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Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 20(6):641-649, December 2008
Insomnia is a major public health problem and is the most common sleep disturbance in both adults and children. The causes of sleeplessness are age-dependent and have potentially enormous effects on cognitive development, behavior, family dynamics, and the metabolic health of children.
Based on the reported biological properties and function of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hypoxic conditions, many investigations have studied the hypothesis that VEGF has an important role in the pathogenesis of high altitude sicknesses, including high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE).
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A Published Online: 12 Nov 2008
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by hypotonia, hypogonadism, obesity, and short stature. Neurobehavioral abnormalities, cognitive impairment, and sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) are common.
Journal of Cardiac Surgery Published Online: 9 Nov 2008
Cardiac intracavitary metastasis is very uncommon. In a 55-year-old man presenting with a massive pulmonary embolism pattern, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) allowed us to visualize an isolated right ventricular metastasis extended into the pulmonary trunk.
Aerosol particles which deeply penetrate the human airways and which trigger baker's asthma manifestations are known to represent only a part of flour and of airborne particles found in bakeries.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 12, December 2008 , pp. 1617-1623(7)
Thioredoxins are cross-reactive allergens involved in the pathogenesis of atopic eczema and asthma. Cross-reactivity to human thioredoxin can contribute to the exacerbation of severe atopic diseases.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis PrePrint Online: TH First 13th November 2008
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a central concern in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, little is known about both current practices forVTE prevention in the ICU and the risk forVTE in persons with severe sepsis and septic shock.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis PrePrint Online: TH First 13th November 2008
Protein C is an important inhibitor of blood coagulation.We investigated the effect of two polymorphisms within the promoter region of the protein C gene (C/T at position 2405 and A/G at position 2418) on risk of venous thrombosis and on plasma protein C levels.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0231-5
The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate if sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was an independent predictor of suspected fatty liver disease in a clinical sample of overweight children and adolescents.
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of death in the elderly. The age-related increase in comorbid illnesses plays a part but the effect of aging on the immune response may be equally important.
Current Opinion in Critical Care. 14(6):673-678, December 2008
In trauma patients, pulmonary embolism occurs in up to 4% of cases and carries a mortality of 20-50%. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) varies from 5 to 63% depending on patients' risk factors, modality of prophylaxis, and methods of detection. For these reasons, trauma patients require adequate DVT prophylaxis.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 12, December 2008 , pp. 1605-1609(5)
There is ample evidence for the existence of a systemic oxidative stress in childhood asthma but relatively little information on the oxidant stress in the airways.
Pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa now cause pneumonia in patients presenting to the hospital. The concept of health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) attempts to capture this, but its predictive value is unclear.
New England Journal of Medicine Volume 359:2095-2104 November 13, 2008 Number 20
Survival of patients with acute lung injury or the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been improved by ventilation with small tidal volumes and the use of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP); however, the optimal level of PEEP has been difficult to determine.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 12, December 2008 , pp. 1581-1592(12)
The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and assess the quality of asthma intervention health economic studies from 2002 to 2007, compare the study findings with clinical management guidelines, and suggest avenues for future improvement of asthma health economic studies. Forty of the 177 studies met our inclusion criteria.
Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 20(6):705-710, December 2008
Patient education is an essential component of asthma management. The current paradigm of asthma education has moved away from the 'information-transfer' programmes that characterized earlier approaches and that were shown to be largely ineffective, to approaches that promote self-management education.
In the management of acute pulmonary embolism, the prevalence of thrombolytic therapy is uncertain, and its benefits compared with standard anticoagulation remain a subject of debate.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 12, December 2008 , pp. 1624-1629(6)
In the United Kingdom, approximately 10.8-million people suffer from asthma, placing an economic burden on the society of more than 2-billion per year. For allergic asthma, treatment options consist of allergen avoidance, symptomatic treatment and allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT).
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages 890-893 (December 2008)
To determine the proportion of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who have leg edema, and to identify differences between edematous and non-edematous OSA patients.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages 882-889 (December 2008)
Rare are the studies that focus on OSAS (obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome) obese patient assessing neuropsychological, psychological and clinical aspects simultaneously.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages 874-881 (December 2008)
Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) often seek treatment because of sleep problems related to nocturnal symptoms. Our goal was to test the ability of pramipexole to improve sleep in RLS patients and to reconfirm its efficacy for primary RLS symptoms.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages 865-873 (December 2008)
Efficacy and safety of rotigotine (0.5-4mg/24h), formulated as a once-daily transdermal system (patch), were investigated in an open extension (SP710) of a preceding 6-week placebo-controlled trial (SP709, 341 randomized patients) in patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages 851-856 (December 2008)
The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic variables and clinical characteristics of behaviorally induced insufficient sleep syndrome (BIISS) and to compare it with the other major hypersomnia disorders.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages 840-850 (December 2008)
The study was aimed at the examination of the acute and cumulative impact of partial sleep deprivation (PSD) on architecture and quality of sleep, on circadian rhythm and on daytime fatigue.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages 823-830 (December 2008)
The coexistence of obstructive (OSAS) and central sleep apnoea (CSA) and Cheyne–Stokes respiration (CSR) is common in patients with and without underlying heart diseases. CPAP has been shown to improve CSA/CSR by about 50%, but recent data suggest maximal suppression of CSA is important in improving clinical outcomes in heart failure patients.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages 818-822 (December 2008)
Despite the high prescription rate of benzodiazepine-like hypnotics (z-hypnotics), there is limited information on the road traffic accident risk associated with the use of these drugs. We wanted to investigate whether filling a prescription for zopiclone or zolpidem was associated with increased risk of road traffic accidents at a national population level. Nitrazepam and flunitrazepam were used as comparator drugs.
