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Irish Journal of Medical Science Volume 147, Number 1 / December, 1978 413-419
We measured lung volumes, maximum expiratory flow rates, gas exchange at rest and on exercise, and lung elastic recoil in 29 unselected subjects with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Journal of The American Society of Echocardiography Volume 21, Issue 9, Pages 1079.e1-1079.e3 (September 2008)
To date, few cases giving detailed visual descriptions of a thrombus in the pulmonary arteries or its branches in transthoracic echocardiography have been reported.
Heart. Published Online First: 24 July 2008. doi:10.1136/hrt.2007.139295
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can occur during exercise and has an adverse effect on functional status, exercise tolerance, and prognosis. However, the role of cardiac function abnormalities on exercise-induced PH in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unclear.
European Journal of Echocardiography, doi:10.1093/ejechocard/jen224
We report a case of an ischaemic stroke secondary to an isolated pulmonary arteriovenous malformation. In this case, transoesophageal echocardiogram played a pivotal role in shunt identification, exclusion of atrial septal defect, and definitive diagnosis and localization of the pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Published Online: 4 Sep 2008
To measure the ability of the Observation-based Nocturnal Sleep Inventory (ONSI) to detect the presence or absence of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in older adults.
Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Volume 102, Number 6, September 2008 , pp. 499-507(9)
Human dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria repens is a parasitic infection, currently considered to be an emerging zoonosis, that has been observed in many areas of the Old World.
Thorax. Published Online First: 4 August 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2007.095067
Recent temporal trends in histology and stage of pulmonary tumors in the Netherlands were studied. The incidence of rare pulmonary tumors was determined.
Clinical observations indicate that in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, the long-acting muscarinic antagonist tiotropium delays decline in airway function, suggesting that cholinergic mechanisms contribute to long-term structural changes.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200805-731OC
The perception of dyspnea and pain show many similarities. Initial imaging studies suggested an important role of the insular cortex for the perception of both unpleasant sensations. However, little is still known about the cortical processing of dyspnea.
Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. August 1, 2008, 21(2): 89-98
Updated asthma guidelines stress the importance of obtaining patient-reported information about symptoms and limitations to develop effective treatment and education plans.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 3, September 2008 , pp. 256-263(8)
The underlying reasons for racial disparities in asthma morbidity are not well understood. Multivariate epidemiologic studies evaluating the presence and extent of racial differences in a large cohort of adults with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma are lacking.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 8 Sep 2008
Apnea of prematurity (AOP) remains a major clinical problem in present day neonatology that warrants frequent evaluations and imposes challenges in therapeutic strategies. Although the pathogenesis of AOP is poorly understood, it is probably a manifestation of physiologic immaturity of breathing control rather than a pathologic disorder.
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. 30(9):659-665, September 2008
Families of 100 consecutively referred children with SCD completed the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire during a routine visit to identify concerns regarding sleep habits and sleep behavior. Of these, 48 children were identified as displaying behaviors suspicious of SDB.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200708-1219OC
Sickle cell disease results in significant morbidity and mortality attributable to pulmonary complications. The pattern of lung function change across childhood in sickle cell disease is not well delineated.
Little is known about the consequences of a first venous thrombosis in the upper extremity. We studied the incidence of, survival, and risk factors for recurrence in a follow-up study.
The aim of the present study was to estimate the impact of inherited thrombophilia (IT) on the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) onset and recurrence in children by a meta-analysis of published observational studies.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 3, September 2008 , pp. 316-324(9)
Specific immunotherapy is the only potentially curative treatment in patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. Health economic evaluations on this treatment, particularly in a German context, are sparse.
Thorax. Published Online First: 19 June 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2007.093658
Lung-protective ventilation has been widely adopted for the management of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Consequently, ventilator associated lung injury and mortality have decreased.
In this article, the pathophysiology of left ventricular failure is reviewed. By contrast, the paucity of information about pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular failure is acknowledged.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0210-x
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is considered to be associated with cardiovascular complications, and atherosclerosis could mediate this relationship.
Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal First Published on: 29 July 2008
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common in coronary artery disease (CAD) and a possible cause of increased mortality. To date, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials to draw the conclusion that all CAD patients should be investigated for OSA and subsequently be treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
A 69-year-old man sought medical care because of persistent cough. Imaging work up revealed multiple nodules involving both lungs. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) of the right lower lobe mass was performed and revealed atypical alveolar cells in a lymphoid background.
