Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2006
Predictors of lung function and its decline in mild to moderate COPD in association with gender: results from the Euroscop study.
There is increasing appreciation of gender differences in COPD but scant data whether risk factors for low lung function differ in men and women. We analysed data from 3 years follow-up in 178 women and 464 men with COPD, participants in the Euroscop Study who were smokers unexposed to inhaled corticosteroids. ⋯ Respiratory symptoms were associated with reduced baseline FEV(1) in men with COPD. In men, obesity was associated with reduced decline and increasing the number of cigarettes smoked with increased decline in lung function. In women more severe airway obstruction was associated with accelerated decline.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2006
Comparative StudyCapillary blood gases in acute exacerbations of COPD.
To assess the correlation and agreement between measurements of PO(2), PCO(2), H(+) and HCO(3)(-) in arterial and capillary blood in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. To assess the repeatability of capillary measurements. ⋯ Capillary blood gas measurements provide an accurate assessment of PCO(2), H(+) and HCO(3)(-) and can be used to reliably measure the ventilatory status of patients. Combined with continuous pulse oximetry they can be used as an alternative to arterial blood gas measurements in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2006
Comparative StudyNebulization associated with bi-level noninvasive ventilation: analysis of pulmonary radioaerosol deposition.
Nebulization associated with noninvasive ventilation is used in emergency services and intensive care units. ⋯ During nebulization with noninvasive ventilation in healthy volunteers, there was an increase in V(t) associated to a higher inspiratory flow rate, without resulting in a significant increase in pulmonary radioaerosol deposition.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2006
Exhaled breath condensate levels of 8-isoprostane, growth related oncogene alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have increased neutrophils and macrophages in their lungs, and inflammation of the airway is related to oxidative stress. This study assessed the levels of 8-isoprostane (an oxidative stress marker) and chemokines related to neutrophil and monocyte inflammation (growth-related oncogene alpha [GROalpha] and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1]) in the airway of ex-smoking COPD patients by exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collection. Thirty-two (28 males) stable COPD patients (14 with FEV(1) 50% [Group 1], 18 with FEV(1) <50% predicted [Group 2]) and 18 non-smoking age and sex-matched controls were studied in this cross-sectional study. ⋯ GROalpha level was lower in COPD patients when compared to controls (P=0.01). MCP-1 level did not differ between COPD and the control group. 8-isoprostane level, but not GROalpha and MCP-1, in EBC was increased in COPD patients with poorer lung function. This suggests an increased oxidative stress in the airway in patients with more severe COPD.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2006
Comparative StudyComparative study of two different modes of noninvasive home mechanical ventilation in chronic respiratory failure.
Two modes of noninvasive home mechanical ventilation (NIHMV) with volumetric ventilators were compared in patients with chronic respiratory failure. ⋯ According to several factors analysed, results with the A/C or C mode used with volumetric ventilators appear to be comparable in patients with chronic respiratory disease receiving NIHMV. Choice of mode will depend on the acquired experience of the prescribing physicians in each centre.