American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2017
Multicenter StudyEffects of Omalizumab on Rhinovirus Infections, Illnesses and Exacerbations of Asthma.
Allergic inflammation has been linked to increased susceptibility to viral illnesses, but it is unclear whether this association is causal. ⋯ In children with allergic asthma, treatment with omalizumab decreased the duration of RV infections, viral shedding, and the risk of RV illnesses. These findings provide direct evidence that blocking IgE decreases susceptibility to RV infections and illness. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01430403).
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2017
ReviewHealth Disparities in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Blueprint for Action. An Official American Thoracic Society Statement.
Health disparities have a major impact in the quality of life and clinical care received by minorities in the United States. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare cardiopulmonary disorder that affects children and adults and that, if untreated, results in premature death. The impact of health disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and clinical outcome of patients with PAH has not been systematically investigated. ⋯ At present, there are few studies that address health disparities in PAH. Given the potential adverse impact of health disparities, we recommend that research efforts be undertaken to address the topics discussed in the document. Awareness of health disparities will likely improve advocacy efforts, public health policy and the quality of care of vulnerable populations with PAH.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2017
Comparative StudyVascular Endothelial Mitochondrial Function Predicts Death or Pulmonary Outcomes in Preterm Infants.
Vascular endothelial mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of several oxidant stress-associated disorders. Oxidant stress is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease of prematurity that often leads to sequelae in adult survivors. ⋯ Our results indicating that endothelial cells of premature infants who later develop BPD or die have impaired mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity and produce more oxidants at birth suggest that the vascular endothelial mitochondrial dysfunction seen at birth in these infants persists through their postnatal life and contributes to adverse pulmonary outcomes and increased early mortality.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2017
Comparative StudySpirometry Reference Equations from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).
Accurate reference values for spirometry are important because the results are used for diagnosing common chronic lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, estimating physiologic impairment, and predicting all-cause mortality. Reference equations have been established for Mexican Americans but not for others with Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. ⋯ For patients of Dominican and Puerto Rican background who present with pulmonary symptoms in clinical practice, use of background-specific spirometry reference equations may provide more appropriate predicted and lower limit of normal values, enabling more accurate diagnoses of abnormality and physiologic impairment.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2017
A Two Biomarker Model Predicts Mortality in the Critically Ill with Sepsis.
Improving the prospective identification of patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis at low risk for organ dysfunction and death is a major clinical challenge. ⋯ We have developed a simple, robust biomarker-based model that identifies patients with SIRS/sepsis at low risk for death and organ dysfunction.