International Journal of Rehabilitation Research. 31(4):275-283, December 2008
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether strength or recreational activities are a useful addition to aerobic training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 706-716, 2008
Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma and is associated with the angioproliferative disorders primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease.
We reviewed the incidence and outcome of all cases of upper and lower limb embolism surgically treated in our vascular unit, from January 2001 to June 2006, to assess the role of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in defining the source of the embolus.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 747-757, 2008
Mononuclear phagocytes play an important role in the removal of apoptotic cells by expressing cell surface receptors that recognize and remove apoptotic cells.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 673-682, 2008
Pulmonary macrophages are one of the sources of various antioxidant and detoxification enzymes for which NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcriptional factor.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 697-705, 2008
Adenosine is a signaling molecule produced during conditions that cause cellular stress or damage. This signaling pathway is implicated in the regulation of pulmonary disorders through the selective engagement of adenosine receptors.
Common medical conditions that require mechanical ventilation include chronic obstructive lung disease, acute lung injury, sepsis, heart failure, drug overdose, neuromuscular disorders, and surgery.
Irish Journal of Medical Science 0021-1265 (Print) 10.1007/BF02984633
The incidence of detection of antibodies against antigens derived from two thermophilic actinomycetes in patients clinically suspected of having Farmer’s Lung was assessed.
Uncontrolled bushfires produce copious amounts of smoke that can result in adverse effects on human health and so are important considerations for emergency, public health and environmental protection agencies.
Congenital absence of the pulmonary valve appears to have a prolonged fate, despite substantial regurgitation, thus the optimal timing of surgical correction remains unclear.
Cardiac events are the predominant cause of late mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In these patients, mortality decreases with increasing body mass index (BMI). COPD is identified as a cardiac risk factor, which preferentially affects underweight individuals. Whether or not COPD explains the obesity paradox in PAD patients is unknown.
Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 28 October 2008. doi:10.1136/ard.2008.096131
Association of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-related systemic vasculitis (ANCA-V) is rare. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical presentation of this association.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:73doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-73
Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are treated with twice daily (BID) inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). This study evaluated whether daily PM mometasone furoate administered via a dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) was equally effective compared to twice daily dosing.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008;198:1707-1713
Low mannan-binding lectin (MBL) levels, caused by MBL2 polymorphisms, are suggested to contribute to susceptibility to respiratory tract infections (RTIs), particularly early in life.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008;198:1667-1676
Influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are among the most common viruses causing infections of the lower respiratory tract in young children.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 7 Nov 2008
The cause of lung function abnormalities in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is incompletely understood, even in the new era of this disease. Altered airway wall dimensions are important in the pathogenesis of airflow obstruction in diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Irish Journal of Medical Science 0021-1265 (Print) 10.1007/BF02983691
71 Patients who were using inhalers in an inner city Dublin teaching practice were assessed by the author over a four month period to see if they were using their inhalers properly.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 10 Nov 2008
Previous research suggests that physical activity programs may improve fitness and reduce symptoms in children with asthma, but few studies have included severe asthmatics and focused on safety and parental satisfaction with the programs.
Asthma, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyposis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and related forms of upper and lower airway diseases are often characterized by eosinophilic and basophilic inflammation, involving systemic processes.
To compare pressure characteristics of mechanical ventilation and their impact on pediatric patients with severe ARDS in the pre-protective lung strategy (PLS) and post-PLS eras.
Because interpatient variability in bronchodilation from inhaled albuterol is large and clinically important, we characterized the albuterol dose/response relationship by pharmacodynamic modeling and quantified variability.
Patients with health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) are frequently infected with a resistant pathogen and receive inappropriate empiric antibiotics (ie, pathogens resistant to administered treatment). Initial inappropriate treatment has been shown to increase hospital mortality. It is not known whether escalation in response to culture results mitigates this risk.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(9):771-775, September 2008
Introduction of the heptavalent conjugate vaccine for Streptococcus pneumoniae (PCV7) has led to a dramatic decline in meningitis by PCV7 serotypes, raising the possibility of similar trends by PCV7-related serogroups through cross-protection.
Cancer Prevention Research 1, 396-403, November 1, 2008
The concept of field cancerization was first introduced over 6 decades ago in the setting of oral cancer. Later, field cancerization involving histologic and molecular changes of neoplasms and adjacent tissue began to be characterized in smokers with or without lung cancer.
Clinical observations and animal models provide evidence that the development of acute lung injury (ALI), a phenomenon of acute diffuse lung inflammation in critically ill patients, is influenced by genetic factors.
Activated bronchial epithelial cells exert considerable potential to maintain a microenvironment in the airway wall that promotes airway inflammation and remodelling.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 666-672, 2008
Lung cells are exposed to cyclic stretch during normal respiration and during positive pressure mechanical ventilation administered to support gas exchange.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 657-665, 2008
Patients with cystic fibrosis suffer recurrent pulmonary infections that are characterized by an overactive yet ineffective and destructive inflammatory response that is associated with respiratory infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen that produces a number of phlogistic molecules.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 638-643, 2008
Under pathophysiologic conditions, the modulation of Ca2+ sensitivity and reactivity of bronchial smooth muscle is controlled by protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of the newly described protein, CPI-17.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 631-637, 2008
Matriptase is a type II transmembrane protease that is characterized by an N-terminal transmembrane and multiple extracellular domains, in addition to the conserved extracellular serine protease catalytic domain.
