Chest
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COPD includes the chronic bronchitis (CB) and emphysema phenotypes. Although it is generally assumed that emphysema or chronic airflow obstruction (CAO) is associated with worse quality of life (QOL) than is CB, this assumption has not been tested. ⋯ To our knowledge, this analysis is the first to suggest that among subjects with COPD, those with CB only present worse QOL symptoms and mental well-being than do those with CAO only.
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An 18-year-old woman with a history of refractory complex partial epilepsy presented for evaluation of snoring and episodes of gasping for air during sleep. She had uncontrolled epilepsy since the age of 8 years despite trial of multiple antiepileptic medications. She eventually underwent an implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) device (model 103; Cyberonics Inc) with gradual adjustment of the VNS settings for better seizure control.
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Metabolomic evaluation of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway secretions could identify metabolites and metabolic pathways involved in neutrophilic airway inflammation that could serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. ⋯ MS metabolomics identified multiple metabolic pathways associated with neutrophilic airway inflammation. These findings provide insight into disease pathophysiology and can serve as the basis for developing disease biomarkers and therapeutic interventions for airways diseases.
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Acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) presents as episodes of acute respiratory worsening closely associated with endothelial damage and disordered coagulopathy. Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhTM) regulates the coagulation pathway mainly by reducing thrombin-mediated clotting and enhancing protein C activation. We investigated the efficacy of rhTM for the treatment of patients with AE-IPF. ⋯ We found that rhTM therapy improved 3-month survival of AE-IPF. The results observed here warrant further investigation of rhTM in randomized control trials.
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Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) stimulates vagal C and Aδ fibers in the lung, resulting in pronounced bronchoconstriction and cough mediated by P2X2/3 receptors located on vagal sensory nerve terminals. We investigated the effects of nebulized ATP on cough and symptoms in control subjects, healthy smokers, and patients with COPD and compared these responses to the effects of inhaled adenosine, the metabolite of ATP. ⋯ Smokers and patients with COPD manifest hypersensitivity to extracellular ATP, which may play a mechanistic role in COPD.