Chest
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Pancreatic stone protein/regenerating protein (PSP/reg) serum levels are supposed to be increased in bacterial inflammation. PSP/reg levels also might be useful, therefore, as a predictor of bacterial infection in COPD. ⋯ Serum PSP/reg level might represent a promising new biomarker to identify bacterial etiology of COPD exacerbation.
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Omalizumab has been shown to decrease the risk of hospitalization or ED visits in patients with uncontrolled severe allergic asthma compared with placebo. This longitudinal study observed the conditions under which omalizumab is prescribed in real-life settings and assessed whether its use as an add-on therapy alongside standard treatments decreases the risk of severe asthmatic exacerbations. ⋯ Add-on omalizumab is associated with a significantly decreased risk of hospitalization or ED visits in patients with uncontrolled severe asthma in real-life practice.
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Little is known about pulmonary vascular complications in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). We hypothesized that transfer factor (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide [D(LCO)] ) may be used as a surrogate for the size of the pulmonary vascular bed and that pulmonary vascular abnormalities in children with SCD may limit exercise capacity. ⋯ Contrary to our hypothesis, failure to maintain a sufficient Qpeff to compensate for anemia led to exercise limitation. The ratio of pulmonary capillary blood volume to fl ow is reduced throughout, implying subtle pulmonary vascular disease; however, this was not a factor limiting exercise.
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Acute exposure to high altitude stimulates free radical formation in lowlanders, yet whether this persists during chronic exposure in healthy, well-adapted and maladapted highlanders suffering from chronic mountain sickness (CMS) remains to be established. ⋯ Healthy highlanders display a moderate, sustained elevation in oxidative-nitrosative stress that, unlike the equivalent increase evoked by acute hypoxia in healthy lowlanders, failed to affect vascular function. Its more marked elevation in patients with CMS may contribute to systemic vascular dysfunction.
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Ultrasound guidance enables visualization of the needle insertion site for thoracentesis and paracentesis. The improved accuracy of needle placement using ultrasound may reduce risk of complications and their costs associated with these procedures. Using claims data from the Premier Perspective hospital database from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2008, we conducted an observational cohort study examining the effect of ultrasound guidance on risk of pneumothorax among patients undergoing thoracentesis and on risk of bleeding complications after paracentesis. ⋯ Bleeding complications increased cost by $19,066 (P < .0001) and LOS by 4.3 days (P < .0001). The data indicate that ultrasound guidance is associated with decreased risk of pneumothorax with thoracentesis and of bleeding complications with paracentesis. These complications resulted in measurable increases in hospitalization costs and LOS.