Respiratory medicine
-
Respiratory medicine · Feb 2013
The role of vascular endothelial growth factor-D in diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).
Definite diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) depends on either transbronchial lung biopsy or video-assisted thoracic surgery, unless there is a history of chylothorax, kidney angiomyolipoma (AML), or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) was recently considered as a novel diagnostic marker for LAM. Herein, we evaluated diagnostic value of serum VEGF-D in LAM patients. ⋯ Serum VEGF-D should be added to the current diagnosis algorithm to enhance definitive diagnosis for LAM.
-
Respiratory medicine · Feb 2013
Meta AnalysisEffects of long-acting bronchodilators in COPD patients according to COPD severity and ICS use.
Indacaterol is a once-daily, long-acting β(2)-agonist bronchodilator that improves dyspnoea and health status in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. While its bronchodilator effects have been shown to be maintained in different patient subgroups, effects on clinical outcomes in certain subgroups are not yet defined. ⋯ Indacaterol maintained its efficacy regardless of disease severity or use of concurrent ICS. Indacaterol 150 μg had the best overall efficacy profile in the GOLD stage II patients while, in patients with more severe disease, indacaterol 300 μg provided useful improvements in dyspnoea.
-
Respiratory medicine · Feb 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEfficacy and safety of fluticasone/formoterol combination therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma.
The inhaled corticosteroid, fluticasone propionate, and the long-acting β(2)-adrenergic agonist, formoterol fumarate, are both highly effective treatments for bronchial asthma. This study (NCT00393952/EudraCT number: 2006-005989-39) compared the efficacy and safety of fluticasone/formoterol combination therapy (flutiform(®); 250/10 μg) administered twice daily (b.i.d.) via a single aerosol inhaler, with the individual components (fluticasone 250 μg b.i.d.; formoterol 10 μg b.i.d.), in adult and adolescent patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. ⋯ Fluticasone/formoterol combination therapy will provide clinicians with an efficacious alternative treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe asthma.
-
Respiratory medicine · Feb 2013
Multicenter StudyImpact of comorbidities on COPD-specific health-related quality of life.
Comorbidities are frequent in subjects with COPD, but their contribution to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment is not clearly established. ⋯ These data suggest that in the presence of dyspnea and exacerbation, depression is the most important contributor to HRQoL impairment measured by SGRQ in COPD subjects, whereas other comorbidities and FEV(1) have only limited impact.
-
Respiratory medicine · Feb 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialRelationship between daily physical activity and exercise capacity in patients with COPD.
Exercise training programmes for patients with COPD are effective in improving exercise capacity. The few trials that have investigated the effects of exercise programmes on daily physical activity show contradictory results. ⋯ A moderate to weak relationship was found between daily physical activity and exercise capacity. These results strengthen our beliefs that exercise interventions need to target not only exercise capacity but also behaviour change with regard to daily physical activity to achieve improvements in both parameters.