Lung
-
Comparative Study
Relationship between sniff nasal inspiratory pressure and BODE index in patients with COPD.
The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as defined by the BODE index, and to investigate the capacity of different SNIP cutoffs to predict a BODE index score ≥5 (i.e., worse disease severity). ⋯ SNIP is moderately and significantly related to COPD severity as assessed by the BODE index. Moreover, the cutoff point of 63 cmH2O showed the best combination of sensitivity and specificity for predicting worse scores in the BODE index.
-
This article reviews the state of the art about an unclear physiological phenomenon interesting respiratory system tissues, i.e., stress-relaxation. Due to their visco-elastic properties, the tissues do not maintain constant stress under constant deformation. Rather, the stress slowly relaxes and falls to a lower value. ⋯ The effects on stress-relaxation of various biochemical and physical factors are reviewed, including the consequences of body temperature variations, respiratory system inflammations and hyperbaric oxygen exposure, endocrinal factors, circulating blood volume variations, changes in inflation volume and/or flow, changes in intra-abdominal pressure because of pneumoperitoneum or Trendelenburg position. The effects of these factors on stress-relaxation have practical consequences because, depending on visco-elastic pressure amount which is requested to inflate the respiratory system in different conditions, respiratory muscles have to produce different values of inspiratory pressure during spontaneous breathing. High inspiratory pressure values might increase the risk of respiratory failure development on mechanical basis.
-
Comparative Study Retracted Publication
ATF3 and extracellular matrix-related genes associated with the process of chronic obstructive pulmonary.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem worldwide and is proved to be the number three cause of death in globally. The objective of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of the progression of COPD. ⋯ The genes regulated by ATF3 transcriptional activator as well as ECM-related genes may play an important role in the process of COPD. Our study provides a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of genes and pathways which may be involved in the progression of COPD.
-
Interest in using the nitrogen single-breath washout (N2SBW) test to measure ventilation inhomogeneity and small airway function in COPD patients has grown in recent years. Our aim was to assess the correlation of the measures obtained by the N2SBW test and other pulmonary function parameters with the six-minute walk distance (6MWD), the degree of dyspnea score, and health status in COPD patients. ⋯ In patients with COPD, our findings suggest that the ventilation inhomogeneity impacts the functional exercise capacity, the degree of dyspnea, and health status.