Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
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Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a unique disorder described in several case series of upper lobe emphysema associated with lower lobe fibrosis. Patients with this entity have relatively preserved lung volumes and spirometry but marked reductions in diffusing capacity on pulmonary function testing. Smoking appears to be the predominant risk factor for this disorder. Usual interstitial pneumonia has been the most common histological pattern of interstitial lung disease described on biopsy in the literature. ⋯ The imaging findings and pathology in patients with CPFE are heterogeneous.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Noninvasive assisted pressure-controlled ventilation: as effective as pressure support ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is being increasingly used in hypercapnic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients but the most appropriate ventilation mode is still not known. ⋯ From these data, we deduce that APCV can be a better alternative to PSV for NIV in COPD patients with AHRF owing to its more beneficial physiological effects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Inhaled corticosteroids as additional treatment in alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-related COPD.
No consistent data are available regarding the effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in alpha(1)-antitrypsin-deficiency (AATD)-related COPD. Recent data report inflammatory effects of the polymers of alpha(1)-antitrypsin on the peripheral lung. ⋯ In AATD-related COPD patients (ZZ genotype) the addition of extra-fine ICS to LABAs decreases airway narrowing, mostly in the small airways, further reducing dynamic hyperinflation with a marked improvement in exercise tolerance and dyspnea, suggesting that a peripheral inflammatory process contributes to airflow obstruction in these patients.