Journal of Medical Systems 0148-5598 (Print) 10.1007/s10916-008-9209-x
Millions of people are diagnosed every year with a chest disease in the world. Chronic obstructive pulmonary and pneumonia diseases are two of the most important chest diseases.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 2008, p. 3427-3429, Vol. 52, No. 9
The blaKPC-3 and qnrB19 determinants of transferable Klebsiella pneumoniae plasmid pLRM24 reside within a complex region consisting of a Tn1331 backbone into which a Tn4401-like element and qnrB19 mobilized by an adjacent ISEcp1 insertion sequence have been inserted.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 8 Sep 2008
The non-invasive tension-time index of the inspiratory muscles at rest (TTMUS) can be used for assessing respiratory muscle function in children with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.. Published Online First: 1 August 2008. doi:10.1136/adc.2007.121327
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common, serious sequelae of premature birth. Inflammation is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of BPD. Often initiated by a pulmonary fetal inflammatory response, lung inflammation is exacerbated by mechanical ventilation and exposure to supplemental oxygen.
Late Primary Graft Dysfunction After Lung Transplantation and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome Published Online: 10 Sep 2008
Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a common early complication after lung transplantation. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 334 recipients to evaluate the impact of PGD graded at 24, 48 and 72 h on the risk of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) development (stage 1) and progression (stages 2 and 3)
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 9 Sep 2008
Lung biopsy is necessary for establishing the diagnosis in patients with otherwise unclassified diffuse or localized parenchymal lung disease. This study aimed to assess the safety and accuracy of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lung biopsy in children with diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD).
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a frequent complication of sepsis. It is unclear if a pulmonary vs nonpulmonary source of sepsis affects mortality in patients with sepsis-induced ALI.
Fetal and Pediatric Pathology, Volume 27, Issue 3 October 2008 , pages 167 - 174
An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor as a distinct clinciopathologic entity in the lung has gained wide acceptance. The majority of these tumors are either contained within a single segment or pulmonary lobe and may cross the interlobar fissure and/or extend into the mediastinum, especially if arising in a perihilar location
Surfactant protein-D (SP-D) is a member of the collagenous subfamily of calcium-dependent lectins (collectins). Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the human gene coding surfactant protein-D (SFTPD) and infectious pulmonary diseases have been established by several groups.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 10, October 2008 , pp. 1310-1316(7)
Diet during pregnancy and childhood has been suggested to play an important role in children's asthma risk. We assessed whether the adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern, for children in the last 12-months and their mothers during pregnancy, was associated with both childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Thoracic sympathectomy (TS) is the treatment of choice for severe primary hyperhidrosis. However, complications, side effects and satisfaction have not been well defined.
Blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) is part of a spectrum of diseases termed acute aortic syndrome that accounts for 20% of road traffic accident related deaths.
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) results in severe symptoms and impaired survival. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is considered the gold standard treatment. Many units have reported excellent early results post PTE, but there is less information on whether benefit is sustained.
We initiated an off-pump Fontan procedure by using temporary bypass from the inferior vena cava to the atrium and advanced the procedure in selected patients by simply cross-clamping the inferior vena cava.
To identify factors associated with in-hospital and interim mortality in children with a systemic-to-pulmonary shunt (SPS). Methods: Between January 1988 and April 2005, 226 children with a median age of 17 days, and weight of 3.4 kg, underwent an isolated SPS for pulmonary atresia (PA)-VSD/ tetralogy (n = 124, 54.9%), functional single ventricle PA (n = 35, 5.5%), PA-intact septum (IS, n = 31, 13.7%), transposition of the great arteries VSD-PA (n = 30, 13.3%), and double outlet right ventricle-PA (n = 6, 2.6%)
Costal coaptation pins made of hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactide (HA/PLLA) composite are used to prevent slippage of the connected ribs in posterolateral thoracotomy.
Modern Rheumatology 1439-7595 (Print) 10.1007/s10165-008-0111-7
Although reports of serious infections in clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with tocilizumab, anti-interleukin6 (IL-6) receptor antibody, have been relatively few, there is still some concern about infections.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 129, Issue 2, Pages e46-e49 (26 September 2008)
A 53-year-old-male developed atrioventricular block in January 2001. A chest X-ray and laboratory tests, including serum angiotensin converting enzyme, were normal.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2008, p. 2175-2183, Vol. 46, No. 7
Molecular genotyping has shown Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineages to be geographically restricted and associated with distinct ethnic populations. Whether tuberculosis (TB) caused by some M. tuberculosis lineages can present with a differential clinical spectrum is controversial because of very limited clinical data.
