Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-limiting inherited disease in Caucasian populations. While pathological changes can be seen in various organs, morbidity and mortality are mainly related to the respiratory tract, with patients suffering from chronic bronchopulmonary infections with characteristic pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus. ⋯ While a large number of strains exhibited resistance to one or several antimicrobial agents, methicillin-resistant S. aureus was found at a low prevalence of 3% (n = 2) only. The two methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were assigned to CC152/t355 (SCCmecV) and CC5/t001 (SCCmecI). This is the first study to genetically characterize S. aureus isolates in CF patients in Austria.
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In neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and acute RDS (ARDS) mechanical ventilation is often necessary to manage hypoxia, whilst protecting the lungs through lower volume ventilation and permissive hypercapnia. Mechanical ventilation can, however, induce or aggravate the lung injury caused by the respiratory distress. Helium, in a gas mixture with oxygen (heliox), has a low density and can reduce the flow in narrow airways and allow for lower driving pressures. ⋯ Although evidence so far is limited, there may be a rationale for heliox ventilation in ARDS as an intervention to improve ventilation and reduce the work of breathing.
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Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) can be fatal, and abnormalities in the coagulation system of patients with AE-IPF have been reported. Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhTM) forms a complex with thrombin to inactivate coagulation. It also inhibits high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB-1), which results in the suppression of inflammation. ⋯ rhTM as an add-on to conventional treatment may improve survival in patients with AE-IPF.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Validity and Reliability of the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire in Elderly Individuals with Mild to Moderate Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.
The chronic respiratory disease questionnaire (CRDQ) is designed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in chronic respiratory conditions, but its reliability, validity and responsiveness in individuals with mild to moderate non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis are unclear. ⋯ The CRDQ is a valid and reliable measure of HRQOL in mild to moderate non-CF bronchiectasis, but responsiveness was limited.
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Comparative Study
The Utility of Hybrid SPECT/CT Lung Perfusion Scintigraphy in Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is diagnosed either by ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy or pulmonary CT angiography. One of the imaging methods used in nuclear medicine is hybrid SPECT/CT scintigraphy. ⋯ We conclude that hybrid SPECT/CT(Q) imaging has a high diagnostic efficacy in the diagnosis of PE. Lung perfusion scintigraphy performed with a hybrid SPECT/CT device has a significantly higher sensitivity and specificity than scanning performed with the planar or SPECT technique.