Respiratory medicine
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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 StudyComparison of bronchoscopic diagnosis for peripheral pulmonary nodule under fluoroscopic guidance with CT guidance.
A new diagnostic procedure has been established for the selection of appropriate therapy for small lung lesions. We compared the sensitivity of real-time multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and X-ray television (TV) fluoroscopic guidance for performing bronchoscopy. ⋯ Real-time MSCT fluoroscopic guidance allows the bronchoscopist to accurately determine the location of the instruments in relation to the lesion in real time, thus helping to reduce the number of negative cases.