Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · May 2016
Characterisation of fatigue and its substantial impact on health status in a large cohort of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).
Fatigue is a prominent disabling symptom in several pulmonary diseases. Its impact on health status in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) has not been investigated. ⋯ Fatigue is a major component of impaired health status of CPA patients.
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Respiratory medicine · May 2016
Comparative StudyImpact of angiopoietin-1 and -2 on clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Angiopoietin (Ang) -1 and -2 are glycoproteins that play roles in vascular development, angiogenesis, and lung vascular permeability. Although the serum concentrations of Ang-1 and -2 have been evaluated in patients with sepsis, those in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have received less attention. ⋯ Increases in the serum Ang-2 concentration were associated with disease progression and poor prognosis in patients with IPF.
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Respiratory medicine · May 2016
Comparative StudyDecreased prevalence of moderate to severe COPD over 15 years in northern Sweden.
The burden of COPD in terms of mortality, morbidity, costs and prevalence has increased worldwide. Recent results on prevalence in Western Europe are conflicting. In Sweden smoking prevalence has steadily decreased over the past 30 years. ⋯ Changes in both prevalence and risk factor patterns of COPD were observed between surveys. Following a continuing decrease in smoking habits over several decades, a decrease in the prevalence of moderate to severe COPD was observed from 1994 to 2009 in northern Sweden.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2016
Meta AnalysisNintedanib in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Combined evidence from the TOMORROW and INPULSIS(®) trials.
The Phase II TOMORROW trial and two Phase III INPULSIS(®) trials investigated the efficacy and safety of nintedanib versus placebo in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). To obtain an overall estimate of the treatment effect of nintedanib 150 mg twice daily (bid), pooled and meta-analyses of data from these three trials were conducted. ⋯ Nintedanib has a beneficial effect on slowing disease progression in patients with IPF.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2016
Whistle and cough pressures in children with neuromuscular disorders.
Expiratory muscle strength is a determinant of cough function. Maximal static expiratory pressure (PEmax) manoeuvres are widely used but are limited by patient motivation and technique. The study hypothesized that whistle mouth (PmW) and cough gastric (PgasCough) pressures might provide additional tests of expiratory muscle strength in children and young adults with neuromuscular disease (NMD). ⋯ PmW and PgasCough are simple and valuable tests to assess expiratory muscle strength in children and young adults with NMD. These tests are particularly useful in children having difficulties to perform PEmax manoeuvre. They have the great advantage of their simplicity, but PgasCough is limited by its invasiveness.