Chest
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Multicenter Study
Statins reduce the risk of lung cancer in humans: a large case-control study of US veterans.
Statins are commonly used cholesterol-lowering agents that are noted to suppress tumor cell growth in several in vitro and animal models. ⋯ Statins appear to be protective against the development of lung cancer, and further studies need to be done to define the clinical utility of statins as chemo protective agents.
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Airflow limitation in COPD is due to a variable combination of small airway obstruction and centrilobular emphysema (CLE) and/or panlobular emphysema (PLE), but the relationship between these three different phenotypes is poorly understood. This study compares the severity of small airway obstruction in both forms of emphysema and determines its relationship with FEV(1). ⋯ Small airway wall thickening occurs in CLE and PLE with AAT deficiency but is more closely associated with degree of emphysema and airflow limitation in CLE.
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Comparative Study
Racial differences in cancer risk among relatives of patients with early onset lung cancer.
Relatives of patients with early onset lung cancer are at increased risk for lung cancer, and this risk varies by race. This study evaluates whether first-degree relatives of patients with early onset lung cancer are at increased risk for cancer at sites other than lung. ⋯ These results can be used to counsel family members of patients with early onset lung cancer, and suggest target populations for preventive strategies, including smoking cessation and appropriate screening.
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Transfusion has long been identified as a risk factor for acute lung injury (ALI)/ARDS. No study has formally evaluated the transfusion of specific blood products as a risk factor for ALI/ARDS in critically ill medical patients. ⋯ Transfusion is associated with an increased risk of the development of ALI/ARDS in critically ill medical patients. The risk is higher with transfusions of plasma-rich blood products, FFP, and platelets, than with RBCs.
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Previous reports suggest that sarcoidosis occurs with abnormally high frequency in firefighters. We sought to determine whether exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) "dust" during the collapse and rescue/recovery effort increased the incidence of sarcoidosis or "sarcoid-like" granulomatous pulmonary disease (SLGPD). ⋯ After the WTC disaster, the incidence of sarcoidosis or SLGPD was increased among FDNY rescue workers. This new information about the early onset of WTC-SLGPD and its association with asthma/AHR has important public health consequences for disease prevention, early detection, and treatment following environmental/occupational exposures.