The respiratory system is constantly exposed to mechanical forces that influence cellular phenotype in health and disease. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is widely used to determine gene expression.
Achalasia cardia is a motility disorder of the oesophagus characterized by aperistalsis of the oesophageal body and incomplete relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L515-L529, 2008
Recent evidence supports a prominent role for Rho kinase (ROK)-mediated pulmonary vasoconstriction in the development and maintenance of chronic hypoxia (CH)-induced pulmonary hypertension.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L400-L411, 2008. First published July 18, 2008
Because of their unique physicochemical properties, engineered nanoparticles have the potential to significantly impact respiratory research and medicine by means of improving imaging capability and drug delivery, among other applications.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L479-L488, 2008. First published June 27, 2008
Chronic contractile activation, or tone, in asthma coupled with continuous stretching due to breathing may be involved in altering the contractile function of airway smooth muscle (ASM).
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 383-389, 2008
Isoprostanes are products of peroxidative attack of membrane lipids. As such, they accumulate to substantial levels in conditions of oxidative stress, including many pulmonary vascular diseases such as acute lung injury and pulmonary hypertension, and are increasingly being used as indicators of disease state and severity.
Mediastinitis remains a life-threatening disease that is difficult to manage and has a poor prognosis. This is especially true of descending necrotizing mediastinitis, which before the 1990s era had a mortality of approximately 40% despite the use of antibiotics, surgical techniques, and intensive care monitoring.
The aim of this study was to analyze the early and long-term results of simultaneous surgical treatment of both coronary heart disease (CHD) and lung cancer.
Mainstem bronchus obstruction results in lung function exclusion. The aim of this study was to revisit lung function restoration obtained by different types of bronchial sleeve resections in selected patients with endobronchial tumors.
The aim of the study was to describe the frequency of viral pathogens and relative frequency of co-infections in nasal specimens obtained from young children with bronchiolitis receiving care at a children's hospital.
To evaluate the efficacy of iodopovidone as an agent for pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and to compare the efficacy of small-bore catheter (Pleuracan, Braun, Melsungen, Germany) and conventional large-bore chest tube in pleural fluid drainage and sclerotherapy.
Thorax. Published Online First: 4 August 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2008.099390
The contribution of occupational exposures to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, in particular, their potential interaction with cigarette smoking remains underappreciated.
Thorax. Published Online First: 4 August 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2007.095018
In adults with asthma, ventilation heterogeneity, independent of inflammation, has been hypothesised to be associated with airway remodelling. Bronchial biopsy in preschool children with wheeze demonstrates early structural changes. Ventilation heterogeneity is sensitive to airway disease in other paediatric respiratory conditions (cystic fibrosis), so may be sensitive to early airway disease in asthma.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200708-1200OC
Airway inflammation in asthma is associated with increased activated CD25+ T cells, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and soluble IL-2 receptors. Objectives: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety and efficacy of daclizumab, a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody against the IL-2 receptor {alpha}-chain (CD25) of activated lymphocytes, in adults with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma.
Respiratory Research 2008, 9:64doi:10.1186/1465-9921-9-64
Background In asthma, higher chymase positive mast cell (MC-C) numbers are associated with less airway obstruction. In COPD, the distribution of MC-C and tryptase positive mast cells (MC-T) in central and peripheral airways, and their relation with lung function, is unknown.
Control of ventilation depends on a brainstem neuronal network that controls activity of the motor neurons innervating the respiratory muscles. This network includes the pontine respiratory group and the dorsal and ventral respiratory groups in the medulla. Neurologic disorders affecting these areas or the respiratory motor unit may lead to abnormal breathing.
To test the hypothesis that respiratory muscle strength is associated with the rate of change in mobility even after controlling for leg strength and physical activity.
European Journal of Neurology, Volume 15, Number 10, October 2008 , pp. 1058-1064(7)
Repeated episodes of hypoxia, hypercapnia and transient blood pressure elevation in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may damage neutral structures and induce cerebral metabolic impairment.
