American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jun 1994
Effects of mechanical ventilation on diaphragmatic contractile properties in rats.
We measured in rats the effects of 48 h of mechanical ventilation on the weight, contractile properties, and enzymatic profile of the diaphragm, the soleus and the extensor digitorium longus (EDL) muscles. Eighteen animals were randomly divided into a mechanically ventilated (MV, n = 9) group or a control (C, n = 9) group. During the 48 h of mechanical ventilation, animals in the MV group were anesthetized with sodium thiopental and enterally fed with a gastric catheter. ⋯ The forces generated by the soleus and EDL were not significantly reduced in the MV group compared with those in the C group. Diaphragm, soleus, and EDL citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were not significantly different in the two groups. We conclude that mechanical ventilation for 48 h in rats produces a selective force reduction in the diaphragm.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jun 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialNebulized versus intravenous albuterol in hypercapnic acute asthma. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized study.
In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study, we compared the effects of nebulized (5 mg x 2) and intravenous (0.5 mg) albuterol (salbutamol) over 1 h in 47 patients admitted to hospital with severe acute asthma defined as a peak expiratory flow (PEF) below 150 L/min and hypercapnia (Pa(CO2) > or = 40 mm Hg). Additional treatment included nasal oxygen and hydrocortisone succinate. The efficacy was assessed after 1 h. ⋯ The mean increase in PEF was greater in the NEB group than in the i.v. group (+107 +/- 94 L/min versus +42 +/- 66 L/min, p = 0.01) as well as the decrease in Pa(CO2) values (-10 +/- 5 mm Hg versus -2 +/- 12 mm Hg, p < 0.01). Beta agonist-induced hypokalemia was more pronounced in the i.v. group than in the NEB group. We conclude that, in hypercapnic acute asthma, the nebulized route has a greater efficacy and fewer side effects than the intravenous route.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jun 1994
ReviewDeterminants of susceptibility to cigarette smoke. Potential roles for neuroendocrine cells and neuropeptides in airway inflammation, airway wall remodeling, and chronic airflow obstruction.
There is a subgroup of cigarette smokers who are more susceptible than others to the deleterious effects of cigarette smoke and to chronic airflow obstruction. The study of histopathologic and physiologic differences between these "susceptible" smokers and "resistant" smokers, who do not develop clinically significant airflow obstruction, may lead to better understanding of host factors that determine individual susceptibility to cigarette smoke. This report puts forth the hypothesis that individual differences in number or function of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells may play an important role in determining whether cigarette smokers develop chronic airflow obstruction and perhaps other smoking-related disorders. In this context, pulmonary neuroendocrine cells and bombesin-like peptides are discussed, emphasizing those aspects most relevant to the pathobiologic consequences of cigarette smoking.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jun 1994
Comparative StudyInfectious complications of lung transplantation. Impact of cystic fibrosis.
It has been suggested that the presence of airway pathogens prior to lung transplantation (LT) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) may place these patients at a higher risk for infectious complications after LT. There is particular concern regarding patients colonized with multiresistant Pseudomonas, including P. cepacia, and fungi, including Aspergillus. We report our experience with LT for patients with CF and compare the results with those of patients with LT for other indications. ⋯ One of the patients with CF with P. cepacia died as a result of this organism. None of the patients with CF required treatment for Aspergillus post-transplant. We conclude that patients with CF, despite the presence of airway pathogens, are at no greater risk of infectious complications after LT than are other patients.