Chest
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
COPD in never smokers: results from the population-based burden of obstructive lung disease study.
Never smokers comprise a substantial proportion of patients with COPD. Their characteristics and possible risk factors in this population are not yet well defined. ⋯ This multicenter international study confirms previous evidence that never smokers comprise a substantial proportion of individuals with COPD. Our data suggest that, in addition to increased age, a prior diagnosis of asthma and, among women, lower education levels are associated with an increased risk for COPD among never smokers.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Elevated pulmonary artery pressure is a risk factor for primary graft dysfunction following lung transplantation for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is often associated with elevations in pulmonary artery pressures. Although primary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been associated with primary graft dysfunction (PGD), the role of secondary PAH in mediating PGD risk in patients with IPF is incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and PGD among patients with IPF. ⋯ Higher mPAP in patients with IPF is associated with the development of PGD.
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Although, to our knowledge, there has been no exhaustive or credible review of the evidence of the disease burden of COPD in China, COPD has become an increasing public health concern to the Chinese medical community. The purpose of this article is to review the evidence and evaluate and clarify the disease burden of COPD in China with the aim of improving effective management. We reviewed previous studies of COPD in China, which included data on prevalence, mortality, disease burden, risk factors, diagnosis, and management by searching related Web sites, including PubMed, ProQuest, and Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge, as well as major Chinese databases and government Web sites. ⋯ Management of COPD in China should focus on adjusting the distribution of medical resources and on addressing public health policies to facilitate earlier diagnosis in rural areas, aim to reduce smoking prevalence, improve patients' self-management, and keep physicians' knowledge up to date and consistent with current guidelines. COPD is one of the most challenging medical issues facing China because of its influence on both personal and public health and its impact on the economy. Optimal management strategies should be adopted and strengthened immediately.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The acute effects of water-pipe smoking on the cardiorespiratory system.
There are limited data on the acute effects of water-pipe tobacco smoking, commonly known as water-pipe smoking (WPS), on cardiopulmonary parameters. This study evaluated the acute effects of a single 30-min session of WPS on carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels, pulmonary function test results, vital signs, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) levels, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) cytokine levels in volunteers in a domestic, open-air, group smoking setting. ⋯ This study shows that one session of WPS causes acute biologic changes that might result in marked health problems. It adds to the limited evidence that WPS is harmful and supports interventions to control the continuing global spread of WPS, especially among youth.
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Sleep science has been a vigorously evolving field over the past 60 years, and the practice of sleep medicine has become increasingly complex with a growing number of tests and treatments. This article briefly traces the history of the field of sleep science over the past three millennia. The foundations of sleep medicine can be traced back to ancient civilizations around the globe. Many philosophers, scientists, and researchers have espoused theories about the causes of sleep throughout the centuries, theories that have become more intricate as our understanding of medicine and neurobiology has continued to advance.