The clinical respiratory journal
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Meta Analysis
Effects of inspiratory muscle training in COPD patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), quality of life and exercise capacity are altered in relationship to dyspnea. Benefits of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on quality of life, dyspnea, and exercise capacity were demonstrated, but when it is associated to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), its efficacy on dyspnea is not demonstrated. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to verify the effect of IMT using threshold devices in COPD patients on dyspnea, quality of life, exercise capacity, and inspiratory muscles strength, and the added effect on dyspnea of IMT associated with PR (vs. PR alone). ⋯ IMT using threshold devices improves inspiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity and quality of life, decreases dyspnea. However, there is no added effect of IMT on dyspnea during PR (compared with PR alone).
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Comparative Study
Lung ultrasound in diagnosis and follow up of community acquired pneumonia in infants younger than 1-year old.
Pneumonia is still a leading cause of illness and death in infants worldwide. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is emerging as an extremely valuable non-ionizing radiation diagnostic tool in diagnosis and follow up of multiple paediatric pulmonary diseases. ⋯ This study showed that LUS is superior to CXR in diagnosing infants with CAP who are younger than 1-year old. It also serves as a safe follow up tool and could support the decision of hospital discharge in this category of patients. Further studies with larger sample size and longer follow up duration are recommended to confirm the results of the present study.
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Airway stenting has been reported to be useful for patients with malignant airway stenosis as a bridge to tumour-specific therapy, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as palliative therapy. However, its role in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), the most aggressive lung cancer subtype, is unclear. We investigated the efficacy of airway stenting for patients with airway stenosis resulting from SCLC. ⋯ SCLC patients with airway stenting experienced longer survival when post-procedural tumour-specific therapy was performed, when they showed low serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, and when they had either tracheal or bronchial stenosis.
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Review
New insights in the use of pleural ultrasonography for diagnosis and treatment of pleural disease.
The use of transthoracic ultrasound (US) has acquired a wide consensus among respiratory physicians during the last few years. The development of portable devices promotes patient's bedside evaluation providing rapid, real-time and low-cost diagnostic information. The different acoustic impedance between different tissues and organs produces artifacts known as A lines, B lines, sliding sign, lung point, etc. ⋯ Ultrasounds are also a valuable tool during interventional procedures, such as thoracentesis, chest tube insertion and transcutaneous biopsy. Its use is recommended before medical thoracoscopy in order to assess the best site of trocar insertion according to presence, quantity and characteristics of pleural effusion. The aim of this review is to provide practical tips on chest ultrasound in clinical and interventional respiratory practice.