Links
to Journal Articles Delivered Directly to Your Computer
The latest links to journal article abstracts on Respiratory, Pulmonary,
COPD, Mechanical Ventilation,
Ventilator Weaning, Respiratory Therapy, Asthma, Cardio-Vascular, Sleep
Apnea, CPAP, BiPAP, Decannulation and other related clinical topics. Add the Northeast Center for Special
Care Journal Watch
to your favorite RSS program.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 7 Oct 2008
Two patients with intractable chronic cough were found to have tonsillar tissue impinging on their epiglottis. In both case, tonsillectomy was curative. The observations in these patients are consistent with a previous report indicating chronic cough from the uvula in contact with the epiglottis with cough cessation following uvulectomy. Pediatr. Pulmonol.
Consensus recommendations for managing bronchiectasis in Indigenous children and adults living in rural and remote regions were developed during a multidisciplinary workshop and were based on available systematic reviews.
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Volume 25, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 693 - 698
Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) is mainly associated with cold agglutinin syndrome, whereas both cold IgM and warm IgG autoantibodies have been identified in only two cases in the literature.
The American Journal of Cardiology Volume 102, Issue 8, Pages 1064-1068 (15 October 2008)
It was recognized that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. However, it was unclear whether the presence of SDB increased the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia in patients with heart failure (HF) with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
Although obesity significantly reduces end-expiratory lung volume (EELV), the relationship between EELV and detailed measures of fat distribution has not been studied in obese men and women.
Impaired restrictive pulmonary function has been reported to be associated with insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities. However, the possible association of restrictive pulmonary defect with metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not well understood. We examined the association in comparison with C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a predictor for MetS.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases First Published on: 14 October 2008
We investigated the bacterial flora and antimicrobial sensitivity in sputum from patients admitted to hospital with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in order to recommend the best empirical treatment for these patients.
Asthmatics often report the triggering or exacerbation of respiratory symptoms following exposure to airborne irritants, which in some cases may result from stimulation of irritant receptors in the upper airways inducing reflexive bronchoconstriction. Ammonia (NH3) is a common constituent of commercially available household products, and in high concentration has the potential to elicit sensory irritation in the eyes and upper respiratory tract of humans.
Diagnostic Cytopathology Published Online: 14 Oct 2008
The group of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) is formed by respiratory tract disorders, whose aetiology is unknown in the majority of cases, the clinical course differs and the prognosis is generally serious. Some of the ILDs have a potential relation to tobacco smoking and are known as smoking-related ILDs (sr-ILD).
The distance walked in the 6-min walk test (6MWT) predicts mortality in patients with severe COPD. Little is known about its prognostic value in patients with a wider range of COPD severity, living in different countries, and the potential additional impact of oxygen desaturation measured during the test.
To systematically review all published case reports and the US Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting (FDA-AER) database to examine the relationship between statins and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Enrolling critically ill patients in clinical trials is challenging. We observed that eligible patients at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), a public hospital that cares largely for indigent patients, were less likely to be enrolled in a clinical trial of acute lung injury (ALI) than eligible patients at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), a university referral center. We examined the reasons for nonenrollment and the impact of the availability of a surrogate decision maker on critical care clinical trials enrollment.
This study was conducted to determine the time course of gene expression associated with specific signaling pathways in normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells after exposure to 2 concentrations of 2R4F tobacco mainstream smoke (MSS). Expression of 84 genes representing 18 signal transduction pathways was quantitated in MSS- and air-exposed cultures using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays at 1, 4, and 24 hours following exposure.
Transplant International, Volume 21, Number 11, November 2008 , pp. 1098-1101(4)
Acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a rare complication after solid organ transplantation. We describe a 52-year-old female developing neutropenia and fever 48 days after single lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
European Journal of Echocardiography, doi:10.1093/ejechocard/jen257
In this study, we aimed to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and to investigate the effects of 6 month continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on LV systolic and diastolic functions.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295: H1505-H1513, 2008
In addition to high pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and low pulmonary blood flow, the fetal pulmonary circulation is characterized by mechanisms that oppose vasodilation.
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.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Published Online: 10 Oct 2008
RN designed and conducted the analyses and wrote the paper. PSB and ERO assisted in writing the paper; AJ contributed with statistical expertise and assisted in writing the paper. JEA provided economical expertise and assisted in writing the paper. AG designed the study, supervised the fieldwork and assisted in writing the paper
While the magnitude of venous thromboembolism (VTE) increases dramatically with advancing age, relatively little is known about the contemporary management ofVTE in the elderly and the impact of age on associated short- and long-term outcomes.