Pulmonary artery sarcoma is a highly malignant tumour. Therefore, making the diagnosis is very important. We describe a case which presented with dyspnea on exertion and was initially diagnosed as saddle pulmonary embolism per CT thorax with contrast.
Arch Dis Child. Published Online First: 13 August 2008. doi:10.1136/adc.2008.140681
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are effective treatment for childhood asthma. Cross sectional studies indicate that some asthmatic children are treated with excessively high dose ICS and are at risk for serious adverse effects.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L505-L514, 2008
In diseases such as asthma, airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells play a synthetic role by secreting inflammatory mediators such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-6, or IL-8 and by expressing surface adhesion molecules, including ICAM-1.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008;198:1007-1015
Humoral immunity protects against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease, but the range and magnitude of antibody responses in RSV-naive children after RSV infection have not been completely defined.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008;198:1019-1027
Controversy persists over the benefits of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) for adults at high risk for pneumococcal disease. We studied PPV, protein-conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PCV), and immunologic 'priming' with PCV followed by 'boosting' with PPV in adults who had recovered from pneumococcal pneumonia.
The American Journal of Cardiology Volume 102, Issue 6, Pages 709-711 (15 September 2008)
Sleep apnea (SA) is more prevalent in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but the impact of cardioversion on disordered breathing is unknown. Thus, we investigated the influence of restoring sinus rhythm in patients with AF and atrial flutter (AFlut) on SA.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L471-L478, 2008
We have previously reported the participation of mitogen-activated protein, Rho, and phosphoinositide-3 (PI3) kinases in separate pathways in serotonin (5-HT)-induced proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs).
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L497-L504, 2008
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is activated by increases in the intracellular AMP-to-ATP ratio and plays a central role in cellular responses to metabolic stress.
There is growing evidence for extensive interaction between sensory neurons, immune and mucosal epithelial cells during airway inflammation and hyperreactivity.
There is uncertainty about the interpretation of changes in the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and whether the minimal important difference (MID) for this useful outcome measure exists.
Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery is the treatment of choice in surgically accessible chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and is potentially curative.
Seminars in Pediatric Surgery Volume 17, Issue 3, Pages 167-172 (August 2008)
Familial asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy (ATD), also known as Jeune's syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with variable severity and multiple musculo-skeletal manifestations.
Clinical studies have indicated increased gelatinase activity in the airways of patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by tobacco smoke.
The response of pulmonary artery pressure to high altitude has not been studied in children. It is also not known whether the individual response is hereditary. Therefore, the response of pulmonary artery pressure to high altitude was measured in pre-pubertal children in comparison to that in their biological fathers.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200804-494OC
Inhaled long acting beta agonists (LABAs) when used as monotherapy in asthma may increase asthma-related hospitalizations, life threatening events requiring intubation/mechanical ventilation and asthma-related deaths, but concomitant use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may modify this effect.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 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 Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques. August 1, 2008, 18(4): 614-615
Laparoscopic ligation of the thoracic duct was successfully used in the treatment of traumatic chylothorax where video-assisted thoracoscopy and conservative methods had failed. This minimally invasive approach contributed to the early discharge of our patient.
Journal of Internal Medicine Published Online: 8 Sep 2008
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a potent neuronal growth factor with inflammatory properties that recently has been proposed to be of importance in airway pathology. A role for NGF in the inflammatory granulomatous lung disease sarcoidosis is not well elucidated.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008;198:962-970
Despite the availability of published data on 4 pandemics that have occurred over the past 120 years, there is little modern information on the causes of death associated with influenza pandemics.
Journal of Digital Imaging 0897-1889 (Print) 10.1007/s10278-008-9157-5
The study investigates the effect of a substantial dose reduction on the variability of lung nodule volume measurements by assessing and comparing nodule volumes using a dedicated semiautomated segmentation software on ultralow-dose computed tomography (ULD-CT) and standard-dose computed tomography (SD-CT) data.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2008, p. 3056-3062, Vol. 46, No. 9
Detection of respiratory viruses using sensitive real-time nucleic acid amplification tests (NATs) is invaluable for patient and outbreak management. However, the wide range of potential respiratory virus pathogens makes testing using individual real-time NATs expensive and laborious.
