Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Jan 2009
CT scanning-based phenotypes vary with ADRB2 polymorphisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease that is characterized by varying degrees of involvement of airway and lung parenchyma. Although cigarette smoke is the major risk factor for COPD, the principal determining factors of involvement of the airway or lung parenchyma have not been clearly defined. Genetic variability in COPD patients might influence the varying degrees of involvement of airway and parenchyma. We therefore studied whether airway and parenchyma involvement might be associated with the ADRB2 genotype, which has been reported to be associated with COPD susceptibility and the bronchodilator response. ⋯ Gly16 variant in ADRB2 gene was associated with airway wall phenotypes measured using CT scanning in COPD patients.
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Respiratory medicine · Jan 2009
Comparative StudyImpact of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) trial for various types of acute respiratory failure in the emergency department; decreased mortality and use of the ICU.
Trial of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in the emergency department (ED) for heterogeneous acute respiratory failure (ARF) has been optional and its clinical benefit unclear. ⋯ NIV-trial in the ED for all possible patients with ARF of pulmonary etiologies, excluding those with recurrent aspiration pneumonia, may reduce overall in-hospital mortality and ICU stays.
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Respiratory medicine · Jan 2009
Influenza vaccination among Canadians with chronic respiratory disease.
The purposes of this study were to estimate the prevalence of recent influenza vaccination, to identify sociodemographic risk factors and reasons for non-vaccination, and to examine the association between influenza vaccination and respiratory medication use, among individuals with asthma and COPD in Canada. ⋯ Recent self-reported influenza vaccination rates among individuals with asthma and COPD were relatively low. Influenza vaccination was not associated with decreased respiratory medication use among individuals with asthma and COPD, suggesting that vaccination may not help prevent exacerbations. More research is needed to fully clarify the role of influenza vaccination in chronic respiratory disease, particularly asthma, to justify policies of mass-immunization.