Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Does a low-density gas mixture or oxygen supplementation improve exercise training in COPD?
Low-density gas mixtures and oxygen (O₂) supplementation are known to improve physical performance and ventilatory adaptation during incremental maximal exercise in COPD. We investigated whether their combined use during intense physical training is also effective in ameliorating exercise tolerance in patients affected by moderate to severe COPD. ⋯ We concluded that the use of a low-density gas mixture or O₂ supplementation does not contribute to improved exercise performance in patients with moderate to severe COPD without a significantly decreased diffusion lung capacity for CO who are able to tolerate intense physical training.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Procalcitonin vs C-reactive protein as predictive markers of response to antibiotic therapy in acute exacerbations of COPD.
Rational prescription of antibiotics in acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) requires predictive markers. We aimed to analyze whether markers of systemic inflammation can predict response to antibiotics in AECOPD. ⋯ Contrary to the current literature, this study suggests that patients with low PCT values do benefit from antibiotics. CRP might be a more valuable marker in these patients.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Risk factors and predictive clinical scores for asthma exacerbations in childhood.
Asthma is a major public health problem that affects millions of children worldwide, and exacerbations account for most of its morbidity and costs. Primary-care providers lack efficient tools to identify children at high risk for exacerbations. We aimed to construct a clinical score to help providers to identify such children. ⋯ The proposed Asthma Exacerbation Clinical Score is simple to use and effective at identifying children at high and low risk for asthma exacerbations. The tool can easily be used in primary-care settings.