American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2013
ReviewPulmonary issues in patients with chronic neuromuscular disease.
Patients with chronic neuromuscular diseases such as spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and muscular dystrophies experience respiratory complications that are cared for by the respiratory practitioner. An organized anatomical approach for evaluation and treatment is helpful to provide appropriate clinical care. Effective noninvasive strategies for management of hypoventilation, sleep-disordered breathing, and cough insufficiency are available for these patients.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2013
Widespread colonization of the lung by Tropheryma whipplei in HIV infection.
Lung infections caused by opportunistic or virulent pathogens are a principal cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV infection. It is unknown whether HIV infection leads to changes in basal lung microflora, which may contribute to chronic pulmonary complications that increasingly are being recognized in individuals infected with HIV. ⋯ Asymptomatic subjects with HIV infection have unexpected colonization of the lung by T. whipplei, which is reduced by effective antiretroviral therapy and merits further study for a potential pathogenic role in chronic pulmonary complications of HIV infection.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2013
Heat-related emergency hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in the Medicare population.
The heat-related risk of hospitalization for respiratory diseases among the elderly has not been quantified in the United States on a national scale. With climate change predictions of more frequent and more intense heat waves, it is of paramount importance to quantify the health risks related to heat, especially for the most vulnerable. ⋯ We found strong evidence of an association between outdoor heat and respiratory hospitalizations in the largest population of elderly studied to date. Given projections of increasing temperatures from climate change and the increasing global prevalence of chronic pulmonary disease, the relationship between heat and respiratory morbidity is a growing concern.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2013
Catch-up alveolarization in ex-preterm children: evidence from (3)He magnetic resonance.
Histologic data from fatal cases suggest that extreme prematurity results in persisting alveolar damage. However, there is new evidence that human alveolarization might continue throughout childhood and could contribute to alveolar repair. ⋯ Alveolar size at school age was similar in survivors of extreme prematurity and term-born children. Because extreme preterm birth is associated with deranged alveolar structure in infancy, the most likely explanation for our finding is catch-up alveolarization.