Respiratory care
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Recently, it has been proved that fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) results are in disagreement with other measurements of asthma control. The objective of this work is to present and validate new lung function/lung inflammation ratios. ⋯ We propose new lung function/lung inflammation ratios by which it may become possible to diagnose asthma in children and adolescents on the basis of a subject's spirometry and FENO measurements. We believe that our ratios are only supportive of the universally used parameters in the process of diagnosing asthma. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT01805635.).
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Early recognition and an attempt at obtaining microbiological documentation are recommended in patients with non-community-acquired pneumonia (NCAP), whether hospital-acquired (HAP) or health care-associated (HCAP). We aimed to characterize the clinical features and microbial etiologies of NCAP to assess the impact of microbiological investigation on their management. ⋯ Integrating the microbiological investigation in the complex clinical diagnostic workup of patients suspected of having NCAP is mandatory. Respiratory tract specimens should be obtained whenever possible for appropriate management.
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Observational Study
Inspiratory Muscle Strength and Endurance in Children and Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis.
Pulmonary changes that occur in cystic fibrosis may influence inspiratory muscle strength and endurance. We evaluated inspiratory muscle strength and endurance in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis in comparison with healthy subjects. ⋯ Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis with no colonization by P. aeruginosa and normal lung function present increased inspiratory muscle strength and decreased endurance compared with healthy individuals, indicating that changes in the respiratory muscle function seem to be distinctly associated with pulmonary involvement. Strength was related to pulmonary function parameters, whereas endurance was associated with airway resistance.
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Comparative Study
A Comparative Effectiveness Study of Rescue Strategies in 1,000 Subjects With Severe Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure.
Subjects with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure have shown a high mortality in previous studies. ⋯ In this retrospective comparative effectiveness study, there was no association of rescue strategies with hospital mortality in subjects with severe hypoxemia.
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Previous physiological studies have identified factors that are involved in auto-PEEP generation. In our study, we examined how much auto-PEEP is generated from factors that are involved in its development. ⋯ Flow limitation, expiratory time/time constant, resistance of the respiratory system, and obesity are the most important variables that affect auto-PEEP values. Frequency expiratory time, tidal volume, and minute ventilation were not independently associated with auto-PEEP. Therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing auto-PEEP and its adverse effects should be primarily oriented to the variables that mainly affect auto-PEEP values.