asthma before and after 3 and 12 months of SIT. Additionally, after 12 months of SIT, we investigated the bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
05/31/2008
09:51 AM
Asthma control in pediatric patients treated with once-daily or twice-daily nebulized budesonide inhalation suspension (Pulmicort Respules)
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 29, Number 3, May-June 2008 , pp. 280-285(6)
Composite end points may represent more meaningful assessments of asthma control compared with traditional discrete measures. The effects of budesonide inhalation suspension (BIS) on composite measures of asthma control have not been investigated.
05/31/2008
09:50 AM
Severe pharyngitis in stockbreeders: an unusual presentation of brucellosis
Occupational Medicine 2008 58(4):305-307
Brucellosis is a known occupational hazard for shepherds, abattoir workers, veterinarians, dairy industry professionals and personnel in microbiological laboratories. Any organ may be affected by Brucella species but to date, severe manifestations in the pharynx have never been reported as the prevailing features of brucellosis.
05/31/2008
09:49 AM
Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Berlin Questionnaire, But Not Daytime Sleepiness, Is Associated With Resistant Hypertension: A Case-control Study
American Journal of Hypertension (2008). doi:10.1038/ajh.2008.184
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a risk factor for resistant hypertension. Overnight polysomnography and portable sleep monitors are not generally available and questionnaires may be useful for screening OSAS.
05/31/2008
09:47 AM
Mycoplasma pneumoniae : nervous system complications in childhood and review of the literature
European Journal of Pediatrics 0340-6199 (Print) 10.1007/s00431-008-0714-1
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an important pathogen which causes nervous system disorders during or after the course of a respiratory tract infection. The exact pathogenic mechanism which causes neurological disorders still remains unknown.
05/31/2008
09:46 AM
18F-FDG PET/CT in sarcoidosis management: review and report of 20 cases
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 1619-7070 (Print) 10.1007/s00259-008-0770-9
To evaluate the interest of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) for diagnosis and therapeutic follow-up of patients with sarcoidosis.
05/31/2008
09:46 AM
Use of the Rapid Antigenic Test to Determine the Duration of Isolation in Infants Hospitalized for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
Clinical Pediatrics, Vol. 47, No. 5, 493-495 (2008)
Infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis associated with respiratory syncytial virus are isolated for the duration of their hospitalization. This article reviews whether a negative rapid antigenic test could be used to shorten the duration of isolation measures. Rapid respiratory syncytial virus tests were performed from day 3 on alternate days in all patients hospitalized for bronchiolitis.
05/31/2008
09:42 AM
Quantitative Kinetic Analysis of Lung Nodules Using the Temporal Subtraction Technique in Dynamic Chest Radiographies Performed with a Flat Panel Detector
Journal of Digital Imaging 0897-1889 (Print) 10.1007/s10278-008-9116-1
Early detection and treatment of lung cancer is one of the most effective means of reducing cancer mortality, and to this end, chest X-ray radiography has been widely used as a screening method.
05/31/2008
09:42 AM
Computer-aided Diagnosis of the Airways: Beyond Nodule Detection
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):105-113, May 2008
Although to date, the major impetus for the development of computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) has been the detection of pulmonary nodules, CAD should properly be viewed as a potential tool for assisting radiologic interpretation of the entire gamut of chest diseases, including not just enhanced detection of disease but also characterization and quantification, ideally leading to improved patient management.
05/31/2008
09:40 AM
Dual Energy Subtraction and Temporal Subtraction Chest Radiography
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):77-85, May 2008
Digital radiography and display systems have revolutionized radiologic practice in recent years and have enabled clinical application of advanced image processing techniques. These include dual energy subtraction and temporal subtraction, both of which can improve diagnostic accuracy for abnormal findings in chest radiographs, especially for subtle lesions such as early lung cancer or focal pneumonia.
05/31/2008
09:39 AM
Imaging of pulmonary emphysema: A pictorial review
International Journal of COPD Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
The term "emphysema" is generally used in a morphological sense, and therefore imaging modalities have an important role in diagnosing this disease. In particular, high resolution computed tomography
(HRCT) is a reliable tool for demonstrating the pathology of emphysema, even in subtle changes within secondary pulmonary lobules. Generally, pulmonary emphysema is classified into three types related to the lobular anatomy: centrilobular emphysema, panlobular emphysema, and paraseptal emphysema.
