Chest
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Multicenter Study
Obesity and right ventricular structure and function: the MESA-Right Ventricle Study.
The relationship between obesity and right ventricular (RV) morphology is not well studied. We aimed to determine the association between obesity and RV structure and function in a large multiethnic population-based cohort. ⋯ Overweight and obesity were independently associated with differences in RV morphology even after adjustment for the respective LV measure. This association could be explained by increased RV afterload, increased blood volume, hormonal effects, or direct obesity-related myocardial effects.
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Multicenter Study
The effect of clinical covariates on the diagnostic and prognostic value of soluble mesothelin and megakaryocyte potentiating factor.
Soluble mesothelin (SM) and megakaryocyte potentiating factor (MPF) are serum biomarkers of mesothelioma. This study examined the effect of clinical covariates on biomarkers levels and their diagnostic and prognostic value. ⋯ SM and MPF levels were affected by the same clinical covariates, which also had a significant impact on their diagnostic and prognostic value. To improve the interpretation of biomarker results, age, GFR, and BMI should be routinely recorded. Approaches to account for these covariates require further validation, as does the prognostic value of SM and MPF.
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Multicenter Study
Lung size mismatch in bilateral lung transplantation is associated with allograft function and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.
Size mismatch between donor lungs and a recipient thorax could affect the major determinants of maximal expiratory airflow: airway resistance, propensity of airways to collapse, and lung elastic recoil. ⋯ A pTLC ratio > 1.0, suggestive of an oversized allograft, is associated with higher expiratory airflow capacity and a less frequent occurrence of BOS.