Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialModulation of operational lung volumes with the use of salbutamol in COPD patients accomplishing upper limbs exercise tests.
Pulmonary dynamic hyperinflation (DH) is an important factor limiting the physical capacity of patients with COPD. Inhaled bronchodilator should be able to reduce DH. ⋯ We conclude that the use of bronchodilator increases the IC of patient with COPD and may help not to increase the DH during a maximal exercise with the arms.
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2009
A quick and easy method of measuring the hypercapnic ventilatory response in patients with COPD.
Hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) techniques have not previously been adequately validated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have tested the hypothesis that end-tidal PCO(2) may be used to test the HCVR in COPD during non-steady-state rebreathing, despite the fact that large (arterial-end-tidal) PCO(2) differences (P(a-et)CO(2)) exist during air breathing. ⋯ In COPD patients non-steady-state HCVR using PetCO(2) is well tolerated, which is as accurate as PaCO(2). HCVR slope may be derived using PetCO(2) during steady-state testing, though there may be errors in intercept compared to use of PaCO(2). In healthy volunteers PetCO(2) may be used to estimate PaCO(2) during steady-state but not rebreathing HCVR.
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2009
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hospitalizations for pneumonia in a US cohort.
To better understand risk factors for pneumonia hospitalizations in people with impaired lung function. ⋯ COPD severity (GOLD stage) is an important and independent predictor of pneumonia hospitalizations in this cohort.
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2009
Oral bacteria--the missing link to ambiguous findings of exhaled nitrogen oxides in cystic fibrosis.
Nitrite in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been shown to be elevated in cystic fibrosis (CF), while exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is paradoxically low. This has been argued to reflect increased metabolism of NO while its diffusion is obstructed by mucus. However, we wanted to study the possible influence of salivary nitrite and bacterial nitrate reduction on these parameters in CF patients by the intervention of an anti-bacterial mouthwash. ⋯ EBC nitrite mainly originates in the pharyngo-oral tract and its increase in CF is possibly explained by a regional change in bacterial activity. The limited lower airway contribution supports the view of a genuinely impaired formation and metabolism of NO in CF, rather than poor diffusion of the molecule.