05/31/2008
09:39 AM
Pulmonary Extramedullary Hematopoiesis
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):138-141, May 2008
Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is the formation and development of blood cells outside of the bone marrow. Of particular interest to chest physicians and radiologists is the occurrence of EMH in the lungs and pleura. There have been several reports of patients presenting with pulmonary EMH published in the literature and the majority are due to a secondary process, such as myeloproliferative disorders, hemolytic anemias, hereditary spherocytosis, and Gaucher disease.
05/31/2008
09:38 AM
Digital Tomosynthesis of the Chest
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):86-92, May 2008
Digital tomosynthesis is a technique that generates an arbitrary number of section images of a patient from a single pass of the x-ray tube. It is under investigation for application to a number of clinical detection tasks, and has recently been implemented in commercial devices for chest radiography.
05/31/2008
09:37 AM
Computer-aided Diagnosis in Lung Nodule Assessment
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):97-104, May 2008
Computed tomography (CT) imaging is playing an increasingly important role in cancer detection, diagnosis, and lesion characterization, and it is the most sensitive test for lung nodule detection. Interpretation of lung nodules involves characterization and integration of clinical and other imaging information. Advances in lung nodule management using CT require optimization of CT data acquisition, postprocessing tools, and computer-aided diagnosis (CAD).
05/31/2008
09:20 AM
The value of ischemia-modified albumin compared with d-dimer in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:49
The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether IMA levels are helpful in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE).
05/31/2008
09:19 AM
Severe asthma exacerbation: role of acute Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:48
Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are associated with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma (AEBA).
05/31/2008
09:18 AM
Cardiorespiratory fitness and sleep-related breathing disorders
Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy June 2008, Vol. 6, No. 5, Pages 745-758
Obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea are burgeoning sleep-related breathing disorders within the general population. Most of the associated comorbidities and causes of these sleep disorders are known to negatively impact cardiorespiratory fitness; however, little is known about the direct relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness, obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
05/29/2008
04:06 PM
Presence of qnr gene in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to ciprofloxacin isolated from pediatric patients in China
BMC Infectious Diseases 2008, 8:68
Quinolone resistance in Enterobacteriaceae mainly results from mutations in chromosomal genes, and changes in the outer membrane or the expression of efflux pumps.
05/29/2008
04:05 PM
Occupational exposure levels to wood dust in Italy, 1996-2006
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 17 December 2007
Wood dust has been classified as carcinogenic to humans and the association with nasal cancer risk has been observed in a large number of epidemiologic studies.
05/29/2008
04:04 PM
Mortality Of Former Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos) Miners And Millers At Wittenoom
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 28 November 2007
Blue asbestos was mined and milled at Wittenoom in Western Australia between 1943 and 1966.
05/29/2008
04:03 PM
T Cells and NKT Cells in the Pathogenesis of Asthma
Annual Review of Medicine Vol. 59: 281-292
Asthma is an immunological disease with multiple inflammatory and clinical phenotypes, characterized by symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing due to airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and reversible airway obstruction.
05/29/2008
04:02 PM
Asthma Genetics: From Linear to Multifactorial Approaches
Annual Review of Medicine Vol. 59: 327-341
Asthma risk has a clear hereditary component but, unexpectedly, the majority of reported associations between genetic variants and asthma have not been consistently replicated across studies.
05/29/2008
04:02 PM
Crystal Structures of Biapenem and Tebipenem Complexed with Penicillin-Binding Proteins 2X and 1A from Streptococcus pneumoniae{triangledown}
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, June 2008, p. 2053-2060, Vol. 52, No. 6
Biapenem is a parenteral carbapenem antibiotic that exhibits wide-ranging antibacterial activity, remarkable chemical stability, and extensive stability against human renal dehydropeptidase-I. Tebipenem is the active form of tebipenem pivoxil, a novel oral carbapenem antibiotic that has a high level of bioavailability in humans, in addition to the above-mentioned features.
