International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Oct 2010
Comparative StudyAssessment of airway inflammation using sputum, BAL, and endobronchial biopsies in current and ex-smokers with established COPD.
Smoking effects on physiological and gross pathology in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are relatively well described. However, there is little known in COPD about the detailed interrelationships between lung function and inflammatory profiles in different airway compartments from the same individual and whether airway inflammation in these different compartments differs in ex- and current smokers with established COPD. ⋯ Airway inflammation persists in ex-smokers with COPD, but differs from COPD current smokers. The impact of smoking appears to vary in different airway compartments and any direct relationships between cellularity and lung function tended to be negative, ie, worse lung function indicated the presence of fewer cells.
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Oct 2010
Interleukin-6 and airflow limitation in chemical warfare patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the main late complications of sulfur mustard poisoning. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 in war veterans with pulmonary complications of sulfur mustard poisoning and their correlation with severity of airways disease. ⋯ Our findings suggest that serum IL-6 is increased in patients with sulfur mustard poisoning and COPD, and may have a direct association with airflow limitation.
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Aug 2010
Comparative StudyChanges in six-minute walking distance during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD and in healthy subjects.
The six-minute walking distance (6MWD) test has demonstrated validity and reliability to assess changes in functional capacity following pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. However, no attempt has been made to establish an iterative measurement of 6MWD during the overall period of pulmonary rehabilitation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a twelve-week rehabilitation program on the iterative weekly measurement of 6MWD in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and healthy subjects. ⋯ Both patients with COPD and healthy subjects demonstrated functional responses to training but with somewhat different patterns in quality of the improvement of the 6MWD.
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · May 2010
Modified BODE indexes: Agreement between multidimensional prognostic systems based on oxygen uptake.
It has been recently shown that the original BODE index has a high degree of correlation with two modified BODE indexes using maximal oxygen uptake expressed either as mL/min/kg (mBODE) or as the percentage predicted (mBODE%). In this study we investigated the agreement between the two modified BODE indexes (mBODE and mBODE%) in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ The new mBODE indexes are highly correlated but significantly different from each other. The differences between the novel indexes deserve further scrutiny.
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2010
ReviewPotential role of stem cells in management of COPD.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a worldwide epidemic affecting over 200 million people and accounting for more than three million deaths annually. The disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways and progressive destruction of lung parenchyma, a process that in most cases is initiated by cigarette smoking. ⋯ Regeneration of lung tissue by stem cells from endogenous and exogenous sources is a promising therapeutic strategy. Herein we review the current literature on the characterization of resident stem and progenitor cell niches within the lung, the contribution of mesenchymal stem cells to lung regeneration, and advances in bioengineering of lung tissue.