Journal of The American Society of Echocardiography Volume 21, Issue 9, Pages 1079.e5-1079.e7 (September 2008)
Behcet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic, chronic, inflammatory disease of unknown origin characterized by alternation of exacerbation and quiescence phases. Cardiac involvement in BD is infrequent.
Studying gene-environment interactions may elucidate the complex origins of atopic diseases but requires large study populations. Pooling data from several cohort studies may help but may also obscure findings. Gene-environment interactions in atopy development were studied and the benefits of pooling data were evaluated.
The present study aimed to determine whether the T-helper cell type 2-derived cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4 and -13, can modulate the lung response to ozone exposure.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 3, September 2008 , pp. 271-278(8)
Prevalence of asthma in developed countries increased between the 1970s and the 1990s. One factor that might contribute to the trends in asthma is the increased use of acetaminophen vs aspirin in children and pregnant women.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 295: L422-L430, 2008
Although production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide has been implicated in chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary vascular remodeling, the transcription factors and gene targets through which ROS exert their effects have not been completely identified.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 3, September 2008 , pp. 264-270(7)
Health care provider adherence to national asthma guidelines is critical in translating evidence-based recommendations into improved outcomes. Unfortunately, provider adherence to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines remains low.
In this descriptive study, we examined changes in invasive and non-invasive airway support; studied the rates of home discharge vs. long-term care or acute hospitalization; and examined the relationship between the level of airway support and discharge to home for 92 children (<3 years of age) with 104 admission-discharge episodes to a consortium of pediatric rehabilitation hospitals over a one-year period
Awareness of the consequences of sleep loss and its implications for public health and safety is increasing. Sleep loss has been shown to generally impair the entire spectrum of mental abilities, ranging from simple psychomotor performance to executive mental functions.
Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) represents a severe complication of respiratory distress syndrome and can dramatically impair the ventilation of premature infants.
Infusion of khat leaves is an African traditional remedy used to treat airway diseases. The beneficial effects of khat are thought to be due to the activity of its main active component, cathinone.
Thorax. Published Online First: 22 August 2008. doi:10.1136/thx.2007.094706
Acute bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in infants and there is no evidence that drug treatment alters its natural course. Despite this, most Swiss paediatricians reported in 2001 to prescribe bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
This study aimed to assess the utility of sputum examinations and chest radiographs (CXRs) in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (XPTB) to detect pulmonary involvement of tuberculosis (TB).
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(9):1065-1067, September 2008
Glomus tumor of the trachea is a rare disease. A glomus tumor of the trachea in a 70-year-old man is described. The tumor was successfully excised with rigid bronchoscopy. Twenty-four months after treatment there remains no evidence of endobronchial regrowth at bronchoscopy or imaging studies.
European Journal of Pediatrics 0340-6199 (Print) 10.1007/s00431-008-0815-x
The judicious prescription of antibiotics has become a central focus of professional and public health measures to combat the spread of resistant organisms.
Pediatric Surgery International 0179-0358 (Print) 10.1007/s00383-008-2225-6
Prostaglandin-E1 (PGE1) is used at most centers for treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) because it has been regarded as effective.
The aim of the present study was to analyse the role of potential selection processes and their impact when evaluating risk factors for 30-day mortality among patients hospitalised for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is a granulomatous disorder that affects the lung after exposure to beryllium. The present study reports short- and long-term evolution of granulomatous and fibrotic components in eight patients with severe CBD receiving corticosteroid therapy.
It is well known that most patients with obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) suffer sleepiness, although the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain unclear.
The stability of housekeeping genes (HKGs) is critical when performing real-time quantitative PCR. To date, the stability of common HKGs has not been systematically compared in human airway epithelial cells (AEC) in normal and atopic subjects.
In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most important respiratory pathogen. It is able to synthesise hydrogen cyanide, a potent inhibitor of cellular respiration.
Airway epithelial cells (AECs) are important in asthma as they are the first cells to encounter pathogens/allergens. In children, AECs can be obtained using a "blind" nonbronchoscopic technique through an endotracheal tube.
Accurate diagnosis of tracheobronchial injuries in children is difficult due to the paucity of clinical presentation and the variety of clinical symptoms.
