Lung
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Lung cancer is currently one of the most common malignant diseases and is responsible for substantial mortality worldwide. Compared with never smokers, former smokers remain at relatively high risk for lung cancer, accounting for approximately half of all newly diagnosed cases in the US. Screening offers former smokers the best opportunity to reduce their risk of advanced stage lung cancer and there is now evidence that annual screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is effective in preventing mortality. ⋯ Former smokers may be invited for screening; however, if fewer long-term current smokers and more former smokers with long quit duration elect to attend, this could have very adverse effects on cost and screening test parameters. To illustrate this point, we present three possible screening scenarios with lung cancer prevalence ranging from between 0.62 and 5.0 %. In summary, cost-effectiveness of lung cancer screening may be improved if linked to successful smoking cessation programs and if better approaches are developed to reach very high-risk patients, e.g., long-term current smokers or others based on more accurate risk prediction models.
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Recent advances in our understanding of voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs) lead to the rational hypothesis that drugs capable of selective blockade of NaV subtypes may be a safe and effective strategy for the treatment of unwanted cough. Among the nine NaV subtypes (NaV1.1-NaV1.9), the afferent nerves involved in initiating cough, in common with nociceptive neurons in the somatosensory system, express mainly NaV1.7, NaV1.8, and NaV1.9. Although knowledge about the effect of selectively blocking these channels on the cough reflex is limited, their biophysical properties indicate that each may contribute to the hypertussive and allotussive state that typifies subacute and chronic nonproductive cough.
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Observational Study
Staging of acute exacerbation in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictors of a 3-month mortality rate of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and provide a new staging system. ⋯ Staging of AE in patients with IPF provided useful information regarding disease severity and short-term outcome.
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Adverse health effects of work-related contact with respirable hazardous substances are of great public interest. Because related prospective and long-term follow-up studies are rare, the extent of acute and chronic pulmonary health risks of occupational exposure to welding fumes is discussed controversially in the scientific literature. The objective of the present longitudinal study during a 9-year period was to investigate the annual changes of lung function in welders. ⋯ Individual smoking habits as well as duration of occupational exposure to welding fumes showed a negative impact on lung function parameters. To reduce the risk of work-associated respiratory morbidity, smoking cessation is highly recommended to personnel engaged in welding fumes- and dust-exposed occupations.
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In this case, we describe a patient with a history of recurrent pneumothorax. Based on CT-thorax and histopathology of the lung tissue, the Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome was suspected and confirmed after genetic testing. Recognizing this syndrome by pulmonologists and radiologists is very important, because the risk on developing of renal cell cancer is high.