The clinical respiratory journal
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Risk stratification remains controversial in patients with normotensive pulmonary embolism (PE). The debate has recently focused right ventricular dysfunction detected by echocardiography or spiral computed tomography (CT) and cardiac biomarkers. ⋯ The PaO(2)/PaCO(2) measurement is a highly useful and practical measurement to predict prognosis in patients with acute PE. Moreover, it appears to be a more accurate predictor than RV/LV ratio and cTn-T levels in patients with normotensive PE.
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Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome share a high prevalence in industrialized nations. The presence of OSA seems to promote the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) and vice versa. ⋯ The prevalence of sleep disordered breathing is increased in patients with DM. Most of these patients had no typical clinical symptoms of OSA and would have been undiagnosed without diagnostic assessment of OSA.
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Decreased physical capacity, weight loss, fat-free mass depletion and systemic inflammation are frequently observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Physical capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is related to lung function, body composition and systemic inflammation. A depiction of all three aspects of the disease might be important when targeting interventions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Systemic air embolism is recognized as a rare but potentially fatal complication of trans-thoracic needle biopsy of the lung. ⋯ Radiologists and physicians need to be aware of this rare but potentially fatal complication of needle lung biopsy.
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Comparative Study
Correlation of pulmonary function variables with hemodynamic measurements in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
A reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) measured during a pulmonary function test can suggest pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The DLCO has been reported to weakly correlate with pulmonary hemodynamics. ⋯ In patients with suspected PAH, invasive hemodynamic measurements of PAH do not correlate with PFT variables, even when corrected for spirometric volumes, and regardless of the subgroup of ventilatory physiology or clinical diagnosis.