Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be associated with the development of active tuberculosis (TB), but many discrepancies exist among studies. The aims of this study were to compare the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in a Korean population of TB patients and control subjects, and to monitor the changes in vitamin D levels during TB treatment. ⋯ Vitamin D levels do not appear to be associated with the development of TB in the Korean population. The median 25-OHD concentration decreased after treatment for TB.
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Impairment of respiratory function has been described in end-stage multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as in patients with mild to severe disability. No data are available regarding the respiratory function of MS patients without disability. The objective of this study was to assess the pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity of the lungs (DL(CO)) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) without disability. ⋯ DL(CO) and MEP may be impaired in RRMS patients without disability.
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Pleural transudates are most commonly due to heart failure (HF) or hepatic hydrothorax (HH), but a number of these effusions are misclassified as exudates by standard (Light's) criteria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of mislabelled transudates and to establish simple alternative parameters to correctly identify them. ⋯ If the clinical picture is consistent with HF but the pleural fluid meets Light's exudative criteria, the measurement of the albumin rather than the protein gradient is recommended. In the context of cirrhosis, a potentially 'false' exudate is identified better by the pleural fluid-to-serum albumin ratio.
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The development and clinical application of lung function tests have a long history, and the various components of lung function tests provide very important tools for the clinical evaluation of respiratory health and disease. Spirometry, measurement of the diffusion factor, bronchial provocation tests and forced oscillation techniques have found diverse clinical applications in the diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung diseases and asthma. ⋯ Novel measurements, including negative expiratory pressure, the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide and analysis of exhaled breath condensate, may provide new insights into physiological abnormalities or airway inflammation in respiratory diseases, but their clinical applications need to be further evaluated. The clinical application of lung function tests continues to face challenges, which may be overcome by further improvement of conventional techniques for lung function testing and further specification of new testing techniques.
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Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is defined as a combination of obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2)), daytime hypercapnia (partial arterial carbon dioxide concentration ≥45 mm Hg) and sleep-disordered breathing after ruling out other disorders that may cause alveolar hypoventilation. Through the prism of the International Classification of Functioning, OHS is a chronic condition associated with respiratory, metabolic, hormonal and cardiovascular impairments, leading to a decrease in daily life activities, a lack of social participation and high risk of hospitalization and death. ⋯ The present review discusses the definition, epidemiology, physiopathology and treatment modalities of OHS. Although nocturnal positive airway pressure therapies represent first-line treatment and are effective in improving patient outcomes, there is a need to offer combined treatment strategies and to assess the effect of multimodal therapeutic strategies on morbidity and mortality.