The purpose of this systematic review is to test the hypothesis that carefully selected low-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) can safely be treated entirely as outpatients or after early hospital discharge.
Severe postpartum haemorrhages (PPH) are responsible for maternal morbidity/mortality. Their complex management sometimes requires haemostatic supplementation, and therapeutic trials on fibrinogen or activated factorVII, which may add to the thrombotic risk, are currently being considered.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200808-1233OC
Adherence to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) medication is known to be low overall, but tends to be lower among African-American patients when compared with white patients.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 7 Oct 2008
Protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) is a common cause of paediatric chronic moist cough. PBB is defined as the presence of isolated chronic moist cough which resolves with antibiotic therapy within 2 weeks and an absence of pointers suggesting alternative diagnoses.
The natural history of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) who develop a major bleeding complication while on anticoagulant therapy is not well known. RIETE is a prospective registry of consecutive patients with symptomatic, objectively confirmed, acute VTE.
Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common reason for antibiotic therapy in primary care despite their mainly viral etiology. A laboratory test measuring procalcitonin levels in blood specimens was suggested as a tool to reduce unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics.
The American Journal of Cardiology Volume 102, Issue 8, Pages 1090-1096 (15 October 2008)
Electrocardiographic artifact is generally considered to be a nuisance. Respiratory artifact, however, is a physiologic signal that may carry useful diagnostic information.
Though studies have identified clinical variables that predict adverse events in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), they have typically not differentiated short-term from long-term predictors.
Nodular sarcoidosis is an uncommon presentation of sarcoidosis. Our objective was to describe the clinical characteristics of a large cohort of patients with nodular sarcoidosis.
A 72-year-old man receiving etanercept for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis had an exudative pleural effusion with nonspecific fluid analysis and pleural biopsy findings. He was ultimately found to have drug-induced lupus erythematosus due to the etanercept. The spectrum of autoimmune disease due to the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors is reviewed.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L575-L583, 2008
The statins, hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors that lower serum cholesterol, exhibit myriad clinical benefits, including enhanced vascular integrity. One potential mechanism underlying increased endothelial cell (EC) barrier function is inhibition of geranylgeranylation, a covalent modification enabling translocation of the small GTPases Rho and Rac to the cell membrane.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L648-L657, 2008
Pulmonary vascular remodeling, a major cause for the elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is partially due to increased proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) in the media, resulting in vascular wall thickening.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L612-L623, 2008
Mechanical ventilation at high tidal volumes compromises the blood-gas barrier and increases lung vascular permeability, which may lead to ventilator-induced lung injury and pulmonary edema.
Alcohol has been associated with COPD-related mortality but has not yet been demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for COPD exacerbation. Our objective was to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and the subsequent risk of COPD exacerbation.
The increased risk of atherosclerotic morbidity and mortality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to arterial hypertension, insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress. We aimed to determine the effects of 8 weeks of therapy with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on glucose and lipid profile, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and global cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with severe OSA and metabolic syndrome.
Studies to date have shown no survival benefit for the use of exogenous surfactant to treat patients with the ARDS. To identify specific patient subgroups for future study, we performed an exploratory post hoc analysis of clinical trials of recombinant surfactant protein-C (rSP-C) surfactant (Venticute; Nycomed GmbH; Konstanz, Germany).
Pediatrics International Published Online: 9 Oct 2008
This study compared the plethysmographic lung volumes of children with sighing dyspnea with healthy children and tested the hypothesis that sighing children suffer from hyperinflation or gas trapping as a cause of dyspnea.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 7 Oct 2008
To compare the within day variation of spirometry between hospital admission, discharge, and outpatient follow up among children with cystic fibrosis (CF) hospitalized for a pulmonary exacerbation.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Published Online: 8 Oct 2008
Low forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and low performance status usually preclude surgical treatment of lung neoplasms. Earlier case reports have suggested that curative, safe surgery is possible in extrapulmonal intrathoracic neoplasms.
Despite advances in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the mortality rate remains excessive. Long-term efficacy evaluations are needed to guide therapeutic management. The purpose of this study is to present 1-year observational data with two endothelin antagonists, sitaxsentan and bosentan, in a prospective, open-label study.
Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reduce quality of life and increase mortality. Genetic variation might explain the substantial variability seen in exacerbation frequency among COPD subjects with similar lung function.
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) published guidelines for the treatment and management of community-acquired pneumonia in 2001, but the impact of adherence on outcomes such as mortality and length of stay is not well defined.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L708-L717, 2008
Bacterial LPS is a potent proinflammatory molecule. In the lungs, LPS induces alterations in surfactant pool sizes and phospholipid (PL) contents, although direct actions of LPS on the alveolar type II cells (AT II) are not yet clear.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(10):1185-1187, October 2008
We describe the clinical and pathologic findings of a young man with a heterogeneous mediastinal tumor metastatic to both lungs, and containing a predominant pattern of classic biphasic pulmonary blastoma with elements of immature teratoma, seminoma, and embryonal carcinoma.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2008, p. 3534-3536, Vol. 46, No. 10
Empyema necessitatis is a rare complication of empyema in which the pleural infection spreads outside of the pleural space to involve the soft tissues of the chest wall. Most cases of empyema necessitatis are related to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, less commonly, to Actinomyces spp. and Streptococcus spp. Staphylococcus aureus has rarely been reported as the causative agent of empyema necessitatis, with the majority of S. aureus isolates being methicillin sensitive.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Published Online: 6 Oct 2008
Readiness to speak is a major problem for many tracheostomized patients. Evaluation for tracheostomy tube capping or speaking valve is often subjective.
Alterations of the nitric oxide receptor, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) may contribute to the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Further improvements in the thoracoscopic treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax may reduce the already low invasiveness of the procedure. We have recently experimented with a new device for the coagulation of blebs as an alternative to endostapler resection.
Current Opinion in Cardiology. 23(6):555-559, November 2008
Venous thromboembolism is a spectrum of disease comprising deep vein thrombosis, thrombus in transit, acute pulmonary embolism, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) as a rare and late possible sequela.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):287-289, October 2008
Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare benign disorder characterized by multiple cartilaginous or osseous submucosal nodules that project into the tracheobronchial lumen.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):260-261, October 2008
Early morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation is frequently related to airway anastomotic complications. The anastomotic complications have been attributed to the lack of blood flow to the donor tracheobronchial tree in the first few hours to days after the transplantation.
It has been suggested that sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) involve a continuum that develops over the course of life. If modifiable factors could be identified, the progression of SRBD could perhaps be addressed early in life.
The evidence base for the benefit of quitting smoking as regards morbidity and mortality outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is limited.
Exposure to indoor chlorinated swimming pools can be detrimental to the airways of swimmers and increase asthma risks but it is unknown whether these effects concern outdoor pools.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):284-286, October 2008
Endobronchial involvement of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type lymphoma is a very rare entity and is often not included in the differential diagnosis when evaluating the patients with endobronchial lesions.
Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Year : 2008 Volume : 12 Issue : 2 Page : 71-75
Workers of iron and steel factories are exposed to a wide range of pollutants depending on the particular process, the materials involved, the effectiveness of monitoring and the control measures.
Southern Medical Journal. 101(10):1059-1061, October 2008
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown cause, characterized pathologically by noncaseating granulomas. It is more commonly seen in younger adults and African Americans.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2008, p. 3522-3525, Vol. 46, No. 10
The KI and WU polyomaviruses were found in 11 (2.7%) and 17 (4.2%) of 406 nasopharyngeal aspirates, respectively, from children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI).
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2008, p. 3446-3453, Vol. 46, No. 10
Infections with human parechoviruses (HPeVs) are prevalent in young children and have been associated with mild gastroenteritis and, less frequently, with meningitis and neonatal sepsis.
Journal of Cardiac Surgery Published Online: 10 Sep 2008
Massive or submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) carries a high mortality. Traditionally this condition has been treated with thrombolysis or anticoagulation and support measures.
Journal of Cardiac Surgery Published Online: 14 May 2008
A 66-year-old male presented with rhabdomyosarcoma of the right kidney with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus and with tumor emboli to right pulmonary artery and two large fragments of tumor thrombus free floating in the right atrium.
