BMC pulmonary medicine
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BMC pulmonary medicine · May 2015
Observational StudyDual phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor therapy for refractory pulmonary arterial hypertension: a pilot study.
Recent vasodilating drugs have improved prognosis of Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Some reports describe the merits of combination therapies for PAH, and this study evaluated the efficacy and safety of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) combination therapy, using sildenafil and tadalafil, for multi-drug-resistant PAH. ⋯ The findings support dual PDE5i therapy as a new treatment option for refractory PAH.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · May 2015
Relationship between daily physical activity and aerobic fitness in adults with cystic fibrosis.
The best clinical practice to investigate aerobic fitness includes measurements obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), however it remains an underutilised clinical measure in cystic fibrosis (CF). To investigate this further, different methods of quantifying exercise capacity in CF are required. The possibility that measuring physical activity (PA) by a portable accelerometer could be used to assess the CF aerobic state and could be added among the CPET surrogates has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between PA and exercise fitness both at submaximal and maximal levels in clinically stable adults with CF. ⋯ In adult CF patients daily PA positively correlated with aerobic capacity. PA measurements are a valuable tool in the assessment of exercise performance in an adult CF population and could be used for interventional exercise trials to optimize exercise performance and health status. PA levels and parameters obtained at submaximal exercise are similar in CF and in healthy controls.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Apr 2015
Adherence to treatment in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional, multi-method study investigating the influence of beliefs about treatment and parental depressive symptoms.
Adherence to treatment is often reported to be low in children with cystic fibrosis. Adherence in cystic fibrosis is an important research area and more research is needed to better understand family barriers to adherence in order for clinicians to provide appropriate intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to enzyme supplements, vitamins and chest physiotherapy in children with cystic fibrosis and to determine if any modifiable risk factors are associated with adherence. ⋯ Child age and parental beliefs about treatments should be taken into account by clinicians when addressing adherence at routine clinic appointments. Low adherence is more likely to occur in older children, whereas, better adherence to cystic fibrosis therapies is more likely in children whose parents strongly believe the treatments are necessary. The necessity of treatments should be reinforced regularly to both parents and children.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Apr 2015
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyComparing new treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis--a network meta-analysis.
The treatment landscape for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a devastating lung disease, is changing. To investigate the effectiveness of treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis we undertook a systematic review, network meta-analysis and indirect comparison. ⋯ Two treatments show beneficial effects and when compared indirectly nintedanib appears to have superior benefit on forced vital capacity. Limitations to indirect comparisons should be considered when interpreting these results, however, our findings can be useful to inform treatment decisions.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Mar 2015
Observational StudyImportant prognostic factors for survival in patients with malignant pleural effusion.
The approach to palliative treatment of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) should be individualized because these patients generally have poor survival. Our study aimed to develop a model to identify prognostic factors or survival time in patients diagnosed with MPE. ⋯ ECOG PS is an independent predictor of survival in patients with MPE at initial diagnosis. This prognostic factor can help physicians select patients for appropriate palliative treatment of this syndrome.