05/29/2008
04:01 PM
Chlamydia pneumoniae Growth Inhibition in Cells by the Steroid Receptor Antagonist RU486 (Mifepristone){triangledown}
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, June 2008, p. 1991-1998, Vol. 52, No. 6
Since steroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents and increase susceptibility to a variety of infections, including Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae respiratory tract infections, the effect of the steroid receptor antagonist RU486 (mifepristone) on C. pneumoniae growth in epithelial HEp-2 cells was examined.
05/29/2008
03:59 PM
Tracheobronchial anatomy and the distribution of inhaled foreign bodies in children
European Journal of Pediatrics 0340-6199 (Print) 10.1007/s00431-008-0751-9
Foreign body inhalation is a common and life-threatening emergency, and is most prevalent in young children. The traditional view is that tracheobronchial anatomy determines that an inhaled foreign body is more likely to enter the right main bronchus.
05/29/2008
03:59 PM
The effects of Tween-80 on the integrity of solutions of capsaicin: useful information for performing tussigenic challenges
Cough 2008, 4:3
Because variable results of capsaicin challenges may be due to the incomplete solubility of capsaicin, we sought to determine if the use of Tween-80 in solutions of capsaicin improves actual concentrations of freshly prepared and stored solutions.
05/29/2008
03:58 PM
Development of a Fiber Size-Specific Job-Exposure Matrix for Airborne Asbestos Fibers
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 5 November 2007
To develop a method for estimating fiber size-specific exposures to airborne asbestos dust for use in epidemiologic investigations of exposure-response relations.
05/29/2008
03:57 PM
The effect of exercise on innate mucosal immunity
Br J Sports Med. Published Online First: 22 May 2008
We conducted a prospective observational study comparing salivary lactoferrin and lysozyme concentration over five months (chronic changes) in elite rowers (n=17, mean age 24.3 ± 4.0y) with sedentary individuals (controls) (n=18, mean age = 27.2 ± 7.1 y) and a graded exercise test to exhaustion (acute changes) with a cohort of elite rowers (n=11, mean age 24.7 ± 4.1).
05/29/2008
03:56 PM
From measures to models: An evaluation of air pollution exposure assessment for epidemiologic studies of pregnant women
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 10 December 2007
To evaluate exposure estimation methods such as spatially resolved land-use regression models and ambient monitoring data in the context of epidemiologic studies of the impact of air pollution on pregnancy outcomes.
05/29/2008
03:55 PM
Development and preliminary evaluation of the Participation in Life Activities Scale for children and adolescents with asthma: an instrument development study
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2008, 6:37
Being able to do things other kids do is the desire of schoolage children and adolescents with asthma. In a phenomenology study, adolescents identified participation in life activities as the outcome variable and primary motivator for behavioral changes in coming to accept asthma as a chronic condition.
05/29/2008
03:54 PM
Wood Dust Exposure and the Risk of Upper Aero-Digestive and Respiratory Cancers in Males
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 8 January 2008
Wood dust (WD) has been designated as a human carcinogen that can cause sino-nasal cancers. However, evidence on its association with other upper aero digestive tract and respiratory (UADR) cancers is inconsistent.
05/29/2008
03:54 PM
Hypertension in noise-exposed sawmill workers: a cohort study
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 4 January 2008
To investigate the hypothesized association between risk of hypertension and exposure to high levels of noise using quantitative exposure assessment and administrative health data.
05/29/2008
03:53 PM
Comparison between several indices of exposure to traffic-related air pollution and their respiratory health impact in adults
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 18 January 2008
To evaluate the association of different indices of traffic-related air pollution (self-report of traffic intensity, distance from busy roads from geographical information system (GIS), area-based emissions of particulate matter (PM), and estimated concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from a land-use regression model) with respiratory health in adults.
05/29/2008
03:51 PM
An epidemiologic study of the role of chrysotile asbestos fiber dimensions in determining respiratory disease risk in exposed workers
Occup Environ Med. Published Online First: 20 December 2007
Evidence from toxicologic studies indicates that the risk of respiratory diseases varies with asbestos fiber length and width. However, there is a total lack of epidemiologic evidence concerning this question.
05/29/2008
03:50 PM
Severe asthma and the omalizumab option
Clinical and Molecular Allergy 2008, 6:4
Atopic diseases and asthma are increasing at a remarkable rate on a global scale. It is now well recognized that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. The inflammatory process in many patients is driven by an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent process.