Postoperative acute interstitial pneumonia is a subset of post-surgical acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and is responsible for one third of in-hospital deaths following lung resection in patients with primary lung cancer.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):233-239, October 2008
Bronchoscopy is usually performed under topical anesthesia with or without sedation to promote patient comfort and the ideal conditions for the physician to perform the examination.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):221-224, October 2008
There are 2 general classes of stents available for airway obstruction: self-expanding metal and silicone. Metal stents can be placed using flexible bronchoscopy under local anesthesia but may be difficult to remove.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):225-227, October 2008
Stenting, which is included in the therapeutic bronchoscopic procedures, improves the quality of life and may prolong the survival of patients with lung cancer. Silicone stents, especially the bifurcated ones, require unique experience in their insertion in critical cases with carinal deformation.
Central airway stabilization with silicone stents can improve respiratory symptoms in patients with severe symptomatic tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) but is associated with a relatively high rate of complications.
The d-dimer test is widely applied in the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). The objective of this study was to investigate how often the d-dimer test fails when clinical probability is not taken into account.
Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) after cardiac surgery in children is associated with a high postoperative morbidity and mortality, as well as increased ICU and hospital resource utilization. Little has been done to identify the predictors of PMV in neonates and young infants. This study was performed to evaluate the perioperative risk factors for PMV in neonates and young infants undergoing cardiac surgery.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 7 Oct 2008
The incidence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is increasing in cystic fibrosis (CF), but the impact of MRSA detection on clinical outcomes is unclear.
Asbestos exposure is related to serious adverse health effects. However, there is disagreement about the relationship between chrysotile exposure and mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at risk for early bone loss, and demonstrate increased risks for vertebral fractures and kyphosis. A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial was conducted to assess the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of therapy with oral alendronate (FOSAMAX; Merck; Whitehouse Station, NJ) in adults with CF and low bone mass.
It is now recognized that a significant portion of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can have sudden and rapid deteriorations in disease course that cannot be explained by infection, heart failure, or thromboembolic disease.
Surgical resection offers the only realistic chance of permanent cure for pulmonary aspergilloma. This prospective study was designed to evaluate our indications and surgical outcome of pulmonary aspergilloma with analysis of postoperative complications.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disorder resulting in irreversible scarring of the lung parenchyma. Although fatigue is a prominent symptom for patients with IPF, little is known about sleep quality in patients with IPF.
The aim of the present study was to treat unstable asthma according to exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and induced-sputum eosinophils (sEos) levels to assess if this strategy is better than the conventional approach based on symptoms and function to achieve asthma control.
Bronchiectasis, which was once thought to be an orphan disease, is now being recognized with increasing frequency around the world. Patients with bronchiectasis have chronic cough and sputum production, and bacterial infections develop in them that result in the loss of lung function.
Alterations in pulmonary vessel structure and function are highly prevalent in patients with COPD. Vascular abnormalities impair gas exchange and may result in pulmonary hypertension, which is one of the principal factors associated with reduced survival in COPD patients.
Ciclesonide is a novel inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma, and it is important to measure the onset of effect of this therapy on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), exhaled nitric oxide (NO), and levels of eosinophils in induced sputum.
This study was undertaken to investigate the putative mechanism(s) underlying the antispasmodic effect of 7-epiclusianone, a naturally occurring compound isolated from the plant Garcinia brasiliensis.
J Clin Pathol. Published Online First: 25 September 2008. doi:10.1136/jcp.2008.057190
A Significant number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibit skeletal muscle wasting and decreased capillary area formation which have been correlated to increased mortality. The current study aimed to determine the molecular mechanisms mediating decreased capillary formation in COPD.
Angiotensin II is a growth factor that plays a key role in the physiopathology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A nucleotide substitution of an adenine instead of a guanine (G-6A) in the proximal promoter region of angiotensinogen (AGT), the precursor of angiotensin II, has been associated with an increased gene transcription rate.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0217-3
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Nonin WristOx 3100TM and its software (nVision 5.0) in patients with suspicion of sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (SAHS).
Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Year : 2008 Volume : 12 Issue : 2 Page : 82-87
This paper presents the successful design and implementation of several exhaust ventilation systems in a paint manufacturing factory. The ventilation systems were designed based on American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists recommendations. The duct works, fans, and other parts were made and mounted by local manufacturers.
Journal of The American Society of Echocardiography Volume 21, Issue 10, Pages 1177.e1-1177.e2 (October 2008)
A 76-year-old woman was admitted with suggested cardioembolism. Transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a large, highly mobile mass within a dynamic left atrial appendage that was confirmed by computed tomography to be prolapsing into the body of the left atrium. A multilobulated, pedunculated fibroelastoma was resected at surgery.
