Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society
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Pulmonary hypertension is a serious disease with a poor prognosis. Pulmonary hypertension is defined by a mean pulmonary arterial pressure over 25 mm Hg at rest or over 30 mm Hg during activity. According to the recent WHO classification from 2003 pulmonary hypertension can be categorized as pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary venous hypertension, hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension from other causes. ⋯ In addition, the measurement of serum markers, such as brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), are diagnostically useful and of prognostic significance. Once the diagnosis and etiology of pulmonary hypertension have been established, several parameters can predict outcome in these patients: functional class, right ventricular function, pulmonary hemodynamics, and certain laboratory parameters. Also, exercise parameters such as walking distance, peak oxygen uptake or peak systolic blood pressure can reliable predict prognosis in these patients.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Comparative StudyDoes night-shift work induce apnea events in obstructive sleep apnea patients?
The aim of the present study was to determine the direct effect of night-work on the occurrence of obstructive apneas during sleep after a night shift in fast-rotating shift workers with sleep-related breathing disorders. Eight obstructive sleep apnea patients were examined with the use of a polysomnograph during sleep under two conditions: after day-shift work and after night-shift work. ⋯ Night work significantly increased several breathing variables: total duration of obstructive apneas during REM sleep, mean duration of obstructive apneas during arousal, and apnea index during arousal. We conclude that in a subpopulation of sleep apnea patients, acute sleep deprivation may worsen obstructive sleep apnea index.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Alterations of tumor and normal tissue of human lung cancer resection specimens after isolation perfusion.
The isolation perfusion model, including transbronchial ventilation of human lung, offers the possibility to study pharmacological interactions under physiological conditions. In view of the increasing importance of targeted therapy of lung diseases, this model of perfusion might attract major interest, particularly, in lung cancer. Our study investigated physiological, histological, and immunohistochemical alterations of lung and tumor tissue during isolated perfusion of lung lobectomy specimens to explore potential limitations of this model. ⋯ Perfusion of more than 4 h led to a significant edema formation in lung tissue accompanied by loss of viability and significant histological alterations. We conclude that isolated ventilation and perfusion of human lung resections within the setup chosen is reliable for pharmacological studies up to a period of 120 min. Thereafter, edema formation and endothelial damage develop and limit the interpretation and reliability of drug delivery studies.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyClinical efficacy of short-term treatment with extra-fine HFA beclomethasone dipropionate in patients with post-infectious persistent cough.
Post-infectious persistent cough may be caused by an underlying inflammation in the airways. Due to its antiinflammatory properties, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may be a rational therapeutic approach to reduce cough symptoms. In this randomized, double-blind study, the efficacy of treatment with inhaled extra-fine HFA beclomethasone diproprionate (HFA-BDP) was compared with placebo in patients with post-infectious persistent cough. ⋯ The AUC from Day 1 to Day 11 for the frequency of cough epochs/h between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm was calculated as 605.8 for HFA-BDP and 847.9 for placebo, respectively (P<0.05). There is evidence that extra-fine HFA-BDP leads to a more rapid reduction of cough frequency at the beginning of treatment. A short-term treatment with extra-fine HFA-BDP could be an effective and well tolerated therapeutic option in the treatment of post-infectious persistent cough.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2007
Comparative Study Clinical TrialNoninvasive ventilation during weaning.
Patients suffering from advanced chronic thoracic disorders are at higher risk to develop respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation. Forty seven patients acutely decompensated were investigated. Twenty nine of them were primarily ventilated noninvasively, 7 were intubated and 11 had been intubated and tracheotomized prior to arriving at the weaning center. ⋯ We conclude that patients either ventilated nasally or intubated or tracheotomized can be prepared for home mechanical ventilation in a weaning unit with similar outcome. Noninvasive ventilation is highly important in such patients as only one remained on invasive ventilation. This may implicate that transfer to noninvasive ventilation prior to tracheotomy might be appropriate.