05/29/2008
03:48 PM
CT Angiography in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: Impact of Patient Characteristics and Different Venous Lines on Vessel Enhancement and Image Quality
AJR 2008; 190:W351-W359
The objective of our study was to compare image quality, patient characteristics, and different catheters in pulmonary CT angiography (CTA) performed with bolus tracking and z-axis automated tube current modulation (ATCM) in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.
05/29/2008
03:47 PM
Risk factors for acute respiratory tract illness in military conscripts
Respirology Volume 13 Issue 4 Page 575-580, June 2008
Acute respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of missed service days among military conscripts. The aim of this study was to identify factors that possibly predicted and contributed to frequent respiratory tract infections among military conscripts.
05/29/2008
03:46 PM
Enforced mouth breathing decreases lung function in mild asthmatics
Respirology Volume 13 Issue 4 Page 553-558, June 2008
Nasal breathing provides a protective influence against exercise-induced asthma. We hypothesized that enforced oral breathing in resting mild asthmatic subjects may lead to a reduction in lung function.
05/29/2008
03:45 PM
Comparison of Expiratory CT Airway Abnormalities Before and After Tracheoplasty Surgery for Tracheobronchomalacia
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):121-126, May 2008
The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence and severity of expiratory multidetector computer tomography airway abnormalities, including central airway collapse and peripheral air trapping, before and after tracheoplasty, a novel surgical treatment for tracheomalacia.
05/29/2008
03:44 PM
Chest CT of Incidental Breast Lesions
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):148-155, May 2008
Chest computed tomography (CT) is routinely used for the evaluation of diseases of the chest involving the lung, mediastinum, pleura, chest wall, and diaphragm. Benign and malignant breast lesions are not uncommonly encountered incidentally on chest CT.
05/29/2008
03:42 PM
CT Diagnosis of Isolated Anomalous Origin of the RCA Arising From the Main Pulmonary Artery
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):145-147, May 2008
Anomalies of the coronary arteries can be benign or life threatening. The prevalence of these anomalies is reported to be approximately 0.3% to 1%, however, this may be an underestimation as conventional angiography may not allow correct identification of these abnormalities.
05/29/2008
03:41 PM
Minimally invasive techniques for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary nodules
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(4):282-286, July 2008
Evaluation and management of patients with pulmonary nodules continue to be a significant clinical challenge due to the possibility of malignancy.
05/29/2008
03:39 PM
High frequency oscillatory ventilation for respiratory failure due to RSV bronchiolitis
Intensive Care Medicine 0342-4642 (Print) 10.1007/s00134-008-1151-3
To describe the time course of high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis.
05/29/2008
03:38 PM
Thoracic Hemangiomas: Imaging via CT, MR, and PET Along With Pathologic Correlation
Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23(2):114-120, May 2008
To characterize the imaging features of thoracic hemangioma, including findings on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG).
05/29/2008
03:38 PM
Nocardia infection in lung transplant recipients
Clinical Transplantation doi:10.1111/j.1399-0012.2008.00824.x
Nocardia is a well-recognized pathogen in immunocompromised hosts, but the incidence of Nocardia infections in lung transplant recipients is not well defined.
05/29/2008
03:37 PM
Pleural effusions due to pulmonary embolism
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(4):337-342, July 2008
Recent data show that one third of patients with pulmonary embolism have pleural effusions as demonstrated by chest radiograph. By using computed tomography or ultrasonography, pleural effusions have been observed in half of these patients.
05/29/2008
03:36 PM
Image-guided pleural biopsy
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 14(4):331-336, July 2008
Pleural diseases are a common and increasing clinical problem. Establishing accurate diagnosis is an essential step in management of these patients, and approximately 40% of pleural effusions will remain undiagnosed after initial diagnostic thoracocentesis. Obtaining pleural tissue (by blind, image-guided or thoracoscopic pleural biopsy) is therefore a key procedure.
05/29/2008
03:31 PM
{beta}2-Adrenoceptor Polymorphisms Predict Response to {beta}2-Agonists in Children with Acute Asthma
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 383 - 388
The aim of this study was to determine the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the {beta}2-adrenoceptor gene, on the response to inhaled {beta}2-agonists in children with acute asthma.