European Journal of Echocardiography, doi:10.1093/ejechocard/jen256
To evaluate the prevalence and clinical impact of left atrial (LA) thrombus and dense spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and low CHADS2 score undergoing cardioversion.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 October 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2007.085423
COPD is characterized by an abnormal inflammatory reaction of the lungs, involving activation of epithelial cells. Leptin is a pleiotropic cytokine important in the regulation of immune responses via its functional receptor Ob-Rb. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that severe COPD is associated with increased leptin expression in epithelial cells.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 October 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.105163
Although exercise training has beneficial effects on skeletal muscle bioenergetics and exercise performance in patients with severe COPD, it may also be associated with increased quadriceps oxidative and nitrosative stress. Our aim was to explore quadriceps oxidative and nitrosative stress in severe COPD patients, both before and after a three-week endurance exercise program, and to identify the nature of the oxidatively modified proteins.
There is poor agreement on definitions of different phenotypes of preschool wheezing disorders. The present Task Force proposes to use the terms episodic (viral) wheeze to describe children who wheeze intermittently and are well between episodes, and multiple-trigger wheeze for children who wheeze both during and outside discrete episodes. Investigations are only needed when in doubt about the diagnosis.
Tuberculosis control depends on successful case finding and treatment of individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Passive case finding is widely practised: the present study aims to ascertain the consensus and possible improvements in active case finding across Europe.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 4 October 2008, pp. 760-769
Our aims were (1) to describe rates of suboptimal control and controller medication underuse in a diverse population of children with asthma and (2) to identify potentially modifiable parental behaviors and beliefs associated with these outcomes.
This study included 40 children, who were diagnosed with pneumonia and pulmonary hypertension (from the radiographic and clinical features), was performed at Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, from September 2003 to July 2005. Patients who had pneumonia and congenital heart disease or systemic hypertension or renal and liver disease together were excluded from the study.
There are three major types of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) with respect to prevalence and health consequences, i.e. obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), Cheyne-tokes respiration and central sleep apnoea (CSR-CSA) in chronic heart failure, and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS).
Cardiac reoperations are challenging and time-consuming, and have a high risk for reentry injuries. We discuss the indications, advantages, and technologic features of cardiopulmonary bypass by peripheral cannulation before resternotomy.
Thorax. Published Online First: 3 October 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.102822
The links between asthma and rhinitis are nowadays referred to as the united airways disease (UAD). Current evidence shows that the UAD model seems to be applicable to occupational rhinitis (OR) and occupational asthma (OA).
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):281-283, October 2008
Airway complications remain a critical source of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation, and bronchial stenosis is the most frequent. Mitomycin C, an antineoplastic agent that inhibits fibroblast proliferation, has been applied topically in the upper airway and trachea.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):228-232, October 2008
Symptomatic stenosis of the airway necessitates intervention to keep the patency of tracheobronchial tree. Urgent treatment to secure the airway is therefore often required.
Breath-hold divers employ glossopharyngeal insufflation (GI) in order to prevent the lungs from compressing at great depth and to increase intrapulmonary oxygen stores, thus increasing breath-hold time.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with important chronic comorbid diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 4 October 2008, pp. 770-774
The goal was to test the hypothesis that intubated infants positioned on their sides would be less likely to contract bacterial colonization in their tracheae, compared with those positioned supine.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L680-L687, 2008
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and decreased vascular growth. The role of Rho kinase activity in modulating endothelial function and regulating angiogenesis during normal lung development and in PPHN is unknown.
The genetic factors that contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are poorly understood. Many candidate genes have been proposed, including enzymes that protect the lung against oxidative stress, such as microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) and glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL).
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L698-L707, 2008
The ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA3 mediates uptake of choline-phospholipids into intracellular vesicles and is essential for surfactant metabolism in lung alveolar type II cells.
We evaluated regional variation and trends in invasive pneumococcal infections (IPI) in Finland by using data from national, population-based laboratory surveillance and number of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures performed by all microbiology laboratories during 1995-2002.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have significant end-of-life needs, but are much less likely than patients with cancer to access or receive appropriate palliative care. Little is known about the existing availability or quality of available services within the United Kingdom.
Journal of The American Society of Echocardiography Volume 21, Issue 10, Pages 1150-1155 (October 2008)
Ultrasound lung comets (ULCs) detected by chest sonography are a simple, noninvasive, semiquantitative sign of increased extravascular lung water. Pulmonary edema may occur in elite apnea divers, possibly triggered by centralization of blood flow from the periphery to pulmonary vessels. We assessed the prevalence of ULCs in top-level breath-hold divers after immersion.
