Thorax
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Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common in neuromuscular diseases but its relationship to respiratory function is poorly defined. A study was undertaken to identify distinct patterns of SDB, to clarify the relationships between SDB and lung and respiratory muscle function, and to identify daytime predictors for SDB at its onset, for SDB with continuous hypercapnic hypoventilation, and for diurnal respiratory failure. ⋯ Progressive ventilatory restriction in neuromuscular diseases correlates with respiratory muscle weakness and results in progressive SDB which, by pattern and severity, can be predicted from daytime lung and respiratory muscle function.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Nitric oxide in chronic airway inflammation in children: diagnostic use and pathophysiological significance.
The levels of exhaled and nasal nitric oxide (eNO and nNO) in groups of patients with inflammatory lung diseases are well documented but the diagnostic use of these measurements in an individual is unknown. ⋯ eNO and nNO cannot be used diagnostically to distinguish between most respiratory diseases. However, nNO in particular is a quick and useful diagnostic marker which may be used to screen patients with a clinical suspicion of PCD.
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Comparative Study
Diaphragm plication following phrenic nerve injury: a comparison of paediatric and adult patients.
A study was undertaken to evaluate whether adults differ from children in the indications and outcome of diaphragmatic plication following phrenic nerve injury. ⋯ Diaphragmatic plication offers a significant benefit to children with diaphragmatic paralysis and should be performed early to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation. While plication is of limited benefit in weaning ventilated adults, it results in significant subjective and objective lifetime improvement in non-ventilated symptomatic adults.
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The German cystic fibrosis (CF) quality assurance (CFQA) project is a patient registry for CF which was founded in 1995. Relevant clinical and laboratory data, respiratory function test results, complications, and CF treatments are entered into the database once a year for each patient. Using the database, a study was undertaken to elucidate the relationship between nutrition and lung function in a large patient cohort by cross sectional and longitudinal analysis. ⋯ These data emphasise the close relationship between nutrition, lung function, and clinical course in CF. Normal body weight and absence of P aeruginosa infection was associated with better preservation of lung function.
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Several studies have reported an association between sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and hypertension (HT) but there is still a debate as to whether this is an effect of confounders. Some researchers have found an age dependent relationship between SDB and HT with higher risk at lower ages. A case-control study was performed in hypertensive men and non-hypertensive male controls matched for age and body mass index to assess whether there is an independent association between SDB and HT. If so, we further wanted to investigate whether this effect is age dependent. ⋯ SDB is more prevalent in men with HT than in controls. DI >or=10 and lowest desaturation are independent predictors of HT irrespective of confounders. The results indicate that the influence of SDB on HT is more pronounced in younger and middle aged men than in those above 60 years.