05/29/2008
03:31 PM
Response to Bronchodilators After Exercise Challenge Predicts Bronchial Hyperreactivity
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 353 - 356
Some subjects with suspected asthma and a negative exercise challenge test (ECT) demonstrate improved expiratory flow rates after administration of bronchodilators (BD) at the end of the ECT (unpublished observation).
05/29/2008
03:30 PM
Fetal Sex and Maternal Asthma Control in Pregnancy
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 403 - 407
Asthma is a prevalent chronic disorder that might substantially complicate pregnancy. Some recent reports suggest that the presence of a female fetus might be associated with worse maternal asthma symptoms during pregnancy.
05/29/2008
03:29 PM
Exhaled Nitric Oxide Decreases in Association with Attendance at an Asthma Summer Camp
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 415 - 419
Attendance at a summer asthma camp has been associated with improved outcomes in children with asthma. We hypothesized that one mechanism involved in improved asthma outcomes is reduction in airway inflammation.
05/29/2008
03:28 PM
Differential Effects of Dexamethasone on the Proximal and Distal Lung Response to Antigen Challenge in Allergic Cynomolgus Monkeys
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 377 - 381
The proximal and distal portions of the lungs may respond differently to antigen challenge and bronchodilator treatment. This difference may contribute to differences in actual and perceived efficacy of therapies.
05/29/2008
03:28 PM
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Predictive of Asthma Diary Use Among Women
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 357 - 361
Current asthma guidelines encourage the use of an asthma diary for patients whose symptoms are not under control, who are being introduced to new treatments, or who need help in identifying environmental or occupational exposures.
05/29/2008
03:27 PM
Comparison of the Protective Effect Amongst Anticholinergic Drugs on Methacholine-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Asthma
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 397 - 401
The protective effect of inhaled anticholinergic drugs in the methacholine-induced bronchospasm is well-known. The objective of this study was to assess if any possible differences may be found among Ipratropium (IB), Oxitropium (OXI) and Tiotropium (TIO) pre-treatments to obtain the protective effect.
05/29/2008
03:26 PM
Biochemical Markers as a Response Guide for Steroid Therapy in Asthma
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 425 - 428
Exhaled breath condensate pH and hydrogen peroxide concentration is a non-invasive, simple and inexpensive assay that can be performed for monitoring in patients with asthma.
05/29/2008
03:25 PM
Binge Drinking, Poor Mental Health, and Adherence to Treatment Among California Adults with Asthma
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 369 - 376
Binge drinking and poor mental health may affect adherence to treatment for individuals with asthma. The purposes were to (a) examine the relationship of self-reported binge drinking and mental health to adherence to daily asthma control medications and (b) identify other demographic and health-related factors associated with asthma control medication adherence.
05/29/2008
02:43 PM
Beliefs About Asthma Medications: Patients Perceive Both Benefits and Drawbacks
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 409 - 414
Patients have diverse beliefs about asthma medications that may be influenced by asthma characteristics. The objective of this qualitative analysis was to identify patients' beliefs about asthma medications and to assess these beliefs according patient and asthma characteristics, including asthma severity and patient-reported medication adherence.
05/29/2008
02:42 PM
Barotrauma Not Related to Type of Positive Pressure Ventilation During Severe Asthma Exacerbations in Children
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 421 - 424
Children with impending respiratory failure due to severe asthma may be treated with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Barotrauma occurs in a significant number of these children. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been used as an alternative intermediary therapy and potentially prevents intubation.
05/29/2008
02:41 PM
Assessing Sleep Quality and Daytime Wakefulness in Asthma Using Wrist Actigraphy
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 389 - 395
This study evaluated the sleep/wake cycle of individuals with asthma in relation to asthma control, daytime sleepiness, and daytime activity. Ten persons with mild to moderate persistent asthma monitored their sleep quality and daytime wakefulness for 7 consecutive days using 24-hours wrist actigraphy.
05/29/2008
02:40 PM
Airway Inflammation in Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Occurring in Athletes Without Asthma
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2008 , pages 363 - 367
Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) occurs in athletes with and without asthma. Studies have suggested an inflammatory basis for EIB in asthmatics; however whether inflammation plays a similar role in EIB in athletes without asthma remains unclear. Our objective was to determine whether there is evidence of an inflammatory basis for exercise-induced bronchospasm occurring in non-asthmatic athletes.