The present study aimed to assess whether arterial carbon dioxide pressure (Pa,CO2) has an impact on agreement between oxygen saturation measured with pulse oximetry (Sp,O2) or arterial blood gas co-oximetry (Sa,O2).
There is increasing evidence that inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular complications in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
The present study identified three patients with bronchiectasis receiving inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) who had symptomatic adrenal suppression secondary to ICS.
The diagnosis of occupational asthma can be made by exposing workers to the relevant agent either in a hospital laboratory through specific inhalation challenges (SICs) or in the workplace.
Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the most important cause of late mortality following lung transplantation, resulting in major morbidity and a huge burden on healthcare resources. Treatment options are limited, resulting in a mere stabilisation of the lung function decline. Recent introduction of the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin raised new hope after demonstrating lung function improvement in subsets of patients.
This article provides a brief review of the complex interrelationships that surround chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations and lung function, particularly FEV1.
Stage I adenocarcinoma of the lung is the most common type of lung cancer. A better understanding of the histopathology and molecular biology of lung cancer might improve the capability to predict the outcome for any individual patient.
The combination of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB), PET-CT, and rapid on-site cytopathologic examination (ROSE) for the routine diagnostic work-up of peripheral lung lesions has not been evaluated previously.
CRP is elevated in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), but there is little information on whether this biomarker can help to identify adverse short-term clinical outcomes.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:68doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-68
There is no optimal screening tool for the assessment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). A decreasing transfer factor of the lung for CO (TLCO) is associated with the development of PAH in SSc.
Current Opinion in Cardiology. 23(6):545-554, November 2008
o present the available data on pathophysiology, clinical presentation, prognosis, and especially management strategies for adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Internal and Emergency Medicine 1828-0447 (Print) 10.1007/s11739-008-0197-0
The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viral respiratory pathogens in emergency department (ED) patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).
Mycoplasma pneumoniae has previously been characterized as a micro-organism that is genetically highly stable. In spite of this genetic stability, homologous DNA recombination has been hypothesized to lie at the basis of antigenic variation of the major surface protein, P1, of M. pneumoniae.
Inhaled air is contaminated with pathogens and particulates that may deposit in the airways and damage the host. In response to these invaders, the airway epithelium has developed innate immune responses that provide a defence against the invaders and protect the airway structure and function. Thus, the epithelium of conducting airways becomes the "battleground" between the invaders and the host.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 4 October 2008, pp. e917-e921
Our goals were to identify the trend of surfactant use over a 6-year period and to determine whether a relationship exists between the incidence of chronic lung disease in infants born weighing <1000 g who receive surfactant and those who do not.
South African Family Practice, Vol 50, No 4 - July/August 2008
The medications used in asthma have been the subject of intense study over the last three decades. We now have extensive insights into their structure, regulation, receptors and mechanisms of action. Their intersection with the complexity of asthma inflammation has also been well characterised.
A total of 144 patients with lower airway symptoms suggestive of asthma, but who did not fulfil the functional criteria of asthma, were included in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled 8-week "proof-of-concept" study with mometasone furoate (MF), 400 µg once daily.
The aim of the present study was to establish the agreement between two recommended definitions of airflow obstruction in symptomatic adults referred for spirometry by their general practitioner, and investigate how rates of airflow obstruction change when pre-bronchodilator instead of post-bronchodilator spirometry is performed.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):240-246, October 2008
Recent data on the yield of bronchoscopy in pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are lacking. Therapeutic bronchoscopic lavage with the mucolytic recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) has been used during CF bronchoscopies, but efficacy data are scarce.
Journal of Bronchology. 15(4):268-272, October 2008
Biologic lung volume reduction (BLVR) is an experimental endobronchial treatment for advanced emphysema that reduces lung volume by remodeling damaged areas of hyperinflated lung. This article summarizes the first experience using BLVR to treat unilateral bullous disease.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 4, October 2008 , pp. 375-381(7)
Studies of asthma in school-aged rural children in the United States are limited, and there are no studies of high-risk pediatric populations in rural environments.
Asthma prevalence and severity are high among underserved minorities, including those of African descent. The Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines is the receptor for Plasmodium vivax on erythrocytes and functions as a chemokine clearing receptor.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 4, October 2008 , pp. 402-406(5)
Previous studies have suggested that the number of progenitor cells is elevated in the peripheral blood of asthmatic patients and that the number of progenitors correlate with the severity of the disease.