Inflammatory changes such as subepithelial edema and excessive inflammatory cell infiltration have been observed in uvular tissues of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects.
Vascular Health and Risk Management Issue: ON-LINE EARLY
Endothelial activation and inflammation are important mediators of accelerated atherogenesis and consequent increased cardiovascular morbidity in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The growing burden of COPD in the Asia-Pacific region supports the need for more intensive research and analysis of the epidemiology of COPD to raise awareness of the disease and its causes,
Pseudomembranous aspergillus tracheobronchitis superimposed on post-tuberculosis tracheal stenosis has not been previously reported. In the patient described in this case report, the airway obstruction was worsened by aspergillus infection which responded to antifungal therapy and debridement of pseudomembranous tissues by rigid bronchoscopic procedures.
There is increasing evidence that survivors of ARDS may have impairments in cognitive function, mood and quality of life. This study investigated associations between cognitive impairment, mood disorders and quality of life in a select group of ARDS survivors.
More than 50% of patients with childhood asthma enter clinical remission by puberty, although 40-50% of these people will probably develop asthma symptoms during early adulthood. The mechanism of relapsing asthma in early adulthood remains unclear.
Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 20(6):654-658, December 2008
To delineate some of the major morbid phenotypes that have emerged in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), address new concepts in our understanding of OSA-associated morbidities, and elaborate on innovative therapeutic schemes that may improve outcomes for this condition. In addition, the conceptual framework whereby a childhood condition such as OSA can be linked to specific adult diseases will be presented.
Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 20(6):650-653, December 2008
To review some of the inherent problems in defining the diagnosis of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and propose a novel approach to clinical evaluation and referral of habitually snoring children.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 7 Nov 2008
Nitric oxide (NO) produced in the lung is an important mediator of normal lung development, vascular smooth muscle relaxation, and ventilation perfusion matching. NO is synthesized from arginine by the action of NO-synthase (NOS).
Little is known about the mechanisms through which intensivist physician staffing influences patient outcomes. We sought to assess the effect of closed-model intensive care on evidence based ventilatory practice in patients with acute lung injury (ALI).
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 10 Nov 2008
To test the association between reported allergy and allergic diseases, respiratory symptoms, and the fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), in a community sample of school aged children.
Aspiration of endotracheal secretions is a major step in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We compared conventional and continuous aspiration of subglottic secretions (CASS) procedures in ventilated patients after major heart surgery (MHS).
Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management Issue: Issue 5
This article reviews the current knowledge base related to the pharmacological treatments for acute bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is a common lower respiratory illness affecting infants worldwide.
Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management Issue: Issue 5
Drugs for asthma and other chronic obstructive diseases of the lungs should be preferably delivered by the inhalation route to match therapeutic effects with low systemic exposure.
Medical Oncology 1357-0560 (Print) 10.1007/s12032-008-9117-4
Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is an uncommon malignant tumor of the lung, which has the dual cell components of spindle or giant cells and epithelial cells.
In COPD, hospital admissions and readmissions account for the majority of health-care costs. The aim of this prospective randomized controlled study was to determine if early pulmonary rehabilitation, commenced as an inpatient and continued after discharge, reduced acute health-care utilization.
:Ultrathin bronchoscopy guided by virtual bronchoscopy (VB) techniques show promise for the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions. In a phantom study, we evaluated a new real-time, VB-based, image-guided system for guiding the bronchoscopic biopsy of peripheral lung lesions and compared its performance to that of standard bronchoscopy practice.
Constrictive bronchiolitis is a rare and potentially fatal manifestation of paraneoplastic autoimmune multi-organ syndrome (PAMS), also called paraneoplastic pemphigus. The current review aimed to assess the frequency and clinical features of constrictive bronchiolitis occurring in patients with PAMS.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:72doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-72
Despite its reported pro-inflammatory activity, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been proposed to play a protective role in asthma. Accordingly, COX-2 might be down-regulated in the airway cells of asthmatics.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the implementation of the 2003 Dutch guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusions, and the potential effect of the implementation on the clinical outcome of pleurodesis.
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 0937-4477 (Print) 10.1007/s00405-008-0849-8
The objective of this study is to present the antimicrobial management modalities of treating upper respiratory tract (URT) and head and neck infections.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 7 Nov 2008
It is well established that the lung disease of CF can occur early in life and may progress through the preschool years when accurate lung function assessment has been challenging to perform.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection of BALB/c mice previously immunized with a recombinant vaccinia virus (vacv) expressing the attachment (G) protein of RSV (vacvG) results in pulmonary eosinophilia, which mimics the response of formalin-inactivated RSV-vaccinated children, as well as increased weight loss, clinical illness, and enhanced pause (Penh).
Pulmonary complications following injury significantly contribute to subsequent mortality. Obese patients have preexisting risk factors for pulmonary complications, and are at risk for these complications following elective surgery. Whether or not obesity contributes to pulmonary complications after critical injury is poorly understood.
Thermal ablation using argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a commonly used modality in the bronchoscopic management of central airway obstruction and hemoptysis. In experienced hands, APC is considered to be a relatively safe tool. Reported complications associated with APC use are rare and include hemorrhage, airway perforation, or airway fires.
Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. ahead of print. doi:10.1089/pai.2008.0501
The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines, considered the 'gold standard' for asthma care, are still underused 17 years after their publication.
Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. ahead of print. doi:10.1089/pai.2008.0002
Subjects comprised 20 children with bronchial asthma who displayed positive levels of house dust (HD)-IgE. These children were randomly divided into two groups: active group (n = 10), who used HD mite (HDM)-free pillows for 1 year; and placebo group (n = 10), who used new common pillows with HDM-permeable fabrics.
Xenotransplantation, Volume 15, Number 5, September/October 2008 , pp. 303-303(1)
Following either discordant transplantation of porcine organs into primate recipients or after ex vivo perfusion of porcine organs with human blood, a profound activation of the primate/human blood coagulation can be observed.
Bronchopleural fistula is an important cause of mortality and morbidity after pulmonary resection. The use of fibrin glue to reduce the tension and number of sutures in the bronchial stump was assessed in this prospective study of 20 patients between June 2002 and May 2003.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the implementation of the 2003 Dutch guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusions, and the potential effect of the implementation on the clinical outcome of pleurodesis.
Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. ahead of print. doi:10.1089/pai.2008.0503
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1322 parents of children with asthma to measure the prevalence and factors associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use for pediatric asthma.
Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. ahead of print. doi:10.1089/pai.2008.0504
In the United States, the indication for budesonide inhalation suspension is limited to children aged 12 months to 8 years. In many countries, budesonide Turbuhaler is indicated for use in children as young as 5 years.
The relative importance of atopy in the aetiology of rhinitis is largely unknown. The present study investigated the geographical variations in rhinitis in relation to atopy.
Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. ahead of print. doi:10.1089/pai.2008.0502
Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody that decreases IgE levels and has been shown to decrease asthma exacerbations, emergency care visits, and hospitalizations when added on to standard medical therapy for moderate-severe persistent asthma
The etiology of clinical failure in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) may be related or unrelated to pulmonary infection. The objective of this study was to define the incidence, etiology, timing, and risk factors associated with clinical failures related to CAP vs those unrelated to CAP.
As part of a multicentric case-control study organised by the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN), it was examined whether or not frequent paracetamol use is associated with adult asthma across Europe.
Anthracofibrosis, which was recently defined as bronchial stenosis with overlying anthracotic mucosa, has been infrequently reported in Asia as a complication of tuberculosis (TB). It has not been reported in the United Kingdom or the United States, or, to our knowledge, in non-Asian patients.
Southern Medical Journal. 101(11):1141-1145, November 2008
Pneumonia is a common and important disease in the elderly. The incidence is expected to rise as the population ages, and, therefore, it will become an increasingly significant problem in hospitals and the community.
Southern Medical Journal. 101(11):1101-1105, November 2008
Children with chronic medical conditions (CMCs) are considered to be at increased risk for influenza and its related complications. Despite this, influenza immunization rates in the United States for children with CMCs in the primary care setting remain between 7-10%.
Infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection are at risk for developing apnea. The authors compared patients with RSV infection who develop apnea with those who do not, to help ambulatory physicians risk stratify their patients with RSV infection.
Following the introduction of a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for children in 2000, there has been a decrease in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease among both children and adults in the United States. We evaluated the hypothesis that the case-fatality and mortality rates for invasive pneumococcal disease have also decreased since 2000.
Invasive studies suggest that healthy children living at high altitude display pulmonary hypertension, but the data to support this assumption are sparse. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by the respiratory epithelium regulates pulmonary artery pressure, and its synthesis was reported to be increased in Aymara high-altitude dwellers.
High cortisol levels are frequent in patients with severe infections. However, the predictive value of total cortisol and of the presence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains to be thoroughly evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of adrenal response in patients with severe CAP admitted to the ICU.
To determine the extent of intravenous (IV) antibiotic use for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in emergency departments, the practice patterns in seven emergency departments serving the adult residents of one Canadian city were observed.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Published Online: 21 Oct 2008
To determine the clinical, historical, and instrumental findings associated with unfavorable short-term and long-term prognosis in elderly patients receiving thrombolytic therapy for pulmonary embolism (PE).
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 270-275(6)
Dyspnea is a general term used to characterize a range of qualitatively distinct descriptors which may contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of dyspnea.
This prospective study was undertaken to establish a novel management algorithm using new indicators to decide the type of lung resection for small peripheral lung lesions.
Several modifications for increasing the efficacy and safety of the minimally invasive surgery (Nuss procedure) for repair of pectus excavatum in pediatric patients were presented. In this study, we apply a modified bilateral thoracoscopic approach to adapt the Nuss procedure to adult patients.
Retrospective data suggest that a wide pulmonary annulus after Fallot repair aggravates pulmonary regurgitation. Therefore, since 1997, in our institution transannular patch enlargement was only intended for patients with a native pulmonary annulus z-score less than -4. If transannular patching was needed, enlargement was aimed to diameters within the range of a z-score of -2.
Modeling of operative risks associated with major lung resection is potentially inaccurate and inefficient because of incomplete observations for predictor variables (covariates). Missing values do not usually occur randomly, potentially introducing an important source of bias in modeling.
Fudosteine is a novel mucoactive agent, although little is known about how fudosteine decreases mucin production. The present study examined the effects of fudosteine on MUC5AC mucin synthesis and cellular signalling.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 5 Nov 2008
Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a technique of assessing mechanical properties of respiratory system by means of measuring resistances and reactances in a number of frequencies during tidal breathing.
Southern Medical Journal. 101(11):1134-1140, November 2008
Pneumonia is an increasingly common disease in the elderly due to an aging population. This is a comprehensive literature review outlining the severity assessment, morbidity, mortality, prevention and treatment options
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 240-249(10)
In moderate and severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the increased mechanical loads due to airflow limitation and the geometrical changes of the thorax due to lung hyperinflation alter the structure of the chest wall and the function of the respiratory muscles.
