Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Differences in response to pulmonary rehabilitation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well recognized. However, whether individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) benefit is less clear. ⋯ Pulmonary rehabilitation in IPF produces only modest short-term gains in dyspnea, exercise capacity and ADL, but does not improve health status.
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of bronchoalveolar lavage and mini-bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.
Pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is commonly used to help diagnose and characterize pneumonia in these patients. Mini-BAL is a less-invasive, less-costly and less-cumbersome diagnostic tool than BAL. ⋯ In this study, we demonstrated a strong correlation between the isolation rates of bacteria and fungi in BAL and mini-BAL samples obtained from immunocompromised patients with pneumonia and respiratory failure. The data strongly support the use of mini-BAL sampling in such patients as a less-invasive, less-costly and simpler alternative to traditional BAL.
-
Recent clinical studies have suggested that serum surfactant protein (SP) A, SP-D and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) are potential biomarkers for interstitial lung diseases. Serum levels of SP-A and SP-D have also been found to be elevated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their significance has not been evaluated or compared in induced sputum samples obtained directly from the airways. ⋯ Sequential sputum analysis from 3 consecutive fractions indicated a significant difference in the levels of SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 between COPD and prolonged cough. However, sputum fractionation itself had a relatively minor effect on the levels of these proteins.
-
Measurement of intrapleural pressure is useful during various pleural procedures. However, a pleural manometer is rarely available. ⋯ In the face of very limited offer of commercially available pleural manometers, it is possible to successfully construct a self-made, reliable, electronic pleural manometer at modest costs. The device is easy to use and enables data display and storage in the personal computer.
-
Endothelial dysfunction has recently been demonstrated in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but the underlying mechanisms are not entirely understood. Oxidative stress is a typical feature of OSA. ⋯ This study strongly suggests that microvascular endothelial function is affected by OSA predominantly through increased oxidative stress, and treatment of OSA may improve endothelial function mainly by reducing oxidative stress. The role of oxidative stress-induced endothelial dysfunction as a potential promoter of atherosclerosis and an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with OSA should be investigated in further controlled studies.