Chest
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Stress imposed on the myocardium by repeated severe hypoxemia and/or BP surges during sleep may result in subclinical myocardial injury. A high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) assay has been developed. We hypothesized that the severity of OSA, as assessed by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), is associated with circulating levels of hs-cTnT in the general population. ⋯ The prevalence of detectable hs-cTnT increases in proportion to OSA severity, but this association is likely to be caused by a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among subjects with OSA.
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Nutrition is an important component of clinical care for patients with cystic fibrosis. We aimed to test the hypothesis that increased BMI, height, and level of creatinine as a biomarker for lean muscle mass are associated with lower mortality and whether differences in these measures may contribute toward sex differences in survival in cystic fibrosis. ⋯ Lower muscle mass, shorter stature, and a low BMI are associated with increased mortality in cystic fibrosis. These measures of body habitus may contribute to the sex-specific survival differences in individuals with cystic fibrosis.
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The lung volume reduction coil (LVR-coil), a new experimental device to achieve lung volume reduction by bronchoscopy in patients with severe emphysema, works in a manner unaffected by collateral airflow. We investigated the safety and efficacy of LVR-coil treatment in patients with heterogeneous emphysema. ⋯ LVR-coil treatment is a promising technique for the treatment of patients with severe heterogeneous emphysema. The treatment is technically feasible and results in significant improvements in pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life, with an acceptable safety profile.
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CASP7 plays a crucial role in cancer development and chemotherapy efficacy. We, therefore, explored whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CASP7 gene can modulate outcomes of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. ⋯ This study provides evidence that genetic variations of CASP7 may modulate OS and PFS of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.