Chest
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The past century witnessed a rapid development of respiratory medicine in China. The major burden of respiratory disease has shifted from infectious diseases to chronic noninfectious diseases. ⋯ Nevertheless, respiratory diseases remain a major public health problem, with new challenges such as air pollution and nosocomial infections. This review describes the history, accomplishments, new challenges, and opportunities in respiratory medicine in China.
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Review Case Reports
Evaluation and management of pill aspiration: case discussion and review of the literature.
Pill aspiration represents a unique type of foreign body aspiration requiring a distinct diagnostic and therapeutic approach. In many cases, the "foreign body" itself may no longer be present, whereas the airway manifestations may persist for months to years. ⋯ Endobronchial surveillance may be important to identify impending airway obstruction via secretions, edema, granulation tissue, or fibrotic stricture. In many cases, the airway sequelae of pill aspiration can be effectively managed with bronchoscopy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale: conventional self vs physician administration.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a simple, self-administered questionnaire that provides a measurement of the subject's level of daytime sleepiness, and is widely used for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Some works undermined its accuracy. The aim of this study was to compare self-administered ESS scores to physician-administered scores in a sample of patients with suspicion of OSA. ⋯ Our results lead us to consider the physician-administered ESS to be more accurate than the traditional ESS; thus, our suggestion is to validate this new method of administration.
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Multicenter Study
Characterizing functional lung heterogeneity in COPD using reference equations for CT scan-measured lobar volumes.
CT scanning is increasingly used to characterize COPD. Although it is possible to obtain CT scan-measured lung lobe volumes, normal ranges remain unknown. Using COPDGene data, we developed reference equations for lobar volumes at maximal inflation (total lung capacity [TLC]) and relaxed exhalation (approximating functional residual capacity [FRC]). ⋯ Reference equations for lobar volumes may be useful in assessing regional lung dysfunction and how it changes in response to pharmacologic therapies and surgical or endoscopic lung volume reduction.
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Although COPD affects large sections of the population, its effects on postoperative outcomes have not been rigorously studied. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of COPD in patients undergoing surgery and to analyze the associations between COPD and postoperative morbidity, mortality, and hospital length of stay. ⋯ COPD is common among patients undergoing surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and length of stay.