Respiratory physiology & neurobiology
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Respir Physiol Neurobiol · Jun 2013
Effect of nitric oxide inhalation on gas exchange in acute severe pneumonia.
Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) causes selective pulmonary vasodilatation and may improve gas exchange. The study was aimed to evaluate the acute effects of inhaled NO on pulmonary gas exchange in severe unilateral pneumonia, where hypoxemia results from increased intrapulmonary shunt. We studied 8 patients without preexisting lung disease (59±18 yr; 4M/4F) with early unilateral severe pneumonia and respiratory failure. ⋯ Inhaled NO caused a dose-dependent fall in pulmonary vascular resistance (by 12% and 21%, with 5 and 40ppm, respectively; p<0.01, each) and improvement of PaO2 (by 25% and 23%; p<0.05, each), owing to the reduction of intrapulmonary shunt (by 23% and 27%; p<0.05, each), without changes in the amount of perfusion to low V;A/Q; ratio alveolar units. Patients with greater baseline intrapulmonary shunt exhibited greater improvement in arterial oxygenation (r(2)=0.55, p<0.05). We conclude that low doses of inhaled NO improve pulmonary gas exchange in acute severe pneumonia.
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Camptocormia is defined as an abnormal flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 45°, or more, that typically increases during walking or standing and completely disappears in the supine position. Camptocormia may occur in patients with Parkinson's disease; when it does, it is usually associated with greater disease severity. Respiratory complications, which may be secondary to abnormal chest function, are one of the most frequent causes of death in patients with Parkinson's disease. ⋯ The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of camptocormia on lung function. Eleven patients with Parkinson's disease and camptocormia and ten age-matched healthy subjects underwent lung spirometry (in the standing position, inclining the trunk forward at approx. 45° and supine) measurement of arterial oxygen-hemoglobin saturation and heart rate. We found that Parkinson's disease with camptocormia is not associated with major clinical changes in lung volumes.
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Respir Physiol Neurobiol · Jun 2013
ReviewLife of neutrophil: from stem cell to neutrophil extracellular trap.
Neutrophils are one of the main types of effector cells in the innate immune system. Neutrophils play a major role in fighting diseases and are recruited almost immediately to sites of infection. ⋯ The latest role of neutrophils is neutrophil traps, which are a new component of innate anti-microbial immunity. Before neutrophils can effectively kill microorganisms they undergo a series of complex developmental processes.