Journal of thoracic disease
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Review
Management of cardiovascular comorbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is а highly prevalent, complex and heterogeneous clinical condition which is associated with significant concomitant diseases. COPD and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) often coexist due to the high prevalence of each of these pathological conditions separately as well as the common risk factors (particularly smoking), mechanisms of interaction and influence of systemic inflammation. In addition, decreased pulmonary function in COPD is closely associated with an increased risk of congestive CVDs. ⋯ A large proportion of patients with mild and moderate COPD die due to CVD, which is much more likely than deaths in the same group due to respiratory insufficiency. COPD patients have a higher rate of hospitalization and death, the cause of which are coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and CHF. Treatment of COPD today is mainly determined by national and international clinical guidelines, which should pay more attention to the problems of the treatment of COPD patients with comorbid conditions.
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A new coronavirus pneumonia caused by 2019 new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is spreading in China. Here we summarized the patients we accepted in the fever outpatient department. ⋯ No specific symptom was helpful in the diagnosis of 2019-nCoV infection, but relatively low WBC and lymphocyte level might be suggestive to diagnosis. Most patients had fever and pneumonia, however, there were indeed some patients without fever and pneumonia. Screening procedure should not only focus on fever patients. The origin, transmission route, key targets of the virus and mechanism of infection deserved more studies.
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In some countries, adrenaline is available only in glass ampoules. However, simplification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by introducing prefilled syringes may ensure more efficient CPR. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different forms of adrenaline on the CPR quality. ⋯ Prefilled syringes with crucial drugs during CPR may significantly improve the quality of CPR performed by two-person teams.
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The 3-minute constant-rate stair stepping (3-min CRSST) and constant-speed shuttle tests (3-min CSST) were developed to assess breathlessness in response to a standardized exercise stimulus. Estimating the rate of oxygen consumption (V'O2) during these tests would assist clinicians to relate the stepping/shuttle speeds that elicit breathlessness to daily physical activities with a similar metabolic demand. This study: (I) developed equations to estimate the V'O2 of these tests in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); and (II) compared the newly developed and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) metabolic equations for estimating the V'O2 of these tests. ⋯ This study presents metabolic equations to predict V'O2 of the 3-min CRSST and 3-min CSST for people with COPD that are more accurate than the ACSM metabolic equations.
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Poor pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) technique is prevalent, which will diminish treatment gains. In a two-visit study, two novel pMDI training devices with feedback mechanisms; Trainhaler (THR) and Flo-Tone CR (FTCR), were evaluated alongside the traditional verbal inhaler training (VT) in asthma outpatients. ⋯ VT improves the overall pMDI technique, however patients gradually forget their VT. The THR and FTCR devices are retained by the patients as their self-monitoring, all-time personal trainers that boost and maintain their VT between routine clinic visits.