Chest
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Despite advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy and access to sophisticated intensive care facilities, bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to carry an unacceptably high mortality rate of 10% to 15% in hospitalized cases. CAP, considered by many to be the most underestimated disease worldwide, poses a particular threat to the elderly whose numbers are steadily increasing in developed countries. Indeed, elderly patients with severe CAP, as well as those with other risk factors, are at significant risk for development of inflammation-mediated acute cardiac events that may undermine the success of antimicrobial therapy. ⋯ In addition, recent insights into the immunopathogenesis of acute coronary events in patients with CAP have revealed a probable pivotal role of platelet activation, potentially modifiable by agents that possess antiinflammatory or platelet-targeted activities or both. Statins, which not only possess antiinflammatory activity but also appear to target several pathways involved in platelet activation, seem particularly well suited as adjuncts to antibiotic therapy in bacterial CAP. Following a brief consideration of the immunopathogenesis of bacterial CAP, this review is focused on mechanisms of platelet activation by CAP pathogens, as well as the pharmacologic control thereof, with emphasis on statins.
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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-limiting inherited illness of whites. Most of the morbidity and mortality in CF stems from impaired mucociliary clearance leading to chronic, progressive airways obstruction and damage. Significant progress has been made in the care of patients with CF, with advances focused on improving mucociliary clearance, minimizing inflammatory damage, and managing infections; these advances include new antimicrobial therapies, mucolytic and osmotic agents, and antiinflammatory treatments. ⋯ As we develop more advanced, allele-directed therapies for the management of CF, it will become increasingly important to understand the specific genetic and environmental interactions that cause the significant heterogeneity of lung disease seen in the CF population. This understanding of CF endotypes will allow for more targeted, personalized therapies for future patients. This article reviews the genetic and molecular basis of CF lung disease, the treatments currently available, and novel therapies that are in development.
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Music has been used as a distractive auditory stimulus (DAS) in patients with COPD, but its effects are unclear. This systematic review aimed to establish the effect of DAS on exercise capacity, symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) under three conditions: (1) during exercise training, (2) during exercise testing, and (3) for symptom management at rest. ⋯ DAS appears to reduce symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue when used during exercise training, with benefits observed in exercise capacity and HRQOL. When applied during exercise testing, the effects on exercise capacity and symptoms and as a strategy for symptom management at rest are inconsistent.