We experienced the combustion of the endotracheal tube during a bronchoscopic potassium titanyl phosphate laser resection of an intratracheal metastatic tumor.
Macrophages play a crucial role in respiratory viral infections. However, the mechanisms by which these cells are recruited locally are not fully understood.
Current reference values for diurnal peak flow variation in healthy children (median 8.2%; 95th percentile 31%) are so high that considerable overlap exists with those of asthmatic children.
International guidelines for the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) vary, and there is growing opinion that more patients could be successfully managed with observation alone.
Nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB) is an important cause of chronic cough, and it can be diagnosed by an induced-sputum (IS) examination. However, an IS examination is a complex and time-consuming procedure, and it has limited clinical application. This study aimed to evaluate the role of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) for the investigation of chronic cough, especially of NAEB.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(11):1251-1256, November 2008
We aimed to examine the frequency of pleural adhesions and to determine their relationship with pleural tumor burden, pleural fluid (PF) biochemistries, PF cytologic yield, and survival in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE).
Asthma is a chronic disease with both inflammatory and bronchoconstrictive elements and often requires multiple medications. Most asthma regimens include medications with different therapeutic modes of action and a number of different medication delivery devices.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L733-L743, 2008
Chlorine (Cl2) is a highly reactive oxidant gas used extensively in a number of industrial processes. Exposure to high concentrations of Cl2 results in acute lung injury that may either resolve spontaneously or progress to acute respiratory failure.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L789-L799, 2008
Hyaluronan (HA), a large glycosaminoglycan found in the ECM, has major roles in lung and vascular biology and disease. However, its role in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is unknown.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L780-L788, 2008
Allergic asthma is characterized by airway inflammation in response to chronic allergen exposure, resulting in remodeling of the airway wall accompanied by dysfunctional airway physiology.
NEJM Volume 359:1985-1994 November 6, 2008 Number 19
A genomewide association study has shown an association between variants at chromosome 17q21 and an increased risk of asthma. To elucidate the relationship between this locus and disease, we examined a large, family-based data set that included extensive phenotypic and environmental data from the Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Published Online: 4 Nov 2008
Although gefitinib used for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer is a well-known cause of interstitial lung disease (ILD), few case reports on erlotinib-induced ILD have been issued. The common risk factor of both of these two drug-induced ILDs is idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, but ILD in a patient with radiation fibrosis has not been previously reported.
Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a noninvasive method for the study of airway lining fluid. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can provide biochemical profiles of metabolites in biological samples.
Br J Sports Med. Published Online First: 23 October 2008. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2008.051169
The International Olympic Committee-Medical Commission (IOC-MC) accepts a number of bronchial provocation tests for the diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in elite athletes, none of which have been studied in elite swimmers.
Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA+IVS) is a rare congenital cardiac malformation which is associated with ventriculocoronary arterial communications from the right ventricle.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 5, November 2008 , pp. 474-481(8)
The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program put forth guidance on how to measure asthma control. This guidance is flexible regarding how the impairment component of control is assessed.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 5, November 2008 , pp. 482-487(6)
US national guidelines recommend assessing short-acting {beta}-agonist (SABA) medication use as a marker of asthma severity and control. However, the relationship between recent SABA use and asthma exacerbations is not currently known.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 5, November 2008 , pp. 463-473(11)
To evaluate PROs in adults with moderate to severe persistent asthma receiving budesonide and formoterol administered via 1 pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI).
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) leads to an increased right ventricular workload, cardiac failure and death. In idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) the vasodilating vasoactive intestinal peptide (aviptadil) is deficient.
Acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are common conditions and constitute a substantial socioeconomic burden.
Ciclesonide is a nonhalogenated corticosteroid that is converted to its clinicallyactive metabolite, desisobutyryl-ciclesonide, by esterases in the airways.
Induced sputum analysis has recently emerged as a potential new clinical tool in the diagnosis and management of obstructive airway diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other disorders including bronchiectasis.
Poorly controlled asthma is currently treated by adding or removing asthma medication in a stepwise fashion to try and improve symptoms and maintain lung function.
Desmosine (DES) and isodesmosine (IDES) are two unusual, tetrafunctional, pyridinium ring-containing amino acids involved in elastin cross-linking. Being amino acids unique to mature, cross-linked elastin, they are useful for discriminating peptides derived from elastin breakdown from precursor elastin peptides.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Published Online: 4 Nov 2008
Little is known about the relation between regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the risk of asthma at the population level. The aim of this study was to examine a possible association between intake of NSAIDs and risk of adult-onset asthma.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L800-L808, 2008
Irreversible airflow limitation in asthma is associated with airway remodeling in which the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts plays a pivotal role. In asthmatic airways, excessive production of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) has been observed.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L820-L827, 2008
Melatonin is a free radical scavenger and a broad-spectrum antioxidant and has well-documented immunomodulatory effects. We studied the effects of this hormone on lung damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation in a model of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), using 8- to 12-wk-old Swiss mice (n = 48).
BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2008, 8:24doi:10.1186/1471-2466-8-24
Current data on incidence of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are sparse and concerns about an increasing trend have been raised. We examined incidence rates (IRs) of ILDs and changes in IRs between 1995 and 2005.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L849-L857, 2008
Mechanical forces exert multiple effects in cells, ranging from altered protein expression patterns to cell damage and death. Despite undisputable biological importance, little is known about structural changes in cells subjected to strain ex vivo.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L866-L880, 2008
Severe lesions of airway epithelia are observed in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The regulatory mechanisms of cell migration and proliferation processes, involved in the repair of injured epithelia, then need to be better understood.
Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine Year : 2008 Volume : 12 Issue : 3 Page : 136-139
We report a patient who sustained catastrophic pulmonary fat embolism, during open reduction, internal fixation (ORIF) of fracture femur' In our opinion, the use of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support with (PCPS), saved the patient from certain death.
Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine Year : 2008 Volume : 12 Issue : 3 Page : 116-123
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) correlates positively with obesity and age, both of which are becoming increasingly prevalent. Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs much more frequently in clinical practice than formerly diagnosed, and that this condition represents complex challenges for difficulty in mask ventilation, laryngoscopic intubation, accelerated arterial desaturation, postoperative monitoring and discharge status.
The current authors evaluated whether a system of co-cultures of relevant cells (pneumocytes (A549), macrophages (THP-1), mast cells (HMC-1) and endothelial cells (EAHY926)) would mimic the responses to particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 (PM10) previously reported in vivo. The role of mast cells was considered of special interest.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L925-L932, 2008
Human small airway epithelial cells (HSAEC) form the boundary between the external environmental allergens and the internal lung milieu. Mast cells are present in human lung tissue interspersed within the pulmonary epithelium and can secrete a host of pre- and newly formed mediators from their granules, which may propagate small airway inflammation.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(9):788-793, September 2008
Ex-premature infants are more predisposed to complicated primary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The aim of the present study was to validate the risk factors found in a previous epidemiologic case-control study regarding hospitalization as a result of RSV infection in premature infants born at 32-35 weeks of gestational age (WGA) in Spain.
Little is known about the mechanisms through which intensivist physician staffing influences patient outcomes. We sought to assess the effect of closed-model intensive care on evidence based ventilatory practice in patients with acute lung injury (ALI).
Peak oxygen uptake (V'O2) remains the gold standard measurement of exercise capacity and has been associated with survival. A modified BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise capacity) index replacing the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) with V'O2 as % predicted (mBODE%) has been developed and found to have excellent correlation with the conventional BODE index.
Breathing (especially deep breathing) antagonises development and persistence of airflow obstruction during bronchoconstrictor stimulation. Force fluctuations imposed on contracted airway smooth muscle (ASM) in vitro result in its relengthening, a phenomenon called force fluctuation-induced relengthening (FFIR). Because breathing imposes similar force fluctuations on contracted ASM within intact lungs, FFIR represents a likely mechanism by which breathing antagonises bronchoconstriction.
Cystic lung light chain deposition disease (CL-LCDD) is a recently described rare disorder characterised by numerous cysts and diffuse monoclonal nonamyloid light chain deposits surrounded by macrophagic giant cells. The mechanisms responsible for cyst development remain unknown.
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 21(6):639-643, December 2008
To report on recent progress on the development and implementation of a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), on investigations of the mechanism of action of prophylactic antibodies and the potential for increased efficacy of those antibodies, and on candidate antiviral drugs against RSV.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 5, November 2008 , pp. 488-494(7)
National guidelines recommend 20 to 30 minutes of exercise 3 to 5 days a week. However, achieving these goals may be challenging for asthmatic patients whose symptoms are exacerbated by exercise.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 312-320(9)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) currently ranks as the fourth cause of death in the United States and it is an increasingly important health problem for the rest of the world [1-3]. Its prevalence has increased as overall mortality from myocardial infarction and cerebro-vascular accident, the two organ system affected by the same risk factor (namely cigarette smoking), have decreased.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 281-287(7)
Although 'cor pulmonale' represents a leading cause of death in advanced COPD, there is no clear consensus on its definition. Pulmonary hypertension has been traditionally considered the pathogenetic mechanism leading to right heart dysfunction in COPD, with peripheral oedema usually being attributed to the venous congestion secondary to the increase of right-ventricle filling pressure.
A decreased inspiratory capacity (IC)/total lung capacity (TLC) ratio is associated with dynamic hyperinflation and decreased exercise capacity. The present authors hypothesised that static (low IC/TLC) and dynamic hyperinflation impair cardiac function as assessed by oxygen pulse at rest and during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
Mild-to-moderate pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); such a complication is associated with increased risks of exacerbation and decreased survival.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 288-294(7)
Exercise training should be tailored to address the individual patient's limiting factors (central cardiorespiratory and/or peripheral muscle) to exercise. Patients who are capable of exercising for prolonged periods of time at high intensities will equally benefit from performing either continuous or interval training regimes.
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), obesity and insulin resistance (IR) occur frequently in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). We hypothesised that in these patients, EDS is a marker of IR, independent of obesity.
Over the past 30 years there has been an epidemic of both obesity and asthma in the western world. A large body of robust epidemiological data has linked obesity with the development and severity of asthma in both children and adults and weight reduction with improvements in asthma severity and symptoms.
Antibiotic treatment is not recommended for acute bronchitis in immunocompetent patients in industrialised countries. Whether these recommendations are relevant to the developing world and to immunocompromised patients is unknown.
We computed predicted values at ages 43 and 48 years according to 28 authors who had published predicted values for FEV1%/forced vital capacity (FVC) for Caucasians, and 30 who had done so for FEV1.2 The results are shown in table 1; the values reported by Albers and colleagues1 are in the bottom two rows.