The aim of the present study was to assess which factors contribute to the lower prevalence of allergic diseases in farmers' children, and the importance of timing of exposure.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2008, p. 3073-3076, Vol. 46, No. 9
Paired nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) and nasal swab (NS) samples from 475 children hospitalized for acute respiratory infection were studied for the detection of influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus by immunofluorescence test, viral culture, and multiplex PCR assay.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2008, p. 3116-3118, Vol. 46, No. 9
We compared the performances of three recently optimized real-time PCR assays derived from distinct genomic regions of Mycoplasma pneumoniae during an outbreak.
Concepts of asthma severity and control are important in the evaluation of patients and their response to treatment but the terminology is not standardised and the terms are often used interchangeably.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2008, p. 3165-3168, Vol. 46, No. 9
Pandoraea species are considered emerging pathogens in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, but few data exist regarding outcomes of patients colonized with these organisms.
Extra-adrenal catecholamine-secreting tumors are referred to as paragangliomas. We reviewed our experience with mediastinal paragangliomas treated at Mayo Clinic over the last 30 years.
International Journal of Cardiology Volume 129, Issue 2, Pages e66-e68 (26 September 2008)
A 78-year-old man was admitted with sudden onset of dyspnea followed by syncope. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed embolism in the right main pulmonary artery and left upper pulmonary artery.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 3 September 2008, pp. e615-e620
The objective of this study was to calculate sensitivity values for the detection of major respiratory viruses of childhood by using combined nose-throat swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates.
The accuracy of the number of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images necessary to diagnose diffuse lung disease (DLD) is not well established.
This review describes the complex and often reciprocal relationship between sleep problems, neurological disorders and/or intellectual disability in children. The causes of Intellectual disability (ID) discussed in this review include those conditions present from or around the time of birth, although it also considers traumatic brain injuries occurring later in development.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases First Published on: 29 August 2008
To further understanding of the mechanisms of development of resistance to penicillin in Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the role of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) mutations to antibiotics resistance a meta-analysis was performed. Major databases, Pubmed, Current Contents, Biosis previews, Web of Science, were searched for studies that published within 1997 through to 2007, and reported the penicillin MIC and the alteration of PBP 1a, 2b and 2x (genes or proteins) of clinical S. pneumoniae isolates.
We sought to define the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) as a function of both lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and gestational age.
Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis. 19(6):585-589, September 2008
The objective of this study is to analyze the tolerance and efficacy of the subcutaneous administration of a reduced 2500-unit low-dose unfractionated heparin given for an efficacious, yet Asian population-sensitive, prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis and fatal pulmonary embolism.
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 21 (5): 466-468 (2008)
Sleep apnea is a common disorder associated with obesity and related health problems. Although treatment of sleep apnea may relieve some autonomic symptoms, it is currently unknown whether treatment of sleep apnea is specifically associated with the resolution of orthostatism and syncope.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0214-6
When conducting a treatment intervention study, it is assumed that a level of reliability can be obtained from the measurement tool such that the outcome can be reasonably assessed.
Future Cardiology, Volume 4, Number 5, September 2008 , pp. 459-468(10)
Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen that is primarily synthesized and released from vascular endothelial cells. Bosentan is a dual endothelin-receptor antagonist that initially received approval for treatment of WHO group I pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) for patients in functional classes III and IV.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 579 - 582
To achieve the best health possible, asthma patients require targeted education to understand the disease and how it may affect them, and what they need to do to keep it controlled.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 523 - 531
It has recently become clear that airways disease associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation, but not other patterns of inflammation, is closely associated with favourable short-and long-term responses to corticosteroid therapy, irrespective of the clinical context in which it occurs.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 611 - 614
Bronchial asthma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is limited availability of updated information on asthma mortality trends. In this context, further investigation of asthma mortality trends is necessary.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 596 - 599
To evaluate the involvement of stress in asthmatics we measured the concentration of chromogranin A (CgA) in saliva as an indicator of psychological stress and investigated its correlation with peak expiratory flow (PEF), a visual analog scale (VAS) score of symptoms, and the score of the Short-form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) in 62 adult asthmatics.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 600 - 606
The purpose was to identify and describe the patterns of asthma control perception in relation to actual symptom reports in adolescents and to compare the group with accurate control perception with those of inaccurate perception in relationship to sociodemographic characteristics, illness-related factors, and psychosocial factors.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 552 - 556