The objective of this study is to investigate the infection and distribution of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in autopsied pulmonary tissue of pediatric severe pneumonia.
We report a case of progressive dyspnea and recurrent pneumonia after uneventful coronary artery bypass graft surgery caused by migration of retained epicardial pacing wires into the right upper lobe of the lung.
We evaluated the feasibility and accuracy of a needlescopic procedure for lung biopsies in patients with interstitial lung disease or indeterminate pulmonary nodules.
Whether hereditary protein S, protein C, or antithrombin deficiency is associated with arterial thromboembolism (ATE) and whether history of venous thromboembolism in these subjects predisposes them to subsequent ATE have yet to be determined.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Published Online: 25 Sep 2008
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is a serious complication in patients receiving chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Current recommendations for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) dosing as PCP prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients are based on either daily dosing or dosing three consecutive days per week.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 4, October 2008 , pp. 413-418(6)
One of the characteristic features of the hyperresponsive airway smooth muscle in asthma is the loss of deep-inhalation bronchoprotection and bronchodilation. The airway of individuals with asthma is also characterized by inflammation.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 129, Issue 3, Pages 339-343 (13 October 2008)
A cross-sectional retrospective review of patients >16 years with CPA or Tetralogy of Fallot with MAPCAs and PA hypertension treated with sildenafil was conducted. Case notes were reviewed for baseline and follow-up (after sildenafil) characteristics.
A simple screening method for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is desirable for primary care practices. In the present study, a simple monitor, which utilises a new type of flow sensor and a novel algorithm, was prospectively validated.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 4, October 2008 , pp. 370-374(5)
The objective of asthma therapy is to achieve optimal disease control and quality-of-life (QoL) improvements. Good correlation is reported between a composite evaluation of asthma control (the Asthma Control Test [ACT]) and QoL, with emphasis on asthma as a frequent cause of chronic cough and worsening of QoL due to chronic cough.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 4, October 2008 , pp. 350-357(8)
To review the concept of a possible link between asthma and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the impact on asthma symptoms of treatment of OSAS with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with both conditions.
Resident tissue macrophages exert important functions during severe systemic infection and contribute to changes in local as well as systemic immune responses. Alveolar macrophages (AM) play a crucial role in airway diseases and in the defense against microorganisms invading the body via the bronchopulmonary tract.
The subject was based in a small laboratory with an attached growing room. After 30 months of research, he began to develop breathlessness within 5-10 min of entering the laboratory.
Simkania negevensis, a recently found Chlamydia-like organism, has been associated with respiratory infections in children and adults with pneumonia, but S. negevensis findings have been common also without any infection.
Erm(A) is rarely reported as erythromycin resistance determinant in pneumococci. One invasive erm(A) isolate was initially tested intermediate erythromycin resistant using E-test. However, upon re-testing it was resistant, thus close to the breakpoint value. This may be a reason why erm(A) only rarely is reported to cause resistance in pneumococci.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases First Published on: 26 September 2008
Our objective was to describe respiratory disease hospitalizations among children in a community of Seoul, Republic of Korea. Discharge data (January 1995-December 2005) from Guro Hospital (Seoul, Republic of Korea) were collected from the hospital medical records office.
BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2008, 8:21doi:10.1186/1471-2466-8-21
Leptin is an hormone that regulates body weight. Studies have shown increasing leptin concentrations according to body mass index (BMI) and intermittent hypoxia.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 129, Issue 3, Pages e81-e83 (13 October 2008)
A middle-aged male patient with progressive right ventricular heart failure due to pulmonary thromboembolism causing pulmonary hypertension was referred for evaluation of a mobile right ventricular mass.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 30 Sep 2008
Inhaled hypertonic saline (HS) improves lung function and decreases pulmonary exacerbations in older patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Initiating therapies in young patients has potential to preserve lung function. Before conducting a therapeutic trial of HS in this population, its safety must be evaluated and protocols for monitoring response must be tested.
The aim of the present prospective multicentric study was to develop a simple rule for the prediction of poor outcome in patients presenting to emergency departments with initially non-life threatening-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations in a real-life setting.
Depression and Anxiety Published Online: 30 Sep 2008
Neuropsychological comorbidities, including anxiety symptoms, accompany obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); structural and functional brain alterations also occur in the syndrome.
What
is RSS?
