Lung
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Review Meta Analysis
Safety and efficacy of 12-week or longer indacaterol treatment in moderate-to-severe COPD patients: a systematic review.
This is a meta-analysis of the safety and efficacy of indacaterol in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with treatment duration of ≥12 weeks. ⋯ Indacaterol is effective and well-tolerated as a bronchodilator for the maintenance of moderate to severe COPD.
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Pulmonary emphysema is a major manifestation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is characterized by progressive destruction of alveolar parenchyma with persistent inflammation of the small airways. Such destruction in the distal respiratory tract is irreversible and irreparable. ⋯ At present, no effective therapeutic options are available that allow for the regeneration of lost alveoli in emphysematous human lungs. Recently, some reports on rodent's models have suggested the beneficial effects of various growth factors toward alveolar maintenance and repair processes.
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Malignancy is one of the most common causes of pleural effusion. Malignant pleural effusion is defined by the presence of malignant cells in the pleural fluid. Development of malignant pleural effusion usually defines advanced malignancy. ⋯ In this review, current practice for management of patients with malignant pleural effusion will be discussed. In addition, imaging techniques will be covered, including the use of thoracic ultrasound and its role in image-guiding pleural procedures. Moreover, interventional techniques will be described, such as medical thoracoscopy, the use of indwelling pleural catheters, or surgery for investigation and management of malignant pleural effusion.
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Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a key cytokine that plays a critical role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The genotypes of T869C polymorphism may be associated with the susceptibility to fibrotic lung disease. ⋯ This study suggests that the TGF-β1 gene T869C polymorphism may affect susceptibility to IPF in Koreans. Larger studies are required to confirm the genetic association of TGF-β1 gene polymorphism and IPF.
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Dynamic hyperinflation (DH) causes exercise limitation and exertional dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exertional desaturation (ED) also occurs commonly in COPD but neither routine physiologic parameters nor imaging predict ED accurately. In this study we evaluated the relationship between DH and ED during 6-min walk testing (6MWT). ⋯ Routine pulmonary function test results and clinical variables did not correlate with ED in patients with stable COPD. Dynamic hyperinflation strongly correlates with exertional desaturation and could be a reason for this desaturation.