In the paper by Jaffe et al, the authors describe the CT findings of 31 patients with thoracic empyema who had three investigations (chest radiography, CT scan and ultrasound scan).1 They correctly conclude that routine CT scanning has no role for children with empyema treated with uro-kinase and percutaneous chest drainage.
Their retrospective analysis highlights the discordance in practice that exists between cardiologist and pulmonologist. Indeed, the former is keen to commence - blockers in patients with a wide range of cardiovascular diseases for cardioprotection, while the latter is cautious in protecting patients with obstructive airway disease from bronchoconstriction.
Patterns of wheezing during early childhood may indicate differences in aetiology and prognosis of respiratory illnesses. Improved characterisation of wheezing phenotypes could lead to the identification of environmental influences on the development of asthma and airway diseases in predisposed individuals.
The patient underwent a thoracotomy with wedge resection of the right upper lobe of the lung and pathological examination of a specimen showed the presence of malignancy.
Low serum levels or genotypic variants of the innate immune molecule mannose-binding lectin (MBL) have been associated with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.
An 80-year-old man was admitted because he had experienced haemoptysis for 4 days. He had smoked 40 cigarettes daily for 50 years. He had no medical history except for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Physical examination and laboratory data were unremarkable.
There are increasing reports of excellent data on wheezing phenotypes in early childhood.1 Despite some contradictory findings, generally based on differences in definitions used or ages studied, the findings are gradually providing valuable perspectives towards understanding this very common symptom.
In this issue of Thorax, a paper by Tata and colleagues assesses the association between maternal asthma and gestational exposure and asthma medications with the risk of congenital malformation in offspring using The Health Improvement Network primary care database.
Our understanding of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has advanced much beyond that of the condition being a noisy breathing abnormality during sleep which classically presents with daytime sleepiness, to a condition with numerous potentially significant downstream sequelae and multisystem manifestations.
The course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is affected by the presence of exacerbations that are episodes of worsening of respiratory symptoms commonly triggered by airway infections, including respiratory viruses and airway bacteria.
The association between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation has so far remained unclear.
Observational epidemiological studies of dietary antioxidant intake, serum antioxidant concentration and lung outcomes suggest that lower levels of antioxidant defences are associated with decreased lung function.
Little is known about the combination of different medications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study determined the cost effectiveness of adding salmeterol (S) or fluticasone/salmeterol (FS) to tiotropium (T) for COPD.
The risk of a subsequent exacerbation after treatment of an exacerbation with oral corticosteroids without (OS) or with (OSA) antibiotics was evaluated in a historical population based cohort study comprising patients using maintenance medication for obstructive lung disease.
Clinical advice to pregnant women with asthma is to maintain optimal therapeutic management; however, potential adverse effects of asthma treatments on fetal development remain uncertain.
Granzymes are a subfamily of serine proteases involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory disorders. In contrast with granzyme A and B, the role of granzyme K (GrK) in human lung diseases is unknown.
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) stimulates elastin synthesis by lung fibroblasts and induces alveolar regeneration in animal models of pulmonary emphysema.
Respiratory failure remains the leading indication for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and a leading cause of death for HIV-infected patients in spite of overall improvements in ICU mortality.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L958-L965, 2008
Mechanical ventilation can overdistend the lungs or generate shear forces in them during repetitive opening/closing, contributing to lung injury and inflammation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L949-L957, 2008
The association of hypercholesterolemia and obesity with airway hyperresponsiveness has drawn increasing attention to the potential role of cholesterol and lipid homeostasis in lung physiology and in chronic pulmonary diseases such as asthma.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L941-L948, 2008
We previously have shown in mice and rats, enhanced leukocyte recruitment to airway postcapillary venules after excessive distention imposed by the application of positive end-expiratory pressure.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L837-L848, 2008
Transepithelial transport of Na+ across the lung epithelium via amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels (ENaC) regulates fluid volume in the lung lumen. Activators of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the adenosine monophosphate mimetic AICAR, and the biguanide metformin decreased amiloride-sensitive apical Na+ conductance (GNa+) in human H441 airway epithelial cell monolayers.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2008, p. 3829-3832, Vol. 46, No. 11
We report the isolation of thymidine-dependent small-colony variants (TD-SCVs) of Staphylococcus aureus from unusual infection sites of patients with chronic soft tissue infection, tympanitis, bronchitis, peritonitis, and septicemia.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2008, p. 3822-3825, Vol. 46, No. 11
This study evaluated the biodiversity of 28 clinical and 24 environmental Mycobacterium isolates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by using hsp65 sequences, with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the genetic diversity and usefulness of this marker.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2008, p. 3736-3745, Vol. 46, No. 11
Increasing recognition of the association of rhinovirus with severe lower respiratory tract illnesses has clarified the need to understand the relationship between specific serotypes of rhinovirus and their clinical consequences.
International Journal of Surgical Pathology, Vol. 16, No. 4, 430-432 (2008)
A wide range of pathologies may primarily affect the lymphatic vessels in the lungs. In this article, a unique case of pulmonary silicosis associated with a subtle lymphangitic carcinomatosis from an unknown prostate cancer is reported and discussed.
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant neoplasm of plasma cell origin. Pleural effusion may develop in the setting of MM due to various reasons, but myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is rare.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica First Published on: 10 July 2008
Hypertonic saline (HS) infiltration in the base of the tongue (BOT) in multilevel radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment was followed by significant acute complications in terms of soft tissue swelling. Three patients were defined as cured.
We describe the case of a 14-year-old boy who presented with pulmonary embolism and who was subsequently found to have nephrotic syndrome due to lupus membranous nephropathy.