05/29/2008
02:39 PM
Risk and severity of motor vehicle crashes in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea
Thorax 2008;63:536-541
Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea (OSAH) appears to be associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). However, its impact on crash patterns, particularly the severity of crashes, has not been well described.
05/29/2008
02:38 PM
Genetic susceptibility to the respiratory effects of air pollution
Thorax 2008;63:555-563
There is large variation between individuals in their response to air pollutants. This review summarises the existing evidence that genetic factors influence the mechanisms of lung injury caused by air pollutants.
05/29/2008
02:37 PM
Reproducibility of dynamically represented acoustic lung images from healthy individuals
Thorax 2008;63:542-548
Acoustic lung imaging offers a unique method for visualising the lung. This study was designed to demonstrate reproducibility of acoustic lung images recorded from healthy individuals at different time points and to assess intra- and inter-rater agreement in the assessment of dynamically represented acoustic lung images.
05/29/2008
02:36 PM
Rhinovirus exposure impairs immune responses to bacterial products in human alveolar macrophages
Thorax 2008;63:519-525
Rhinovirus infection is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality as the major cause of exacerbations of asthma, and is also known to induce exacerbations of cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
05/29/2008
02:36 PM
Pulmonary puzzle
Thorax 2008;63:554
Macroscopic findings favoured a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Microscopy revealed instead that the pleural thickening comprised fibrosis within which abundant CD68-positive histiocytes and Touton-type giant cells were present, these staining with S-100 but not CD1a.
05/29/2008
02:35 PM
Use of long-acting {beta}2 agonists in arginine-16 homozygous patients with asthma
Thorax 2008;63:568-569
We read with interest the study by Palmer and colleagues.
05/29/2008
02:34 PM
Dysfunctional breathing in patients with asthma
Thorax 2008;63:568
We recognise and applaud the efforts of Holloway and West1 and are encouraged by their findings. We agree that further investigation is warranted but that greater scientific methodology needs to be applied.
05/29/2008
02:33 PM
An integrated home oxygen service saves {pound}130 000 per year on home oxygen tariffs
Thorax 2008;63:566
In February 2006 the Department of Health introduced a new home oxygen service with the aim of improving the assessment of patients on oxygen and allowing access to newer technologies such as ambulatory oxygen.
05/29/2008
02:32 PM
Accuracy in suspicious lung infiltrations
Thorax 2008;63:568
We read with interest the paper by Targowski et al.1 Suspicious lung infiltrations such as malignant tumours are always difficult to diagnose in clinical practice. Transthoracic fine needle biopsy (TFNB) may be a useful procedure despite a high risk of false negative results.
05/29/2008
02:31 PM
Progressive dyspnoea, pleural effusions and lytic bone lesions
Thorax 2008;63:492
A 72-year-old man was referred following a CT scan which showed lytic and sclerotic lesions in the spine and pelvis with bilateral pleural effusions and thickening. The patient was an ex-smoker with progressive dyspnoea and significant weight loss over 1 year.
05/29/2008
02:31 PM
Increasing PEEP while preventing hyperinflation reduces hypoxaemia but not mortality
Thorax 2008;63:525
It has previously been shown that lung protection with low tidal volume ventilation improves mortality in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
05/29/2008
02:30 PM
Diesel exhaust adversely affects people with moderate asthma
Thorax 2008;63:513
Road traffic pollutions may trigger asthma symptoms and exacerbations, and this is mainly attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon core diesel exhaust particles (DEP).
05/29/2008
02:29 PM
Short term improvement in exercise capacity and symptoms following exercise training in interstitial lung disease
Thorax 2008;63:549-554
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterised by exertional dyspnoea, exercise limitation and reduced quality of life. The role of exercise training in this diverse patient group is unclear.
05/29/2008
02:28 PM
Delayed-onset bronchiolitis obliterans with organising pneumonia associated with massive acetic acid steam inhalation
Thorax 2008;63:570
A 34-year-old worker had massive exposure to acetic acid steam from an explosion in a chemical factory. At the emergency department respiratory distress, hoarseness and swelling of the oropharyngeal mucosa were noted.
