Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Oct 2017
Blood eosinophilia as a marker of early and late treatment failure in severe acute exacerbations of COPD.
Blood eosinophilia is frequently encountered in patients with AECOPD. However the impact of blood eosinophilia at admission in patients with AECOPD on outcome on the short and long term has not been extensively studied which was the objective of the present study. ⋯ NCT01232140.
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Respiratory medicine · Oct 2017
The complimentary role of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy and endobronchial ultrasound fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is a novel technique that has proved to be useful in diagnosing various interstitial lung diseases (ILD). The use of TBLC to diagnose sarcoidosis in an unselected patient population is unknown, and could be complimentary to endobronchial ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EBUS-FNA). ⋯ TBLC appears to be a safe and complimentary technique to diagnose sarcoidosis and could be considered part of the diagnostic armamentarium in bronchoscopic centers.
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Respiratory medicine · Oct 2017
Serum surfactant protein D predicts the outcome of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treated with pirfenidone.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal pulmonary disease with poor prognosis. Pirfenidone, the first antifibrotic drug, suppresses the decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) and improves prognosis in some, but not all, patients with IPF; therefore, an indicator for identifying improved outcomes in pirfenidone therapy is desirable. This study aims to clarify whether baseline parameters can be predictors of disease progression and prognosis in patients with IPF treated with pirfenidone. ⋯ The serum SP-D level was a predictor of disease progression and prognosis in patients with IPF treated with pirfenidone. In addition, this analysis describes the relative usefulness of other clinical parameters at baseline in estimating the prognosis of patients with IPF who are candidates for pirfenidone therapy.
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Respiratory medicine · Oct 2017
The use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) as respiratory support in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in Germany - A nationwide survey.
High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC)1 is a technique of oxygen supply, initially being used as a potentially less-invasive alternative to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP)2 for premature infants/neonates, which nowadays crosses the border of neonatal care. HFNC builds up a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)3 but lacks the opportunity for continuous monitoring. Therefore, pressure-depending complications are a risk. Our goal was to evaluate the current use of HFNC in Germany regarding indications, techniques of application and complications experienced. ⋯ We reported for the first time a nationwide overview about the expanded use of HFNC in pediatric clinics. Our results emphasize the fact that, even though HFNC is widely accepted as a non-invasive procedure there is still a potential of severe side effects. Therefore the use of HFNC should be monitored continuously and closely within an intensive or intermediate care unit.
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Respiratory medicine · Oct 2017
Global Lung Function Initiative 2012 reference values for spirometry in South Italian children.
Despite the widespread use of the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) 2012 reference values, there is still the need of testing their applicability in local areas. ⋯ GLI 2012 references underestimate FEV1/FVC predicted values in a sample of normal South Italian children. Physicians interpreting spirometry should be aware to test reference values prior to their use in a local area.