Chest
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Subjective measurement of physical activity using questionnaires has prognostic value in COPD. However, their lack of accuracy and large individual variability limit their use for evaluation on an individual basis. We evaluated the capacity of the objective measurement of daily physical activity in patients with COPD using accelerometers to estimate their prognostic value. ⋯ The objective measurement of the daily physical activity in patients with COPD using an accelerometer constitutes an independent prognostic factor for mortality and hospitalization due to severe exacerbation.
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Bronchiectasis is a potentially serious condition characterized by permanent and abnormal widening of the airways, the prevalence of which is not well described. We sought to describe the trends, associated conditions, and risk factors for bronchiectasis among adults aged ≥ 65 years. ⋯ Bronchiectasis prevalence increased significantly from 2000 to 2007 in the Medicare outpatient setting and varied by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. This increase could be due to a true increase in the condition or an increased recognition of previously undiagnosed cases.
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Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is an idiopathic eosinophilic pulmonary disease characterized by an abnormal and marked accumulation of eosinophils in the lung. Common presenting complaints include cough, fever, dyspnea, wheezing, and night sweats. Common laboratory abnormalities are peripheral blood and BAL eosinophilia. ⋯ Because the patient had high IgE levels and a positive skin prick test result, we used omalizumab for the treatment. The patient responded well. To our knowledge, this is the first CEP case in the literature successfully treated with omalizumab.
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27-Hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) is produced from cholesterol by sterol 27-hydroxylase as an intermediate in the biosynthesis pathway of bile acid. Recently, 27-OHC was reported to cause inflammation and apoptosis in various types of cells. The aim of this study was to assess the production of 27-OHC in the airways of patients with COPD and to elucidate the possible role of 27-OHC in the tissue fibrosis of COPD. ⋯ 27-OHC production is enhanced in the airways of patients with COPD and might be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD.
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Pulmonary disease caused by talc is well described, but previous reports mainly describe lung parenchymal involvement. We describe what is, to our knowledge, the first case in which inhalation of cosmetic talc led to intense endobronchitis and airway stricture. A 70-year-old woman presented with new-onset wheezing and was found to have right upper lobe collapse on chest radiography. ⋯ Bronchial biopsy specimens showed foreign-body granulomatosis encasing birefringent crystalline material. Spectral analysis confirmed the crystals to be consistent with cosmetic talc used by the patient. We hypothesize that the patient inhaled a large amount of talc, which was trapped in the larger airways and resulted in intense foreign-body granulomatosis, leading to an airway stricture.