Asthmatics requiring admission to the intensive care unit and/or mechanical ventilation have increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to examine morbidity and mortality in patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation for asthma over a 10-year period. This study also reviews the clinical features and management of these patients.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 557 - 560
Though racial disparities in asthma prevalence are well documented, little is known about the burden of asthma in American Indians compared to whites in the United States. Objectives. To compare the prevalence of asthma among American Indian and white adults 18 years of age and older in Montana.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 607 - 610
The reason for the substantial geographic variation in the prevalence of childhood asthma is not known. Objective. To investigate the association between exposure to cigarette smoking in the home and childhood asthma at the state-level, toward improving current understanding of geographic variation in childhood asthma rates.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 568 - 574
To better understand risk factors associated with current asthma in a low-income, ethnically diverse population, we analyzed pooled data from the 2004-2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey conducted in Salinas, CA.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 561 - 567
The role of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in children is controversial. This study compared the effect of inhaled budesonide and inhaled fluticasone in controlling acute asthma exacerbations in young children at home.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 548 - 551
Effect of azelastine nasal spray on histamine-and allergen-induced skin test response in patients suffering with allergic rhinitis was evaluated. Baseline cutaneous response to histamine and 18 common allergen extracts were recorded by skin prick tests on 10 patients.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 583 - 589
A variety of cytokines are involved in the incidence and development of bronchial asthma. This study was designed to reveal the relationship among genetic polymorphism of cytokine genes, expression levels of cytokines and incidence of bronchial asthma.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 615 - 620
Three methods have been developed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) expressed as a single value: the global rating scale, the total score obtained from disease-specific instruments, and the preference-based utility index.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 545 - 547
Asthma that is chronic may influence children's behavioral health and quality of life (QoL) negatively. Objective. To evaluate the frequency of attention deficit and hyperactivity symptoms in children with asthma and to determine if these symptoms are associated with a deterioration of QoL.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 575 - 578
Asthma is a disease of air flow obstruction. Transmitted sounds can be analyzed in detail and may shed light upon the physiology of asthma and how it changes over time. The goals of this study were to use a computerized analytic acoustic tool to evaluate respiratory sound patterns in asthmatic patients during acute attacks and after clinical improvement and to compare asthmatic profiles with those of normal individuals.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 590 - 595
Food allergy in infancy usually disappears but is followed primarily by respiratory allergy. We hypothesized that children allergic to common food allergens in infancy are at increased risk of wheezing illness and bronchial hyperresponsiveness during school age.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 539 - 544
As frequently there is no school nurse in a kindergarten setting, teachers receiving non-medical training take the primary roles of symptom assessment and management of young children with asthma.
Journal of Asthma, Volume 45, Issue 7 September 2008 , pages 532 - 538
The prevalence of written 'śaction plans' (APs) among emergency department (ED) patients with acute asthma is unknown. Objective. To determine the prevalence of APs among ED patients, to describe the demographic and clinical profile of patients with and without
APs, and to examine the appropriateness of response to an asthma exacerbation scenario.
The Internet Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2008. Volume 12 Number 1
There has been no report on the prevalence of spontaneous pneumothoraces in developing Caribbean nations. We performed a retrospective survey of all tertiary level hospitals serving Kingston, the capital of Jamaica over five years from January 1997 to December 2001.
We report 2 cases of vacuum-assisted closure therapy and thoracic reconstruction using new sternum titatium plates in patients with deep sternal wound infection after median sternotomy.
Excisional biopsy of small subcentimeter pulmonary nodules can be difficult using standard thoracoscopic techniques and may require thoracotomy. Radiotracer-guided thoracoscopic resection (RGTR) was developed to facilitate resection of intraparenchymal subcentimeter pulmonary nodules.
Clinical and Experimental Nephrology 1342-1751 (Print) 10.1007/s10157-008-0079-9
Pneumocystis jivorecii (formerly known as carinii) pneumonia (PCP) is potentially a life-threatening opportunistic infection after organ transplantation, occurring most frequently in the first 12 months, where the incidence rate is several-fold higher than in later years.
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.
Although cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is well established, its diagnostic accuracy in identifying chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not yet been quantified.
Longer survival of patients with cystic fibrosis has increased the occurrence of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). In this study we documented the incidence of CFRD and evaluated the association between mutations responsible for cystic fibrosis and incident CFRD, while identifying potential risk factors.
