Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Inhaled corticosteroids as additional treatment in alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-related COPD.
No consistent data are available regarding the effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in alpha(1)-antitrypsin-deficiency (AATD)-related COPD. Recent data report inflammatory effects of the polymers of alpha(1)-antitrypsin on the peripheral lung. ⋯ In AATD-related COPD patients (ZZ genotype) the addition of extra-fine ICS to LABAs decreases airway narrowing, mostly in the small airways, further reducing dynamic hyperinflation with a marked improvement in exercise tolerance and dyspnea, suggesting that a peripheral inflammatory process contributes to airflow obstruction in these patients.
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Comparative Study
Clinical heterogeneity among patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome: therapeutic implications.
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) can be treated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). Once clinical stability is achieved, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be recommended in many cases. However, some patients respond only partially to CPAP and NIPPV is a better option for them. ⋯ Two patient subtypes can be identified. Those controlled with CPAP have better spirometry and a significantly higher apnea-hypopnea index. None of these patients showed daytime hypoxemia and all exhibited satisfactory overnight oxygenation. However, 61% of the NIPPV group had suboptimal oximetry results. Nocturnal/diurnal oximetries should be made to assess treatment efficacy in stable OHS patients who fail to achieve good control with CPAP.
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Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a unique disorder described in several case series of upper lobe emphysema associated with lower lobe fibrosis. Patients with this entity have relatively preserved lung volumes and spirometry but marked reductions in diffusing capacity on pulmonary function testing. Smoking appears to be the predominant risk factor for this disorder. Usual interstitial pneumonia has been the most common histological pattern of interstitial lung disease described on biopsy in the literature. ⋯ The imaging findings and pathology in patients with CPFE are heterogeneous.
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Doctors are exhorted to always place the stethoscope directly on the skin and never to auscultate through clothing. Nevertheless, casual observation reveals that doctors and even pulmonologists often violate this principle. ⋯ The deleterious effect of one or two layers of indoor clothing on lung sounds acquired through a stethoscope can be negated by force on the stethoscope head making effective auscultation possible. Nevertheless, auscultation through clothing remains problematic due to the hindrance to inspection and percussion and the risk of acoustic artifacts caused by clothing.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of salbutamol and ipratropium bromide in the management of acute bronchiolitis--a clinical trial.
A wide range of drugs are commonly used to treat bronchiolitis, but evidence of their effectiveness is limited. ⋯ Clinical scores and oxygen saturation levels improved more rapidly in the bronchodilator groups than in the placebo group up to 24 h, but these drugs did not have a sufficient effect to change the natural course of the disease.