International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2007
Comparative StudyCOPD heterogeneity: gender differences in the multidimensional BODE index.
The BODE index was recently validated as a multidimensional tool for the evaluation of patients with COPD. The influence of gender on the BODE index has not been studied. ⋯ The contribution of each component to the BODE index differs by gender in subjects with similar BODE scores. Long term longitudinal studies will help determine the significance of our findings.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2007
ReviewDefect of alveolar regeneration in pulmonary emphysema: role of lung fibroblasts.
Pulmonary emphysema is characterized by the irreversible loss of pulmonary alveoli. Despite recent advances in the understanding this disease, its treatment remains palliative. In this review, we will successively review the data suggesting (1) that alveolar regeneration systems are functional in the mammalian lung and have the potential to regrow lost alveoli, (2) that cigarette smoke, the main etiologic factor of emphysema, inhibits those systems under experimental conditions, and (3) that alveolar regeneration systems are dysfunctional in the human emphysematous lung and may be a target for therapeutic intervention in this disease. Special emphasis will be put on the role of alveolar fibroblasts in those processes.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2007
Respiratory disturbance during sleep in COPD patients without daytime hypoxemia.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Its possible association with obstructive sleep apnea is a major cause of concern for clinicians. As the prevalence of both COPD and sleep apnea continues to rise, further investigation of this interaction is needed. ⋯ There was no significant difference between groups in the magnitude of oxyhemoglobin desaturation during sleep. Interestingly, severity and presence of nocturnal hypoxemia correlated with that of sleep apnea in the control group, but not in the COPD subjects. In conclusion, COPD without daytime hypoxemia was not a risk factor for sleep apnea or nocturnal hypoventilation in this study.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2007
Comparative StudyA new staging strategy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The best method for expressing lung function impairment is undecided. We tested in a population of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) whether forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) or FEV1 divided by height squared (FEV1/ht2) was better than FEV1 percent predicted (FEV1PP) for predicting survival. ⋯ We conclude that GOLD criteria using FEV1PP do not optimally stage COPD with regard to survival. An alternative strategy using FEV1/ht2 improves the staging of this disease. Studies which stratify COPD patients to determine the effect of interventions such as drug trials, rehabilitation, or management guidelines should consider alternatives to the GOLD classification.