Incense use is an integral part of daily life in large parts of Asia. The burning of incense is a powerful producer of particulate matter and the smoke contains a multitude of well-characterized carcinogens. However, to the authors' knowledge, no convincing association has been reported between exposure to incense smoke and the development of cancer.
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(9):1068-1070, September 2008
Malignant giant solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the mediastinum is a rare neoplasm derived from mesenchymal tissue. Owing to its large size, a complete resection of the tumor can present many challenges, particularly given its proximity to vital neighboring structures.
There is virtually no information in the literature about the exposure levels needed to induce hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) by diisocyanates. The present study reports a case of occupational HP due to diisocyanates after low-level exposure.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2008, p. 2635-2640, Vol. 46, No. 8
To detect Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization, the nasopharynx is sampled using a swab placed in skim milk-tryptone-glucose-glycerol (STGG) transport medium, and then the swab specimen or STGG medium is cultured or subjected to PCR.
High case volume is associated with improved survival in medical and surgical conditions. The present study sought to determine whether intensive care unit (ICU) case volume was associated with survival of critically ill patients with haematological malignancies and acute respiratory failure (ARF).
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(9):985-988, September 2008
The diagnosis of centrally located intrapulmonary tumors not visible on bronchoscopy may be a challenge. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has been shown to be useful for the evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes.
An association between Mycobacterium malmoense and underlying lung disease has been described. The purpose of this study was to further explore this relationship and in particular to identify any relationship between Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis
(CWP) and M. malmoense infection.
Interventional bronchoscopic procedures can re-establish airway patency in the majority of individuals suffering from endobronchial obstruction. However, literature provides limited data on the impact of these procedures on the individual's quality of life (QoL).
Journal of Cardiac Surgery, Volume 23, Number 5, October 2008 , pp. 565-568(4)
The last-stage palliation of patients with single ventricle physiology hearts is Fontan procedure and its modifications that can be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass in the current era.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:772-777 (2008)
The adult human bronchial tree is covered with a continuous layer of epithelial cells that play a critical role in maintaining the conduit for air, and which are central to the defenses of the lung against inhaled environmental concomitants.
Asthma is a genetically complex disease caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. An increasing number of asthma susceptibility genes are currently being identified.
The recent advances in neonatal and pediatric intensive care have changed the outcome of patients with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia of different types, including those cases with early neonatal symptoms.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2008, p. 2457-2458, Vol. 46, No. 7
This paper describes a fatal case of culture-confirmed, community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia in an 8-month-old child in Hong Kong in 2001.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2008, p. 2195-2199, Vol. 46, No. 7
The NucliSens easyMAG and BioRot 9604 automated nucleic acid extraction systems were evaluated and compared with the manual QIAamp (Qiagen) extraction method for their abilities to extract nucleic acid from nasopharyngeal aspirate samples for the detection of RNA and DNA respiratory viruses.
The present study reports a case of percutaneous sclerotherapy of a giant mediastinal cystic lymphangioma using Ethibloc(R) (Ethicon, Norderstedt, Germany) and absolute ethanol in a 59-yr-old female.
Pulmonary hypertension during exercise is common in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It was hypothesised that the use of the endothelin-receptor antagonist bosentan can improve cardiopulmonary haemodynamics during exercise, thus increasing exercise tolerance in patients with severe COPD.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic utility of 2D lung area and 3D lung volume measurements of the contralateral lung in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) has emerged as a curative therapeutic option. However, the role of graft-versus-host disease in lung injury after SCT has yet to be determined.
Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is often poor. Biomedical indices explain little of the variance in CPAP use.
The first 48 h of evolution of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are critical. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency, causes and factors associated with early mortality in CAP.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. For many patients, maximal therapy for COPD produces only modest or incomplete relief of disabling symptoms and these symptoms result in a significantly reduced quality of life.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 17 Issue 3 September 2008
Asthma is difficult to diagnose in children under 2 years of age and there is a dearth of clinical studies using inhaled corticosteroids in this age group.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 17 Issue 3 September 2008
The Practical Approach to Lung Health in South Africa (PALSA) initiative aimed to develop an integrated symptom- and sign-based (syndromic) respiratory disease guideline for nurse care practitioners working in primary care in a developing country.
Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 17 Issue 3 September 2008
Evaluation of tiotropium efficacy in patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) defined by the 2003 Swedish Society of Respiratory Medicine guidelines (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <70%; FEV1 >60% predicted).
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.
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