05/29/2008
02:27 PM
Should we stop using intravenous gentamicin in patients with cystic fibrosis?
Thorax 2008;63:479-480
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have shown continual annual improvement in survival in many countries.
05/29/2008
02:27 PM
Prenatal nutrition and asthma: hope or hype?
Thorax 2008;63:483-485
David Barker's "fetal origins" hypothesis has changed the way we think about the aetiology of adult onset diseases, such as coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
05/29/2008
02:25 PM
Driving and obstructive sleep apnoea
Thorax 2008;63:481-483
Driving is a skill requiring many simultaneous cerebral activities, mainly eye-hand coordination with accurate speed and direction computations.
05/29/2008
02:24 PM
Aspirin and asthma: barking up the right tree?
Thorax 2008;63:485-486
According to World Health Organization estimates, 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma. It is the most common chronic condition in childhood and continues to impose a high burden of morbidity and mortality in adulthood; over 250 000 people are thought to have died from asthma in 2005. In the UK 5.2 million people are currently receiving treatment for asthma.
05/29/2008
02:24 PM
Case-control study of acute renal failure in patients with cystic fibrosis in the UK
Thorax 2008;63:532-535
There has been a recent increase in the number of reported cases of acute renal failure (ARF) in cystic fibrosis (CF). A case-control study was conducted to determine the factors which are associated with an increased risk of ARF.
05/29/2008
02:23 PM
Role of comorbidities in a cohort of patients with COPD undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation
Thorax 2008;63:487-492
2962 inpatients and outpatients with COPD (73% male, aged 71 (SD 8) years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 49.3 (SD 14.8)% of predicted), graded 0, 1 or 2 according to the comorbidity categories and included in a pulmonary rehabilitation programme.
05/29/2008
02:22 PM
Inter-relationships between inflammatory markers in patients with stable COPD with bronchitis: intra-patient and inter-patient variability
Thorax 2008;63:493-499
Measurements of pulmonary biomarkers can be used to monitor airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the variability of sampled biomarkers and their inter-relationships are poorly understood.
05/29/2008
02:21 PM
Increased expression of placenta growth factor in COPD
Thorax 2008;63:500-506
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor may have an important role in the pathogenesis of emphysema. The effect of another angiogenic factor, placenta growth factor (PlGF), in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown.
05/29/2008
02:20 PM
Intrabullous blood injection for lung volume reduction
Thorax 2008;63:564-565
Bronchoscopic treatment for emphysematous lung diseases has attracted clinical attention, and several different approaches are being investigated. We present a case of emphysematous bullae that was effectively treated with a newly developed bronchoscopic intervention, autologous blood injection.
05/29/2008
02:19 PM
Randomised aspirin assignment and risk of adult-onset asthma in the Women’s Health Study
Thorax 2008;63:514-518
Randomised data in men show a small but significant reduction in the risk of adult-onset asthma among those given aspirin. The results from an observational study in women suggest that frequent use of aspirin decreases the risk of adult-onset asthma, but randomised data in women are lacking.
05/29/2008
01:52 PM
Mediterranean diet in pregnancy is protective for wheeze and atopy in childhood
Thorax 2008;63:507-513
Dietary intake of specific nutrients or food groups during pregnancy could play a role in the risk of asthma and atopy in offspring, but specific dietary patterns have not been implicated. The authors evaluated the impact of maternal (during pregnancy) and child adherence to a Mediterranean diet on asthma and atopy in childhood.
05/29/2008
01:51 PM
Could a defective epithelial sodium channel lead to bronchiectasis?
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:46
Bronchiectasis is defined as a permanent dilation of the airways arising from chronic bronchial inflammation/infection. In 50% of cases, no etiology can be identified. Recently, the role of the epithelial sodium channel ENaC has been pointed out in the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis, a disease due to mutations in the CFTR gene and causing bronchiectasis in the airways. Moreover, it was found that transgenic mice overexpressing ENaCbeta present cystic fibrosis-like lung disease symptoms.
05/29/2008
01:50 PM
Dynamics of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine release during acute inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An ex vivo study
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:47
Exacerbations of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are an important cause of the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Strategies to reduce exacerbation frequency are thus urgently required and depend on an understanding of the inflammatory milieu associated with exacerbation episodes.
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