The clinical respiratory journal
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To explore the diagnostic value of joint detection of soluble B7-H4 (sB7-H4) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in identifying malignant pleural effusion (MPE) from benign pleural effusion (BPE). ⋯ sB7-H4 was a potentially valuable tumor marker in the differentiation between BPE and MPE. The combined detection of sB7-H4 and CEA could improve the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for MPE.
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Review Meta Analysis
Risk factors for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive fibrotic disease limited to the lungs. The course of disease varies widely, with some patients experiencing acute respiratory deterioration, a condition called acute exacerbations of IPF (AE-IPF). The risk factors contributing to AE-IPF are unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the risk factors for AE-IPF. ⋯ Poor pulmonary function, mechanical procedures, higher serum KL-6 and secondary pulmonary hypertension were associated with increased risks of AE-IPF.
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Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and computerized axial tomography (CT) are complementary imaging techniques. It is possible that a combination of the two may offer a better way of identifying pulmonary hypertension (PH) than either one alone. ⋯ The combination of TTE and chest CT is better than either imaging technique alone in identifying patients with PH in a heterogeneous population and may exclude PH.
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Comparative Study
Bench evaluation of commercially available and newly developed interfaces for mouthpiece ventilation.
Mouthpiece ventilation represents a valuable treatment for patients needing daytime non-invasive ventilation. This modality is however underused, in part because of limitations in the available equipment. ⋯ They found measurable differences in the ventilation's performances comparing the interfaces for mouthpiece ventilation, which seem to have a minor clinical relevance in the most settings, but should be systematically checked. They validated in-vitro the newly developed mouthpiece with respect to the ventilation performances; a clinical study is needed to investigate the potential advantages we expect from the new mouthpiece.
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Observational Study
Clinical and hemodynamic characteristics of pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease in China.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important complication of interstitial lung disease (ILD). The aim of the present study was to investigate characteristics and prognosis of ILD associated PH in a predominantly Chinese patient cohort. ⋯ Severe hemodynamic impairment along with PH can occur in patients with ILD. These patients have more severely impaired exercise capacity and cardiac function than ILD patients without PH. PVR was the only prognostic factor identified in this group of patients.