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Volume 38, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1803-1807(5)
The aim of this study was to determine the spreading level of the WHO-ARIA (World Health Organization's Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) guidelines among the medical community and their influence on medical practices.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 235-239(5)
The recent definition that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a "preventable and treatable disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible" reminds that the respiratory functional evaluation is an integral part in the diagnostic and follow-up process in this disease.
Sandblasting denim using silica has emerged as a new cause of silicosis in Turkey. Following the discovery of several cases of silicosis in (young) workers who used this process, the frequency and main occupational risk factors of silicosis among former denim sandblasters in the region of Erzurum (Turkey) were evaluated.
The goal of this study was to identify a mechanism regulating cholesterol accumulation in cystic fibrosis (CF) cells. Both CFTR activation and expression are regulated by the cAMP pathway, and it is hypothesized that a feedback response involving this pathway may be involved in the phenotype of cholesterol accumulation.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200804-608OC
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with insulin resistance and liver injury. It is unknown whether apnea contributes to insulin resistance and steatohepatitis in severe obesity.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 5 October 2008 , pages 298 - 304
In COPD patients, tachypnea should increase (dynamic) hyperinflation by shortening expiratory time. We developed a method to evaluate the time course and degree of dynamic hyperinflation during metronome-paced tachypnea.
Nitric oxide (NO) is essential for host defense in rodents, but the role of NO during tuberculosis (TB) in man remains controversial. However, earlier observations that arginine supplementation facilitates anti-TB treatment, supports the hypothesis that NO is important in the host defense against TB.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 5 October 2008 , pages 269 - 273
The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been increasing. However, COPD is often underdiagnosed. The objective of this study was to determine how many outpatients had persistent airflow limitation and could be diagnosed as COPD by post-bronchodilator spirometry.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200807-1126OC
To evaluate the association between asthma exacerbations and the decline in lung function, as well as the potential effects of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), budesonide, on exacerbation related decline in asthmatics.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 301-311(11)
Dyspnea and exercise limitation are the dominant symptoms of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and progress relentlessly as the disease advances.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Published ahead of print on September 5, 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200804-579OC
Bronchiolitis during infancy is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. Whether winter viral infections cause asthma, or are a manifestation of a predisposition to asthma development, is unknown.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2008, p. 3621-3625, Vol. 46, No. 11
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients have an increased rate of pneumococcal infections. Within the HIV-infected population, patients with low CD4+ cell counts have a higher rate of pneumococcal infection.
Oncostatin M (OSM), an IL-6 family cytokine, has been implicated in a number of biological processes including the induction of inflammation and the modulation of extracellular matrix.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(11):1356-1358, November 2008
Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor (CFP) of the pleura is a rare benign lesion. Eleven cases of CFP of the pleura have been reported, and multiple nodules were present in seven cases.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 276-280(5)
Scales and questionnaires have been used for nearly 50 years in an effort to quantify the severity of dyspnea as experienced by patients with chronic respiratory disease.
Among the micro-organisms that may affect the respiratory apparatus are the protozoa. The diseases they may give rise to constitute a relatively uncommon group of respiratory ailments with, in the majority of cases, an underlying clinical situation corresponding to states of suppressed immunity (AIDS, transplants, malign haemopathies, corticotherapy, etc.).
Although a marked increase in the reporting of wheezing symptoms since the mid-1970s has been described, the underlying immunopathology of the different wheezing phenotypes has not been clarified. Since differences in gene expression might be involved, the objective of the present study was to identify gene expression profiles in CD4+ T-cells from two distinct infant wheezing phenotypes.
Central European Journal of Medicine Volume 3, Number 4 / December, 2008 482-486
The aim of the study was to determine the mean pulmonary pressure in adult with hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids and to clarify whether tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy has any effect on mean pulmonary arterial pressure of these adult.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 5 October 2008 , pages 274 - 281
Smoking-related respiratory diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. However, the relationship between smoking and respiratory disease has not been well-studied among ethnic minorities in general and among women in particular.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a prevalent condition associated with a high societal burden. Despite a decrease in the prevalence of smoking in the United States, the rates of morbidity and mortality associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are expected to continue to increase.
A 54-year-old previously healthy male farmer presented to our institution with a 2-week history of dyspnea. Notably, he had just finished working in his fields for the season and had spent much time riding his tractor.
The effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on eicosanoid generation and release in cultured feline tracheal epithelial cells was investigated by measuring a wide range of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathway products.
The use of the incentive spirometry (IS) with expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is not well established. This study sought to determine the effects of IS + EPAP after CABG.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) has been suggested to be an independent risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), possibly via intermittent hypoxia that influences blood pressure, lipid levels and insulin resistance, factors themselves known to cause NAFLD.
This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity (BH) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), heavy snorers, and light snorers; its correlation with OSAS severity; and its response to nasal CPAP therapy.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 258-269(12)
The inability to engage in the usual activities of daily living is one of the most distressing experiences of people afflicted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 295-300(6)
Health status is one of the most important outcome measures to evaluate the effects of integrated care of patients with mild to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The aim of the present study was to assess the response of high-dose salmeterol/fluticasone combination (SFC) and low-dose SFC compared with regimens without inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) plus long-acting {beta}-agonist (LABA) in a large cohort with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:71doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-71
Sidestream smoke is closely associated with airway inflammation and hyperreactivity. The present study was designed to investigate if the Raf-1 inhibitor GW5074 and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone suppress airway hyperreactivity in a mouse model of sidestream smoke exposure.
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