Chest
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The prevalence of obesity is rising worldwide. Adipose tissue exerts anatomic and physiological effects with significant implications for critical illness. Changes in respiratory mechanics cause expiratory flow limitation, atelectasis, and V̇/Q̇ mismatch with resultant hypoxemia. ⋯ It is unclear whether this reflects a protective effect or limitations inherent to observational research. Obesity is associated with increased risk of intubation and death in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Ongoing molecular studies of adipose tissue may deepen our understanding of how obesity impacts critical illness pathophysiology.
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A successful lung cancer screening program requires a patient cohort at sufficient risk of developing cancer who are willing to participate. Among other factors, a patient's lung cancer risk perception may inform their attitudes toward screening and smoking cessation programs. ⋯ Individuals' lung cancer risk perception correlated positively with calculated risk in a screening population. Promotion of screening programs may benefit from focusing on factors associated with higher risk perception; conversely, harnessing worry seemingly holds less value.
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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in COPD is a poorly investigated clinical condition. ⋯ Patients with PH in COPD were functionally more impaired and had a poorer outcome than patients with IPAH. Predictors of death in the PH in COPD group were sex, 6MWD, and PVR. Our data raise the hypothesis that some patients with severe PH in COPD may benefit from PH treatment. Randomized controlled studies are necessary to explore this hypothesis further.
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A 29-year-old woman who is a never smoker and has a medical history of systemic hypertension presented with a 3-week history of generalized fatigue and dry cough. She endorsed sicca symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth. ⋯ She had no known lung disease or history of pneumothorax. Her family history was unremarkable.
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Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is highly prevalent in adults and leads to significant cardiovascular and neurologic sequelae. Intermittent hypoxia during sleep is a direct consequence of SDB. Administration of nocturnal supplemental oxygen (NSO) has been used as a therapeutic alternative to positive airway pressure (PAP) in SDB. ⋯ In conclusion, studies are inconclusive or limited regarding clinical outcomes with oxygen therapy compared with sham or PAP therapy in patients with OSA and overlap syndrome. Oxygen does mitigate central sleep apnea. This review examines the crucial knowledge gaps and suggests future research priorities to clarify the effects of optimal dose and duration of NSO, alone or in combination with PAP, on cardiovascular, sleep, and cognitive outcomes.